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[M] (Main story line continued) AFTER he had gone a long distance, the king encamped that day in a certain forest on the border of a lake. He went to bed weary, and in the evening he said to 厂补峁僩补迟补办补, a story-teller who had come to him on account of the pleasure he took in his service:

鈥淭ell me some tale that will gladden my heart, for I am longing for the joy of beholding the lotus-face of 惭峁沢腻惫补迟墨.鈥�

Then 厂补峁僩补迟补办补 said:

鈥淜ing, why do you grieve without cause? The union with your queen, which will mark the termination of your curse, is nigh at hand. Human beings experience many unions and separations; and I will tell you a story to illustrate this. Listen, my lord.

 

5. Story of 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 and 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨

Once on a time there lived in the country of 惭腻濒补惫补 a Br膩hman named 驰补箩帽补蝉辞尘补. And that good man had two sons born to him, beloved by men. One of them was known as 碍腻濒补苍别尘颈 and the second was named Vigatabhaya. Now when their father had gone to heaven, those two brothers, having passed through the age of childhood, went to the city of 笔腻峁璦濒颈辫耻迟谤补 to acquire learning. And when they had completed their studies their teacher 顿别惫补艣补谤尘补苍 gave them his own two daughters, like another couple of sciences incarnate in bodily form.

Then seeing that the householders around him were rich, 碍腻濒补苍别尘颈 through envy made a vow and propitiated the Goddess of Fortune with burnt-offerings. And the goddess being satisfied appeared in bodily form and said to him:

鈥淭hou shalt obtain great wealth and a son who shall rule the earth; but at last thou shalt be put to death like a robber, because thou hast offered flesh in the fire with impure motives.鈥�^[1]

When she had said this, the goddess disappeared; and 碍腻濒补苍别尘颈 in course of time became very rich; moreover, after some days a son was born to him. So the father, whose desires were now accomplished, called that son 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补,^[2] because he had been obtained by the favour of the Goddess of Fortune. In course of time 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 grew up, and though a Br膩hman, became matchless upon earth in the use of weapons, and in boxing and wrestling.

Then 碍腻濒补苍别尘颈鈥檚 brother Vigatabhaya went to a foreign land, having become desirous of visiting places of pilgrimage, through sorrow鈥� for his wife, who had died of the bite of a snake.

Moreover, the king of the land, 痴补濒濒补产丑补艣补办迟颈, who appreciated good qualities, made 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 the companion of his son 痴颈办谤补尘补艣补办迟颈. So he had to live with a haughty prince, as the impetuous 叠丑墨尘补 lived in his youth with Duryodhana. Then two 碍峁�a迟谤颈测补蝉, natives of Avanti, 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 and 痴补箩谤补尘耻峁ａ弓颈, became friends of that Br膩hman. And some other men from the Deccan, sons of ministers, having been conquered by him in wrestling, resorted to him out of spontaneous friendship, as they knew how to value merit. 惭补丑腻产补濒补 and 痴测腻驳丑谤补产丑补峁璦, and also Upendrabala and a man named 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补, became his friends. One day, as years rolled on, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, being in attendance on the prince, went with him and those friends to sport on the bank of the Ganges; then the prince鈥檚 own servants made him king, and at the same time 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 was chosen king by his friends. This made the prince angry, and in overweening confidence he at once challenged that Br膩hman hero to fight. Then being conquered by him in wrestling, and so disgraced, he made up his mind that this rising hero should be put to death. But 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 found out that intention of the prince鈥檚, and withdrew in alarm with those friends of his from his presence.

And as he was going along he saw in the middle of the Ganges a woman being dragged under by the stream, looking like the Goddess of Fortune in the middle of the sea. And then he plunged in to pull her out of the water, leaving 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 and his five other friends on the bank. Then that woman, though he seized her by the hair, sank deep in the water; and he dived as deep in order to follow her. And after he had dived a long way he suddenly saw a splendid temple of 艢颈惫补, but no water and no woman.^[3] After beholding that wonderful sight, being wearied out, he paid his adorations to the god whose emblem is a bull, and spent that night in a beautiful garden attached to the temple. And in the morning that lady was seen by him, having come to worship the god 艢颈惫补, like the incarnate splendour of beauty attended by all womanly perfections. And after she had worshipped the god, the moon-faced one departed to her own house, and 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 for his part followed her. And he saw that palace of hers resembling the city of the gods, which the haughty beauty entered hurriedly in a contemptuous manner. And without deigning to address him, the graceful lady sat down on a sofa in the inner part of the house, waited upon by thousands of women. And 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 also took a seat near her. Then suddenly that virtuous lady began to weep. The teardrops fell in an unceasing shower on her bosom, and that moment pity entered into the heart of 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补.

And then he said to her:

鈥淲ho art thou, and what is thy sorrow? Tell me, fair one, for I am able to remove it.鈥�

Then she said reluctantly:

鈥淲e are the thousand granddaughters of Bali,^[4] the king of the Daityas, and I am the eldest of all, and my name is 痴颈诲测耻迟辫谤补产丑腻. That grandfather of ours was carried off by 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 to long imprisonment, and the same hero slew our father in a wrestling match. And after he had slain him he excluded us from our own city, and he placed a lion in it to prevent us from entering.^[5] The lion occupies that place, and grief our hearts. It is a 驰补办峁�a that was made a lion by the curse of Kuvera, and long ago it was predicted that the 驰补办峁�a鈥檚 curse should end when he was conquered by some mortal; so 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 deigned to inform us on our humbly asking him how we might be enabled to enter our city. Therefore subdue that lion, our enemy: it was for that reason, O hero, that I enticed you hither. And when you have overcome him you will obtain from him a sword named 惭峁沢腻峁卥补,^[6] by the virtue of which you shall conquer the world and become a king.鈥�

When he heard that, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 agreed to undertake the adventure, and after that day had passed, on the morrow he took those Daitya maidens with him as guides, and went to that city, and there he overcame in wrestling that haughty lion. He being freed from his curse assumed a human form, and out of gratitude gave his sword to the man who had put an end to his curse, and then disappeared together with the burden of the sorrow' of the great Asura鈥檚 daughter. Then that 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, together with the Daitya鈥檚 daughter, who was accompanied by her younger sisters, entered that splendid city, which looked like the serpent Ananta^[7] having emerged from the earth. And that Daitya maiden gave him a ring that destroyed the effect of poison. [also see notes on poison detectors]

Then that young man, remaining there, fell in love with her. And she cunningly said to him:

鈥淏athe in this tank, and when you dive in take with you this sword^[8] to keep off the danger of crocodiles.鈥�

He consented, and diving into the tank rose upon that very bank of the Ganges from which he first plunged in. Then he, seeing the ring and the sword, felt astonishment at having emerged from the lower regions, and despondency at having been tricked by the Asura maid. Then he went towards his own house to look for his friends, and as he was going he saw on the way his friend 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补. 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补 came up to him and saluted him, and quickly took him aside into a lonely place, and when asked by him for news of his relations gave him this answer:

鈥淥n that occasion when you plunged into the Ganges we searched for you for many days, and out of grief we were preparing to cut off our heads, but a voice from heaven forbade that attempt of ours, saying:

鈥楳y sons, do no rash act, your friend shall return alive.鈥�

And then we were returning into the presence of your father when on the way a man hurriedly advanced to meet us and said this:

鈥榊ou must not enter this city at present, for the king of it, 痴补濒濒补产丑补艣补办迟颈, is dead, and the ministers have with one accord conferred the royal dignity on 痴颈办谤补尘补艣补办迟颈. Now the day after he was made king he went to the house of 碍腻濒补苍别尘颈 and, full of wrath, asked where his son 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 was, and he replied: 鈥淚 do not know.鈥� Then the king in a rage, supposing he had concealed his son, had him put to death by impalement as a thief. When his wife saw that, her heart broke. Men of cruel deeds must always pile one evil upon another in long succession; and so 痴颈办谤补尘补艣补办迟颈 is searching for 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 to slay him, and you are his friends, therefore leave this place.鈥�

When the man had given us this warning, 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 and his four companions, being grieved, went by common consent to their own home in 鲍箩箩补测颈苍墨. And they left me here in concealment, my friend, for your sake. So come, let us go to that very place to meet our friends.鈥�

Having heard this from 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补, and having bewailed his parents, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 cast many a look at his sword, as if reposing in that his hope of vengeance; then the hero, biding his time, set out, accompanied by 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补, for that city of 鲍箩箩补测颈苍墨 in order to meet his friends.

And as he was relating to his friend his adventures from the time of his plunging into the stream, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 beheld a woman weeping in the road; when she said,

鈥淚 am a woman going to 鲍箩箩补测颈苍墨 and I have lost my way,鈥�

艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 out of pity made her journey along with him. He and 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补, together with that woman, whom he kept with him out of compassion, halted that day in a certain deserted town. There he suddenly woke up in the night and beheld that the woman had slain 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补 and was devouring his flesh with the utmost delight. Then he rose up, drawing his sword 惭峁沢腻峁卥补, and that woman assumed her own terrible form, that of a 搁腻办峁�a蝉墨,^[9] and he seized that night-wanderer by her hair, to slay her.

That moment she assumed a heavenly shape and said to him:

鈥淪lay me not, mighty hero, let me go; I am not a 搁腻办峁�a蝉墨; the hermit 痴颈艣惫腻尘颈迟谤补 imposed this condition on me by a curse. For once, when he was performing austerities from a desire to attain the position of the God of Wealth, I was sent by the god to impede him. Then finding that I was not able to seduce him with my alluring form, being abashed, I assumed, in order to terrify him, a formidable shape.

When he saw this, that hermit laid on me a curse suitable to my offence, exclaiming:

鈥榃icked one, become a 搁腻办峁�a蝉墨 and slay men.鈥�

And he appointed my curse should end when you took hold of my hair; accordingly I assumed this detestable condition of a 搁腻办峁�a蝉墨, and I have devoured all the inhabitants of this town. Now to-day, after a long time, you have brought my curse to an end in the manner foretold, therefore receive now some boon.鈥�

When he heard that speech of hers, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 said respectfully:

鈥淢other, grant that my friend may be restored to life. What need have I of any other boon?鈥�

鈥淪o be it,鈥� she said, and after granting the boon disappeared. And 狈颈峁ａ弓丑耻谤补办补 rose up again alive without a scratch on his body. Then 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 set out the next morning with him delighted and astonished and at last reached 鲍箩箩补测颈苍墨. There he revived by his appearance the spirits of his friends, who were anxiously expecting him, as the arrival of the cloud revives the peacocks. And after he had told all the wonders of his adventures 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 went through the usual formalities of hospitality, taking him to his own home. There 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 was taken care of by the parents of 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍, and lived with his friends as comfortably as if he were in his own house.

Once on a time, when the great feast of springtide^[10] had arrived, he went with his friends to behold some festal rejoicings in a garden. There he beheld a maiden, the daughter of King Bimbaki, who had come to see the show, looking like the Goddess of the Splendour of Spring present in bodily form. She, by name 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨, that moment penetrated into his heart, as if through the openings left by the expansion of his eye. Her passionate look, too, indicative of the beginning of love, fixed on him, went and returned like a confidante. When she entered a thicket of trees, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, not beholding her, suddenly felt his heart so empty that he did not know where he was.

His friend 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍, who thoroughly understood the language of gestures, said to him:

鈥淢y friend, I know your heart, do not deny your passion, therefore come, let us go to that part of the garden where the king鈥檚 daughter is.鈥�

He consented and went near her, accompanied by his friend. That moment a cry was heard there which gave great pain to the heart of 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补:

鈥淎las, the princess has been bitten by a snake!鈥�

叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 then went and said to the chamberlain:

鈥淢y friend here possesses a ring that counteracts the effects of poison, and also healing spells.鈥�

Immediately the chamberlain came and, bowing at his feet, quickly led 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 to the princess. He placed the ring on her finger and then muttered his spells, so that she revived. Then all the attendants were delighted, and loud in praise of 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, and the King Bimbaki hearing the circumstances came to the place. Accordingly 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 returned with his friends to the house of 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 without taking back the ring. And all the gold and other presents which the delighted king sent to him there he handed over to the father of 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍. Then, thinking upon that fair one, he was so much afflicted that his friends became utterly bewildered as to what to do with him.

Then a dear friend of the princess, 叠丑腻惫补苍颈办腻 by name, came to him on pretence of returning the ring, and said to him:

鈥淭hat friend of mine, illustrious sir, has made up her mind that either you must save her life by becoming her husband, or she will be married to her grave.鈥�

When 叠丑腻惫补苍颈办腻 had said this 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 and 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 and the others quickly put their heads together and came to the following resolution:鈥�

鈥淲e will carry off this princess secretly by a stratagem, and will go unperceived from here to 惭补迟丑耻谤腻 and live there.鈥�

The plan having been thoroughly talked over, and the conspirators having agreed with one another what each was to do in order to carry it out, 叠丑腻惫补苍颈办腻 then departed. And the next day 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍, accompanied by three of his friends, went to 惭补迟丑耻谤腻 on pretext of trafficking, and as he went he posted in concealment at intervals swift horses for the conveyance of the princess. But 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 then brought at eventide a woman with her daughter into the palace of the princess, after making them both drink spirits, and then 叠丑腻惫补苍颈办腻, on pretence of lighting up the palace, set fire to it, and secretly conveyed the princess out of it; and that moment 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, who was remaining outside, received her, and sent her on to 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍, who had started in the morning, and directed two of his friends to attend on her and also 叠丑腻惫补苍颈办腻. Now that drunken woman and her daughter were burnt in the palace of the princess, and people supposed that the princess had been burnt with her friend. But 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 took care to show himself in the morning, as before, in the city; then on the second night, taking with him his sword 惭峁沢腻峁卥补, he started to follow his beloved, who had set out before him. And in his eagerness he accomplished a great distance that night, and when the morning watch^[11] had passed he reached the Vindhya forest. There he first beheld unlucky omens, and afterwards he saw all those friends of his, together with 叠丑腻惫补苍颈办腻, lying in the road gashed with wounds.

And when he came up all distracted they said to him:

鈥淲e were robbed to-day by a large troop of horsemen that set upon us. And after we were reduced to this state one of the horsemen threw the terrified princess on his horse and carried her off. So before she has been carried a great distance, go in this direction; do not remain near us, she is certainly of more importance than we.鈥�

Being urged on with these words by his friends, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 rapidly followed after the princess, but could not help frequently turning round to look at them. And after he had gone a considerable distance he caught up that troop of cavalry, and he saw a young man of the warrior caste in the midst of it. And he beheld that princess held by him upon his horse. So he slowly approached that young warrior; and when soft words would not induce him to let the princess go, he hurled him from his horse with a blow of his foot and dashed him to pieces on a rock. And after he had slain him he mounted on his horse and slew a great number of the other horsemen who charged him in anger. And then those who remained alive, seeing that the might which the hero displayed was more than human, fled away in terror; and 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 mounted on the horse with the Princess 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨 and set out to find those friends of his. And after he had gone a little way he and his wife got off the horse, which had been severely wounded in the fight, and soon after it fell down and died. And then his beloved 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨, exhausted with fear and exertion, became very thirsty. And leaving her there, he roamed a long distance hither and thither, and while he was looking for water the sun set. Then he discovered that though he had found water he had lost his way, and he passed that night in the wood roaming about, moaning aloud like a 颁补办谤补惫腻办补.^[12] And in the morning he reached that place, which was easy to recognise by the carcase of the horse. And nowhere there did he behold his beloved princess. Then in his distraction he placed his sword 惭峁沢腻峁卥补 on the ground and climbed to the top of a tree, in order to cast his eye in all directions for her. That very moment a certain 艢补惫补谤补 chieftain passed that way, and he came up and took the sword from the foot of the tree. Beholding that 艢补惫补谤补 chieftain, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 came down from the top of the tree and in great grief asked him for news of his beloved.

The 艢补惫补谤补 chieftain said:

鈥淟eave this place and come to my village; I have no doubt she whom you seek has gone there; and I shall come there and return you this sword.鈥�

When the 艢补惫补谤补 chieftain urged him to go with these words, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, being himself all eagerness, went to that village with the chief鈥檚 men. And there those men said to him: 鈥淪leep off your fatigue.鈥� And when he reached the house of the chief of the village, being tired, he went to sleep in an instant. And when he woke up he saw his two feet fastened with fetters, like the two efforts he had made in order to obtain his beloved, which failed to reach their object. Then he remained there weeping for his darling, who, like the course of destiny, had for a moment brought him joy, and the next moment blasted his hopes.

One day a serving-maid of the name of 惭辞肠补苍颈办腻 came to him and said:

鈥淚llustrious sir, unwittingly you have come hither to your death. For the 艢补惫补谤补 chieftain has gone somewhither to accomplish certain weighty affairs, and when he returns he will offer you to 颁补峁囜笉颈办腻.^[13] For with that object he decoyed you here by a stratagem from this slope of the wild Vindhya hill, and immediately threw you into the chains in which you now are. And it is because you are intended to be offered as a victim to the goddess that you are continually served with garments and food. But I know of only one expedient for delivering you, if you agree to it. This 艢补惫补谤补 chieftain has a daughter named 厂耻苍诲补谤墨, and she having seen you is becoming exceedingly lovesick; marry her who is my friend, then you will obtain deliverance.鈥�^[14]

When she said this to him 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 consented, desiring to be set at liberty, and secretly made that 厂耻苍诲补谤墨 his wife by the 驳腻苍诲丑补谤惫补 form of marriage. And every night she removed his chains, and in a short time 厂耻苍诲补谤墨 became pregnant. Then her mother, having heard the whole story from the mouth of 惭辞肠补苍颈办腻, out of love for her son-in-law 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, went and of her own accord said to him:

鈥淢y son, 艢谤墨肠补峁囜笉补, the father of 厂耻苍诲补谤墨, is a wrathful man, and will show thee no mercy; therefore depart; but thou must not forget 厂耻苍诲补谤墨.鈥�

When his mother-in-law had said this, she set him at liberty, and 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 departed, after telling 厂耻苍诲补谤墨 that the sword which was in her father鈥檚 possession really belonged to himself.

So he again entered, full of anxiety, that forest in which he had before wandered about, in order again to search for traces of 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨. And having seen an auspicious omen he came to that same place where that horse of his died before, and whence his wife was carried off. And there he saw near him^[15] a hunter coming towards him, and when he saw him he asked him for news of that gazelle-eyed lady.

Then the hunter asked him:

鈥淎re you 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补?鈥�

and he, sighing, replied: 鈥淚 am that unfortunate man.鈥�

Then that hunter said:

鈥淟isten, friend, I have somewhat to tell you. I saw that wife of yours wandering hither and thither lamenting your absence, and having asked her her story, and consoled her, moved with compassion I took her out of this wood to my own village. But when I saw the young Pulindas^[16] there I was afraid, and I took her to a village named 狈腻驳补蝉迟丑补濒补, near 惭补迟丑耻谤腻.^[17] And then I placed her in the house of an old Br膩hman named 痴颈艣惫补诲补迟迟补, commending her with all due respect to his care. And thence I came here, having learnt your name from her lips. Therefore you had better go quickly to 狈腻驳补蝉迟丑补濒补 to search for her.鈥�

When the hunter had told him this 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 quickly set out, and he reached 狈腻驳补蝉迟丑补濒补 in the evening of the second day.

Then he entered the house of 痴颈艣惫补诲补迟迟补 and when he saw him said:

鈥淕ive me my wife, who was placed here by the hunter.鈥�

痴颈艣惫补诲补迟迟补 when he heard that answered him:

鈥淚 have a friend in 惭补迟丑耻谤腻, a Br膩hman, dear to all virtuous men, the spiritual preceptor and minister of the King 艢奴谤补蝉别苍补; in his care I placed your wife; for this village is an out-of-the-way place and would not afford her protection. So go to that city to-morrow morning, but to-day rest here.鈥�

When 痴颈艣惫补诲补迟迟补 said this, he spent that night there, and the next morning he set off, and reached 惭补迟丑耻谤腻 on the second day. Being weary and dusty with the long journey, he bathed outside that city in the pellucid water of a lake. And he drew out of the middle of the lake a garment placed there by some robbers, not suspecting any harm. But in one corner of the garment, which was knotted up, a necklace was concealed.^[18] Then 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 took that garment, and in his eagerness to meet his wife did not notice the necklace, and so entered the city of 惭补迟丑耻谤腻. Then the city police recognised the garment, and finding the necklace, arrested 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 as a thief, and carried him off, and brought him before the chief magistrate exactly as he was found with the garment in his possession; by him he was handed up to the king, and the king ordered him to be put to death.^[19]

Then as he was being led off to the place of execution, with the drum being beaten behind him,^[20] his wife 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨 saw him in the distance. She went in a state of the utmost distraction and said to the chief minister, in whose house she was residing:

鈥淵onder is my husband being led off to execution.鈥�

Then that minister went and ordered the executioners to desist, and by making a representation to the king got 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 pardoned, and had him brought to his house. And when 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 reached his house, and saw that minister, he recognised him and fell at his feet, exclaiming:

鈥淲hat! is this my uncle Vigatabhaya, who long ago went to a foreign country, and do I now by good luck find him established in the position of a minister?鈥�

He too recognised, to his astonishment, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 as his brother鈥檚 son, and embraced him, and questioned him about all his adventures. Then 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 related to his uncle his whole history, beginning with the execution of his father. And he, after weeping, said to his nephew in private:

鈥淒o not despond, my son, for I once brought a female 驰补办峁�a into subjection by means of magic; and she gave me, though I have no son, five thousand horses and seventy millions of gold pieces; and all that wealth is at your disposal.鈥�

After telling him this, his uncle brought him his beloved, and he, having obtained wealth, married her on the spot. And then he remained there in joy, united with that beloved 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨 as a bed of white lotuses^[21] with the night. But even when his happiness was at its full, anxiety for 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 and his companions clouded his heart, as a spot of darkness does the full moon.

Now one day his uncle said secretly to 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补:

鈥淢y son, the King 艢奴谤补蝉别苍补 has a maiden daughter, and in accordance with his orders I have to take her to the land of Avanti to give her away in marriage; so I will take her away on that very pretext, and marry her to you. Then, when you have got possession of the force that follows her, with mine already at your disposal, you will soon gain the kingdom that was promised you by the goddess Sr墨.鈥�

Having resolved on this, and having taken that maiden, 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 and his uncle set out with their army and their attendants. But as soon as they had reached the Vindhya forest, before they were aware of the danger, a large army of brigands set upon them showering arrows. After routing 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补鈥檚 force and seizing all the wealth, they bound 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 himself, who had fainted from his wounds, and carried him off to their village. And they took him to the awful temple of 顿耻谤驳腻, in order to offer him up in sacrifice, and, as it were, summoned Death with the sound of their gongs. There 厂耻苍诲补谤墨 saw him, one of his wives, the daughter of the chief of the village, who had come with her young son to visit the shrine of the goddess. Full of joy she ordered the brigands who were between her and her husband to stand aside, and then 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 entered her palace with her. Immediately 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 obtained the sovereignty of that village, which 厂耻苍诲补谤墨鈥檚 father, having no son, bequeathed to her when he went to heaven. So 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补 recovered his wife and his sword 惭峁沢腻峁卥补, and also his uncle and his followers, who had been overpowered by the robbers. And while he was in that town he married the daughter of 艢奴谤补蝉别苍补, and became a great king there. And from that place he sent ambassadors to his two fathers-in-law, to Bimbaki and King 艢奴谤补蝉别苍补. And they, being very fond of their daughters, gladly recognised him as a connection, and came to him accompanied by the whole of their armies. And his friends 叠腻丑耻艣腻濒颈苍 and the others, who had been separated from him, when they heard what had happened, came to him with their wounds healed and in good health. Then the hero marched, united with his fathers-in-law, and made that 痴颈办谤补尘补艣补办迟颈, who had put his father to death, a burnt-offering in the flame of his wrath. And then 艢谤墨诲补迟迟补, having gained dominion over the sea-encircled earth, and deliverance from the sorrow鈥� of separation, joyed in the society of 惭峁沢腻峁卥补惫补迟墨. Even so, my king, do men of firm resolution cross the calamitous sea of separation and obtain prosperity.

 

[M] (Main story line continued) After hearing this tale from 厂补峁僩补迟补办补, the King 厂补丑补蝉谤腻苍墨办补, though longing for the sight of his beloved one, managed to get through that night on the journey. Then, engrossed with his desire, sending his thoughts on before, in the morning 厂补丑补蝉谤腻苍墨办补 set out to meet his darling. And in a few' days he reached that peaceful hermitage of Jamadagni, in which even the deer laid aside their wantonness. And there he beheld with reverence that Jamadagni, the sight of whom was sanctifying, like the incarnate form of penance, who received him hospitably. And the hermit handed over to him that Queen 惭峁沢腻惫补迟墨 with her son, regained by the king after long separation, like tranquillity with joy. And that sight which the husband and wife obtained of one another, now that the curse had ceased, rained, as it were, nectar into their eyes, which were filled with tears of joy. And the king embracing that son Udayana, whom he now beheld for the first time, could with difficulty let him go, as he was, so to speak, riveted to his body with his own hairs that stood erect from joy.^[22] Then King 厂补丑补蝉谤腻苍墨办补 took his Queen 惭峁沢腻惫补迟墨 with Udayana, and, bidding adieu to Jamadagni, set out from that tranquil hermitage for his own city, and even the deer followed him as far as the border of the hermitage with tearful eyes. Beguiling the way by listening to the adventures of his beloved wife during the period of separation, and by relating his own, he at length reached the city of 碍补耻艣腻尘产墨, in which triumphal arches were erected and banners displayed. And he entered that city in company with his wife and child, being, so to speak, devoured^[23] by the eyes of the citizens, that had the fringe of their lashes elevated. And immediately the king appointed his son Udayana crown prince, being incited to it by his excellent qualities. And he assigned to him as advisers the sons of his own ministers, Vasantaka and 搁耻尘补峁噕补迟 and 驰补耻驳补苍诲丑补谤腻测补峁嘺.

Then a rain of flowers fell, and a celestial voice was heard:

鈥淏y the help of these excellent ministers, the prince shall obtain dominion over the whole earth.鈥�

Then the king devolved on his son the cares of empire, and enjoyed in the society of 惭峁沢腻惫补迟墨 the long-desired pleasures of the world. At last the desire of earthly enjoyment, beholding suddenly that old age, the harbinger of composure, had reached the root of the king鈥檚 ear,^[24] became enraged and fled far from him. Then that King 厂补丑补蝉谤腻苍墨办补 established in his throne his excellent son Udayana,^[25] whom the subjects loved so well, to ensure the world鈥檚 prosperity, and, accompanied by his ministers and his beloved wife, ascended the 贬颈尘腻濒补测补 to prepare for the last great journey.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

The 顿耻谤驳腻pras膩d text reads amarsha instead of amis ham, which seems to make better sense. Thus the translation would be: 鈥渂ecause thou hast offered libations with a mind troubled by anger鈥濃�� n.m.p.

[2]:

I.e. given by Fortune.

[3]:

Cf. the story of Sattva艣墨la, which is the seventh tale in the Vet膩la Pa帽cavi峁兣沘ti, and will be found in Chapter LXXXI of this work. Cf. also the story of 艢aktideva in Book V, chap. xxvi, and Ralston鈥檚 remarks on it in his Russian Folk-Tales, p. 99.

[4]:

痴颈峁ａ箛耻 assumed the form of a dwarf and appeared before Bali, and asked for as much land as he could step over. On Bali granting it, 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, dilating himself, in two steps deprived him of heaven and earth, but left the lower regions still in his dominion.

[5]:

This incident may be compared with one described in Veckenstedt鈥檚 Wendische Sagen, p. 82.

[6]:

I.e. 鈥渢he moon鈥濃�攂right and shining鈥攍iterally, 鈥渢he hare-marked,鈥� as the Hindus see a hare in the moon instead of a 鈥渕an.鈥� The custom of giving names to swords is very widely spread and dates from the earliest times. Sword-making has always been a highly specialised craft with many well-guarded secrets, and consequently magic has been continually connected with it. Many were actually made by sorcerers, while others took years to fashion. Sometimes the name of the sword gives its history, as in Arthur鈥檚 Excalibar = Ex cal (ce) liber (are) = 鈥渢o free from the stone.鈥� In most cases, however, a name was given to it which would inspire confidence to the wielder and terror to the foe. Thus C忙sar鈥檚 sword was called Crocea Mors, the 鈥測ellow death鈥�; Edward the Confessor鈥檚 was Curta鈥檔a, the 鈥渃utter鈥�; Mohammed had many鈥攖he 鈥渂eater,鈥� the 鈥渒een,鈥� the 鈥渄eadly鈥�; Hieme鈥檚 was the 鈥渂lood-fetcher,鈥� and so forth.

A long list will be found in Brewer鈥檚 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, pp. 1196 , 1197. See also Oppert鈥檚 On the Weapons, etc., of the Ancient Hindus, 1880; Burton鈥檚 Book of the Sword, pp. 214-219; J. A. Macculloch鈥檚 Childhood of Fiction, pp. 203, 204, and my Selected Papers of Sir Richard Burton, 1923, p. 51. -N.M.P.

[7]:

Ananta (endless, or infinite) is the name of the thousand-headed serpent 艢e峁�a.鈥擜 coiled snake in Maya (Central America) was the symbol of eternity.鈥攏.m.p.

[8]:

Reading 办丑补岣峠补尘 for the 办丑补岣峠别 of Dr Brockhaus鈥� text.

[9]:

Female demon. The R膩k峁�asas are often called 鈥渘ight-wanderers.鈥濃�擲ee Appendix I at the end of this volume. 鈥攏.m.p.

[10]:

Or, more literally, of the month Chaitra鈥� i.e. March-April.

[11]:

At nine o鈥檆lock in the morning.

[12]:

Anas Casarca, commonly called the Brahmany duck. The male has to pass the night separated from its female鈥攊f we are to trust the unanimous testimony of Hindu poets.

[13]:

A name of 顿耻谤驳腻. Cf. Prescott鈥檚 account of the human sacrifices in The History of the Conquest of Mexico, vol. i, pp. 62, 63.-See Rai Bahadur Hira Lai鈥檚 article on 鈥淗uman Sacrifice in Central India鈥� in Man in India,. vol. i, pp. 57-66; also E. A. Gait鈥檚 article on 鈥淗uman Sacrifice (Indian)鈥� in Hastings鈥� Ency. Bel. Eth., vol. vi, pp. 849-853.鈥� n.m.p.

[14]:

This incident reminds us of the fifth tale in Wright鈥檚 Gesta Bomanorum.

[15]:

Or it may mean 鈥渇rom a distance,鈥� as Dr Brockhaus takes it.

[16]:

Pulinda is the name of a savage tribe.

[17]:

Mr Growse remarks: 鈥淚n Hindi the word 狈腻驳补蝉迟丑补濒补 would assume the form N膩gal; and there is a village of that name to this day in the Mah膩ban Pargana of the 惭补迟丑耻谤腻 district.鈥�

[18]:

A common way of carrying money in India at the present day.鈥擨n Arabia it is often carried in the turban, while in Morocco it is kept with the hashish pipe, knife, etc., in the large yellow leather bag slung underneath the haik or jellaba. I brought back several beautifully worked specimens of these bags when last in Morocco.鈥� n.m.p.

[19]:

Cf. 厂补尘补谤腻诲颈迟颈箩补蝉补峁僰峁�e辫补 4, p. 104 et seq. We shall come across a similar incident in Chaper LIV, where I shall add a further note.鈥� n.m.p.

[20]:

Cf. the last scene of 鈥淭he Toy Cart鈥� in the first volume of Wilson鈥檚

Hindu Theatre.鈥擲ee also Ryder鈥檚 edition, 1905, p. 155. In the Ka峁嘺vera J膩talta (318) the thief is made to wear a wreath of flowers symbolic of death, is scourged with whips and led to execution to the beat of the harsh-sounding drum. For further references see Bloomfield, 鈥淭he Art of Stealing,鈥� Am. Journ. Phil., vol. xliv, 3, pp. 227, 228. On the ceremonial uses of the drum see A. E. Crawley鈥檚 article, "Drums and Cymbals,鈥� in Hastings鈥� Ency. Rel. Eth., vol. v, p. 93 et seq. For the use of the drum for proclamation and obtaining a royal audience see Bloomfield, Life and Stories of P膩rgvan膩th膩 and the references there given. 鈥攏.m.p.

[21]:

The esculent white lotus (Sanskrit, kumuda) expands its petals at night and closes them in the daytime.

[22]:

In Sanskrit poetry horripilation is often said to be produced by joy. I have here inserted the words 鈥渇rom joy鈥� in order to make the meaning clear.鈥擨t is the same as the Arabic 办耻蝉碍补谤墨谤补丑 and the pelo arriciato of Boccaccio. In the Nights, however, horripilation is usually produced by anger; thus we read (Burton, vol. ii, p. 88): 鈥淪he raged with exceeding rage, and her body-liair stood on end like the bristles of a fretful hedgehog.鈥濃�� n.m.p.

[23]:

Literally, drunk in.

[24]:

Alluding to his grey hairs. In all Eastern stories the appearance of the first grey hair is a momentous epoch. The point of the whole passage consists in the fact that 箩补谤腻 (old age) is feminine in form. Cf the perturbation of King Samson in Hagen鈥檚 Helden-Sagen, vol. i, p. 26 , and Spence Hardy鈥檚 Manual of Buddhism, I 860 , pp. 12.9 and 130.-See also 闯腻迟补办补蝉, Nos. 9, 411 and 541; Tawney鈥檚 碍补迟丑腻办辞驳补, pp. 125, 146; Jacobi鈥檚 preface to his edition of the 笔补谤颈艣颈峁ａ弓补辫补谤惫补苍, p. 14, note 2.

Bloomfield (Journ. Amer. Orient. Soc., vol. xxxvi, Part I) has written briefly on the 鈥淕rey Hair鈥� motif in Sanskrit literature. See op. cit., p. 57, where he gives a few further references to those already mentioned鈥� n.m.p.

[25]:

There is a pun between the name of the King Udayana and prosperity (udaya).