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stances. Moreover, Jagannātha was a scrupulous, pious
Brahmin, It follows therefore that the traditional belief
is not corroborated by the writings of Jagannātha. But
the tradition gains colour when we take into account the
atmosphere at the Imperial Moghul Court. One point,
however, is certain : The Pandit could not have married
a yavana girl. He may perhaps have associated with a
yavani, following the prevailing custom at the Moghul
Court. This keeping of a yavani, too, must have made
Jagannātha a sinner and a derelict in the eyes of the
Brahmins of Benares.
In later years of life, Jagannātha seems to have
ceased taking interest in worldly affairs, and bent on
passing the remainder of his days in piety and peace.
From the 45th verse of the Santavilasa संप्रन्युज्झितवासन
मधुपुरीमध्ये हरिः सेव्यते । it appears bhet he settled in मधुपुरी
i. e.. AT, and passed his days in the devotion of Hari.
This fact would cut right across the common belief that
the Pandit passed his last days on the banks of the
Ganges-in Kāši. This common view seems to be based
on the verse किं निःशंकं शेषे शेषे वयसस्तवागतो सृत्युः । अथवा सख
शयीथा निकटे जागा्ति जाहृवी जननी ॥ (Santa V. 31 ). When
Jagannātha went to Kāši and settled there in old age,
Appayya Diksita is said to have taunted him by saying
that it was no use to be indifferent at the fag end of life,
for Death is almost at the door. To this Jagannātha gave
the brilliant retort that there was no danger to him
because Mother Ganges was near by to take care of him.
From this incident, it appears that Jagannātha passed his
last days in Kāši. How then are these two mutually
discordant pieces of evidence to be explained ? There is,
of course, another reading in place of the line a a a a
वासनं मधुपुरीमध्ये हरिः सेव्यते । This Variant reads: संप्रत्यन्धक-