The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c14.s7.3

c14.s7.3

Folk-poetry as that embodied in the *Madhurāvijayam* associates the exploits of the Hindus with the interventions of the gods. The manner in which the magic sword of the prospective deliverer of the Hindus from the thraldom of the Moslems came into his hands is described in this Telugu poem in the mystical manner of the Irish poet Yeats. "O Sovereign, once upon a time the divine Viśvakarmā, gathering the splinters from the weapons of all the *Devas* (gods) and melting them together," says a strange woman to the son of Bukka I, "shaped this strange sword and presented it to Parameśvara for gaining victory over the *Daityas* (demons)." The fortunes of this magic sword,—like those of that in the Arthurian legend,—are then narrated briefly. The young prince is finally presented with it with the following words: "By wielding this weapon," says the strange woman, "you will attain unabating vigour and the weapons of the enemy will become powerless against you. Just as Kṛiṣṇa slew Kamsa in Mathurā in olden times, O king! do you proceed now to the southern Mathurā and slaughter the Mussalman king, the enemy of the world.''