of Indra's
Paradise that yields whatsoever may be desired); sublime policy based
on strong foundations, valour in the battlefield like that of Karma,
patriotism, genuine unselfishness, and unity, the best of all. ... Alas,
alas! all I see now is the ruin of my country. Those forts of mine to
build which I poured out money, to acquire which torrents of fiery blood
streamed forth, from which I sallied forth to victory roaring like a
lion--all those are crumbling away. What a desolation is this!
Foreigners are dragging out Lakshmi (the goddess of Good Fortune) by the
hand of persecution. Along with her Plenty has fled, and with Plenty,
Health. The wicked Akabaya (the goddess of Misfortune) stalks with
Famine at her side through the country, and relentless Death scatters
foul diseases."

"Say, where are those splendid ones who promptly shed their blood
on the spot where my perspiration fell? They eat bread once in a day,
but not even enough of that. They toil through hard times by tightening
up their bellies. O People, how have you tolerated in the sacred places
the carrying off to prison of those holy preceptors, those religious
teachers of mine, those saintly Brahmans whom I protected--who, while
they devoted themselves to their religious practices in times of peace,
exchanged the Darbah (sacrificial grass) in their hands for weapons
which they used manfully when occasion required. The cow, the
foster-mother of babes when their mother leaves them, the mainstay of the
hard-worked peasant, the importer of strength to my people, whom I
worshipped as my mother and protected more than my life, is taken
daily to the slaughter-house and ruthlessly butchered by the
unbelievers.... How can I bear this heartrending spectacle? Have
all our leaders become like helpless figures on the chess-board? What
misfortune has overtaken the land!"

NOTE 5

TILAK IN THE CIVIL COURTS.

The Tai Maharaj case came up once more in September on the Appellate
side of the Bombay High Court on appeal against the decision of the
Lower Courts. It was contended on behalf of Tai Maharaj, the widow, that
her adoption of one Jagganath was invalid owing to the undue influence
brought to bear upon her at the time by Tilak and one of his friends and
political associates, Mr. G.S. Khaparde, who were executors under the
will of her husband, Shri Baba Maharajah. Mr. Justice Chandava