Part 24

At that time, [as he believed this], having removed the stones and earth [that he had placed] in the tunnel down which the Prince went, the King also began to go. Having handed over the sovereignty to the Crown and the Sword [of State], and gone near the tunnel, and summoned everybody (serotoma), he says, "Having handed over the sovereignty to the Crown and the Sword, I am going. When I have gone for the space (taena) of three months and three poyas, I shall come back. Until the time when I come be careful."

At the very time when he is descending into the tunnel, they brought elephants, and having put stones and earth in it, when they trampled them down the King died.

Three poyas and three days and three months went by. He came not ever.

As the sovereignty was going to be lost, loading on the tusk elephant's back the robes and the Crown and the Sword, and having made notification by tom-toms, at the time when it is walking in the street the Mi-flower Princess, and Na-flower Princess, and Blue-lotus-flower Princess say to the Prince, "To-day you, Sir, will obtain the sovereignty. Do not go anywhere."

Thereupon the Prince says, "How do you know?"

These three say, "Now, now, you will obtain it."

The tusk elephant having come, when it was making obeisance by kneeling he mounted on the tusk elephant, and putting on the Crown and taking the Sword in his hand, he went to the palace.

For the dead King there were five hundred Princesses. Having separated them in a different house, he allowed the five hundred to be [there]. Thereafter, after building separate houses for the Mi-flower Princess, and for the Na-flower Princess, and for the Blue-lotus-flower Princess, he sent them to them.

At the time when he was exercising the sovereignty in that manner, the country of his parents who told [the executioner] to behead this one, became abandoned. When this King was on the floor of the upper story, while this one's elder elder brother, taking a bundle of firewood [for sale], was going through the midst of the city, the King saw him. Having called him, and after he had thrown down the bundle of firewood having summoned him to come here, this King says, "There is not permission for yourself to come again to this city," and he sent away this one.

At the next occasion, on the second day, at the time when the younger elder brother was coming, taking a pingo (carrying-stick) load of Jak [fruit], the King tells this one also. Calling him near he says, "Why hast thou brought Jak? Has thy city become waste, or what? Why is it?" he asks at the hand of this man who brought Jak.

At that time this one says, "Our country having become waste, there is much scarcity of food to eat, for our King and people."

Thereupon this King says, "Canst thou come here with the three persons (his parents and other brother)?"

This one says, "Ane! O Lord; send us two, for us to come with those two." Thereupon the King, having been troubled [at the news], sent the two persons.

These two having gone, say to this one's two parents, "Ane! Father-King, that King says that we four persons--between that city and this city there is a river--having come to the river he says we are to remain [there]." Thereupon, because there was no food for the four persons, and because they could not endure the hunger, on the second poya day, at the time when the moon had risen they came to the river, and stayed there.

Thereupon the King, and the Mi-flower Princess, and the Na-flower Princess, and the Blue-lotus-flower Princess, sitting on the chariot, went near the river. Having seen these four persons, and descended from the chariot, he told that party of four persons to ascend the chariot.

Then the four persons say, "Ane! We cannot mount on this. Whether you, Sir, [are going] to behead [261] us, or chop us [in pieces], [262] or kill us [in some other way], we do not know. We cannot mount on it."

Making them mount by harassing them and combating [their objections], [263] they came to the palace. Having come to the palace, after having given them a separate house to live in, and given them expenses for food, he said, "Don't you be afraid; you remain [here]," this King says to these four persons.

At the time when a long period had gone by in this manner, the King thought that with the four persons he must eat food at one table. Having thought so, after three or four months he sent four men to the four persons, and having caused them to bathe, and [then] caused them to bathe in coconut milk scented with sandal-wood, [264] and given to all the four persons four pairs of vestments that day, [265] he told [the servants] to send food [for all] to eat at one table.

They having sent the food [and] table, and the four persons sitting down together with the Mi-flower, the Na-flower, the Blue-lotus-flower Princesses, at the time when he tells them to eat the cooked rice the four say, "Ane! We cannot eat at one table with you, Sir. How can you, Sir, a King, and we, eat [together]?" these four persons say.

The King says, "Nothing will happen through your eating at one table with me."

At the time when, through [his] harassing them and combating [their objections], [266] they are eating [after] having sat down at one table, the King asks, "Can you, or cannot you recognise me?" the King asks.

Thereupon the four persons say, "Ane! We cannot recognise you."

At the time when they have said and said [this], three drops of milk having come from the breast of his mother fell on the King's face. [267] When they fell she began to weep.

Thereupon the King says, "Don't cry. The thing I said became correct."

At that time the King [his father] becoming afraid and terrified, he said, "Father-King, here, behold! the Mi-flower Princess. Here, behold! the Na-flower Princess. Here, behold! the Blue-lotus-flower Princess," and showed them.

Then the King says, "Are you willing to take the sovereignty of the city?" he asked at the hand of the King's father. "I can," he said.

To his father he gave the sovereignty. To the elder brother he gave the Ministership (aemaetkoma); he appointed the [second] Ministership for the younger elder brother. "Now then," he said, "when we have gone you will not give us a little betel!"

In this story is [related] the manner in which a foolish King, taking the sovereignty, without considering exercised the sovereignty.

North-western Province.

In The Indian Antiquary, vol. xviii, p. 120, in a South Indian (Tamil) story by Pandit S. M. Natesa Sastri, a Brahmana who had seven sons asked them one night what they would like to do. The elders expressed good wishes, but the youngest stated that he would like to spend the fine moonlight in a beautiful house with lovely girls. The father turned him out for saying this, and he had various adventures unlike those of this Sinhalese story.

In the same work, vol. xxvi, p. 109, in a Telugu story by G. R. Subramiah Pantulu, Divijakirtti, King of Cholamandala, had three sons, of each one of whom he inquired what he most desired. The first wished to be surrounded by learned men and to study the great Indian Epics and sacred books, the second wished to obtain wealth and visit sacred shrines, the third wanted to acquire a kingdom and gain a good reputation by making it prosperous. The King made over the sovereignty to the third one, giving the first one villages and the second one money to go on a pilgrimage.

In The Jataka, No. 96 (vol. i, p. 234), the Bodhisatta received a charmed thread and some charmed sand from Pacceka Buddhas as safe-guards on a journey. These preserved him, the sand placed on his head and the thread twisted round his brow, from an Ogress (Rakshasi) who, with others, devoured all in the palace.

In The Jataka, No. 380 (vol. iii, p. 161) a "being of perfect merit" fell from Sakra's heaven, and was re-born as a girl inside a lotus flower. "When the other lotuses grew old and fell, that one grew great and stood." An ascetic opened it, found the girl inside, and reared her. Sakra created a crystal palace for her, provided her with divine clothing and food, and in the end the King of Benares married her.

In The Story of Madana Kama Raja (Natesa Sastri), p. 81, when a King of Udayagiri one moonlight night asked his seven sons what they would like to be doing, the first suggested leading an army into an enemy's country, the second wished to be irrigating some land, the third wished to be ploughing, the fourth to be walking from one village to another, the fifth to be hunting, the sixth to be a cooly. The seventh son wished to be the sole Emperor of the world, reclining on a couch, attended by four wives, the daughters of Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Adisesha (the serpent-king). His mother, hearing that he was to be executed for this wish, sent him away secretly with a bag of money. Next morning the executioners showed the blood of an animal as that of the Prince. The Prince acquired the wished-for wives, induced a King who tried to kill him, to jump into a fire from which he himself had come successfully by Agni's aid, and became King of a magic city. In the meantime his father had been driven out of Udayagiri, and with his wife and other sons got a living by selling firewood. The young King recognised them, gave the sovereignty to his father, and himself took the post of Minister. He had further adventures afterwards.

There are several Indian accounts of girls who made their appearance out of fruits or flowers, and one of a Prince, in addition to the deity in the tale numbered 153, and the sons of King Sagara, mentioned in the note after it. In one old legend the Goddess Pattini in one incarnation was produced from a Mango fruit, and in another from a Blue-lotus flower.

In Old Deccan Days (M. Frere), p. 96, a girl was found inside a Mango fruit.

In Indian Fairy Tales (M. Stokes), p. 11, a Prince and Princess who had been killed came to life afresh inside two fruits produced on a tree which grew at the spot where their livers had been thrown. At p. 81 a Princess reappeared full-grown inside a fruit in a King's garden. At p. 138, there is an account of a Princess who issued full-grown from a Bel fruit (Ægle marmelos). After being drowned she became a Pink-lotus flower, and when this was destroyed she reappeared as an infant inside a Bel fruit.

In the Kolhan tales (Bompas) appended to Folklore of the Santal Parganas, p. 461, there is a story of this type regarding a Princess who was in a Bel fruit.

In the Katha Sarit Sagara (Tawney), vol. ii, p. 142, a tear of joy fell from the eye of a Vidyadhara maiden on a Jambu flower, and a fruit was produced; when it fell and broke open a heavenly maiden came out of it, and was reared by a hermit.

In Cinq Cents Contes et Apologues (Chavannes), vol. iii, p. 327, a Buddhist nun, Amrapali, related an account of her previous births during ninety-one kalpas, from mango flowers. The details of her last birth are given; she became the mother of the celebrated physician Jivaka, the son of King Bimbisara, and afterwards took the religious vows. Professor Chavannes states that the work in which this story occurs was translated into Chinese between A.D. 148 and 170.

In the same volume, p. 337, there is a story of the birth of two other girls from flowers, one from a Sumana flower and the other from a Blue lotus.

In Korean Tales (Dr. H. N. Allen), p. 164, a girl who had drowned herself to appease an evil spirit who refused to allow the passage of some boats, was sent back to life in a large flower on a plant floating on the sea. A King who preserved the flower saw her when she emerged at night, and married her.

In the Maha Bharata (Vana Parva, cxlvi ff.) Bhimasena, one of the Pandava Princes, went in search of golden lotus flowers, and found them in a lake at the Gandhamadana mountain, belonging to Kuvera, the God of Wealth.

In Reynard the Fox in Southern Africa (Dr. Bleek), p. 55, a girl appeared out of a calabash in which a woman had placed her daughter's heart after it had been recovered from the body of a lion that had eaten her. The woman put with it the first milk of the cows which calved.

THE STORY OF THE SHE-GOAT. (Variant a.)

In a certain country there are a King and a Queen, it is said. There is an only Prince of the Queen's.

The King was stricken by a very great scarcity (sayak). Well then, the Queen and the King and the Prince devoured (plundered) all the things and pansalas (monks' residences) that were in the city. Having devoured them, on the day when they were finished the King said at the hand of the Queen, "To-morrow I must behead our Prince." So the Queen, having tied a little cooked rice in a packet and given it into the hand of the Prince, said, "Go thou away to any place thou wantest."

After that, the Prince taking the packet of cooked rice and having gone on and on, and eaten the packet of cooked rice sitting upon a rock, looked about, saying, "Where is a smoke rising?" When he looked a smoke was visible.

After that, having descended from the rock, as he was going away he met with some goats; in the party of goats there was a large she-goat. When the Prince was going near the she-goat, the she-goat expectorated.

The Prince, taking the piece of spittle and wrapping it in his handkerchief, went to the house of a widow woman. Having gone there and given the handkerchief into the hand of the widow-mother, he said, "Mother, having placed this handkerchief in the very bottommost pot, [268] put it away." After that, the woman having placed the handkerchief in the very bottommost pot, put it away.

After seven days went by, having taken out the handkerchief, at the time when he looked [in the pot] three Princesses and four young rats were there, and filled the pot. Afterwards he took the three Princesses out of the pot. Having taken them out, placing the three Princesses in that very house, the Prince, marrying them, remained there.

While he was living in that very way, news reached the King, the Prince's father, that this Prince is living with (lit., near) the widow-mother. Afterwards the King came there on horse-back, together with the army. Having come, he said to the Prince, "Can you pluck and give me the Blue-lotus flower which is in the Great Sea?" Then the Prince said, "I can."

Owing to it, the widow woman was weeping at the Prince's saying he can. The three Princesses asked, "What, mother, are you weeping for?"

Then the widow-mother says, "Ane! Now then, my son will die when he has gone into the Great Sea."

Then the three Princesses say, "Ane! What do you weep at that for? Bring a little sand from an untrodden place." The widow woman brought a little sand from an untrodden place.

Afterwards, the youngest Princess, having uttered spells over the sand, and given it into the Prince's hand, said, "Having gone into the Sea, when you put down this little sand, firm sand will become clear (i.e., will appear above the water). Having gone a little distance again, when you again put down a little sand, firm sand will become clear. Having come quite close [to the flower], when you have held the hands in a cup shape the Blue-lotus flower will come into the hands."

Afterwards, the Prince, in that very manner having gone upon the hard sand, held his hands in a cup shape; then it came into his hands. Having taken it, when he comes back the King is still at the widow woman's house. Afterwards the Prince gave the Blue-lotus flower into the King's hand. Thereupon the King thought to himself, "Ah, Bola! by this also I was unable to kill this one." [269]

There is a Bee-hive in a forest; no one can draw out [the honey combs]. The bees come further than two gawwas [270] (each of four miles) [to attack would-be plunderers of the hive]. To draw out that Bee-hive the King told this Prince. The Prince said, "I can."

Afterwards that widow-mother is weeping. Then the three Princesses asked, "What is it, mother, you are weeping for?"

Then the widow-mother said, "When my son has gone to draw out [the honey-combs at] the Bee-hive, the bees having stung (lit., eaten) him he will die."

Then the Princesses said, "What are you crying for on that account? Come back [after] breaking a branch without disease or former disease." [271] Afterwards the woman, breaking a branch without disease or former disease, came back and gave it.

After that, the youngest Princess, having uttered spells for the branch, and given it into the Prince's hand, said, "Strike at the Bee-hive with this branch; then the bees will go. Well then, you will be able to draw the Bee-hive."

The Prince, having taken the branch, and gone to the place where the Bee-hive is, struck the Bee-hive with the branch. The bees went away. The Prince, drawing out [the honey-comb of] the Bee-hive, [272] came back and gave it to the King.

The King thought to himself, "Ah, Bola! after I was unable to kill this one by this also, what shall I do?"

Thinking [thus], he cut a well. Having cut it, and at the very bottom [273] having left a little earth, he said to the Prince, "Having descended down this, you must take out this earth to-morrow."

Afterwards the Prince told it at the hand of the widow-mother; then the widow-mother wept. The young rats asked, "What is it, mother, that you are weeping for?"

The widow-mother said, "When our son has gone into that well he will die."

Then the four young rats said, "What are you weeping for at that?" From the house to the well they cut a tunnel. Having cut it, they said at the Prince's hand, "We have cut the tunnel from this house until the time when it goes to the well. When you have gone into the well, should the King close it with earth [274] come along this tunnel." Having said [this], they showed the tunnel to the Prince.

On the following day, the King having told the Prince to descend into the well, the King remained on the surface. The Prince having descended into the well, when he is about (lit., making) to try to take a little earth the King closed it with earth.

Then this Prince having come along that tunnel to the house of the widow-mother, remained [there].

Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.

In the Katha Sarit Sagara (Tawney), vol. i, p. 549, it is stated that in a country in which the deficiency of rain had caused a famine, "the King began to play the bandit, leaving the right path, and taking wealth from his subjects unlawfully."

In the same work, vol. ii, p. 569, a great sandbank is described as suddenly rising up in the midst of the sea, near Ceylon.

THE STORY OF A NOBLEMAN'S SON. [275] (Variant b.)

In a certain country there were three Princes, [the sons] of a nobleman. Having called the eldest Prince of the same three Princes he asks from the same Prince, "Son, what is the work thou canst do?" he asked.

Thereupon the big Prince says, "Father, having gone to a threshing-floor on the [full moon] poya day, on the fifteenth of the light half [of the lunar month], it would be good to spread [and thresh] the stacks, if the moon be shining and shining," he said. Thereupon he told the same Prince to go aside.

Having called the next Prince he asked, "Son, on the second poya day, on the fifteenth of this bright half [of the lunar month], what is the best work to do? What the best journey to go on?"

The Prince says, "Father, according to me, on the second poya day, on the fifteenth of the bright half, when they have put packs on seven or eight pairs of bulls, if they drive them [on a trading journey] when the moon is shining and shining, it would be good," he said. Thereupon the father told the Prince to go aside.

Having called the young Prince he asked, "Son, on this second poya day, on the fifteenth of the bright half [of the lunar month], what is the best work to do? What are the best journeys to go on?"

Thereupon the young Prince says, "Father, according to me, if I should have placed the head on the Goat Queen's waist pocket, my shoulder on the Blue-Lotus Queen's waist pocket, my two feet on the Mi-flower Queen's waist pocket, it would be good," he said.

Thereupon the father says to the above-mentioned two Princes, "Cut down this wicked Prince with the sword," he said.

At that time, because they could not kill the young Prince, the above-mentioned two Princes did not speak. Then their mother, having called the above-mentioned two Princes, says, "Having fulfilled the hopes of seven kalpas, [276] [after] being hidden in the womb of one mother you [three] were born. Because of it, do not cut down your younger brother at your father's word," she said.

Having said [to their father], "We are going away to cut him down," they abandoned him in the midst of a very great forest; and having killed a lizard (katussa) and said they killed the Prince, smearing the blood on the sword they came back, and said, "Father, we killed the Prince," and gave him the sword. Thereupon he became [filled] with happiness or great satisfaction.

At the time when the Prince who was left in the midst of the forest was going along in the forest wilderness for seven days, as he was going along eating and eating sugar-canes, pine-apples, sweet oranges, various ripe fruits, he saw a great mountain. Having seen an aerial root of a Banyan which swung there, seizing the aerial root he went [climbing up it] to the rock, and when he looked about he saw a rock cave, and not a country furnished with villages (gama ratak).

Thereupon, holding the aerial root of the Banyan he descended to the ground at the rock, and went away in the direction of the rock cave. Having seen a house near the rock the Prince went to the house.

A woman, called the Mal-kara Amma (garland-making mother), who takes messages to the King of that country, saw that the Prince was going. At the time when she asked, "Where are you going?" a flock of goats which were there saw him, and a large female goat coughed. Thereupon a piece of mucus fell down. Taking the piece of mucus, he tied it up in his waist-pocket.

Thereafter, to the garland-making mother he says, "I am going to a place where they give food and clothing."

Then the garland-making mother says, "I have no child; come, for me to rear you," she said. The Prince said, "It is good," [and went to live with her].

Thereupon, having put [for him] outside [her room] cooked rice and curry, the flower mother went to inform the King. She having thus gone, the things that were in the waist-pocket of the above-mentioned Prince who came to the house, came to their time. [277]

After three days, the Prince having arisen, on seeing the garland-making mother says, "Mother, I will take these flowers and give them to the King," he said.

Thereupon the garland-making mother said, "Don't go." Thereafter, the garland-making mother went to the city [to present the flower-garlands], and came back.

On the following day, when the above-mentioned Prince said that he must go to another place, the garland-making mother says, "Son, beginning from your young age, I reared you until the time when you are becoming as big as this. Now, to what place are you to go?" she said.

"It is so, indeed. Give me the thing that I gave you that day to put away," he said.

Thereupon, the garland-making mother, having gone to take the thing which she had put in the lowest earthen pot that was at the bottom of three or four earthen pots, when she looked saw that a Princess was in it, and being pleased took her out. Then the garland-making mother says, "This Princess is good for my son," and she gave her in marriage to him.

Not much time afterwards, at the time when he was sleeping in that manner [which he mentioned to his father], placing his head on the waist-pocket of the above-mentioned Princess, the Ministers of the King of that country having seen it, told the tale to the King.