Part 6

“One day, in the spring-time, the king, accompanied by his queens, went to take a stroll in a garden. There was a large tank in that garden, and the lotus was in full bloom therein. On beholding the beauty of the tank, the king stripped off his clothes, and went down to bathe. Having plucked a flower, and come to the side, he was handing it to one of the queens, when it slipped from his hand and fell on the queen’s foot; and by the blow it inflicted the queen’s foot was broken. On this the king became alarmed, and forthwith coming out from the tank, began applying remedies; and in the meantime night came on, and the moon shone forth. No sooner did the moon’s beams fall, than blisters arose on the body of the second queen. Farther, just then the sound of a wooden pestle from some householder’s suddenly reached the third queen, and she was instantly attacked with so severe a headache, that she fainted away.”

After narrating so much, the sprite said, “O king! which of these three was the most delicate?” The king replied, “The one who got the pain in the head and fainted away, she was the most delicate.” On hearing these words, the sprite again went and suspended himself on that tree; and the king went there and took him down, and, making a bundle of him, placed him on his shoulder, and walked off with him.

TALE XI.

The sprite said, “Your majesty! there is a city named Punyapur, the king of which was named Ballabh, and his minister’s name was Satyaprakash, (and) the name of the minister’s wife was Lakshmi. One day the king said to his minister, ‘If one who is a king does not enjoy himself with beautiful women, his holding sovereignty is in vain.’ Having said this, and made over the burthen of government to the minister, he himself gladly entered upon a course of amorous pleasures. He abandoned all cares of the state, and commenced spending his days and nights in enjoyment.”

“It so happened that, one day, the minister was sitting dejected at home, when his wife asked him, ‘Husband! you seem to me to be very weak?’ He replied, saying, ‘Night and day the cares of government weigh heavily on me, and hence my body has become feeble; while the king is the whole day long occupied with his own pleasures and enjoyment.’ The minister’s wife said, ‘O husband! you have carried on the government for a long time, now take leave of the king, and undertake a pilgrimage for few days.’”

“He remained silent on hearing this speech of hers. Afterwards, when he stirred out (_lit_. when he rose thence), he went to the king at the time of his holding a court, and, obtaining his permission to go, set out on a pilgrimage. Journeying on, he reached Setband Rãmeshwar, * on the sea-coast. As soon as he arrived there, he visited the shrine of Mahãdeva, and came out (of the temple), when, his gaze happening to stray towards the sea, what does he behold, but a (marvellous) tree of gold come up out of it, the leaves of which were emeralds, the blossoms topazes, the fruits corals,--it presented a most beautiful sight! And seated on the tree was a very beautiful woman, holding a lute in her hands, and singing in most soft and sweet strains. After a few minutes the tree disappeared in the ocean.”

* etband (from the Sanskrit setu-bandha) signifies a dike or bridge, and is applied to the ridge of rooks between the Coromandel coast and Ceylon. This dike or bridge is said to have been built by the allies of Rama (i.e., the monkey army under the leadership of Hanuman), when he invaded Ceylon to recover his wife Sltã, who had been carried off thither by Bãvan. It is said that, as fast as the monkeys built up the dike, Bãvan destroyed it; so, to prevent his doing this, Bãma erected a temple to Shiva (the god adored by Bavan) at the extremity of the dike. Thenceforth Setband Rãmeshwar became a place of pilgrimage.

“After beholding this spectacle there, the minister turned back and came to his own city, and, proceeding to the king, made obeisance, and joining his hands, said, ‘Your Majesty! I have witnessed a marvellous sight!’ The monarch said, ‘Describe it.’ The minister said, ‘Your majesty! men of olden time have said that one should not speak of such things as are beyond the comprehension of any one, and which no one would credit. But this thing I saw plainly with my eyes, and hence I speak of it. Your majesty! at the place where the Lord Raghunãth has bridged the ocean, lo! a golden tree came up out of the sea, which was so splendidly loaded with emerald leaves, topaz flowers, and coral fruit, that a description of it is impossible! And upon it was a very beautiful woman, with a lute in her hands, singing the sweetest of strains. But after a few minutes that tree was lost to sight in the ocean.’”

“On hearing these words, the king entrusted the government to the minister, and set out alone for the sea-shore. After several days he arrived there, and entered the temple to pay adoration to Mahãdeva; and having bowed down and worshipped, he came out, when lo! the same tree, woman, and all, rose up (out of the sea). As soon as the king saw her, he leaped into the sea, and went and sat on the same tree. She, together with the king, descended to the nether regions. ** She looked at him (the king) and said, ‘Valiant man! Why hast thou come hither?’ The king replied, ‘I have come, attracted by thy beauty.’ She rejoined, ‘If thou wilt not have intercourse with me during the dark fortnight of the lunar month, I will marry thee.’ The king consented to this arrangement. Notwithstanding this, however, she took the king’s solemn promise, and then married him.”

* Raghunãth (i.e., the lord of the family of Raghu,) is a title of Rama, who, as an incarnation of Vishnu, was born in the family of Raghu.

** Pãtãla is one of the seven Hindu hells, and the region under the earth which is the abode of the Nagas, or serpents with human faces.

“To be brief, when the dark nights set in, she said, ‘Your majesty is not to remain near me today.’ On hearing this, the king left her, taking his sword with him; and going apart, kept secret watch. When it was midnight, a demon came, and, on the instant of arriving, folded her in his arms. No sooner did the king witness this, than he rushed forward with his sword, and said, ‘Foul fiend! lay not thy hand on my wife before my eyes! First fight with me. It was only ere I had set my eyes on you that fear possessed me; now I have no fear.’”

“This said, he drew his sword, and struck such a blow, that the head (of the demon) was severed from the body, and lay quivering on the ground. On beholding this, she said, ‘O gallant man! thou hast done me a great kindness!’ After saying this, she spoke again, saying, ‘It is not every mountain that contains rubies, nor every city that holds true men, nor does the sandal-tree grow in every forest, nor do pearls exist in the head of every elephant.’ Thereupon the king enquired, ‘Why did this demon come to thee on the fourteenth night of the waning moon?’”

“She said, ‘My father’s name is Vidyãdhar. I am said Vidyãdhar’s daughter. Sundari is my name. Now it was an established custom for my father not to partake of food without me. One day I was not at home at meal-time; thereupon father became angry and pronounced a curse on me, saying, ‘A demon will come and embrace thee every fourteenth night of the waning moon.’ On hearing this, I said, ‘Father! you have indeed given me your curse; but now have mercy on me!’ He replied, ‘When an intrepid man shall come and slay that demon, thou wilt escape from this curse.’ Now, therefore, I have escaped from that curse; and I will now go and pay my respects to my father.’”

“The king said, ‘If thou appreciatest the kindness I have done thee, come at once and visit my dominions; after that, go and visit thy father.’ She said, ‘Very well; I consent to what you say.’ Thereupon the king brought heir with him to his capital. Festive music and rejoicing began to take place. The news spread throughout the city that the king had arrived. Then songs of congratulation and merry-making commenced in every house; and after that, all the musicians and singers of the city came and offered their congratulations at the court. The king gave away many presents, and performed many pious acts.”

“Again, after some days that fair one said, ‘Now, your majesty! I will go to my father’s.’ The king said in sadness, ‘Very well: go.’ When she perceived the king to be sad, she said, ‘Your majesty! I will not go.’ The king said, ‘Why hast thou given up the idea of going to thy father?’ She replied, ‘I have now become one of the human race, and my father is a demi-god; * were I to go now, he would show me no respect: this is my reason for not going.’ On hearing this the king was highly delighted, and gave away lacs of rupees in presents and religious offerings. Hearing of these matters touching the king, the minister died broken-hearted.”

* The Gandharvas are demi-gods inhabiting Indra’s heaven, and serving as celestial musicians.

Having told so much of the tale, the sprite said, “O king! why did the minister die?” Then king Bïr Vikramãjït said, “The minister perceived that the king had taken to sensual enjoyments, and banished all the cares of government from his mind; that the subjects had lost their master (or protector); and so, no one would heed what he (the minister) said. This is the anxiety of which he died.” Having heard this, the sprite went again and hung himself on that tree. The king went again, as on previous occasions, and placed him on his shoulder, and carried him away.

TALE XII.

The sprite said, “O king Bir Vikramãjit! There is a city named Chürãpur, where a king named Chürãman ruled, whose spiritual teacher’s name was Devaswãmi, and he had a son named Hariswãmï. He was as beautiful as Cupid, equalled Brihaspati * in his knowledge of scientific and religious treatises, and was as wealthy as Kuvera. He wedded and brought home a Brahman’s daughter, whose name was Lãvanyavatï.”

* Brihaspati is the regent of the planet Jupiter, and the preceptor of the gods. Kuvera is the god of wealth.

“To be brief, one night in the hot season they were both sleeping soundly on the flat roof of a summer house. The woman’s veil accidentally slipped off her face, while a demi-god, seated on a car, was proceeding somewhere through the air. His gaze suddenly falling upon her, he lowered the car, and placing her, asleep, on the car, flew off with her. After some time the Brahman also awoke, and lo! his wife was not (beside him). On this he became alarmed, and coming down from thence, searched throughout the house. When he did not find her there either, he went about seeking her through all the streets and lanes of the city, but did not find her. Thereupon he began to say to himself, ‘Who has carried her off? and whither has she gone?”’

“In short, when his efforts were of no avail, he returned home helpless and regretful, and searched for her there a second time, but did not find her. When the house appeared desolate to him without her, he lost all self-control in his disquietude and misery, and began crying out, Oh, darling of my soul! oh, darling of my soul! Further, being exceedingly agitated by her separation from him, he gave up the position of a householder, renounced the world, girt a simple waist-cloth round his loins, rubbed the ashes of burnt cow-dung on his body, put on a necklace of beads, quitted the town, and set out on a pilgrimage. Proceeding on his pilgrimage from town to town, and village to village, he reached a certain town at midday.”

“When extreme hunger left him no alternative, he made a cup-shaped vessel of the leaves of a dhãk-tree, and carrying it to the house of a Brahman, said to him, ‘Give me some food in alms.’ (The fact is, when a man comes under the influence of love, he has no thought of duty, caste, or food; and, regardless of everything, he eats food wherever he can obtain it.) When he begged alms of the Brahman, he (the Brahman) took the cup-shaped vessel from him and entered the house, and brought it (back) to him filled with rice boiled in milk. He took the cup, and came to the margin of a tank. There was a large banyan-tree there. He placed the cup at the root of that, and went to wash his face and hands in the tank.”

“A black snake came out from the roots of the tree, and having dipped its mouth into the cup, went away; and so the whole contents of the cup had become poisoned, when, in the meantime, he also returned after washing his hands and face. This matter, however, was unknown to him; while hunger, on the other hand, beset him sorely. (Thus) he ate the rice and milk as soon as he came, and the poison instantly entered his system. Thereupon he went to the Brahman and said, ‘Thou hast given me poison, and I am now dying of it.’ Having said so much, he reeled and fell, and died. Again, the Brahman, seeing him dead, turned his own wife out of the house, and said, ‘Go thou hence, thou murderess of a Brahman!’”

Having told so much of the tale, the sprite said, “O king! to which of these does the guilt of killing a Brahman attach?” The king said, “Poison exists in a snake’s mouth as a matter of course; therefore no guilt attaches to it. Again, the Brahman gave him alms, considering him to be hungry; (therefore) guilt does not attach to him. Further, the Brahman’s wife had given him alms at the bidding of her husband; she, too, is without sin. And he ate the milk and rice unwittingly, and hence he also is guiltless. In short, whoever imputes guilt to anyone of these, is himself a sinner.” On hearing this, the sprite went again and hung on to that tree; and the king also went there, and taking him down and binding him, placed him on his shoulder, and carried him away from there.

TALE XIII.

The sprite said, “O king! there is a city named Chandra-hriday, and a king named Randhir ruled there. There was in the city a merchant named Dharmdhwaj, whose daughter’s name was Shobhani; and indeed she was very beautiful. Her youthful prime was daily developing itself, and her beauty was each moment increasing.”

“It so happened that robberies became a nightly occurrence in that city. When the merchants experienced much vexation at the hands of the thieves, they all went to the king in a body and said, ‘Your majesty! thieves have committed great outrage in the city; we can no longer dwell in the place.’ The king replied, saying, ‘Well; what has happened is beyond remedy (_lit._, what has happened, has happened); but henceforth you shall suffer no annoyance; I will take vigorous measures against them.’ After saying this, the king summoned a number of people and told them off to keep guard, and directed them how to keep watch, and commanded them to slay the thieves wherever they found them, without asking any questions.”

“People began to keep watch over the city, by night, and yet robberies took place. All the merchants proceeded in a body to the king, and said, ‘Your majesty has sent watchmen, and yet the thieves have not decreased in number, and thefts occur daily.’ The king replied, ‘Do you take your leave now; from to-night I will go forth to watch over the city.’ On hearing this, they left the king, and went each to his own home. Now, when it was night, the king took his sword and shield, and, on foot and alone, began his watch over the city. Having advanced some distance in the course of his watch, and looked closely, he perceived a thief coming towards him. On seeing him, the king called out, ‘Who art thou?’ He replied, saying, ‘I am a thief; who art thou?’ The king said (in reply), ‘I also am a thief.’ He was pleased on hearing this, and said, ‘Let us commit a robbery together.’”

“Settling this matter between them, the king and the thief, conversing with one another, entered one of the quarters of the city, and after committing thefts in several houses, carried off the articles, and came to a well without the city, and having gone down into it, ultimately reached the chief city of the nether regions. The thief stationed the king at the gate, and took the money and treasures to his own house. In the meantime a woman-servant came out of his house, and, seeing the king, began to say, ‘Your majesty! what a place you have come to with that miscreant! Well will it be if, ere he return, you fly hence as fast as you possibly can; otherwise he will kill you as soon as he arrives,’ The king replied, ‘But I do not know the road! In which direction should I go?’ Then the servant showed him the road, and the king came to his palace.”

“In fine, on the following day the king, with all his forces, went to the chief city of the nether regions by the road down the well, and surrounded the entire household of the thief; but the thief, escaping by some other road, went to the ruler of that city, who was a demon, and said, ‘A king has led an attack against my house with the view to kill me; at this moment, either you must aid me, or I will give up dwelling in your city, and take my abode in some other place.’ On hearing this, the demon said, graciously, ‘You have supplied me with food; I am well pleased with you.’ Having said this, the demon went where the king was with his army, surrounding the house, and began devouring the men and horses. And the king fled on beholding the form of the demon; and all such as were able to run away, escaped; and the rest the demon devoured.”

“To be brief the king was running off alone, when the thief came and cried out, ‘Art thou, a Rajpüt, flying from the battle?’ On the instant of hearing this, the king halted again, and the two confronted one another, and began to fight. At length the king overcame him, and bound his hands behind his back, and brought him into the city. After that, having had him bathed and washed, and clothed in fine apparel, and mounted on a camel, he sent him all round the city, accompanied by a crier, and ordered the impaling stake to be erected for him. Whoever among the people of the city saw him said, ‘This same thief has plundered the whole city, and the king will now impale him.’”

“When the thief arrived near the house of the merchant Dharmdhwaj, the merchant’s daughter hearing the sound of the crier’s drum, asked her handmaid, ‘What is this proclamation about?’ She replied, ‘The king has brought captive the thief who used to commit robberies in the city. Now he will impale him.’ On hearing this, she also came running (to the lattice) to see. No sooner did she behold the thief’s comeliness and manly form than she became fascinated; and, coming to her father, said, ‘Do you go to the king this moment, and return with that thief released.’ The merchant said, ‘How can it be expected that, at my request, the king will release the thief who has robbed his whole city, and on whose account his whole army has been destroyed?’ She again urged, ‘If you have to give up even all you possess for the king to release him, do you bring him away free; and should he not come, I too will sacrifice my life.’”

“On hearing this, the merchant went to the king, and said, ‘Your majesty! receive five lacs of rupees from me, and set the thief at liberty.’ The king said, ‘This thief robbed the whole city, and my whole army was swallowed up through him. I will not on any account let him go.’ When the king did not heed his request, he returned home in despair, and said to his daughter, ‘I said all that it was right to say, but the king did not consent.’”

“In the meantime, having had the thief taken round the city, they brought him to a stand-still near the impaling stake. Now, the thief having heard of the predicament of the merchant’s daughter, first laughed aloud, and then wept bitterly. The people the while pulled him down on the stake. And the merchant’s daughter, receiving intimation of his death, came to the same place to devote herself to death for his sake. She had a funeral pile constructed, and sitting thereon, had the thief taken off the stake, placed his head on her lap, apd quietly seated herself to be burnt. She was on the point of having the torch put to it (the pile), when (a temple sacred to Devi happening to be on the spot) Devi instantly came out of her temple and said, ‘Daughter! I am pleased with thy courage; request a boon.’ She said, ‘Mother! if thou art pleased with me, restore this thief to life.’ Thereupon the goddess said, ‘Even so shall it be.’ Having said this, she brought nectar from the under-world, and restored the thief to life.”

Having told so much of the story, the sprite inquired, “Say, O king! why the thief first laughed, and why he afterwards wept?” The king said, “I know the reason why he laughed, and I know also why he wept. Attend, O sprite! The thief thought within himself,--‘Now that she is giving up all that she possesses to the king for my sake, what return can I make?’ He wept at the thought of this. Again, however, he reflected, ‘She loved me when I was about to die: the ways of God are altogether inscrutable; He bestows wealth on the unlucky, knowledge on one of low origin, a beautiful wife on a fool, and He causes rain to fall in showers on the mountains.’ Thinking of such things, he laughed.” On hearing this, the sprite went again and hung on to that tree. The king returned there, and unloosing him, made a bundle of him, placed him on his shoulder, and took him away.

TALE XIV.

The sprite said, “Attend, King Vikram! There is a city named Kusmavati, of which one Subichãr was king, whose daughter’s name was Chandra-prabhã. When she became marriageable, she went out one spring day, along with her companions, to stroll about in the garden. Now, before arrangements had been made for the ladies to come out (i.e., before the garden had been cleared of all strangers and others not permitted to set eyes on the women), a Brahman’s son, named Manswi, of twenty years or so, very handsome, had come into the garden in the course of his wanderings, and meeting with cool shade under a tree, had fallen asleep there. The king’s attendants came and made arrangements for the ladies of the seraglio in the garden, but it so happened that none of them saw the Brahman’s son sleeping there; and so he continued sleeping under that tree, and the princess entered the garden with her attendants. Strolling about with her companions, where does she come but to the place where the Brahman’s son was sleeping! She no sooner arrived there than he also awoke at the sound of the people’s footsteps. The eyes of both met; and to such a degree did they come under Cupid’s power, that on the one side the Brahman’s son fell upon the ground in a swoon, on the other, she too was so beside herself, that her legs began to tremble. Her companions, however, quickly laid hold of her on the very instant. At last, they laid her down in a litter, and brought her home. And the Brahman’s son was lying in so complete a state of insensibility here, that he had no consciousness whatever of his body or mind.”

“During this interval two Brahmans, named Shashi and Müldeva, from the country of Kanvrü, where they had studied the (occult) sciences, happened to pass by there. Müldeva, seeing the Brahman’s son lying, said, ‘Shashi! how is it that he is lying in such utter unconsciousness?’ He replied, ‘A damsel has shot forth the arrows of her eyes from the bow of her eyebrows; hence he is lying insensible.’ Müldeva said, ‘We ought to rouse him.’ He replied, ‘What need is there for you to rouse him?’ He did not heed Shashi’s words, but sprinkled water over him, and restored him to consciousness, and asked, ‘What has been the matter with thee?’ The Brahman said, ‘One should relate his troubles to him who can remove them; for what is to be gained by relating your sorrows to him who, on hearing of them, is unable to remove them?’ He said, ‘Well, tell me your troubles; I will remove them.’”