Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/703

VI, ] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 663 only fourteen, he married a girl of the Kegarkunt family of Brahmins at Sarada, (a village in Pergana Mangalghata) whose status in society was much inferior to his own—in the face of great opposition from his parents and brothers. They were not prepared to receive him or his bride at their house ; so the young fellow came to Devanandapura in the district of Hughly and sought the favour of a wealthy Kaystha named Rama Chandra Munsi who accorded him a warm reception, being pleased with his talents. He learned Persian at his place and on an occasion of worship of the god Satya Naravana composed a short poem in honour of the deity, which greatly pleased the audience. This poem was composed in 1737 A.D., when Bharata Chandra was only fifteen. At this time his parents permitted him to return home though they would not allow his wife to come with him. He came back to his family-residence and was deputed by his father to settle certain questions about their landed property with the Raja of Burdwan. But for some reason or other Bharata Chandra was thrown into prison by the Raja for afew months. On being re- leased he felt a desire to visit the Jagannatha temple of Puri. Arriving at the shrine he met with a warm treatment from some of the Pandas who were de- lighted with his learning. He was greatly impress- ed with Vaisnavism at the time and is said to have taken into his head the idea of turning ascetic and leading a holy life inthe Vrinda groves. With this object he marched bare-footed, but the village Kha- nakula lay in his way, where a relation of his wife stopped him and by persuasive arguments, the force of which he took no time in appreciating, brought the Troubles owing to marriage. A poem on Satya, Narayana 1737 A.D. Thrown into prison.