SARALA SOLAKOSHA :MOHAPATRA RAJENDRA PRASAD

PREFACE

Late Mohapatra Rajendra Prasad is a familiar personality in the field of Oriya Literature. He was the managing secretary of the Calcutta-based "Asanta Kali". He was quite familiar among his innumerable readers through his writings. His novels dramas and short-stories are widely accepted with honour by his readers admirers. The number of unpublished compositions far out numbers the published ones. his devoted and persevered literary activities have remained incomplete. Cruel time snatched away the very opportunity from him. No doubt, his dead body has disappeared into the passage of time; but his immortal soul will forever live in the hearts of his readers.
Before his literary compositions get lost in the vast labyrinth of time, literatures who reckon his creative genius are assiduously trying to salvage them under the banner of "Mohapatra Rajendra Prasad Smruti Sansada". Traditional customs, fanciful stories and myths are the very basis of his stories published in this book. While reading these stories one feels as if one is absorbed amidst the facts of the tales. We have strong and steady hope and faith that his soul shall surely beget peace and tranquility once his stories reach his readers.

THE WRITER'S BRIEF

The imaginative tales narrated here in this books are inter over from the hints collected from palm leave books and from Kanduli Charan Ray (who claims to be a descendant of King Bhujabala) of Jharsahi Village near Tirtol.
   As many drops of water being collected together from a sea, stories about many kings or fanciful stories being combined give rise to a myth. Each tale that was circulated in Sarala Mandal before thousand of years is a specimen in itself.
   Towards the north of Tirtol police station if one crosses the Taladanda Canal one comes across a ganda in the Palanda known as "Elephant Ganda". It is heard from the people that the elephants of King Bhujabala used to play in the water here. Towards the south of the village Jharsahi there is Harijan Sahi (the street meant for the living of the untouchable) and after crossing that place one comes across two places, namely Hathidiha and Ghodadiha (Stables for Elephants and horses). There were located the stables for elephants and the horses. Darisahu huda lies exactly nearby these two places.
   Woman from different places were brought to Bania Sahi (Street for the goldsmith's house) located on the south-west of Jharsahi and were given shelter there for the entertainment of the king. There is a high mound there, known as Badadiha (high plee). Here was located the rangasthala (King's meeting place) of king Bhujabala. And the tank there is known as King's Kansadhua Gadai. (Utensils washing place)
The younger brother of kind Bhujabal was Bahubala. King Bhujabala was a knowledgeable, conscientious, out-loving and luxurious man. His brother on the other had, was cruel, ignorant and unconscientiously. The king's treasure house was full of corn, pearl and gems. Whatever was spent, it was spent only on giving away things and on pious activities. Businessman used to go abroad on business and paid taxes to the king.
According to a myth, of our thousand years ago, King Bhujabala's predecessors supported the Kauravas in the Mohabharat war. All their might were brought to ruin because of Bhima's mace striking.
King Bhujabala was never weak. But he avoided war for fear of loss of property and lives and the in of law less ness into his state.

BRAHMA GNYANA

   Brahma created man and provided varieties of power. Then he thought what more power could man be given. In the meanwhile Devi Saraswati arrived and asked. "What are you thinking so deeply ?"
   Brahma said " I think to provide man with Brahma gnyana. But I am afraid, because of they are given Brahma gyana they will go ahead of the gods. Although I know it, I have resolved to give them Brahmagyana. Where I shall conceal this Brahamagnyana. Where shall I hide it; so that man cannot get at it easily ? questioned Brahmadeva.
    Devi Saraswati said "You can conceal it in th4e sea;"
Brahmadev replied "How much time will be required for so clever an animal like man to go to sea and to find it out ?
Devi Saraswati said "What will happen if it is concealed at the top of the mountain.
   Brahmadev said "Man will face no difficulties in climbing the mountain and to fetch it. Even if it is concealed there under the earth, man can experiment with the soil and can search it out. So think rightly and suggest where it can be hidden.
Mother Saraswati thought a while and said "It can be kept in man's heart".
Brahmadev said "Yes, you have told the right thing. Man who can search out the world will never search trit in his heart.
So a man who can search with full-fledged concentration can surely become a great man.