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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Sun, by
+Mrs. Howard Kingscote and Pandit Natesa Sastri
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Tales of the Sun
+       or Folklore of Southern India
+
+Author: Mrs. Howard Kingscote
+        Pandit Natesa Sastri
+
+Release Date: August 7, 2011 [EBook #37002]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE SUN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was
+produced from scanned images of public domain material
+from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                            TALES OF THE SUN
+
+                                   Or
+
+                      Folklore of Southern India.
+
+
+
+                              Collected by
+
+                         MRS. HOWARD KINGSCOTE
+
+                                  and
+
+                         PANDIT NATESA SASTRI.
+
+
+
+                                London:
+                  W. H. Allen & Co. 13 Waterloo Place,
+                            and at Calcutta.
+
+                                 1890.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+In offering these few Indian tales to the public, I cannot refrain from
+adding a few words at the beginning to express to Pandit Natesa Sastri
+my gratitude for the great assistance he has given me in collecting
+them, assistance without which they would never have seen the light in
+the shape of a complete volume. When I began writing down these tales,
+my only means of collecting them was through my native servants, who
+used to get them from the old women in the bazaars; but the fables
+they brought me were as full of corruptions and foreign adaptions as
+the miscellaneous ingredients that find their way into a dish of their
+own curry and rice, and had it not been for Mr. Sastri's timely aid, my
+small work would have gone forth to the world laden with inaccuracies.
+
+Mr. Sastri not only corrected the errors of my own tales, but allowed
+me to add to them many that he had himself collected, and that had
+already been published, either in small volumes or in numbers of
+The Indian Antiquary. For this reason I have left several notes which
+Mr. Cowper Temple, Mr. Clowston, and others had added to the tales that
+had already been printed, as they were too valuable to dispense with,
+and may be of service to students of folklore. In conclusion, I would
+crave the indulgence of my readers with regard to the style in which
+the tales are written, which has been left as nearly as possible in the
+form of a literal translation, in order to lend the Stories a "couleur
+locale," which is characteristic of the country they spring from.
+
+
+G. K.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+    Chapter                                                    Page
+
+    I.      The Three Deaf Men                                    1
+    II.     Why Brahmans cannot eat in the Dark                   5
+    III.    The Soothsayer's Son                                 11
+    IV.     Ranavirasing                                         36
+    V.      Charity alone Conquers                               65
+    VI.     Mr. Won't Give and Mr. Won't Leave                   86
+    VII.    Mr. Mighty-of-his-Mouth                              93
+    VIII.   The Mother-in-Law became an Ass                     102
+    IX.     The Story of Appayya                                107
+    X.      The Brahmin Girl that Married a Tiger               119
+    XI.     The Good Husband and the Bad Wife                   131
+    XII.    The Good Wife and the Bad Husband                   135
+    XIII.   The Lost Camel                                      140
+            The Three Calamities                                143
+            The Honest but Rash Hunter                          155
+            The Brahman's Wife and the Mungoose                 162
+            The Faithless Wife and the Ungrateful Blind Man     165
+            The Wonderful Mango Fruit                           171
+            The Poisoned Food                                   179
+            Eating up the Protector                             184
+    XIV.    The Monkey with the Tom-Tom                         187
+    XV.     Pride goeth before a Fall                           190
+    XVI.    Good will grow out of Good                          194
+    XVII.   Light makes Prosperity                              202
+    XVIII.  Chandralekha and the Eight Robbers                  210
+    XIX.    The Conquest of Fate                                230
+    XX.     The Brahman Priest who became an Amildar            248
+    XXI.    The Gardener's Cunning Wife                         257
+    XXII.   Keep it for the Beggar                              262
+    XXIII.  Good Luck to the Lucky One                          267
+    XXIV.   Retaliation                                         274
+    XXV.    The Beggar and the Five Muffins                     280
+    XXVI.   The Brahmarakshas and the Hair                      285
+            Notes                                               290
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+It has often struck all lovers of Folklore and National Legends with
+wonder, that so many countries should have reproduced in different
+imagery and language the same tales. Persia, Arabia, and India give
+us the same fables as Italy, France, Norway, and Iceland, except
+for slight variations principally arising from difference of custom,
+distance of time, idiom and nationality.
+
+Able writers have explained this to us by a theory worthy of
+consideration, and admirable in its origin, but nevertheless wholly
+their own. They would have us believe that a certain group of
+tales belonged to a certain nation, and that through emigration and
+immigration, through wars and dispersions, these same tales have been
+carried backwards and forwards and dragged from country to country
+borrowing the language and peculiarities of the lands they passed
+through, just as the seed of some rare plant is borne on the breeze
+and bears fruit coarse or more refined according to the soil in which
+it at last takes root.
+
+In Germany we have Goedeck, Koehler, Sichecht, and a host of others who
+tell us that these tales are Oriental, and that all fable originates
+in the East, others again that they are transmitted to us by the
+same channel as the Aryan languages from Aryan tradition. I cannot
+see why one nation or one country alone should have the intelligence
+of producing fables which as a rule are next to religion in their
+teaching and intentions. If proverbs are the wisdom of nations, what
+are fables and legends but developed proverbs. What is the meaning of
+fable? It means an intent to convey moral instruction in a narrative
+in which the characters are represented by birds, beasts, or fishes;
+and often plants.
+
+Practically a parable is the same thing, and folklore and fairy-tales
+are the attempts of intelligent people to inculcate in their children
+or other ignorant people the great truths of religion or wisdom, by
+means of word-pictures that would bring these truths within the easy
+grasp of undeveloped minds, it is the old repeated tale? The Struggle
+between Right and Wrong. "Faust and Marguerite." The Wicked Punished,
+The Virtuous Rewarded.
+
+Disguise them as you will, there are certain tendons which run
+through the world from age to age; cords which no human hand has yet
+severed--which no decree of God's has changed--these are love and
+death, hate and vengeance, virtue and vice, right and wrong, suffering
+and joy; and as long as there is a world, as long as children are
+born, parents will invent fables with which to bring these facts
+before their offsprings' eyes in an intelligible manner.
+
+In the fables of the East, and especially of India, there is one
+peculiarity, namely, that craft and cunning are more generally
+rewarded than virtue, and stupidity condemned. This is the national
+characteristic. The tales of Southern India are as varied as any
+others, either Eastern or European. Magic and supernatural phenomena
+play a great part, but are usually assisted by the powers of the
+gods. This is again a national Hindoo characteristic. The Hindoo
+would shrink from any undertaking that is not under the patronage of
+the gods; yet here is a very noticeable feature, namely, that the
+divinities are treated as entirely secondary in power, interwoven
+only into a man's daily affairs as a sort of backbone or support in
+time of need, but to be despised and trampled upon at other times with
+impunity. This is a natural feature in a nation which has a deity to
+represent every vice and sin, and lends a certain character to the
+tales of Southern India different to the folklore of other countries.
+
+Probably further research will lay bare many still hidden treasures
+of Hindoo folklore; but this small collection of tales will doubtless
+suffice to throw light on Indian tradition, and to bring forward the
+natural peculiarities of the Hindoos as well as the assimilation of
+the folklore of different nations, an assimilation which I maintain
+results from the teaching propensities of each country and not from
+appropriation.
+
+
+    Georgiana Kingscote.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
+
+
+I.
+
+THE STORY OF THE THREE DEAF MEN.
+
+
+When any awkward blunder occurs from a person acting under a mistaken
+notion, there is a common proverb in Tamil to the effect that the
+matter ended like the story of the three deaf men--(Muchchevidan
+kadaiyay mudindadu). The following is the story told to explain
+the allusion:--
+
+In a remote village there lived a husband and wife. Both of them
+were quite deaf. They had made this household arrangement, namely,
+to cook cabbage with tamarind and soup without tamarind one day, and
+cabbage without tamarind and soup with tamarind on the other. Thus
+on every alternate day the same dishes were repeated. One day, when
+taking his meal, the husband found the tamarind cabbage so very tasty
+that he wanted to have it also next day, and gave instructions to
+that effect. The deaf wife did not understand the order. According to
+the established rule she cooked cabbage without tamarind next day. The
+husband, when he sat down to his meal, found his order disregarded and,
+being enraged thereat, threw the cabbage against the wall, and went
+out in a rage. The wife ate her fill, and prepared tamarind cabbage
+for her husband.
+
+The husband went out, and sat down in a place where three roads
+crossed, to calm down his anger. At that time a shepherd happened to
+pass that way. He had lately lost a good cow and calf of his, and had
+been seeking them for some days. When he saw the deaf man sitting by
+the way, he took him for a soothsayer, and asked him to find out by
+his knowledge of Josyam [1] where the cow was likely to be found. The
+herdsman, too, was very deaf; and the man, without hearing what he
+was saying, abused him, and wished to be left undisturbed. In abusing
+him the husband stretched out his hand, pointing to the shepherd's
+face. This pointing the shepherd understood to indicate the direction
+where the lost cow and calf would be found. Thus thinking the poor
+shepherd went on in that direction, promising to present the soothsayer
+with the calf if he found it there with the cow. To his joy, and
+by mere chance, he found them. His delight knew no bounds. "That is
+a capital soothsayer. Surely I must present him with the calf." So
+thought he to himself, and returned with them to the deaf man, and,
+pointing to the calf, requested him to accept it.
+
+Now it unfortunately happened that the calf's tail was broken and
+crooked. The man thought the herdsman was blaming him unreasonably for
+having broken the calf's tail, while he knew nothing about it, and so,
+by a waive of his hand, denied the charge. This the shepherd mistook
+for a refusal of the calf, and a demand for the cow. The shepherd said,
+"How very greedy you are! I promised you only the calf, and not the
+cow." The husband said, "Never; I know nothing of either your cow
+or calf. I never broke the calf's tail. Some other must have done
+it." Thus they quarrelled, without understanding each other, for a
+long time, when a third party happened to pass by. Understanding the
+cause of the dispute, and, desiring to profit by their stupidity, he
+interfered, and said in a loud voice, and yet so as not to be heard
+by the deaf husband, "Well, shepherd, you had better go away with
+the cow. These soothsayers are always greedy. Leave the calf with
+me, and I shall make him accept it." The shepherd, much pleased to
+have secured the cow, walked home, leaving the calf with the third
+person. When the shepherd had gone, the passenger said to the deaf
+man, "You see how very unlawful it is for the shepherd to charge you
+with an offence which you never committed. It is always the case with
+shepherds. They are the biggest fools in the world! But never mind, so
+long as you have a friend in me. I shall somehow explain to him your
+innocence, and restore the calf to him." The husband, much pleased,
+ran home to escape from the consequences of supposed guilt. At the
+expense of the stupidity and deafness of both, the third traveller
+walked home with the calf.
+
+The husband, on his return, sat down to his dinner, and his wife served
+him the tamarind cabbage. He happened to put his finger to the place
+where the cabbage without tamarind had previously been served on the
+leaf. On applying it to his mouth, he found it so very sweet that he
+demanded that dish again. The wife replied to him that she had already
+emptied the pan. "Then at least bring me the cabbage that is sticking
+to the saucepan," said the husband; and the wife did accordingly.
+
+Here ends the story. The latter portion is also said to be the
+explanation of a proverb that is prevalent in Tamil,--"Sevuru kiraiyai
+valichchu podudi sunaiketta muli," meaning, "O thou feelingless
+deaf woman, give me at least the cabbage that is sticking to the
+saucepan." This proverb is applied to stubborn wives, who will
+have their own way, and do not obey their husbands submissively in
+unrefined society.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+WHY BRAHMANS CANNOT EAT IN THE DARK.
+
+
+Among Hindus, especially among Brahmans of the Madras Presidency--and I
+now see from personal observation that it is the same in the Bombay
+Presidency also--there is a custom, while taking their meals,
+of leaving their food uneaten when it so happens that from any
+cause the light is blown out. Of course this could occur only in the
+night-time. Such mishaps now-a-days take place only in poor families,
+sitting down to supper with a single light. Hence the following story,
+told as the origin of this custom, is beginning to be forgotten. It
+runs as follows:--
+
+In a certain village there lived a Brahman who had an only
+daughter. She was deeply read in Sanskrit, and was of the most
+charming beauty. He procured a husband for her as deeply read as
+herself. The betrothal had already taken place; the muhurta or
+auspicious time for her marriage was fixed at the tenth ghatika [2]
+of that night. On that very evening the son-in-law went to a tank
+to perform his Sandhya vandana or evening prayers. It swarmed with
+crocodiles. People never went near it. The son-in-law, being quite
+new to the village, entered the tank without knowing anything of
+the danger. Unfortunately, there was none near to warn him. He had
+set his foot in the water when a crocodile caught him by the leg,
+and began to drag him into the water. That very night was fixed for
+his nuptials, and a crocodile was taking him to feast on his flesh. He
+was extremely horrified at his position, and said humbly to his enemy,
+"My friend crocodile! Listen to my words first, and then decide for
+yourself. A wife, the only daughter of an old Brahman, is waiting for
+me to-night. If you eat me now, you take me away without my seeing
+her, my father-in-law, and other relatives. Their hearts may break
+at the news of my death on the very day of the wedding. They may all
+curse you. If, on the contrary, you leave me now, I shall go home,
+speak to my wife and others about the sad calamity that has come over
+me, and after embracing and taking leave of her will come to you
+for your supper at the fifteenth ghatika. Till then leave me." The
+cruel crocodile, though very fond of human flesh, and himself dying
+of hunger, spared him for a few ghatikas at his humble request. After
+extracting several oaths from him that he would return in accordance
+to his promise, the crocodile went into the water.
+
+The son-in-law also went home. All his joy vanished; how could he be
+happy after his promise to the crocodile. Still, to give no uneasiness
+to the aged parents of his wife, he underwent all the ceremonies of
+the marriage. Only five more ghatikas remained for him to live in the
+world, as he thought. He, in a few words, explained everything to his
+wife, and asked her permission to leave her. She showed no sign of
+sorrow, preached to him about the iron hand of fate, and that he must
+undergo what was written on his forehead. She most willingly gave him
+permission to go, and he returned to the tank even a ghatika earlier,
+and called the crocodile, who came and seized him.
+
+At this moment a certain light glittered before the eyes of the
+crocodile and vanished. It was a woman that did it. The wife, after
+consoling her husband, and preaching to him about the supremacy of
+fate, had accompanied him unobserved with a lighted lamp concealed
+in a vessel. Just when the crocodile applied its teeth to the leg of
+her husband, she took the lamp out, flashed it before the crocodile's
+eyes, and quenched it. Nor was it without its intended effect. The
+crocodile left the husband to himself, and said, "You had better go
+now; I will never touch you after seeing a lamp extinguished when
+I began my meal to-day." The husband was astonished at the device
+of his wife, and still more at the faithful observance of a rule in
+an unreasonable beast. From that day it was fixed that men, who are
+still more reasonable, should never eat when the lamp is blown out.
+
+Another story is told. In a remote village there lived a poor woman,
+who laboured from morning till night in different houses, and returned
+to her hut with two measures of rice. That quantity would serve
+for ten ordinary persons. Being extremely poor, she used to keep no
+lamp, but cook her rice in the dark, only guided by the light of the
+fire. When she sat down for her meal even the light of the fire faded;
+so she had to eat in the dark. Though she used the full two measures of
+rice that she brought away every day, her hunger was never satisfied;
+she was always in extreme want.
+
+Now it so happened that she had a younger sister, who was somewhat
+richer than herself. The younger came to see her elder sister. The
+former never used to be without a light, and so asked her sister to
+buy some oil that night and light a lamp. The elder was compelled by
+necessity to do so; for that, she devoted a portion of her two measures
+of rice, and returned home with great uneasiness and perplexity of mind
+as to how less than two measures would furnish their supper that night,
+while full two measures were found insufficient on former occasions
+for herself alone. The lamp was set for the first time in her house,
+and she cooked the remaining rice. The younger sister was astonished
+to see her using so much for two. The elder, thinking within herself
+that the younger would soon see her mistake, cooked everything. Two
+leaves were spread, and they sat down to their supper. [3] Not even a
+fourth part of the rice in the pot was consumed, but already they were
+satisfied. The younger sister laughed at the foolishness of her elder,
+who now said, "I do not know what magic you have in you. Every day I
+cook two measures of rice, and fast the whole night, without finding
+them sufficient for myself. Now a fourth of less than two measures
+has satiated both. Please explain the cause." The younger sister,
+who was very intelligent herself, wanted to find out the cause, and
+asked next day if she might serve the meals without the lamp. Instead
+of eating she stretched out her hand and caught hold of a lock of
+hair. She asked the other at once to light the lamp, which, being
+done, they found a devil sitting by their side. On being questioned
+how he came there, he said that he was in the habit of going to every
+one who ate without a lamp, and swallowing his meals fast without
+leaving him a morsel. The elder sister perceived her mistake, and used
+a lamp from that day. The demon ceased to come. She had abundance
+for herself and something to spare. So when the lamp is blown out,
+devils are said to come and eat out of our leaves. Hence the custom
+of rising whenever such mishaps occur.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+THE SOOTHSAYER'S SON.
+
+                        Janmaprabhriti daridryam dashavarshani bandhanam
+                        Samudratire marenam kinchit bhogam bhavishyati.
+
+
+Thus a Soothsayer when on his death-bed wrote the horoscope of his
+second son, and bequeathed it to him as his only property, leaving
+the whole of his estate to his eldest son. The second son pondered
+over the horoscope, and fell into the following reflections:--
+
+"Alas, am I born to this only in the world? The sayings of my father
+never failed. I have seen them prove true to the last word while
+he was living; and how has he fixed my horoscope! Janma parabhriti
+daridryam! From my birth poverty! Nor is that my only fate. Dasa
+varshani bandhanam: for ten years, imprisonment--a fate harder
+than poverty; and what comes next? Samudratire maranam: death on the
+sea-shore; which means that I must die away from home, far from friends
+and relatives on a sea-coast. The misery has reached its extreme height
+here. Now comes the funniest part of the horoscope, Kinchit bhogam
+bhavishyati--that I am to have some happiness afterwards! What this
+happiness is, is an enigma to me: To die first, to be happy for some
+time after! What happiness? Is it the happiness of this world? So it
+must be. For however clever one may be, he cannot foretell what may
+take place in the other world. Therefore it must be the happiness
+of this world; and how can that be possible after my death? It is
+impossible. I think my father has only meant this as a consoling
+conclusion to the series of calamities that he has prophesied. Three
+portions of his prophecy must prove true; the fourth and last is a
+mere comforting statement to bear patiently the calamities enumerated,
+and never to prove true. Therefore let me go to Banaras, bathe in
+the holy Ganga, wash away my sins, and prepare myself for my end. Let
+me avoid sea-coasts, lest death meet me there in accordance with my
+father's words. Come imprisonment: I am prepared for it for ten years."
+
+Thus thought he, and after all the funeral obsequies of his father were
+over, took leave of his elder brother, and started for Banaras. [4]
+He went by the middle of the Dakhan, [5] avoiding both the coasts,
+and went on journeying and journeying for weeks and months, till at
+last he reached the Vindhya mountains. While passing that desert he had
+to journey for a couple of days through a sandy plain, with no signs
+of life or vegetation. The little store of provision with which he
+was provided for a couple of days, at last was exhausted. The chombu,
+[6] which he carried always full, replenishing it with the sweet water
+from the flowing rivulet or plenteous tank, he had exhausted in the
+heat of the desert. There was not a morsel in his hand to eat; nor
+a drop of water to drink. Turn his eyes wherever he might he found a
+vast desert, out of which he saw no means of escape. Still he thought
+within himself, "Surely my father's prophecy never proved untrue. I
+must survive this calamity to find my death on some sea-coast." So
+thought he, and this thought gave him strength of mind to walk fast
+and try to find a drop of water somewhere to slake his dry throat. At
+last he succeeded, or rather thought that he succeeded. Heaven threw
+in his way a ruined well. He thought that he could collect some water
+if he let down his chombu with the string that he always carried
+noosed to the neck of it. Accordingly he let it down; it went some
+way and stopped, and the following words came from the well, "Oh,
+relieve me! I am the king of tigers, dying here of hunger. For the
+last three days I have had nothing. Fortune has sent you here. If you
+assist me now you will find a sure help in me throughout your life. Do
+not think that I am a beast of prey. When you have become my deliverer
+I can never touch you. Pray, kindly lift me up." Gangadhara, for that
+was the name of the Soothsayer's second son, found himself in a very
+perplexing position. "Shall I take him out or not? If I take him out
+he may make me the first morsel of his hungry mouth. No; that he will
+not do. For my father's prophecy never came untrue. I must die on a
+sea-coast and not by a tiger." Thus thinking, he asked the tiger king
+to hold tight to the vessel, which he accordingly did, and he lifted
+him up slowly. The tiger reached the top of the well and felt himself
+on safe ground. True to his word he did no harm to Gangadhara. On
+the other hand, he walked round his patron three times, and standing
+before him, humbly spoke the following words:--"My life-giver, my
+benefactor! I shall never forget this day, when I regained my life
+through your kind hands. In return for this kind assistance I pledge
+my oath to stand by you in all calamities. Whenever you are in any
+difficulty just think of me. I am there with you ready to oblige
+you by all the means that I can. To tell you briefly how I came in
+here:--Three days ago I was roaming in yonder forest, when I saw a
+goldsmith passing through it. I chased him. He, finding it impossible
+to escape my claws, jumped into this well, and is living to this
+moment in the very bottom of it. I also jumped in, but found myself
+in the first storey; [7] he is on the last and fourth storey. In the
+second storey lives a serpent half-famished with hunger. In the third
+storey lies a rat, similarly half-famished, and when you again begin
+to draw water these may request you first to release them. In the same
+way the goldsmith also may request. I tell you, as your bosom friend,
+never assist that wretched man, though he is your relation as a human
+being. Goldsmiths are never to be trusted. You can place more faith
+in me, a tiger, though I feast sometimes upon men, in a serpent whose
+sting makes your blood cold the very next moment, or in a rat, which
+does a thousand pieces of mischief in your house. But never trust a
+goldsmith. Do not release him; and if you do, you shall surely repent
+of it one day or other." Thus advising, the hungry tiger went away
+without waiting for an answer.
+
+Gangadhara thought several times of the eloquent way in which the tiger
+addressed him, and admired his fluency of speech. His thirst was not
+quenched. So he let down his vessel again, which was now caught hold
+of by the serpent, who addressed him thus:--"Oh my protector! Lift me
+up. I am the king of serpents, and the son of Adisesha, [8] who is now
+pining away in agony for my disappearance. Release me now. I shall ever
+remain your servant, remember your assistance, and help you throughout
+life in all possible ways. Oblige me: I am dying." Gangadhara, calling
+again to mind the Samudratire maranam--death on the sea-shore--lifted
+him up. He, like the tiger-king, walked round him thrice, and
+prostrating himself before him spoke thus:--"Oh, my life-giver, my
+father, for so I must call you, as you have given me another birth. I
+have already told you that I am Adisesha's son, and that I am the king
+of serpents. I was three days ago basking myself in the morning sun,
+when I saw a rat running before me. I chased him. He fell into this
+well. I followed him, but instead of falling on the third storey
+where he is now lying, I fell into the second. It was on the same
+evening that the goldsmith also fell down into the fourth storey,
+and the tiger whom you released just before me fell down into the
+first. What I have to tell you now is--do not relieve the goldsmith,
+though you may release the rat. As a rule, goldsmiths are never to
+be trusted. I am going away now to see my father. Whenever you are
+in any difficulty just think of me. I will be there by your side to
+assist you by all possible means. If, notwithstanding my repeated
+advice, you happen to release the goldsmith, you shall suffer for
+it severely." So saying, the Nagaraja (serpent-king) glided away in
+zigzag movements, and was out of sight in a moment.
+
+The poor son of the Soothsayer who was now almost dying of thirst,
+and was even led to think that the messengers of death were near
+him, notwithstanding his firm belief in the words of his father
+let down his vessel for a third time. The rat caught hold of it,
+and without discussing, he lifted up the poor animal at once. But
+it would not go away without showing its gratitude--"Oh life of my
+life! My benefactor! I am the king of rats. Whenever you are in any
+calamity just think of me. I will come to you, and assist you. My
+keen ears overheard all that the tiger-king and serpent-king told
+you about the Svarnataskara [9] (gold-smith), who is in the fourth
+storey. It is nothing but a sad truth that goldsmiths ought never
+to be trusted. Therefore never assist him as you have done to us
+all. And if you do, you shall feel it. I am hungry; let me go for the
+present." Thus taking leave of his benefactor, the rat, too, ran away.
+
+Gangadhara for a while thought upon the repeated advice given by the
+three animals about releasing the goldsmith, "What wrong would there be
+in my assisting him? Why should I not release him also?" So thinking
+to himself, Gangadhara let down the vessel again. The goldsmith
+caught hold of it, and demanded help. The Soothsayer's son had no
+time to lose; he was himself dying of thirst. Therefore he lifted
+the goldsmith up, who now began his story:--"Stop for a while,"
+said Gangadhara, and after quenching his thirst by letting down his
+vessel for the fifth time, still fearing that some one might remain
+in the well and demand his assistance, he listened to the goldsmith,
+who began as follows:--"My dear friend, my protector, what a deal of
+nonsense these brutes have been talking to you about me; I am glad you
+have not followed their advice. I am just now dying of hunger. Permit
+me to go away. My name is Manikkasari. I live in the East main street
+of Ujjaini which is twenty kas [10] to the south of this place, and so
+lies on your way when you return from Banaras. Do not forget to come
+to me and receive my kind remembrances of your assistance, on your
+way back to your country." So saying the goldsmith took his leave,
+and Gangadhara also pursued his way north after the above adventures.
+
+He reached Banaras, and lived there for more than ten years, spending
+his time in bathing, prayers, and other religious ceremonies. He
+quite forgot the tiger, serpent, rat, and goldsmith. After ten years
+of religious life, thoughts of home and of his brother rushed into his
+mind. "I have secured enough merit now by my religious observances. Let
+me return home." Thus thought Gangadhara within himself, and
+immediately he was on his way back to his country. Remembering the
+prophecy of his father he returned by the same way by which he went to
+Banaras ten years before. While thus retracing his steps he reached
+the ruined well where he had released the three brute kings and the
+goldsmith. At once the old recollections rushed into his mind, and he
+thought of the tiger to test his fidelity. Only a moment passed, and
+the tiger-king came running before him carrying a large crown in his
+mouth, the glitter of the diamonds of which for a time outshone even
+the bright rays of the sun. He dropped the crown at his life-giver's
+feet, and putting aside all his pride, humbled himself like a pet cat
+to the strokes of his protector, and began in the following words:--"My
+life-giver! How is it that you have forgotten me, your poor servant,
+for such a long time? I am glad to find that I still occupy a corner
+in your mind. I can never forget the day when I owed my life to your
+lotus hands. I have several jewels with me of little value. This crown,
+being the best of all, I have brought here as a single ornament of
+great value, and hence easily portable and useful to you in your own
+country." Gangadhara looked at the crown, examined it over and over,
+counted and recounted the gems, and thought within himself that he
+would become the richest of men by separating the diamonds and gold,
+and selling them in his own country. He took leave of the tiger-king,
+and after his disappearance thought of the kings of serpents and rats,
+who came in their turns with their presents, and after the usual
+formalities and exchange of words took their leave. Gangadhara was
+extremely delighted at the faithfulness with which the brute beasts
+behaved themselves, and went on his way to the south. While going along
+he spoke to himself thus:--"These beasts have been so very faithful in
+their assistance. Much more, therefore, must Manikkasari be faithful. I
+do not want anything from him now. If I take this crown with me as
+it is, it occupies much space in my bundle. It may also excite the
+curiosity of some robbers on the way. I will go now to Ujjaini on my
+way, Manikkasari requested me to see him without failure on my return
+journey. I shall do so, and request him to have the crown melted,
+the diamonds and gold separated. He must do that kindness at least
+for me. I shall then roll up these diamonds and gold ball in my rags,
+and bend my way homewards." Thus thinking and thinking he reached
+Ujjaini. At once he enquired for the house of his goldsmith friend,
+and found him without difficulty. Manikkasari was extremely delighted
+to find on his threshold him who ten years before, notwithstanding
+the advice repeatedly given him by the sage-looking tiger, serpent,
+and rat, had relieved him from the pit of death. Gangadhara at once
+showed him the crown that he received from the tiger-king, told him
+how he got it, and requested his kind assistance to separate the
+gold and diamonds. Manikkasari agreed to do so, and meanwhile asked
+his friend to rest himself for a while to have his bath and meals;
+and Gangadhara, who was very observant of his religious ceremonies,
+went direct to the river to bathe.
+
+How came a crown in the jaws of a tiger? It is not a difficult
+question to solve. A king must have furnished the table of the tiger
+for a day or two. Had it not been for that, the tiger could not have
+had a crown with him. Even so it was. The king of Ujjaini had a week
+before gone with all his hunters on a hunting expedition. All of a
+sudden a tiger--as we know now, the very tiger-king himself--started
+from the wood, seized the king, and vanished. The hunters returned
+and informed the prince about the sad calamity that had befallen his
+father. They all saw the tiger carrying away the king. Yet such was
+their courage that they could not lift their weapons to bring to the
+prince the corpse at least of his father.
+
+When they informed the prince about the death of his father he
+wept and wailed, and gave notice that he would give half of his
+kingdom to any one who should bring him news about the murderer of
+his father. The prince did not at all believe that his father was
+devoured by the tiger. His belief was that some hunters, coveting
+the ornaments on the king's person, had murdered him. Hence he had
+issued the notice. The goldsmith knew full well that it was a tiger
+that killed the king, and not any hunter's hands, since he had heard
+from Gangadhara about how he obtained the crown. Still, ambition
+to get half the kingdom prevailed, and he resolved with himself to
+make over Gangadhara as the king's murderer. The crown was lying
+on the floor where Gangadhara left it with his full confidence in
+Manikkasari. Before his protector's return the goldsmith, hiding
+the crown under his garments, flew to the palace. He went before the
+prince and informed him that the assassin was caught, and placed the
+crown before him. The prince took it into his hands, examined it,
+and at once gave half the kingdom to Manikkasari, and then enquired
+about the murderer. "He is bathing in the river, and is of such and
+such appearance," was the reply. At once four armed soldiers fly to
+the river, and bound the poor Brahman hand and foot, he sitting in
+meditation the while, without any knowledge of the fate that hung
+over him. They brought Gangadhara to the presence of the prince,
+who turned his face away from the murderer or supposed murderer,
+and asked his soldiers to throw him into the karagriham. [11] In a
+minute, without knowing the cause, the poor Brahman found himself in
+the dark caves of the karagriham.
+
+In old times the karagriham answered the purposes of the modern
+jail. It was a dark cellar underground, built with strong stone walls,
+into which any criminal guilty of a capital offence was ushered to
+breathe his last there without food and drink. Such was the cellar
+into which Gangadhara was thrust. In a few hours after he left the
+goldsmith he found himself inside a dark cell stinking with human
+bodies, dying and dead. What were his thoughts when he reached that
+place? "It is the goldsmith that has brought me to this wretched
+state; and, as for the prince: Why should he not enquire as to how I
+obtained the crown? It is of no use to accuse either the goldsmith
+or the prince now. We are all the children of fate. We must obey
+her commands. Dasavarshani Bandhanam. This is but the first day of
+my father's prophecy. So far his statement is true. But how am I
+going to pass ten years here? Perhaps without anything to sustain
+life I may drag on my existence for a day or two. But how pass ten
+years? That cannot be, and I must die. Before death comes let me
+think of my faithful brute friends."
+
+So pondered Gangadhara in the dark cell underground, and at that
+moment thought of his three friends. The tiger-king, serpent-king,
+and rat-king assembled at once with their armies at a garden near
+the karagriham, and for a while did not know what to do. A common
+cause--how to reach their protector, who was now in the dark cell
+underneath--united them all. They held their council, and decided to
+make an underground passage from the inside of a ruined well to the
+karagriham. The rat raja issued an order at once to that effect to
+his army. They, with their nimble teeth, bored the ground a long way
+to the walls of the prison. After reaching it they found that their
+teeth could not work on the hard stones. The bandicoots were then
+specially ordered for the business; they, with their hard teeth,
+made a small slit in the wall for a rat to pass and repass without
+difficulty. Thus a passage was effected.
+
+The rat raja entered first to condole with his protector on his
+misfortune. The king of the tigers sent word through the snake-king
+that he sympathised most sincerely with his sorrow, and that he was
+ready to render all help for his deliverance. He suggested a means
+for his escape also. The serpent raja went in, and gave Gangadhara
+hopes of delivery. The rat-king undertook to supply his protector
+with provisions. "Whatever sweetmeats or bread are prepared in any
+house, one and all of you must try to bring whatever you can to our
+benefactor. Whatever clothes you find hanging in a house, cut down, dip
+the pieces in water, and bring the wet bits to our benefactor. He will
+squeeze them and gather water for drink! and the bread and sweetmeats
+shall form his food." Having issued these orders the king of the rats,
+took leave of Gangadhara. They, in obedience to their king's order,
+continued to supply provisions and water.
+
+The Nagaraja said:--"I sincerely condole with you in your calamity;
+the tiger-king also fully sympathises with you, and wants me to tell
+you so, as he cannot drag his huge body here as we have done with our
+small ones. The king of the rats has promised to do his best to provide
+you with food. We would now do what we can for your release. From this
+day we shall issue orders to our armies to oppress all the subjects
+of this kingdom. The percentage of death by snake-bite and tigers
+shall increase from this day. And day by day it shall continue to
+increase till your release. After eating what the rats bring you, you
+had better take your seat near the entrance of the karagriham. Owing
+to the many sudden deaths that will occur some people that walk over
+the prison may say, 'How wicked the king has become. Were it not for
+his wickedness so many dreadful deaths by snake-bites could never
+occur.' Whenever you hear people speaking so, you had better bawl out
+so as to be heard by them, 'The wretched prince imprisoned me on the
+false charge of having killed his father, while it was a tiger that
+killed him. From that day these calamities have broken out in his
+dominions. If I were released I would save all by my powers of healing
+poisonous wounds and by incantations.' Some one may report this to
+the king, and if he knows it, you will obtain your liberty." Thus
+comforting his protector in trouble, he advised him to pluck up
+courage, and took leave of him. From that day tigers and serpents,
+acting under the special orders of their kings, united in killing as
+many persons and cattle as possible. Every day people were carried
+away by tigers or bitten by serpents. This havoc continued. Gangadhara
+went on roaring as loud he could that he would save those lives, had
+he only his liberty. Few heard him. The few that did took his words
+for the voice of a ghost. "How could he manage to live without food
+and drink for so long a time?" said the persons walking over his head
+to each other. Thus passed months and years. Gangadhara sat in the
+dark cellar, without the sun's light falling upon him, and feasted
+upon the bread-crumbs and sweetmeats that the rats so kindly supplied
+him with. These circumstances had completely changed his body. He
+had become a red, stout, huge, unwieldy lump of flesh. Thus passed
+full ten years, as prophesied in the horoscope--Dasavarshani Bandhanam.
+
+Ten complete years rolled away in close imprisonment. On the last
+evening of the tenth year one of the serpents got into the bed-chamber
+of the princess and sucked her life. She breathed her last. She was the
+only daughter of the king. He had no other issue--son or daughter. His
+only hope was in her; and she was snatched away by a cruel and untimely
+death. The king at once sent for all the snake-bite curers. He promised
+half his kingdom and his daughter's hand to him who would restore her
+to life. Now it was that a servant of the king, who had several times
+overheard Gangadhara's cries, reported the matter to him. The king
+at once ordered the cell to be examined. There was the man sitting in
+it. How has he managed to live so long in the cell? Some whispered that
+he must be a divine being. Some concluded that he must surely win the
+hand of the princess by restoring her to life. Thus they discussed,
+and the discussions brought Gangadhara to the king.
+
+The king no sooner saw Gangadhara than he fell on the ground. He
+was struck by the majesty and grandeur of his person. His ten years'
+imprisonment in the deep cell underground had given a sort of lustre
+to his body, which was not to be met with in ordinary persons. His
+hair had first to be cut before his face could be seen. The king
+begged forgiveness for his former fault, and requested him to revive
+his daughter.
+
+"Bring me in a muhurta [12] all the corpses of men and cattle,
+dying and dead, that remain unburnt or unburied within the range of
+your dominions; I shall revive them all," were the only words that
+Gangadhara spoke. After it he closed his lips as if in deep meditation,
+which commanded more respect than ever.
+
+Cart-loads of corpses of men and cattle began to come in every
+minute. Even graves, it is said, were broken open, and corpses buried a
+day or two before were taken out and sent for the revival. As soon as
+all were ready, Gangadhara took a vessel full of water and sprinkled
+it over them all, thinking only of his Nagaraja and Vyaghraraja. [13]
+All rose up as if from deep slumber, and went to their respective
+homes. The princess, too, was restored to life. The joy of the king
+knew no bounds. He cursed the day on which he imprisoned him, blamed
+himself for having believed the word of a goldsmith, and offered him
+the hand of his daughter and the whole kingdom, instead of half as he
+promised. Gangadhara would not accept anything. The king requested
+him to put a stop for ever to these calamities. He agreed to do so,
+and asked the king to assemble all his subjects in a wood near the
+town. "I shall there call in all the tigers and serpents and give them
+a general order." So said Gangadhara, and the king accordingly gave
+the order. In a couple of ghatikas [14] the wood near Ujjaini was
+full of people, who assembled to witness the authority of man over
+such enemies of human beings as tigers and serpents. "He is no man;
+be sure of that. How could he have managed to live for ten years
+without food and drink? He is surely a god." Thus speculated the mob.
+
+When the whole town was assembled, just at the dusk of evening,
+Gangadhara sat dumb for a moment, and thought upon the Vyaghraraja
+and Nagaraja, who came running with all their armies. People began
+to take to their heels at the sight of tigers. Gangadhara assured
+them of safety, and stopped them.
+
+The grey light of the evening, the pumpkin colour of Gangadhara, the
+holy ashes scattered lavishly over his body, the tigers and snakes
+humbling themselves at his feet, gave him the true majesty of the god
+Gangadhara. [15] For who else by a single word could thus command vast
+armies of tigers and serpents, said some among the people. "Care not
+for it; it may be by magic. That is not a great thing. That he revived
+cart-loads of corpses makes him surely Gangadhara," said others. The
+scene produced a very great effect upon the minds of the mob.
+
+"Why should you, my children, thus trouble these poor subjects of
+Ujjaini? Reply to me, and henceforth desist from your ravages." Thus
+said the Soothsayer's son, and the following reply came from the
+king of the tigers; "Why should this base king imprison your honour,
+believing the mere word of a goldsmith that your honour killed his
+father? All the hunters told him that his father was carried away by
+a tiger. I was the messenger of death sent to deal the blow on his
+neck. I did it, and gave the crown to your honour. The prince makes no
+enquiry, and at once imprisons your honour. How can we expect justice
+from such a stupid king as that? Unless he adopts a better standard
+of justice we will go on with our destruction."
+
+The king heard, cursed the day on which he believed in the word of
+a goldsmith, beat his head, tore his hair, wept and wailed for his
+crime, asked a thousand pardons, and swore to rule in a just way from
+that day. The serpent-king and tiger-king also promised to observe
+their oath as long as justice prevailed, and took their leave. The
+goldsmith fled for his life. He was caught by the soldiers of the
+king, and was pardoned by the generous Gangadhara, whose voice now
+reigned supreme. All returned to their homes.
+
+The king again pressed Gangadhara to accept the hand of his
+daughter. He agreed to do so, not then, but some time afterwards. He
+wished to go and see his elder brother first, and then to return and
+marry the princess. The king agreed; and Gangadhara left the city
+that very day on his way home.
+
+It so happened that unwittingly he took a wrong road, and had to pass
+near a sea coast. His elder brother was also on his way up to Banaras
+by that very same route. They met and recognised each other, even at
+a distance. They flew into each other's arms. Both remained still for
+a time almost unconscious with joy. The emotion of pleasure (ananda)
+was so great, especially in Gangadhara, that it proved dangerous to
+his life. In a word, he died of joy.
+
+The sorrow of the elder brother could better be imagined than
+described. He saw again his lost brother, after having given up,
+as it were, all hopes of meeting him. He had not even asked him his
+adventures. That he should be snatched away by the cruel hand of
+death seemed unbearable to him. He wept and wailed, took the corpse
+on his lap, sat under a tree, and wetted it with tears. But there
+was no hope of his dead brother coming to life again.
+
+The elder brother was a devout worshipper of Ganapati. [16] That was
+a Friday, a day very sacred to that god. The elder brother took the
+corpse to the nearest Ganesa [17] temple and called upon him. The
+god came, and asked him what he wanted. "My poor brother is dead and
+gone; and this is his corpse. Kindly keep it in your charge till I
+finish worshipping you. If I leave it anywhere else the devils may
+snatch it away when I am absent worshipping you; after finishing
+your puja [18] I shall burn him." Thus said the elder brother, and,
+giving the corpse to the god Ganesa, he went to prepare himself for
+that deity's ceremonials. Ganesa made over the corpse to his Ganas,
+[19] asking them to watch over it carefully.
+
+So a spoiled child receives a fruit from its father, who, when he gives
+it the fruit asks the child to keep it safe. The child thinks within
+itself, "My father will forgive me if I eat a portion of it." So
+saying it eats a portion, and when it finds it so sweet, it eats
+the whole, saying, "Come what will, what can father do, after all,
+if I eat it? Perhaps give me a stroke or two on the back. Perhaps he
+may forgive me." In the same way these Ganas of Ganapati first ate
+a portion of the corpse, and when they found it sweet, for we know
+it was crammed up with the sweetmeats of the kind rats, devoured the
+whole, and began consulting about the best excuse possible to offer
+to their master.
+
+The elder brother, after finishing the puja, demanded his brother's
+corpse of the god. The god called his Ganas who came to the front
+blinking, and fearing the anger of their master. The god was greatly
+enraged. The elder brother was very angry. When the corpse was not
+forthcoming he cuttingly remarked, "Is this, after all, the return
+for my deep belief in you? You are unable even to return my brother's
+corpse." Ganesa was much ashamed at the remark, and at the uneasiness
+that he had caused to his worshipper. So he, by his divine power,
+gave him a living Gangadhara instead of the dead corpse. Thus was
+the second son of the Soothsayer restored to life.
+
+The brothers had a long talk about each other's adventures. They
+both went to Ujjaini, where Gangadhara married the princess, and
+succeeded to the throne of that kingdom. He reigned for a long time,
+conferring several benefits upon his brother. How is the horoscope to
+be interpreted? A special synod of Soothsayers was held. A thousand
+emendations were suggested. Gangadhara would not accept them. At
+last one Soothsayer cut the knot by stopping at a different place
+in reading, "Samudra tire maranam kinchit." "On the sea-shore death
+for some time. Then "Bhogam bhavishyati." "There shall be happiness
+for the person concerned." Thus the passage was interpreted. "Yes;
+my father's words never went wrong," said Gangadhara. The three brute
+kings continued their visits often to the Soothsayer's son, the then
+king of Ujjaini. Even the faithless goldsmith became a frequent visitor
+at the palace, and a receiver of several benefits from royal hands.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+RANAVIRASING.
+
+
+Once upon a time in the town of Vanjaimanagar, [20] there ruled a
+king, named Sivachar. He was a most just king, and ruled so well that
+no stone thrown up fell down, no crow pecked at the new drawn milk,
+the lion and the bull drank water from the same pond, and peace and
+prosperity reigned throughout the kingdom. Notwithstanding all these
+blessings, care always sat on his face. The fruit which makes life in
+this world sweet, the redeemer to him from the horrible Naraka of Put,
+[21] a Putra, [22] he had not. His days and nights he spent in praying
+that God might bless him with a son. Wherever he saw pipal trees
+(Asvattharajas), [23] he ordered Brahmans to surround them. Whatever
+medicines the doctors recommended he was ever ready to swallow,
+however bitter they might be. "Eat even dung to get a son," says the
+proverb, and accordingly he did every thing to secure that happiness,
+but all in vain.
+
+Sivachar had a minister, named Kharavadana, a most wicked tyrant as
+ever lived in the world. The thought that the king was without an
+heir, and had no hopes of one, awakened in his mind the ambition
+of securing for his family the throne of Vanjaimanagar. Sivachar
+knew this well. But what could he do. His only care was to send up
+additional prayers to frustrate the thoughts of Kharavadana, and to
+secure for himself a good position after death, without undergoing
+the severe torments of the Put-hell.
+
+At last fortune favoured Sivachar; for what religious man fails to
+secure his desire? The king in his sixtieth year had a son. His joy
+can better be imagined than described. Lacs (Lakhs) of Brahmans
+were fed in honour of the son-birth festival, Putrotsavam, as it
+is technically called. The state prisons were opened, and all the
+prisoners let loose. Thousands of kine and innumerable acres of
+land were offered to Brahmans, and every kind of charity was duly
+practised. The ten days of the Sutikagrihavasa (confinement) were
+over. On the eleventh day the father saw his much longed-for son's
+face, and read on the lines of it great prosperity, learning, valour,
+goodness and every excellent quality.
+
+The cradle-swinging, naming, and other ceremonies were duly performed,
+and the prince grew up under the great care generally shown to a king's
+son. His name the elders fixed as Sundara. [24] The minister whose
+only wish was to get the throne for his family, was much disappointed
+at the birth of a son to his master. The whole kingdom rejoiced at
+the event, and the minister was the only man who was sorry. When one
+is disappointed in his high hopes and expectations, he devises plans
+to take away the barrier that lies in his way. Even so, Kharavadana
+said to himself, "Let me see how affairs progress. The old king is
+near his grave. When he dies, leaving a son in his minority I myself
+must be his regent for a time. Shall I not then have opportunity
+enough of securing for ever for myself and my family the throne of
+Vanjaimanagar?" So thought he within himself, and was quiet for a time.
+
+Sivachar, who was a very shrewd man, on several occasions, read the
+minister's mind, and knew very well how his intentions stood. "This
+cruel devil may murder my only son. I care not if he usurps the
+throne. What I fear is, that he may murder him. Na daivam Sankarat
+param. No other god but Sankara. And he must have his own way. If it
+is so written on the prince's head I cannot avoid it." Thus sighed
+Sivachar, and this sorrow (soka), made him leaner day by day. Just
+ten years after the birth of Sundara, the king fell ill and lay on
+his deathbed.
+
+Sivachar had a servant, named Ranavirasing, whom he had all along
+observed to be very honest and faithful. That servant the king called
+to his side, and asking all others except Sundara, who was weeping
+by his father's pillow, to leave the room, addressed him thus:--"My
+dear Ranavirasing! I have only a few ghatikas before me. Listen to my
+words, and act accordingly. There is one God above us all, who will
+punish or reward us according to our bad or good acts. If by avarice
+or greed of money you ever play false to the trust that I am going to
+repose in you that God will surely punish you. It is not unknown to
+you what great difficulties I had in getting this only son, Sundara;
+how many temples I built, how many Brahmans I fed, how many religious
+austerities I underwent, &c., &c.. God after all gave me a son." Here
+his sorrow prevented him from proceeding further, and he began to cry
+aloud, and shed tears. "Do not weep on my account, father. We cannot
+wipe off what was written on our heads. We must undergo happiness or
+misery as is thereon written by Brahma, cried the prince. Ranavirasing
+was melted at the sight. He took the boy on his lap, and with his
+own upper garment wiped his eyes. The old man continued, "Thus you,
+my faithful Ranavirasing, know everything. I now wish that I had
+not performed all that I did to get this son. For when I die at this
+moment, who is there to take care of him for the next? Kharavadana may
+devise plan after plan to remove my boy from this world, and secure
+the kingdom for himself. My only hope is in you. I give him into your
+hands." Here the aged father, notwithstanding his illness, rose up a
+little from his bed, took hold of his son's hand, and after kissing
+it for the last time, placed it in Ranavirasing's. "Care not if he
+does not get the kingdom. If you only preserve him from the wicked
+hands of the minister whom I have all along seen to be covetous of
+the throne, you will do a great work for your old master. I make you
+from this moment the lord of my palace. From this minute you are
+father, mother, brother, servant, and everything to my son. Take
+care that you do not betray your trust." Thus ended the king, and
+sent at once for the minister. When he came he spoke to him thus,
+"Kharavadana! See what I am now. Yesterday I was on the throne. To-day,
+in a few minutes, I must breathe my last. Such is the uncertainty of
+life. Man's good acts alone follow him to the other world. Take my
+signet-ring. [Here the king took the ring from off his finger, and gave
+it to the minister.] Yours is the throne for the present, as long as
+the prince is in his minority. Govern well the kingdom. When the prince
+attains his sixteenth year kindly give him back the throne. Exercise
+a paternal care over him. Find a good and intelligent princess for
+his wife." Suddenly, before his speech was quite finished, the king
+felt the last pangs of death. The sage-looking minister promised
+him everything.
+
+Sivachar breathed his last. After the usual weeping and wailing
+of a Hindu funeral, his corpse was burnt to ashes in a sandalwood
+pyre. All his queens--and there were several scores--committed sati
+[25] with the corpse. The ceremonies were all regularly conducted,
+the minister himself superintended everything.
+
+Kharavadana then succeeded to the throne of Vanjaimanagar. Ranavirasing
+became the lord of the palace, and true to his promise exercised all
+care over his trust. He was always at the side of Sundara. That he
+might not lose the sweetness of boyhood in study and play, Ranavirasing
+brought to the palace twenty gentlemen's sons of good conduct and
+learning and made them the prince's fellow-students. A professor
+for every branch of learning was employed to teach the prince and
+his companions. Sundara thus received a sound and liberal education,
+only he was never allowed to go out of the palace. Ranavirasing guarded
+him very strictly, and he had every reason to do so. For Kharavadana,
+as soon as he became king, had issued a notice that the assassin
+of Sundara should have a reward of a karor [26] mohurs; and already
+every avaricious hand was in search of his head. Before the issue of
+this notice, Kharavadana found out a good girl and married her to the
+prince. She lived with her husband in the palace, and Ranavirasing
+strictly watched her, as she had been chosen by the minister. He would
+not allow Sundara to speak to her. These strict prohibitions displeased
+the prince, even with his faithful servant. But the latter could not
+help it till he had full confidence in her. He used to advise Sundara
+not even to take a betel-leaf from her hands. But love is blind. So
+the prince within himself accused his old guardian; but he could not
+help following his orders. Thus passed on a few years.
+
+Sundara reached his sixteenth year. Nothing happened about the
+transference of the kingdom; the prince, almost in imprisonment in
+the palace, had forgotten everything about the kingdom. Ranavirasing
+wished to wait till, as he thought, the prince had acquired better
+governing faculties. Thus some time passed.
+
+Full eight years had elapsed from the death of Sivachar. Sundara was
+already eighteen, and still he had not received his kingdom. Nothing
+was neglected in his education. Though Ranavirasing exercised all
+paternal care over him, still it was not to his liking; for he found
+in him a great barrier to the pleasures of youth. The only pleasure
+for the prince, therefore, was the company of his friends.
+
+One fine evening on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month of
+Vaisakha of the Vasanta [27] season, the prince was sitting with his
+companions in the seventh story of his mansion viewing the town. The
+dusk of evening was just throwing her mantle over the city. People in
+their several vocations were at that time ceasing work, and returning
+home. In the eastern division of the town the prince saw a big mansion,
+and just to break the silence asked his friends what that was. "That is
+the Rajasthanik Kacheri, [28] a place you ought to have been sitting
+in for the last two years. The wretched minister, Kharavadana, has
+already usurped your seat; for, if he had intended to give you back
+the kingdom he would have done it two years ago when you reached your
+sixteenth year. Let us now console ourselves that God has spared your
+life till now, notwithstanding all the awards promised to the taker
+of your head. Even the proclamation is dying out of the memory of
+the people now." So said one of his friends and ceased.
+
+These words fell like arrows in the ear of Sundara and troubled
+him. Shame that he had been thus treated brought a change of colour
+over his face which all his friends perceived, and they felt sorry for
+having touched upon the subject. The prince, perceiving that he had
+played a woman's part among his friends, resumed or pretended to resume
+his former cheerful countenance, and changed the conversation to some
+pleasanter topics. They separated very late that night. Before doing
+so, Sundara asked them all to present themselves in the durbar hall
+[29] early next morning. At the same time he also ordered Ranavirasing
+to keep horses ready for himself and his friends for a morning ride
+through the town the next day. "I was only waiting to hear such an
+order from your own mouth, Mai Bab Chakravarti! [30] I was thinking
+from your retired disposition that you were not an energetic man. I
+will have the horses ready." Ranavirasing at once issued orders to
+his servants to keep ready saddled and decked twenty-one horses for
+the prince and his companions. He also appointed a certain number of
+his men to ride in front of the party.
+
+The morning came. The friends assembled, as promised the previous
+evening. The prince and they, after a light breakfast, mounted their
+horses. The horsemen rode in front and behind. The prince with his
+friends marched in the middle. Ranavirasing with drawn sword rode
+by his side. The party went through the four main streets of the
+town. Every one rose up and paid due respect to their old king's
+son. When passing through the street where the minister's mansion was,
+Ranavirasing perceived that Kharavadana paid no respect to the royal
+march. This seemed a most unbearable insult to Ranavirasing. He bit
+his lips, gnashed his teeth, and wrung his hands. The prince observed
+all the mental pains of his faithful guardian, and laughed to himself
+at his simplicity. About mid-day the party returned to the palace. The
+friends dispersed, and Sundara after the ceremonies of the new-moon
+day had a slight dinner, and retired to rest.
+
+The morning ride was deep in the mind of the prince. Though he laughed
+to himself at the simplicity of Ranavirasing when the latter gnashed
+his teeth in the morning, the insult had left a stronger and deeper
+impression in his heart. The day was almost spent. Sundara took a very
+light supper, and shut himself up in his bed-room before the first
+watch was quite over. Ranavirasing, as usual, watched outside. The
+prince found his wife sound asleep in her bed, and without disturbing
+her he went up and down the room. A thread-like substance attracted his
+attention in a corner of the bed-chamber. On examination he found it
+to be a thread ladder. He had not even time to think how it came into
+the bed-chamber. Just then Ranavirasing had retired for a few minutes
+to take his supper. "The old fool is off now to eat; and Paramesvara
+has thrown this ladder in my way. Let me now escape." Thus thinking,
+Sundara came out unobserved by his old guardian, and ascended to the
+top of the seventh mansion. From that place he cast his ladder towards
+a big tree in the East Main street. On pulling it he found that it was
+firmly fixed. "Let me get down, and Paramesvara will assist me." So
+praying, before the first watch was over, the prince got down from
+his palace, and was in a few minutes in the East street. The severe
+watch kept over him by Ranavirasing made it very difficult for him
+to go out when he liked, and now by the grace of God, as he thought,
+he had escaped that dark new-moon night.
+
+"Life is dear to every one. What can I do if any of the minister's
+men find me out now and murder me? Na daivam Sankarat param. No
+god but Sankara, and he will now help me." Thus thinking he walked
+to the nearest pyal, and lingered there till the bustle of the town
+subsided. Nor was it in vain that he stopped there. He overheard while
+there the following conversation take place between the master and
+mistress of the house at which he lingered:--"Console yourself, my
+wife. What shall we do? Fate has so willed it on our heads. May Brahma
+[31] become without a temple for the evil that he has sent us. When the
+old king was living he appreciated my merits, and at every Sankranti
+[32] gave me due dakshina [33] for my knowledge of the Vedas. [34]
+Now there reigns a tyrant over our kingdom. I have been lingering
+here with the hope that the son of Sivachar would one day come to the
+throne and relieve our sufferings. Now that such hope is altogether
+gone, I have made up my mind to leave this nasty city, and go to some
+good place where there reigns a king who can appreciate our yogyata
+(merit)." Of these words Sundara overheard every syllable, and these
+supplied the fuel to the fire of shame and anger that was already
+burning in his mind. "Let me try to win back my kingdom. If I succeed,
+I shall save other lives. If I die, I alone die. May Paramesvara help
+me." So saying he walked out of the town, and passed the east gate. The
+night was as dark as could be, for it was a new moon night. Clouds
+were gathering in the sky, and there were some symptoms of rain.
+
+There was a Ganesa temple on the way. As it was already drizzling,
+the prince went inside till the rain should cease. No sooner had he
+entered it than he saw two men, who by their conversation appeared to
+be shepherds, coming towards that same temple. They seemed to have
+been watching their flocks near an adjacent field, and had come to
+shelter themselves from the rain in the temple. Sundara when he saw
+them, trembled for his life, and crept in. The shepherds sat down on
+the verandah, and taking out their bags began to chew betel-nuts. An
+idle lizard began to chirp in a corner. To break the silence, one
+said to the other, "Well, Ramakon, I have heard that you are a great
+soothsayer and interpreter of bird sounds and lizard speeches. Let me
+know what these chirps of the lizard that we heard just now mean. Tell
+me." Ramakon replied, "This is news which I would never have revealed
+at any other time. But as no fourth person is likely to be here at this
+time on a rainy night, let me tell you that the prince of the town is
+now lingering here in this temple. So the lizard says. Hence I said,
+'no fourth person.' I am glad that no evil hand has yet been tempted,
+though such a high price has been set upon his head. The very fact
+that he has lived up to this time unhurt in a tiger's domain augurs
+well for his future prosperity." Ramakon had scarcely finished his
+speech when the idle lizard again made its chit, chit, and Ramakon
+now asked his friend, Lakshmanakon, for that was the other's name,
+to interpret those sounds. "This has rather a sad meaning for the
+prince. The Mantri [35] and Pradhani [36] are coming here in a few
+minutes (nimishas), to consult on a secret topic. So says the lizard,"
+said Lakshmanakon to Ramakon, and at that very moment a light was
+seen at a distance. "It is the minister's carriage. Let us be off. God
+only must save the prince." So saying, they both ran away.
+
+The feelings of the prince inside were like that of a man who
+was being led to the gallows. The bitterest enemy of his life,
+the minister himself, was coming to that very place where he was
+hiding. "I foolishly accused my old guardian, Ranavirasing, and now
+I see his good intentions. How I am to be spared from this calamity
+Sankara only knows." Thus thinking, he hurriedly fled to the inmost
+part of the temple behind the very image, and sat down there, still
+like a stump, without even breathing freely, lest his breath might
+reveal him. He had ample time there to admire the sound knowledge of
+the shepherds in interpreting the lizard chirps, their simplicity,
+their honesty and truthfulness; for, had they been otherwise, they
+might at once have caught hold of the prince and made him over to the
+tiger minister. True to the interpretation of the second shepherd, a
+carriage stopped in front of the Ganesa temple, and there came out of
+it the Mantri and the Pradhani. Excepting themselves and, of course,
+the carriage driver and, as we know, the prince behind the Ganesa,
+there were no others there. Kharavadana and his subordinate chose that
+solitary place at the dead of night to hold secret consultations. The
+Mantri spoke first, and one could easily perceive from his words that
+he was in a fit of anger. "Why should the prince be thus allowed to
+ride free through my streets? Of the innumerable servants who eat our
+salt was there not one to cut down that impertinent head?" roared the
+minister. The Pradhani replied, "My king, my lord, excuse me first
+for the humble words that I am going to speak before your honour. We
+have taken up a kingdom to which we have no right. If the prince
+had demanded the throne two years ago, we ought rightfully to have
+returned it to him. He never asked, and we did not restore it. He
+never troubles us with demands, but lives like a poor subject of the
+crown in his own quarters. Such being the case, why should we kill
+him? Why should we murder the only son of our old and much-respected
+king Sivachar? What I beg to suggest to your honour is, that we should
+no more trouble ourselves about his poor head." The Pradhani, as he
+discovered that these words were not to the taste of Kharavadana,
+stopped at once without proceeding further, though he had much to
+say upon that subject. "Vile wretch! Dare you preach morals to your
+superiors. You shall see the result of this, before the morning dawns,"
+bawled out the Minister. The Pradhani saw that all his excellent advice
+was like blowing a horn in a deaf man's ears. He feared for his own
+life, and so at once begged a thousand pardons, and promised to bring
+the head of the prince within a week. And as Kharavadana wanted only
+that, he spared the Pradhani. They then talked on different subjects,
+and prepared to start.
+
+The prince inside, behind the Ganesavigraha, [37] was now almost
+stifled to death. The short breaths that he inhaled and exhaled
+were themselves enough to kill him. Add to that the horrible
+words that fell on his ears. For all that he continued to hide
+himself. Kharavadana and the Pradhani finished their conversation
+and got into the carriage. Sundara called courage to his assistance,
+"Sankara has saved me till now; he may so save me throughout." So
+thinking to himself, he boldly came out of the temple without making
+the least noise and sat behind the carriage, and, as it rolled on,
+thought again within himself: "I will follow these, come what may,
+and find out what more plans they devise against my life."
+
+The carriage drove on to the opposite end of the town. It passed the
+west gate and entered a big park outside the town. The undaunted prince
+followed. In the middle of the park a fine tank was discovered. The
+banks looked like day, being lighted up profusely. In the midst of the
+tank a small island with a gaudy mansion was seen. Pillars of gold,
+sofas of silver and doors of diamonds made it the very Indraloka [38]
+itself. A broad road with avenues of sweet smelling flowering trees
+connected the island with the bank. It was at that road that the
+carriage stopped. The prince, before that was reached, had got down
+and hid himself under the shade of a tree, to see unobserved all that
+passed in the mansion which he had every reason to believe was the
+destination of the minister. Kharavadana descended from the carriage
+and sent the Pradhani home. What most astonished the prince was the
+absence of male servants in that garden. At the entrance of the road
+twenty young females of the most exquisite beauty waited and conducted
+Kharavadana through the sweet bower to the mansion. When it was
+reached, the minister sat down on a most richly furnished gold couch,
+and ordered the females there to bring the queen. Ten females arranged
+themselves on each side of an ivory palanquin, and started, apparently,
+to bring the queen in it. "These females themselves resemble Rambha,
+[39] Urvasi, [39] &c. A woman who has beauty superior to the heads of
+these females must, of course, be of the greatest beauty imaginable in
+this world. Let me see her." Thus thinking, the prince Sundara
+anxiously awaited the return of the palanquin. In a few minutes it
+came. A female of the most charming beauty jumped briskly out of it. The
+minister came running to give his helping hand to her. Horror of
+horrors, what sees the prince! It was his own wife, the very girl that
+the minister had married to him a few years before, that got down from
+the palanquin. "Are my eyes deceived? Do they perform their functions
+aright? Let me look once more." So again and again wiping his eyes to
+clear them a little, the prince saw distinctly. It was his very wife
+herself. "Oh, I most foolishly accused that grey-headed guardian for
+a wicked fool, because he would not allow me to be friends with my
+wife. I now see what he saw a long time ago. Perhaps if I had seen
+more of her I should have thus been brought in here by some secret
+way that these devils seem now to have to the inmost parts of the
+palace. If I had taken anything from her hands I should have died
+that very day. My poor old man, my Ranavirasing it is, who has saved
+me from all these calamities." These thoughts and a thousand more
+were passing through Sundara's mind when he saw his wife sitting down
+on the same couch with the minister. She accused him of the delay in
+murdering her husband, of his letting all opportunities escape during
+the morning ride. "Horrible! Did you, Kharavadana, marry me to such
+a faithful wife! Thank God and Ranavirasing that I have not fallen
+into her snares," thought Sundara to himself. The minister offered
+a thousand excuses, related to her all that had taken place between
+himself and the Pradhani, and of what the latter had promised. Then
+they both retired to bed. At that moment the treacherous owl began
+to hoot, and one of the maid-servants, who happened to be a clever
+interpreter of owl-hootings revealed, to secure the favour of the
+minister, that the prince was lurking behind a tree in that very
+garden. Knowing the price set on Sundara's head even female hands
+flew to cut it off. All ran with torches to search the garden.
+
+These words, of course, fell upon the ears of the prince like
+thunder. Before the people there began their search he began his race,
+jumped over a high wall, and flew like a kite. Before the lady-racers
+and the minister had left their sweet road to the tank-bank, Sundara
+found himself in the north street of the town. The news that the
+prince was out that night spread like a flame from the pleasure-park
+outside throughout the whole town, and before long avaricious persons
+were searching in the streets for his valuable head. Sundara thought
+it dangerous to pass through the streets, and wished to hide himself
+in a safe place. Fortune conducted him to one. It was a ruined old
+choultry, where food, during the days of his father, was distributed
+in charity to the beggars of the town, and which was now only resorted
+to by them to sleep, and not to receive rice. The prince entered it,
+and laid himself down in the midst of them, fortunately unobserved. He
+could hear from where he was the noise of the persons searching
+outside. In the garden the minister searched in vain, and accusing
+the female for her wrong interpretation as he thought, retired to bed.
+
+Outside the north gate, at a distance of three ghatikas' walk, lived
+a robber. He used to start out on a plundering expedition once in
+seven years. In the houses and mansions he used to rob he took only
+jewels of various kinds, Gomeda, [40] pushparuga, (topaz) vajra, [41]
+vaidurya, [42] &c.; gold and silver he rejected as being too mean for
+his dignity. As he was a high-caste robber, he used to take a coolie
+with him on his way to carry his booty. Of course, that coolie never
+returned from the cave. He was put to death after his services were
+over, lest he should disclose the secret of the robber.
+
+Unfortunately, that new-moon night happened to be the night of that
+cruel robber's plundering expedition. He came out, and when he saw
+people in search of the prince, thinking that he was not in his palace,
+he wanted to plunder it. Wishing for a coolie, he entered the ruined
+choultry, to pick out one among the beggars there. Passing over the
+others he came to the prince. He found him stout and strong. "This
+beggar will do me good service to-day. I shall break my custom,
+and amply reward this man for his services." So thinking to himself,
+the gentleman robber tapped Sundara with his cane on the back. The
+prince had just closed his eyes. In the short sleep that ensued he
+dreamt that the minister's servants were pursuing him, and that
+one had caught him. At that very moment the gentleman-robber's
+stroke fell upon his back, giving a sort of reality to his dream. He
+awoke with horror. "Tell me who you are," asked the unknown person,
+"A beggar," was the reply. "How does the night appear to you?" asked
+the robber. "As dark as dark can be," replied the prince. The robber
+applied a sort of kajjala [43] to the prince's eyes, and asked, "How
+does the night appear now?" "As luminous as if a karor of suns were
+in the sky," answered Sundara. The robber applied a tilaka [44] to the
+intended coolie's forehead and addressed him thus: "I am a robber, now
+going to plunder the palace, from which the prince is absent. Follow
+me. I shall reward you richly. The kajjala has made the night a day
+to you. The tilaka takes you unobserved wherever you wish to go." So
+saying, and dragging the coolie or supposed coolie by the hand,
+the robber went off to the palace. Wherever he found a door locked,
+he applied a leaf that he carried in his hand to the fastening, and
+behold, the lock flew back, and the door opened of its own accord. The
+prince was astonished. In a few minutes the robber opened one and all
+of the gates and boxes, and extracted all the precious stones. He tied
+them up in a bundle, and set it on the prince's head, and asked him to
+follow. Sundara followed. He assisted in the plunder of his own palace,
+and carried the booty behind the robber, who, praised be his stupidity,
+never for one moment suspected he was a prince, but admired his coolie
+for the beauty of his person, thought of saving his life, and also of
+making him his son-in-law. For the robber had a beautiful daughter,
+for whom he had long been searching for a suitable husband. So with
+this thought he reached the cave, stopped before it, and taking the
+bundle from the prince's head ordered him to go into a large cell,
+the mouth of which he covered with a big stone, which he lifted up by
+pronouncing an incantation over it. The robber went with the bundle
+to his wife, and described to her the beauty of the coolie, and what
+a fair match he would be for their daughter. The wife did not like it,
+and asked her husband to do with the coolie as they usually did, i.e.,
+murder him; and the robber, who never in anything acted against the
+will of his wife, went in to fetch his weapon.
+
+Meanwhile the robber's daughter, an excellent girl, of the most
+charming beauty, overhearing all that took place between her parents,
+came running to the cave where the coolie was confined. She pronounced
+a single word over the stone lid of the cave, and it opened, and the
+prince, who had lost all hopes of recovery, now beheld a beautiful girl
+coming towards him. "Whoever you may be, my dear coolie, fly for your
+life for the present. You are my husband. My father has so named you,
+but as my mother does not like it, he has gone to fetch his weapon to
+murder you. Excepting we three, none, not even Brahma, can open the
+once-shut gates. After hearing you once called my husband, I must ever
+regard you so. Now fly, and escape my father's sharp sword. If you are
+a man, marry me in kind remembrance of the assistance rendered. If you
+fail to do so you are a beast, and I shall die a virgin." So saying she
+conducted out in haste the supposed coolie, who had only time to take a
+hasty embrace, whispering in her ear that he was the prince, and that
+he would marry her without fail. He now ran for his life. Fearing the
+robber would come after him he left the way by which he reached the
+cave, and passing through unknown fields reached the south gate of
+the town. By that time the search for him had almost abated, and the
+prince, praising God for his delivery, reached the south street. The
+night was almost spent. Before returning to the palace he wished
+to take rest for a few minutes, till he had recovered his breath,
+and so he sat down on the pyal of an old and almost ruined house.
+
+That happened to be the house of a poor Brahman, who had not even
+sufficient clothes to wear. As the prince sat down in a corner of
+the pyal the door of the house opened, and the old Brahman came
+out. The old woman, the Brahmani, was standing at the door with a
+vessel containing water for her husband. Subhasastri, for that was
+the Brahman's name, looked up to the sky for a couple of minutes,
+after which he heaved a deep sigh, and said, "Alas, the prince,
+the only son of our former protector, Sivachar, is not to remain
+for more than two ghatikas. A kalasarpa (black serpent) will sting
+him. What shall we do? We are poor. If we could begin Sarpahoma [45]
+now we could tie the mouth of the snake, sacrifice it in the fire,
+and thus save the prince." So saying the poor Brahman cried. Sundara,
+who overheard everything, jumped down in confusion, and fell at the
+feet of the Brahman, who asked him who he was. "I am a herdsman of
+the palace. Preserve my master's life," was the reply. Subhasastri
+was extremely poor. He had no means to procure a small quantity of
+ghi even to begin the homa. [46] He did not know what to do. He begged
+from his neighbours, who all laughed at his stupidity, and ridiculed
+his astrology. The prince in a hopeless state of anguish wrung his
+hands, and in wringing them he felt his ring. Drawing it off his
+finger he gave it to Subhasastri, and requested him to pawn it. The
+latter resorted to the nearest bazar, and awakening the bazar-keeper
+procured from him a little ghi, by pawning the ring. Running home and
+bathing in cold water the Brahman sat down for the homa. The prince,
+fearing the serpent, wished to sit inside the house, but at a distance
+from the place of the ceremony. Just at the appointed hour a large
+black serpent broke through the sky, fell on the head of the prince,
+whom he was not able to bite, and gave up its life in the fire. "This
+is no shepherd, but the very prince himself," said the Brahmani. [47]
+Sundara rose up, and running surrounded them thrice, spoke to them
+thus:--"You alone are my parents and protectors. This night has
+been a most adventurous one with me. There was every possibility of
+my escaping every other calamity, and so I did. But no other power
+except yours could have averted this snake-bite. So my rescue is due
+to you alone. I have no time to lose now. Before daylight I must fly
+unobserved to the palace, and you shall before long see my reward
+for this." So saying, Sundara ran to his palace and entered.
+
+Ranavirasing was almost dead. The rumour that the prince was out
+reached him. He was astonished at the way in which Sundara had got
+out. He searched the whole palace. To his astonishment all the rooms
+had previously been opened and plundered. "Has the prince been stolen
+away by some vile tricks from the palace," thought Ranavirasing,
+and without knowing what to do he was buried in the ocean of sorrow,
+from which he gave up all hopes of recovering. What was his joy,
+then, when he saw the prince enter the palace just at dawn. "Mai Bab
+Chakravarti, where have you been the whole night, throwing away the
+advice of your poor slave? How many enemies you have in this world,
+you have yet to know," said Ranavirasing. "I know them all now, only
+listen to what I say, and do as I bid. I have won the crown without
+a blow. Thank the day that gave me you as my protector, for it was
+only yesterday that I had ample reason to verify your statements. My
+adventures would make your hair stand on end. Thank God I have escaped
+from all of them unhurt. If you have a few men ready now, we have won
+the kingdom." So saying, the prince explained to him every detail of
+his adventure. "If we catch hold of the minister now, we have done
+all." "I could never for one moment think that you in a single night
+could have seen and done so much. Now that heaven has shown you the
+way, I shall obey you," said Ranavirasing, and Sundara accordingly
+issued the orders. He described the house with the pyal at which he
+had lingered for a while the previous night, and asked a servant to
+bring the owner of that house to the Rajasthanik office. Ranavirasing
+brought in the Pradhani, who was extremely delighted at the good
+intention of the prince. He was offered the Mantri's place. Two were
+sent to the shepherds. Twenty were sent to the pleasure-park to have
+the minister and his sweet paramour brought to the court in chains. The
+female servants were also ordered to be brought. The robber and his
+cruel wife were not forgotten. The prince minutely described the
+cave, and asked his servants to catch and imprison the robber by
+surprising him suddenly, without giving him time to have recourse
+to his vile tricks--lock-breaking kajjala, &c. The palace palanquin
+was sent for the robber's daughter, whom the prince had firmly made
+up his mind to marry. The palace elephants were decked and sent to
+fetch with all pomp Subhasastri and his wife to the court. Thus,
+without a single stroke, Sundara won the kingdom. Ranavirasing was
+thunder-struck by the excellent and bold way in which the prince in
+one night went through the series of calamities, and successfully
+overcame them all. The Pradhani's delight knew no bounds. He himself
+broke open the court and every one connected with the previous night's
+adventure was ushered in. The prince bathed, offered up his prayers,
+and attended the council. When Subhasastri came in with his wife the
+prince put them on the simhasana, [48] and himself standing before
+them, explained to all his previous night's adventures, rewarded
+the poor Brahman and the shepherds, punished by banishment the
+maid-servant who, knowing that the prince's head was coveted, revealed
+his concealment, and ordered his wife, the minister, the robber,
+and the robber's wife to be beheaded. He rewarded without limit his
+protector, Subhasastri, and married the robber's daughter, being won
+over by her sincerity. The Pradhani, as we have said already, he made
+his minister, and with his old guardian, the faithful Ranavirasing,
+the prince reigned for several years in the kingdom of Vanjaimanagar.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+"CHARITY ALONE CONQUERS."
+
+Dharmame jayam.
+
+
+In the town of Tevai [49] there lived a king called Suguna. He had
+an excellent minister named Dharmasila. They ruled for a long time in
+prosperity over the kingdom. Both of them had sons. The prince's name
+was Subuddhi. He was a noble prince, and quite in keeping with his
+name, was always bent upon doing good to the world. The minister's son
+was named Durbuddhi, a most wicked boy, whose only delight was teasing
+beasts and birds from his infancy, and which ripened into all sorts
+of wickedness as he grew to boyhood. Notwithstanding the difference
+between their temperaments the prince and the minister's son were the
+best of friends. The motto of the prince was Dharmame jayam--Charity
+alone conquers. That of the minister's son was Adharmame jayam--Absence
+of Charity alone conquers. When rising from their beds, when beginning
+their prayers, when sitting down for meals or study, and, in fact,
+before beginning to do anything, each repeated his motto. The people
+had great hopes in Subuddhi, whom they fully expected to see a good
+and benevolent king; but the minister's son all thoroughly hated. Even
+the minister himself, his father, hated his son for his vile turn of
+mind, which he found impossible to change. His only friend, as we have
+already said, was the prince, who, notwithstanding all his faults,
+loved him sincerely. Both of them had grown up together from their
+very cradle, had played in the same dust, had read their lessons
+side by side in the same school under the same teachers. Fortune so
+ordained that the prince's mind should take such a bent, while the
+mind of the minister's son turned in a crooked way.
+
+Nor was Durbuddhi insensible to the disgust and dislike which every
+one manifested towards him. He was well aware of all that was going
+on around. Still he would not change.
+
+"I have no friend in this world excepting yourself, my dear Subuddhi,"
+exclaimed Durbuddhi one day to his royal friend while they were
+riding together.
+
+"Fear nothing. I shall ever stand by you as your true friend,"
+replied Subuddhi.
+
+"My very father hates me. Who else would like me then? On the other
+hand, every one likes you. You may soon get yourself married to some
+beautiful lady, while I must remain a bachelor; for no girl would marry
+me. You may soon rise to the place of a king; but I cannot become your
+minister, as the people do not like me. What can I do?" So said the
+minister's son, and hung down his head, as if conscious for a time
+of the utter hatred with which the people regarded him.
+
+Subuddhi replied, "Heed it not, I will make you my minister, give
+you everything you want, and see you well provided for."
+
+"If so, will you give me your wife one day, at least, if you happen
+to get married before me, and if I remain a bachelor after you,"
+were the words which the wretched Durbuddhi shamelessly uttered to
+the face of his only friend.
+
+These words were enough in themselves to enrage the prince's mind. But
+he was of so good a nature that instead of becoming angry, he smiled
+at the stupidity of his companion, and agreed that he would thus give
+him his wife one day in case he got married first. Thus took place
+an agreement between Subuddhi and Durbuddhi while they were still
+quite young.
+
+Several years passed after this agreement, when one day the prince
+went to hunt in a neighbouring forest. His inseparable companion,
+the minister's son, and several hunters followed him to the wood. The
+prince and the minister's son both gave chase to a deer. They rode
+so much in advance of the hunters that they lost themselves in a
+thick jungle, where the latter could neither see nor follow them. The
+hunters returned after dark, and informed the king and the minister
+about the disappearance of their sons. They thought that as their
+sons were grown-up men they need not fear for their safety.
+
+The two friends chased the deer and found themselves in the midst
+of a thick forest in the evening. Except a slight breakfast in the
+early morning they had tasted no other food. Hunger was pinching them
+severely. The hot chase had awakened a severe thirst, to quench which
+they were not able to find a drop of water. In utter hopelessness of
+life they resigned themselves to the course of their steeds. The beasts
+seemed very well to understand the wants of their royal riders. They
+went on trotting, and at last, about midnight, stopped on the banks
+of a large tank.
+
+The riders, who were almost dead with thirst, opened their closed eyes
+when the horses stopped. All of a sudden, and to their great joy,
+they found themselves on the banks of a large tank. Their joy knew
+no bounds.
+
+"Surely God takes care of His children. Had it not been for His kind
+care how could we have come to this tank, when we had given ourselves
+up to the guidance of our horses?" thought Subuddhi to himself,
+and got down from his horse.
+
+The minister's son, who had become more exhausted by that time than
+his companion, also alighted. Subuddhi, true to the nobility of his
+mind, took both the steeds first to water, and, after satisfying their
+thirst and loosening them to graze by the side of a grassy meadow,
+he went into the water to quench his thirst. The minister's son also
+followed. After a short prayer Subuddhi took some handfuls of water,
+and returned to the bank. Durbuddhi also returned. They chose a
+clean spot, and sat down to rest during the remaining part of the
+night. The prince, when taking his seat, pronounced his usual motto,
+"Charity alone conquers," and the minister's son also repeated his,
+"Absence of Charity alone conquers."
+
+These words fell like venom into the ears of the prince at that
+time. He could not control his anger then, notwithstanding his mild
+disposition. The hardships of the day, their fortunate arrival on a
+tank in the dead of night to have their thirst quenched, were fresh
+in Subuddhi's mind, and the prayers that he was offering to God were
+not yet over. That the minister's son should never think of all this,
+and go on with his own stupid motto even at that time was intolerable
+to Subuddhi.
+
+"Vile wretch! detested atheist! have you no shame, to utter your wicked
+motto even after such calamities? It is not too late even now. Mend
+your character. Think of the God that saved you just now. Believe in
+Him. Change your motto from this day." Thus spoke the angry prince
+to the minister's son.
+
+Durbuddhi, who was naturally of a wicked and quarrelsome temperament,
+flew into a rage at once at the excellent advice of the prince.
+
+"Stop your mouth. I know as well as you do; you cannot wag your tail
+here. I can oppose you single-handed in this forest."
+
+Thus saying, the minister's son sprang like an enraged lion at
+Subuddhi, who, as he never dreamt of any such thing, was completely
+overpowered by the wicked Durbuddhi. The prince was thrown down in the
+twinkling of an eye, and the minister's son was upon him. He severely
+thrashed his royal master, and, taking hold of a twig that was lying
+close by, tore out the prince's two eyes, filled up the sockets with
+sand, and ran away with his horse, thinking that he had completely
+killed him.
+
+Subuddhi was almost dead; his body was bruised all over; his eyes
+were no more; his physical pain was unbearable.
+
+"Is there a God over us all?" thought Subuddhi. The night was
+almost over. The cool and sweet breeze of the morning gave him some
+strength. He rose up, and, crawling on the ground, felt his way to
+the entrance of a temple. He crept in, shut the gates, and fastened
+the bolt.
+
+It happened to be a temple of the fierce Kali. She used to go out every
+morning to gather roots and fruits, and to return at evening. That
+day, when she returned, she found her gates shut against her. She
+threatened with destruction the usurper of her temple. A voice,
+and we know that it was Subuddhi's, replied from within:
+
+"I am already dying of the loss of my eyes. So, if in anger you kill
+me, it is so much the better; for what use is there in my living
+blind? If, on the contrary, you pity me, and by your divine power
+give me my eyes, I shall open the gates."
+
+Kali was in a very difficult position. She was very hungry, and saw
+no other way of going inside than by giving Subuddhi his eyes.
+
+"Open the gates; your request is granted," said Kali. No sooner were
+these words uttered than the prince recovered his eyes. His delight
+may be better imagined than described. He opened the gates and vowed
+before Kali that he would from that day continue in that temple as
+her servant and worshipper.
+
+The wretched Durbuddhi, after his horrible act, rode on composedly,
+following the footsteps of his horse, and reached the forest where
+he had been hunting the day before in company with the prince. He
+thence returned home all alone. When his father saw him coming back
+he suspected something wrong to the prince, and asked his son what
+had become of him.
+
+"We chased a deer, and he rode so much in advance of me that he
+was out of sight, and finding all search vain, I returned alone,"
+was Durbuddhi's reply.
+
+"This I would have believed from anyone but yourself. Never plant your
+feet in these dominions till you bring back the prince again. Run for
+your life," was the order of the minister, and Durbuddhi accordingly
+ran off, fearing the anger of his father.
+
+Thus the Prince Subuddhi served in the Kali temple; and Durbuddhi,
+fully confident that he had killed his friend, roamed about from
+place to place, as he saw no possibility of returning to his own
+country without the prince.
+
+Thus passed several months. The goddess Kali was extremely delighted
+at the sincere devotion of Subuddhi, and, calling him one day to her
+side, said:
+
+"My son! I am delighted with your great devotion to me. Enough of
+your menial services here. Better return now to your kingdom. Your
+parents are likely to be much vexed at your loss. Go and console
+their minds." Thus ended Kali, and Subuddhi replied:
+
+"Excuse me, my goddess, my mother, I no more regard them as my
+parents. This wood is not a large place if they wished to search
+for me. As they were so careless about me, I shall also from this
+day disregard them. You are my father and mother. Therefore permit
+me to end my days here in your service." So saying, Subuddhi begged
+Kali to allow him to stay, and the goddess agreed accordingly, for
+some time at least.
+
+After a few more months, Kali called the prince again to her, and
+addressed him thus:
+
+"My boy! I have devised another plan. Better not, then, go to your
+parents, as you do not wish to go now. At a short distance from this
+place, in the Kaveri country, reigns a staunch devotee of mine. His
+daughter had small-pox, and as he forgot to do proper respect to me,
+I have blinded both her eyes. The king has issued a proclamation that
+he will give the whole kingdom and his daughter in marriage to him who
+would cure her of her defect. He has hung up a bell (ghanta) at which
+every physician who wishes to try the case strikes. The king comes
+running as soon as he hears the sound, takes home the doctor and shows
+him the case. Several persons have tried in vain; for who could repair
+a defect inflicted by the displeasure of the gods? Now I mean to send
+you there. That king is a staunch worshipper of my feet. Though I have
+punished him, still I pity the sad calamity that has come upon his
+daughter. You had better go there and strike the bell. He will take
+you and show you the case. For three consecutive days apply my holy
+ashes to her eyes. Though fools may deride these ashes, still by them
+a true devotee can work wonders. On the fourth day her eyes will be
+perfectly restored. Then you will secure her hand, and, what is more,
+the country of Kaveri. Reign there, for you are born to reign, being
+a prince, and not to spend your time here in this wood. If you do not
+do so you will commit a sin, and, what is more, incur my displeasure."
+
+Thus ended Kali, and the prince could not refuse; for he feared the
+anger of the goddess. Agreeing to her words, and with her manifold
+blessings, he started and reached the kingdom of Kaveri.
+
+He struck the bell. The king came running to welcome the new
+doctor. All the previous physicians had tried by medicines external
+and internal. The new doctor--Prince Subuddhi--proposed to treat the
+case by mantras--incantations. The old king, who was very religious,
+fully believed that the new doctor might effect the cure, and, just
+as he expected, on the fourth day his daughter's sight was completely
+restored. The king's joy knew no bounds. He enquired into the parentage
+of the doctor: and when he came to know that he had princely blood
+in his veins, that he was as honourably descended as himself, his
+joy was greatly increased. He sent up a thousand prayers to the
+god for giving him a royal son-in-law. As promised in his notice,
+he would have to give his daughter to anyone, whatever he might be,
+who effected the cure. The lowest beggar, the lowest caste-man, if
+he had only succeeded in curing her, would have had as much claim to
+her hand as the prince-physician. So when the person that effected
+the cure proved to be a prince, the king was extremely delighted,
+and at once made all arrangements for the marriage of his daughter,
+and gave her to Subuddhi: and, himself being very old, he gave the
+kingdom also to the prince at the same time.
+
+Thus by the favour of Kali, Subuddhi had a princess for his wife and a
+kingdom to govern. Subuddhi, as we know, was an excellent man. Though
+he became king now, he consulted his father-in-law in all matters,
+and, in fact, acted only as manager for the old man. Every evening he
+used to consult him for an hour or two before disposing of intricate
+cases. The duty of signing, too, he reserved for the old man. Thus
+even on those days when there were no cases he used to go to his
+father-in-law to get papers signed. Thus passed on a couple of years
+or so.
+
+One evening, while sitting in company with his wife in the loftiest
+room of his palace after the duties of the day, he cast his eyes to
+the east main street and contemplated the bustle of that part of the
+town. Carts creaking under the load of merchandise, the flourish
+with which the goods and wares were exposed for sale, fashionable
+gentlemen in their fanciful evening costumes walking to and fro,
+the troublesome hawkers that stand by the roadside questioning every
+one as to what they would buy, and several other things interested
+him, and for a time made him somewhat proud even, that he ruled over
+such a rich country. But sweetness is not always unaccompanied with
+bitterness. He saw in that same street a man whose face was very
+familiar to him, but whom he could not at once make out. A black
+man was sitting on a projecting pyal of a corner of a shop, and was
+mending some torn gunny bags. Subuddhi looked at him carefully.
+
+"Is it the minister's son, Durbuddhi? No; he is not so black; rather
+was not when I saw him last," thought Subuddhi with himself, and
+examining his face, he at last exclaimed, "It is he! It is he! It is my
+friend and companion." "Who is it?" exclaimed the princess, and rushed
+at once to his side. She had most carefully watched her husband's face
+for the past few minutes while he was in deep contemplation. "It is
+my friend, the minister's son, by name Durbuddhi. We were companions
+from our birth; we played in the same dust, read in the same school,
+and were ever inseparable companions. I do not know what has brought
+him to the condition in which I see him now," said Subuddhi, and
+sent some one to fetch him. Of the wicked and base act of the vile
+Durbuddhi he did not care to inform his gentle wife, who now retired
+to her inner apartments, as decorum did not allow her to be in company
+with her husband when he was receiving others.
+
+The persons sent brought in Durbuddhi. Whatever might have been the
+cruelty that he had received from the hands of the minister's son,
+the prince began to shed tears when he saw his old companion ushered
+in, not in that blooming cheerful red complexion in which he had seen
+him last, but in a weather-beaten dark skin and dejected colour of
+a coolie in which he saw him a few minutes ago.
+
+"I excuse you all your faults, my dear Durbuddhi. Tell me quickly
+what has brought you to this wretched plight," asked Subuddhi, and
+while asking he began to cry aloud. The minister's son also shed
+tears copiously, and cried or pretended to cry; for be it known that
+he was a perfect scoundrel, born to no good in the world.
+
+"My own mischief has brought me to this plight. When I returned to our
+country, after putting out your eyes and thinking that I had killed
+you, my father banished me from our dominions, and ordered me never
+to plant my feet within their limits without bringing you back. As I
+thought I had put an end to your life I never came back to that tank
+in search of you. I engaged myself as a coolie in the streets of this
+town after trying several other places without success, and I now
+stand before you." Thus ended Durbuddhi, and the prince quite forgot
+his cruelty to him. He ordered his servants to get the minister's
+son bathed, and attired in as rich robes as he himself wore. Then
+he related to him his own story, without omitting a single point,
+and at once made him his minister.
+
+The whole story of Durbuddhi, excepting the single point of his
+having put out his eyes, the prince related to his wife, father,
+and mother-in-law.
+
+Thus was Durbuddhi again restored to his high position, through the
+liberal kindness of Subuddhi. Subuddhi did not stop even at this. He
+began to send him with papers and other things to the old king for
+signature. This went on for some months. All the while Durbuddhi was
+as obedient as might be, and by his vile tricks had completely won
+over the heart of the old king.
+
+One evening, after the signatures were over, Durbuddhi stopped for
+a while as if desirous to speak. "What do you want?" said the old
+king. "Nothing but your favour," was the only reply, after which he
+retired. Thus he went on for some days and weeks. Every day he stopped
+for a few minutes after the state business was over, and when the
+old king asked the reason for it went on giving evasive answers. At
+last one evening the old king was extremely provoked. The cunning
+Durbuddhi had purposely intended this.
+
+"What a big fool are you to stop every day as if wishing to speak
+and never to utter a word," broke out the old king.
+
+"I beg pardon of your honour; I was thinking all the while whether I
+should let out my secret or not. At last, I have come to the conclusion
+that I will keep it to myself," replied the diabolical Durbuddhi.
+
+"No, you shall let it out," roared the old king, whose curiosity
+was more roused than abated by the words, purposely obscure, of
+the minister's son. Durbuddhi, after simulating much reluctance at
+disclosing the supposed secret, loudly began his harangue:
+
+"My lord, ever since I came here I have been making enquiries about
+the nobility of your family, about the sacrifices that you and your
+ancestors have performed, about the purifications that you and your
+elders have undergone, and about a thousand other particulars, each
+of which is enough to secure you and your descendants the place of
+Achyuta (Achyutapada) himself. These delighted me for a time--I say
+for a time--for listen, please, to what follows. When I compared with
+the pure fame of your famous family, that of your son-in-law, my heart
+began to pain me. Indeed the pain which began at that moment has not
+yet ceased. Know, then, that your son-in-law is not a prince. No doubt
+he has royal blood in his veins, which makes him look like a king. How
+came he to be so skilful in medicine. Just enquire the cause. To be no
+more in the dark, the king of my country--over which my father is the
+minister--set out one day on savar. While passing a barber's street he
+saw a beautiful damsel of that caste. Bewitched by her beauty the king
+wanted to include her in his harem, notwithstanding her low position
+in society. The child of that woman, is your son-in-law. He being the
+son of a barber-mother acquired thus easily the art of medicine. That
+a king was his father makes him look like a prince. If he had been of
+pure birth why should he leave his kingdom, and come here to effect
+the cure of your daughter? Except this prince, or supposed prince,
+all those that came here were mere doctors by caste." Thus ended the
+vile Durbuddhi, and taking in his hand the papers, vanished out of
+the room quickly, like a serpent that had stung.
+
+The sweet words in which the minister's son clothed his arguments,
+the rising passion at the thought that he had been falsely imposed
+upon by a barber's son, the shame--or rather supposed shame--that he
+thought had come over his family, and a thousand other feelings clouded
+for a time the clear reason of the old king. He saw no other way of
+putting an end to the shame than by the murder of his dear daughter and
+son-in-law first, and of his own self and queen afterwards. At once he
+sent for the executioner, who came in. He gave him his signet-ring,
+and commanded him to break open the bed-room of his son-in-law that
+midnight, and murder him with his wife while asleep. The hukums, or
+orders given with signet-rings, can never be disobeyed. The executioner
+humbled himself to the ground, as a sign of his accepting the order,
+and retired to sharpen his knife for his terrible duty.
+
+Neither Subuddhi nor his affectionate wife had any reason to suspect
+this terrible mandate. The old queen and the treacherous Durbuddhi
+had equally no reason to know anything about it. The old man, after
+issuing the hukum, shut himself up in his closet, and began to weep
+and wail as if he had lost his daughter from that moment. Durbuddhi,
+after kindling the fire, as says the Tamil proverb, by means of his
+treachery, came back with the papers to the prince. A thought occurred
+in his mind that Subuddhi's fate was drawing near. He wanted to carry
+out the agreement between himself and the prince about the latter's
+wife. The excellent Subuddhi, who always observed oaths most strictly,
+was confused for a time. He did not know what to do. To stick to the
+oath and surrender his wife to another; or to break it and preserve
+the chastity of his own wife. At last, repeating in his own mind,
+"Charity alone conquers," and also thinking that Heaven would somehow
+devise to preserve his wife, he went to her, explained to her how
+the matter stood, and ordered her to go to the minister's son. She
+hesitatingly consented; for, as a good wife, she could not disobey
+her husband's commands. Subuddhi then told Durbuddhi that he might
+have his wife as his own.
+
+The princess went to her mother, crying that her husband had turned
+out mad. "Or else who would promise to give his wife to another. What
+does he mean by that?"
+
+"My daughter! fear nothing, perhaps, in his boyhood, he made this rash
+promise without thinking. The promise once made now pains him. Unable
+to break it, and leaving it to yourself to preserve your chastity,
+he has so ordered you. And he would, nay must, excuse you, if you
+by some means or other save yourself, and apparently make good
+your husband's promise also. A thought just comes to me how to do
+that. There is your foster-sister, exactly resembling you. I shall
+send her in your place." So consoling her daughter, the old queen at
+once made all the requisite arrangements. And, of course, Subuddhi
+had no reason then to know anything about them.
+
+In the middle of the night his door is forced open, and a ruffian
+with a drawn sword, blazing like lightning, rushes in, and murders
+the pair. Thus in that very night in which Durbuddhi had reached the
+topmost point of his vice, he was cut down by the supreme hand of
+God. For, it is said, that when crime increases, God himself cannot
+tolerate it.
+
+The morning dawned. Subuddhi rose from his couch, and after his morning
+prayers was sitting in the council hall. The princess and her mother
+rose from their beds, and were attending to their business. A servant
+just at that time came running to the old queen, and said:
+
+"Our king is weeping in his room that his daughter is now no more. I
+think that there is something wrong with his majesty's brains
+to-day. Come and console him."
+
+The queen, who knew nothing of what had happened, ran to her husband's
+room, quite astonished at the change. The husband reported everything
+to her--the sage-looking minister's son, the barber's son-in-law,
+and everything, and then concluded that their daughter and son-in-law
+were no more.
+
+"What! compose yourself. Our son-in-law is sitting in his durbar. Our
+daughter is just adorning herself in her dressing-room. Were you
+dreaming? Are you in your right senses?" said the queen.
+
+The king ordered the executioner to bring the heads, which, on
+examination, proved to be those of the minister's son and of the
+foster-sister. The queen told everything of the one-day-wife-giving
+engagement, and her own arrangements about it. The old king could not
+understand what all this meant. He drew out his sword and ran to the
+durbar like a maddened lion, and stood armed before his son-in-law.
+
+"Relate to me your true origin, and everything respecting
+yourself. Speak the truth. How came you to learn medicine? If you are a
+prince why should you leave your own dominions and come down here? What
+about this wicked agreement of giving your wife to another? Who is
+this minister's son?"
+
+Subuddhi, without omitting a single point, related everything that
+had taken place, even to the putting out of his eyes. The old man
+threw down his sword, took his son-in-law in his arms almost, for so
+great was his joy at the excellent way which fate had prepared for
+his escape, and said:
+
+"My son, my life, my eye. True it is, true it is. Dharma alone
+conquers, and you that hold that motto have conquered everything. The
+vile wretch whom, notwithstanding the series of rogueries that
+he practised upon you, you protected, has at last found out that
+his Adharmam never conquers. But he never found it out. It was his
+Adharmam that cut him off on the very night of his supposed complete
+conquest by it."
+
+Letters were sent at once to Tevai, inviting Suguna and Dharmasila
+to the happy rejoicings at the prince and princess's delivery, and
+a re-marriage was celebrated with all pomp, in honour of their lucky
+escape. Dharmasila, as he disliked his son, never shed a single tear
+for his loss. Subuddhi lived for a long time, giving much consolation
+to his own and his wife's parents. Through the blessings of Kali they
+had several intelligent sons.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+VIDAMUNDAN KODAMUNDAN.
+
+MR. WON'T-GIVE AND MR. WON'T-LEAVE.
+
+
+In a certain town there lived a clever old Brahman, named
+Won't-Give. [50] He used to go out daily and to beg in all the houses
+round, under the pretence that he had to feed several Brahmans in
+his own house. Good people, that believed in his words, used to give
+him much rice and curry stuffs, with which he would come home, and
+explain to his wife how he had deceived such and such a gentleman
+by the imposition of feeding in charity many persons at home. But
+if any hungry Brahman, who had heard of his empty boast of feeding
+Brahmans at home, came to him, he was sent away with some excuse or
+other. In this way Mr. Won't-Give brought home a basketful of rice and
+other necessaries every day, of which he only used a small portion for
+himself and his wife, and converted the remainder into money. And thus,
+by imposition and tricks, he managed to live well for several years.
+
+In an adjoining village there lived another very clever Brahman, named
+Won't-Leave. [51] Whenever he found any man reluctant and unwilling
+to give him anything that he begged of him, he would persist in
+bothering him until he had wrung from him a dole. This Mr. Won't-Leave,
+hearing of the charity of Mr. Won't-Give, and his benevolent feeding
+of Brahmans, came to see him one day, and requested him to give him
+a meal. Mr. Won't-Give told him that for that day ten Brahmans had
+already been settled, and that if he came the next day he would have
+his meal without fail. Mr. Won't-Leave agreed to this, and left him
+for that day. Mr. Won't-Give had, of course, told him the very lie
+he was accustomed to tell all that occasionally begged meals of him.
+
+Now Mr. Won't-Leave was not so stupid as to be thus imposed upon. He
+stood before Mr. Won't-Give's door precisely at the appointed ghatika
+(hour) the next day, and reminded the master of the house of his
+promise. Mr. Won't-Give had never before been taken at his word,
+and determined to send away the impertinent guest by some stronger
+excuse than the first, and so he spoke to him thus:--
+
+"Sir, I am very sorry to say that my wife fell ill last night of a
+strong fever, from which she has not yet recovered. Owing to this
+unforeseen accident I have had to postpone my charitable feedings
+(samaradhana) till her recovery, so do not trouble me, please, for
+some days more."
+
+Mr. Won't-Leave heard these words with an expression of sincere,
+or rather, seemingly sincere, sorrow in his face, and replied:--
+
+"Respected sir, I am very sorry for the illness of the mistress of the
+house, but to give up charitable feeding of Brahmans on that account
+is a great sin. For the last ten years I have been studying the art
+of cooking, and can now cook for even several hundreds of Brahmans; so
+I can assist you now in preparing the necessaries for the samaradhana."
+
+Mr. Won't-Give could not refuse such a request, but he deceitfully
+determined in his mind to get Mr. Won't-Leave to cook for him, and
+then to drive him away without giving him his rice. And so he said:--
+
+"Yes, that is a very good idea. I am much obliged to you for your
+kind suggestion. Come in; let us cook together."
+
+So saying, the master of the house took Mr. Won't-Leave inside and
+they both went into the kitchen, while the mistress of the house,
+at the command of her husband, pretended to be ill.
+
+Now Mr. Won't-Give was a good liver, and prepared, with the assistance
+of Mr. Won't-Leave, several good dishes. And then the difficulty was
+to drive the fellow out, for the long-maintained rule of never feeding
+a single Brahman must not be broken that day. So, when the cooking
+was all over, the master of the house gave to Mr. Won't-Leave a kasu
+(copper coin), and asked him to bring some leaves from the bazar
+(for plates), and he accordingly went. Mr. Won't-Give, meanwhile,
+came to his wife, and instructed her thus:--
+
+"My dearest wife, I have spared you the trouble of cooking
+to-day. Would that we could get such stupid fools as this every day
+to cook for us! I have now sent him out to fetch us some leaves,
+and it won't look well if we shut our doors against him or drive him
+away; so we must make him go away of his own accord. A thought has
+just come into my mind as to how we can do it. As soon as he comes
+you shall commence to quarrel with me. I shall then come to you
+and beat you, or, rather, the ground near you, with both my hands,
+and you must continue your abuse and cries. The guest will find this
+very disgusting, and will leave us of his own accord."
+
+Mr. Won't-Give had just finished when he saw Mr. Won't-Leave returning
+with the leaves. The wife, as pre-arranged, abused her husband right
+and left for his great imprudence and over-liberality in feeding the
+Brahmans. Said she:
+
+"How are we to get on in the world if you thus empty the house of
+everything we have in feeding big-bellied Brahmans? Must you be
+so particular as to invite them, even when I am sick?" These, and
+a thousand similar expressions, were now launched at the husband's
+head. He pretended not to hear it for a time, but at last, apparently
+overcome by anger, he went in and with his hands gave successive
+blows on the floor. At every blow on the floor the wife cried out
+that she was being murdered, and that those who had mercy in their
+hearts should come to her rescue.
+
+Mr. Won't-Leave, from the court-yard of the house, listened to what
+was taking place inside, but not wishing to interfere in a quarrel
+between husband and wife, left matters to take their own course,
+and got into the loft, where he hid himself, fearing that he would
+be summoned as a witness to the quarrel.
+
+After a time Mr. Won't-Give came out of the room where he had been
+beating the floor, and to his joy he could not find the guest. He
+cautiously looked round him and saw no signs of Mr. Won't-Leave. Of
+course, having had no reason to think that his guest would be sitting
+in the loft, he did not look up there; and even if he had done so,
+he would not have found him, for he had hidden himself out of sight.
+
+Mr. Won't-Give now carefully bolted the door, and his wife came out
+and changed her dirty cloth for a clean one. Said her husband to her:
+
+"At last we have succeeded in driving him out; come, you too must be
+hungry; let us have our dinner together."
+
+Two leaves were spread on the ground, and all the dishes were equally
+divided into them. Meanwhile Mr. Won't-Leave was watching all that took
+place below him and, being himself very hungry, was slyly watching
+for an opportunity to jump down. Mr. Won't-Give, gloating over his
+trickery, said to his wife:
+
+"Well, my love, did I not beat you without hurting you?" to which
+she replied:
+
+"Did I not continue to cry without shedding tears?" when suddenly
+there fell on their ears:
+
+"And did I not come to have my dinner without going away?" and down
+jumped Mr. Won't-Leave, from the loft, and took his seat in front of
+the leaf spread by Mr. Won't-Give for his wife. And Mr. Won't-Give,
+though disappointed, was highly pleased at the cleverness of his guest.
+
+This story is cited as the authority for three proverbs that have
+come into use in Tamil.
+
+
+        "Novamal aditten."
+        "Oyamal aluden."
+        "Pokamal vanden."
+
+
+which represent the exchanges of politeness between the husband,
+the wife, and the guest, quoted in the foregoing paragraphs.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+VAYALVALLAN KAIYAVALLA.
+
+MR. MIGHTY-OF-HIS-MOUTH AND MR. MIGHTY-OF-HIS-HANDS.
+
+
+In two adjoining villages there lived two famous men. The one
+was called Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth [52]--one that could accomplish
+wonders with words alone. The other was called Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands
+[53]--one who could make no use of that glib instrument the tongue, but
+was able to bear burdens, cut wood, and perform other physical labour.
+
+It so happened that they agreed to live together in the house of
+the Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth, to try and see which of them was the
+superior. They accordingly kept company for several months, till the
+great feast of the nine nights (navaratri) came on. On the first day
+of the feast Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands wanted to sacrifice a goat to
+the goddess Kali. So he said to Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth,
+
+"My dear friend, we both are mighty in our way, and so it would be
+shameful for us to buy the goat, that we want to sacrifice, with
+money. We should manage to get it without payment."
+
+"Yes, we must do so, and I know how," replied Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth,
+and he asked his friend to wait till that evening.
+
+Now there lived a shepherd at one ghatika's (hour's) distance from
+their house, and the two friends resolved to go to his fold that
+night and steal away one of his goats. Accordingly, when it was dark,
+they approached his fold. The shepherd had just finished his duties
+to the mute members of his flock, and wanted to go home and have
+his rice hot. But he had no second person to watch the flock, and he
+must not lose his supper. So he planted his crook before the fold,
+and throwing his blanket (kambali) over it, thus addressed it:
+
+"My son, I am very hungry, and so must go for my rice. Till I return
+do you watch the flock. This wood is rich in tigers and goblins
+(bhutas). Some mischievous thief or bhuta--or kuta [54] may come
+to steal away the sheep. Watch over them carefully." So saying the
+shepherd went away.
+
+The friends had heard what the shepherd said. Of course,
+Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth laughed within himself at this device of the
+shepherd to impress upon would-be robbers that he had left some one
+there to watch his sheep, while really he had only planted a pole
+and thrown a blanket over it. Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands, however, did
+not see the trick, and mistaking the stick to be an actual watchman
+sitting at his duty before the fold, spoke thus to his friend:
+
+"Now what are we to do? There is a watchman sitting in front of the
+fold." Thereon, Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth cleared away his doubts by
+saying that it was no watchman, but a mere stick, and entered the
+fold with his friend.
+
+It had also so happened that on that very night a bhuta (goblin) had
+come into the fold to steal away a sheep. It shuddered with fear on
+hearing the shepherd mention the kuta, for having never heard of the
+existence of kutas, it mistook this imaginary being to be something
+superior in strength to itself. So thinking that a kuta might come
+to the fold, and not wishing to expose itself till it knew well what
+kutas were, the bhuta transformed itself into a sheep and laid itself
+down among the flock. By this time the two Mighties had entered the
+fold and begun an examination of the sheep. They went on rejecting
+one animal after another for some defect or other, till at last they
+came to the sheep which was none other than the bhuta. They tested it,
+and when they found it very heavy--as, of course, it would be with
+the soul of the bhuta in it--they began to tie up its legs to carry
+it home. When hands began to shake it the bhuta mistook the Mighties
+for the kutas, and said to itself:--
+
+"Alas! the kutas have come to take me away. What am I to do? What
+a fool I was to come into the fold!" So thought the bhuta as
+Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands was carrying it away on his head, with his
+friend following him behind. But the bhuta soon began to work its
+devilish powers to extricate itself, and Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands
+began to feel pains all over his body and said to his friend:
+
+"My dear Mighty, I feel pains all over me. I think what we have brought
+is no sheep!" Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth was inwardly alarmed at the words
+of his friend, but did not like to show that he was afraid. So he said:
+
+"Then put down the sheep, and let us tear open its belly, so that we
+shall each have only one-half of it to carry."
+
+This frightened the bhuta, and he melted away on the head of
+Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands, who, relieved of his devilish burden, was
+glad to return home safe with his friend.
+
+The bhuta, too, went to its abode and there told its fellow-goblins
+how it had involved itself in a great trouble and how narrowly it
+had escaped. They all laughed at its stupidity and said, "What a
+great fool you are! They were not kutas. In fact there are no kutas
+in the world. They were men, and it was most stupid of you to have
+got yourself into their hands. Are you not ashamed to make such a fuss
+about your escape?" The injured bhuta retorted that they would not have
+made such remarks had they seen the kutas. "Then show us these kutas,
+as you choose to call them," said they, "and we will crush them in
+the twinkling of an eye." "Agreed," said the injured bhuta, and the
+next night it took them to the house of the Mighties, and said from
+a distance: "There is their house. I cannot approach it. Do whatever
+you like." The other bhutas were amazed at the fear of their timid
+brother, and resolved among themselves to put an end to the enemies
+of even one member of their caste. So they went in a great crowd
+to the house of the Mighties. Some stood outside the house, to see
+that none of the inmates escaped, and some watched in the back-yard,
+while a score of them jumped over the walls and entered the court-yard.
+
+Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands was sleeping in the verandah, adjoining the
+courtyard, and when he heard the noise of people jumping about,
+he opened his eyes, and to his terror saw some bhutas in the
+court. Without opening his mouth he quietly rolled himself along
+the ground, and went to the room where Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth was
+sleeping with his wife and children. Tapping gently at the door he
+awoke his friend and said:
+
+"What shall we do now? The bhutas have invaded our house, and will
+soon kill us."
+
+Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth told him quietly not to be afraid, but to go
+and sleep in his original place, and that he himself would make the
+bhutas run away. Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands did not understand what his
+friend meant, but not wishing to argue rolled his way back to his
+original place and pretended to sleep, though his heart was beating
+terribly with fright. Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth now awoke his wife,
+and instructed her thus:
+
+"My dearest wife, the foolish bhutas have invaded our house, but
+if you act according to my advice we are safe, and the goblins will
+depart harmlessly. What I want you to do is, to go to the hall and
+light a lamp, spread leaves on the floor, and then pretend to awake
+me for my supper. I shall get up and enquire what you have ready to
+give me to eat. You will then reply that you have only pepper water
+and vegetables. With an angry face I shall say, 'What have you done
+with the three bhutas that our son caught hold of on his way back
+from school?' Your reply must be, 'The rogue wanted some sweetmeats
+on coming home. Unfortunately I had none in the house, so he roasted
+the three bhutas and gobbled them up.'"
+
+Thus instructing his wife Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth pretended to go to
+sleep. The wife accordingly spread the leaves and called her husband
+for his supper. During the conversation that followed, the fact that
+the son had roasted three goblins for sweetmeats was conveyed to the
+bhutas. They shuddered at the son's extraordinary ability, and thought,
+
+"What must the father do for his meals when a son roasts three bhutas
+for sweetmeats?"
+
+So they at once took to their heels. Then going to the brother they
+had jeered at, they said to him that indeed the kutas were their
+greatest enemies, and that none of their lives were safe while they
+remained where they were, as on that very evening the son of a kuta
+had roasted three of them for sweetmeats. They therefore all resolved
+to fly away to the adjoining forest, and disappeared accordingly. Thus
+Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth saved himself and his friend on two occasions
+from the bhutas.
+
+The friends after this went out one day to an adjoining village and
+were returning home rather late in the evening. Darkness fell on them
+before half the way was traversed, and there lay before them a dense
+wood infested by beasts of prey: so they resolved to spend the night in
+a high tree and go home next morning, and accordingly got up into a big
+pipal. Now this was the very wood into which the bhutas had migrated,
+and at midnight they all came down with torches to catch jackals
+and other animals to feast upon. The fear of Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands
+may be more imagined than described. The dreaded bhutas were at the
+foot of the very tree in which he had taken up his abode for the
+night! His hands trembled. His body shook. He lost his hold, and down
+he came with a horrible rustling of leaves. His friend, however, was,
+as usual, ready with a device, and bawled out:
+
+"I wished to leave these poor beings to their own revelry. But you
+are hungry and must needs jump down to catch some of them. Do not
+fail to lay your hands on the stoutest bhuta."
+
+The goblins heard the voice which was already very familiar to their
+ears, for was it not the kuta whose son had roasted up three bhutas
+for sweetmeats that spoke? So they ran away at once, crying out:
+
+"Alas, what misery! Our bitter enemies have followed us even to
+this wood!"
+
+Thus the wit of Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth saved himself and his friend
+for the third time.
+
+The sun began to rise, and Mr. Mighty-of-his-hands thrice walked
+round Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth and said:
+
+"My dear friend, truly you only of us two are mighty. Mere physical
+strength is of no use without skill in words. The latter is far
+superior to the former, and if a man possess both, he is, as it were,
+a golden lotus having a sweet scent. It is enough for me now to have
+arrived at this moral! With your kind permission I shall return to
+my village." Mr. Mighty-of-his-mouth asked his friend not to consider
+himself under any obligation, and, after honouring him as became his
+position he let him return to his village.
+
+The moral of this short story is that in man there is nothing great
+but mind.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+THE MOTHER-IN-LAW BECAME AN ASS.
+
+
+Little by little the mother-in-law became an ass--vara vara mami
+kaludai pol anal, is a proverb among the Tamils, applied to those
+who day by day go downwards in their progress in study, position,
+or life, and based on the following story:--
+
+In a certain village their lived a Brahman with his wife, mother,
+and mother-in-law. He was a very good man, and equally kind to all
+of them. His mother complained of nothing at his hands, but his wife
+was a very bad-tempered woman, and always troubled her mother-in-law
+by keeping her engaged in this work or that throughout the day, and
+giving her very little food in the evening. Owing to this the poor
+Brahman's mother was almost dying of misery. On the other hand, her
+own mother received very kind treatment, of course, at her daughter's
+hands, but the husband was so completely ruled by his wife, that he
+had no strength of mind to oppose her ill-treatment of his mother.
+
+One evening, just before sunset, the wife abused her mother-in-law with
+such fury, that the latter had to fly away to escape a thrashing. Full
+of misery she ran out of the village, but the sun had begun to set,
+and the darkness of night was fast overtaking her. So finding a ruined
+temple she entered it to pass the night there. It happened to be
+the abode of the village Kali (goddess), who used to come out every
+night at midnight to inspect her village. That night she perceived a
+woman--the mother of the poor Brahman--lurking within her prakaras
+(boundaries), and being a most benevolent Kali, called out to her,
+and asked her what made her so miserable that she should leave her
+home on such a dark night. The Brahmani told her story in a few
+words, and while she was speaking the cunning goddess was using her
+supernatural powers to see whether all she said was true or not, and
+finding it to be the truth, she thus replied in very soothing tones:--
+
+"I pity your misery, mother, because your daughter-in-law troubles
+and vexes you thus when you have become old, and have no strength
+in your body. Now take this mango," and taking a ripe one from out
+her waist-band, she gave it to the old Brahmani with a smiling
+face--"eat it, and you will soon become a young woman like your
+own daughter-in-law, and then she shall no longer trouble you." Thus
+consoling the afflicted old woman, the kind-hearted Kali went away. The
+Brahmani lingered for the remainder of the night in the temple, and
+being a fond mother she did not like to eat the whole of the mango
+without giving a portion of it to her son.
+
+Meanwhile, when her son returned home in the evening he found his
+mother absent, but his wife explained the matter to him, so as to throw
+the blame on the old woman, as she always did. As it was dark he had no
+chance of going out to search for her, so he waited for the daylight,
+and as soon as he saw the dawn, started to look for his mother. He
+had not walked far when to his joy he found her in the temple of Kali.
+
+"How did you pass the cold night, my dearest mother?" said he. "What
+did you have for dinner? Wretch that I am to have got myself married
+to a cur. Forget all her faults, and return home."
+
+His mother shed tears of joy and sorrow, and related her previous
+night's adventure, upon which he said:--
+
+"Delay not even one nimisha (minute), but eat this fruit at once. I
+do not want any of it. Only if you become young and strong enough to
+stand that nasty cur's troubles, well and good."
+
+So the mother ate up the divine fruit, and the son took her upon his
+shoulders and brought her home, on reaching which he placed her on the
+ground, when to his joy she was no longer an old woman, but a young
+girl of sixteen, and stronger than his own wife. The troublesome
+wife was now totally put down, and was powerless against so strong
+a mother-in-law.
+
+She did not at all like the change, and having to give up her habits
+of bullying, and so she argued to herself thus:--
+
+"This jade of a mother-in-law became young through the fruit of the
+Kali, why should not my mother also do the same, if I instruct her
+and send her to the same temple."
+
+So she instructed her mother as to the story she ought to give to
+the goddess and sent her there. Her old mother, agreeably to her
+daughter's injunctions, went to the temple, and on meeting with the
+goddess at midnight, gave a false story that she was being greatly
+ill-treated by her daughter-in-law, though, in truth, she had nothing
+of the kind to complain of. The goddess perceived the lie through her
+divine powers, but pretending to pity her, gave her also a fruit. Her
+daughter had instructed her not to eat it till next morning, and till
+she saw her son-in-law.
+
+As soon as morning approached, the poor hen-pecked Brahman was ordered
+by his wife to go to the temple and fetch his mother-in-law, as he
+had some time back fetched away his mother. He accordingly went, and
+invited her to come home. She wanted him to eat part of the fruit, as
+she had been instructed, but he refused, and so she swallowed it all,
+fully expecting to become young again on reaching home. Meanwhile her
+son-in-law took her on his shoulders and returned home, expecting,
+as his former experience had taught him, to see his mother-in-law
+also turn into a young woman. Anxiety to see how the change came on
+over-came him, and half way he turned his head, and found such part
+of the burden on his shoulders as he could see, to be like parts of an
+ass, but he took this to be a mere preliminary stage towards youthful
+womanhood! Again he turned, and again he saw the same thing several
+times, and the more he looked the more his burden became like an ass,
+till at last when he reached home, his burden jumped down braying
+like an ass and ran away.
+
+Thus the Kali, perceiving the evil intentions of the wife, disappointed
+her by turning her mother into an ass, but no one knew of it till
+she actually jumped down from the shoulders of her son-in-law.
+
+This story is always cited as the explanation of the proverb
+quoted above--vara vara mami kaludai pol anal--little by little
+the mother-in-law became an ass, to which is also commonly added ur
+varumbodu ulaiyida talaippattal--and as she approached the village,
+she began to bray.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+The Story of Appayya. [55]
+
+                                                 Apupena hatah chorah
+                                                 Hata khadgona kesari
+                                                 Turamgena hatam sainyam
+                                                 Vidhirbhagyanu sarini
+
+
+In a remote village there lived a poor Brahman and his wife. Though
+several years of their wedded life had passed, they unfortunately had
+no children, and so, being very eager for a child, and having no hope
+of one by his first wife, the poor Brahman made up his mind to marry
+a second. His wife would not permit it for some time, but finding
+her husband resolved, she gave way, thinking within herself that she
+would manage somehow to do away with the second wife. As soon as he
+had got her consent the Brahman arranged for his second marriage and
+wedded a beautiful Brahman girl. She went to live with him in the same
+house with the first wife, who, thinking that she would be making the
+world suspicious if she did anything suddenly, waited for some time.
+
+Isvara himself seemed to favour the new marriage, and the second wife,
+a year after her wedding, becoming pregnant, went in the sixth month of
+her pregnancy to her mother's house for her confinement. Her husband
+bore his separation from her patiently for a fortnight, but after
+this the desire to see her again began to prey upon his mind, and
+he was always asking his first wife when he ought to go to her. She
+seemed to sympathise fully with his trouble, and said:--
+
+"My dearest husband, your health is daily being injured, and I am glad
+that your love for her has not made it worse than it is. To-morrow
+you must start on a visit to her. It is said that we should not go
+empty-handed to children, a king, or a pregnant woman; so I shall
+give you one hundred apupa cakes, packed up separately in a vessel,
+which you must give to her. You are very fond of apupas and I fear
+that you will eat some of them on the way; but you had better not do
+so. And I will give you some cakes packed in a cloth separately for
+you to eat on your journey."
+
+So the first wife spent the whole night in preparing the apupa cakes,
+and mixed poison in the sugar and rice-flour of those she made for
+her co-wife and rival; but as she entertained no enmity against her
+husband the apupas cakes for him were properly prepared. By the time
+the morning dawned she had packed up the hundred apupas in a brass
+vessel which could be easily carried on a man's head.
+
+After a light breakfast--for a heavy one is always bad before a
+journey on foot--the Brahman placed the brass vessel on his head,
+and holding in his hand the kerchief containing the food for himself
+on the way, started for the village of his second wife, which happened
+to be at a distance of two days' journey. He walked in hot haste till
+evening approached, and when the darkness of night overtook him the
+rapidity of his walk had exhausted him, and he felt very hungry. He
+espied a wayside shed and a tank near his path, and entered the water
+to perform his evening ablution to the god of the day, who was fast
+going down below the horizon. As soon as this was over he untied his
+kerchief, and did full justice to its contents by swallowing every cake
+whole. He then drank some water, and being quite overcome by fatigue,
+fell into a deep slumber in the shed, with his brass vessel and its
+sweet, or rather poisonous, contents under his head.
+
+Close by the spot where the Brahman slept there reigned a famous
+king who had a very beautiful daughter. Several persons demanded her
+hand in marriage, among whom was a robber chieftain who wanted her
+for his only son. Though the king liked the boy for his beauty, the
+thought that he was only a robber for all that prevented him from
+making up his mind to give his daughter in marriage to him. The
+robber chief, however, was determined to have his own way, and
+accordingly despatched one hundred of his band to fetch away the
+princess in the night without her knowledge while she was sleeping,
+to his palace in the woods. In obedience to their chieftain's order
+the robbers, on the night the Brahman happened to sleep in the shed,
+entered the king's palace and stole away the princess, together with
+the bed on which she was sleeping. On reaching the shed the hundred
+robbers found themselves very thirsty--for being awake at midnight
+always brings on thirst. So they placed the cot on the ground and
+were entering the water to quench their thirst; just then they
+smelt the apupa cakes, which, for all that they contained poison,
+had a very sweet savour. The robbers searched about the shed, and
+found the Brahman sleeping on one side and the brass vessel lying at
+a distance from him, for he had pushed it from underneath his head
+when he had stretched himself in his sleep; they opened the vessel,
+and to their joy found in it exactly one hundred apupa cakes.
+
+"We have one here for each of us, and that is something better than
+mere water. Let us each eat before we go into it," said the leader
+of the gang, and at once each man swallowed greedily what he had in
+his hand, and immediately all fell down dead. Lucky it was that no
+one knew of the old Brahmani's trick. Had the robbers had any reason
+to suspect it they would never have eaten the cakes; had the Brahman
+known it he would never have brought them with him for his dear second
+wife. Lucky was it for the poor old Brahman and his second wife,
+and lucky was it for the sleeping princess, that these cakes went,
+after all, into the stomachs of the villainous robbers!
+
+After sleeping his fill the Brahman, who had been dreaming of his
+second wife all night, awoke in haste to pursue the remainder of his
+journey to her house. He could not find his brass vessel, but near the
+place where he had left it he found several men of the woods, whom
+he knew very well by their appearance to be robbers, as he thought,
+sleeping. Angered at the loss of his vessel he took up a sword from
+one of the dead robbers and cut off all their heads, thinking all
+the while that he was killing one hundred living robbers, who were
+sleeping after having eaten all his cakes. Presently the princess's
+cot fell under his gaze, and he approached it and found on it a most
+beautiful lady fast asleep. Being an intelligent man he perceived that
+the persons whose heads he had cut off must have been some thieves,
+or other wicked men, who had carried her off. He was not long in doubt,
+for not far off he saw an army marching up rapidly with a king at its
+head, who was saying, "Down with the robber who has stolen away my
+daughter." The Brahman at once inferred that this must be the father
+of the sleeping princess, and suddenly waking her up from her sleep
+spoke thus to her:--
+
+"Behold before you the hundred robbers that brought you here a few
+hours ago from your palace. I fought one and all of them single-handed,
+and have killed them all."
+
+The princess was highly pleased at what she heard, for she knew of
+all the tricks the robbers had previously played to carry her off. So
+she fell reverently at the Brahman's feet and said:--
+
+"Friend, never till now have I heard of a warrior who, single-handed,
+fought one hundred robbers. Your valour is unparalleled. I will be
+your wife, if only in remembrance of your having saved me from falling
+into the hands of these ruffians."
+
+Her father and his army was now near the shed, for he had all along
+watched the conduct of the robber chieftain, and as soon as the
+maid-servants of the palace informed him of the disappearance of the
+princess and her bed, he marched straight with his soldiers for the
+woods. His joy, when he saw his daughter safe, knew no bounds, and
+he flew into his daughter's arms, while she pointed to the Brahman
+as her preserver. The king now put a thousand questions to our hero,
+who, being well versed in matters of fighting, gave sound replies, and
+so came successfully out of his first adventure. The king, astonished
+at his valour, took him to his palace, and rewarded him with the hand
+of the princess. And the robber chieftain, fearing the new son-in-law,
+who, single-handed, had killed a hundred of his robbers, never troubled
+himself about the princess. Thus the Brahman's first adventure ended
+in making him son-in-law to a king!
+
+Now there lived a lioness in a wood near the princess's country,
+who had a great taste for human flesh, and so, once a week, the king
+used to send a man into the wood to serve as her prey. All the people
+now collected together before the king, and said:--
+
+"Most honoured king, while you have a son-in-law who killed one hundred
+robbers with his sword, why should you continue to send a man into
+the wood every week. We request you to send your son-in-law next week
+to the wood and have the lioness killed."
+
+This seemed most reasonable to the king, who called for his son-in-law,
+and sent him, armed to the teeth, into the wood.
+
+Now our Brahman could not refuse to go, for fear of losing the fame
+of his former exploit, and, hoping that fortune would favour him, he
+asked his father-in-law to have him hoisted up into a big banyan tree
+with all kinds of weapons, and this was done. The appointed time for
+the lioness to eat her prey approached, and as she saw no one coming
+for her, and as sometimes those that had to come used to linger for
+a short time in the tree in which the Brahman had taken refuge, she
+went up to it to see that no such trick has been played upon her this
+time. This made the Brahman tremble so violently that he dropped the
+sword he held in his hand. At that very moment the lioness happened
+to yawn, and the sword dropped right into her jaws and killed her. As
+soon as the Brahman saw the course which events had taken, he came
+down from the tree, and invented a thousand stories of how he had
+given battle to the terrible lioness and overcome her. This exploit
+fully established his valour, and feasts and rejoicings in honour of
+it followed, and the whole country round blessed the son-in-law of
+their king.
+
+Near this kingdom there also reigned a powerful emperor, who levied
+tribute from all the surrounding countries. To this emperor the
+father-in-law of our most valorous Brahman, who, at one stroke,
+had killed one hundred robbers, and, at another, a fierce lioness,
+had also to pay a certain amount of tribute; but, trusting to the
+power of his son-in-law, he stopped the tribute to the emperor, who,
+by the way, was named Appayya Raja, and who, as soon as the tribute
+was stopped, invaded his dominions, and his father-in-law besought
+the Brahman for assistance.
+
+Again the poor Brahman could not refuse, for, if he did, all his
+former fame would have been lost; so he determined to undertake
+this adventure also, and to trust to fortune rather than give up the
+attempt. He asked for the best horse and the sharpest sword, and set
+out to fight the enemy, who had already encamped on the other side
+of the river, which flowed at a short distance to the east of the town.
+
+Now the king had a very unruly horse, which had never been broken in,
+and this he gave his son-in-law; and, supplying him with a sharp sword,
+asked him to start. The Brahman then asked the king's servants to
+tie him up with cotton strings tight on to the saddle, and set out
+on the expedition.
+
+The horse, having never till then felt a man on its back, began to
+gallop most furiously, and flew onwards so fast that all who saw it
+thought the rider must lose his life, and he too was almost dead
+with fear. He tried his best to curb his steed, but the more he
+pulled the faster it galloped, till giving up all hopes of life he
+let it take its course. It jumped into the water and swam across to
+the other side of the river, wetting the cotton cords by which the
+Brahman was tied down to the saddle, making them swell and giving
+him the most excruciating pain. He bore it, however, with all the
+patience imaginable. Presently the horse reached the other side
+of the river, where there was a big palmyra tree, which a recent
+flood had left almost uprooted and ready to fall at the slightest
+touch. The Brahman, unable to stop the course of the horse, held
+fast on to the tree, hoping thus to check its wild career. But
+unfortunately for him the tree gave way, and the steed galloped on
+so furiously that he did not know which was the safer--to leave the
+tree or to hold on to it. Meanwhile the wet cotton cords hurt him so
+that he, in the hopelessness of despair, bawled out appa! ayya! [56]
+On went his steed, and still he held on to the palmyra tree. Though
+now fighting for his own life, the people that were watching him
+from a great distance thought him to be flying to the battlefield,
+armed with a palmyra tree! The cry of lamentation, appa ayya, which he
+uttered, his enemy mistook for a challenge, because, as we know, his
+name happened to be Appayya. Horror-struck at the sight of a warrior
+armed with a huge tree, his enemy turned and fled. Yatha raja tatha
+prajah--"As is the king so are the subjects,"--and accordingly his
+followers also fled. The Brahman warrior (!) seeing the fortunate
+course events had again taken pursued the enemy, or rather let his
+courser have its own furious way. Thus the enemy and his vast army
+melted away in the twinkling of an eye, and the horse, too, when it
+became exhausted, returned towards the palace.
+
+The old king had been watching from the loftiest rooms of his palace
+all that had passed on the other side of the river, and believing his
+son-in-law had, by his own prowess, driven out the enemy, approached
+him with all pomp. Eager hands quickly cut the knots by which the
+victorious (!) Brahman had been held tight in his saddle, and his old
+father-in-law with tears of joy embraced him on his victory, saying
+that the whole kingdom was indebted to him. A splendid triumphal
+march was conducted, in which the eyes of the whole town were directed
+towards our victorious hero.
+
+Thus, on three different occasions, and in three different adventures,
+fortune favoured the poor Brahman and brought him fame. He then sent
+for his two former wives and took them into his palace. His second
+wife, who was pregnant when he first started with the apupa cakes to
+see her, had given birth to a male child, who was, when she came back
+to him, more than a year old. The first wife confessed to her husband
+her sin of having given him poisoned cakes, and craved his pardon;
+and it was only now that he came to know that the hundred robbers he
+killed in his first adventure were all really dead men, and that they
+must have died from the effects of the poison in the cakes, and, since
+her treachery had given him a new start in life, he forgave her. She,
+too, gave up her enmity to the partners of her husband's bed, and
+all the four lived in peace and plenty for many a long day afterwards.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+X.
+
+THE BRAHMIN GIRL THAT MARRIED A TIGER.
+
+
+In a certain village there lived an old Brahmin who had three sons and
+a daughter. The girl being the youngest was brought up most tenderly
+and became spoilt, and so whenever she saw a beautiful boy she would
+say to her parents that she must be wedded to him. Her parents were,
+therefore, much put about to devise excuses for taking her away from
+her youthful lovers. Thus passed on some years, till the girl was
+very nearly grown up, and then the parents, fearing that they would
+be driven out of their caste if they failed to dispose of her hand
+in marriage before she came to the years of maturity, began to be
+eager about finding a bridegroom for her.
+
+Now near their village there lived a fierce tiger, that had attained to
+great proficiency in the art of magic, and had the power of assuming
+different forms. Having a great taste for Brahmin's food, the tiger
+used now and then to frequent temples and other places of public
+refreshment in the shape of an old famished Brahmin in order to share
+the food prepared for the Brahmins. The tiger also wanted, if possible,
+a Brahmin wife to take to the woods, and there to make her cook his
+meals after her fashion. One day, when he was partaking of his meals
+in Brahmin shape at a satra [57], he heard the talk about the Brahmin
+girl who was always falling in love with every beautiful Brahmin boy.
+
+Said he to himself, "Praised be the face that I saw first this
+morning. I shall assume the shape of a Brahmin boy, and appear as
+beautiful can be, and win the heart of the girl."
+
+Next morning he accordingly became in the form of a great Sastrin
+(proficient in the Ramayana) and took his seat near the ghat of the
+sacred river of the village. Scattering holy ashes profusely over
+his body he opened the Ramayana and began to read.
+
+"The voice of the new Sastrin is most enchanting. Let us go and hear
+him," said some women among themselves, and sat down before him to
+hear him expound the great book. The girl for whom the tiger had
+assumed this shape came in due time to bathe at the river, and as
+soon as she saw the new Sastrin fell in love with him, and bothered
+her old mother to speak to her father about him, so as not to lose
+her new lover. The old woman too was delighted at the bridegroom
+whom fortune had thrown in her way, and ran home to her husband,
+who, when he came and saw the Sastrin, raised up his hands in praise
+of the great god Mahesvara. The Sastrin was now invited to take his
+meals with them, and as he had come with the express intention of
+marrying the daughter, he, of course, agreed.
+
+A grand dinner followed in honour of the Sastrin, and his host began
+to question him as to his parentage, &c., to which the cunning
+tiger replied that he was born in a village beyond the adjacent
+wood. The Brahmin had no time to wait for further enquiries, and as
+the boy was very fair he married his daughter to him the very next
+day. Feasts followed for a month, during which time the bridegroom
+gave every satisfaction to his new relatives, who supposed him to be
+human all the while. He also did full justice to the Brahmin dishes,
+and swallowed everything that was placed before him.
+
+After the first month was over the tiger-bridegroom bethought him of
+his accustomed prey, and hankered after his abode in the woods. A
+change of diet for a day or two is all very well, but to renounce
+his own proper food for more than a month was hard. So one day he
+said to his father-in-law, "I must go back soon to my old parents,
+for they will be pining at my absence. But why should we have to
+bear the double expense of my coming all the way here again to take
+my wife to my village? So if you will kindly let me take the girl
+with me I shall take her to her future home, and hand her over to
+her mother-in-law, and see that she is well taken care of."
+
+The old Brahmin agreed to this, and replied, "My dear son-in-law,
+you are her husband, and she is yours, and we now send her with you,
+though it is like sending her into the wilderness with her eyes tied
+up. But as we take you to be everything to her, we trust you to treat
+her kindly."
+
+The mother of the bride shed tears at the idea of having to send her
+away, but nevertheless the very next day was fixed for the journey. The
+old woman spent the whole day in preparing cakes and sweetmeats for
+her daughter, and when the time for the journey arrived, she took care
+to place in her bundles and on her head one or two margosa [58] leaves
+to keep off demons. The relatives of the bride requested her husband
+to allow her to rest wherever she found shade, and to eat wherever she
+found water, and to this he agreed, and so they began their journey.
+
+The boy tiger and his human wife pursued their journey for two or
+three ghatikas [59] in free and pleasant conversation, when the girl
+happened to see a fine pond, round which the birds were warbling their
+sweet notes. She requested her husband to follow her to the water's
+edge and to partake of some of the cakes and sweetmeats with her.
+
+But he replied, "Be quiet, or I shall show you my original shape."
+
+This made her afraid, so she pursued her journey in silence until she
+saw another pond, when she asked the same question of her husband,
+who replied in the same tone.
+
+Now she was very hungry, and not liking her husband's tone, which
+she found had greatly changed ever since they had entered the woods,
+said to him,
+
+"Show me your original shape."
+
+No sooner were these words uttered than her husband's form changed
+from that of a man. Four legs, striped skin, a long tail, and a
+tiger's face came over him suddenly and, horror of horrors! a tiger
+and not a man stood before her! Nor were her fears stilled when the
+tiger in human voice began as follows:--
+
+"Know henceforth that I, your husband, am a tiger--this very tiger
+that now speaks to you. If you have any regard for your life you must
+obey all my orders implicitly, for I can speak to you in human voice,
+and understand what you say. In a couple of ghatikas we shall reach
+my home, of which you will become the mistress. In the front of my
+house you will see half-a-dozen tubs, each of which you must fill up
+daily with some dish or other, cooked in your own way. I shall take
+care to supply you with all the provisions you want." So saying the
+tiger slowly conducted her to his house.
+
+The misery of the girl may more be imagined than described, for if
+she were to object she would be put to death. So, weeping all the
+way, she reached her husband's house. Leaving her there he went out
+and returned with several pumpkins and some flesh, of which she soon
+prepared a curry and gave it to her husband. He went out again after
+this and returned in the evening with several vegetables and some
+more flesh, and gave her an order:--
+
+"Every morning I shall go out in search of provisions and prey,
+and bring something with me on my return; you must keep cooked for
+me whatever I leave in the house."
+
+So next morning as soon as the tiger had gone away she cooked
+everything left in the house and filled all the tubs with food. At
+the tenth ghatika the tiger returned and growled out,
+
+"I smell a man! I smell a woman in my wood." And his wife for very
+fear shut herself up in the house.
+
+As soon as the tiger had satisfied his appetite he told her to open
+the door, which she did, and they talked together for a time, after
+which the tiger rested awhile, and then went out hunting again. Thus
+passed many a day, till the tiger's Brahmin wife had a son, which
+also turned out to be only a tiger.
+
+One day, after the tiger had gone out to the woods, his wife was
+crying all alone in the house, when a crow happened to peck at some
+rice that was scattered near her, and seeing the girl crying, began
+to shed tears.
+
+"Can you assist me?" asked the girl.
+
+"Yes," said the crow.
+
+So she brought out a palmyra leaf and wrote on it with an iron nail
+all her sufferings in the wood, and requested her brothers to come
+and relieve her. This palmyra leaf she tied to the neck of the crow,
+which, seeming to understand her thoughts, flew to her village and
+sat down before one of her brothers. He untied the leaf and read the
+contents of the letter and told them to his other brothers. All the
+three then started for the wood, asking their mother to give them
+something to eat on the way. She had not enough rice for the three,
+so she made a big ball of clay and stuck it over with what rice she
+had, so as to make it look like a ball of rice. This she gave to the
+brothers to eat on their way, and started them off to the woods.
+
+They had not proceeded long before they espied an ass. The youngest,
+who was of a playful disposition, wished to take the ass with him. The
+two elder brothers objected to this for a time, but in the end they
+allowed him to have his own way. Further on they saw an ant, which
+the middle brother took with him. Near the ant there was a big palmyra
+tree lying on the ground, which the eldest took with him to keep off
+the tiger.
+
+The sun was now high in the horizon and the three brothers became very
+hungry. So they sat down near a tank and opened the bundle containing
+the ball of rice. To their utter disappointment they found it to be
+all clay, but being extremely hungry they drank all the water in the
+pond and continued their journey. On leaving the tank they found a big
+iron tub belonging to the washerman of the adjacent village. This they
+took also with them in addition to the ass, the ant, and the palmyra
+tree. Following the road described by their sister in her letter sent
+by the crow, they walked on and on till they reached the tiger's house.
+
+The sister, overjoyed to see her brothers again, ran out at once to
+welcome them.
+
+"My dearest brothers, I am so glad to see that you have come here
+to relieve me after all, but the time for the tiger's coming home is
+approaching, so hide yourselves in the loft, and wait till he is gone."
+
+So saying, she helped her brothers to ascend into the loft. By this
+time the tiger returned, and perceived the presence of human beings
+by the peculiar smell. He asked his wife whether any one had come to
+their house. She said, "No." But when the brothers, who with their
+trophies of the way--the ass, the ant, and so on--were sitting upon
+the loft, saw the tiger dallying with their sister, they were greatly
+frightened; so much so that the youngest, through fear, began to quake,
+and they all fell on the floor.
+
+"What is all this?" said the terrified tiger to his wife.
+
+"Nothing," said she, "but your brothers-in-law. They came here a watch
+[60] ago, and as soon as you have finished your meals they want to
+see you."
+
+"How can my brothers-in-law be such cowards," thought the tiger
+to himself.
+
+He then asked them to speak to him, whereon the youngest brother put
+the ant which he had in his hand into the ear of the ass, and as soon
+as the latter was bitten, it began to bawl out most horribly.
+
+"How is it that your brothers have such a hoarse voice?" said the
+tiger to his wife.
+
+He next asked them to show him their legs. Taking courage at the
+stupidity of the tiger on the two former occasions, the eldest brother
+now stretched out the palmyra tree.
+
+"By my father, I have never seen such a leg," said the tiger, and
+asked his brothers-in-law to show their bellies. The second brother
+now showed the tub, at which the tiger shuddered, and saying, "such
+a harsh voice, so stout a leg, and such a belly, truly I have never
+heard of such persons as these!" He ran away.
+
+It was already dark, and the brothers, wishing to take advantage
+of the tiger's terror, prepared to return home with their sister
+at once. They ate up what little food she had, and ordered her to
+start. Fortunately for her her tiger-child was asleep. So she tore it
+into two pieces and suspended them over the hearth, and, thus getting
+rid of the child, she ran off with her brothers towards home.
+
+Before leaving she bolted the front door from inside, and went out
+at the back of the house. As soon as the pieces of the cub, which
+were hung up over the hearth, began to roast, they dripped, which
+made the fire hiss and sputter; and when the tiger returned at about
+midnight, he found the door shut and heard the hissing of the fire,
+which he mistook for the noise of cooking muffins. [61]
+
+"I see," said he to himself, "how very cunning you are; you have
+bolted the door and are cooking muffins for your brothers. Let us
+see if we can't get your muffins."
+
+So saying he went round to the back door and entered his house, and
+was greatly perplexed to find his cub torn in two and being roasted,
+his house deserted by his Brahmin wife, and his property plundered;
+for his wife, before leaving, had taken with her as much of the
+tiger's property as she could conveniently carry.
+
+The tiger now discovered all the treachery of his wife, and his heart
+grieved for the loss of his son, that was now no more. He determined
+to be revenged on his wife, and to bring her back into the wood, and
+there tear her into many pieces in place of only two. But how to bring
+her back? He assumed his original shape of a young bridegroom, making,
+of course, due allowance for the number of years that had passed since
+his marriage, and next morning went to his father-in-law's house. His
+brothers-in-law and his wife saw from a distance the deceitful form
+he had assumed, and devised means to kill him. Meanwhile the tiger
+Brahmin approached his father-in-law's house, and the old people
+welcomed him. The younger ones too ran here and there to bring
+provisions to feed him sumptuously, and the tiger was highly pleased
+at the hospitable way in which he was received.
+
+There was a ruined well at the back of the house, and the eldest of
+the brothers placed some thin sticks across its mouth, over which
+he spread a fine mat. Now it is usual to ask guests to have an oil
+bath before dinner, and so his three brothers-in-law requested the
+tiger to take his seat on the fine mat for his bath. As soon as he
+sat on it, the thin sticks being unable to bear his weight, gave way,
+and down fell the cunning tiger with a heavy crash! The well was at
+once filled in with stones and other rubbish, and thus the tiger was
+effectually prevented from doing any more mischief.
+
+But the Brahmin girl, in memory of her having married a tiger, raised
+a pillar over the well and planted a tulasi [62] shrub on the top of
+it. Morning and evening, for the rest of her life, she used to smear
+the pillar with sacred cowdung, and water the tulasi shrub.
+
+This story is told to explain the Tamil proverb, "Summa irukkiraya,
+suruvattai kattattuma," which means--
+
+"Be quiet, or I shall show you my original shape."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+THE GOOD HUSBAND AND THE BAD WIFE.
+
+
+In a remote village there lived a Brahmin whose good nature and
+charitable disposition were proverbial. Equally proverbial also were
+the ill-nature and uncharitable disposition of the Brahmani--his
+wife. But as Paramesvara (God) had joined them in matrimony, they
+had to live together as husband and wife, though their temperaments
+were so incompatible. Every day the Brahmin had a taste of his wife's
+ill-temper, and if any other Brahmin was invited to dinner by him,
+his wife, somehow or other, would manage to drive him away.
+
+One fine summer morning a rather stupid Brahmin friend of his came
+to visit our hero and was at once invited to dinner. He told his
+wife to have dinner ready earlier than usual, and went off to the
+river to bathe. His friend not feeling very well that day wanted a
+hot bath at the house, and so did not follow him to the river, but
+remained sitting in the outer verandah. If any other guest had come,
+the wife would have accused him of greediness to his face and sent
+him away, but this visitor seemed to be a special friend of her lord,
+so she did not like to say anything; but she devised a plan to make
+him go away of his own accord.
+
+She proceeded to smear the ground before her husband's friend with
+cowdung, and placed in the midst of it a long pestle, supporting
+one end of it against the wall. She next approached the pestle most
+solemnly and performed worship (puja) to it. The guest did not in the
+least understand what she was doing, and respectfully asked her what
+it all meant.
+
+"This is what is called pestle worship," she replied. "I do it as a
+daily duty, and this pestle is intended to break the head of some human
+being in honour of a goddess, whose feet are most devoutly worshipped
+by my husband. Every day as soon as he returns from his bath in the
+river, he takes this pestle, which I am ordered to keep ready for him
+before his return, and with it breaks the head of any human being
+whom he has managed to get hold of by inviting him to a meal. This
+is his tribute (dakshina) to the goddess; to-day you are the victim."
+
+The guest was much alarmed.
+
+"What! break the head of a guest! I at any rate shall not be deceived
+to-day," thought he, and prepared to run away.
+
+The Brahmin's wife appeared to sympathise with his sad plight,
+and said:--
+
+"Really, I do pity you. But there is one thing you can do now to save
+yourself. If you go out by the front door and walk down the street
+my husband may follow you, so you had better go out by the back door."
+
+To this plan the guest most thankfully agreed, and hastily ran off
+by the back door.
+
+Almost immediately our hero returned from his bath, but before he
+could arrive his wife had cleaned up the place she had prepared for
+the pestle worship, and when the Brahmin, not finding his friend in
+the house inquired of her as to what had become of him, she said in
+seeming anger:--
+
+"The greedy brute! he wanted me to give him this pestle--this very
+pestle which I brought forty years ago as a dowry from my mother's
+house, and when I refused he ran away by the back-yard in haste."
+
+But her kind-hearted lord observed that he would rather lose the
+pestle than his guest, even though it was a part of his wife's dowry,
+and more than forty years old. So he ran off with the pestle in his
+hand after his friend, crying out,
+
+"Oh Brahmin! Oh Brahmin! Stop please, and take the pestle."
+
+But the story told by the old woman now seemed all the more true to
+the guest when he saw her husband running after him, and so he said,
+
+"You and your pestle may go where you please. Never more will you
+catch me in your house," and ran away.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+THE GOOD WIFE AND THE BAD HUSBAND. [63]
+
+
+In a remote village there lived a man and his wife, who was a stupid
+little woman and believed everything that was told her. Whenever
+people wanted anything from her they used to come and flatter her;
+but this had to be done in the absence of her husband, because he
+was a very miserly man, and would never part with any of his money,
+for all he was exceedingly rich. Nevertheless, without his knowledge
+cunning beggars would now and then come to his wife and beg of her, and
+they used generally to succeed, as she was so amenable to flattery. But
+whenever her husband found her out he would come down heavily upon her,
+sometimes with words and sometimes with blows. Thus quarrels arose,
+till at last, for the sake of peace, the wife had to give up her
+charitable propensities.
+
+Now there lived in the village a rogue of the first water, who had many
+a time witnessed what took place in the rich miser's family. Wishing
+to revive his old habit of getting what he wanted from the miser's
+wife he watched his opportunity and one day, when the miser had gone
+out on horseback to inspect his land, he came to his wife in the
+middle of the day and fell down at the threshold as if overcome by
+exhaustion. She ran up to him at once and asked him who he was.
+
+"I am a native of Kailasa," said he, "sent down by an old couple
+living there, for news of their son and his wife."
+
+"Who are those fortunate dwellers on Siva's mountain?" said she.
+
+On this the rogue gave the names of her husband's deceased parents,
+which he had taken good care, of course, to learn from the neighbours.
+
+"Do you really come from them?" said she. "Are they doing well
+there? Dear old people. How glad my husband would be to see you, were
+he here! Sit down please, and take rest awhile till he returns. How
+do they live there? Have they enough to eat and to dress themselves?"
+
+These and a thousand other questions she put to the rogue, who, for
+his part, wanted to get away as quick as possible, as he knew full
+well how he would be treated if the miser should return while he was
+there, so he said:--
+
+"Mother, language has no words to describe the miseries they are
+undergoing in the other world. They have not a rag to cover themselves,
+and for the last six days they have eaten nothing, and have lived on
+water only. It would break your heart to see them."
+
+The rogue's pathetic words fully deceived the good woman, who firmly
+believed that he had come down from Kailasa, sent by the old couple
+to her.
+
+"Why should they suffer so?" said she, "when their son has plenty to
+eat and to dress himself, and when their daughter-in-law wears all
+sorts of costly ornaments?"
+
+With that she went into the house and came out with two boxes
+containing all the clothes of herself and her husband, and gave
+the whole lot to the rogue, with instructions to take them to her
+poor old people in Kailasa. She also gave him her jewel box for her
+mother-in-law.
+
+"But dress and jewels will not fill their hungry stomachs," said he.
+
+Requesting him to wait a little, the silly woman brought out her
+husband's cash chest and emptied the contents into the rogue's coat,
+[64] who now went off in haste, promising to give everything to the
+good people in Kailasa. Our good lady in accordance with etiquette,
+conducted him a few hundred yards along the road and sent news of
+herself through him to her relatives, and then returned home. The
+rogue now tied up all his booty in his coat and ran in haste towards
+the river and crossed over it.
+
+No sooner had our heroine reached home than her husband returned
+after his inspection of his lands. Her pleasure at what she had done
+was so great, that she met him at the door and told him all about the
+arrival of the messenger from Kailasa, and how she had sent clothes,
+and jewels, and money through him to her husband's parents. The anger
+of her husband knew no bounds. But he checked himself for a while,
+and asked her which road the messenger from Kailasa had taken, as he
+said he wanted to follow him and send some more news to his parents. To
+this she willingly agreed and pointed out the direction the rogue had
+gone. With rage in his heart at the trick played upon his stupid wife,
+our hero rode on in hot haste, and after a ride of two ghatikas he
+caught sight of the departing rogue, who, finding escape hopeless,
+climbed up into a big pipal tree. Our hero soon reached the bottom
+of the tree and shouted to the rogue to come down.
+
+"No, I cannot, this is the way to Kailasa," said the rogue, and
+climbed up on the top of the tree.
+
+Seeing no chance of the rogue's coming down, and as there was no
+third person present to whom he could call for help, our hero tied
+his horse to an adjacent tree and began climbing up the pipal tree
+himself. The rogue thanked all his gods when he saw this, and waited
+till his enemy had climbed nearly up to him, and then, throwing down
+his bundle of booty, leapt quickly from branch to branch till he
+reached the bottom. He then got upon his enemy's horse, and with his
+bundle rode into a dense forest in which no one was likely to find him.
+
+Our hero being much older in years was no match for the rogue. So
+he slowly came down, and cursing his stupidity in having risked his
+horse to recover his property, returned home at his leisure. His wife,
+who was waiting his arrival, welcomed him with a cheerful countenance
+and said:--
+
+"I thought as much, you have sent away your horse to Kailasa to be
+used by your father."
+
+Vexed as he was at his wife's words, our hero replied in the
+affirmative to conceal his own stupidity.
+
+Thus, some there are in this world, who, though they may not willingly
+give away anything, pretend to have done so when, by accident, or
+stupidity, they happen to lose it.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+THE LOST CAMEL AND OTHER TALES.
+
+
+FIRST PART.
+
+There was a city called Alakapuri, famous for all the riches that
+sea and land can yield, and inhabited by people speaking different
+languages. In that city reigned a king named Alakesa, who was a
+storehouse of all excellent qualities. He was so just a king that
+during his reign the cow and the tiger amicably quenched their thirst
+side by side in the same pond, the cats and the rats sported in one
+and the same spot, and the kite and the parrot laid their eggs in the
+same nest, as though they were "birds of a feather." [65] The women
+never deviated from the path of virtue, and regarded their husbands
+as gods. Timely rain refreshed the soil, and all Alakesa's subjects
+lived in plenty and happiness. In short, Alakesa was the body, and
+his subjects the soul of that body, for he was upright in all things.
+
+Now there was in Alakapuri a rich merchant who lost a camel one day. He
+searched for it without success in all directions, and at last reached
+a road which he was informed led to another city, called Mathurapuri,
+the king of which was named Mathuresa. He had under him four excellent
+ministers, whose names were Bodhaditya, Bodhachandra, Bodhavyapaka,
+and Bodhavibhishana. These four ministers, being, for some reason,
+displeased with the king, quitted his dominions, and set out for
+another country. As they journeyed along they observed the track of a
+camel, and each made a remark on the peculiar condition of the animal,
+judging from the footsteps and other indications on the road. [66]
+
+Presently they met the merchant who was searching for his camel, and,
+entering into conversation with him, one of the travellers inquired if
+the animal was not lame in one of its legs; another asked if it was not
+blind of the right eye; the third asked if its tail was not unusually
+short; and the fourth inquired if it was not suffering from colic. They
+were all answered in the affirmative by the merchant, who was convinced
+that they must have seen the animal, and eagerly demanded where they
+had seen it. They replied that they had seen traces of the camel,
+but not the camel itself, which being inconsistent with the minute
+description they had given of it, the merchant accused them of having
+stolen the beast, and immediately applied to king Alakesa for redress.
+
+On hearing the merchant's story, the king was equally impressed
+with the belief that the travellers must know what had become of the
+camel, and sending for them threatened them with his displeasure if
+they did not confess the truth. How could they know, he demanded,
+that the camel was lame or blind, or whether the tail was long or
+short, or that it was suffering from any malady, unless they had it
+in their possession? In reply, they each explained the reasons which
+had induced them to express their belief in these particulars. The
+first traveller said:--
+
+"I noticed in the footmarks of the animal that one was deficient,
+and I concluded accordingly that it was lame of one of its legs."
+
+The second said:--"I noticed that the leaves of the trees on the left
+side of the road had been snapped or torn off, whilst those on the
+right side were untouched, whence I concluded that the animal was
+blind of his right eye."
+
+The third said:--"I saw some drops of blood on the road, which I
+conjectured had flowed from the bites of gnats or flies, and I thence
+concluded that the camel's tail was shorter than usual, in consequence
+of which he could not brush the insects away."
+
+The fourth said:--"I observed that while the forefeet of the animal
+were planted firmly on the ground the hind ones appeared to have
+scarcely touched it, whence I guessed that they were contracted by
+pain in the belly of the animal."
+
+When the king heard their explanation he was much struck by the
+sagacity of the travellers, and giving 500 pagodas to the merchant who
+had lost the camel; he made the four young men his principal ministers,
+and bestowed on each of them several villages as free gifts.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+THE THREE CALAMITIES.
+
+
+From that time these four young men became the confidential advisers
+of king Alakesa in all important affairs of state, and, as night is
+the house of sins, they in turn kept a regular watch in the city of
+Alakapuri, each patrolling the streets during three hours of the
+night. Thus they continued to faithfully serve king Alakesa, till
+one night, the First Minister, when his watch was over, proceeded
+as usual, to see whether the royal bedchamber was properly guarded;
+after which he went to the temple of the goddess Kali, where he heard
+what seemed to him the voice of a woman, lamenting and sobbing in
+great distress. Concealing himself behind the vad-tree of the temple,
+he called out:--
+
+"Who are you, poor woman? and why do you thus weep?"
+
+At once the cries ceased, and a voice from the temple inquired:--
+
+"Who art thou that thus questionest me?"
+
+Then the minister knew that it was Kali herself who wept; so he threw
+himself on the ground, and, rising up, exclaimed:--
+
+"O, my mother!--Kali!--Sambhavi!--Mahamayi! [67] Why should you thus
+weep?" quoth Kali.
+
+"What is the use of my revealing it to thee? Canst thou render any
+assistance?"
+
+The minister said that, if he had but her favour, there was nothing
+he could not do. Then the goddess told him that a calamity was about
+to come upon the king, and fearing that such a good monarch was soon
+to disappear from the world, she wept.
+
+The thought of such a misfortune caused the minister to tremble;
+he fell down before the goddess, and with tears streaming from his
+eyes besought her to save him. Kali was much gratified to observe
+his devotion to his master, and thus addressed him:--
+
+"Know, then, that your king will be in danger of three calamities
+to-morrow, any one of which will be sufficient to cause his
+death. First of all, early in the morning, there will come to the
+palace several carts containing newly-reaped paddy grains. The king
+will be delighted at this, and immediately order a measure of the
+paddy to be shelled and cooked for his morning meal. Now, the field
+in which that paddy grew is the abode of serpents, two of which
+were fighting together one day, when they emitted poison, which has
+permeated those grains. Therefore, the morning meal of your king will
+contain poison, but only in the first handful will it take effect and
+he will die. Should he escape, another calamity is in store for him
+at noon. The king of Vijayanagara will send to-morrow some baskets of
+sweetmeats; in the first basket he has concealed arrows. King Alakesa,
+suspecting no treachery, will order the first basket to be opened in
+his presence, and will meet his death by that device. And even should
+he escape this second calamity, a third will put an end to his life
+to-morrow night. A deadly serpent will descend into his bed room,
+by means of the chain of his hanging bed, and bite him. But, should
+he be saved from this last misfortune, Alakesa will live long and
+prosperously, till he attains the age of a hundred and twenty years."
+
+Thus spake Kali, in tones of sorrow, for she feared that the king
+would lose his life by one of these three calamities. The Minister
+prostrated himself on the ground, and said that if the goddess would
+grant him her favour he was confident he could contrive to avert all
+the threatened evils from the king. Kali smiled and disappeared;
+and the Minister, taking her kind smile as a token of her favour,
+returned home and slept soundly.
+
+As soon as morning dawned, the First Minister arose, and having made
+the customary ablutions, proceeded to the palace. He took care to
+reveal to no one the important secret communicated to him by the
+goddess--not even to his three colleagues. The sun was not yet two
+ghatikas [68] above the horizon when several carts containing the
+finest paddy grains, specially selected for the king's use, came
+into the courtyard of the palace. Alakesa was present, and ordered
+a measure of it to be at once shelled and cooked. The coming in of
+the carts and the king's order so exactly coincided with Kali's words
+that the Minister began to fear that he was quite unequal to the task
+of averting the fatality; yet the recollection of the smile of the
+goddess inspired him with fresh resolution, and he at once went to
+the palace-kitchen and requested the servants to inform him when the
+king was about to go to dinner. After issuing orders for the storing
+of the grain, king Alakesa retired to perform his morning ablutions
+and other religious duties.
+
+Meanwhile a carriage containing the jars of sweetmeats sent by the
+king of Vijayanagara drove up to the palace, and the emissary who
+accompanied the present, told the royal servants that his master
+had commanded him to deliver it to king Alakesa in person. The
+First Minister well understood the meaning of this, and, promising
+to bring the king, went into the palace, caused one of the servants
+to be dressed like Alakesa, and conducted him to the carriage. The
+officer of the Vijayanagara king placed the first jar before the
+supposed Alakesa, who at once opened it, when lo! there darted forth
+several arrows, one of which pierced his heart, and he fell dead on
+the spot. [69] In an instant the emissary was seized and bound, and
+the officers began to lament the death of their good king. But the
+fatal occurrence spread rapidly through the palace, and soon the real
+Alakesa made his appearance on the scene. The officers now beheld
+one Alakesa dead and fallen to the ground, pierced by the arrow,
+and another standing there alive and well. The First Minister then
+related how, suspecting treachery, he brought out a servant of the
+palace dressed like the king, and how he had been slain in place of his
+royal master. Alakesa thanked the Minister for having so ingeniously
+saved his life, and went into the palace. Thus was one of the three
+calamities to the king averted by the faithful Bodhaditya.
+
+When it was the hour for dinner, the king and his courtiers all sat
+down, with the exception of the First Minister, who remained standing,
+without having taken a leaf for his own use. The king, observing this,
+with a smile pointed out a leaf to him, [70] but Bodhaditya would not
+sit; he wished to be near the king and to abstain from eating on that
+occasion. So the king allowed him to have his own way. The food having
+been served on the leaves, the hands of all, including the king, were
+mingling the rice, ghi, and dhal for the first course. Near the king
+stood his faithful Minister Bodhaditya, and, when the king raised the
+first handful to his mouth, "Stop, my master," cried he, "I have long
+hoped for this handful as a present to me from your royal hands. I pray
+you give it to me, and feast upon the rest of the rice on your leaf."
+
+This was uttered more in a tone of command than of request, and the
+king was highly incensed at what he naturally considered as insolence
+on the part of the Minister. For such a request, especially when made
+to a king, is deemed nothing less than an insult, while to refuse it
+is equally offensive. So, whatever thoughts may have passed through
+Alakesa's mind, recollecting how the Minister had that morning saved
+his life, he gave him the handful of rice, which Bodhaditya received
+with delight, feeling grateful for the favour of the goddess in being
+the means of averting this second calamity.
+
+Far different, however, were the sentiments of the king and the
+assembled company. One and all declared Bodhaditya to be an insolent,
+proud fellow; but the king, while secretly blaming himself for having
+allowed him to use so much familiarity, suppressed his anger, in
+consideration of the important service the Minister had rendered him.
+
+On the approach of night the heart of the First Minister throbbed
+violently, for the third calamity predicted by the goddess was yet
+to be encountered. His watch being ended, before retiring to rest,
+he went to examine the royal bedroom, where he saw the light burning
+brightly, and the king and queen asleep side by side in the ornamented
+swing cot, which was suspended from the roof by four chains. Presently,
+he perceived, with horror, a fierce black snake, the smell of which
+is enough to kill a man, slowly gliding down the chain near the head
+of the queen. The Minister noiselessly went forward, and with a single
+stroke of his sharp sword, cut the venomous brute in two. Bodhaditya,
+to avoid disturbing any person at such an hour of the night, threw the
+pieces over the canopy of the bed, rejoicing at having thus averted
+the third and last calamity. But a fresh horror then met his eyes;
+a drop of the snake's poison had fallen on the bosom of the queen,
+which was exposed in the carelessness of slumber.
+
+"Alas, sacred goddess," he muttered, "why do you thus raise up new
+obstacles in my efforts to avert the evil which you predicted? I have
+done what I could to save the king, and in this last attempt I have
+killed his beloved queen. What shall I do?"
+
+Having thus briefly reflected, he wiped off the poison from the queen's
+bosom with the tip of his little finger, and, lest the contact of the
+venom with his finger should endanger his own life, he cut the tip
+of it off and threw it on the canopy. Just then the queen awoke, and
+perceiving a man hastily leaving the room, she cried: "Who are you?"
+
+The Minister respectfully answered: "Most venerable mother! I am your
+son, Bodhaditya," and at once retired.
+
+Upon this the queen thought within herself: "Alas! is there such
+a thing as a good man in the world? Hitherto I have regarded this
+Bodhaditya as my son; but now he has basely taken the opportunity
+of thus disgracing me when my lord and I were sound asleep. I shall
+inform the king of this, and have that wretch's head struck off before
+the morning."
+
+Accordingly she gently awakened the king, and with tears trickling
+down her beauteous face, she told him what had occurred, and concluded
+with these words:--"Till now, my lord, I considered that I was wife to
+you alone; but this night your First Minister has made me doubt it,
+since to my question, 'Who are you?' he answered, without any shame,
+'I am Bodhaditya,' and went away."
+
+On hearing of this violation of the sanctity of his bedchamber,
+Alakesa was greatly enraged, and determined to put to death such
+an unprincipled servant, but first to communicate the affair to his
+three other Ministers.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+SECOND PART.
+
+
+When the Second Minister's watch was over, he went to inspect the
+guard at the royal bedchamber, and Alakesa hearing his footsteps
+inquired who was there.
+
+"Your servant, Bodhachandra, most royal lord," was the reply.
+
+"Enter, Bodhachandra," said the king; "I have somewhat to communicate
+to you."
+
+Then Alakesa, almost choking with rage, told him of the gross offence
+of which his colleague the First Minister had been guilty, and demanded
+to know whether any punishment could be too severe. Bodhachandra
+humbled himself before the king, and thus replied--
+
+"My lord, such a crime merits a heavy requital. Can one tie up fire
+in one's cloth and think that as it is but a small spark it will
+do us no harm? How, then, can we excuse even slight deviations from
+the rules of propriety? Therefore, if Bodhaditya be really guilty,
+he must be signally punished. But permit me to represent to your
+Majesty the advisability of carefully inquiring into this matter
+before proceeding to judgment. We ought to ascertain what reasons he
+had for such a breach of the harem rules; for should we, carried away
+by anger, act rashly in this affair, we may repent when repentance is
+of no avail. As an example, I shall, with your Majesty's permission
+relate a story." The king having at once given his consent, the Second
+Minister began to relate the
+
+
+
+STORY OF THE HONEST BUT RASH HUNTER AND HIS FAITHFUL DOG.
+
+There dwelt in a certain forest a hunter named Ugravira, who was lord
+of the woods, and as such, had to pay a fixed sum of money to the king
+of the country. It happened once that the king unexpectedly demanded
+of him one thousand five hundred pons. [71] The hunter sold all his
+property and realised only a thousand pons, and was perplexed how
+to procure the rest of the required amount. At length he bethought
+him of his dog, which was of the best kind, and was beloved by him
+more than anything else in the whole world. He took his dog to an
+adjacent city, where he pledged him to a merchant named Kubera for
+five hundred pons, at the same time giving the merchant his bond
+for the loan. Before going away, the hunter with tears in his eyes,
+thus addressed the intelligent animal:--
+
+"Mrigasimha, [i.e., lion among beasts] O my faithful friend, do not
+leave thy new master until I have paid him back the money I have
+borrowed of him. Obey and serve him, even as thou hast ever obeyed
+and served me."
+
+Some time after this, the merchant Kubera had to leave home and
+proceed with his merchandise to foreign countries: so he called the
+hunter's dog to his side, and bade him watch at his doors and prevent
+the intrusion of robbers and other evil-disposed persons. The dog
+indicated, both by his eyes and his tail, that he perfectly understood
+his instructions. Then the merchant, having enjoined his wife to
+feed the dog three times every day with rice and milk, set out on
+his travels. The dog kept his watch outside the house, and for a few
+days the merchant's wife fed him regularly three times a day. But this
+kind treatment was not to continue. She had for her paramour a wicked
+youth of the Setti caste, who, soon after the departure of Kubera,
+became a constant visitor at the merchant's house. The faithful dog
+instinctively surmised that his new master would not approve of such
+conduct; so one night, when the youth was leaving the house, Mrigasimha
+sprang upon him like an enraged lion, and seizing him by the throat,
+sent the evildoer to the other world. The merchant's wife hearing
+the scuffle, ran to the spot to save her lover, but found him dead.
+
+Though extremely grieved at the loss of her paramour, she had the
+presence of mind to immediately carry the body to the garden at the
+back of the house, where she concealed it in a great pit, and covered
+it with earth and leaves, vainly thinking that she had thus concealed
+her own shame. All this was not done, however, without being observed
+by the watchful dog; and, henceforward, the merchant's wife hated
+him with a deadly hatred. She no longer gave him food, and the poor
+creature was fain to eat such grains of rice as he found adhering to
+the leaves thrown out of the house after meals, still keeping guard
+at the door.
+
+After an absence of two months the merchant returned, and the dog,
+the moment he saw him, ran up to him and rolled himself on the ground
+at his feet; then seizing the merchant's cloth he dragged him to the
+very spot in the garden where the youth's body was hidden, and began
+to scratch the ground, at the same time looking into the merchant's
+face and howling dismally, from which Kubera concluded that the dog
+wished him to examine the place. Accordingly he dug up the spot and
+discovered the body of the youth, whom, indeed, he had suspected
+of being his wife's paramour. In a great fury he rushed into the
+house and commanded his wife, on pain of instant death, to relate the
+particulars of this affair without concealing anything. The wretched
+woman, seeing that her sin was discovered, confessed all, upon which
+her husband exclaimed!--
+
+"Disgrace of womankind! you have not a fraction of the virtue possessed
+by this faithful brute, which you have, out of revenge, allowed to
+starve. But why should I waste words on thee? Happy am I in having no
+children by thee! Depart, and let me see thy face no more." So saying,
+he thrust her out of the house. Then the merchant fed the dog with
+milk, rice and sugar, after which he said to that lion of beasts
+(Mrigasimha, as he was called)--
+
+"Thou trusty friend, language fails to express my gratitude to
+thee. The five hundred pons which I lent thy old master the hunter
+are as nothing compared with thy services to me, by which I consider
+the debt as more than paid. What must be the feelings of the hunter
+without thy companionship? I now give thee leave to return to him."
+
+The merchant took the hunter's bond, and tearing it slightly at the
+top as a token that it was cancelled, he placed it in the dog's mouth
+and sent him back to his former master, and he at once set off towards
+the forest.
+
+Now by this time the hunter had contrived to save up the five
+hundred pons, and with the money and the interest due thereon, he
+was going to the merchant to redeem his bond and reclaim his dog. To
+his great surprise he met Mrigasimha on the way, and as soon as the
+dog perceived him he ran up to him to receive his caresses. But the
+hunter immediately concluded that the poor brute, in his eagerness to
+rejoin him, had run away from the merchant, and determined to put him
+to death. Accordingly he plucked a creeper, and fastening it round the
+dog's neck tied him to a branch of a tree, and the faithful creature,
+who was expecting nothing but kindness from his old master, was by him
+most cruelly strangled. The hunter then continued his journey, and,
+on reaching the merchant's house, he laid down the money before him.
+
+"My dear friend," said Kubera, "the important service your dog
+rendered me in killing my wife's paramour, has amply repaid your
+debt, so I gave him permission to return to you, with your bond in
+his mouth. Did you not meet him on your way? But why do you look so
+horrified? What have you done to the dog?"
+
+The hunter, to whom everything was now only too clear, threw himself
+on the ground, like a huge tree cut at the root, and, after telling
+Kubera how he had inconsiderately slain the faithful dog, stabbed
+himself with his dagger. The merchant grieved at the death both of
+the dog and the hunter, which would not have occurred had he waited
+until Ugravira came to redeem his bond, snatched the weapon out of the
+hunter's breast and also stabbed himself. The news of this tragedy
+soon reached the forest, and the wife of the hunter, not wishing to
+survive her lord, threw herself into a well and was drowned. Lastly,
+even the wife of the merchant, finding that so many fatalities were
+due to her own misconduct, and that she was despised by the very
+children in the streets, put an end to her wretched life.
+
+"Thus," added the Second Minister, "five lives were lost in consequence
+of the hunter's rashness. Wherefore I would respectfully beseech your
+Majesty to investigate the case of Bodhaditya, and to refrain from
+acting merely under the influence of anger."
+
+Having thus spoken, Bodhachandra obtained leave to retire to his
+own house.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+THIRD PART.
+
+
+At the end of the third watch of the night, Bodhavyapaka, the Third
+Minister of king Alakesa, went to see whether the royal bedchamber
+was properly guarded, and the king, summoning him to his presence,
+told him of the First Minister's crime, upon which Bodhavyapaka,
+after making due obeisance, thus spake:--
+
+"Most noble king, such a grave crime should be severely punished,
+but it behoves us not to act before having ascertained that he is
+guilty beyond doubt, for evil are the consequences of precipitation,
+in proof of which I know a story which I will relate, with your
+Majesty's leave."
+
+
+
+STORY OF THE BRAHMAN'S WIFE AND THE MUNGOOSE.
+
+On the banks of the Ganges, which also flows by the most holy city
+of Banaras, there is a town named Mithila, where dwelt a very poor
+Brahman called Vidyadhara. He had no children, and to compensate
+for this want, he and his wife tenderly nourished in their house a
+mungoose--a species of weasel. It was their all in all--their younger
+son, their elder daughter--their elder son, their younger daughter,
+so fondly did they regard that little creature. The god Visvesvara
+and his spouse Visalakshi observed this, and had pity for the unhappy
+pair; so by their divine power they blessed them with a son. This
+most welcome addition to their family did not alienate the affections
+of the Brahman and his wife from the mungoose; on the contrary,
+their attachment increased, for they believed that it was because of
+their having adopted the pet that a son had been born to them. So the
+child and the mungoose were brought up together, as twin brothers,
+in the same cradle.
+
+It happened one day when the Brahman had gone out to beg alms of the
+pious and charitable, that his wife went into the garden to cull some
+pot-herbs, leaving the child asleep in his cradle, and by his side
+the mungoose kept guard. An old serpent, which was living in the
+well in the garden, crept into the house and under the cradle, and
+was beginning to climb into it to bite the child when the mungoose
+fiercely attacked it and tore it into several pieces, thus saving
+the life of the Brahman's little son, and the venomous snake, that
+came to slay, itself lay dead beneath the cradle.
+
+Pleased at having performed such an exploit, the mungoose ran into
+the garden to show the Brahman's wife its blood-smeared mouth, but
+she rashly mistook the deliverer of her child for his destroyer,
+and with one stroke of the knife in her hand with which she was
+cutting herbs she killed the faithful creature, and then hastened
+into the house to see her dead son. But there she found the child
+in his cradle alive and well, only crying at the absence of his
+little companion, the mungoose, and under the cradle lay the great
+serpent cut to pieces. The real state of affairs was now evident,
+and the Brahman presently returning home, his wife told him of her
+rash act and then put an end to her life. The Brahman, in his turn,
+disconsolate at the death of the mungoose and his wife, first slew
+his child and then killed himself.
+
+
+
+"And thus," added the Third Minister, "by one rash act four creatures
+perished, so true is it that precipitation results in a series of
+calamities. Do not, then, condemn Bodhaditya before his guilt is
+clearly proved." Alakesa, having given Bodhachandra the signal to
+retire, he quitted the presence and went home.
+
+When the watch of the Fourth Minister, Bodhavibhishana, was terminated,
+he visited the private apartments of the king (who had been meanwhile
+pondering over the stories he had heard), and was called into
+the sleeping chamber by Alakesa, and informed of his colleague's
+unpardonable offence. The Minister, after due prostration, thus
+addressed his royal master:--
+
+"Great king, I can scarcely bring myself to believe that Bodhaditya
+could ever be guilty of such a crime, and I would respectfully remind
+your Majesty that it would not be consistent with your world-wide
+reputation for wisdom and justice were you to pronounce judgment in
+this case without having inquired into all the circumstances. Evil
+and injustice result from hasty decisions and actions, of which a
+striking illustration is furnished in the
+
+
+
+STORY OF THE FAITHLESS WIFE AND THE UNGRATEFUL BLIND MAN.
+
+In the town of Mithila there lived a young Brahman who, having
+had a quarrel with his father-in-law, set out on a pilgrimage to
+Banaras. Going through a forest he met a blind man, whose wife was
+leading him by means of a stick, one end of which she held in her
+hand, and her husband holding the other end was following her. She was
+young and fair of face, and the pilgrim made signs to her that she
+should go with him and leave her blind husband behind. The proposal
+thus signified pleased this wanton woman, so she bade her husband
+sit under a tree for a few minutes while she went and plucked him
+a ripe mango. The blind man sat down accordingly, and his wife went
+away with the Brahman. After waiting a long time in expectation of
+his wife's return, and no person coming near him, (for it was an
+unfrequented place), her infidelity became painfully apparent to him,
+and he bitterly cursed both her and the villain who had enticed her
+away from him. For six days he remained at the foot of the tree,
+in woeful condition, without a morsel of rice or a drop of water,
+and he was well nigh dead, when at length he heard the sound of
+footsteps near him, and cried faintly for help. A man of the Setti
+caste and his wife came up to him, and inquired how he happened to be
+in such a plight. The blind man told them how his wife had deserted
+him, and gone away with a young Brahman whom they had met, leaving
+him there alone and helpless. His story excited the compassion of the
+Setti and his wife. They gave him to eat of the small quantity of rice
+they had with them, and, having supplied him with water to quench his
+thirst, the Setti bade his wife lead him with his stick. The woman,
+though somewhat reluctant to walk thus in company with a man who
+was not her husband, yet, reflecting that charitable actions ought
+never to be left undone, complied with her lord's request, and began
+to lead the blind man. After travelling in this manner for a day,
+the three reached a town, and took up their abode for the night in
+the house of a friend of the Setti, where the latter and his wife
+gave the blind man a share of their rice before tasting a morsel
+themselves. At daybreak the next morning they advised him to try to
+provide for himself in some way in that town, and prepared to resume
+their journey. But the blind man, forgetting all the kindness they
+had shown him, began to raise an alarm, crying out:--
+
+"Is there no king in this city to protect me and give me my
+rights? Here is a Setti rascal taking away my wife with him! As I am
+blind, she denies that I am her husband, and follows that rogue! But
+will not the king give me justice?"
+
+The people in the street at once reported these words to the king,
+who caused inquiry to be made into the matter. The fact of the Setti's
+wife having led the blind man, seemed to indicate that the latter,
+and not the Setti, was the woman's husband, and foolishly concluded
+that both the Setti and his wife were the real criminals. Accordingly
+he sentenced the Setti to the gallows, because he attempted to entice
+away a married woman, and his wife to be burnt in the kiln, as she
+wished to forsake her husband, and he a blind man. When these sentences
+were pronounced the blind man was thunder-struck. The thought that
+by a deliberate lie he had caused the death of two innocent persons
+now stung him to the heart. By this lie he expected that the Setti
+only should be punished, and that his wife would be made over to him
+as his own wife, but now he found she also was condemned to death.
+
+"Vile wretch that I am!" said he; "I do not know what sins I committed
+in my former life to be thus blind now. My real wife, too, deserted me;
+and I, heaping sins upon sins, have now by a false report sent to death
+an innocent man and his wife, who rescued me from a horrible fate and
+tended to all my wants last night. O, Mahesvara! what punishment you
+have in reserve for me I know not."
+
+This soliloquy, being overheard by some by-standers, was communicated
+to the king, who bitterly reproaching himself for having acted so
+rashly, at once released the good Setti and his wife, and caused the
+ungrateful blind man to be burnt in the kiln.
+
+"Thus, you see, my lord," added the fourth Minister, "how
+nearly that king had plunged himself into a gulf of crime by his
+rashness. Therefore, my most noble king, I would respectfully and
+humbly request you to consider well the case of Bodhaditya, and punish
+him severely if he be found really guilty."
+
+
+
+Having thus spoken, the Fourth Minister obtained leave to depart.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+FOURTH PART.
+
+
+The night was now over: darkness, the harbourer of vice, fled away;
+the day dawned. King Alakesa left his bedchamber, bathed and made his
+religious ablutions, and, after breakfasting, summoned a council of all
+his father's old ministers and advisers. Alakesa took his seat in the
+midst of the assembly; anger was clearly visible in his countenance;
+his eyes had lost their natural expression and had turned very red;
+his breath was as hot as that of a furnace. He thus addressed them:--
+
+"Know ye all, the ministers of my father and of myself, that last
+night, during the first watch, my First Minister, Bodhaditya, while
+I and my queen were asleep in our chamber, came and touched with his
+finger the bosom of my queen. Consider well the gravity of this crime,
+and express your opinions as to what punishment he merits."
+
+Thus spake king Alakesa, but all the ministers, not knowing what answer
+to return, hung down their heads in silence. Among those present was
+an aged minister named Manuniti, who called Bodhaditya to his side
+and privately learned the whole story. He then humbly bowed before
+the king, and thus spake:--
+
+"Most noble king, men are not always all-wise, and, before replying to
+your Majesty's question, I beg permission to relate in your presence
+the story of a king in whose reign a certain benevolent action was
+repaid with disgrace and ignominy:--
+
+
+
+STORY OF THE WONDERFUL MANGO FRUIT.
+
+On the banks of the Kaveri there was a city called Tiruvidaimarudur,
+where ruled a king named Chakraditya. In that city there lived a
+poor Brahman and his wife, who, having no children, brought up in
+their house a young parrot as tenderly as if it had been their own
+offspring. One day the parrot was sitting on the roof of the house,
+basking itself in the morning sun, when a large flock of parrots flew
+past, talking to each other about certain mango fruits. The Brahman's
+parrot asked them what were the peculiar properties of those fruits,
+and was informed that beyond the seven oceans there was a great mango
+tree, the fruit of which gave perpetual youth to the person who ate
+of it, however old and infirm he might be. On hearing of this wonder
+the Brahman's parrot requested permission to accompany them, which
+being granted, they all continued their flight. When at length they
+arrived at the mango tree, all ate of its fruit; but the Brahman's
+parrot reflected:--
+
+"It would not be right for me to eat this fruit; I am young, while
+my adopted parents, the poor Brahman and his wife are very old. So I
+shall give them this fruit, and they will become young and blooming
+by eating it."
+
+And that same evening the good parrot brought the fruit to the Brahman,
+and explained to him its extraordinary properties. But the Brahman
+thought within himself:--
+
+"I am a beggar. What matters it if I become young and live for ever,
+or else die this very moment? Our king is very good and charitable. If
+such a great man should eat of this fruit and renew his youth, he
+would confer the greatest benefit on mankind. Therefore I will give
+this mango to our good king."
+
+In pursuance of this self-denying resolution, the poor Brahman
+proceeded to the palace and presented the fruit to the king, at the
+same time relating how he had obtained it and its qualities. The king
+richly rewarded the Brahman for his gift, and sent him away. Then he
+began to reflect thus:--
+
+"Here is a fruit which can bestow perpetual youth on the person who
+eats it. I should gain this great boon for myself alone, and what
+happiness could I expect under such circumstances unless shared by
+my friends and subjects? I shall therefore not eat this mango-fruit,
+but plant it carefully in my garden, and it will in time become a
+tree, which will bear much fruit having the same wonderful virtue,
+and my subjects shall, every one, eat of the fruit, and, with myself,
+be endowed with everlasting youth."
+
+So, calling his gardener, the king gave him the fruit, and he planted
+it in the royal presence. In due course of time the fruit grew
+into a fine tree, and during the spring season it began to bud and
+blossom and bear fruit. The king, having fixed upon an auspicious
+day for cutting one of the mango-fruits, gave it to his domestic
+chaplain, who was ninety years old, in order that his youth should
+be renewed. But no sooner had the priest tasted it than he fell down
+dead. At this unexpected calamity the king was both astonished and
+deeply grieved. When the old priest's wife heard of her husband's
+sudden death she came and prayed the king to allow her to perform sati
+with him on the same funeral pyre, which increased the king's sorrow;
+but he gave her the desired permission, and himself superintended
+all the ceremonies of the cremation. King Chakraditya then sent for
+the poor Brahman, and demanded of him how he had dared to present a
+poisonous fruit to his king. The Brahman replied:--
+
+"My lord, I brought up a young parrot in my house, in order to console
+me for having no son. That parrot brought me the fruit one day,
+and told me of its wonderful properties. Believing that the parrot
+spoke the truth, I presented it to your Majesty, never for a moment
+suspecting it to be poisonous."
+
+The king listened to the poor Brahman's words, but thought that the
+poor priest's death should be avenged. So he consulted his ministers
+who recommended, as a slight punishment, that the Brahman should
+be deprived of his left eye. This was done accordingly, and, on his
+return home, when his wife saw his condition, she asked the reason
+of such mutilation.
+
+"My dear," said she, "the parrot we have fostered so tenderly is the
+cause of this."
+
+And they resolved to break the neck of the treacherous bird. But the
+parrot, having overheard their conversation, thus addressed them:--
+
+"My kind foster parents, everyone must be rewarded for the good actions
+or punished for the evil deeds of his previous life. I brought you the
+fruit with a good intention, but my sins in my former life have given
+it a different effect. Therefore I pray you to kill me and bury me
+with a little milk in a pit. And, after my funeral ceremony is over,
+I request you to undertake a pilgrimage to Banaras to expiate your
+own sins."
+
+So the old Brahman and his wife killed their pet parrot and buried
+it as directed, after which, overcome with grief, they set out on a
+pilgrimage to the Holy City.
+
+Meanwhile the king commanded his gardener to set guards over the
+poison-tree, and to allow no one to eat of its fruit; and all the
+inhabitants soon came to know that the king had a mango tree in
+his garden, the fruit of which was deadly poison. Now, there was
+in the city an old washerwoman, who had frequent quarrels with her
+daughter-in-law, and one day, being weary of life, she left the house,
+threatening to eat of the poison tree and die.
+
+The young parrot who was killed for having brought the poisonous
+mango-fruit was re-born as a green parrot, and was waiting for an
+opportunity to demonstrate the harmless nature of the tree; and when he
+saw the old woman approach with a determination to put an end to her
+life by eating of its fruit, he plucked one with his beak and dropped
+it down before her. The old woman rejoiced that fate sanctioned her
+death, and greedily ate the fruit, when lo! instead of dying she
+became young and blooming again. Those who had seen her leave the
+house a woman over sixty years of age were astonished on seeing her
+return as a handsome girl of sixteen and learning that the wonderful
+transformation was caused by the supposed poisonous mango-tree.
+
+The strange news soon reached the king, who, in order to test the tree
+still further, ordered another fruit of it to be brought and gave it
+to a goldsmith of more than ninety years of age, who had embezzled
+some gold which had been entrusted to him to make into ornaments
+for the ladies of the palace, and was on that account undergoing
+imprisonment. When he had eaten the fruit, he, in his turn, became
+a young man of sixteen. The king was now convinced that the fruit
+of the mango-tree, so far from being poisonous, had the power of
+converting decrepit age into lusty and perennial youth. But how had
+the old priest died by eating of it?
+
+It was by a mere accident. One day a huge serpent was sleeping on a
+branch of the mango-tree, and its head hung over one of the fruit;
+poison dropped from its mouth and fell on the rind of that fruit;
+the gardener, who had no knowledge of this, when asked to bring a
+fruit for the priest, happened to bring the one on which the poison
+had fallen, and the priest having eaten it, died.
+
+And now the king caused proclamation to be made throughout his kingdom
+that all who pleased might come and partake of the mango-fruit, and
+everyone ate of it and became young. But king Chakaraditya's heart
+burnt within him at the remembrance of his ill-treatment of the poor
+Brahman, who had returned with his wife from Banaras. So he sent
+for him, explained his mistake, and gave him a fruit to eat, which,
+having tasted, the aged Brahman became young and his eye was also
+restored to him. But the greatest loss of all, that of the parrot who
+brought the fruit from beyond the seven oceans, remained irreparable.
+
+
+
+"Thus, my lord," continued the old minister, Manuniti, "it behoves us
+not to act precipitately in this affair of Bodhaditya, which we must
+carefully sift before expressing our opinion as to the punishment he
+may deserve at your majesty's hands."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+FIFTH PART.
+
+
+When Manuniti had concluded his story of the wonderful mango-fruit,
+king Alakesa ordered his four ministers to approach the throne,
+and then, with an angry countenance he thus addressed Bodhaditya:--
+
+"What excuse have you for entering my bedchamber without permission,
+thus violating the rules of the harem?"
+
+Bodhaditya humbly begged leave to relate to his majesty a story of
+how a Brahman fed a hungry traveller and had afterwards to endure the
+infamy of having caused that traveller's death, and on king Alakesa
+signifying his consent, he thus began:--
+
+
+
+STORY OF THE POISONED FOOD.
+
+There was a city called Vijayanagara, to the north of which flowed
+a small river with mango topes [72] on both banks. One day a young
+Brahmin pilgrim came and sat down to rest by the side of the stream,
+and, finding the place very cool and shady, he resolved to bathe,
+perform his religious ablutions, and make his dinner off the rice
+which he carried tied up in a bundle.
+
+Three days before there had come to the same spot an old Brahmin whose
+years numbered more than three score and ten; he had quarrelled with
+his family, and had fled from his house to die. Since he had reached
+that place he had tasted no food, and the young pilgrim found him lying
+in a pitiable state, and placed near him a portion of his rice. The old
+man arose, and proceeded to the rivulet in order to wash his feet and
+hands, and pronounce a holy incantation or two before tasting the food.
+
+While thus engaged a kite, carrying in its beak a huge serpent,
+alighted upon the tree at the foot of which was the rice given by
+the pilgrim to the old man, and while the bird was feasting on the
+serpent some of its poison dropped on the rice, and the old Brahmin,
+in his hunger, did not observe it on his return; he greedily devoured
+some of the rice, and instantly fell down dead.
+
+The young pilgrim, seeing him prostrate on the ground, ran to help
+him, but found that life was gone; and concluding that the old man's
+hasty eating after his three days' fast must have caused his death,
+and being unwilling to leave his corpse to be devoured by kites and
+jackals, he determined to cremate it before resuming his journey. With
+this object he ran to the neighbouring village, and, reporting to the
+people what had occurred on the tope, requested their assistance in
+cremating the old man's body.
+
+The villagers, however, suspected that the young pilgrim had killed
+and robbed the old Brahmin; so they laid hold of him, and, after
+giving him a severe flogging, imprisoned him in the village temple
+of Kali. Alas! what a reward was this for his kind hospitality! and
+how was he repaid for his beneficence!
+
+The unhappy pilgrim gave vent to his sorrows in the form of verses
+in praise of the goddess in whose temple he was a prisoner; for he
+was a great Pandit, versed in the four Vedas, and the six Sastras,
+and the sixty-four varieties of knowledge. On hearing the pilgrim's
+verses, the rage of the goddess descended upon the villagers, who
+had so rashly accused and punished him for a crime of which he was
+innocent. Suddenly the whole village was destroyed by fire, and the
+people lost all their property, and were houseless. In their extremity
+they went to the temple of Kali, and humbly requested the goddess to
+inform them of the cause of the calamity which had thus unexpectedly
+come upon them. The goddess infused herself into the person of one
+of the villagers, and thus responded:--
+
+"Know ye, unkind villagers, that ye have most unjustly scourged
+and imprisoned in our presence an innocent, charitable, and pious
+Brahmin. The old man died from the effects of the poison, which dropped
+from a serpent's mouth on some rice at the foot of a tree when it
+was being devoured by a kite. Ye did not know of this; nevertheless
+ye have maltreated a good man without first making due inquiry as to
+his guilt or innocence. For this reason we visited your village with
+this calamity. Beware, and henceforward avoid such sins."
+
+So saying, Kali departed from the person through whom she had
+manifested herself. [73] Then the villagers perceived the grievous
+error into which they had fallen. They released the good pilgrim and
+implored his forgiveness, which he readily granted. And thus was an
+innocent man charged with murder in return for his benevolent actions.
+
+"Even so," continued Bodhaditya, "my most noble sovereign, I have
+this day had to endure the infamy of having violated the harem for
+saving your valuable life."
+
+He then sent for a thief who was undergoing imprisonment, and gave
+him the handful of rice which he had the preceding day snatched
+from the king at dinner, and the thief having eaten it, instantly
+died. He next caused a servant to go to the royal bed-chamber, and
+fetch from the canopy of the couch the pieces of the serpent and his
+little finger-tip, which he laid before the wonder-struck king and
+the counsellors, and then addressed his majesty as follows:--
+
+"My most noble king, and ye wise counsellors, it is known to you
+all that we four ministers keep watch over the town during the four
+quarters of the night, and mine is the first watch. Well, while I
+was on duty the day before yesterday, I heard a weeping voice in the
+direction of the temple. I proceeded to the spot, and discovered the
+goddess sobbing bitterly. She related to me how three calamities
+awaited the king on the morrow. The first of them was the arrows
+despatched by the king of Vijayanagara as sweetmeats to our Sovereign;
+the second was the poisoned rice, and the third the serpent. In trying
+to avert these calamities, I have committed the offence of entering
+the harem."
+
+
+
+And he thereupon explained the whole affair from first to last.
+
+King Alakesa and the whole assembly were highly delighted at the
+fidelity and devotion of Bodhaditya; for it was now very evident
+that he had done nothing amiss, but had saved the life of the king
+on three occasions, and indeed also the life of the queen by wiping
+off the serpent's poison which had fallen on her bosom. Then Alakesa
+related the following story in explanation of the proverb:--
+
+
+
+"EATING UP THE PROTECTOR." [74]
+
+In the country of Uttara there lived a Brahmin named Kusalanatha,
+who had a wife and six sons. All lived in a state of prosperity for
+some time, but the entrance of Saturn into the Brahmin's horoscope
+turned everything upside down. The once prosperous Brahmin became poor,
+and was reduced to go to the neighbouring woods to gather bamboo rice
+with which to feed his hungry family. [75]
+
+One day while plucking the bamboo ears, he saw a bush close by
+in flames, in the midst of which was a serpent struggling for its
+life. The Brahmin at once ran to its rescue, and stretching towards
+it a long green stick the reptile crept on to it and escaped from the
+flames, and then spread its hood and with a hissing sound approached
+to sting its rescuer. The Brahmin began to weep and bewail his folly in
+having saved the ungrateful creature, at which the serpent asked him:--
+
+"O Brahmin, why do you weep?"
+
+Said the old man: "You now purpose to kill me; is this the reward
+for my having saved your life?"
+
+"True, you have rescued me from a terrible death, but how am I to
+appease my hunger?" replied the serpent.
+
+And quoth the Brahmin, "You speak of your hunger, but who is to feed
+my old wife and six hungry children at my house?"
+
+The serpent, seeing the anxiety of the Brahmin, emitted a precious
+gem from its hood, and bade him take it home and give it to his
+wife for household expenses, after which to return to the wood to be
+devoured. The old man agreed, and, solemnly promising to return without
+fail, went home. Having given the gem to his family, and told them
+of his pact with the serpent, the Brahmin went back to the wood. The
+serpent had meanwhile reflected upon its own base ingratitude.
+
+"Is it right," said it to itself, "to kill him who saved me from the
+flames? No! I shall rather perish of hunger, if I cannot find a prey
+to-day, than slay my protector."
+
+So when the old Brahmin appeared, true to his word, the serpent
+presented him with another valuable gem, and after expressing a wish
+that he should live long and happily with his wife and children,
+went its own way, while the Brahmin returned joyously to his home.
+
+"Even as the serpent purposed acting towards its benefactor," continued
+the king, "so did I, in my rage, intend putting to death my faithful
+minister and the protector of my life, Bodhaditya; and to free myself
+from this grievous sin there is no penance I should not undergo."
+
+
+
+Then king Alakesa ordered a thousand Brahmins to be fed every day
+during his life, and many rich gifts to be distributed in temples as
+atonement for his great error. And from that day Bodhaditya and his
+three colleagues enjoyed still more of the royal favour. With those
+four faithful ministers king Alakesa lived a most happy life and had
+a most prosperous reign.
+
+May there be prosperity to all!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIV.
+
+THE MONKEY WITH THE TOM-TOM. [76]
+
+
+In a remote wood there lived a monkey, and one day while he was eating
+wood-apples, a sharp thorn from the tree ran into the tip of his tail,
+he tried his best to get it out but could not. So he proceeded to
+the nearest village, and calling the barber asked him to oblige him
+by removing the thorn.
+
+"Friend barber," said the monkey, "a thorn has run into my tail. Kindly
+remove it and I will reward you."
+
+The barber took up his razor and began to examine the tail; but as he
+was cutting out the thorn he cut off the tip of the tail. The monkey
+was greatly enraged and said:--
+
+"Friend barber, give me back my tail. If you cannot do that, give me
+your razor."
+
+The barber was now in a difficulty, and as he could not replace the
+tip of the tail he had to give up his razor to the monkey.
+
+The monkey, went back to the wood with his razor thus trickishly
+acquired. On the way he met an old woman, who was cutting fuel from
+a dried-up tree.
+
+"Grandmother, grandmother," said the monkey, "the tree is very
+hard. You had better use this sharp razor, and you will cut your
+fuel easily."
+
+The poor woman was very pleased, and took the razor from the monkey. In
+cutting the wood she, of course, blunted the razor, and the monkey
+seeing his razor thus spoiled, said:--
+
+"Grandmother, you have spoiled my razor. So you must either give me
+your fuel or get me a better razor."
+
+The woman was not able to procure another razor. So she gave the
+monkey her fuel and returned to her house bearing no load that day.
+
+The roguish monkey now put the bundle of dry fuel on his head and
+proceeded to a village to sell it. There he met an old woman seated
+by the roadside and making puddings. Said the monkey to her:--
+
+"Grandmother, grandmother, you are making puddings and your fuel is
+already exhausted. Use mine also and make more cakes."
+
+The old lady thanked him for his kindness and used his fuel for her
+puddings. The cunning monkey waited till the last stick of his fuel
+was burnt up, and then he said to the old woman:--
+
+"Grandmother, grandmother, return me my fuel or give me all your
+puddings."
+
+She was unable to return him the fuel, and so had to give him all
+her puddings.
+
+The monkey with the basket of puddings on his head walked and walked
+till he met a Paraiya [77] coming with a tom-tom towards him.
+
+"Brother Paraiya," said the monkey, "I have a basketful of puddings
+to give you. Will you, in return, present me with your tom-tom?"
+
+The Paraiya gladly agreed, as he was then very hungry, and had nothing
+with him to eat.
+
+The monkey now ascended with the tom-tom to the topmost branch of a
+big tree and there beat his drum most triumphantly, saying in honour
+of his several tricks:--
+
+"I lost my tail and got a razor; dum dum." [78]
+
+"I lost my razor and got a bundle of fuel; dum dum."
+
+"I lost my fuel and got a basket of puddings; dum dum".
+
+"I lost my puddings and got a tom-tom; dum dum."
+
+Thus there are rogues in this innocent world, who live to glory over
+their wicked tricks.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XV.
+
+PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL.
+
+
+Corresponding to this English proverb, there is one in Tamil--Ahambha
+vam alai alikkum--"Self-pride brings destruction;" and the following
+story is related by the common folk to illustrate it.
+
+In a certain village there lived ten cloth merchants, who always
+went about together. Once upon a time they had travelled far afield,
+and were returning home with a great deal of money which they had
+obtained by selling their wares. Now there happened to be a dense
+forest near their village, and this they reached early one morning. In
+it there lived three notorious robbers, of whose existence the traders
+had never heard, and while they were still in the middle of it, the
+robbers stood before them, with swords and cudgels in their hands,
+and ordered them to lay down all they had. The traders had no weapons
+with them, and so, though they were many more in number, they had
+to submit themselves to the robbers, who took away everything from
+them, even the very clothes they wore, and gave to each only a small
+loin-cloth (langoti), a span in breadth and a cubit in length.
+
+The idea that they had conquered ten men, and plundered all their
+property, now took possession of the robbers' minds. They seated
+themselves like three monarchs before the men they had plundered, and
+ordered them to dance to them before returning home. The merchants now
+mourned their fate. They had lost all they had, except their chief
+essential, the langoti, and still the robbers were not satisfied,
+but ordered them to dance.
+
+There was, among the ten merchants, one who was very intelligent. He
+pondered over the calamity that had come upon him and his friends,
+the dance they would have to perform, and the magnificent manner in
+which the three robbers had seated themselves on the grass. At the
+same time he observed that these last had placed their weapons on
+the ground, in the assurance of having thoroughly cowed the traders,
+who were now commencing to dance. So he took the lead in the dance,
+and, as a song is always sung by the leader on such occasions, to
+which the rest keep time with hands and feet, he thus began to sing:--
+
+
+                Namanum puli per,
+                Talanum tiru per:
+                Savana talanai
+                Tiruvanan suttinan,
+                Savana talan midi
+                Ta tai tom tadingana.
+
+                "We are puli men,
+                They are tiru men:
+                If one sa man,
+                Surrounds tiru men.
+                Sa man remains.
+                Ta, tai, tom, tadingana."
+
+
+The robbers were all uneducated, and thought that the leader was
+merely singing a song as usual. So it was in one sense; for the leader
+commenced from a distance, and had sung the song over twice, before
+he and his companions commenced to approach the robbers. They had
+understood his meaning, which, however, even to the best educated,
+unless trained to the technical expressions of trade, would have
+remained a riddle.
+
+When two traders discuss the price of an article in the presence of
+a purchaser, they use an enigmatic form of language.
+
+"What is the price of this cloth?" one trader will ask another.
+
+"Puli rupees," another will reply, meaning "ten rupees."
+
+Thus, there is no possibility of the purchaser knowing what is meant
+unless he be acquainted with trade technicalities. [79] By the rules of
+this secret language tiru means "three," puli means "ten," and savana
+(or shortly sa) means "one." So the leader by his song meant to hint
+to his fellow-traders that they were ten men, the robbers only three,
+that if three pounced upon each of the robbers, nine of them could hold
+them down, while the remaining one bound the robbers' hands and feet.
+
+The three thieves, glorying in their victory, and little understanding
+the meaning of the song and the intentions of the dancers, were proudly
+seated chewing betel and tambak (tobacco). Meanwhile the song was
+sung a third time. Ta tai tom had left the lips of the singer; and,
+before tadingana was out of them, the traders separated into parties
+of three, and each party pounced upon a thief. The remaining one--the
+leader himself, for to him the other nine left the conclusion--tore
+up into long narrow strips a large piece of cloth, six cubits long,
+and tied the hands and feet of the robbers. These were entirely
+humbled now, and rolled on the ground like three bags of rice!
+
+The ten traders now took back all their property, and armed themselves
+with the swords and cudgels of their enemies; and when they reached
+their village, they often amused their friends and relatives by
+relating their adventure. [80]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XVI.
+
+GOOD WILL GROW OUT OF GOOD.
+
+
+In a certain town there reigned a king named Patnipriya, [81] to whose
+court, a poor old Brahmin, named Papabhiru, [82] came every morning,
+with a yellow lime in his hand, and presenting it to the king,
+pronounced a benediction in Tamil:--
+
+
+            Nanmai vidaittal, nanmai vilaiyum:
+            Timai vidaittal, timai vijaiyum:
+            Nanmaiyum timaiyum pinvara kanalam.
+
+            "If good is sown, then good will grow:
+            If bad is sown, then bad will grow:
+            Thus good or bad the end will show."
+
+
+The king respected as much the noble benediction of the Brahman as
+he did his grey hairs.
+
+In this way the presentation of the fruit continued daily, though
+the Brahmin had nothing to request from the king, but simply wished
+to pay his respects. On observing that he had no ulterior motives,
+but was merely actuated by rajasevana, or duty to his king, the king's
+admiration for his old morning visitor increased the more.
+
+After presenting the fruit the Brahmin waited upon his sovereign till
+his puja [83] was over, and then went home where his wife kept ready
+for him all the requisites for his own puja. Papabhiru then partook
+of what dinner his wife had prepared for him. Sometimes, however,
+a Brahmin neighbour sent him an invitation to dinner, which he at
+once accepted. For his father, before he breathed his last, had
+called him to his bedside, and, pronouncing his last benediction,
+had thus advised him in Tamil:--
+
+
+            Kalai sottai tallade,
+            Kannil Kandadai sollade,
+            Rajanukku payandu nada."
+
+            "Morning meal do thou never spurn,
+            Nor say thou what thine eyes discern,
+            But serve thy king for fame to earn."
+
+
+Thus it was that Papabhiru began his visits to the king, nor did he
+ever reject an invitation to dinner, though it might come at a very
+inconvenient time.
+
+Now on a certain ekadasi [84] morning, Papabhiru went to the king
+to pay his respects as usual, with the lime and the benediction, but
+found that he had gone to his puja and so followed him there. On seeing
+the Brahmin, the king's face glowed with pleasure, and he said:--
+
+"My most revered god on earth, [85] I thought that some ill must have
+befallen you, when I missed you in the council-hall this morning;
+but praised be Paramesvara for having sent you to me, though it is
+a little late. I never do my puja without placing my scimitar by the
+side of the god, but last night I left it in my queen's room. It is
+under the pillow of the couch on which I usually sleep. Until you
+came I could find no suitable person to fetch it for me, and so I have
+waited for you. Would you kindly take the trouble to fetch it for me?"
+
+The poor Brahmin was only too glad of the opportunity thus presented
+to him of serving his king, and so he ran to the harem and into the
+room where the king usually slept. The queen was a very wicked woman
+and always having secret meetings with courtiers of her husband, so
+when Papabhiru returned he surprised the queen and one of her lovers
+walking in the garden, he went through, however, to the king's room,
+and lifting up the king's pillow felt for the scimitar, and went
+away. True however, to his father's words, "Nor say thou what thine
+eyes discern," he never opened his lips and went his way with a
+heavy heart.
+
+The queen and her wicked suitor were greatly alarmed.
+
+"That rogue of an old Brahmin has seen us and may report to the king
+at the first opportunity," faltered the minister.
+
+But the queen, as bold in words as in sin, said; "I will have him
+murdered before the sun rises. Wait you here. I shall inform the king
+of what is to be done and report the result to you, and then you may
+go home."
+
+So saying, she went and stood before her royal husband who was at
+his worship. Patnipriya rose up and asked her the reason of her
+sudden appearance.
+
+Said she, "Your Majesty seems to think the whole world as innocent
+as yourself. That wretched old Brahmin, though his hair is as white
+as milk, has not forgotten his younger days, he asked me to run away
+with him. If you do not order his death before to-morrow morning,
+I shall kill myself."
+
+The king was much vexed with what he heard, and all the regard he had
+for the Brahmin disappeared at once. He called two of his executioners
+and spoke to them thus before his wife:--
+
+"Take to the east gate of the town a large iron caldron, and keep it
+boiling to the brim with gingely oil. [86] A certain person shall
+come to you in the morning and ask you, 'Is it all done?' Without
+observing who he is, tie his hands and feet and throw him into the
+boiling oil. When he has been boiled to death, put out the fire and
+empty out the oil."
+
+The executioners received the order and went away to perform
+their terrible duty. The queen, too, glad at heart at having thus
+successfully arranged for the murder of the Brahmin, reported the
+fact to the minister, but said nothing about the special question to
+be put by the victim. The minister, much pleased, went to his palace
+and waited for news of the Brahmin's death.
+
+When his puja was over the king sent for Papabhiru, and the poor
+Brahmin, never having before been sent for at such a time, made his
+appearance with a beating heart. When he arrived the king, in order
+to arouse no suspicion in his mind, said gently to him:--
+
+"My dear Brahmin, to-morrow morning, when you go to make your
+ablutions, pass by the east gate. There you will see two persons
+seated by the side of a large caldron. Ask them, 'Is it all done?' And
+whatever reply they give you, come and communicate to me."
+
+Thus spoke the king, firmly believing that Papabhiru would never
+return to him; while the Brahmin, glad to be able to serve the king
+a second time next morning, went home and slept soundly. Early in
+the morning, even a ghatika before his usual time, he got up, and,
+placing on his head a bag containing dry clothes, proceeded to the
+river for his morning bath. He took the road to the eastern gate as
+he had been ordered, but had not walked far when a friend invited
+him to a dvadasi [87] breakfast.
+
+"My poor old mother did not taste even a drop of water the whole of the
+ekadasi, (yesterday). Rice and hot water for a bath are ready. Pour a
+little of the water over your head, [88] pronounce one gayatri [89]
+and taste a handful of rice. Whatever may be the urgency of your
+business, oblige me for my poor mother's sake."
+
+Thus spoke his friend, and Papabhiru, out of regard to his father's
+order never to spurn a morning meal, ran in haste into his friend's
+house to oblige him; the king's order all the while sitting heavily
+on his mind.
+
+Meanwhile the minister was most anxious to hear the news of the
+Brahmin's death, but was afraid to send any one to inquire about it,
+lest he should arouse suspicion. So he went himself to the east gate,
+as soon as the sun had risen, and asked the executioners, sitting by
+the side of the caldron, by way of a simple question: "Is the business
+all done?" And as they were instructed not to observe who the person
+was that came to question them, but to tie him up and boil him in the
+oil, they, notwithstanding his howls, bound him and threw him in. As
+soon as he was dead, they extinguished the fire, poured out the oil,
+turned over the caldron, corpse and all.
+
+The Brahmin finished his dvadasi breakfast, in great haste, and,
+with the betel leaf still in his hand, ran to the gate to inquire of
+the persons seated by the caldron whether it was all done. When he
+put them the question, they smilingly replied:--
+
+"Yes, Sir, it is all done. The minister is boiled to death. We gave
+full execution to the king's orders. You may go and report the affair
+to him."
+
+The Brahmin, not knowing the reason for the course events had taken,
+ran back and reported the reply of the executioners to the king. The
+minister's interference in the affair at once kindled suspicion in the
+king's mind. He unsheathed his scimitar, and holding it in his right
+hand, twisted the lock of hair on the Brahmin's head into his left. He
+then asked him whether he had not tried to get his wife away from him
+the previous morning, and told him that, if he concealed the truth,
+he would make an end of him. The poor Brahmin now confessed what he
+had seen, on which the king threw down the scimitar and fell down on
+his knees before him.
+
+"The words of thy benediction, O respected Brahmin, have only
+now been explained to me. Thou hast sown nothing but good; and
+good in having thy life preserved, hast thou reaped. The wicked
+minister--whose conscious guilt made him so very anxious to hear
+about thy death--because he sowed a bad intention in his heart has
+reaped evil, even a death that he never expected. Another victim of
+evil sowing, remains in my queen, in whom I placed an undeserved love."
+
+So said he, and ordered her to the gallows. The old Brahmin he
+appointed his minister and reigned for a long time.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XVII.
+
+LIGHT MAKES PROSPERITY.
+
+
+There is a Tamil proverb dipam lakshmikaram, meaning, "light makes
+prosperity," and the following story is related to explain it:--
+
+In the town of Govindapathi there lived a merchant named Pasupati
+Setti, who had a son and a daughter. The son's name was Vinita and the
+daughter's Garvi, and while still playmates they made a mutual vow,
+that in case they ever had children that could be married to each
+other, they would certainly see that this was done. Garvi grew up
+to marry a very rich merchant, and gave birth in due course to three
+daughters, the last of whom was named Sunguni. Vinita, too, had three
+sons. Before, however, this brother and sister could fulfil their
+vow an event happened which threw a gloom over all their expectations.
+
+Pasupati Setti died, and his creditors--for he had many--grew
+troublesome. All his property had to be sold to clear his debts,
+and in a month or two after his father's death Vinita was reduced to
+the condition of a penniless pauper. But being a sensible person he
+patiently bore up against his calamity, and tried his best to live
+an honest life on what little was left to him.
+
+His sister Garvi was, as has been already said, married into a rich
+family, and when she saw the penniless condition of her brother the
+engagements she had entered into with him began to trouble her. To
+give or not to give her daughters in marriage to the sons of her
+brother! This was the question that occupied her thoughts for several
+months, till at last she determined within herself never to give poor
+husbands to her children. Fortunately for her, two young merchants of
+respectable family offered themselves to her two eldest daughters,
+she gladly accepted them and had the weddings celebrated. The last
+daughter, Suguni, alone remained unmarried.
+
+Vinita was sorely troubled in his heart at this disappointment,
+as he never thought that his sister would thus look down upon his
+poverty; but, being very sensible, he never interfered and never said
+a word. The vow of his childhood was, however, known to every one, and
+some came to sympathise with him; while others spoke in a criticising
+tone to Garvi for having broken her promise, because her brother had
+become poor through unforeseen circumstances. Their remarks fell on the
+ears of Suguni, who was as yet unmarried, and also was a very learned
+and sensible girl. She found her uncle Vinita extremely courteous and
+respectful, and his sons all persons of virtue and good nature. The
+thought that her mother should have forgotten all these excellent and
+rare qualities in the presence of fleeting mammon (asthiraisvarya)
+vexed her heart very greatly. So, though it is considered most
+contrary to etiquette for a girl in Hindu society to fix upon a boy
+as her husband, she approached her mother and thus addressed her:--
+
+"Mother, I have heard all the story about your vow to your brother
+to marry us--myself and my sisters--to his sons, our cousins; but
+I am ashamed to see you have unwarrantably broken it in the case of
+my sisters. I cannot bear such shame. I cannot marry anyone in the
+world except one of my three cousins. You must make up your mind to
+give me your consent."
+
+Garvi was astonished to hear her youngest daughter talk thus to her.
+
+"You wish to marry a beggar?" said she. "We will never agree to it,
+and if you persist we will give you away to your penniless pauper,
+but we will never see your face again."
+
+But Suguni persisted. So her marriage with the youngest son of Vinita
+was arranged. He had never spoken a word about it to his sister,
+but he had waited to make matches for his children till all his
+sister's daughters had been given away, and when he heard that Suguni
+was determined to marry his youngest son, he was very pleased. He
+soon fixed upon two girls from a poor family for his other sons,
+and celebrated the three weddings as became his position.
+
+Suguni was as noble in her conduct as in her love for her poor
+cousin. She was never proud or insolent on account of having come
+from a rich family. Nor did she ever disregard her husband, or his
+brothers, or father.
+
+Now Vinita and his sons used to go out in the mornings to gather
+dried leaves which his three daughters-in-law stitched into plates
+(patravali), which the male members of the family sold in the bazar for
+about four panams each. [90] Sometimes these leaf-plates would go for
+more, sometimes for less; but whatever money the father-in-law brought
+home his daughters-in-law used for the day's expense. The youngest
+of them was Suguni, who spent the money most judiciously, and fed her
+father-in-law and his sons sumptuously. Whatever remained she partook
+of with her two poor sisters-in-law, and lived most contentedly. And
+the family respected Suguni as a paragon of virtue, and had a very
+great regard for her. Her parents, as they had threatened, never
+returned to see how their last, and of course once beloved, child
+was doing in her husband's home. Thus passed a couple of years.
+
+One day the king of the town was taking an oil bath, and pulling a
+ring off his finger, left it in a niche in the open courtyard. A garuda
+(Brahmani kite) was at that moment describing circles in the air, and,
+mistaking the glittering rubies in the ring for flesh, pounced upon it
+and flew away. Finding it not to be flesh he dropped it in the house of
+Suguni's husband. She happened to be alone working in the courtyard,
+while her sisters-in-law and the others were in different parts of
+the house. So she took up the sparkling ring and hid it in her lap.
+
+Soon afterwards she heard a proclamation made in the street that the
+king had lost a valuable ring, and that any person who could trace it
+and give it back to him should obtain a great reward. Suguni called
+her husband and his brothers and thus addressed them:--
+
+"My lord and brothers, I have the king's ring. Exactly at midday a
+garuda dropped it in our courtyard and here it is. We must all go to
+the king, and there, before you three, I shall deliver up the ring,
+explaining how I got it. When his majesty desires me to name my
+reward I shall do so, and beg of you never to contradict or gainsay
+my desires, if they appear very humble in your opinion."
+
+The brothers agreed, and they all started for the palace. They had
+a very great respect for Suguni and expected a good result from this
+visit to the king.
+
+The palace was reached, and the ring was given back to the king
+with the explanation. His majesty was charmed at the modesty and
+truthfulness of Suguni, and asked her to name her reward.
+
+"My most gracious sovereign! King of kings! Supreme lord! Only a slight
+favour thy dog of a servant requests of your majesty. It is this,
+that on a Friday night all the lights in the town be extinguished,
+and not a lamp be lit even in the palace. Only the house of thy dog
+of a servant must be lighted up with such lights as it can afford."
+
+"Agreed, most modest lady. We grant your request, and we permit you
+to have the privilege you desire this very next Friday."
+
+Joyfully she bowed before his majesty, and returned with her husband
+and the others to her house. She then pledged the last jewel she had
+by her and procured some money.
+
+Friday came. She fasted the whole day, and as soon as twilight
+approached she called both the brothers of her husband, and thus
+addressed them:--
+
+"My brothers, I have made arrangements for lighting up our house
+with one thousand lamps to-night. One of you, without ever closing
+your eyes for a moment, must watch the front of our house and the
+other the back. If a woman of a graceful appearance and of feminine
+majesty wishes you to permit her to enter it, boldly tell her to
+swear first never to go out again. If she solemnly agrees to this,
+then permit her to come in. If in the same way any woman wishes to
+go out, make a similar condition that she must swear never to return
+at any time in her life."
+
+What Suguni said seemed ridiculous to the brothers; but they allowed
+her to have her way, and waited to see patiently what would take place.
+
+The whole town was gloomy that night, except Suguni's house; for,
+by order of his majesty, no light was lit in any other house. The
+Ashtalakshmis--the Eight Prosperities--entered the town that night and
+went house by house into every street. All of them were dark, and the
+only house lit up was Suguni's. They tried to enter it, but the brother
+at the door stopped them and ordered them to take the oath. This they
+did, and when he came to understand that these ladies were the Eight
+Prosperities, he admired the sagacity of his brother's wife.
+
+A nimisha after the eight ladies had gone in, there came out of the
+house a hideous female and requested permission to go, but the brother
+at the back would not permit this unless she swore never to come back
+again. She solemnly swore, and the next moment he came to know that
+she was Mudevi, or Adversity, the elder sister of Prosperity.
+
+For she said:--"My sisters have come. I cannot stay here for a minute
+longer. God bless you and your people. I swear by everything sacred
+never to come back."
+
+And so, unable to breathe there any longer, Adversity ran away.
+
+When the morning dawned, the Prosperities had already taken up a
+permanent abode with the family. The rice bag became filled. The money
+chest overflowed with money. The pot contained milk. And thus plenty
+began to reign in Suguni's house from that day. The three brothers and
+her father-in-law were overjoyed at the way Suguni had driven away
+their poverty for ever, and even Suguni's parents did not feel it a
+disgrace to come and beg their daughter's pardon. She nobly granted
+it and lived with all the members of her family in prosperity for a
+long life.
+
+It is a notion, therefore, among orthodox Hindus, that light in the
+house brings prosperity, and darkness adversity. [91]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XVIII.
+
+CHANDRALEKHA AND THE EIGHT ROBBERS.
+
+
+There was an ancient city named Kaivalyam, in the Pandiya country,
+and in that city there lived a dancing girl named Muttumohana. She was
+an excellent gem of womankind, for though born of the dancing-girls'
+caste, she was a very learned and pious woman, and never would she
+taste her food without first going and worshipping in the temple of
+Siva. She moved in the society of kings, ministers, and Brahmins, and
+never mingled with low people, however rich they might be. She had a
+daughter named Chandralekha, whom she put to school with the sons of
+kings, ministers and Brahmins. Chandralekha showed signs of very great
+intelligence, even when she was beginning her alphabet, so that the
+master took the greatest care with her tuition, and in less than four
+years she began her lessons and became a great pandita. [92] However,
+as she was only a dancing-girl by birth, there was no objection to her
+attending to her studies in open school till she attained to maturity,
+and, accordingly, up to that age she attended the school and mastered
+the four Vedas and Sastras and the sixty-four varieties of knowledge.
+
+She then ceased to attend the school, and Muttumohana said to her:--
+
+"My darling daughter, for the last seven or eight years you have
+been taking lessons under the Brahmin, your master, in the various
+departments of knowledge, and you must now pay a large fee to
+remunerate your master's labours in having taught you so much. You
+are at liberty to take as much money as you please from my hoard."
+
+So saying she handed over the key to her daughter, and Chandralekha,
+delighted at her mother's sound advice, filled up five baskets with
+five thousand mohars in each, and setting them on the heads of five
+maid-servants, went to her master's house with betel leaves, areca nut,
+flowers and cocoanuts in a platter in her hand, to be presented along
+with the money. The servants placed the baskets before the master and
+stood outside the house, while Chandralekha took the dish of betel
+leaves, nuts, &c., and humbly prostrated herself on the ground before
+him. Then, rising up, she said:--
+
+"My most holy guru (master), great are the pains your holiness
+undertook in instructing me, and thus destroying the darkness of my
+ignorance. For the last eight years I have been a regular student
+under your holiness, and all the branches of knowledge hath your
+holiness taught me. Though what I offer might be insufficient for
+the pains your holiness took in my case, still I humbly request your
+holiness to accept what I have brought."
+
+Thus said she, and respectfully pushed the baskets of mohars and
+the betel-nut platter towards the Brahmin. She expected to hear
+benedictions from her tutor, but in that we shall see she was soon
+disappointed.
+
+Replied the wretched Brahmin:--
+
+"My dear Chandralekha, do you not know that I am the tutor of the
+prince, the minister's son and several others of great wealth in
+Kaivalyam? Of money I have more than enough. I do not want a single
+mohar from you, but what I want is that you should marry me." [93]
+
+Thus spoke the shameless teacher, and Chandralekha's face changed
+colour. She was horrified to hear such a suggestion from one whom she
+had thought till then to be an incarnation of perfection. But, still
+hoping to convince him of the unjustness of the request, she said:--
+
+"My most holy master! The deep respect I entertain towards your holy
+feet is such that, though your holiness's words are plain, I am led
+to think that they are merely uttered to test my character. Does not
+your holiness know the rules by which a preceptor is to be regarded
+as a father, and that I thus stand in the relationship of a daughter
+to your holiness? So kindly forget all that your holiness has said,
+and accepting what I have brought in my humble state, permit me to
+go home."
+
+But the wretched teacher never meant anything of the sort. He had
+spoken in earnest, and his silence now and lascivious look at once
+convinced the dancing-girl's daughter of what was passing in his
+mind. So she quickly went out and told her servants to take back
+the money.
+
+At home Muttumohana was anxiously awaiting the return of her daughter,
+and as soon as Chandralekha came in without the usual cheerfulness in
+her face, and without having given the presents, her mother suspected
+that something had gone wrong, and inquired of her daughter the cause
+of her gloom. She then related to her mother the whole story of her
+interview with her old master. Muttumohana was glad to find such a
+firm heart in her daughter, and blessed her, saying that she would
+be wedded to a young husband, and lead a chaste life, though born of
+the dancing-girls' caste. The money she safely locked up in her room.
+
+Now, the Brahmin, in consequence of his disappointment, was very angry
+with Chandralekha, and, that no young and wealthy gentleman might
+visit her house, he spread reports that Chandralekha was possessed of
+a demon (kuttichchatti). So no one approached Chandralekha's house to
+win her love, and her mother was much vexed. Her great wish was that
+some respectable young man should secure her daughter's affections,
+but the master's rumours stood in the way. And thus a year passed,
+and the belief that a kuttichchatti had possessed Chandralekha gained
+firm ground.
+
+After what seemed to these two to be a long period, a sage happened to
+visit Muttumohana's house, and she related to him all her daughter's
+story. He listened and said:--
+
+"Since the belief that a demon has taken possession of your daughter
+has taken firm hold of the citizens, it is but necessary now that
+she should perform (puja) worship to the demon-king on the night of
+the new moon of this month in the cremation-ground. Let her do this
+and she will be all right, for then some worthy young man can secure
+her affections."
+
+So saying the sage went away, and his advice seemed to be reasonable
+to the mother. She very well knew that no such demon had possessed
+her daughter, but that it was all the master's idle report. But still,
+to wipe away any evil notion in the minds of the people she publicly
+proclaimed that her daughter would perform puja in the cremation-ground
+at midnight at the next new moon. [94] Now, it is always the rule in
+such rites that the person who is possessed should go alone to the
+cremation-ground, and, accordingly, on the night of the next new moon,
+Chandralekha went to the burning-ground with a basket containing all
+the necessary things for worship, and a light.
+
+Near Kaivalyam, at a distance of five kos from it, was a great
+forest called Khandavam. In it there dwelt eight robbers, who used
+to commit the greatest havoc in the country round. At the time that
+Chandralekha proceeded to the cremation-ground, these eight robbers
+also happened to go there to conceal what they had stolen in the
+earlier part of that night. Then, being relieved of their burden,
+they determined to go to some other place to plunder during the
+latter half of the night also. When Chandralekha heard the sound of
+footsteps at a distance she feared something wrong, and, covering up
+her glittering light by means of her empty basket, concealed herself
+in a hollow place. The thieves came and looked round about them. They
+found nobody, but, fearing that some one might be near, one of them
+took out an instrument called kannakkol, and, whirling it round his
+head, threw it towards the east. This kannakkol is the instrument
+by which these robbers bore holes in walls and enter buildings, and
+some robbers say they get it from a thunderbolt. During a stormy
+day they make a large heap of cow-dung, into which a thunderbolt
+falls and leaves a rod in the middle, which is so powerful that it
+can bore even through stone walls without making any noise. It has
+also the attribute of obeying its master's orders. So when the chief
+of the eight robbers threw his kannakkol towards the east, true to
+its nature, it fell into the hole in which Chandralekha was hiding,
+and began to pierce her in the back. As soon as she felt it, she
+dragged it out by both her hands without making the slightest noise,
+and, throwing it under her feet, stood firmly over it. The robbers,
+having concealed the eight boxes of wealth they had brought with
+them in the sands near the cremation-ground, went away to spend the
+remaining part of the night usefully in their own fashion.
+
+As soon as the robbers had left the place Chandralekha came out, and,
+taking possession of the robbers' rod, took out the eight boxes that
+the robbers had buried. With these she quickly hastened home, where
+her mother was awaiting her return. She soon made her appearance,
+and related all that had occurred during the night to her mother. They
+soon removed the contents of the boxes and locked them up safely. Then,
+taking the empty boxes, she filled them up with stones, old iron and
+other useless materials, and, arranging them two and two by the side
+of each leg of her cot, went to sleep on it.
+
+As the night was drawing to a close, the robbers, with still more
+booty, came to the ground, and were thunderstruck when they missed
+their boxes. But as the day was dawning they went away into the jungle,
+leaving the investigation of the matter to the next night. They were
+astonished at the trick that had been played upon them and were very
+anxious to find out the thief who had outwitted thieves. Now they were
+sure that their boring-rod, which they had aimed against the unknown
+person who might be lurking in the smasanam (cremation-ground),
+must have wounded him. So one of them assumed the guise of an
+ointment-seller, [95] and, with some ointment in a cocoanut-bottle,
+began to walk the streets of Kaivalyam city, crying out:--
+
+"Ointment to sell. The best of ointments to cure new wounds and old
+sores. Please buy my ointment."
+
+And the other seven thieves assumed seven different disguises and
+also went wandering round the streets of the city. A maid-servant
+of Chandralekha had seen that her mistress was suffering from the
+effects of a wound in her back, and never suspecting a thief in the
+medicine seller, called out to the ointment-man and took him inside
+the house. She then informed Chandralekha that she had brought in
+an ointment-man, and that she would do well to buy a little of his
+medicine for her wound. The clever Chandralekha at once recognised the
+thief in the medicine vendor, and he too, as he was a very cunning
+brute, recognised in the young lady the thief of his boxes, and
+found her wound to be that made by his boring-rod. They soon parted
+company. The lady bought a little ointment, and the thief in disguise,
+gladly giving a little of his precious stuff from his cocoanut-bottle,
+went away. The eight thieves had appointed a place outside Kaivalyam
+for their rendezvous, and there they learnt who had robbed them of
+their treasure. Not wishing to remain idle, they chose that very
+night both to break into Chandralekha's house and bring away herself
+and their boxes.
+
+Chandralekha, too, was very careful. She locked up all the treasures
+and kept the eight boxes filled with rubbish, so as to correspond with
+their original weights, under the cot on which she slept, or rather
+pretended to sleep, that night. The thieves in due course made a hole
+into her bedroom and entered. They found her to all appearance sound
+asleep, and to their still greater joy, they found beneath her cot
+their eight boxes.
+
+"The vixen is asleep. Let us come to-morrow night and take her away;
+but first let us remove our boxes."
+
+So saying to each other, they took their boxes, each placing one on his
+head, and returned in haste to their cave, which they reached early in
+the morning. But when they opened the boxes to sort out their booty,
+astonishment of astonishments, their eyes met only broken pieces of
+stone, lumps of iron, and other such rubbish. Every one of them placed
+his forefinger at right angles to the tip of his nose, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Ah! A very clever girl. She has managed to deceive us all. But let
+this day pass. We shall see whether she will not fall into our hands
+to-night."
+
+Thus, in wonder and amazement, they spent the whole day. Nor was
+Chandralekha idle at her own house. She was sure she would again see
+the robbers in her room that night, and, in order to be prepared for
+the occasion, she made a small sharp knife out of the robber's rod,
+and kept it beneath her pillow, in the place where she was accustomed
+to keep her purse containing a few betel leaves, nuts, chunam, &c.,
+to chew. The night came on. Early Chandralekha had her supper and
+retired to bed. Sleep she could not, but she cunningly kept eyelids
+closed and pretended to sleep. Even before it was midnight the eight
+thieves broke into her room, saying to themselves:--
+
+"This clever lady-thief sleeps soundly. We will do her no mischief
+here. Let us range ourselves two and two at each leg of her cot,
+and carry her away unconscious to the woods. There we can kill her."
+
+Thus thinking, the eight thieves ranged themselves at the side
+of the four legs of the cot, and, without the slightest shaking,
+removed the cot with the sleeper on it outside the town. Their
+joy in thus having brought away their enemy was very great, and,
+not fearing for the safe custody of their prisoner, they marched to
+their cave. Meanwhile Chandralekha was not idle on the cot. The way
+to the jungle was through a long and fine avenue of mango trees. It
+was the mango season, and all the branches were hanging with bunches
+of ripe and unripe fruit. To make up for her weight on the cot she
+kept plucking mango bunches and heaping them on it, and as soon as
+a quantity which she thought would make up her weight was upon her
+cot, she without the slightest noise took hold of a branch and swung
+herself off it. The thieves walked on as before, the weight on their
+heads not apparently diminishing, leaving our heroine safely seated
+on a mango branch to pass the few remaining ghatikas of that anxious
+night there. The thieves reached their cave just at daybreak, and
+when they placed their burden down their eyes met only bunches of
+ripe mangoes, and not the lady they looked for.
+
+"Is she a woman of flesh and blood, or is she a devil?" asked the
+chief of the next in rank.
+
+"My lord! she is a woman fast enough, and if we search in the wood
+we shall find her," replied he, and at once all the eight robbers
+after a light breakfast began to search for her.
+
+Meanwhile the morning dawned upon Chandralekha and let her see that
+she was in the midst of a thick jungle. She feared to escape in
+the daytime as the way was long, and she was sure that the robbers
+would soon be after her. So she resolved to conceal herself in some
+deep ambush and wait for the night. Before she left the cot for the
+mango branch she had secured in her hip the small knife she had made
+for herself out of the robbers' rod and the purse containing the
+materials for chewing betel; and near the tree into which she had
+climbed she saw a deep hollow surrounded by impenetrable reeds on all
+sides. So she slowly let herself down from the tree into this hollow,
+and anxiously waited there for the night.
+
+All this time the eight thieves were searching for her in different
+places, and one of them came to the spot where Chandralekha had sat
+in the tree, and the dense bushes near made him suspect that she
+was hidden there; so he proceeded to examine the place by climbing
+up the tree. When Chandralekha saw the thief on the tree she gave
+up all hopes of life. But suddenly a bright thought came into her
+mind, just as the man up above saw her. Putting on a most cheerful
+countenance she slowly spoke to him.
+
+"My dear husband, for I must term you so from this moment, since God
+has elevated you now to that position, do not raise an alarm. Come
+down here gently, that we may be happy in each other's company. You
+are my husband and I am your wife from this moment."
+
+So spoke the clever Chandralekha, and the head of the thief began
+to turn with joy when he heard so sweet a speech, and forgetting all
+her previous conduct to himself and his brethren, he leapt into the
+hollow. She welcomed him with a smiling face, in which the eager heart
+of the robber read sincere affection, and gave him some betel-nut
+to chew and chewed some herself merrily. Now redness of the tongue
+after chewing betel is always an indication of the mutual affection
+of a husband and wife among the illiterate of Hindu society. So while
+the betel-leaf was being chewed she put out her tongue to show the
+thief how red it was, letting him see thereby how deeply she loved
+him: and he, to show in return how deeply he loved her, put out his
+tongue too. And she, as if examining it closely, clutched it in her
+left hand, while with her right hand in the twinkling of an eye cut
+off the tongue and nose of the robber, and taking advantage of the
+confusion that came over him she cut his throat and left him dead.
+
+By this time evening was fast approaching, and the other seven robbers,
+after fruitless search, returned to their cave, feeling sure that
+the eighth man must have discovered Chandralekha. They waited and
+waited the whole night, but no one returned, for how could a man who
+had been killed come back?
+
+Our heroine, meanwhile, as soon as evening set in started homewards,
+being emboldened by the occasion and the circumstances in which she
+was placed. She reached home safely at midnight and related all her
+adventures to her mother. Overcome by exhaustion she slept the rest of
+the night, and as soon as morning dawned began to strengthen the walls
+of her bedroom by iron plates. To her most useful pocket-knife she now
+added a bagful of powdered chillies, and went to bed, not to sleep,
+but to watch for the robbers. Just as she expected, a small hole was
+bored in the east wall of her bedroom, and one of the seven robbers
+thrust in his head. As soon as she saw the hole our heroine stood
+by the side of it with the powder and knife, and with the latter she
+cut off the nose of the man who peeped in and thrust the powder into
+the wound. Unable to bear the burning pain he dragged himself back,
+uttering "na, na, na, na," having now no nose to pronounce properly
+with. A second thief, abusing the former for having lost his nose
+so carelessly, went in, and the bold lady inside dealt in the same
+way with his nose, and he too, dragged himself back in the same way,
+calling out "na, na, na, na." A third thief abused the second in his
+turn, and going in lost his nose also. Thus all the seven thieves
+lost their noses, and, fearing to be discovered if they remained,
+ran off to the forest, where they had to take a few days' rest from
+their plundering habits to cure their mutilated noses.
+
+Chandralekha had thus three or four times disappointed the thieves. The
+more she disappointed them the more she feared for her own safety,
+especially as she had now inflicted a life-long shame on them.
+
+"The thieves will surely come as soon as their noses are cured and
+kill me in some way or other. I am, after all, only a girl," she
+thought to herself. So she went at once to the palace and reported
+all her adventures with the eight robbers to the prince, who had been
+her former class-mate. The prince was astonished at the bravery of
+Chandralekha, and promised the next time the robbers came to lend
+her his assistance. So every night a spy from the palace slept in
+Chandralekha's house to carry the news of the arrival of the robbers to
+the prince, should they ever go there. But the robbers were terribly
+afraid of approaching Chandralekha's house, after they came to know
+that she had a knife made out of the boring-rod. But they devised
+among themselves a plan of inviting Chandralekha to the forest under
+the pretence of holding a nautch, and sent to her house a servant for
+that purpose. The servant came, and, entering Chandralekha's house,
+spoke thus to her:--
+
+"My dear young lady, whoever you may be, you have now a chance of
+enriching yourself. I see plainly from the situation of your house
+that you are one of the dancing-girls' caste. My masters in the forest
+have made a plan to give a nautch to their relatives on the occasion
+of a wedding which is to take place there the day after to-morrow. If
+you come there they will reward you with a karor of mohars for every
+nimisha (minute) of your performance."
+
+Thus spoke the servant, and Chandralekha, knowing that the mission
+was from the thieves, agreed to perform the nautch, and, asking the
+man to come and take her and her party the next morning to the forest,
+sent him away.
+
+In order to lose no time she went at once to the prince and told him
+all about the nautch. Said she:--
+
+"I know very well that this is a scheme of the thieves to kill me,
+but before they can do that we must try to kill them. A way suggests
+itself to me in this wise. To make up a nautch party more than seven
+persons are required. One must play the drum; a second must sound the
+cymbals; a third must blow upon the nagasvara pipe, etc., etc. So I
+request you to give me seven of your strongest men to accompany me
+disguised as men of my party, and some of your troops must secretly
+lie in ambush in readiness to take the robbers prisoners when a signal
+is given to them."
+
+Thus Chandralekha spoke, and all her advice the prince received with
+great admiration. He himself offered to follow her as her drummer for
+the nautch, and he chose six of the ablest commanders from his army,
+and asked them to disguise themselves as fiddlers, pipers, etc., and
+he directed an army of a thousand men to follow their footsteps at a
+distance of two ghatikas' march, and to lie in ambush near the place
+where they were going to perform the nautch, ready for a call. Thus
+everything was arranged and all were ready by the morning to start
+from Chandralekha's house.
+
+Before the third ghatika of the morning was over, the robbers' servant
+came to conduct Chandralekha with her party to the forest, where the
+prince and six of his strongest men disguised as her followers, were
+waiting for him. Chandralekha with all her followers accompanied him,
+but as soon as she left her house a spy ran off to the army, which,
+as ordered by the prince, began to follow her party at a distance of
+two ghatikas.
+
+After travelling a long way Chandralekha and her party reached the
+nautch pavilion at about five ghatikas before sunset. All their
+hosts were without their noses, and some still had their noses
+bandaged up. When they saw that Chandralekha's followers had a fine
+and prepossessing appearance, even the hard hearts of the robbers
+softened a little.
+
+"Let us have a look at her performance. She is now entirely in
+our possession. Instead of murdering her now, we will witness her
+performance for a ghatika," said the robbers to each other; and all
+with one voice said "agreed," and at once the order for the performance
+was given.
+
+Chandralekha, who was clever in every department of knowledge, began
+her performance, and, by the most exquisite movement of her limbs,
+held the audience spell-bound, when suddenly ta tai, tom clashed the
+cymbals. This was the signal for the destruction of the robbers, as
+well as the sign of the close of a part of the nautch. In the twinkling
+of an eye the seven disguised followers of the dancing-girl had thrown
+down the thieves and were upon them. Before the servants of the robbers
+could come to the help of their masters the footsteps of an army near
+were heard, and in no time the prince's one thousand men were on the
+spot and took all the robbers and their followers prisoners.
+
+So great had been the ravages of these robbers in and round Kaivalyam
+that, without any mercy being shown to them, they and their followers
+were all ordered to be beheaded, and the prince was so much won over
+by the excellent qualities of Chandralekha that, notwithstanding her
+birth as a dancing-girl, he regarded her as a gem of womankind and
+married her.
+
+"Buy a girl in a bazar" (kanniyai kadaiyir kol) is a proverb. What
+matter where a girl is born provided she is virtuous! And Chandralekha,
+by her excellent virtue, won a prince for her lord. And when that
+lord came to know of the real nature of his teacher, who was also
+the teacher of Chandralekha, he banished him from his kingdom, as a
+merciful punishment, in consideration of his previous services.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XIX.
+
+THE CONQUEST OF FATE.
+
+
+In the Dakshinadesa there lived a Brahmin boy who from his childhood
+was given a very liberal education in Sanskrit. He had read so much
+in philosophy that before he reached the sixteenth year of his life
+he began to despise the pleasures of the world. Everything which he
+saw was an illusion (mithya) to him. So he resolved to renounce the
+world and to go to a forest, there to meet with some great sage,
+and pass his days with him in peace and happiness.
+
+Having thus made up his mind, he left his home one day without the
+knowledge of his parents and travelled towards the Dandakaranya. After
+wandering for a long time in that impenetrable forest, and undergoing
+all the miseries of a wood inhabited only by wild beasts, he reached
+the banks of the Tungabhadra. His sufferings in his wanderings in a
+forest untrodden by human feet, his loneliness in the midst of wild
+beasts, his fears whether after all he had not failed in his search
+for consolation in a preceptor to teach him the higher branches of
+philosophy, came up one after another before his mind. Dejected and
+weary, he cast his glance forward as far as it could reach. Was it
+a reality or only imagination? He saw before him a lonely cottage
+of leaves (parnasala). To a lonely traveller even the appearance of
+shelter is welcome, so he followed up his vision till it became a
+reality, and an aged hoary Brahmin, full fourscore and more in years,
+welcomed our young philosopher.
+
+"What has brought you here, my child, to this lonely forest thus
+alone?" spoke in a sweet voice the hoary lord of the cottage of leaves.
+
+"A thirst for knowledge, so that I may acquire the mastery over the
+higher branches of philosophy," was the reply of our young adventurer,
+whose name was Subrahmanya.
+
+"Sit down my child," said the old sage, much pleased that in this
+Kaliyuga, which is one long epoch of sin, there was at least one
+young lad who had forsaken his home for philosophy.
+
+Having thus seen our hero safely relieved from falling a prey to the
+tigers and lions of the Dandakaranya, let us enquire into the story
+of the old sage. In the good old days even of this Kaliyuga learned
+people, after fully enjoying the world, retired to the forests,
+with or without their wives, to pass the decline of life in solemn
+solitude and contemplation. When they went with their wives they were
+said to undergo the vanaprastha stage of family life.
+
+The hoary sage of our story was undergoing vanaprastha, for he was
+in the woods with his wife. His name while living was Jnananidhi. He
+had built a neat parnasala, or cottage of leaves, on the banks of
+the commingled waters of the Tunga and Bhadra, and here his days and
+nights were spent in meditation. Though old in years he retained the
+full vigour of manhood, the result of a well-spent youth. The life
+of his later years was most simple and sinless.
+
+
+        "Remote from man, with God he passed his days;
+        Prayer all his business, all his pleasures praise."
+
+
+The wood yielded him herbs, fruits, and roots, and the river,
+proverbial [96] for its sweet waters, supplied him with drink. He
+lived, in fact, as simply as the bard who sang:--
+
+
+                "But from the mountain's grassy side
+                    A guiltless feast I bring;
+                A bag with herbs and fruits supplied,
+                    And water from the spring."
+
+
+His faithful wife brought him these, while Jnananidhi himself devoted
+his whole time to the contemplation of God.
+
+Such was Jnananidhi--the abode of all wise people--to whom the
+boy-philosopher, Subrahmanya, resorted. After questioning each other
+both were mightily pleased at the fortune which had brought them
+together. Jnananidhi was glad to impart his hard-earned knowledge
+during his leisure moments to the young student, and Subrahmanya,
+with that longing which made him renounce the city and take to the
+woods eagerly swallowed and assimilated whatever was administered to
+him. He relieved his mother--for as such he regarded his master's
+wife--of all her troubles, and used, himself, to go out to bring
+the fruits, herbs, and roots necessary for the repasts of the little
+family. Thus passed five years, by which time our young friend had
+become learned in the many branches of Aryan philosophy.
+
+Jnananidhi had a desire to visit the source of the Tungabhadra, but
+his wife was eight months advanced in her pregnancy. So he could not
+take her; and to take care of her he had to leave behind his disciple,
+Subrahmanya. Thus after commending the lady to Subrahmanya's care,
+and leaving for female assistance another sage's wife, whom he had
+brought from a distant forest, Jnananidhi went his way.
+
+Now, there is a strong belief among Hindus that Brahma, the great
+creator, writes on everyone's head at the time of his birth his
+future fortunes in life. He is supposed to do this just at the
+moment of birth. Of course, the great god when he enters the room
+to discharge his onerous duty, is invisible to all human eyes. But
+the eyes of Subrahmanya were not exactly human. The supreme knowledge
+which Jnananidhi had imparted to him made it easy for him to discern at
+once a person entering most impolitely the room in which his master's
+wife had been confined.
+
+"Let your reverence stop here," said the disciple angrily though
+respectfully.
+
+The great god shuddered, for he had been in the habit of entering
+hourly innumerable buildings on his eternal rounds of duty, but never
+till then had a human being perceived him and asked him to stop. His
+wonder knew no measure, and as he stood bewildered the following
+reprimand fell on his ears:
+
+"Hoary Brahmin sage (for so Brahma appeared), it is unbecoming your age
+thus to enter the hut of my master, unallowed by me, who am watching
+here. My teacher's wife is ill. Stop!"
+
+Brahma hastily--for the time of inscribing the future fortune on the
+forehead of the baby to be born was fast approaching--explained to
+Subrahmanya who he was and what had brought him there. As soon as
+our young hero came to know the person who stood before him he rose
+up, and, tying his upper cloth round his hips as a mark of respect,
+went round the creator thrice, fell down before Brahma's most holy
+feet and begged his pardon. Brahma had not much time. He wanted to
+go in at once, but our young friend would not leave the god until he
+explained what he meant to write on the head of the child.
+
+"My son!" said Brahma, "I myself do not know what my iron nail will
+write on the head of the child. When the child is born I place the
+nail on its head, and the instrument writes the fate of the baby in
+proportion to its good or bad acts in its former life. To delay me
+is merely wrong. Let me go in."
+
+"Then," said Subrahmanya, "your holiness must inform me when your
+holiness goes out what has been written on the child's head."
+
+"Agreed," said Brahma and went in. After a moment he returned, and
+our young hero at the door asked the god what his nail had written.
+
+"My child!" said Brahma, "I will inform you what it wrote; but if you
+disclose it to anyone your head will split into a thousand pieces. The
+child is a male child. It has before it a very hard life. A buffalo and
+a sack of grain will be its livelihood. What is to be done. Perhaps
+it had not done any good acts in its former life, and as the result
+of its sin it must undergo miseries now."
+
+"What! Your supreme holiness, the father of this child is a great
+sage! And is this the fate reserved to the son of a sage?" wept the
+true disciple of the sage.
+
+"What have I to do with the matter? The fruits of acts in a former
+life must be undergone in the present life. But, remember, if you
+should reveal this news to any one your head will split into a
+thousand pieces."
+
+Having said this Brahma went away, leaving Subrahmanya extremely pained
+to hear that the son of a great sage was to have a hard life. He could
+not even open his lips on the subject, for if he did his head would be
+split. In sorrow he passed some days, when Jnananidhi returned from
+his pilgrimage and was delighted to see his wife and the child doing
+well, and in the learned company of the old sage our young disciple
+forgot all his sorrow.
+
+Three more years passed away in deep study, and again the old
+sage wanted to go on a pilgrimage to the sacred source of the
+Tungabhadra. Again was his wife expecting her confinement, and he
+had to leave her and his disciple behind with the usual temporary
+female assistance. Again, too, did Brahma come at the moment of birth,
+but found easy admittance as Subrahmanya had now become acquainted
+with him owing to the previous event. Again did Brahma take an oath
+from him not to communicate the fortunes of the second child, with
+the curse that if he broke his oath, his head would split into a
+thousand pieces. This child was a female, and the nail had written
+that her fate was to be that of a frivolous woman. Extremely vexed
+was our young philosopher. The thought vexed him to such a degree,
+that language has no words to express it. After worrying a great deal
+he consoled himself with the soothing philosophies of the fatalists,
+that fate alone governs the world.
+
+The old sage in due course returned, and our young disciple spent
+two more happy years with him. After a little more than ten years
+had been thus spent the boy reached to five years and the girl to
+two. The more they advanced in years the more did the recollection
+of their future pain Subrahmanya. So one morning he humbly requested
+the old sage to permit him to go on a long journey to the Himalayas
+and other mountains, and Jnananidhi, knowing that all that he knew
+had been grasped by the young disciple, permitted him with a glad
+heart to satisfy his curiosity.
+
+Our hero started, and after several years, during which he visited
+several towns and learned men, reached the Himalayas. There he saw
+many sages, and lived with them for some time. He did not remain in
+one place, for his object was more to examine the world. So he went
+from place to place, and after a long and interesting journey of
+twenty years he again returned to the banks of the Tungabhadra, at
+the very place where he lived for ten years and imbibed philosophical
+knowledge from Jnananidhi. But he saw there neither Jnananidhi nor his
+old wife. They had long since fallen a prey to the lord of death. Much
+afflicted at heart at seeing his master and mistress no more, he went
+to the nearest town, and there after a deal of search he found a coolie
+with a single buffalo. The fate which Brahma's nail had written on
+his master's son rushed into the mind of Subrahmanya. He approached
+the coolie, and, on closely examining him from a distance, our hero
+found distinct indications of his master's face in the labourer. His
+grief knew no bounds at seeing the son of a great sage thus earning
+his livelihood by minding a buffalo. He followed him to his home,
+and found that he had a wife and two children. One sack of corn he had
+in his house and no more, from which he took out a portion every day
+and gave it to his wife to be shelled. The rice was cooked, and with
+the petty earnings of a coolie, he and his family kept body and soul
+together. Each time the corn in the sack became exhausted he used to
+be able to save enough to replenish it again with corn. Thus did he
+(according to the writing of Brahma's nail) pass his days. Kapali
+was the name of this coolie, the sage's son.
+
+"Do you know me, Kapali?" said our hero, as he remembered his name.
+
+The coolie was astonished to hear his name so readily pronounced by
+one who was apparently a stranger to him, but he said:--
+
+"I am sorry that I do not know you, Sir."
+
+Subrahmanya then explained to him who he was, and requested him to
+follow his advice.
+
+"My dear son," said he, "do as I bid you. Early morning to-morrow leave
+your bed and take to the market your buffalo and the corn sack. Dispose
+of them for whatever amount they will fetch. Do not think twice about
+the matter. Buy all that is necessary for a sumptuous meal from the
+sale proceeds and eat it all up at once without reserving a morsel
+for the morrow. You will get a great deal more than you can eat in a
+day; but do not reserve any, even the smallest portion of it. Feed
+several other Brahmins with it. Do not think that I advise you for
+your ruin. You will see in the end that what your father's disciple
+tells you is for your own prosperity."
+
+However, whatever the sage might say, Kapali could not bring himself
+to believe him.
+
+"What shall I do to feed my wife and children to-morrow if I sell
+everything belonging to me to-day?"
+
+Thus thought Kapali, and consulted his wife.
+
+Now she was a very virtuous and intelligent woman. Said she:--
+
+"My dear lord, we have heard that your father was a great mahatma. This
+disciple must equally be a mahatma. His holiness would not advise us
+to our ruin. Let us follow the sage's advice."
+
+When Kapali's wife thus supported the sage, he resolved to dispose of
+his beast and sack the next morning, and he did so accordingly. The
+provisions he bought were enough to feed fifty Brahmins morning and
+evening, as well as his own family. So that day he fed Brahmins for
+the first time in his life. Night came on, and after an adventurous day
+Kapali retired to sleep, but sleep he could not. Meanwhile Subrahmanya
+was sleeping on the bare verandah outside the house, and he came to
+the sage and said:--
+
+"Holy sage, nearly half the night is spent, and there are only
+fifteen ghatikas more for the dawn. What shall I do for the morrow
+for my hungry children? All that I had I have spent. I have not even
+a morsel of cold rice for the morning."
+
+Subrahmanya showed him some money that he had in his hand, enough to
+buy a buffalo and a sack of corn in case the great god did not help
+him, and asked him to spend that night, at least the remainder of it,
+in calm sleep. So Kapali, with his heart at ease, retired to rest.
+
+He had not slept more than ten ghatikas when he dreamt that all
+his family--his wife and children--were screaming for a mouthful
+of rice. Suddenly he awoke and cursed his poverty which always
+made such thoughts dwell uppermost in his mind. There were only
+five ghatikas for the lord of the day to make his appearance in the
+eastern horizon, and before this could happen he wanted to finish his
+morning bath and ablutions, and so he went to his garden to bathe at
+the well. The shed for the buffalo was erected in the garden, and it
+had been his habit daily before bathing to give fresh straw to his
+beast. That morning he thought he would be spared that duty. But,
+wonder of wonders! He saw another buffalo standing there. He cursed
+his poverty again which made him imagine impossibilities. How could it
+be possible that his beast should be standing there when he had sold
+it the previous morning? So he went into the shed and found a real
+buffalo standing there. He could not believe his eyes, and hastily
+brought a lamp from his house. It was, however, a real buffalo, and
+beside it was a sack of corn! His heart leapt with joy, and he ran
+out to tell his patron, Subrahmanya. But when the latter heard it he
+said with a disgusted air:--
+
+"My dear Kapali, why do you care so much? Why do you feel so
+overjoyed? Take the beast at once with the corn-sack and sell them
+as you did yesterday."
+
+Kapali at once obeyed the orders and changed the money into
+provisions. Again fifty Brahmins were fed the next day too, and
+nothing was reserved for the third day's use. Thus it went on in
+Kapali's house. Every morning he found a buffalo and a sack of corn,
+which he sold and fed Brahmins with the proceeds. In this way a month
+passed. Said Subrahmanya one day:--
+
+"My dear Kapali, I am your holy father's disciple, and I would never
+advise you to do a thing prejudicial to your welfare. When I came to
+know that you were the son of the great sage, Jnananidhi, and were
+leading so wretched a life, I came to see you in order to alleviate
+your miseries. I have now done so, having pointed out the way to you
+to live comfortably. Daily must you continue thus. Do as you have
+been doing for the past month, and never store away anything, for if
+you reserve a portion all this happiness may fail, and you will have
+to revert to your former wretched life. I have done my duty towards
+you. If you become ambitious of hoarding up money this good fortune
+may desert you."
+
+Kapali agreed to follow the advice of the sage to the uttermost detail
+and requested him to remain in his house. Again said Subrahmanya:--
+
+"My son! I have better work before me than living in your house. So
+please excuse me. But before leaving you, I request you to inform
+me as to where your sister is. She was a child of two years of age
+when I saw her twenty years ago. She must be about twenty-two or
+twenty-three now. Where is she?"
+
+Tears trickled down the eyes of Kapali when his sister was
+mentioned. Said he:--
+
+"Do not, my patron, think of her. She is lost to the world. I am
+ashamed to think of her. Why should we think of such a wretch at this
+happy time?"
+
+At once the inscription made by Brahma's nail rushed into Subrahmanya's
+mind and he understood what was meant. Said he:--
+
+"Never mind; be open and tell me where she is."
+
+Then her brother, Kapali, with his eyes still wet with tears, said
+that his sister, the daughter of the sage Jnananidhi, was leading the
+worst of lives in an adjoining village, and that her name was Kalyani.
+
+Subrahmanya took leave of Kapali and his wife, after blessing his
+little children and again warning his friend. He had conferred what
+happiness he could upon his master's son, and now the thought of
+reforming his master's daughter reigned supreme in his heart. He
+went at once to the village indicated and reached it at about
+nightfall. After an easy search he found her house and knocked at the
+door. The door was at once opened. But on that day she was astonished
+to see a face such as she could never expect to approach her house.
+
+"Do you know me, Kalyani?" said Subrahmanya, and she in reply said that
+she did not. He then explained who he was, and when she came to know
+that it was a disciple of her father that was standing before her she
+wept most bitterly. The thought that after having been born of such
+a holy sage, she had adopted so wretched a life, the most shameful in
+the world, made her miserable at heart. She fell down at his feet and
+asked to be forgiven. She then explained to him her extreme misery,
+and the hard necessity which had compelled her to take to her present
+way of living. He then consoled her and spoke thus:--
+
+"My dear daughter! My heart burns within me when I see that necessity
+has driven you to this wretched life. But I can redeem you if you
+will only follow my advice. From this night you had better shut your
+door, and never open it to any other person except to him who brings
+to you a large measure full of pearls of the first water. You follow
+this advice for a day and I shall then advise you further."
+
+Being the daughter of a great sage, and having been compelled by
+necessity to take to a wretched life, she readily consented to follow
+her father's disciple when he promised to redeem her. She bolted the
+door, and refused admission to anyone unless they brought a large
+measure full of pearls. Her visitors, fancying that she must have
+gone mad, went away. The night was almost drawing to a close and all
+her friends had gone away disappointed. Who was there in the village
+to give to her one measure full of pearls? But as the nail of Brahma
+had appointed for her such a life as stated, some one was bound to
+comply with her terms. And as there was no human being who could do
+so, the god Brahma himself assumed the shape of a young man, and,
+with a measure full of pearls, visited her in the last watch of the
+night and remained with her.
+
+When morning dawned he disappeared, and when Kalyani explained to the
+disciple of her father the next morning that after all one person had
+visited her with a measure full of pearls on the previous night, he was
+glad to hear of it. He knew that his plan was working well. Said he:--
+
+"My dear daughter, you are restored to your former good self hereafter
+from this day. There are very few people in this world who could
+afford to give you a measure full of pearls every night. So he that
+brought you the pearls last night must continue to do so every night,
+and he shall be hereafter your only husband. No other person must ever
+hereafter see your face, and you must obey my orders. You must sell all
+the pearls he brings you every day and convert them into money. This
+money you should spend in feeding the poor and other charities. None
+of it must you reserve for the next day, neither must you entertain
+a desire to hoard up money. The day you fail to follow my advice you
+will lose your husband, and then you will have to fall back on your
+former wretched life."
+
+Thus said Subrahmanya, and Kalyani agreed to strictly follow his
+injunctions. He then went to live under a tree opposite to her house
+for a month to see whether his plan was working well, and found it
+worked admirably.
+
+Thus, after having conferred happiness, to the best of his abilities,
+on the son and daughter of his former master, Subrahmanya took
+leave of Kalyani, and with her permission, most reluctantly given,
+he pursued his pilgrimage.
+
+One moonlight night, after a long sleep, Subrahmanya rose up almost
+at midnight, and hearing the crows crowing he mistook it for the dawn
+and commenced his journey. He had not proceeded far, when on his way
+he met a beautiful person coming towards him, with a sack of corn
+on his head and a bundle of pearls tied up in the end of his upper
+cloth on his shoulder, leading a buffalo before him.
+
+"Who are you, sir, walking thus in this forest?" said Subrahmanya.
+
+When thus addressed, the person before him threw down the sack and
+wept most bitterly.
+
+"See, sir, my head is almost become bald by having to bear to Kapali's
+house a sack of corn every night. This buffalo I lead to Kapali's
+shed and this bundle of pearls I take to Kalyani's house. My nail
+wrote their fate on their respective heads and by your device I have
+to supply them with what my nail wrote. When will you relieve me of
+these troubles?"
+
+Thus wept Brahma, for it was no other personage. He was the creator
+and protector of all beings, and when Subrahmanya had pointed out the
+way for his master's children, and they had conquered fate, Brahma
+too was conquered. So the great god soon gave them eternal felicity
+and relieved himself of his troubles.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XX.
+
+THE BRAHMAN PRIEST WHO BECAME AN AMILDAR. [97]
+
+
+In the Karnata desa there reigned a famous king named Chamunda,
+who was served by an household priest, named Gundappa, well versed
+in all the rituals at which he officiated.
+
+Chamunda, one day, while chewing betel-leaves, thus addressed Gundappa,
+who was sitting opposite him:--
+
+"My most holy priest, I am greatly pleased at your faithfulness in
+the discharge of your sacred duties; and you may ask of me now what
+you wish and I shall grant your request."
+
+The priest elated replied: "I have always had a desire to become
+the Amildar [98] of a district and to exercise power over a number
+of people; and if your Majesty should grant me this I shall have
+attained my ambition."
+
+"Agreed," said the king, and at that time the Amildarship of Nanjangod
+happening to be vacant, his Majesty at once appointed his priest to the
+post, thinking that his priest, who was intelligent in his duties,
+would do well in the new post. Before he sent him off, however,
+he gave Gundappa three bits of advice:--
+
+(1). Mukha kappage irabeku.
+
+(2). Ellaru kevianna kachchi matan adu.
+
+(3). ellar juttu kayyalii irabeku.
+
+The meaning of which is:
+
+(1). You should always keep a black (i.e. frowning) countenance.
+
+(2). When you speak about State affairs you should do it biting the
+ear (i.e. secretly--close to the ear).
+
+(3.) The locks of every one should be in your hand (i.e. you must
+use your influence and make every one subservient to you).
+
+Gundappa heard these words so kindly given by the king, and the way
+in which he listened to them made his Majesty understand that he had
+taken them to heart. So with a smiling face the king gave the letter
+containing the appointment to Gundappa, who returned home with an
+elated heart.
+
+He told his wife about the change that had come over his prospects,
+and wished to start at once to take charge of the new post. The king
+and his officers at once sent messengers to Nanjangod informing the
+officers of the Amildari that a newly appointed Amildar would be
+coming soon. So they all waited near the gate of the town to pay
+their respects to the new Amildar and escort him into it.
+
+Gundappa started the very next morning to Nanjangod with a bundle
+containing clean clothes, six by twelve cubits long, on his head. Poor
+priest! Wherever he saw the kusa grass on the road, he was drawn
+to it by its freshness, and kept on storing it up all the way. The
+sacred grass had become so dear to him, that, though he would have no
+occasion to use it as Amildar of Nanjangod, he could not pass by it
+without gathering some of it. So with his bundle of clothes on his
+head and his beloved kusa grass in his hands, Gundappa approached
+the city of Nanjangod about the twentieth ghatika of the day.
+
+Now, though it was very late in the day, none of the officers,
+who had come out to receive the Amildar had returned home to their
+meals. Everyone was waiting in the gate and when Gundappa turned
+up, no one took him to be anything more than a priest. The bundle
+on his head and the green ritual grass in his hands proclaimed his
+vocation. But everyone thought that, as a priest was coming by the
+very road the Amildar would take, he might bring news of him--whether
+he had halted on the road and would or might be expected before the
+evening. So the next officer in rank to the Amildar came to the most
+reverend priest and asked him whether he had any news of the coming
+Amildar; on which our hero put down his bundle and taking out the cover
+containing the order of his appointment with a handful of kusa grass,
+lest his clothes be polluted if he touched them with his bare hands
+informed his subordinate that he was himself the Amildar!
+
+All those assembled were astonished to find such a wretched priest
+appointed to so responsible a post, but when it was made known that
+Gundappa was the new Amildar the customary music was played and he was
+escorted in a manner due to his position, into the town. He had been
+fasting from the morning, and a grand feast was prepared for him in
+the house of the next senior official, which Gundappa entered for a
+dinner and rest. He there informed the officials that he would be at
+the office at the twenty-fifth ghatika of the evening. From the way
+in which he issued the order all thought that he was really an able
+man, and that he had come in the guise of a simple priest in order to
+find out the real state of his district. So every officer went home,
+bathed, had his meal in haste and attended at the office.
+
+The chief assistant took the Amildar to his house, and entertained
+his guest as became his position. Gundappa, being a priest, was a very
+good eater, for never for a day in his life had he spent money out of
+his own pocket on meals, so what reason had he to enquire about the
+price of provisions? It was at the expense of others he had grown so
+fat! And doing more than full justice to all the good things, much to
+the secret amusement of his host and assistant, Gundappa rose up from
+his food, and washed his hands. He then wanted betel-leaves though to
+ask for these before the host offers them is very impolite. But his
+subordinate interpreted it as an order from a master and brought the
+platter containing the necessary nutmeg, mace, nut, leaves, and chunam
+(lime).
+
+"Where is the dakshina?" [99] next asked the Amildar. His host did
+not quite understand whether this was meant in earnest or in joke,
+but before he could solve the question in his mind:--
+
+"Where is the dakshina?" reiterated the Amildar, and his assistant,
+thinking that his new superior was prone to taking bribes, at once
+brought a bag containing 500 mohars and placed it in the platter. Now
+a dakshina to a Brahmin is not usually more than a couple of rupees,
+but should an Amildar ask for one, his assistant would naturally
+mistake him, and think he was hinting at a bribe!
+
+Gundappa greatly pleased at a princely dakshina such as he had never
+seen before in all his life, at once opened the bag and counted out
+every gold piece in it, carefully tying them up in his bundle. He
+then began to chew his betel, and at one gulp swallowed up all the
+nutmeg and mace in the platter! All this made his assistant strongly
+suspect the real nature of the new Amildar; but then there was the
+order of the king, and it must be obeyed! Gundappa next asked his
+assistant to go on in advance of him to the office, saying that he
+would be there himself in a ghatika. The assistant accordingly left
+a messenger to attend on the Amildar, and being very anxious to see
+things in good order, left his house for the office.
+
+Gundappa now remembered the three bits of advice given by the king,
+the first of which was that he should always put on, when in office,
+a black countenance. Now he understood the word "black" in its literal
+sense, and not in its allegorical one of "frowning," and, so going
+into the kitchen, he asked for a lump of charcoal paste. When this
+was ready he blackened the whole of his face with it, and covering
+his face with his cloth--as he was ashamed to show it--entered the
+office. With his face thus blackened and partly covered with a cloth,
+the new Amildar came and took his seat. Now and then he would remove
+the cloth from his eyes to see how his officers were working, and
+meanwhile all the clerks and others present were laughing in their
+sleeves at the queer conduct of their chief.
+
+The evening was drawing to a close, and there were certain orders to
+be signed: so taking them all in his hand the assistant approached
+the Amildar, and stood at a respectful distance. Gundappa, however,
+asked him to come nearer, and nearer the assistant came.
+
+"Still nearer," said Gundappa, and nearer still came the assistant.
+
+The second bit of advice from the king now rushed into the Amildar's
+mind that he should bite the ears of his officials when he enquired
+into State affairs, and as Gundappa's want of sense always made
+him take what was said literally, he opened his mouth and bit the
+ear of his assistant, while in a muffled voice he asked him whether
+all his people enjoyed full prosperity! The assistant, now in very
+fear of his life, roared out that all the people were enjoying the
+greatest prosperity. But Gundappa would not let go his ear till the
+poor assistant had roared out the answer more than twenty times. The
+poor wretch's ear soon began to swell enormously, and leaving the
+office in disgust, he started to report to the king the insane acts
+of the new Amildar.
+
+Two out of the three bits of advice from the king had now been duly
+obeyed, but the third, that the locks of all the people must be in
+his hands, remained unfulfilled, and Gundappa wished to carry out that
+also quickly. Night had now set in, and as the Amildar still remained
+in his seat, all his officers were compelled to do the same. In this
+way the tenth ghatika of the night approached, and still the Amildar
+would not get up, but sat with his black face secured in his cloth, now
+and then peeping out to see whether they were all asleep or awake. The
+fact was, he was waiting for an opportunity to have all the locks of
+his officers in his hand! As soon as all his officers fell asleep
+he intended to cut off all their locks, as usual understanding the
+words in their literal sense! At about midnight, never dreaming of
+the stupid act that the Amildar was contemplating in his mind, every
+one fell asleep, and Gundappa rose up, and with a pair of scissors
+cut off all the locks of his officers. He then tied them all up in
+a bundle and returned to his assistant's home late at night, where
+the servants gave him something to eat; after which he started with
+his bag of mohars and bundle of locks to his king to inform him of
+how well he had obeyed his orders!
+
+In the early morning he reached the presence of his Majesty only a
+nimisha after his assistant had arrived. Seeing the Amildar he was
+too afraid to to lodge any complaint, but his swollen ear drew the
+attention of every eye in the assembly.
+
+Gundappa now stood before the king with the charcoal on his face
+and said:--
+
+"Most noble king, you ordered me to blacken my face for my new
+duty. See, I have not even yet removed the dye! You ordered me next
+only to speak while biting an ear. Look, please, at my assistant's
+ear, who stands before you and tell me whether I have not obeyed
+you!! And as for having the locks of my officers in my hands; why
+here they are in this bundle!!!"
+
+Never had the king seen a similar instance of such stupidity, and
+the thought that Gundappa had shorn so many respectable heads of
+their locks, and had really bitten the ear of a worthy gentleman,
+brought much shame to his heart. He begged pardon of the injured
+man and from that day forward was very careful in the choice of his
+officers! Poor Gundappa was dismissed even from the priestship, and
+his belly grew lean from having no longer the privilege of eating
+rich food at others' cost!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XXI.
+
+THE GARDENER'S CUNNING WIFE.
+
+
+In a certain village there lived with his wife a poor gardener who
+cultivated greens in a small patch in the backyard of his house. They
+were in thirty little beds, half of which he would water every
+day. This occupied him from the fifth to the fifteenth ghatika.
+
+His wife used to cut a basketful of greens every evening, and he
+took them in the mornings to sell in the village. The sale brought
+him a measure or two of rice, and on this the family lived! If he
+could manage any extra work of an evening he got a few coppers which
+served to meet their other expenses.
+
+Now in that village there was a temple to Kali, before which was a
+fine tank with a mango tree on its bank. The fish in the tank and the
+mangoes from the tree were dedicated to the goddess, and were strictly
+forbidden to the villagers. If any one was discovered cutting a mango
+or catching a fish, he was at once excommunicated from the village. So
+strict was the prohibition.
+
+The gardener was returning home one morning after selling his
+greens and passed the temple. The mangoes, so carefully guarded by
+religious protection, were hanging on the tree in great numbers,
+and the gardener's eyes fell on them! His mouth watered. He looked
+round about him, and fortunately there was no one by, at least, as
+far as his eyes could reach. So he hastily plucked one of the mangoes
+and with nimble feet descended into the tank to wash it. Just then
+a most charming shoal of fish met his eyes. These protected dwellers
+in the tank had no notion of danger, and so were frolicking about at
+their ease. The gardener looked about him first and finding no one
+by caught half a dozen stout fish at one plunge of his hand. He hid
+them and the mango underneath the rice in his basket and returned
+home, happy in the thought that he had not been caught. Now he had
+a special delight in fish, and when he reached his house he showed
+what he brought to his wife and asked her to prepare a dish with the
+newly caught fish and the never-till-then tasted mango.
+
+Meanwhile he had to water his garden, and went to the backyard for
+the purpose. The watering was done by a pikota. He used to run up
+and down the pole while a friend of his, the son of his neighbour,
+lifted the water and irrigated the garden.
+
+Meanwhile his wife cooked the dish of mango and fish in a pan, and
+found the flavour so sweet that even while the fish was only half
+cooked she began to taste one bit of it after another till more than
+half had already gone down her throat! The dish was at last cooked,
+and the few remaining slices in the pan were taken off the fire, so
+she went into the verandah and from thence saw her husband running up
+and down the pikota. She beckoned to him that the dish was ready and
+that he should come in and taste it. However, he never noticed her,
+but kept on running up and down the pikota, and while running up
+and down he was obliged to wave his hands about, and this his wife
+mistook as an indication that she might eat up her portion of the
+dish. At any rate her imagination made her think so; and she went in
+and ate a slice, and then went out into the verandah again to call
+her husband who was still running up and down the pikota. Again, her
+husband, so she thought, waved his hands in permission to go on with
+her dinner. Again she went in and had another slice. Thus it went on
+for a full ghatika till the last slice was consumed.
+
+"Alas!" thought she, "With what great eagerness my husband fetched
+the fish and the mango, and how sadly, out of greediness, have I
+disappointed him. Surely his anger will know no bounds when he comes
+in. I must soon devise some means to save myself."
+
+So she brought the pan in which she cooked the fish and mango out
+of the house and covered it with another pan of similar size and
+sat down before it. Then she undid her hair and twisted it about
+her head until it was dishevelled. She then began to make a great
+noise. This action by a woman in an illiterate family of low caste is
+always supposed to indicate a visitation from a goddess and a demon;
+so when her husband from the pikota tree saw the state of his wife,
+his guilty conscience smote him. The change in his wife alarmed him,
+and he came down suddenly and stood before her. As soon as she saw
+him she roared out at him:--
+
+"Why have you injured me to-day by plundering my mango and fish? How
+dare you do such an irreligious act? You shall soon see the results
+of your impertinence!"
+
+"The goddess has come upon my wife most terribly," thought the poor
+man. "Her divine power may soon kill her! What shall I do?"
+
+So he fell at the feet of the divine visitation as he thought it to
+be, and said:--
+
+"My most holy goddess, your dog of a servant has this day deviated
+from the straight path. Excuse him this time, and he will never do
+so a second time."
+
+"Run then with the pan which contains the fruits of your robbery and
+dip it deep into my tank. Then shall the fish become alive and the
+mango shall take its place in the tree."
+
+The gardener received the order most submissively, and taking the
+pan in his hand flew to the tank. There he dipped it in the water
+and came back to his house fully believing that his sin that day had
+been forgiven, and that the cooked fish had become alive again and
+the mango a living one. Thus did the cunning wife save herself from
+her husband's wrath!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XXII.
+
+KEEP IT FOR THE BEGGAR.
+
+
+When anything sweet is prepared in the house on a particular night, and
+when the children, after feeding to their fill, say to the mother:--
+
+"Amma, this pudding is sweet; keep it for the morning," the mother
+says at once:--
+
+"Ask me to keep it for the beggar, and I shall do it."
+
+"Why should I not say keep it for the morning, Amma," ask the curious
+children, and the South Indian mother gives to her listening children
+the following story:--
+
+In a certain village there lived an affectionate husband and wife. The
+husband would go to look after the fields and garden and return home
+with abundance of vegetables. The wife would cook and serve her lord
+to his fill. Before going out in the morning the husband used to
+take whatever of last night's dishes were left cold to remain for
+his breakfast.
+
+The husband was a great eater of dhal [100] soup. Every night the
+wife used to prepare a large quantity of it and leave a good portion
+of it to stand for the morning's breakfast of her lord. And he, too,
+owing to his taste for the cold rice, used to warn his wife--though
+she was very careful--and say:--
+
+"Keep me some of this soup for the next morning."
+
+The wife used to say: "Yes, my dear husband, I shall do so."
+
+This went on for several years. Every day the dhal soup was invariably
+prepared for the night meal and a good portion of it was reserved for
+the cold rice. Every night, the husband, without forgetting for even
+a single day, used to ask his wife to reserve a portion. Thus passed
+on several years, as we have already said.
+
+One night this husband had his supper. The wife had sat at her
+husband's leaf to take her supper after her lord had had his. That
+night, too, our hero, as usual, repeated:--
+
+"Keep, my dear, some of this soup for the morning."
+
+At once a gurgling laughter was heard near the doorsill of their
+house. The pair were astonished, and searched their whole house. No
+one was discovered. Again the husband said:--
+
+"Keep, my dear, some of this soup for the morning."
+
+Again the laughter was heard. Finding that the laughter immediately
+followed his order, the husband repeated it a third time. A third
+time also the laughter broke out. They were astonished. Three times
+had laughter been heard in their house, and still they could see no
+one. Thinking that some one must have mocked him from the neighbouring
+houses, he made careful inquiries and satisfied himself that none
+of his neighbours had mocked him. He was afraid at the laughter
+which thrice proceeded from a part of his house, as he had heard
+it distinctly.
+
+That very night our hero had a sudden and unforeseen calamity, and
+just as he was dragging the latch of his backyard door a serpent
+stung him in his finger. Neighbours hearing of the venomous reptile
+in their next house, ran there with a stout cudgel. Already the
+master of the house, who was passionately fond of the dhal soup,
+had swooned away. His wife was mourning by his side, saying:--
+
+"My dear husband. How did you forget your soup so soon and leave us
+all for the other world? Just now you gave me the order, and before
+tasting it even you have died."
+
+The neighbours began to search for the snake; but they did not
+succeed. And again a voice exclaimed from vacuum:--
+
+"This husband's fate ended at the twelfth ghatika of this night. Yama
+ordered me to go and fetch him to his world. I came down and reached
+this house at the eighth ghatika when the husband was giving the
+order to reserve for the morning meal his dear dhal soup. I could not
+contain my laughter, and so broke out with a gurgling noise. As I am
+divine no one could perceive me. And so none ever found me in this
+house after they heard the laughter. Then I transformed myself into
+a serpent and waited for the hour to do my death-dealing duty. The
+poor man is now no more. Four ghatikas ago he was of opinion that he
+would live and eat his cold rice to-morrow morning. How very sanguine
+people are in this world of uncertainty. The cause for my laughter
+was the husband's certainty when he issued that order to reserve the
+dhal soup for the breakfast."
+
+Thus ended the messenger, and vanished of course to inform his master
+how he had executed his orders.
+
+And from that day, my children, it was fixed that our life in this
+world is always uncertain, and that one who lives at this moment
+cannot be sure of doing so at the next moment. While such is the case,
+how can you say, "Keep the pudding for to-morrow morning." Since you
+saw in the story just related to you, that we can never be certain
+of our life, you must say, instead of "for to-morrow morning, for
+the beggar." If we keep it for the beggar, and if we fortunately
+live till to-morrow morning, we shall use a portion of it and give
+the remainder to the beggar. Hence you must always, hereafter,
+say when any supper from overnight is to be left for the morning,
+"Keep it for the beggar, Amma."
+
+"Yes, mother. We shall do so hereafter," replied the children.
+
+In India, among Brahmins, the wife must never take her food before her
+lord, unless she is pregnant or sick. In these two cases even on the
+days when it is possible to avoid the meal before her lord, the wife
+invariably does it; on other days she cannot probably help it when she
+is physically unable. And in taking her meal, the wife sits in front
+of the leaf (dish) from which her husband has eaten. Most husbands
+generally leave their leaves clean, some out of pure affection to
+their wives and out of a good intention of not injuring the feelings
+of their wives. But there are others, who, as they are unclean in
+their other habits, are also unclean in their eating. The appearance
+of their leaves after they have left off eating, is like those thrown
+out in the streets and mutilated by crows and dogs. But their wives,
+cursing their lot to have married such husbands, must, as long as
+they are orthodox, eat out of those leaves.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XXIII.
+
+GOOD LUCK TO THE LUCKY ONE; OR, SHALL I FALL DOWN?
+
+
+In a certain town there lived a wealthy Brahmin. He wished to build
+a house--pretty large and spacious--as became his riches. For that
+purpose he called in a great number of soothsayers, and fixed,
+guided by their scientific opinion, a place for building the
+mansion. A certain portion of every day is supposed to be bad for
+doing work. This portion is sometimes called the Rahu-kala--the
+evil time of the demon rahu and sometimes tyajya--the time to be
+avoided. And abandoning carefully all these evil hours the wealthy
+Brahmin built his mansion in ten years. The first entrance into a
+new house to dwell is performed always with a great deal of pomp and
+ceremony, even by the poor according to their means. And our wealthy
+Brahmin to please the gods of the other world and the gods of this
+world--bhusuras Brahmins--spent a great deal of his wealth, and with
+veoras and music sounding all around him he entered into his house.
+
+The whole of the day almost was spent in ceremonies and
+festivities. All the guests left the place at evening, and much
+exhausted by the exertions of the day the Brahmin house-owner retired
+to rest. Before sleep could close his eyelids he heard a fearful voice
+over his head exclaiming:--"Shall I fall down? Shall I fall down?"
+
+Great was the concern of the landlord at hearing this voice. He thought
+that some demon had taken possession of his house, and that he was
+going to pull down the roof of his house over his own head. That very
+night with as much haste as he entered the new house, he vacated it
+and went back to his old house.
+
+Sirukakhatti perukavalka is the Tamil proverb. The meaning of it
+is "build small and live great," i.e., build small houses without
+laying out much capital uselessly in houses and live prosperously;
+and in villages many a rich landlord would prefer small houses to big
+ones. The idea that he had spent a great deal of money to build a big
+house troubled our hero. The spaciousness of the house was one reason
+for the devil to come in so easily, as he thought. When he vacated
+his house on the very night of the day he entered it people began to
+talk all sorts of scandals about it. The ladies in the bathing places
+(ghats) in rivers began to give all sorts of colour to the devils in
+that house. One said that when she was coming to the river she saw
+a company of devils dancing round and round the middle pillar of the
+upper storey of that unfortunate house. Another said that she observed
+unearthly lights in that mansion the previous night. Thus people
+talked and talked, furnishing new colours and new adventures out of
+their pure imagination for a phenomena which they never saw. And our
+unfortunate rich man had to lock up his house which he built after so
+many days, and at the expense of so much money. Thus passed six months.
+
+In that town there lived a poor beggar Brahmin. He was in extreme
+poverty, and spent a great portion of the day in begging from house
+to house his meal and clothes. He had, poor man, seven children. With
+this large family he was constantly in the greatest misery. He had
+not a proper house to live in. A miserable hut was all his wealth in
+that village. Winter was approaching, and the roof of their only hut
+began to fall down. The increasing miseries made the poor Brahmin
+resolve upon suicide. He could not bring himself to do that by his
+own hand. He had heard of the haunted house, and resolved to go there
+with all his family and perish by the hands of the devils. This was
+his secret intention, but he never spoke of it to any one. One day
+he came to the rich Brahmin who was the owner of the haunted mansion,
+and spoke to him thus:--
+
+"My noble lord! The winter is approaching and the roof of my hut has
+fallen away. If you would kindly allow it I shall pass the rainy days
+in your big house."
+
+When the rich man heard this he was very glad to see that one person
+at least there was in his little world who wanted the use of his
+house. So, without hesitating any longer, he replied:--
+
+"My most holy sir, you can have the free use of that whole house for
+whatever time you may want it. It is enough if you light a lamp there
+and live happily. I built it, and I am not destined to live there. You
+can go and try your fortune there."
+
+So said the rich landlord, and gave the key of that haunted house to
+the poor Brahmin. The latter took it, and with his family went and
+lived there from that day. That very night he also heard the same
+voice: "Shall I fall down?" "Shall I fall down?" twice. Nothing
+daunted, and quite resolved to perish with his wife and children,
+who were sound asleep near him, he exclaimed, "Fall down," and lo! a
+golden river of mohurs and pagodas began to fall down in the middle of
+the room from the top of the roof. It began falling and falling without
+any stopping till the poor Brahmin, who sat agape with wonder, began
+to fear that they would all be buried in mohurs. The moment he saw
+the sea of wealth before him, his idea of suicide abandoned him. "Stop
+please," said he at once, and the mohur-fall came to a sudden stop. He
+was delighted at the good nature of the devil, or whatever good spirit
+might have taken possession of the house, for its having given him so
+much wealth. He heaped up all the mohurs in one room, and locked it up,
+and had the key of it in his own possession. His wife and children got
+up during the mohur-fall. They also were informed of everything. The
+poor Brahmin advised his wife and children to keep the matter secret,
+and they, to their great credit, did so. They all--the poor parents and
+children--rejoiced at the good fortune that had made its visit to them.
+
+As soon as morning dawned the poor Brahmin converted little by
+little his mohurs into money and bought grains and clothes for his
+family. This he did day by day till rumour began to spread that
+the poor Brahmin had found a treasure-trove in the rich landlord's
+house. Of course this rumour reached the ears of the wealthy
+man also. He came to the poor Brahmin and asked him all about the
+treasure-trove. The latter to his great honour related to the landlord
+every bit of the mohur-fall. He also wished to witness it and sleep
+in the room with the poor Brahmin, for the first time in his life,
+his thirst for mohurs inducing him to do so. At about midnight "Shall
+I fall down?" was again heard.
+
+"Fall down" said the poor Brahmin, and lo! the mohurs began to descend
+like a water-fall. But, horror of horrors, they all appeared as so
+many scorpions to the house-owner. The poor man was heaping up the
+gold coins, but all of them seemed to crawl as so many scorpions to
+the eyes of the landlord.
+
+"Stop please," said the poor man, and the mohur-fall stopped.
+
+Then turning to the house-owner, the poor man said: "My lord, you
+may take home this heap for your use."
+
+The house-owner began to weep and said: "Most fortunate of mankind,
+I have heard my old father often repeat a proverb, 'To the fortunate
+fortune comes,' and its meaning I have discovered to-day only. I built
+the house and ran away when I heard the 'shall I fall.' No doubt I
+did very well, for had I remained a scorpion torrent would have sent
+me to the other world. Know then my most fortunate friend, that I
+see all your mohurs as so many scorpions. I have not the fortune to
+see them as mohurs. But you have that gift. So from this moment this
+house is yours. Whatever you can convert into money of your mohurs
+I shall receive and bless you."
+
+So saying the house-owner came out of the room fearing the
+scorpions. And our poor man thus had all the fortune to himself,
+and was no longer a poor man. He soon became one of the wealthiest
+of men of his time, but remembering that he owed all his riches to
+the wealthy landlord who gave him the house, he used to share with
+the latter half of his wealth every year.
+
+This story explains the Tamil proverb Madrishtam ullavanukku kidaikkum;
+to the fortunate good fortune.
+
+
+    N.B.--This story was also related to me by my step-mother
+    whose birth-place is a village in the Trichinopoly district.
+
+        N. S.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XXIV.
+
+RETALIATION--PALIKKUPPALI.
+
+
+There is a proverb in Tamil called Palikkuppali vangukiradu which
+would best be translated by the expression "tit for tat," and the
+following story I heard when a boy from my step-mother, illustrating
+that proverb, and I have of late found the same story also in the
+Trichinopoly districts.
+
+In a certain village there lived a poor Sudra. He had made a vow
+to the goddess of his village, that if he came out successfully in
+a certain undertaking he would offer her a couple of goats. And he
+succeeded in his undertaking, and thought that his goddess alone had
+granted his request. Great was his joy and greater became his faith
+in her extraordinary powers. And as he promised he brought two fat
+goats and sacrificed them to her.
+
+These goats thus sacrificed and the Sudra sacrificer who meanwhile
+had died by a sudden fever, after a short time were all re-born in
+the world to undergo the results of their goodness or sin. The two
+goats, because they were sacrificed to the goddess, were re-born as
+the king and the minister of a large country. The Sudra, as he had
+as much faith in his former life as in his goddess, was reborn in
+the priest's (gurukkula) caste, of course neither the king and his
+minister nor the priest had any reason to know their former life,
+until the death of the latter approached, as we shall presently see. A
+large kingdom fell to the share of the king, and he with his minister
+reigned over it most peacefully. In an unfrequented wilderness was a
+famous temple of a powerful goddess of of that country, and in that
+pagoda the priest regularly conducted her worship.
+
+Thus passed several years, the king and minister happy in their
+own kingdom, and the priest executing his religious duties in the
+wilderness. The priest was leading a most calm and holy life, eating
+what grew in the wilderness. His life was as pure as pure can be.
+
+But for all that fate would not forgive him for his acts in his
+former life.
+
+The king and the minister had vowed to the goddess of the wilderness
+that if they returned successfully from the conquest of an enemy of
+theirs they would offer her some human sacrifice. And so they returned,
+and to make entire their vow to the goddess they left their kingdom
+like ordinary men and came to the wood. All along the way they searched
+for a person to sacrifice, but no one--fortunately for him--was to be
+found. They still thought that the vow must not be left unaccomplished,
+and resolved upon catching the priest of the temple and offering him
+up as their intended sacrifice. When such strong people like the king
+and his minister resolved to do so, what could the poor priest do? He
+was quite unable to escape when those two informed him of what they
+were going to do with him on his entering to worship the goddess. Said
+the priest:--
+
+"Sirs! You have come here resolved upon offering me up as a sacrifice
+to the goddess. I cannot hereafter escape your hold. But if you
+would allow me to perform my puja to the goddess this morning also,
+I shall gladly die after having done my duty."
+
+So said the priest, and the king and the minister watched at the
+entrance and let him in.
+
+The priest went into the Garbhagriha--the holy of the holies in the
+temple, and performed his worship to the goddess. After that was over
+he gave the image a severe blow on its back and thus addressed it:--
+
+"Most merciless goddess. What have you done for all my faith in you. In
+this lonely wilderness, without knowing any other duty than your
+worship, I had been your true servant for the past many years. And
+in reward for all that, I must fall now a prey to the sacrifice of
+the king and the minister who are sharpening their knives outside
+to cut off my head at this moment. Is this the result of all my puja
+(worship) to you."
+
+So spake the priest, and the goddess, laughing, thus replied from
+the vacuum:--
+
+"My true priest. Your acts in your former life must trouble you in
+this. And the charitable acts of this life, even, cannot protect
+you in your next birth. In your former birth you had murdered two
+goats. They were born as king and minister, and have dragged you here
+to murder you. But this--the murder you are to undergo soon, by these
+hands will relieve you only of one of the two murders of your former
+life. And for the other murder you and they would be re-born again,
+and again they would kill you. So in your next third life from this
+one you would enjoy the fruits of all this devotion. Since now you
+know the story of your former life, you will forgive me, I think."
+
+Thus spoke the goddess, and the priest, as the knowledge of his former
+life dawned upon him, by the grace of the goddess, seemed resolved
+to die, in order to pay for his former sin. But the idea that in the
+next life he was to undergo the same punishment, vexed him much, and
+falling down at the goddess's feet, he respectfully requested her to
+try her best to let him off the next life; and the goddess's heart
+was also moved at the severity of fate which would make her devotee
+pass through one more life in misery before he enjoyed the fruits of
+his devotion. So she devised the following plan to exculpate him from
+his two crimes at the same time, and thus replied:--
+
+"Priest! 'Intelligence can conquer even Fate,' is the proverb. When
+Kali gave 500 years' life to Vikramaditya in his town, Bhatti,
+his minister, by making the king live six months in his capital and
+six months in the jungle, made his master's life to last for 1000
+years. So by intelligence we conquer our fate too, sometimes. So hear
+my advice. Ask the king who has come to murder you to hold one end of
+the knife, and request his minister to hold the other end. Ask both
+of them to aim the blow at your neck; that will accomplish everything
+complete during this life. They will have no revenge to take from
+you in your next life."
+
+So saying, the voice of the goddess stopped. The priest came back
+with a cheerful heart to the king and the minister, and asked them to
+oblige him by each of them holding one end of the knife and murdering
+him. They agreed, and performed thus their vow. The poor priest, too,
+without having another miserable life, was born a king in his next
+life, and lived in prosperity.
+
+Here the story ends, and the story-teller in the Hindu household,
+and in my case my stepmother, would at once moralise, that if we did
+anything to any one in this life, that one would pay us out for it
+in our next life.
+
+
+    N.B.--I am led to think that this story does not contain a
+    purely Hindu moral.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XXV.
+
+THE BEGGAR AND THE FIVE MUFFINS.
+
+
+In a certain village there lived a poor beggar and his wife. The man
+used to go out every morning with a clean vessel in his hand, return
+home with rice enough for the day's meal, and thus they lived on in
+extreme poverty.
+
+One day a poor Madhava Brahmin invited the pair to a feast, and
+among Madhavas muffins (tosai) are always a part of the good things
+on festive occasions. So during the feast the beggar and his wife had
+their fill of muffins. They were so pleased with them, that the woman
+was extremely anxious to prepare some muffins in her own house, and
+began to save a little rice every day from what her husband brought
+her for the purpose. When enough had been thus collected she begged
+a poor neighbour's wife to give her a little black pulse which the
+latter--praised be her charity--readily did. The faces of the beggar
+and his wife literally glowed with joy that day, for were they not
+to taste the long-desired muffins for a second time?
+
+The woman soon turned the rice she had been saving, and the black
+pulse she had obtained from her neighbour into a paste, and mixing it
+well with a little salt, green chillies, coriander seed and curds,
+set it in a pan on the fire; and with her mouth watering all the
+while, prepared five muffins! By the time her husband had returned
+from his collection of alms, she was just turning out of the pan the
+fifth muffin! And when she placed the whole five muffins before him
+his mouth, too, began to water. He kept two for himself and two he
+placed before his wife, but what was to be done with the fifth? He did
+not understand the way out of this difficulty. That half and half made
+one, and that each could take two and a half muffins was a question too
+hard for him to solve. The beloved muffins must not be torn in pieces;
+so he said to his wife that either he or she must take the remaining
+one. But how were they to decide which should be the lucky one?
+
+Proposed the husband:--"Let us both shut our eyes and stretch ourselves
+as if in sleep, each on a verandah on either side the kitchen. Whoever
+opens an eye and speaks first gets only two muffins; and the other
+gets three."
+
+So great was the desire of each to get the three muffins, that they
+both abided by the agreement, and the woman, though her mouth watered
+for the muffins, resolved to go through the ordeal. She placed the
+five cakes in a pan and covered it over with another pan. She then
+carefully bolted the door inside and asking her husband to go into
+the east verandah, she lay down in the west one. Sleep she had none,
+and with closed eyes kept guard over her husband: for if he spoke
+first he would have only two muffins, and the other three would come
+to her share. Equally watchful was her husband over her.
+
+Thus passed one whole day--two--three! The house was never opened! No
+beggar came to receive the morning dole. The whole village began to
+enquire after the missing beggar. What had become of him? What had
+become of his wife?
+
+"See whether his house is locked on the outside and whether he has
+left us to go to some other village," spoke the greyheads.
+
+So the village watchman came and tried to push the door open, but it
+would not open!
+
+"Surely," said they, "it is locked on the inside! Some great calamity
+must have happened. Perhaps thieves have entered the house, and after
+plundering their property, murdered the inmates."
+
+"But what property is a beggar likely to have?" thought the village
+assembly, and not liking to waste time in idle speculations, they
+sent two watchmen to climb the roof and open the latch from the inside.
+
+Meanwhile the whole village, men, women, and children, stood outside
+the beggar's house to see what had taken place inside. The watchmen
+jumped into the house, and to their horror found the beggar and his
+wife stretched on opposite verandahs like two corpses. They opened
+the door, and the whole village rushed in. They, too, saw the beggar
+and his wife lying so still that they thought them to be dead. And
+though the beggar pair had heard everything that passed around them,
+neither would open an eye or speak. For whoever did it first would
+get only two muffins!
+
+At the public expense of the village two green litters of bamboo and
+cocoanut leaves were prepared on which to remove the unfortunate pair
+to the cremation ground.
+
+"How loving they must have been to have died together like this!" said
+some greybeards of the village.
+
+In time the cremation ground was reached, and village watchmen had
+collected a score of dried cowdung cakes and a bundle of firewood from
+each house, for the funeral pyre. From these charitable contributions
+two pyres had been prepared, one for the man and one for the woman. The
+pyre was then lighted, and when the fire approached his leg, the man
+thought it time to give up the ordeal and to be satisfied with only
+two muffins! So while the villagers were still continuing the funeral
+rites, they suddenly heard a voice:--
+
+"I shall be satisfied with two muffins!"
+
+Immediately another voice replied from the woman's pyre:--
+
+"I have gained the day; let me have the three!"
+
+The villagers were amazed and ran away. One bold man alone stood face
+to face with the supposed dead husband and wife. He was a bold man,
+indeed for when a dead man or a man supposed to have died comes to
+life, village people consider him to be a ghost. However, this bold
+villager questioned the beggars until he came to know their story. He
+then went after the runaways and related to them the whole story of
+the five muffins to their great amazement.
+
+But what was to be done to the people who had thus voluntarily faced
+death out of love for muffins. Persons who had ascended the green
+litter and slept on the funeral pyre could never come back to the
+village! If they did the whole village would perish. So the elders
+built a small hut in a deserted meadow outside the village and made
+the beggar and his wife live there.
+
+Ever after that memorable day our hero and his wife were called the
+muffin beggar, and the muffin beggar's wife, and many old ladies and
+young children from the village use to bring them muffins in the
+morning and evening, out of pity for them, for had they not loved
+muffin so much that they underwent death in life?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+XXVI.
+
+THE BRAHMARAKSHAS AND THE HAIR.
+
+
+In a certain village there lived a very rich landlord, who owned
+several villages, but was such a great miser that no tenant would
+willingly cultivate his lands, and those he had gave him not a little
+trouble. He was indeed so vexed with them that he left all his lands
+untilled, and his tanks and irrigation channels dried up. All this,
+of course, made him poorer and poorer day by day. Nevertheless he
+never liked the idea of freely opening his purse to his tenants and
+obtaining their good will.
+
+While he was in this frame of mind a learned Sanyasi paid him a visit,
+and on his representing his case to him, he said:--
+
+"My dear son,--I know an incantation (mantra) in which I can instruct
+you. If you repeat it for three months day and night, a Brahmarakshas
+will appear before you on the first day of the fourth month. Make him
+your servant, and then you can set at naught all your petty troubles
+with your tenants. The Brahmarakshas will obey all your orders,
+and you will find him equal to one hundred servants."
+
+Our hero fell at his feet and begged to be instructed at once. The
+sage then sat facing the east and his disciple the landlord facing
+the west, and in this position formal instruction was given, after
+which the Sanyasi went his way.
+
+The landlord, mightily pleased at what he had learnt, went on
+practising the incantation, till, on the first day of the fourth month,
+the great Brahmarakshas stood before him.
+
+"What do you want, sir, from my hands?" said he; "what is the object
+of your having propitiated me for these three months?"
+
+The landlord was thunderstruck at the huge monster who now stood
+before him and still more so at his terrible voice, but nevertheless
+he said:--
+
+"I want you to become my servant and obey all my commands."
+
+"Agreed," answered the Brahmarakshas in a very mild tone, for it
+was his duty to leave off his impertinent ways when any one who had
+performed the required penance wanted him to become his servant;
+"Agreed. But you must always give me work to do; when one job is
+finished you must at once give me a second, and so on. If you fail
+I shall kill you."
+
+The landlord, thinking that he would have work for several such
+Brahmarakshasas, was pleased to see that his demoniacal servant was
+so eager to help him. He at once took him to a big tank which had been
+dried up for several years, and pointing it out spoke as follows:--
+
+"You see this big tank; you must make it as deep as the height of
+two palmyra trees and repair the embankment wherever it is broken."
+
+"Yes, my master, your orders shall be obeyed," humbly replied the
+servant and fell to work.
+
+The landlord, thinking that it would take several months, if not
+years, to do the work in the tank, for it was two kos long and one
+kos broad, returned delighted to his home, where his people were
+awaiting him with a sumptuous dinner. When enemies were approaching
+the Brahmarakshas came to inform his master that he had finished his
+work in the tank. He was indeed astonished and feared for his own life!
+
+"What! finished the work in one day which I thought would occupy him
+for months and years; if he goes on at this rate, how shall I keep
+him employed. And when I cannot find it for him he will kill me!" Thus
+he thought and began to weep; his wife wiped the tears that ran down
+his face, and said:--
+
+"My dearest husband, you must not lose courage. Get out of the
+Brahmarakshas all the work you can and then let me know. I'll give
+him something that will keep him engaged for a very very long time,
+and then he'll trouble us no more."
+
+But her husband only thought her words to be meaningless and followed
+the Brahmarakshas to see what he had done. Sure enough the thing was
+as complete as could be, so he asked him to plough all his lands,
+which extended over twenty villages! This was done in two ghatikas! He
+next made him dig and cultivate all his garden lands. This was done
+in the twinkling of an eye! The landlord now grew hopeless.
+
+"What more work have you for me?" roared the Brahmarakshas, as he
+found that his master had nothing for him to do, and that the time
+for his eating him up was approaching.
+
+"My dear friend," said he, "my wife says she has a little job to give
+you; do it please now. I think that that is the last thing I can give
+you to do, and after it in obedience to the conditions under which
+you took service with me, I must become your prey!"
+
+At this moment his wife came to them, holding in her left hand a long
+hair, which she had just pulled out from her head, and said:--
+
+"Well, Brahmarakshas, I have only a very light job for you. Take this
+hair, and when you have made it straight, bring it back to me."
+
+The Brahmarakshas calmly took it, and sat in a pipal tree to make it
+straight. He rolled it several times on his thigh and lifted it up to
+see if it became straight; but no, it would still bend! Just then it
+occurred to him that goldsmiths, when they want to make their metal
+wires straight, have them heated in fire; so he went to a fire and
+placed the hair over it, and of course it frizzled up with a nasty
+smell! He was horrified!
+
+"What will my master's wife say if I do not produce the hair she
+gave me?"
+
+So he became mightily afraid, and ran away.
+
+This story is told to explain the modern custom of nailing a handful
+of hair to a tree in which devils are supposed to dwell, to drive
+them away.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NOTES
+
+
+NOTES TO XIII.--FIRST PART.
+
+
+Few stories are more familiar and widely spread than that of the Lost
+Camel, which occurs in the opening of the romance. It was formerly, and
+perhaps is still, reproduced in English school reading-books. Voltaire,
+in chapter iii. of his "Zadig; ou, La Destinee" (the materials of which
+he is said to have derived from Geuelette's "Soirees Bretonnes,")
+has a version in which a lost palfrey and a she dog are described
+by the "sage" from the traces they had left on the path over which
+they passed. The great Arabian historian and traveller Mas'udi, in
+his "Meadows of Gold, and Mines of Gems," written A.D. 943, gives
+the story of the Lost Camel, and from Mas'udi it was probably taken
+into the MS. text of the "Thousand and One Nights," procured in the
+East (?Constantinople) by Wortley Montague, and now preserved in the
+Bodleian Library, Oxford. [101] In that MS. it forms an incident in
+the story of the Sultan of Yeman and his Three Sons: the princes,
+after their father's death, quarrel over the succession to the throne,
+and at length agree to lay their respective claims before one of the
+tributary princes. On the road one of them remarks, "A camel has lately
+passed this way loaded with grain on one side, and with sweetmeats
+on the other." The second observes, "and the camel is blind of one
+eye." The third adds, "and it has lost its tail." The owner comes up,
+and on hearing their description of his beast, forces them to go before
+the king of the country, to whom they explain how they discovered
+the defects of the camel and its lading. In a Persian work, entitled
+"Nigaristan," three brothers rightly conjecture in like manner that
+a camel which had passed, and which they had not seen, was blind
+of an eye, wanted a tooth, was lame, and laden with oil on the one
+side, and honey on the other. The story is also found in the Hebrew
+Talmud. Two slaves are overheard by their master conversing about a
+camel that had gone before them along the road. It was blind of an
+eye, and laden with two skin bottles, one of which contained wine,
+the other oil. In a Siberian version (Radloff), three youths are met
+by a man who asks them if they had seen his camel, to which they reply
+by describing the colour and defects of the animal so exactly that he
+accuses them to the Prince of having stolen it. "I have lost a camel,
+my lord," said he, "and when I met these three young men we saluted,
+and I told them that I had lost my camel. Quoth one of these youths,
+'Was thy camel of a light colour?' The second asked, 'was thy camel
+lame?' And the third, 'Was it not blind of an eye?' I answered
+Yes to their questions. Now decide, my lord. It is evident these
+young men have stolen my camel." Then the Prince asked the eldest,
+"How did you know that the camel was of a light colour?" He replied,
+"By some hairs which has fallen on the ground when it had rubbed
+itself against trees." The two others gave answers similar to those
+in our version. Then said the Prince to the man, "Thy camel is lost;
+go and look for it." So the stranger mounted his horse and departed.
+
+
+
+NOTES TO XIII.--THE SECOND PART.
+
+The Hunter and his Faithful Dog.--A variety of this story is cited
+from a Cawnpore newspaper, in the "Asiatic Journal," Vol. XV. (new
+series), Part II. October, 1834, p. 78, which is to the following
+effect:--A Bunjarrah named Dabee had a dog called Bhyro, the faithful
+companion of his travels, who guarded his goods from robbers while
+he slept. He wished to go to a distant part of the country to trade
+in grain, but had not sufficient funds for the purpose. After much
+cogitation, he at length resolved to pledge his dog for 1,000 rupees,
+and when he applied to several persons was laughed at for his folly;
+but a wealthy merchant named Dyaram gave the money, on condition that
+it should be paid back within twelve months, taking the dog Bhyro in
+pledge. When eleven months had passed, the merchant began to bewail
+the stupidity which had induced him to lend so large a sum on so
+precarious a security. His relentings were, however, premature. One
+dark and dreary night he was aroused from his slumbers by a great
+noise, occasioned by the clashing of swords and the barking of Bhyro. A
+band of armed men had entered the house with intent to plunder, but
+before they could effect their purpose they had been observed by the
+faithful Bhyro, who commenced an attack upon them. Before Dyaram could
+render any assistance, Bhyro had laid two of the robbers dead at his
+feet; a third, on the approach of Dyaram, aimed a blow at his head,
+which was prevented from taking effect by Bhyro seizing the ruffian
+by the throat and laying him prostrate on the ground. After peace
+was restored, Dyaram congratulated himself on having received Bhyro
+in pledge for the Bunjarrah, by which act he not only escaped being
+plundered, but in all probably murdered. Next morning Dyaram called
+Bhyro, and after caressing him, said:--"The service you rendered me
+last night is more than an equivalent for the 1,000 rupees I lent
+your master; go, faithful creature. I give you a free discharge from
+your obligation as security for him." Bhyro shook his head in token
+that it was impossible for him to go until his master returned; but
+Dyaram, comprehending his meaning, soon arranged matters by writing
+a statement of the circumstances, and giving a voucher for the 1,000
+rupees. This document he tied round Bhyro's neck, which done, Bhyro
+expressed his delight by leaping about in every direction, and, after
+licking the hands of Dyaram, darted out of the house and set off in
+quest of his master. While these scenes were transpiring in Dyaram's
+house, Dabee was not unmindful of the pledge he had left behind him,
+and, having succeeded in his speculation, was returning with all haste
+to redeem it. At his last stage homewards he was surprised to see
+Bhyro approaching him with every demonstration of joy, but at sight
+of him Dabee's rage was kindled, and repulsing Bhyro as he fawned
+upon him he thus addressed him:--"O, ungrateful wretch! is this the
+return you have made for my kindness to you? and is this the manner
+in which you have established my character for veracity? You remained
+faithful to your trust during eleven months--could you not have held
+out for thirty short days? You have, by your desertion from your
+post, entailed dishonour upon me, and for this you shall die." And,
+so saying, he drew his sword and slew him. After having committed this
+deed, he observed a paper tied round Bhyro's neck; having read it,
+his grief was indescribable. To atone in some measure for his rash
+act, caused poor Bhyro to be buried on the spot where he fell, and a
+superb monument to be erected over his remains. To the grave of Bhyro,
+even at the present day, resort natives who have been bitten by dogs,
+they believing that the dust collected there, when applied to the
+wounds, is an antidote for hydrophobia.
+
+
+
+NOTES TO XIII.--THE THIRD PART.
+
+The Brahman's Wife and the Mongoose.--We have, in this story,
+an Indian variety of the well-known Welsh legend of Llewellyn and
+his dog Gellert. A similar legend was current in France during the
+Middle Ages. But our story--mutatis mutandis--is as old as the third
+century B.C., since it is found in a Buddhist work of that period. It
+also occurs in two Sanskrit forms of the celebrated Fables of Pilpay,
+or Bidnaia namely the "Pancha Tantra" (five chapters), which is said
+to date as far back as the 5th century A.D., and the "Hitopadesa"
+(Friendly Counsels); also in the Arabian and other Eastern versions
+of the same work. It is found in all the texts of the Book of
+Sindibad--Greek, Syriac, Persian, Hebrew, Old Castilian, Arabic,
+&c., and in the several European versions, known generally under
+the title of "The History of the Seven Wise Masters," the earliest
+form of which being a Latin prose work entitled "Dolopathos." There
+are, of course, differences in the details of the numerous versions
+both Western and Eastern, but the fundamental outline is the same in
+all. In my work on the migrations of popular tales, I have reproduced
+all the known versions of this world-wide story, with the exception
+of that in the present romance, which is singular in representing the
+woman as killing herself after she had discovered her fatal mistake,
+and her husband as slaying his little son and himself. The author of
+the romance probably added these tragedies, in order to enable the
+supposed narrator to more forcibly impress the king with the grievous
+consequences of acting in affairs of moment with inconsiderateness
+and precipitation. In most versions it is the husband who kills the
+faithful animal. Among the Malays the story of the Snake and the
+Mongoose is current in this form:--A man left a tame bear in charge
+of his house, and of his sleeping child, while he was absent from
+home. On his return he missed his child, the house was in disorder,
+as if some great struggle had taken place, and the floor was covered
+with blood. Hastily concluding that the bear had killed and devoured
+the child, the enraged father slew the animal with his spear, but
+almost immediately afterwards found the carcase of a tiger, which the
+faithful bear had defeated and killed, and the child emerged unharmed
+from the jungle, where it had taken refuge.
+
+In a black-letter English edition of the "Seven Wise Masters,"
+the knight, having slain his hound and discovered his child safe in
+its cradle, exclaims (and here the hand of the misogynist monkish
+writer is very evident!)--"Woe be to me, that, for the words of my
+wife, I have slain my good and best greyhound, the which had saved
+my child's life, and hath slain the serpent; therefore I will put
+myself to penance." And so he brake his sword in three pieces, and
+travelled in the direction of the Holy Land, and abode there all the
+days of his life. The preceding story of the Hunter and his Dog, it
+will be observed, is closely allied to that of the Brahman's Wife and
+the Mongoose; and in conclusion, where the hunter erects a stately
+tomb over his dog's remains, it presents a striking resemblance to
+the Welsh legend of Llewellyn and the dog Gellert, which is probably
+not merely fortuitous.
+
+A very curious version is found in a black-letter chapter-book,
+entitled the "Seven Wise Mistresses," written in imitation of the
+"Seven Wise Masters," by one Thomas Howard, about the end of the
+seventeenth century, in which a knight and his lady are wrecked
+and cast ashore on a desert island, and the knight soon afterwards
+dies. His wife takes a thorn out of a lion's foot (Androcles in
+petticoats), and the grateful animal follows her about, and provides
+her with food, and this is how the story goes on:--
+
+"At last she began mourning to herself, deploring her condition
+in living in such obscurity in a foreign Country, and as her daily
+companion, a savage Beast, her mind yearning after her own habitation,
+she thus complained: 'Oh, how hath fortune frowned on me that I
+am driven out from all human knowledge, and am glad to take up my
+habitation with the Beast of the Field!'
+
+"As she thus complained to herself, the Devil chanced to appear to her,
+and demanded the cause of her complaint, and she related all to him as
+you have heard. Then said he to her: 'What wilt thou give and I will
+provide a ship which shall carry thee home to thy own country.' She
+answered: 'Half my Estates.'
+
+"'Nay,' said the Devil, 'If thou wilt give me thy Soul at the term of
+twelve years, I will set thee down in thy own country, and thou shalt
+live and flourish so long.' 'God forbid,' said the Lady. 'I would
+rather end my wretched life in this solitary island than that.' 'Why
+then,' said the Devil, 'I will make this bargain with you, that if you
+abstain from sleeping all the time of our voyage, which shall be but
+three days, I will have nothing to do with your Soul; if you sleep,
+I will have it as I have said.'
+
+"And upon this bargain the lady ventured, provided she might have her
+Lion with her. So 'twas concluded, and a brave Ship came and took the
+Lady and her Lion. When she lay down the Lion lay by her, and if she
+slumbered the Lion would touch her with his paw, by which means he
+kept her awake all the voyage, until she landed in her own country,
+and being come to her Father's house, she knocked at the gate. Then
+the Porter coming with all speed opened the gate and thought that it
+was a Beggar.
+
+"Frowningly he shut it again, saying, 'There's nothing here for
+you.' Then she bounced at the gate again, and asked the Porter if such
+a Knight lived there, meaning her Father, and he said 'Yes.' 'Then,'
+said she, 'Pray, deliver this piece of ring unto him.' Now this ring
+was it she brake betwixt her Father and she at her departure out of
+the land. Then the Porter delivered the Ring to his Master, saying:
+'The Beggar woman at the gate willed me to deliver the piece of ring
+unto you.'
+
+"When the Knight saw the ring he fell down in a swound but when he
+was revived he said, 'Call her in, for she is my only Daughter, whom
+I thought was dead.' 'Then,' said the Porter, 'I dare not call her in,
+for there is a mighty Lion with her.' 'Though it be,' said the Knight,
+'call her in.' Then said the Porter [to the Lady], 'You are to come
+in, but leave your Lion outside.' 'No,' said the Lady, 'my Lion goes
+whereever I go, and where he is not, there will I not be.'
+
+"And when she came to her Father she fell down on her knees and
+wept. Her Father took her up in his arms and kissed her, weeping as
+fast, and after he clothed her in purple, and placed her by him in a
+chair, and demanded an account of her travels, and she told him all
+that had happened, and how the Lion had saved her life, and was the
+greatest comfort she had in the Wilderness. It chanced afterwards
+that as the Knight was going into his Wood to look after his young
+Horses, he met with a wild Boar, with whom he fell in combat. The
+Lion loved the Old Knight, and by accident walking along he scented
+the Boar, and as the Lion ran toward the place where the Boar was,
+the Steward espied him, and he ran into the Palace, and cryed out,
+'the Lion is running after my Master to destroy him.'
+
+"Then the Lady sent after him ten of her servants, who met the Lion,
+his mouth all bloody, and they ran back and told the Lady the Lion
+had destroyed her aged Father. Then said the Lady, 'O woe is me
+that ever I was born, that have brought a Lion from far to destroy
+my own Father.' Therefore she commanded her servants to slay the
+Lion, which no sooner was done but her Father came in, and said;
+'O, I have met with a wild Boar, with whom I fought, and there came
+the Lion to my aid, and slew the Boar, and so saved my life, else I
+had died by the Boar.'
+
+"When the Lady heard this, O how she wept and wrung her hands, saying,
+'For the words of a wicked Steward, I have slain my good Lion, who
+hath saved my life and my Father's. Cursed be the time I was advised
+by him.'"
+
+
+
+The Faithless Wife and the Ungrateful Blind Man.--I do not remember
+having met with this story in any other collection, although there are
+there many tales in Asiatic story-books of women abandoning their blind
+or infirm husbands, and going off with strange men. A very considerable
+proportion, in fact of Eastern stories turn upon the alleged wickedness
+and profligacy and intrigues of women. This most unjust estimate of
+"the sex" seems to have been universal in Asiatic countries from
+every remote times and probably was introduced into Europe through
+the Crusades. Not a few of the mediaeval Monkish tales represent women
+in a very unfavourable light, and this is also the case in our early
+English jest-books, which were compiled soon after the invention of
+printing. In the oldest Indian literature, however, especially the
+two grand epics "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata," occur several notable
+tales of noble women, such as "Dushyanta and Sakuntala," and the
+charming romance of "Nala and Damayanti;" and in another work, the
+"Adventures of the Ten princes," ("Dasa Kumara Charita,") the fine
+story of Gomiui, who is held up as a pattern to her sex.
+
+
+
+NOTES TO XIII.--THE FOURTH PART.
+
+The Wonderful Mango-fruit.--A variety of this story occurs in the
+Persian "Tuti Nama" of Nakhshabi:--A Prince, who is very ill, sends
+a parrot of great sagacity to procure him some fruit of the Tree of
+Life. When at length the bird returns with the life-giving fruit,
+the Prince scruples to eat of it, upon which the parrot relates
+the legend of "Solomon and the Water of Immortality;" how that wise
+monarch declined to procure immunity from death, on consideration that
+he should thus survive all his friends and female favourites. The
+Prince, however, being suspicious regarding the fruit, sent some
+trusty messengers to "bring the first apple that fell from the Tree
+of Existence." But it happened that a black snake had poisoned it
+by seizing it in its mouth and then letting it drop again. When the
+messengers returned with the fruit, the Prince tried the effect on a
+holy man, who instantly falls down dead. Upon seeing this, the Prince
+dooms the parrot to death; but the sagacious bird suggests that, before
+the Prince should execute him for treason, he should himself go to the
+Tree of Life and make another experiment with its fruit. The Prince
+does so, and, returning home, gives part of the fruit to an old woman,
+"who, from age and infirmity, had not stirred abroad for many years;"
+and, no sooner had she tasted it, than she was changed into a charming
+girl of eighteen. But more closely resembling our story is a version
+in a Canarese collection, entitled "Katha Manjari":--A certain king
+had a magpie that flew one day to heaven with another magpie. From
+thence it took away some mango seed, and, having returned, gave it
+to the king, saying:--
+
+"If you cause this to be planted and grow, whoever eats of its fruit
+old age will forsake him and his youth be restored."
+
+The king was much pleased, and caused it to be planted in his favourite
+garden. After some years, buds appeared and became flowers, then
+young fruit, then full grown; and when the fruit was ripe the king
+ordered one to be plucked and brought to him, when he gave it to an
+old man. But on it had fallen poison from a serpent as it was carried
+through the air by a kite, so the old man immediately withered and
+died. The king, on seeing this, exclaimed in wrath:--
+
+"Is not this bird attempting to kill me?" And he seized the magpie and
+wrung off its head. Afterwards in the village the tree had the name
+of the poisonous mango. Now, it happened that a washerman, taking the
+part of his wife in a quarrel with his old mother, struck the latter,
+who was so angry at her son that she resolved to die, in order that
+the blame of her death should fall upon him; and having gone to the
+poisonous mango-tree in the garden, she cut off a fruit and ate it,
+when instantly she became more blooming than a girl of sixteen. This
+miracle she published everywhere and it came to the king's ears, who,
+having called her and seen her, caused the fruit to be given to other
+old people. Having seen what was thus done by the marvelous virtue
+of the mango-fruit, the king sorrowfully exclaimed:--
+
+"Alas, the faithful magpie is killed which gave me this divine
+tree! How guilty am I!" And he pierced himself with his sword and died.
+
+"Therefore," adds the story-teller, "those who act without thought
+are certain to be ruined." The old Brahman's generously presenting
+the king with the wonderful mango-fruit in our story, finds its
+parallel with a difference, in the Hindu romance entitled "Simhasana
+Dwatrinsatri," or Thirty-two Tales of a throne, where a Brahman having
+received from the gods, as a reward for his devotional austerities,
+the fruit of immortality, joyfully proceeds home and shows it to
+his wife, who advises him to give it to the Raja Bhartrihari, as the
+wealth he should receive in return were preferable to an endless life
+of poverty. He goes to the palace, and presenting the fruit to the
+Raja, acquaints him of its nature, and is rewarded with a lakh of
+rupees. The Raja gives the fruit to his wife, telling her that if
+she ate it her beauty would increase day by day, and she should be
+immortal. The Kani gives it to her paramour, the chief of police, who,
+in his turn, presents it as the choicest of gifts to a courtesan, who,
+after reflecting that it would only enable her to commit innumerable
+sins, resolves to offer it to the Raja, in hope of a reward in a future
+life. When Raja Bhartrihari receives the fruit again he is astonished,
+and, on learning from the haetera from whom she had obtained it, he
+knew that his queen was unfaithful, and, abandoning his throne and
+kingdom, departs into the jungle, where he became an ascetic.
+
+
+
+NOTES TO XIII.--THE FIFTH PART.
+
+The Poisoned Food.--This is a third instance of food or fruit
+being poisoned by serpents, and it occurs very frequently in Eastern
+stories. The oldest form of this tale is found in a Sanskrit collection
+entitled "Twenty-five Tales of a Vampyre" (Vetalapanchavimsati),
+which is probably of Buddhist extraction, and which also exists in
+many of the vernacular languages of India. The wife of a man named
+Harisvamin having been stolen from him one night by a Vidyadhara
+Prince, he gave away all his wealth to the Brahmans, and resolved to
+visit the sacred waters to wash away his sins, after which he hoped
+to recover his beloved wife; and the story thus proceeds:--Then
+he left the country, with his Brahman birth as his only fortune,
+and began to go round to all the sacred bathing-places in order to
+recover his beloved. And as he was roaming about there came upon him
+the terrible lion of the hot season, with the blazing sun for mouth
+and with a mane composed of his fiery rays. And the winds blew with
+excessive heat, as if warmed by the breath of sighs furnaced forth by
+travellers grieved at being separated from their wives. And the tanks,
+with their supply of water diminished by the heat and their drying
+white mud, appeared to be showing their broken hearts. And the trees
+by the roadside seemed to lament on account of the departure of the
+glory of spring, making their wailing heard in the shrill moaning of
+their bark, with leaves, as it were, lips, parched with heat.
+
+At that season Harisvamin, wearied out with the heat of the sun,
+with bereavement, hunger and thirst, and continual travelling,
+emaciated and dirty, and pining for food, reached in the course of his
+wanderings a certain village, and found in it the house of a Brahman
+named Padmanabha, who was engaged in a sacrifice. And, seeing that
+many Brahmans were eating in his house, he stood leaning against the
+door-post, silent and motionless. And the good wife of that Brahman
+named Padmanabha, seeing him in this position, felt pity for him,
+and reflected:--
+
+"Alas! mighty is hunger! Whom will it not bring down? For here stands
+a man at the door, who appears to be a householder, desiring food,
+with downcast countenance; evidently come from a long journey, and
+with all his faculties impaired by hunger. So is not he a man to whom
+food ought to be given?" Having gone through these reflections, that
+kind woman took up in her hand a vessel full of rice boiled in milk,
+with ghi and sugar, and brought it, and courteously presented it to
+him, and said:--
+
+"Go and eat this somewhere on the bank of the lake, for this place
+is unfit to eat in, as it is filled with feasting Brahmans." He said
+"I will do so," and took the vessel of rice and placed it at no great
+distance under a banyan-tree on the edge of the lake; and he washed
+his hands and feet in the lake, and rinsed his mouth, and then came
+back in high spirits to eat the rice. But while he was thus engaged
+a kite, holding a black cobra with its beak and claws, came and sat
+on that tree. And it so happened that poisonous saliva issued from
+the mouth of that dead snake, which the bird had captured and was
+carrying along. The saliva fell into the dish of rice which was placed
+under the tree, and Harisvamin, without observing it, came and ate up
+that rice. As soon as in his hunger he had devoured all that food, he
+began to suffer terrible agonies, caused by the poison. He exclaimed:--
+
+"When fate has turned against a man, everything in this world turns
+also; accordingly this rice has become poison to me." Thus speaking,
+Harisvamin, tortured with the poison, tottered to the house of that
+Brahman who was engaged in a sacrifice, and said to his wife:--
+
+"The rice which you gave me has poisoned me; so fetch me quickly a
+charmer who can counteract the operation of poison; otherwise you
+will be guilty of the death of a Brahman." When Harisvamin had said
+this to the good woman, who was beside herself to think what it could
+all mean, his eyes closed and he died.
+
+Then the Brahman who was engaged in a sacrifice drove his wife out
+of the house, though she was innocent and hospitable, being enraged
+with her for the supposed murder of her guest. The good woman, for
+her part, having incurred groundless blame from her charitable deed,
+and so become burdened with infamy, went to a holy bathing-place, to
+perform penance. Then there was a discussion before the superintendent
+of religion as to which of the four parties, the kite, the snake,
+and the couple who gave rice, was guilty of the murder of a Brahman;
+but the question was not decided.
+
+It will be seen that our story differs very considerably from the
+foregoing, which we must regard as the original. The same story occurs
+in all the Eastern versions of the Book of Sindibad, but in most of
+these it is not a traveller who is thus poisoned, but a wealthy man and
+his guests; having sent a domestic to the market to buy sour curds,
+which she carried back in an open vessel, poison from a serpent in
+a stork's mouth dropped into the curds, of which the master of the
+house and his guests partook and died. The story is probably more
+than 2,000 years old.
+
+"Eating up the Protector." Akin to this, but with a very different
+conclusion, is the well-known story of the traveller who released a
+tiger from a trap into which he had fallen. The Brahman's fidelity
+to his pact with the serpent reminds one of the Arabian story of
+the Merchant and the Genie. In a Tamil tale, a cow having given
+herself up to a tiger to redeem her owner (it is to be understood,
+of course, that both animals are human beings re-born in those forms)
+she obtains leave to go and suckle her calf, after which she returns
+when the tiger, moved by her fidelity, lets her go free.
+
+The serpent's emitting gems recalls Shakespeare's allusion to the
+popular notion of the "toad, ugly and venomous, which bears a precious
+jewel in its head." It is a very ancient and widespread belief that
+serpents are the guardians of hidden treasures. Preller, in his work
+on Grecian mythology, refers to a Servian story in which a shepherd,
+as in our tale, saves the life of a snake in a forest fire, and,
+in return for this service, the snake's father gives him endless
+treasures and teaches him the language of birds. There is a very
+similar story in Dozon's "Contes Albanais."
+
+In the charming tale of "Nala and Damayanti," which occurs in the third
+part ("Vana Parva") of the grand Indian epic "Mahabharata," the exiled
+king perceives a snake with a ray of jewels in its crest, writhing
+in a jungle fire, and lifting it out, carries it some distance, and
+is about to set it down, when the snake says to him, "Carry me ten
+steps farther, and count them aloud as you go." So Nala proceeds,
+counting the steps--one, two, three--and when he said "ten" (dasa,
+which means "ten" and also "bite") the snake took him at his word, and
+bit the king in the forehead, upon which he became black and deformed.
+
+An abstract of a considerably modified form of our romance orally
+current among the people of Bengal may be given in conclusion: A king
+appoints his three sons to patrol in turn the streets of his capital
+during the night. It happens that the youngest Prince in going his
+rounds one night sees a beautiful woman issuing from the royal palace,
+and accosting her, asks her business at such an hour. She replies:--
+
+"I am the guardian deity of this palace; the king will be killed this
+night, therefore I am going away."
+
+The Prince persuades the goddess to return into the palace and await
+the event. As in our story, he enters his father's sleeping chamber
+and discovers a huge cobra near the royal couch. He cuts the serpent
+into many pieces, which he puts inside a brass vessel that is in the
+room. Then seeing that some drops of the serpent's blood had fallen on
+his step-mother's breast, he wraps a piece of cloth round his tongue to
+protect it from the poison, and licks off the blood. The lady awakes,
+and recognises him as he is leaving the room. She accuses him to the
+king of having used an unpardonable freedom with her. In the morning
+the king sends for his eldest son, and asks him: "If a trusted servant
+should prove faithless how should he be punished?"
+
+Quoth the Prince: "Surely his head should be parted from his body;
+but before doing so you should ascertain whether the man is actually
+guilty."
+
+And then he proceeds to relate the following story:--"Once upon a
+time there was a goldsmith who had a grown-up son, whose wife was
+acquainted with the language of animals, but she kept secret from her
+husband and all others the fact of her being endowed with such a rare
+gift. It happened one night she heard a jackal exclaim: 'There is a
+dead body floating on the river; would that some one might give me
+that body to eat, and for his pains take the diamond ring from the
+finger of the dead man.'
+
+"The woman arose from her bed and went to the bank of the river, and
+her husband, who was not asleep, followed her unobserved. She went
+into the water, drew the corpse to land, and unable to loosen the
+ring from the dead man's finger, which had swelled, she bit off the
+finger, and leaving the corpse on the bank, returned home, whither
+she had been preceded by her husband. Almost petrified with fear,
+the young goldsmith concluded from what he had seen that his wife was
+not a human being, but a ghoul (rakshasi), and early in the morning
+he hastened to his father and related the whole affair to him--how
+the woman had got up during the night and gone to the river, out of
+which she dragged a dead body to the land, and was busy devouring it
+when he ran home in horror.
+
+"The old man was greatly shocked, and advised his son to take his wife
+on some pretext into the forest and leave her there to be destroyed by
+wild beasts. So the husband caused the woman to get herself ready to go
+on a visit to her father, and after a hasty breakfast they set out. In
+going through a dense jungle, where the goldsmith proposed abandoning
+his wife, she heard a serpent cry, 'O, passenger, I pray thee to seize
+and give me that croaking frog, and take for thy reward the gold and
+precious stones concealed in yonder hole.' The woman at once seized
+the frog and threw it towards the serpent, and then began digging into
+the ground with a stick. Her husband quaked with fear, thinking that
+his ghoul-wife was about to kill him, but she called to him, saying,
+'My dear husband, gather up all this gold and precious gems.'
+
+"Approaching the spot with hesitation he was surprised to perceive an
+immense treasure laid bare by his wife, who then explained to him how
+she had learned of it from the snake that lay coiled up near them,
+whose language she understood. Then he said to his wife--'It is now
+so late that we cannot reach your father's house before dark, and
+we might be slain by wild beasts. Let us therefore return home.' So
+they retraced their steps, and approaching the house the goldsmith
+said to his wife--'Do, you, my dear, go in by the back door, while
+I enter by the front and show my father all this treasure.'
+
+The woman went in by the back door and was met by her father-in-law,
+who, on seeing her, concluded that she had killed and devoured his
+son, and striking her on the head with a hammer which he happened to
+have in his hand, she instantly expired. Just then the son came into
+the room, but it was too late."
+
+"I have told your Majesty this story," adds the eldest Prince, "in
+order that before putting the man to death you should make sure that
+he is guilty."
+
+The king next calls his second son and asks him the same question,
+to which he replies by relating a story to caution his father against
+rash actions.
+
+"A king, separated from his attendants while engaged in the chase, saw
+what he conceived to be rain-water dropping from the top of a tree,
+and, being very thirst, held his drinking cup under it until it was
+nearly filled, and, just as he was about to put it to his lips, his
+horse purposely moved so as to cause the contents to be spilled on the
+ground, upon which the king in a rage drew his sword and killed the
+faithful animal; but afterwards discovering that what he had taken
+for rain-water was poison that dropped from a cobra in the tree,
+his grief knew no bounds."
+
+Calling lastly his third son, the king asks him what should be done
+to the man who proved false to his trust. The Prince tells the story
+of the wonderful tree, the fruit of which bestowed on him who ate of
+it perennial youth, with unimportant variations from the version in
+our romance.
+
+Then the Prince explained the occasion of his presence in the Royal
+bedchamber, and how he had saved the king and his consort from the
+cobra's deadly bite. And the king, overjoyed and full of gratitude,
+strained his faithful son to his heart, and ever after cherished and
+loved him with all a father's love.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+NOTES
+
+
+[1] Soothsaying.
+
+[2] An Indian hour equal to twenty-four minutes.
+
+[3] It is the custom amongst widows to use betel leaves instead
+of plates.
+
+[4] In English, Benares.
+
+[5] The Deccan.
+
+[6] A small vessel.
+
+[7] Storey is here put for divisions in an Indian well. These
+divisions are little projecting ledges of stone made for natives to
+stand on so that they can get down close to the water if the well
+is not full. There are sometimes six or seven divisions, or ledges,
+of this sort.
+
+[8] The first serpent--the king of serpents.
+
+[9] Literally the stealer of gold--a practice very common in India
+among that class. There is a proverb to the effect that even from
+the gold given by their mothers to be turned into jewels, they will
+pilfer a little.
+
+[10] The distance of a kas being equal to 2000 Indian poles.
+
+[11] Dungeon.
+
+[12] A period of time equal to an hour and a half.
+
+[13] King of tigers.
+
+[14] A ghatika is equal to twenty-four minutes.
+
+[15] Siva.
+
+[16] The eldest son of Siva commonly known as the belly god.
+
+[17] Another name of Ganapati.
+
+[18] Worship.
+
+[19] Attendants of Ganesa.
+
+[20] Classical name of Karur, a small, but very ancient, town in the
+Koyambatur District of the Madras Presidency.
+
+[21] Naraka of Put--Naraka is hell, and Put is a certain kind of
+hell to which, according to Hindu mythology, son-less persons are
+hurled down.
+
+[22] Putra-son, so-called as he protects the father from the hell
+of Put.
+
+[23] Ficus religiosa.
+
+[24] The fair.
+
+[25] Voluntary cremation of widows with the dead bodies of their
+husbands on the funeral pile.
+
+[26] Karor is equal to ten lacs (lakhs); mohur is an old gold coin.
+
+[27] Spring.
+
+[28] The king's court.
+
+[29] Council chamber.
+
+[30] My darling prince.
+
+[31] The creator of the Hindu mythology.
+
+[32] A Hindu feast.
+
+[33] Fee.
+
+[34] Vedas--The sacred books of the Hindus.
+
+[35] Minister.
+
+[36] The chief officer of the realm next to the minister.
+
+[37] The image of the belly-god.
+
+[38] The world of Indra, the regent of the sky.
+
+[39] Names of divine damsels.
+
+[40] Cinnamon-stone.
+
+[41] Diamond.
+
+[42] A precious stone (cat's eye).
+
+[43] A sort of paint for the eye (Hindustani--Surma).
+
+[44] A mark on the forehead.
+
+[45] Serpent sacrifice.
+
+[46] Sacrifice.
+
+[47] Brahman woman.
+
+[48] Throne.
+
+[49] Tevai is the classical name of the modern town of Ramnad in the
+district of Madura.
+
+[50] Kodamundan.
+
+[51] Vidamundan.
+
+[52] Vayalvallan.
+
+[53] Kaiyalvallan.
+
+[54] There is no such word as kuta in Tamil. The Tamil and other
+Dravidian languages allow rhyming repetitions of word, like
+this--bhuta-kuta.
+
+[55] [Compare the tale of Fattu, the Valiant Weaver, Indian Antiquary,
+Vol. XI., p. 282 ff.--R. C. T.]
+
+[56] Which in Tamil are exclamations of lamentation, meaning, Ah! Alas!
+
+[57] A place of public feeding.
+
+[58] Among high caste Hindus, when girls leave one village and go to
+another, the old woman of the house--the mother or grandmother--always
+places in her bundles and on her head a few margosa leaves as a
+talisman against demons.
+
+[59] A ghatika is twenty-four minutes. The story being Hindu, the
+Hindu method of reckoning distance is used.
+
+[60] A "watch" is a yama, or three hours.
+
+[61] Tamil, to'sai.
+
+[62] A fragrant herb, held in great veneration by the Hindus; Ocymum
+sanctum. This herb is sacred alike to Siva and Vishnu. Those species
+specially sacred to Siva are--Vendulasi, Siru-tulasi, and Siva-tulasi;
+those to Vishnu are Sendulasi, Karundulasi and Vishnu-tulasi.
+
+[63] Compare the Singalese folktale given on p. 62, Vol I. of the
+Orientalist.--Ed.
+
+[64] Uparani or upavastra, an upper garment.
+
+[65] This kind of statement often occurs in stories in proof of the
+just reign of a monarch. The Hindu idea is that so long as justice
+and equity characterise a king's rule, even beasts naturally inimical
+are disposed to live in friendship. When timely rain fails or famine
+stalks through the land, turning his eyes from the natural causes,
+the orthodox Hindu will say that such a king is now reigning over
+them unjustly, and hence the calamity.--Translator.
+
+[66] "Distinguishing the peculiarities of an animal by its footsteps,
+&c., is often met with in Indian stories. Precisely the reverse of
+this is the tale of the four blind men who disputed about the form
+of an elephant. One of them had felt only the elephant's ears, and
+said it was like a winnow; another examined the breast and a foreleg,
+and said it was like a thick stump of wood; the third felt the trunk,
+and said it was like a heavy crook; while the fourth, having touched
+only the tail, declared it was like a sweeping rake."--W. A. Clouston.
+
+[67] The night-watch hearing the tutelary goddess of the village
+mourning, is a very ancient idea. It also occurs, for example,
+in the story of Viravara, in the Sanskrit book of fables entitled
+"Hitopadesa." Sambhavi and Mahamayi are different names of Kali--a
+fierce goddess, much worshipped as the presiding deity of cholera
+and smallpox.--T.
+
+[68] A ghatika = 24 minutes.--T.
+
+[69] Apparently the arrows were attached to some kind of mechanism
+which discharged them on the opening of the jar. There is "nothing
+new under the sun." Dynamite is perhaps a discovery of our own times,
+but "infernal machines," which served the purpose of king-killers,
+are of ancient date.
+
+[70] The Hindus, at their meals, squat on the ground, with leaves in
+place of earthenware dishes, on which their food is served.--T.
+
+[71] A sum of money varying in different localities of the South of
+India. In the Chola grants "pon" also occurs.
+
+[72] An Indian word meaning clumps of trees.
+
+[73] It is a very common practice to dupe the ordinary people in
+this manner in Hindu temples. Some impostor will proclaim to the
+crowd that the spirit of a god, or goddess, is upon him, and utters
+whatever comes uppermost in his mind. He occasionally contrives to
+accomplish his private ends by such "revelations." The ignorant are
+greatly misled by these impostors, and learned Hindus condemn the
+practice as gross superstition.--T.
+
+[74] Corresponding to the English proverb: "Quarrelling with one's
+bread and butter."
+
+[75] Full grown and ripe bamboo bears a kind of corn which when
+collected and shelled resembles wheat. Hunters cook a most excellent
+food of bamboo grain and honey.--T.
+
+[76] Compare the story of "The Rat's Wedding" from the Panjab, The
+Indian Antiquary, Vol. XI., pp, 226ff: where, however, a better moral
+from the tale is drawn.
+
+[77] A low caste man; Pariah.
+
+[78] In response to the sound of the tom-tom.
+
+[79] Traders have also certain secret symbols for marking their prices
+on their cloths.
+
+[80] This story, apart from its folklore value, is specially
+interesting as showing that the customs mentioned in the Indian
+Antiquary, Vol. XIV., pp. 155ff., as being prevalent at Delhi,
+regarding secret trade language are universal in India.
+
+[81] i.e., lover of his wife.
+
+[82] i.e., a shudder at sin.
+
+[83] Worship of the household gods or devotion.
+
+[84] The eleventh lunar day of every fortnight, on which a fast is
+observed by orthodox Hindus.
+
+[85] Bhusura, bhudeva; a generic name for a Brahmin.
+
+[86] Oil of sesamun; til and gingely oil are the ordinary names for
+this common product of India.
+
+[87] Dvadasi is the twelfth lunar day, on which early in the morning,
+before even the fifth ghatika is over, every orthodox Hindu is obliged
+by his religious codes to break the previous day's fast.
+
+[88] Lit. a "chombu-full;" the chombu is a small vessel.
+
+[89] A sacred hymn.
+
+[90] A panam is generally worth two anas.
+
+[91] See also the second tale in this series.
+
+[92] Learned woman.
+
+[93] There would of course be no real marriage between a dancing girl
+and a Brahmin. Hence the insult.
+
+[94] In stories of a master falling in love with the girl he has been
+teaching, he is usually himself made a soothsayer. In that capacity
+he asks the guardian (father or mother) to put the girl in a light
+box and to float her down a river. The girl in the box is taken by
+a young man, sometimes a prince, and becomes his wife. A tiger or a
+lion is then put into the box, and when the teacher, a great way down
+the river, takes the box and wishes to run away with the girl inside,
+he is torn to pieces, as a fit reward for his evil intentions, by
+the beast. But here the story takes a different turn.
+
+[95] From this point up to the end we shall find the story to be
+similar to "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in the Arabian Nights,
+though the plot is different.
+
+[96] Ganga snana Tunga pana. The Ganges for bath and Tunga
+(Tungabhadra) for drink.
+
+[97] A Kanarese tale related by a risaldar.
+
+[98] Headman of the village.
+
+[99] Dakshinas (fees given in donation to Brahmins) are ordinarily
+given to priests.
+
+[100] A yellow grain, peculiar to India.
+
+[101] It is not generally known that the "Birnam Wood" incident in
+Shakespeare's "Macbeth" occurs in the same Arabian historical work.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Sun, by
+Mrs. Howard Kingscote and Pandit Natesa Sastri
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