134 ALBERUNPS INDIA.
this the Hindus relate the following story :—Vyasa
asked Brahman to procure him somebody who might
write for him the Bhdrata from his dictation. Now he
intrusted with this task his son Vinayaka, who is re¬
presented as an idol with an elephant's head, and made
it obligatory on him never to cease from writing. At
the same time Vyasa made it obligatory on him to
write only that which he understood. Therefore Vyasa,
in the course of his dictation, dictated such sentences
as compelled the writer to ponder over them, and thereby
Vyasa gained time for resting awhile.