HINDOO TALES _OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TEN PRINCES_part-1

 

There was formerly, in the most fertile part of India, a city called Pushpapuri, the capital of Magadha, magnificent as a mine of jewels, abounding in every kind of wealth, surpassing all other cities in splendour and prosperity.

 

The sovereign of this city and country was Rajahansa, whose armies were formidable with countless elephants and horses, whose glory was unsullied as the moon in a cloudless sky, or the plumage of the swan, and whose fame was sung even by celestial minstrels. Though a terror to his enemies, he was beloved by all his subjects, and especially by the learned and pious brahmans, who were continually employed in prayers and sacrifices to the gods, for the welfare of the king and his people.

 

The queen Vasumati was worthy of such a husband. She was of high birth and of a sweet temper, and so great was her beauty that it seemed as if the god of love had formed her for his own special delight, by uniting in her single person everything that is most beautiful in the world.

 

Among the king's counsellors were three appointed to the highest offices of state, men of great probity and intelligence, who had been long in his father's service and enjoyed his entire confidence? Their names were, Dharmapala, Padmodbhava, and Sitavarma.

 

The first of these had three sons, Sumantra, Sumittra, and Kamapala; the second, two, Susruta and Ratnodbhava; and the last had also two, Sumati and Satyavarma.

 

Of these sons the last-mentioned renounced worldly cares and employments, devoted himself to religious meditation, and leaving home as a pilgrim, travelled into many countries in order to visit the holy places which they contained.

 

Kamapala was of an opposite character; he thought only of present pleasure, frequented the company of gamblers and harlots, and roamed about the world seeking amusement and dissipation.

 

Ratnodbhava became a merchant, and in the way of traffic made many long journeys by land and sea. The other sons, after their fathers' death, succeeded to their offices, according to the custom of the country. When Rajahansa had reigned some years, war broke out between him and the king of the adjoining country of Malwa, the haughty and ambitious Manasara, whom he marched to encounter with a numerous army, making the earth tremble with the tread of his elephants, and disturbing even the dwellers in the sky with the clang of kettledrums louder than the roar of the stormy ocean.

 

Both armies were animated by equal rage, and terrible was the battle; the ground where they met was first turned to dust by the wheels of the chariots and the trampling of men and beasts, and then into mud through the streams of blood which flowed from the slain and wounded.

 

At last Rajahansa was victorious, the enemy was completely defeated, their king taken prisoner, and all Malwa lay open to the conqueror. He, however, having no wish to enlarge his dominions, released his prisoner on very easy terms, and returning to Pushpapuri, thought only of governing his own kingdom in peace, not expecting after such generous treatment any further trouble from his ambitious neighbour.

 

Though prosperous and happy in every other respect, the King of Magadha had one great cause of sorrow and anxiety--he had no son to succeed him. Therefore, at this time he made many prayers and offerings to Narayana the Creator of the World, who, having been thus propitiated, signified to the queen in a dream that she would bear a son; and not long afterwards her husband was gratified by the news of her pregnancy.

 

When the proper time arrived the king celebrated the ceremony called Simanta[1] with great magnificence, and invited several of the neighbouring kings to be present on the occasion; among them was the King of Mithila, with his queen, a great friend of Vasumati—to congratulate whom she had accompanied her husband.

 

One day after this, when the king was sitting in council with his ministers, he was informed that a certain venerable Yati was desirous to see him. On his admission the king perceived that he was one of his secret emissaries; dismissing, therefore, the rest of the counselors, he withdrew to a private apartment, followed by one or two of his most confidential ministers and the supposed Yati. He, bowing down to the ground, said in answer to the king's inquiry, "In order the better to perform your Majesty's commands, I have adopted this safe disguise, and have resided for some time in the capital of Malwa, from whence I now bring very important news. The haughty Manasara, brooding over his defeat, unmindful of your generous forbearance, and only anxious to wipe off his disgrace, has been for a long time endeavoring to propitiate with very severe penance the mighty Siva, whose temple is at Mahakala, and he has so far succeeded that the god has given him a magic club, very destructive of life and conducive to victory."

 

"Through this weapon, and the favor of Siva, he now thinks himself a match for you. He has for some time been strengthening his army, and will probably very soon invade this country. Your Majesty having received this information, will decide what ought to be done."

 

On hearing this report the ministers consulted together and said to the king, "This enemy is coming against us favored by the gods, and you cannot hope to resist him; we therefore advise that you should avoid fighting, and retire with your family and treasure to a strong fortress."

 

Although they urged this advice with many reasons, it was not

acceptable to the king, who determined to march at the head of his

army against the invaders. When, however, the enemy had actually

entered the country, the ministers succeeded in persuading their

master to send away the queen and her attendants, and a part of the

treasure, to a strong fortress in the forest of Vindhya, guarded by

veteran soldiers.

 

Presently the two armies met, the battle raged furiously, and

Manasara, eagerly seeking out his former conqueror, at last

encountered his chariot. Wielding the magic club, with one blow he

slew the charioteer and caused the king to fall down senseless.

 

The horses being freed from control, suddenly turned round, dashed off

at full speed from the field, and never stopped till, utterly

exhausted, they had dragged the chariot with the still insensible king

very near to the fortress to which the queen had retreated.

 

Meanwhile, some of the fugitives from the battle, having reached the

fortress, told the queen what had happened, and she, overwhelmed by

grief at the death of her husband, determined not to survive him.

Perceiving her purpose, the old brahmans and faithful counsellors, who

had accompanied her, endeavoured, to dissuade her, saying, "O

glorious lady, we have no certain information of the king's death:

moreover, learned astrologers have declared that the child to be born

of you is destined to become a mighty sovereign, therefore do not act

rashly or end so precious a life while the least hope remains."

 

Apparently influenced by these reasons, eloquently urged, the queen

remained silent, and seemed to renounce her purpose, but at midnight,

unable to sleep, and oppressed by intolerable grief, she rose up, and

evading her sleeping attendants and the guards outside, went into the

forest, and there, after many passionate lamentations and prayers that

she might rejoin her beloved husband, she formed a rope by twisting a

part of her dress, and was preparing to hang herself with it from the

branch of a tree, very near to the place where the chariot was

standing concealed by the thick foliage.

 

Just then the king, revived by the cool night wind, recovered

consciousness, and hearing his wife's voice, softly called her by

name. She, hardly believing her senses for joy, cried out loudly for

help, and soon brought to her assistance some of the attendants, who

carried him gently into the fort, where his wounds were dressed and

found not to be dangerous.

 

After a short time, more of those who had escaped joined the king; and

when he was sufficiently recovered, the charming Vasumati, instructed

by the ministers, said to him, "All your dominions are lost except

this fortress; but such is the power of fate; prosperity, like a

bubble on the water, or a flash of lightning, appears and disappears

in a moment. Former kings, Ramachandra and others, at least as great

as yourself, were deprived of their kingdoms, and suffered for a long

time the hardships of adversity; yet, through patience and

perseverance and the will of fate, they were at last restored to all

their former splendour. Do you therefore imitate them, and, laying

aside all anxiety, devote yourself to prayer and meditation."

 

To this advice the king gave ear, and went to consult a very

celebrated rishi, Vamadeva, intending, under his directions, to engage

in such penance as might lead to the accomplishment of his wishes.

 

Having been well received by the holy man, he said to him: "O father,

having heard of your great piety and wisdom, I have come hither for

guidance and help in a great calamity. Manasara, King of Malwa, has

overcome me, and now holds the kingdom which ought to be mine. I will

shrink from no penance which you shall advise, if by such means I may

obtain the favour of the gods, and be restored to my former power."

 

Vamadeva, well acquainted with all past, present, and future events,

thus answered him: "O friend, there is no need of penance in your

case; only wait patiently; a son will certainly be born to you who

will crush all your enemies and restore your fortunes." Then a voice

was heard in the air, saying, "This is true."

 

The king, fully believing the prophecy of the muni, thus miraculously

confirmed, returned to the forest, resolved to await patiently the

fulfilment of the promise; and shortly afterwards the queen brought

forth a son possessing all good marks,[2] to whom his father gave the

name of Rajavahana.

 

About the same time also sons were born to his four ministers. They

were named severally Pramati, Mitragupta, Mantragupta, and Visruta,

and were brought up together with the young prince.

 

Some time after the birth of these children, a certain muni brought a

very beautiful boy to the king, and said: "Having gone lately into the

forest to collect kusa-grass[3] and fuel, I met a woman, evidently in

great distress. When I questioned her, she wiped away her tears, and

told me, with a voice broken by sobs, that she was a servant of

Praharavarma, King of Mithila--that he, with his family, had gone to

Pushpapuri, to be present at the Simanta festival of the queen, and

had stayed there some time after the departure of the other guests;

that at that time the King of Malwa, furnished with a magic weapon,

had invaded the country; that in the battle which ensued, Praharavarma

had assisted his friend with the few soldiers who accompanied him, and

had been taken prisoner, but had been liberated by the conqueror; that

on his return he had been attacked in the forest by Bheels, and had

repulsed them with difficulty. 'I and my daughter,' she continued,

'who had charge of the king's twin children, were separated from the

rest in the confusion, and lost our way in the forest. There we

suddenly came upon a tiger. In my fright, I stumbled and fell, and

dropped the child, which I was carrying, on the carcase of a cow with

which the tiger had been engaged. At that moment an arrow struck and

killed the tiger. I fainted away, and when I recovered, I found myself

quite alone; my daughter had disappeared, and the child, as I suppose,

was carried off by the Bheels, who shot the beast. After a time I was

found by a compassionate cowherd, who took care of me till my wounds

were healed; and I am now wandering about in the hope of finding the

boy, and of hearing some tidings of my daughter and the other child.'

After giving me this account, she went on her way again, and I,

distressed that the son of your majesty's friend should be in such

hands, determined to set out in search of him.

 

"After some days I came to a small temple of Durga, where a party of

Bheels were about to make the child an offering to the goddess, in

the hope of obtaining success through her favour; and they were then

deliberating in what manner they should kill him, whether by hanging

him on the branch of a tree and cutting him to pieces with swords, or

by partly burying him in the ground and shooting at him with arrows,

or by worrying him with young dogs.

 

"Then I went up to them very humbly, and said: 'O Kiratas, I am an old

brahman; having lost my way in the forest, I laid down my child whom I

was carrying, while I went away for a moment to try to find an opening

out of the dense thicket; when I came back he was gone. I have been

searching for him ever since; have you seen him?' 'Is this your

child?' said they. 'O yes!' I exclaimed. 'Take him, then,' they

replied; 'we respect a brahman.' Thus I got possession of the boy,

and, blessing them for their kindness, took him away as quickly as

possible, and have now brought him here, thinking he will be best

under your majesty's protection."

 

The king, though grieved at the calamity of his friend, rejoiced that

the child was saved from such a death; and giving him the name of

Upaharavarma, had him brought up as his own son.

 

Not long after this, Rajahansa went to bathe at a holy place, and in

returning, as he passed by a group of Chandalas, he observed a woman

carrying a very beautiful boy. Being struck by the appearance of the

child, he said "Where did you get this beautiful boy, who is like a

king's son? Surely he is not your own child! pray tell me."

 

She answered: "When the Bheels attacked and plundered the King of

Mithila near our village, this child was picked up and brought to me

by my husband, and I have taken care of him ever since."

 

The king being convinced that this was the other child of his friend,

the King of Mithila, by fair words and gifts induced the woman to give

him up, and took him to the queen, giving him the name of

Apaharavarma, and begging her to bring him up with her own son.

 

Soon afterwards, a disciple of Vamadeva brought a beautiful boy to the

king, and said "As I was returning from a pilgrimage to Ramatirtha, I

saw an old woman carrying this child, and asked her how she came to be

wandering there. In answer to my questions, she told me her story,

saying, 'I was the servant of a rich man, named Kalagupta, living in

the island of Kalayavana, and I waited on his daughter Suvritta. One

day a young merchant, named Ratnodbhava, son of a minister of the

King of Magadha, arrived in the island, and having become acquainted

with my master, he married his beautiful daughter.

 

"'After some time, he was desirous of visiting his family, and being

unwilling to leave behind his young wife, who was then not far from

childbirth, he took her with him, and me as her nurse.

 

"'We embarked on board a ship, and had at first a favourable voyage;

but when approaching the land, we were overtaken by a storm, and a

great wave broke over the ship, which went down almost immediately. I

found myself in the water near my young mistress, and managed to

support her till we got hold of a plank, by means of which we at last

reached the shore. Whether my master was saved or not I do not know,

but I fear that he perished with the rest of those on board, whom we

never saw again.

 

"'The coast where we landed appeared to be uninhabited, and the poor

lady, being unable to walk far, after much suffering of mind and body,

gave birth to this child under a tree in the forest. I have just left

her, in the hope of finding some village where I may obtain

assistance; and by her wish I have brought the child with me, since

she is incapable of taking care of it.'

 

"The woman had hardly finished speaking when a wild elephant, breaking

through the bushes, came suddenly upon us, and she was so frightened

that she let the child fall, and ran away.

 

"I hid myself behind a tree, and saw the elephant take up the child

with his trunk, as if about to put it into its mouth. At that moment

he was attacked by a lion, and let the child fall. When the two beasts

had moved from the spot, I came from my hiding-place just in time to

see the child taken up by a monkey, who ran up a high tree. Presently

the beast let the child drop, and as it fell on a leafy branch, I took

it up uninjured by the fall, or the other rough treatment which it had

received.

 

"After searching for the woman some time in vain, I took the child to

my master, the great muni Vamadeva, and I have now brought it to you

by his command."

 

The king, astonished at the preservation of the child under such

adverse circumstances, and hoping that Ratnodbhava might have escaped

from the shipwreck, sent for Susruta to take charge of his brother's

child, to whom he gave the name of Pushpodbhava.

 

Some days after this the queen went up to her husband with a child in

her arms, and told him, when he expressed his surprise "Last night I

was suddenly awakened from sleep and saw a beautiful lady standing

before me, holding this child. She said to me: 'O queen, I am a

Yaksha, daughter of Manibhadra, and wife of Kamapala, the son of your

husband's late minister, Dharmapala; by command of Kuvera, I have

brought this my child to you, that he may enter the service of your

son, who is destined to become a mighty monarch.'

 

"I was too much astonished to ask her any question, and she, having

laid down the child near me, disappeared."

 

The king, greatly surprised, especially that Kamapala should have

married a Yaksha, sent for the child's uncle, Sumittra, and committed

the boy to his care, giving him the name of Arthapala.

 

Not long after this another disciple of Vamadeva brought a very

beautiful child to the king, and said: "My lord, I have lately been on

a pilgrimage to several holy places, and on my way back, happening to

be on the bank of the river Kavari, I saw a woman carrying this child,

and evidently in great distress. On being questioned by me, she wiped

away her tears, and with difficulty told me her story, saying, 'O

brahman, Satyavarma, the youngest son of Sitavarma, a minister of the

King of Magadha, after travelling about a long time, visiting all holy

places as a pilgrim, came to this country, and here married a

Brahman's daughter, named Kali. Having no children by her, he took as

his second wife her sister Gauri, and by her he had one son, this

child.

 

"'Then the first wife, envious of her sister, determined to destroy

the child; and having, with some false pretence, enticed me, when I

was carrying the child, to the bank of the river, she pushed us in. I

contrived to hold my charge with one hand, and to swim with the other

till I met with an uprooted tree carried down by the rapid current. To

this I clung, and after floating a long distance, was able at last to

land at this place; but in getting away from the tree I disturbed a

black serpent which had taken refuge there, and having been bitten by

it, I now feel that I am dying.' As she spoke, the poison began to

take greater effect, and she fell on the ground.

 

"After trying in vain the power of charms, I went to look for some

herb which might serve as an antidote; but when I returned the poor

creature was dead.

 

"I was much perplexed at this occurrence, especially as she had not

told me the name of the village from which she came, nor could I

conjecture how far off it might be, so that I was unable to take the

child to its father.

 

"Therefore, after collecting wood and burning the body, I have brought

the child to you, thinking that he will be best taken care of under

your protection."

 

The king, astonished that so many children should have been brought in

such a wonderful manner, and distressed at not knowing where to find

Satyavarma, gave the child the name of Somadatta, and committed him to

the care of his uncle, Sumati, who received him with great affection.

 

These nine boys, thus wonderfully collected together, became the

associates and play-fellows of the young prince, and were educated

together with him.

 

When they were all nearly seventeen, their education was regarded as

complete, for they had not only been taught the vedas and the

commentaries on them, several languages, grammar, logic, philosophy,

&c., but were well acquainted with poetry, plays, and all sorts of

tales and stories; were accomplished in drawing and music, skilled in

games, sleight of hand and various tricks, and practised in the use of

weapons. They were also bold riders and drivers of horses and

elephants; and even clever thieves, able to steal without detection;

so that Rajahansa was exceedingly delighted at seeing his son

surrounded by a band of such brave, active, clever companions and

faithful followers. One day about this time Vamadeva came to visit

the king, by whom he was received with great respect and reverence.

Seeing the prince perfect in beauty, strength, and accomplishments,

and surrounded by such companions, he said to Rajahansa: "Your wish

for a son has indeed been fully gratified, since you have one who is

all that you could desire. It is now time for him to go out into the

world and prepare himself for the career of conquest to which he is

destined.".

 

The king listened respectfully to the advice of the muni, and

determined to be guided by it; having therefore given his son good

advice, he sent him forth at a propitious hour, to travel about in

search of adventure, accompanied by his nine friends.

 

After travelling for some days, they entered the forest of Vindhya,

and when halting there for the night they saw a rough-looking man,

having all the appearance of a Bheel, but wearing the sacred cord

which is the characteristic of a brahman.

 

The prince, surprised at such an incongruity, asked him who he was,

how he came to be living in such a wild place, and how, with all the

appearance of a forester, he was wearing the brahminical cord.

 

The man, seeming to be aware that his questioner was a person of

importance, answered respectfully, "O prince, there are in this forest

certain nominal brahmans, who, having abandoned the study of the

vedas, religious obligations, and family duties, are devoted to all

sorts of sinful practices, and act as leaders of robber bands,

associating with their followers and living as they live.

 

"I, Matanga by name, am the son of one of these, and was brought up

to be a robber like them. Since I have been grown up I have often

assisted in plundering expeditions, when they would fall suddenly on

some defenceless village, and carry away not only all the property on

which they could lay their hands, but several of the richest of the

inhabitants, whom they would keep prisoners till a ransom had been

paid, or till, compelled by torture, they confessed where their money

was concealed.

 

"On one of these occasions, when my companions were ill-treating a

brahman, I was seized by a sudden feeling of compassion and

remonstrated with them. Finding words of no avail, I stood before him,

and was killed by my own men while fighting on his behalf.

 

"After death I went down to the regions below, and was taken before

Yama, the judge of the dead, sitting on a great throne inlaid with

jewels.

 

"When the god saw me prostrate before him he called one of his

attendants and said: 'The time for this man's death is not arrived,

and moreover, he was killed in defending a brahman; therefore, after

showing him the tortures of the wicked, let him return to his former

body, in which he will in future lead a holy life.'

 

"By him I was shown some sinners tied to red-hot iron bars, some

thrown into great tubs of boiling oil, some beaten with clubs, some

cut to pieces with swords; after which my spirit re-entered the body,

and I awoke to consciousness, lying alone, grievously wounded, in the

forest.

 

"In this state I was found by some of my relations, who carried me

home and took care of me till my wounds were healed.

 

"Shortly after this I met with the brahman whom I had rescued, and he,

grateful for the service which I had rendered him, read to me some

religious books, and taught me the due performance of religious rites,

especially the proper way of worshipping Siva.

 

"When he considered me sufficiently instructed, he quitted me, giving

me his blessing, and receiving many thanks from me for his kindness.

 

"Since then I have separated myself from all my former associates, and

have lived a life of penance and meditation in this forest,

endeavouring to atone for my past sins, and especially seeking, to

propitiate the mighty deity who has the half-moon for his crest; and

now, having told you my history, I have something to communicate

which concerns you alone, and beg you to withdraw with me to hear it

in private."

 

The two then went aside from the rest of the party, and the stranger

said, "O prince, last night, during sleep, Siva appeared to me and

addressed me thus: 'Matanga, I am pleased with your devotions; they

shall now have their reward. North of this place, on the bank of the

river which flows through the Dandaka forest, there is a remarkable

rock, glittering with crystal and marked with the footsteps of Gauri.

Go thither; in the side of the rock you will see a yawning chasm,

enter it and search till you find a copper plate with letters engraved

on it; follow the directions therein contained, and you will become

King of Patala. That you may know this not to be a mere dream, a

king's son will come to this place to-morrow, and he will be your

companion in the journey.'

 

"I have in consequence anxiously awaited your coming, and now entreat

you to go with me to the place pointed out in the vision."

 

The curiosity of the prince was much excited by Matanga's story, and

he readily promised to be his companion; fearing, however, that his

friends would be opposed to his purpose, he did not on his return tell

them anything of what he had heard, and at midnight, when they were

all fast asleep, he slipped away without disturbing them, and went to

join Matanga, who was waiting for him at a place which had been agreed

on, and the two walked on till they came to the rock indicated by Siva

in the vision.

 

Meanwhile, the rest of the party, uneasy at the disappearance of the

prince, sought for him all over the forest, and not finding him,

determined to disperse, and continue the search in different

countries; and having arranged where to meet again, took leave of each

other, and set out separately in different directions.

 

Matanga, entirely believing the vision, and rendered still more

confident by the companionship of the prince, fearlessly entered the

cavern, found the copper plate and read the words engraved on it.

Following the directions therein contained, they went on in darkness,

groping their way through long passages, till at last they saw light

before them and arrived at the subterranean country of Patala.

 

After walking some distance further, they came to a small lake,

surrounded by trees, with a city in view.

 

Here they stopped, and Matanga begging the prince to watch and guard

against interruption, collected a quantity of wood and lighted a large

fire, into which he threw himself with many charms and incantations,

and presently came forth with a new body full of youth, beauty, and

vigour, to the great astonishment of his companion.

 

Hardly was this change effected, when they saw coming towards them

from the city a procession, headed by a beautiful young lady

splendidly dressed, and adorned with very costly jewels. Approaching

Matanga, she made a low obeisance, and, without speaking, put a very

precious gem into his hand. Being questioned by him, she answered,

with tears in her eyes and in a soft musical voice, "O excellent

brahman, I am the daughter of a chief of Asuras, and my name is

Kalindi; my father, the ruler of this subterranean world, was slain

by Vishnu whom he had offended, and as he had no son, I was left his

heir and successor, and suffered great distress and perplexity.

 

"Some time ago I consulted a very holy Siddha, who had compassion on

me, and told me, 'After a time, a certain mortal, having a heavenly

body, will come down here from the upper world; he will become your

husband, and reign prosperously with you over all Patala'.

 

"Trusting to this prophecy, I have waited impatiently, longing for

your coming as a Chataka longs for rain, and am now come, with the

consent of my ministers and people, to offer you my hand and kingdom."

 

Matanga, delighted at such a speedy fulfilment of the promise given in

the vision, gladly accepted her offer, and with the approbation of

his companion, was soon afterwards married to her amid great

festivity.

 

Rajavahana was treated with great respect and kindness by Matanga and

his bride; but after seeing all the wonders of the place, his

curiosity was satisfied, and he was desirous of returning to the upper

world.

 

At his departure, a magic jewel was given him by Kalindi, which had

the power of keeping off from the possessor of it hunger, thirst,

fatigue, and other discomforts; and Matanga accompanied him for a part

of the way. Walking through darkness as before, the prince at last

reached the mouth of the cavern and came forth into the open air.

 

Having missed all his companions, he was uncertain where to direct his

steps, and wandered on till he came to a large park, outside a city,

where a great concourse of people was assembled, and he there sat down

to rest.

 

As he sat watching the various groups, he saw a young man enter the

park, accompanied by a lady and followed by a numerous retinue, and

they both got into one of the swings placed there for the amusement of

the festal crowd.

 

Presently the eye of the new-comer rested on the prince; with signs of

great joy he jumped down, exclaiming, "O what happiness! That is my

lord Rajavahana," and, running to him, bowed down to his feet, saying

"Great is my good fortune in meeting you again." Rajavahana, affected

by equal pleasure, warmly embraced him, saying, "O my dear friend

Somadatta, how happy I am to see you once more!"

 

Then they sat down together under a shady tree, and the prince

inquired: "What have you been doing all this time? Where have you

been? Who is this lady? And how did you get all these attendants?"

Somadatta, thus questioned, began the recital of what he had done and

seen.

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

ADVENTURES OF SOMADATTA.

 

 

My lord, having great anxiety on your account, I wandered about in

various countries. One day, when stooping to drink from a cool, clear

stream, near a forest, I saw something bright under the water, and

having taken it up, found it to be a ruby of very great value.

 

Exhausted by fatigue and the scorching heat of the sun, I went into a

small temple to rest, and saw there a brahman with a number of

children, all looking wretched and half-starved. He seemed to regard

me as a possible benefactor, and when questioned, readily told me his

story; how his wife had died, leaving him with the care of all these

children, and how, having no means of subsistence, he had wandered

about in the hope of obtaining some employment; but had got nothing

better than the charge of this small temple, where the offerings were

not sufficient to support him and his family.

 

I asked him--"What is that camp which I see at some distance?"

 

He answered--"The Lord of Lata, Mattakala by name, hearing again and

again of the great beauty of Vamalochana, daughter of Viraketu,

sovereign of this country, asked her in marriage, and was refused.

Being determined to obtain her, he raised an army and besieged Patali,

the capital city. Viraketu finding himself unable to resist the enemy,

purchased peace by giving up his daughter, and Mattakala, thinking

that the marriage can be celebrated with greater magnificence in his

own country, has deferred it till his return. He is now on his way

home with a small part of his army, the rest having been dismissed;

and he is staying at present near this forest to enjoy the pleasures

of the chase. The princess is not with her intended husband, but under

the care of Manapala, one of her father's officers, who is said to be

very indignant at the surrender of the lady; you may see his camp at

no great distance from the other."

 

While thanking the poor man for his information, a thought came into

my mind--here is a very poor and deserving man, I will give him the

jewel which I have found; and I did so.

 

He received the gift with profuse thanks, and set out immediately to

try to dispose of it; while I lay down there to sleep.

 

After a time I was awakened by a great clamour, and saw the brahman

coming towards me with his hands tied behind him, driven along, with

blows of a whip and much abuse, by a party of soldiers.

 

On seeing me, he called out, "There is the thief; that is the man who

gave me the jewel."

 

Upon this the soldiers let him go, and, seizing me, refused to listen

to my remonstrances, or to my account of the manner in which I had

found the ruby. They dragged me along with them, and having put

fetters on my feet, thrust me into a dungeon, saying, "There are your

companions," pointing at the same time to some other prisoners

confined in that place.

 

When I recovered my senses--for I was half stunned by the violence

with which I had been pushed in--I said to my fellow-prisoners, "Who

are you, and what did the soldiers mean by calling you my companions?

for you are quite strangers to me."

 

Those prisoners then told me the story of the King of Lata, which I

had already heard from the brahman, and further said, "We were sent by

Manapala to assassinate that king, and broke into the place where we

supposed him to be. Not finding him, we were unwilling to come away

empty-handed; we therefore carried off everything of value within our

reach and made our escape to the forest. The next morning there was an

active pursuit, our hiding-place was discovered, we were all captured,

and the stolen property taken from us, with the exception of one ruby

of great value, which had disappeared. The king is exceedingly angry

that this cannot be found; our assertion that we have lost it is

disbelieved, and we are threatened with torture to-morrow, unless we

say where it is hidden."

 

Having heard the robbers' story, I was convinced that the ruby in

question was the one which I had found and given to the brahman, and I

now understood why these men were supposed to be my accomplices.

 

I told them who I was, how I had found the jewel, and had been

unjustly arrested on account of it, and exhorted them to take courage

and join me in an attempt to escape that night. To this they agreed,

and at midnight we managed to overpower the jailors and knock off our

fetters; and having armed ourselves with weapons which we found in the

prison, we cut our way through the guards, and reached Manapala's camp

in safety. The next day, men sent by the King of Lata came to

Manapala, and said--"Some robbers, who were caught after breaking into

the king's dwelling, have made their escape, and are known to have

come here; give them up immediately, or it will be the worse for you."

 

Manapala, who only wanted an excuse for a quarrel, having heard this

insulting message, his eyes red with anger, answered,--"Who is the

King of Lata, that I should bow down to him? What have I to do with

that low fellow? Begone!"

 

When the men returned to their master and told him the reception they

had met with, he was in a furious rage, and, disregarding the

smallness of the force which was with him, marched out at once to

attack Manapala, who was quite prepared to meet him.

 

When I entered the camp, after my escape, Manapala, who received from

his servants an exaggerated account of my coolness, dexterity, and

courage, had treated me with great honour, and now I offered my

services in the approaching fight. They were gladly accepted, and I

was furnished with an excellent chariot and horses guided by a skilful

charioteer, a strong coat of mail, a bow and two quivers full of

arrows, as well as with other weapons.

 

Thus equipped, I went forth to meet the enemy, and seeking out the

leader, soon found myself near him. First confusing him with arrows

poured upon him in rapid succession, I brought my chariot close to

his, and suddenly springing into it, cut off his head at a blow.

 

Seeing the king fall, his soldiers were discouraged, and fled; the

camp was taken, much booty gained, and the princess led back, to her

father. He having received an account of the victory, and of my share

in it, through a messenger sent from Manapala, came forth to meet us

when we entered the city, and received me with great honour. After a

time, as I continued daily to increase in favour with him, he bestowed

on me the hand of his daughter, and declared me his successor.

 

Being thus arrived at the height of prosperity and happiness, I had

but one cause of sorrow--my absence from you. I am on my way to

Mahakala, to worship Siva there. I have stopped at this place, hoping,

at a festival so much frequented, I might at least hear some tidings

of you, and now the god has favoured his worshipper, and through this

happy meeting all my wishes are fulfilled.

 

Rajavahana, who delighted in valour, having heard Somadatta's story,

while expressing his sorrow for his undeserved imprisonment,

congratulated him on the happy result of it, and told him his own

adventures.

 

He had scarcely finished the relation of them when a third person came

up, and the prince, warmly greeting him, exclaimed, "O, Somadatta,

here is Pushpodbhava." Then there were mutual embracings and

rejoicings, after which they all three sat down again, and Rajavahana

said: "Somadatta has told me his adventures, but I know nothing of the

rest of my friends. What did you do when you missed me that morning in

the forest?" Then Pushpodbhava respectfully spoke as follows:--

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

ADVENTURES OF PUSHPODBHAVA.

 

 

My lord, your friends being convinced that you had gone on some

expedition with the brahman, and knowing nothing of the direction

which you had taken, were greatly perplexed. At last we agreed to

separate, each going a different way, and I, like the rest, set out by

myself. One day, being unable to bear the heat of the noonday sun, I

sat down in the shade of a tree at the bottom of a mountain. Happening

to look up, I saw a man falling from the rock above, and he came to

the ground very near me.

 

On going up to him, I found that he was still alive, and having

revived him by throwing cold water over him, and by other means, I

found that he had no bone broken, and did not appear to have received

any serious injury.

 

When he was sufficiently recovered, I asked him who he was and how he

came to fall from the precipice. With tears in his eyes, and a feeble

voice, he said: "My name is Ratnodbhava; I am the son of a minister of

the King of Magadha; travelling about as a merchant, I came, many

years ago, to the island of Kalayavana. There I married a merchant's

daughter, and going with her by sea to visit my relations, was

overtaken by a violent storm, during which the ship sank, and I was

the only person saved.

 

"After reaching the shore, I wandered about for some time in a strange

country, and, unable to bear my misery, was about to put an end to my

life, when I was stopped by a Siddha, who assured me that after

sixteen years I should find my wife. Trusting to this promise, I have

endured life through all these years; but the appointed time having

passed without any sign of the fulfilment of the prophecy, I could

hold out no longer, and threw myself from the top of this precipice."

 

At that moment the voice of a woman in distress was heard not far off,

and saying to him whom I recognised as my father, "Take courage, I

have good news for you; only wait a moment," I ran off in the

direction of the place whence the voice had proceeded, and soon came

in sight of a large fire and two women near it, the one trying to

throw herself into the flames, the other struggling to prevent her.

Going to the help of the latter, I soon got the lady away, and

brought her and her companion to the place where my father was lying.

I then said to the old woman, "Pray tell me what all this means? How

came you to be in such a place, and why did the lady wish to destroy

herself?"

 

With a voice broken by sobs, she answered me: "This lady, whose name

is Suvritta, is the daughter of a merchant in the island of

Kalayavana, and the wife of Ratnodbhava. While crossing the sea with

her husband, there was a great storm, the ship sank, and this lady and

I, her nurse, were the only persons saved. A few days afterwards she

gave birth to a son in the forest; but through my ill-fortune the

child was lost, having been seized by a wild elephant. Afterwards we

two wandered about in great misery, and she would have put an end to

her life had we not met with a holy man, who comforted her with the

assurance that after sixteen years she would be reunited with her

husband and son. Relying on this prophecy, she consented to wait, and

we have spent all these years living near his hermitage; but the

sixteen years were ended some time ago, and having lost all hope, she

was about to end her wretched life by throwing herself into a fire

which she had made, when you so opportunely came to my assistance."

 

Hearing this story, my father was unable to speak from astonishment. I

made him known to my mother, and myself to both of them, to their very

great joy; and my mother seemed as if she would never weary of kissing

and embracing me.

 

After a time, when we were all more composed, my father began to

inquire about the king and his own relations, for during all these

years he had heard nothing of them. I told him everything--how the

king had been defeated, and had been living in the forest; your birth,

and the wonderful preservation of myself and my companions; how we had

all set out together; how we had lost you, and how I was now searching

for you.

 

As soon as my father was able to walk, I placed him and my mother

under the care of a certain muni, not very far off, and set out again

on my travels. Just at this time I had heard that under the ruins of

an ancient city, overgrown by trees, a great treasure was supposed to

be concealed; and as I possessed a magic ointment which, when applied

to the eyes, enabled me to see through the ground, I determined to

try to dig it up. I therefore got together some strong young men with

the promise of good pay, went to the place, and succeeded in finding a

large quantity of gold and silver coin. While I was thus engaged, a

caravan of merchants came to that neighbourhood, and halted there for

a day or two. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I purchased of

them sacks for holding the coin, and some strong oxen to carry them. I

then dismissed my men, well satisfied with their share, and joined the

caravan, where I soon made friends with the leader, the son of a

merchant at Oujein, to which place he was then going.

 

On our arrival at the city, he introduced me to his father,

Bandhupala, by whose means I obtained permission from the King of

Malwa to reside there. When I had taken a house, safely deposited the

money, and established my parents in it, I was anxious to set out

again in search of you.

 

Bandhupala, seeing this, said to me: "You have already spent much time

in searching for your friend, and may spend much more in the same

manner to no purpose, if you have no clue to guide you. Now I am

skilled in augury and the language of birds; it is probable that I may

obtain some indications for you; wait, therefore, patiently for the

present. Meanwhile, my house is always open to you."

 

To this I agreed, and having great pleasure in his society, was much

with him, and soon had other attractions there, for I fell in love

with his beautiful daughter, Balachandrika.

 

Though I had not declared my passion, I was convinced, from her looks

and from many things which I observed, that she was equally in love

with me, and therefore anxiously sought an opportunity of speaking to

her in private.

 

One day, Bandhupala, wishing to obtain information about you by

listening to the voices of birds, went with me into a park near the

city, and while he waited under the trees, hearing the birds, I walked

on, and had the good fortune to see my beloved alone, in another part

of the park.

 

Although she was evidently pleased at seeing me, and did not reject my

suit, I observed that she was distressed and dispirited, and inquired

the cause.

 

She told me, "Some time ago the old king abdicated in favour of his

son Darpasara, who is now gone on a pilgrimage to the Himalaya

Mountains, having first appointed as joint regents the two sons of his

father's sister, Charmavarma and Daruvarma.

 

"The former of these two alone has the management of affairs; for the

latter, given up to evil deeds, makes use of his power only for the

indulgence of his licentious passions.

 

"He has seen me during my attendance on the Princess Avantisundari,

has endeavoured to seduce me, and I am in constant fear of his

violence, for he hesitates at nothing in the indulgence of his wicked

desires."

 

She told me this reluctantly, and with much agitation; but I comforted

her with the assurance of my love, and the promise of finding some

means to free her from his annoyance.

 

After some reflection, I said to her, "This is the plan which I

propose. Your friends must give out in public that a certain Siddha

has declared--'Balachandrika is guarded by a demon, who will allow no

man to have intercourse with her without his consent. Whoever,

therefore, wishes to marry her, must first pass one night in company

with her and one female friend, and if he comes out uninjured, or is

able to overcome the demon, he may then safely marry her.'

 

"If Daruvarma, on hearing this, shall be alarmed, and abstain from

further annoyance, so much the better; if, on the other hand, he

persists in his wicked purpose, do you appear to consent, and say, 'If

you think you can overcome the demon, I am willing to meet you, but it

must be openly, in your own house; and then, whatever happens, no

blame can fall on my family.'

 

"To this proposal he will be sure to agree, and you may go to his

house without fear, for I will accompany you, disguised as a woman,

and will manage to kill that wretch, without danger to you or myself,

after which there will be no obstacle to our marriage; for, when I ask

your father, he will certainly consent, seeing the great love between

us, for he has shown great regard for me, and knows my property and

connections. But you must tell him now what has been arranged between

us, that he may be induced to spread abroad the report about the

demon, and to consent to your going to Daruvarma's house."

 

Balachandrika was delighted with my plan, and promised to do her best

to carry it out. She had full confidence in my courage and skill, and

felt sure that I should succeed in what I had undertaken. Then,

reluctantly leaving me, and looking back again and again, she walked

slowly home.

 

After quitting her I returned to her father, who was well satisfied

with the result of his observations, and told me that he had

ascertained that after thirty days I should meet you; and we walked

together to his house, talking over the matter.

 

After a few days, Balachandrika informed me that Daruvarma, undeterred

by the report which was now spread about the city, that she was

haunted by a demon, had continued his importunities, and that she had

consented to go to his house that evening.

 

Meanwhile I had secretly made my preparations, and concealed in a

lonely place everything required for my disguise. At the proper time,

when it was quite dark, I went there, changed my dress, met the lady,

and accompanied her to the house of the prince, who received us with

great respect; and not having the slightest suspicion of my being

other than what I seemed to be, sent away all his attendants, and

conducted us to a room in a small detached building. There he seated

her on a beautiful soft couch, inlaid with jewels, and expressing his

great delight at seeing her, brought forth and offered to us both very

handsome presents of dresses, ornaments, perfumes, &c. After some

conversation--as if no longer able to restrain himself--he sat down

beside her, and, regardless of my presence, threw his arms round her,

and kissed her again and again.

 

This was more than I could bear; suddenly seizing him by the throat, I

threw him on the ground, and despatched him with blows of hand, foot,

and knee, before he could call out or give an alarm.

 

Then we both screamed out loudly, and I rushed forth, as if in a

great fright, calling out, "Help! help! the horrible demon is killing

the prince!"

 

Hearing this, and seeing my apparent agitation, the attendants and

guards hastened in great confusion to the room, where they found the

prince dead, and the lady so agitated that she was unable to give an

account of what had happened; the demon had of course disappeared.

 

Some police were in attendance, suspicious of fraud, but even they did

not imagine two women to be capable of such an act of violence, and

the general opinion was that the story of the demon was founded on

truth, and that the prince well deserved the fate he had met with.

Balachandrika was therefore suffered to leave: I had already escaped

in the first alarm and confusion, had changed my dress, and reached

home in safety.

 

No further inquiry was made, and no suspicion fell on me; I duly

married my beloved, and as no harm happened to me, the demon was

supposed to have been propitiated.

 

The day indicated by my wife's father having arrived, I came here,

fully expecting to see you, and now my happiness is complete.

 

When Rajavahana had heard this story, he again related his own

adventures; after which he took leave of Somadatta, saying, "Come to

me as soon as possible, when you have paid your devotions at Mahakala,

and have taken your wife and her attendants home;" and he then

accompanied Pushpodbhava into the city of Avanti.

 

There he was hospitably received in the house of his friend, who

introduced him by his real name to Bandhupala, but gave out in the

city that he was a young brahman, worthy of all honour for his

learning and ability; and the prince remained for some time in that

city, treated with great respect and consideration by all who became

acquainted with him.

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

MARRIAGE OF AVANTISUNDARI.

 

 

During the stay of Rajavahana at Avanti, the season of spring arrived,

when the great festival of Kama is celebrated. The trees, breaking

into flower, were filled with the song of birds and the hum of bees,

and their branches were waved by the soft south wind, blowing, loaded

with perfume, from the sandal groves of Malaya. The lakes and pools

were thickly covered with lotus blossoms, among which innumerable

water-birds were sporting, and the feelings of all were influenced by

the charms of the season, and prepared for the worship of the god of

love.

 

On the day of the festival, the parks and gardens were crowded with

people, some engaged in various sports, some walking about or sitting

under the trees, looking at the players.

 

Among them was the Princess Avantisundari, who was sitting on a sandy

spot, under a large tree, attended by her women, especially by her

dear friend Balachandrika, and making offerings to the god of various

perfumes and flowers.

 

The prince also walked in the park with his friend Pushpodbhava; and

wishing to see the princess, of whose grace and beauty he had already

heard, contrived to approach; and being encouraged by Balachandrika

with a gesture of the hand, came and stood very near her.

 

Then, indeed, having an opportunity of observing her, he was struck by

her exceeding beauty. She seemed to him as if formed by the god of

love with everything most beautiful in the world; and, as he gazed, he

felt more and more entranced, till almost unconsciously he was deeply

in love.

 

She, indeed, seeing him beautiful as Kama himself, was almost equally

affected, and, pervaded by strong feeling, trembled like the branch of

a creeping plant agitated by a gentle wind.

 

Then he thought, "Never have I seen anything so lovely. She must have

been formed by some singular accident, for there is no one like her in

the world."

 

She, indeed, ashamed to look openly at him, and half concealing

herself among her attendants, looked at him stealthily from time to

time, and while he had all his thoughts fixed on her, was saying to

herself, "Who can he be? Where does he come from? Happy the maidens

whose eyes are delighted with such beauty! happy the mother who has

such a son! What can I do? how can I find out who he is?"

 

Meanwhile Balachandrika, quick in discrimination, perceived the

impression they had made on each other; and not thinking it desirable

to declare his name and rank before the other attendants, or in such a

public place, introduced him to the princess, saying, "This is a very

learned and clever young brahman, a friend of my husband, worthy of

your notice. Allow me to recommend him to your favourable

consideration."

 

The princess, delighted at heart, but concealing her feelings,

motioned to the prince to sit down near her, and gave him betel,

flowers, perfumes, &c., through one of her attendants.

 

Then Rajavahana, more deeply in love even than the princess, thought

to himself, "There surely must be some reason for this very sudden

attraction which I feel towards her. She must have been my beloved

wife in a former existence. Perhaps a curse was laid upon us; and now

that is removed. If so, the recognition ought to be mutual; at all

events I will try what I can do to produce the same feeling in her

which exists in my mind."

 

While he was considering how this might be accomplished, a swan

approached the princess, as if expecting to be fed or caressed; and in

sport, she desired Balachandrika to catch it.

 

Inspired by this circumstance with a happy thought, Rajavahana said to

the princess, "Will you allow me to tell you a short story? There was

formerly a king called Samba. When walking one day together with his

beloved wife at the side of a small lake in the pleasure-grounds, he

saw a swan asleep, just under the bank. Having caught it, he tied its

legs together, put it down again on the ground, and saying to his

wife, 'This bird sits as quiet as a muni; let him go where he likes,'

amused himself with laughing at its awkward attempts to walk. Then the

swan suddenly spoke: 'O king, though in the form of a swan, I am a

devout brahman; and since you have thus, without cause, ill-treated me

while sitting quiet here, engaged in meditation, I lay my curse upon

you, and you shall endure the pain of separation from your beloved

wife.'

 

"Hearing this, the king, alarmed and distressed, bowed respectfully to

the ground, and said, 'O mighty sage, forgive an act done through

ignorance.'

 

"Then that holy person, having his anger appeased, answered, 'My words

cannot be made of no effect. I will, however, so far modify the curse

that it will not take place during your present existence; but in a

future birth, when you are united to the same lady in another body,

you must endure the misery of separation from her for two months,

though you will afterwards enjoy very great happiness with her; and I

will also confer on you both the power of recognising each other in

your next existence,'--I beg of you therefore not to tie this bird

which you were wishing to catch."

 

The princess, hearing this story, was quite ready to believe it; and

from her own feelings was convinced that it really referred to a

previous existence of herself, now brought to her recollection; and

that the love which she felt springing up in her heart was directed

towards one who had formerly been her husband. With a sweet smile, she

answered: "Doubtless Samba tied the bird in that way on purpose to

obtain the power of recognition in another birth; and it was very

cleverly managed by him."

 

From that moment they seemed perfectly to understand each other, and

sat without speaking, their hearts full of happiness.

 

Presently the mother of the princess--the queen of the ex-king

Manasara, who had also come with her attendants into the park, joined

her daughter; and Balachandrika having seen her approaching, made a

sign to the prince, upon which he and his friend slipped on one side,

and hid themselves behind some leafy bushes.

 

After the queen had stayed a short time talking to her daughter and

looking at the games, she set out to return, and the princess

accompanied her.

 

Before going, she turned round, as if addressing the swan, but

intending the speech for the prince, who was anxiously watching her

from his hiding-place, "Though you came near me so lovingly just now,

I may not stay longer with you: I must leave you and follow my mother:

do not forget me or imagine that I neglect you, for I am still fond of

you."

 

With these words she walked slowly away, looking with longing eyes in

the direction of her lover.

 

On their return to the palace, the princess heard from Balachandrika a

full account of Rajavahana and his adventures, through which she was

even more in love than before; and having no opportunity of seeing him

again, became listless and indifferent to her usual occupations, lost

her appetite, wasted away, and at last lay on her bed, burning with

fever.

 

In vain did her devoted attendants use all their efforts to diminish

the heat by means of cold water, fanning, and other remedies; and she,

seeing their distress, said to her faithful Balachandrika: "Ah, dear

friend, all you can do is to no purpose; they call Kama the god with

five arrows; but surely this is a wrong name, for I feel as if pierced

by him with hundreds of arrows. They call the wind from Malaya

cooling; but to me it only increases the fever, as if blowing up the

fire which consumes me: my own necklace, the contact of which was

formerly agreeable, now feels as if smeared with the poison of

serpents. Give up your exertions; the prince is the only physician who

can cure me; and how can he come to me here?"

 

Then Balachandrika thought to herself: "Something must be done, and

that without delay, or this violent passion of love will surely cause

her death. I will at least see the prince, and try if it is possible

to bring about a meeting."

 

Having thus resolved, she begged the princess to write a few lines to

her lover; and committing her to the care of the other attendants, she

went to the house of her husband. There she found Rajavahana almost in

the same state as the princess, burning with fever, throwing himself

about restlessly on his couch, and bemoaning his hard fate to his

friend.

 

On seeing Balachandrika, he started up, saying, "Oh, how welcome is

the sight of you! I am sure you must be the bearer of good news. Sit

down here and tell me about my darling."

 

She answered: "The princess is suffering like yourself, longing to see

you; and has now sent me with this letter."

 

Eagerly opening it, he read--

 

"Beloved--Having seen your beauty, delicate as a flower, faultless,

unrivalled in the world, my heart is full of longing. Do you likewise

make your heart soft."

 

Having read this, he said: "Your coming here is refreshing to me as

water to a withered plant; you are the wife of my very dear friend,

Pushpodbhava, and I know how attached you are to my darling, therefore

I can speak freely to you. Tell her that when she left the grove that

day she carried off my heart with her, and that I long to see her even

more than she longs for me; tell her only not to despond; the entrance

to her apartments is indeed difficult, but I will contrive to see her

by some means or other. Come back soon, and, having thought over the

matter, I will tell you what is to be done." With this message,

Balachandrika went to rejoice her friend; and the prince, though much

comforted, could not remain quiet, but walked to the park, to have the

pleasure of seeing at least the place where he had first met his

charmer. There he stayed a long time together with his friend, looking

at her footsteps in the sand, the withered flowers which she had

gathered and thrown down, the place where she had sat, and the shrubs

from which he had watched her, and listening to the murmur of the wind

among the leaves, the hum of the bees and the song of the birds.

Presently, they saw approaching them a brahman, splendidly dressed,

followed by a servant. He, coming up to the prince, saluted him; and

the prince, returning the salute, asked who he was. He answered "My

name is Vidyeswara. I am a famous conjurer, and travel about

exhibiting my skill for the amusement of kings and nobles. I have now

come to Oujein, to show off my skill before the king." Then, with a

knowing smile, he added, "But what makes you look so pale?"

 

Pushpodbhava, thinking to himself this is just the man to help us,

answered, "There is something in your appearance which induces me to

look on you as a friend, and you know how sometimes intimate

friendship arises from a very short acquaintance; I will therefore

tell you why my friend is thus sad. Not long ago, he, the son of a

king, met the Princess Avantisundari on this very spot, and they fell

in love with each other. From the impossibility of meeting, both are

suffering, and the prince is brought into this condition which you

see."

 

Vidyeswara, in reply, looking at the prince, said, with a smile, "To

such as you, with me for an ally, nothing is impossible. I will,

through my skill, contrive that you shall marry the princess in the

presence of her father and his court; but you must follow my

directions exactly, and she must be informed of her part in the affair

through some trusty female friend."

 

Then, having given the necessary directions, the conjurer went his

way. Rajavahana also returned to the house, and when he had given

Balachandrika, who came again in the evening, the directions received

from the conjurer, and a loving message of encouragement for the

princess, he anxiously awaited the morrow, unable to sleep from the

thought of the expected happiness, and fluctuating between alternate

hopes and fears. In the morning, Vidyeswara, having collected a large

troop of followers, went to the palace and announced himself to the

doorkeeper, saying, "Tell the king the great conjurer is arrived."

Manasara, who had heard of his great skill, and was desirous of seeing

it, ordered him to be immediately admitted, and, after the usual

salutations, the performance began.

 

First, while the band was playing, peacocks' tails were waving, and

singers imitating the plaintive notes of birds, to excite the feelings

and distract the attention of the hearers, the conjurer turned round

violently several times, with his eyes half-closed, and caused great

hooded serpents to appear and vultures to come down from the sky to

seize them.

 

After this, he represented the scene of Vishnu killing Hiranyakasipu,

chief of the Asuras, to the great astonishment of the spectators;

then, turning to the king, he said, "It is desirable that the

performance should end with something auspicious; I propose,

therefore, to represent a royal marriage, and one of my people will

act as your daughter, another as a prince, endowed with all good

qualities. But first I must apply to your eyes this ointment, which

will give you preternatural clearness of vision." To all this the king

consented.

 

Meanwhile, the princess had contrived to slip out unobserved, and

stood among the conjurer's people. Rajavahana also stood ready, and

the performance began. Thus, under the disguise of a piece of acting,

the conjurer, being a brahman, was able to complete the marriage with

all proper rites and ceremonies without any suspicion on the part of

the king that it was his own daughter whom he saw before him; and the

others, also unsuspecting, only admired the skill of the conjurer in

making the actress so like the lady whom she represented. When the

performance was ended, the conjurer, having been liberally rewarded by

the king, dismissed his hired attendants and departed.

 

In the confusion and excitement caused by the conjurer's performance,

Rajavahana and the princess slipped unnoticed into her apartments,

where he was safe, for the present at least, her attendants being all

devoted to her, and careful to keep the secret.

 

He was thus able to enjoy the society of his bride without

interruption; to give her a full account of his life and adventures,

and to teach her many things of which she was ignorant; so that she

became more and more attached to him, and admired his knowledge and

eloquence as much as she had before admired his beauty.

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF RAJAVAHANA.

 

 

Thus the princess, listening with delight and astonishment to the

sweet and eloquent words of her husband, and he never tired of

contemplating her beauty and enjoying her caresses, lived for some

time in the greatest happiness, without care or anxiety for the

future.

 

One night, when both were sleeping, the prince had a remarkable dream.

He seemed to see an old swan, whose legs were tied together with lotus

fibre, approach the bedside; at that moment he awoke with a feeling of

pressure on his feet, and found himself bound with a slender silver

chain, bright as the rays of the moon. The princess awoke at the same

time, and seeing her husband thus fettered, screamed out loudly in her

fright. The attendants in the adjoining apartments, hearing the

scream, thought something dreadful must have happened. They rushed

into the room, added their cries to hers, and forgetting all their

former precautions, left the doors open, so that the guards outside,

hearing the clamour, entered and saw the prince.

 

When about to seize him, they were awed by his dignity, and contented

themselves with giving information to the regent, Chandavarma, who, on

receiving it, came immediately to the place.

 

Looking at the prince with eyes burning with the fire of anger, he

began to recollect him, and said, "So! this is that conceited brahman

who has been deceiving the people; making them believe that he is

wonderfully clever; the friend of that fellow the husband of the

wicked Balachandrika, the cause of my brother's death. How is it

possible that the princess should have fallen in love with such a

paltry wretch, overlooking a man like me? She is a disgrace to her

family, and shall soon see her husband impaled on a stake."

 

Then, with his forehead disfigured by a fearful frown, he continued to

abuse the prince; and having tied his hands behind him, dragged him

from the room.

 

Rajavahana, naturally brave, and encouraged by belief in that former

existence the remembrance of which had so wonderfully arisen in his

mind, bore all the insults with firmness, and saying to the princess,

"Remember that speech of the swan, have patience for two months, and

all will be well," submitted quietly to the imprisonment.

 

When the ex-king and queen were informed of what had happened, they

were greatly distressed on their daughter's account, and exerted

themselves to save the life of their son-in-law; but the regent, in

whom all authority was vested, resisted their entreaties; and only on

condition of their resigning some of the few privileges which still

remained to them did he consent to defer the execution till he had

communicated with Darpasara, and learned his pleasure on the subject.

He confiscated the property of Pushpodbhava, and threw him and his

family into prison; and being about to march against the King of Anga,

and unwilling to leave the prince behind, lest he should be liberated

by the old king, he caused a wooden cage to be made, in which his

prisoner was shut up and carried with the army.

 

Treated thus like some wild beast, roughly shaken and neglected,

Rajavahana would have suffered greatly had he not been protected by

the magic jewel given to him in Patala, and which he had contrived to

conceal in his hair.

 

Chandavarma had some time before this asked in marriage Ambalika, the

daughter of Sinhavarma, King of Anga, and, indignant at a refusal, was

now marching against him, to take vengeance for the insult, and get

possession of the princess. Advancing therefore with a large army, he

prepared to besiege Champa, the capital city.

 

Sinhavarma, being of a very impatient and impetuous disposition, would

not wait for the arrival of the allies who had been summoned to his

assistance, and were then on the march; but throwing open the gates,

went forth to meet the enemy.

 

A terrible battle ensued, in which both kings performed prodigies of

valour. At last Sinhavarma was taken prisoner, and his army so

completely defeated, that the conqueror entered and took possession of

the city without opposition.

 

Chandavarma, having now the princess in his power, determined to make

her his wife at once: he therefore treated her father with more

consideration than he would otherwise have done, though he put him in

confinement, and caused it to be proclaimed throughout the city that

the wedding would be celebrated with much splendour the next morning.

 

Just then a messenger arrived from Kailasa, bringing a letter from

Darpasara, in which he had written, "O fool! should there be any pity

for the violator of the harem? If the old king, my father, now in his

dotage, was foolish enough to favour the criminal for the sake of his

worthless daughter, you had no need of his permission, and ought not

to have been influenced by him. Let that vile seducer be immediately

put to death by torture, and his paramour be shut up in prison till I

come."

 

Chandavarma, who had intended to march against the allies advancing

for the assistance of his captive, on receiving these commands, gave

orders to his attendants, saying, "To-morrow morning take that vile

wretch from his cage, and set him at the palace gate. Have ready,

also, a fierce elephant, suitably equipped, which I shall mount

immediately after the wedding, to overtake my army in march against

the enemy; and as I set out, I will make the elephant trample the

life out of that criminal."

 

Accordingly, the next morning, the prince was brought by the guards to

the gate of the palace, and the elephant placed near him.

 

While he stood there, calmly awaiting death, which now seemed

inevitable, he suddenly felt his feet free, and a beautiful lady

appeared before him.

 

She humbly bowing down said: "Let my lord pardon his servant for the

injury which she has unconsciously caused. I am an Apsaras, born from

the rays of the moon. One day, as I was flying through the air,

wearing a white dress, a swan, mistaking me for a lotus flower,

attacked me. While struggling to keep off the bird, the string of my

necklace broke, and the pearls fell on the grey head of a very holy

rishi, bathing, in the clear water of a Himalayan lake.

 

"In his anger, he cursed me, saying: 'O wicked one, for this offence

you are condemned to be changed into a piece of unconscious metal.'

 

"When, however, I entreated forgiveness, he was so far appeased, that

he modified the curse, and granted that I should still retain

consciousness, and remain as a fetter on your feet for two months

only.

 

"The change took place immediately, and I fell to the ground, turned

into a silver chain.

 

"About this time, Virasekhara, a Vidyadhara, partly of human descent,

had become acquainted with Darpasara, then performing penance on the

great mountain; and thinking he might get assistance from him in a

feud in which he was involved, had made an alliance with him, and

engaged to marry his sister, the Princess Avantisundari.

 

"Being desirous of visiting his intended bride, he flew through the

air to Avanti. On his way he saw the silver fetter, descended to the

ground, picked it up, and continued his flight.

 

"Having made himself invisible, he entered without difficulty the

apartment of the princess, and was astonished and enraged on finding

her lying in your arms. His first impulse was to kill you; but some

irresistible influence restrained him, so that he contented himself

with putting the silver fetter on your feet, and departed without

otherwise disturbing you.

 

"You have, in consequence, suffered all this misery. Now my

transformation is ended, and you are so far free; tell me what I can

do for you in atonement for the suffering which I have caused?"

 

The prince, not thinking of himself, said only, "Go at once to her who

is dearer to me than life, and comfort her with news of me."

 

At that moment a great clamour was heard, and some persons, rushing

from the interior of the palace, called out, loudly, "Help! help!

Chandavarma is murdered! killed by an assassin, who stabbed him as he

was about to take the hand of the princess; and that man is now moving

about the palace, cutting down all who attempt to seize him."

 

Rajavahana, when he heard this, without losing a moment, and before

the guards had perceived his feet to be unfettered, with a sudden

spring leapt on the elephant intended for his destruction; and having

thrust off the driver, urged the beast at a rapid pace, pushing aside

the crowd right and left as he went.

 

Having got into the courtyard, he shouted with a loud voice, "Who is

the brave man that has done this great deed, hardly to be accomplished

by a mere mortal? Let him come forth and join me; we two united are a

match for a whole army."

 

The slayer of Chandavarma hearing this, came out of the palace, and

quickly mounting the elephant, who held down his trunk to receive him,

placed himself behind the prince.

 

Great was their mutual astonishment and joy when they recognised each

other, the prince exclaiming, "Is it possible? Is it really you, my

dear friend Apaharavarma, who have done this deed?" and the other

saying, "Do I indeed see my Lord Rajavahana?" Having thus recognised

and embraced each other, they turned the elephant round, and passing

through the crowd in the courtyard, went into the main street, now

thronged by soldiers. Through these they forced their way, employing

with good effect the weapons placed on the elephant for the use of

Chandavarma.

 

Before, however, they had gone far, they heard the noise of battle at

a distance, and saw the soldiers in front of them scattered in all

directions.

 

Soon they saw coming towards them a very well-dressed, handsome man,

riding on a swift elephant. On reaching them, he made obeisance to the

prince, saying, "I am sure this is my Lord Rajavahana;" and then

turning to Apaharavarma, said, "I have followed your directions

exactly, and hastened on the advancing allies. We have just now

encountered and utterly defeated the enemy, so that there is no fear

of any further resistance."

 

Then Apaharavarma introduced the stranger to the prince, saying, "This

is my dear friend Dhanamittra, well worthy of your respect and

consideration; for he is as brave and clever as he is handsome. With

your permission, he will liberate the King of Anga, and re-establish

the former authorities; meanwhile, we will go on to a quiet place, and

wait there for him and the princes who have come so opportunely to our

assistance."

 

Rajavahana agreed to this. They went a little further, and dismounted

at a pleasant cool bank, shaded by a large banian tree, and close to

the Ganges.

 

When they had been for some time seated there, Dhanamittra returned,

accompanied by Upaharavarma, Pramati, Mitragupta, Mantragupta,

Visruta, Praharavarma King of Mithila, Kamapala lord of Benares, and

Sinhavarma King of Anga.

 

The prince, astonished and delighted at such an unexpected meeting,

warmly embraced his young friends, and very respectfully saluted, as a

son, the elder men introduced by them. Many questions were asked on

both sides. After some conversation, Rajavahana told them his own

adventures, and those of Somadatta and Pushpodbhava, and then begged

his friends to relate theirs.

 

Apaharavarma spoke first.

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

ADVENTURES OF APAHARAVARMA.

 

 

My Lord, when you had gone away with the brahman, and we were unable

to find you, I wandered about searching for you like the rest of your

friends.

 

One day I heard by chance of a very famous muni, living in a forest on

the banks of the Ganges, not far from Champa, who was said to have

supernatural knowledge of past and future events.

 

Hoping to obtain some information about you, I determined to seek him

out, and accordingly came here for that purpose. Having found the way

to his dwelling, I saw there a miserable-looking man, very unlike the

holy devotee whom I had pictured to myself. Sitting down, however,

beside this person, I said, "I have come a long way to consult the

celebrated rishi Marichi, having heard that he is possessed of very

wonderful knowledge. Can you tell me where to find him?"

 

Deeply sighing, he answered: "There was, not long ago, such a person

in this place; but he is changed--he is no longer what he was."

 

"How can that be?" I asked.

 

"One day," he replied, "while that muni was engaged in prayer and

meditation, he was interrupted by the sudden arrival of a famous

actress and dancer, called Kamamanjari, who, with dishevelled hair and

eyes full of tears, threw herself at his feet.

 

"Before he had time to ask the meaning of this, a confused crowd of

her companions came up, headed by an old woman, the mother of

Kamamanjari, apparently in great agitation and distress.

 

"When they were all a little quieted, he asked the girl the meaning of

her tears, and for what purpose she had come to him.

 

"She answered, apparently with great respect and bashfulness, 'O

reverend sir, I have heard of your great wisdom, and your kindness to

those who are willing to give up the pleasures of this world for the

sake of the next. I am tired of the disgraceful life I am leading, and

wish to renounce it.' Upon this, her mother, with her loose grey hairs

touching the ground, interrupted her, and said, 'Worthy sir, this

daughter of mine would make it appear that I am to blame, but indeed I

have done my duty, and have carefully prepared her for that profession

for which, by birth, she was intended. From earliest childhood I have

bestowed the greatest care upon her, doing everything in my power to

promote her health and beauty. As soon as she was old enough, I had

her carefully instructed in the arts of dancing, acting, playing on

musical instruments, singing, painting, preparing perfumes and

flowers, in writing and conversation, and even to some extent in

grammar, logic, and philosophy. She was taught to play various games

with skill and dexterity, and how to dress well, and show herself off

to the greatest advantage in public; I hired persons to go about

praising her skill and beauty, and to applaud her when she performed

in public, and I did many other things to promote her success, and to

secure for her liberal remuneration; yet, after all the time, trouble,

and money which I have spent upon her, just when I was beginning to

reap the fruit of my labours, the ungrateful girl has fallen in love

with a stranger, a young brahman, without property, and wishes to

marry him and give up her profession, notwithstanding all my

entreaties, and representations of the poverty and distress to which

all her family will be reduced if she persists in her purpose; and

because I oppose this marriage, she declares that she will renounce

the world, and become a devotee.'

 

"The muni compassionately said to the girl: 'You will never be able to

endure the hardships of such a life as you propose to lead--a life so

different from that to which you have been accustomed. Heaven may be

attained by all who duly perform the duties of their station; take my

advice then, give up all thoughts of an undertaking which you will

never accomplish, comply with your mother's wishes, return with her,

and be content with that way of life in which you have been brought

up.'

 

"With many tears, she replied: 'If you will not receive me I will put

an end to my wretched life.'

 

"Finding her so determined, the muni, after some reflection, said to

the mother and her companions: 'Go away for the present; come back

after a few days; I will give her good advice, and you will no doubt

find her tired of living here, and quite ready to return.'

 

"Thereupon they all went away, and she was left alone with the muni.

At first she kept at a distance from him, taking care not to interrupt

him in his meditations, but waiting on him unobtrusively, rendering

him many little services, watering his favourite trees, and gathering

sacred grass, and flowers for offerings to the gods. Then, as he

became more accustomed to her, she would amuse him with songs and

dances, and at last began to sit near him and talk of the pleasures of

love.

 

"One day, as if in all simplicity, she said 'Surely people are very

wrong in reckoning virtue, wealth and pleasure as the three great

objects of life?'

 

"'Tell me,' he answered, 'how far do you regard virtue as superior to

the other two?'

 

"'A very wise man like you,' she replied, 'can hardly learn anything

from an ignorant woman like me; but since you ask, I will tell you

what I think. There is no real acquisition of happiness or wealth

without virtue; but the latter is quite independent of the other two.

Without it, a man is nothing; but if he fully possesses it, he is so

purified by it that he may indulge in pleasures occasionally, and any

sin connected with them will no more adhere to him than dust to a

cloud. Look at all the stories of the amours of the gods. Are they the

less worshipped on that account? I think, therefore, that virtue is a

hundred times superior to the other two.' With many such specious

arguments as these, and by her winning ways, she contrived to make him

madly in love; so that, forgetting all his religious duties and former

austerities, he thought only how to please her.

 

"When she perceived this, she said to him 'Let us stay no longer in

the forest, but go to my house in the town, where we can have many

more enjoyments.' Utterly infatuated, he was ready to do her

bidding; and she, having procured a covered carriage, took him in the

evening to her own house.

 

"The next day there was a great festival, at which the king was

accustomed to appear in public and converse familiarly with his

subjects. On such occasions he would often be surrounded by actresses

and dancing girls.

 

"On that day Kamamanjari persuaded the muni to put on a gay dress and

accompany her to the park where the festival was held; and he,

thinking only of her, and miserable if she were away from him even for

a short time, consented to go. On their arrival there, she walked with

him towards the king, who, seeing her, said, with a smile: 'Sit down

here with that reverend man.' And all eyes were directed towards him.

 

"Presently one of the ladies rose up, and, making a low obeisance to

the king, said: 'My lord; I must confess myself beaten by that lady; I

have lost my wager and must now pay the penalty.'

 

"Then a great shout of laughter arose; the king congratulated

Kamamanjari, and presented her with handsome ornaments.

 

"After this she walked away with the astonished muni, followed by a

great crowd, shouting applause.

 

"Before reaching her own house, she turned round to him with a low

obeisance, and said: 'Reverend sir, you have favoured me with your

company a long time; it will be well for you to attend now to your own

affairs.'

 

"Not having his eyes yet opened, he started as if thunderstruck, and

said: 'My dear, what does all this mean? What has become of the great

love which you professed for me?'

 

"She smilingly answered: 'I will explain it all.'

 

"'One day, that lady whom you saw in the park had a dispute with me as

to which was the most attractive. At last she said: "You boast of your

powers, forsooth; go and try them on Marichi. If you can persuade him

to accompany you here, then indeed you may triumph; I will acknowledge

myself your inferior."

 

"'This was the reason of my coming to you; the trick has been

successful; I have won my wager, and have now no further occasion for

you.'

 

"Bowed down by shame and remorse, the unhappy man slunk back to his

hermitage, miserable and degraded, bitterly lamenting his folly and

infatuation, but resolved to atone for it by deep repentance and

severe penance.

 

"I am that wretched man; you see, therefore, that I am now quite

unable to assist you. But do not go away; remain in Champa. After a

time I shall recover my former power."

 

While he was telling me this sad story, the sun set, and I remained

with him that night. The next morning, at sunrise, I took leave of

him, and walked towards the city. On my way thither, as I passed a

Buddhist monastery, I was struck by the appearance of a man sitting at

the side of the road near it. He was extraordinarily ugly; his body

naked, with the exception of a rag round his waist; and his face so

covered with dirt, that the tears he was shedding left furrows as

they rolled down his cheeks.

 

Moved by compassion, I sat down near him, and inquired the reason of

his distress, at the same time adding, "If it is a secret, I do not

wish to intrude upon you."

 

"'My misfortunes are well known,' he answered; 'I can have no

objection to telling you if you wish to hear them.' Then he began:

 

"My name is Vasupalika; but from my ugliness I am generally known as

Virupaka,--the deformed. I am the son of a man of some importance

here, who left me a large fortune.

 

"Among my acquaintance there was a person called Sundaraka, remarkably

handsome, but poor. Between us two some mischievous persons strove to

excite a rivalry, pitting my money against his beauty and

accomplishments.

 

"One day, in a large assembly, having got up a dispute between us,

they said: 'It is not beauty or wealth, but the approbation of the

ladies, which stamps the worth of a man; therefore, let the famous

actress, Kamamanjari, decide between you, and agree that she shall say

who is the best man.' To this we both assented, and she, having been

previously prepared for the part which she was to perform, was brought

into the room, and passing by my rival with scorn, sat down by my

side, and, taking a garland from her own head, placed it on mine.

 

"Greatly flattered and delighted by this preference, and blinded by a

mad love for her, which I had not ventured to express, I most readily

gave myself up to her seductions, and in a very short time she

obtained such an influence over me that everything I possessed was at

her disposal. Before long, she had so plundered me, and led me into

such extravagance, that I was reduced to the most abject poverty, and

had nothing I could call my own but this miserable rag which you now

see me wear.

 

"Cast off by her, blamed and reproached by the elder men, laughed at

and despised by those who had been my companions in prosperity, I knew

not where to turn; and as a last resource I entered this Buddhist

monastery, where I obtain a bare subsistence.

 

"Distressed by the cutting off of my long hair, and by numerous

restrictions as to eating, drinking, and sleeping, like a newly-caught

elephant; and hearing every day abuse of those gods whom I used to

worship; filled with remorse for my departure from the religion of my

ancestors; I am utterly miserable and only wish for death."

 

Having heard this pitiable story, I did what I could to comfort him,

and said, "Do not despair; I have heard already of that wicked woman,

and think I shall be able to find some means of making her restore to

you a part at least of your property."

 

After leaving him, I went into the city, and finding, from popular

report, that it was full of rich misers, I resolved to bring them to

their proper condition by taking away their useless wealth.

 

Occupied by this thought, I went into a gaming-house, where I was much

interested and amused by watching the players and observing their

tricks, their sleight-of-hand, their bullying or cringing behaviour to

each other; the reckless profusion of the winners, the muttering

despair of those who had lost.

 

While overlooking a game of chess, I smiled and made some remark about

a bad move of one of the players, upon which his opponent, turning to

me with a sneer, said "No doubt you think yourself very clever, but

wait till I have finished off this stupid fellow, and I will play you

for any stake you like."

 

When the game was over, accepting his challenge, I sat down to play,

and won altogether sixteen thousand dinars. Half of this sum I kept

for myself, and half I divided between the gaming-house keeper and the

players who were present. The latter were loud in praise of my

generosity, and of the skill which I had shown in beating that

boaster; the former asked me to dine with him, and I often went to

his house and became very intimate with him, and obtained from him

much information, especially such as had reference to my purpose.

 

One very dark night, fully directed by him, I set out, determined on

robbery, equipped with a dark dress, a short sword, a spade, a

crowbar, a pair of pincers, a wooden man's head,[4] a magic candle, a

rope and grappling-iron, a box with a bee in it,[5] and some other

implements.

 

Selecting a house where I knew there was much money, I made a hole in

the wall, and finding all quiet, enlarged it, entered boldly, and

carried off much booty.

 

As I was returning, looking cautiously about me, I came suddenly upon

a young woman, who was much alarmed at seeing me. Perceiving her

agitation, I spoke to her kindly, and assured her that I would much

rather assist than injure her.

 

Encouraged by my words, she told me her story: "My name is Kulapalika;

I am the daughter of a rich merchant in this city, and was from

childhood engaged to the son of another rich man, named Dhanamittra:

he, however, being of a very generous disposition, when he had

succeeded to his father's property was preyed on by pretended friends

and reduced to comparative poverty. Seeing this, my father refused his

consent to our marriage, and, in spite of my reluctance, is determined

to give me to a rich man, called Arthapati. To escape this marriage, I

have slipped out from home by a secret passage, rarely used, and am

going to the house of my lover, who is expecting me and will take me

away to some other country; pray do not detain me, but accept this."

So saying, she put one of her ornaments into my hand. I did not refuse

it, but walked by her side, intending to escort her to her

destination.

 

We had, however, only gone a few steps, when I saw coming towards us,

at no great distance, a large body of the citizen guard. Without

losing a moment, I said to the trembling girl, "Don't be alarmed; say

that I have been bitten by a serpent, and I will manage the rest."

 

By the time they reached us I had thrown myself on the ground, and lay

as if insensible, and she stood over me, crying. On being questioned,

she answered, with many tears, and in evident distress: "My husband

and I, coming from the country, lost our way, and have only lately

entered the city. Just now he was bitten by a serpent, and is all but

dead. Is there any one among you skilled in charms who can recover

him?"

 

Among the guard there chanced to be a very conceited man, who had

often boasted of his skill, and was now delighted to have an

opportunity of displaying it. He stood over me while the others

waited, and, with many gesticulations, muttered various charms

supposed to be efficacious in such a case; but finding all of no

avail, said at last, "Ah! it is too late; the poor man is past all

remedies: what a pity I did not see him sooner!" Then, joining his

companions, who were impatient to be off, he turned to the sobbing

girl and said: "He was evidently fated to die; who can prevail over

fate? It is useless to lament; nothing more can be done now; wait a

little while, and when we come back we will remove the body."

 

As soon as they were out of sight I rose up, took her to the house of

Dhanamittra, and said to him: "I met this lady just now; I have

brought her safely here, and now restore the ornament which she gave

me in her fright; for, though I am a robber, I would not steal from

one like her."

 

Delighted at seeing her, he answered: "O, sir, you have indeed

rendered me a great service in bringing this dear one in safety here;

such conduct is very extraordinary in a man of your way of life, and I

am quite unable to understand your motives for acting thus. At all

events, I am under very great obligation to you; command my services

in future."

 

After some further talk, I asked him: "Friend, what do you now intend

to do?"

 

"It will be impossible," he answered, "for me to live here if I marry

her without her father's consent; I propose, therefore, to leave the

town with her this very night."

 

"A clever man," I replied, "is at home in any place. Wherever he goes

he may say this is my country. But, in travelling, many hardships must

be endured--hunger, thirst, fatigue, and dangers from men and wild

beasts;--how will this tender girl be able to bear them?

 

"You seem to be wanting in wisdom and forethought in thus abandoning

home and country. Take courage! be guided by me, and you shall marry

her and live comfortably here. But first we must take her back to her

father's house."

 

To this he consented without hesitation, and we set out at once.

Guided by her, we entered through the secret passage, carried off

everything of value, and got away without exciting alarm.

 

Having hidden our booty in some old ruins, we were going home, when we

fell in with some of the city guard. Fortunately, there chanced to be

an elephant tied up at the side of the road. We quickly, therefore,

unfastened the rope, mounted him, and urged him at full speed; and

before the watchmen could recover from their confusion, were out of

sight. Halting the elephant close to the wall of a deserted garden, we

got over it with the help of the trees growing there, escaped on the

other side, and reached home undetected, where we bathed and went to

bed.

 

The next day we walked out carefully dressed, and were amused at

hearing an exaggerated account of our adventures of the preceding

night, which had caused much alarm and excitement in the city.

 

I had hoped, by robbing the old man, to prevent the marriage of his

daughter with Arthapati. But this hope was frustrated; for the latter

was not only willing to take Kulapalika without a dowry, but even made

presents to her father; and it was settled that the marriage should

take place at the end of a month.

 

Finding this to be the case, I felt that something more must be done;

and having hit upon a plan which I thought would be effectual, I gave

Dhanamittra directions how to act.

 

Accordingly, a few days afterwards, he went to the king, to whom he

was previously known, and having asked for a private audience, said:

"A very wonderful thing has happened to me, of which it seems right

that your majesty should be informed. You have known me as

Dhanamittra, the son of a very rich man. During my prosperity, I was

engaged to the daughter of a wealthy merchant; but when I was reduced

to poverty, he refused his consent to our marriage, and is now about

to give her to another.

 

"Driven to despair by the double loss of fortune and wife, I went into

a wood near the city, intending to put an end to my wretched life.

 

"There, when in the act of cutting my throat, I was stopped by a very

aged devotee, who asked the cause of the rash act.

 

"'Poverty, and contempt,' I answered.

 

"'There is nothing more foolish and sinful than suicide,' he replied.

'A man of sense will endure adversity rather than escape from it in

such a manner. Wealth, when lost, may be regained in many ways; but

life in none. A broken fortune may be repaired; a cut throat can never

be joined again. But why should I preach to you thus? Here is a remedy

for your misfortunes. This leather bag will give you abundant wealth.

I have used it for assisting the deserving; but now I am old and

infirm, and am not long for this world. I give it to you.

 

"'Go home; if you possess anything wrongfully acquired, restore it to

the right owner, and give away the rest of your property to brahmans

and the poor. When this has been done, put away the purse carefully;

and in the morning it will be found full of gold. Remember that

whoever possesses it must comply with these conditions, and that it

will yield its treasures only to a merchant like yourself, or to an

actress.'

 

"With these words, he handed me the purse, and immediately

disappeared.

 

"I have now brought the purse to your majesty, to know your pleasure

concerning it."

 

The king, though much astonished, believing the story, told him to

keep and enjoy it; and in answer to his entreaty, promised that any

one attempting to steal it should be severely punished.

 

After this, Dhanamittra, making no secret of his acquisition of the

purse, disposed of all his property somewhat ostentatiously, leaving

himself absolutely nothing but the clothes which he wore; and in the

morning, having filled the purse with gold--the proceeds of the

robbery--he showed it to his neighbours, who were fully convinced of

its magic powers.

 

The fame of the purse was thus spread abroad; and we were able to

account for our newly-acquired wealth, without incurring any suspicion

as to the manner of obtaining it.

 

At this time; for reasons which will presently appear, I induced

Vimardaka to enter the service of Arthapati; and directed him to use

all possible means to excite his master against Dhanamittra. In this

he had no difficulty; for the father of Kulapalika, hearing of his

sudden acquisition of wealth, did not even wait to be asked, but of

his own accord renewed the former engagement, and rejected Arthapati.

 

About that time it was publicly announced that a younger sister of

Kamamanjari--Ragamanjari by name--would make her first appearance as a

dancer and singer. Great expectations having been raised, a large

number of spectators, including myself and my friend Dhanamittra, were

present at the performance.

 

I was struck by her beauty the instant she appeared on the stage; but

when I heard her sweet voice, and saw her graceful movements, I was

perfectly enchanted, and unable to take my eyes off her for a moment.

 

The performance being ended, she withdrew, followed by the longing

eyes and loud applause of the spectators; and giving, as I fancied, a

significant look at me.

 

The next day I was anxious, restless, and unable to eat; and could do

nothing but roam about listlessly, or lie on the couch, thinking of

her, and making the excuse of a bad headache.

 

My friend, seeing me in this state, easily guessed the reason of it,

and said to me in private: "I know the cause of your uneasiness, and

can give you good hopes. That girl is virtuous, whatever her mother

and sister may be; and having watched her closely at the performance,

I am convinced that she was much struck with you; therefore, if you

are willing to make her your wife, there will be no great difficulties

to overcome as far as she is concerned; for, resisting all seductions

and the persuasions of her wicked mother and sister, she has declared:

'No man shall have me except as a wife; and I must be won by merit,

not by money.'

 

"On the other hand, her mother and sister, fearing lest she should be

withdrawn from the stage, have gone to the king, and obtained, through

many tears and entreaties, a decree that if any man shall take the

girl, either in marriage or not, without her mother's consent, he

shall be put to death like a robber. Therefore, when you have gained

her love, you must also obtain the mother's consent; and that can only

be done by means of a large bribe; she will not listen to any other

inducement."

 

"I am equal to all this," I answered; "I will win the young lady, and

find means to satisfy the old one." And I lost no time in

accomplishing my purpose. It was first necessary to make acquaintance

with Kamamanjari, and to this end I found out a woman often employed

by her as a messenger, and having gained her over by bribes, sent,

through her, a number of small presents, till at last Kamamanjari was

disposed in my favour, and received me at her house. Meanwhile I

contrived to have secret interviews with her beautiful sister, who

consented to be my wife. As soon as this was settled, I said to

Kamamanjari, "I am desirous of obtaining your mother's consent to my

marriage with your sister, who has accepted me. I know that if she

ceases to perform, you will lose a large income; and, therefore, offer

you in return something better and more certain. Procure for me the

desired permission, and you shall have Dhanamittra's magic purse,

which I will safely steal for you."

 

Delighted at the thought of possessing inexhaustible wealth, she

agreed to this; the mother's consent was formally given; and on the

day of my marriage I secretly handed over the promised purse.

 

Very soon after, Vimardaka, by my directions, in a large assembly,

began to abuse and insult Dhanamittra, who, as if much astonished,

said: "What does all this mean? Why should you annoy me? I am not

aware that I have ever given you offence."

 

He answered furiously: "You purse-proud wretch, do you think I will

not take my master's part? Have you not robbed him of his intended

wife, by bribing her father? Do you think he has no cause for anger

against you? His interests are mine; I am ready to risk my life for

him, and I will pay you off. Some day you shall miss that purse, the

source of the riches with which you are so puffed up." Saying this, he

rushed out of the place in a rage; and though nothing was done at the

time, his words were not forgotten.

 

Then Dhanamittra went to the king, and declaring that he had lost the

purse, mentioned his suspicion of Arthapati, and the reason for it.

He, having heard nothing of what his servant had said, when summoned

and asked "Have you a confidential servant named Vimardaka?" answered

without hesitation, "Certainly; he is a very trustworthy man, entirely

devoted to my interest."

 

"Bring him here to me."

 

Thus commanded, he searched everywhere for his servant, but was unable

to find him; and for a good reason, for I had furnished the man with

money, and sent him to Oujein, to look for you.

 

The supposed thief having disappeared, his master was put in prison

till further evidence could be procured, for no one but those in the

secret doubted that he was the instigator of the theft.

 

Meanwhile Kamamanjari, anxious to make use of the magic purse,

proceeded to fulfil the conditions attached to its use. She went

secretly to Virupaka, and restored the money of which she had robbed

him, and then gave away all her furniture, clothes, and ornaments.

This, however, she did so incautiously, that attention was drawn to

it; upon which Dhanamittra went again to the king, saying: "I suspect

that the actress, Kamamanjari, has got my purse; for though

notoriously avaricious, she is giving away everything she possesses,

and there must be some strong reason for such a proceeding."

 

In consequence of this information, she was summoned to appear the

next day, together with her mother; and the two women came in great

alarm to consult me.

 

I said to Kamamanjari: "No doubt you are suspected of having the

purse. This suspicion has arisen from your own imprudence, in giving

away your property so openly. I much fear that you will have to give

it up, and you will be fortunate if you escape without worse

consequences. But you must on no account implicate me; for then I

should be put to death, all my property would be confiscated, your

sister would die of grief, and you would be utterly ruined."

 

She answered, with many tears: "It is indeed my own fault, but you

shall be safe. That niggardly wretch, Arthapati, is known to be

intimate with me. I will say that I received it from him; and, as he

is already suspected of stealing it, I shall probably be believed."

 

To this I agreed, and the next day, when questioned, she at first

denied all knowledge of the purse, then admitted having received it,

but refused to say from whom, and at last, when threatened with

torture, confessed, apparently with great reluctance, that Arthapati

was the giver; and this being considered sufficient evidence against

him, he was condemned to death.

 

Then Dhanamittra interceded for him, saying. "A decree was formerly

made by one of your ancestors, that no merchant or trader should be

put to death for theft. I humbly entreat, therefore, that his life may

be spared."

 

To this the king consented, the poor wretch was banished, and all his

property confiscated, a portion of it being given to Kamamanjari, at

the earnest entreaty of Dhanamittra, who got back his purse, and

shortly afterwards married Kulapalika.

 

Having thus performed the promise to my friend, I increased my own

wealth, and kept up the reputation of the purse by going on with my

robberies, and so impoverished the rich misers, that some of them were

glad to receive a morsel of food from the beggars to whom they had

formerly refused help, and who were now enriched by my liberality.

 

Still no suspicion fell on me; but fate is all-powerful, and it was

decreed that I should be caught at last.

 

One night, sitting with my charming wife, intoxicated, partly with

wine and partly with her sweet caresses, I was seized with madness,

and started up, saying: "All the wealth in the city is not too much

for you; I will fill the house with jewels for your sake." Then, like

a furious elephant who has broken his chain, I rushed out, in spite of

her remonstrances, with a drawn sword, and attacked a body of police,

who happened to be passing. Shouting out, "This is the robber!" they

soon overpowered me, and I fell to the ground.

 

The shock sobered me at once, and all the horror of the situation into

which I had brought myself by my folly came into my mind. I thought to

myself, my intimacy with Dhanamittra is well known; suspicion will

fall on him; and unless I can turn it off, he, as well as my wife,

will be arrested to-morrow; and I quickly formed a plan by which they,

and perhaps I myself, might be saved. But no time was to be lost; and

as they were about to take me away, I called out to my wife's nurse,

Sringalika, who had followed me, "Begone, old wretch! and tell that

vile harlot your mistress, and her paramour, Dhanamittra, that she

will never see her ornaments, nor he his magic purse again. I care not

for life, if I am revenged on those two wretches."

 

The old woman being remarkably quick-witted, at once understood my

object in speaking thus, and very humbly accosting the police said:

"Worthy sir, I entreat you to wait a moment, while I ask your prisoner

where he has hid the ornaments of my mistress."

 

To, this they assented, and coming to me, she said: "O, sir, your

jealousy is without cause; whatever attentions that man may have paid

my mistress, she is not to blame. Now that you are taken from her, she

will have no means of support, and must go on the stage again. How

can she do this without her ornaments? Take compassion on her, and say

where you have hid them."

 

Then, as if my anger were appeased, I answered: "Why should I, who am

about to die, harbour resentment? Come close, and I will whisper where

I have put them." In this manner I managed to give her a few hurried

instructions. She went away, with many blessings on me, and thanks to

the men for their kindness; and I was taken to the king's prison.

 

At that time the governor of the prison was a very conceited young

man, named Kantaka, who had lately succeeded to the office by the

death of his father. When I was brought in, looking at me in a very

contemptuous manner, he said: "So you are the thief who has committed

so many robberies. If you do not give up the stolen property, and

especially the magic purse, you shall suffer every possible variety of

torture before you are put to death."

 

I answered, smiling, "Even though I should give up all the other

stolen property, I will never let the purse go back to that wretch

Dhanamittra, my greatest enemy. You may try all your tortures; you

will never get this secret out of me."

 

Finding the fear of torture to have no effect, the next day he tried

promises; and so went on from day to day, with alternate soothing and

threatening.

 

Meanwhile, my wounds were attended to, and I was well fed; so that I

had regained my strength when, one day, Sringalika made her

appearance, well dressed, and with cheerful countenance.

 

To my surprise, she was allowed to speak to me in private. She said to

me, joyfully "Your plan has succeeded. As you directed, I went to

Dhanamittra and told him, from you: 'You must go to the king, and say,

"The magic purse so lately restored has again been stolen by one whom

I regarded as a friend--a certain gambler, the husband of the actress

Ragamanjari. He has taken it from spite, being jealous of his wife, to

whom, from kindness, I often made presents. He is now in prison for

other offences; and if, he is put to death immediately, as he

deserves, I fear that I shall never recover my purse. I pray,

therefore, that he may not be executed before he has confessed where

it is concealed. For he admits having taken it; but declares that he

will not give it up, unless his life is spared." Your friend,

admiring your ingenuity, and having full confidence in your resources,

immediately went to the king and obtained his request, so that your

life is safe for the present.'

 

"Meanwhile, with the help of gifts furnished by my mistress, I have

formed an intimacy with the nurse of the Princess Ambalika, and have

been introduced by her to the princess, whose favour I have gained by

telling her amusing stories, and whom I have induced to feel an

interest in the misfortune of my mistress.

 

"One day, when I was standing near her in the gallery round the

court-yard of the palace, Kantaka, having some business or other,

passed through below us. Picking up a flower which the princess had

dropped, I let it fall on his head; and when he looked up to see from

whose hand it came, I managed to make the princess laugh at something

which I said; and the conceited fool, thinking that it was she who had

dropped it to attract his attention, went away looking quite pleased

and confused.

 

"That same evening I received a present for my mistress, a small

basket marked with the signet of the princess, and containing articles

of no great value. This I took to Kantaka; and begging him to observe

the strictest secrecy, made him believe that the princess had sent it

to him. He was even delighted when, another day, I brought him a dirty

dress, telling him that she had worn it.

 

"Finding him quite ready to believe this, and convinced that she was

in love with him, I kept up an imaginary correspondence, bringing

very loving messages from her, which I invented, and receiving many

from him in return, which I took care not to deliver. His presents, of

course, I kept for myself.

 

"In this manner I have raised his hopes very high; and to encourage

him still further, I said: 'I have heard from a learned astrologer,

with whom I am acquainted, that you have certain marks upon you which

indicate that you will one day be a king. This love on the part of the

princess tends to the fulfilment of the prediction. You are therefore

on the high road to fortune. If you have spirit enough to pursue it,

all you have to do now is to obtain a secret interview with the lady;

the rest will follow in due time.'

 

"'But how can I manage this?' he asked. 'The wall of the garden,' I

replied, 'communicating with the princess's apartments, is separated

from those of the gaol by a space of a few yards only. You could not

get over these walls; but you might make an underground passage, and

slip in unobserved; and I will take care that there shall be some one

to receive and conduct you to the princess. When once with her, you

are safe; for all her attendants are attached to her; not one would

betray the secret.'

 

"'But how can I make this underground passage?' he asked. 'I cannot

dig it myself, or employ workmen.'

 

"'Have you no clever thief here,' I replied, 'accustomed to such

work?'

 

"'Well suggested,' he answered. 'I have just the right man.'

 

"'Who is he?' I said.

 

"'That man who has stolen the magic purse,' said he. 'If he will set

to work with a good will he will soon dig his way through.'

 

"'Very good,' I answered. 'You must persuade him by promising to let

him go when the work is done. But it would never do for him to be in

the secret; therefore, when he has finished, put on his fetters again,

and report to the king that he is exceedingly obstinate; that you have

tried all other means to make him confess, and that nothing remains

but to put him to torture. No doubt the king will give orders

accordingly; and you can easily manage so to inflict it that he shall

die under it. When he is dead, your secret will be safe; you can visit

the princess as often as you like; and, doubtless, in the end the

king, rather than disgrace his daughter, will consent to your

marriage; and as he has no other child, will make you his successor.'

 

"With this proposal he was quite delighted; and has been treating you

well, that you may have strength for the work. He intends to ask you

to begin to-night; and has sent me to persuade you, believing me to be

devoted to his interests, and looking forward to some great reward

when he has got his wish."

 

Having heard this from the old woman, I gave her great praise, and

said: "Lose no time. Tell him I am quite ready to do the work."

 

After this, Kantaka came to me, told me what he wanted, and swore a

solemn oath that I should be liberated when the work was done; and I,

in return, swore to keep his secret.

 

Then he took off my fetters; I got a bath and a good dinner, and

presently set to work in a dark corner, under the wall. Soon after

midnight the work was done, and an opening made into the courtyard of

the women's apartments.

 

Before returning, I thought to myself "This man has sworn an oath

which he intends to break: for the preservation of my own life,

therefore, I shall be justified in killing him."

 

Having formed this resolution, I went back to the prison, where

Kantaka was waiting for me. He told me it was necessary to replace my

fetters for the present; and I appeared to acquiesce. But as he was

stooping to fasten them, I gave him a violent kick; and before he

could recover himself, I had snatched a short sword which he wore, and

cut off his head.

 

I then returned to Sringalika, who had remained in the prison, and

said to her: "I am not disposed to have had all this toil for nothing.

Tell me the way into the ladies' rooms. I will go there and steal

something before I make my escape."

 

Having received her directions, I passed again through the tunnel

which I had made, came up into the court-yard; and from thence entered

a large, lofty room lighted by jewelled lamps, where a number of women

were sleeping.

 

There, on a couch ornamented with beautifully carved flowers and

resting on lions' feet, I saw the princess, covered only by a thin

silken petticoat, half sunk into a soft white feather-bed, like

lightning on an autumn cloud.

 

Fast asleep, as if wearied by much play, she lay in a very graceful

attitude, with her delicate ancles crossed, her knees slightly drawn

up; one lovely hand laid loosely on her side, the other beneath her

head; her full bosom, slowly heaved by gentle breathing, illuminated

by the ruby necklace strung on burnished gold; the top-knot of her

loosened hair hanging down like some graceful flower; her lips so

bright that the opening of the mouth could hardly be distinguished;

her features in calm repose, shaded by her lovely ringlets.

 

I had entered so softly that no one was disturbed; and I stood gazing

for some time lost in admiration of her beauty, quite forgetting the

purpose for which I had come.

 

I thought, she is, after all, the lady of my heart. If I do not obtain

her, Kama will not suffer me to live; but how can I make known my love

to her? Were I now to wake her, she would start up with a cry of

alarm, and I should probably lose my life. I must think of some other

way of letting her know my love.

 

Then, looking round, I saw laid on a shelf a thin board prepared for

painting, and a box of paints and brushes. With these I made a hasty

sketch of the princess as she lay, and of myself kneeling at her feet,

and underneath it I wrote this verse:--

 

  "Of thee thy slave in humble attitude thus prays:

   Sleep on, not worn like me by pervading love."

 

I then painted on the wall near her a pair of chakravakas in loving

attitude, gently took off her ring, replacing it with mine, and

slipped out without disturbing any of the sleepers.

 

There was at that time among the prisoners a man named Sinhaghosha,

formerly a chief officer of police, but now imprisoned through a

false accusation made by Kantaka.

 

With this man I had already made acquaintance, and I now went to him

and told him how I had killed Kantaka. With his consent I went forth

from the prison, and walked away with Sringalika. We had not gone far

when we fell in with a patrol. I thought to myself I could easily run

away from them; but what would become of the poor old woman? she would

certainly be caught. Hastily determining, therefore, on what was best

to be done, I walked right up to them with unsteady gait and idiotic

look, and said: "Sirs, if I am a thief kill me, but you have no right

to touch this old woman."

 

She, perceiving my intention, came up, and very humbly said: "Honoured

sirs, this young man is my son. He has been for some time confined as

a lunatic; but was supposed to be cured, and I brought him home

yesterday. In the middle of the night, however, he started up, and

calling out: 'I will kill Kantaka and make love to the king's

daughter,' rushed out into the street. I have at last overtaken him,

and am trying to take him home. Will you be so good as to help me, and

tie his hands behind him that he may not get away again?"

 

As she said this, I called out: "O old woman, who ever bound a god or

the wind, Shall these crows catch an eagle?" and started off at full

speed. She, renewing her entreaties, begged them to pursue me; but

they only laughed at her, and said: "Do you think we have nothing to

do but to run after madmen? You must be as mad as he is to have taken

him out;" and so they went on their way.

 

I stopped when I found I was not pursued. She soon overtook me, and

we went to my house, to the great joy of my wife, who had scarcely

hoped for my deliverance.

 

In the morning I saw Dhanamittra, told him all that had happened, and

thanked him for following my directions so punctually.

 

After this I went to the forest, to see Marichi. I found him restored

to his former condition, and able to give me the desired information.

From him I learnt that you would be here about this time.

 

In the morning after my escape, Sinhaghosha informed the king of what

had happened, and how Kantaka had been killed when about to enter the

princess's apartments. Being found to be innocent of the crime of

which he was accused, he was appointed governor of the prison in

Kantaka's place.

 

Before the underground passage was filled up, he permitted me to pass

through it more than once to the princess, who was favourably disposed

towards me through the picture and verse, and still more by all that

Sringalika had said in my favour.

 

No great search was made after me, and by keeping quiet and going out

only at night I escaped further arrest.

 

You know how Chandavarma besieged Champa, and how Sinhavarma was

defeated and taken prisoner. When I heard this, and how the conqueror

intended to force the princess to marry him, I went to Dhanamittra and

said: "Do you go about among the ministers and officers of the

imprisoned king and the principal citizens, and tell them to be ready

to attack the enemy as soon as they hear of the death of Chandavarma.

I will engage to kill him to-morrow."

 

How Dhanamittra has performed his part you have just seen. As to

myself, I put on a dress suitable for the occasion, and, as many

persons were going in and out of the palace, managed to slip in

unobserved and get very near the intending bridegroom. Suddenly

stretching out my arm as he was about to take the hand of the

princess, I gave him a mortal wound with a sword; then saying a few

hasty words of encouragement to her, I defended myself against those

who endeavoured to seize me, till I heard your welcome voice, deep as

the sound of thunder, and had the happiness of embracing you.

 

Rajavahana, having heard this story, said "You have indeed shown

wonderful ingenuity and courage;" then he turned to Upaharavarma, and

said: "It is now your turn;" and he, having made due salutation, thus

began:--

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

ADVENTURES OF UPAHARAVARMA.

 

 

While wandering about like the others, I cams one day into the country

of Videha. Before entering into Mithila, the capital, I stopped to

rest at a small temple, and found there an old woman, who gave me

water for my feet.

 

Observing that she looked at me very hard, and that tears came into

her eyes, I asked her: "O, mother, what is the cause of your grief?"

 

"You bring to my mind," she answered, the remembrance of my lost

foster-child, who, if he lives, is just about your age. But I will

tell you how he was lost.

 

"Praharavarma was formerly king of this country. His queen was a very

dear friend of Vasumati; wife of Rajahansa, King of Magadha, and he

went with her and his twin sons to visit that king. How he was

conquered and driven from his dominions by the King of Malwa you have

doubtless heard. It was shortly before that invasion that the visit

was made. In the battle which was fought, Praharavarma assisted his

friend, and was taken prisoner, but was subsequently liberated.

 

"When returning to his own kingdom, he heard that a rebellion had

broken out, headed by his brother's son, Vikatavarma. He therefore

turned aside through a forest road, in the direction of Suhma, hoping

to obtain assistance from his sister's son, the king of that country.

On the march, he was attacked and plundered by Bheels; and I, having

charge of one of his children, was separated from the party, and left

behind in the forest.

 

"There I was attacked, by a tiger, and dropped the child. The tiger

was killed by an arrow; but I fainted away, and when I recovered, the

child was gone, taken away, I suppose, by the Bheels. Having been

found and taken care of by a compassionate cowherd, I stayed at his

cottage till my wounds were healed.

 

"Longing to get back to my friends, and to hear some tidings of my

mistress, I was surprised one day by the appearance of my daughter,

who had been, with me, in charge of the other child.

 

"After mutual congratulations and embraces, she told me her story as

follows: 'After we were parted, I was wounded by the robbers, lost

the child, and was found wandering about by one of the foresters, who

took care of me, and afterwards wished to make me his wife. I was too

much disgusted with him and his way of life to consent; and, after

many threats, he would at last have killed me, but for the opportune

arrival of a young man who happened to be passing, and rescued me from

his hands. That young man has since become my husband. We have been

searching for you, and have now happily found you.'

 

"I asked who the man was. He answered: 'I am a servant of the King of

Mithila, to whom I am now going.' Then we all three went to Mithila,

and told the king and queen the sad news of the loss of their

children.

 

"The war was still going on, and at last the king was overcome and

imprisoned, together with his queen, by his wicked nephew.

 

"Since then I have been living as a mendicant. My daughter, whose

husband was killed in the war, being destitute like myself, has

entered the service of Kalpasundari, queen of the usurper. Ah! if

those princes had lived, they would have rescued their father from

such degradation."

 

She began then to weep and lament; but I comforted her, and said: "Do

you not remember speaking to a certain muni, and telling him of the

loss of the child? That boy was found by him. I am he, and I will

contrive some means for killing that wicked usurper, and setting my

parents free. No one can recognise me here, not even my own mother,

were she to see me; therefore I shall be able at my leisure to

consider what is best to be done."

 

Exceedingly delighted at hearing this, she kissed me again and again,

and said, with tears of joy: "O, darling! a glorious fortune is before

you. Now you are here, all will be well; you will soon lift up your

parents from the sea of sorrow which has engulfed them. Happy is Queen

Priyamvada in having such a son!"

 

Then she gave me such food as she had, and I stayed with her, and

passed the night in that temple.

 

As I lay awake, I turned over in my mind every plan that suggested

itself to me for the accomplishment of my purpose. Knowing how

ready-witted women are in general, and their fondness for tricks and

intrigues, it occurred to me that my foster-sister, from her position

near the queen, might be able to give me material assistance.

 

In the morning, after worshipping the gods, I began to question the

old woman as to her knowledge of the interior of the palace, and asked

whether she had frequent opportunities of seeing her daughter.

Scarcely had she begun to answer my questions when I saw some one

coming towards us, and she exclaimed: "O, Pushkarika, behold our

master's son; that dear child whom I so carelessly lost in the forest

was found and preserved, and is now restored to us."

 

Great was the daughter's delight at seeing me; and, when her agitation

had subsided, her mother said to her: "I was just beginning to tell my

dear son something of the arrangement of the palace, and the habits of

the inmates; but you can give him the required information much better

than I can."

 

In answer to this she told me all the arrangements of the palace, and

added: "The Queen Kalpasundari, the daughter of the sovereign of

Kumara, is exceedingly beautiful and accomplished. She despises her

husband, who is exceedingly ugly; but though unkindly treated, and

neglected, she has hitherto been faithful to him."

 

Hearing this, I said to her: "Whenever you have an opportunity, dwell

on the king's licentiousness; find out, if possible, his scandalous

amours; make much of them; tell her how other women have behaved in

similar circumstances; in short, do everything to stir up her

indignation and jealousy against him; and, as soon as possible, let me

know what she says. You may help me greatly in this affair; therefore

be diligent and observant, and be as much as possible with your

mistress."

 

Then I said to the old woman: "You must also play your part. You can

be introduced to the queen as a woman skilled in charms and

fortune-telling. When you get her to listen to you, make the most of

the opportunity, and second your daughter's endeavours."

 

They both promised to do their utmost. After they were gone I took a

small house, close to the wall of the royal gardens, and waited

patiently for the result.

 

After some days the old woman came to me, and said: "Darling, we have

done exactly as you wished. The queen has taken a great fancy to me,

is very indignant with her husband, and thinks herself greatly to be

pitied. What is now to be done?"

 

I then painted a portrait of myself, and said: "Show this to the

queen; she will no doubt admire it, and say: 'Is this a portrait or a

fancy picture?' Then do you answer: 'Suppose it should be a portrait

of some living person; what then?' And whatever she says in reply let

me know as soon as possible."

 

The next day she came to me again, and said: "When I showed your

portrait to the queen, she gazed at it a long time, and seemed lost in

admiration; then she exclaimed, 'Who can have painted this? Is it

possible that such a handsome man can exist in the world? Surely there

is no one here like this!' I answered, 'O lady, your admiration is

quite natural, such a handsome man is very rarely to be found, but

still there might be such a one; and if this should be really the

portrait of a young man, longing to see you--not only thus handsome,

but of good birth, very learned, accomplished, and good-tempered

--what would you say then?' 'What would I say? I say, that if he will

be mine, all that I can give him in return, myself, my heart, my body,

my life, will be all too little. But surely you are only deceiving me;

there never can be such a charming person as this picture represents.'

 

"In answer to this, I said: 'I am not deceiving you. There is really

such a person, a young prince, who is staying here in disguise; he saw

you when you were walking in the public park, at the feast of Spring,

and immediately became a mark for the arrows of Kama. Moved by his

entreaties, and seeing how suited you are to each other, I have

ventured to take this means of making his passion known to you. If you

will but consent to see him, however difficult access to you may be,

his courage, prudence, and ingenuity are so great, that he will

certainly effect it; only say what your pleasure is.' Then, finding

her quite disposed to see you, I told her your real name and birth.

After reflecting some time, she said, 'Mother, I will not conceal from

you a circumstance which his name brings to my memory. My father was a

great friend of the deposed king, and their queens were very much

attached to each other. It was settled between them, that if the one

had a son, and the other a daughter, the two children should be

engaged for marriage; but when the Queen Priyamvada had lost her sons,

my father gave me in marriage to Vikatavarma. This young prince was

really destined to be my husband, and I ought to have had him, instead

of that ugly wretch, who is stupid, ignorant of all the arts of

pleasing, brutal, rebellious, cruel, boastful, false, and, above all,

most insulting in his behaviour to me; only yesterday he ill-treated

my favourite attendant, Pushkarika, and gathered flowers from a plant

which I had especially cherished, to give to one of his paramours, a

low vulgar woman, who is trying to put herself on an equality with me.

He is in every way unsuited to me, and my misery is so great, that I

am ready to catch at any means of escape from it. It was wretched

enough while I thought on no one else, but now that I have heard of

this charming young man, and seen his portrait, I will endure it no

longer, whatever the consequences may be. Therefore, let him come

to-morrow evening to the Madhavi bower in the garden. I am impatient

to see him; even the hearing of him has filled my heart with love.'"

 

When the old nurse had given me this account, I determined to risk the

adventure, and obtained from her a minute description of the garden,

the direction of the road and paths, the exact situation of the

summerhouse where I was to meet the queen, and where the guards were

stationed.

 

Having carefully impressed all these details on my memory, I waited

impatiently for the following night, and lay down to rest. As I lay I

thought on the difficulty of the enterprise, of the sin of seducing

the wife of another, and of what Rajavahana and my other friends would

say to such conduct. On the other hand, I seemed to be justified by

the object I had in view; the liberation of my parents.

 

Perplexed with these conflicting thoughts I fell asleep, and dreamed

that Vishnu appeared to me, and said: "Go on boldly, without

hesitation; what you are about to do, though it may seem sinful, is

approved of by me." Encouraged by this vision, I rose in the morning,

fully confirmed in my purpose. The tedious day came at last to an end,

and darkness set in.

 

When the proper time arrived, I put on a close-fitting dark dress,

girded on my sword, and set out on the dangerous enterprise.

 

Concealed at the edge of the ditch, I found a long bamboo, which the

old woman had procured for me. This I laid across, and so got to the

bottom of the wall. Then, cautiously raising it, I climbed to the top,

just where a large heap of bricks had been piled up inside. Using

these as steps, I got safely to the ground, and walked northward,

through an avenue of champaka trees, where, as a favourable omen, I

heard the low murmuring cry of a pair of chakravakas. Taking an

almost opposite direction, I saw before me what appeared to be a great

building, and it was only by touching it that I found it to be a clump

of trees. Going eastward, and turning once more to the south, I passed

through some mango trees, and saw the light of a lantern shining among

the leaves. I then knew that I was right, and went straight up to the

bower, inside of which was a summer-house, with steps leading up to

it, and spread with soft twigs and flowers for a carpet. The room was

furnished with a handsome couch, a golden water-jar, trays of flowers,

fans, &c. After I had been seated a short time, I heard the tinkling

of ornaments and smelt a powerful perfume. Rising up hastily, I

slipped out, and stood concealed by the shrubs outside. Presently I

saw the lady enter; she looked about her, and not seeing me, was

evidently disappointed and distressed. I heard her say, with a sad low

voice, "Alas! I am deceived, he is not coming; O my heart, how can

this be borne? O adorable Kama, what have I done to offend thee, that

thou thus burnest me and dost not reduce me to ashes?"

 

Having heard this, I made my appearance, and said: "O lovely lady, do

you ask how you have offended Kama? You have given him great offence,

since you disparage his beloved Rati by your form, his bow by your

arched eyebrows, his arrows by your glances, his great friend, the

perfumed wind of Malaya, by your sweet breath, the notes of his

favourite bird by your voice. For all this Kama justly torments you.

But I have done nothing to offend him; why should he so distress me?

Have pity on me, and cure the wound inflicted by the serpent of love,

with the life-giving antidote of an affectionate look."

 

Delighted at seeing me, she required no entreaty on my part, and

readily yielded to my embrace; and, sitting down on the couch, we

conversed as though we had been long acquainted.

 

At last the time for separation arrived, and I rose up to go; but she

with tears detained me, saying: "When you depart, my life seems to

follow. If you go, let me go with you."

 

I answered: "O my beloved, that is impossible. If you love me, be

guided by me, and we shall soon meet again, not to be parted."

 

This she readily promised, and I told her exactly what was to be done.

Then quitting her with reluctance, I returned safely by the way I had

come, and she went back to the palace.

 

The next day she showed the picture to the king, who greatly admired

it, and asked her where she had got it. She told him: "I have lately

made acquaintance with a very wonderful old woman, who has travelled

over many countries and seen many strange things; she is very skilful

in charms, and has brought me this picture, saying: 'It has very great

magical powers, and so confident am I in their efficacy that I ask for

no payment or reward until you have fully proved them.' She tells me

that if certain ceremonies are performed, and mantras which she has

taught me, are recited in a retired spot at midnight, I shall be

changed to a person exactly resembling the portrait, and shall have

the power of transferring that form to you while I regain my own

shape. I have thought it right to tell you this; but do not act

hastily: show the picture to your ministers and consult them."

 

The king, greatly astonished, but very desirous of obtaining such a

handsome body, asked the opinion of his counsellors and younger

brothers, and they saw no reason why the experiment should not be

tried.

 

The hour of midnight on the day of full moon was therefore appointed

for the ceremony, and there was much talk in the city about it.

 

"O the wonderful power of magic! Through the skill of the queen, the

king will obtain a new body fit for a god."

 

"But is there no danger?"

 

"How can there be danger when the ceremony is to be performed by his

own queen, in his own private gardens, where no stranger can enter?

Besides, have not the learned and clever ministers and counsellors

approved of it, and is it likely that they would be deceived?"

 

The city was full of such talk as this, and the people awaited with

impatience the night appointed for the working of the miracle.

 

When the time arrived a great heap was made in a part of the garden

where four roads met, not far from the summer-house, with large

quantities of sandal-wood, lignaloes, and other sweet-smelling woods,

camphor, silk dresses, sesamum, saffron, and various spices; and

several animals, duly slaughtered by the priests, were laid upon it;

and the fire having been lighted, every one withdrew except the king

and queen. She then said to him: "You know how faithless you have been

to me, and with this handsome body you will be a much greater

attraction to other women. I know the fickleness of your disposition.

Can you expect that I will confer on you this beauty for the sake of

my rivals?"

 

Then he threw himself at her feet, and said "O my darling, forgive my

transgressions. I swear by everything solemn that in future I will

keep to you only, and not even think of any other woman."

 

After these and many other protestations, she appeared to be

satisfied, and said: "Now withdraw to that clump of trees, and stay

there till I ring the bell; then you may come again to the fire and

see the wonderful change in me."

 

Meanwhile, under cover of the thick smoke arising from the burning of

all those substances, I had climbed the wall as before, and was

standing in the summer-house when the queen came in. She said:

"Everything is ready. I regard myself now as entirely yours; nothing

shall part us any more;" and, throwing her arms round my neck, she

kissed me again and again.

 

Saying to her, "Stay here concealed while I finish the work," I

quitted her, went to the place of sacrifice, and rang a bell hanging

on a neighbouring tree; and the sound summoned the king, like a

messenger of death.

 

He found me standing by the fire, throwing on it more sandal-wood,

lignaloes, and other precious things; and as he stood gazing in fear

and astonishment, and hardly believing his eyes, I said to him:

"Remember what you have promised, and now swear to me again, taking

this sacred fire as a witness, that you will renounce all other women,

and keep to me only."

 

He answered: "O queen, there is no deceit in me. I will do all that I

have promised," and he repeated his former oaths.

 

But as if not satisfied with this, I said: "I must have some other

proof of your sincerity. Tell me some of your state secrets."

 

Then he told me: "My father's brother, Praharavarma, has been for a

long time in prison; with the consent of my ministers, I intend to

poison him, and give out that he has died of old age and infirmities.

 

"I am preparing an army, to be commanded by my brother, for the

invasion of Pundra without any declaration of war.

 

"There is a merchant here possessed of a diamond of immense value. I

'am contriving a plan by which I shall get it from him at a tenth of

its worth.

 

"There is a man of wealth and influence very displeasing to me. I have

engaged a certain person, named Satahali, the governor of the

district, to bring a false accusation against him, and by that means

to stir up the people, and so cause his death in a popular tumult,

which will take away all blame or suspicion from me."

 

When I had heard all these things, saying, "Die the death which your

wicked deeds deserve," I suddenly seized him by the throat, stabbed

him in a moment to the heart, and threw the body into the great fire,

where it was quickly consumed; after which I went back to the queen,

who was anxiously awaiting me. Though much agitated, she was more

relieved at having got rid of that wretch than shocked at the manner

of his death; and having quieted and consoled her without much

difficulty, I went at once with her to her apartments.

 

On seeing him, whom they believed to be the king, so changed, the

women and attendants who met us were evidently much astonished, but so

much had been said beforehand about the wonderful transformation to be

expected, that no one seemed to doubt that I was really the king with

a new body; and having said a few words of encouragement to them, I

was received with great respect.

 

The rest of the night was passed in hearing from the queen as much as

possible about the court, the ministers, &c., so that I might not

appear to be ignorant of what the king must have known, when I should

meet them on the morrow.

 

In the morning, after the performance of due worship of the gods, I

met the ministers in council, and they also were so convinced of the

power of magic that they did not hesitate to acknowledge me as their

master, expressing their delight at the happy change.

 

Then I said to them: "With this new body I have new feelings and

purposes. I repent of my cruelty to my uncle, and instead of getting

rid of him as I had intended, it is my pleasure that he shall be taken

from prison and treated with all proper respect.

 

"That diamond, of which I had intended to get possession, must not be

obtained by fraudulent means. If I should decide on having it, I will

pay the full price."

 

To the brother who had been appointed to command the army, I said:

"Dear brother, our purpose is changed with regard to that invasion.

You will only watch the frontier; and if there is any beginning of war

on the part of the Pundras, attack them vigorously; but not

otherwise."

 

I sent also for Satahali, and said: "You know that I wished to get

rid of Anantasira, because he was suspected of being a partisan of the

deposed king. Now that I am reconciled to my uncle, there is no

occasion for anything to be done to him; you will therefore take no

further steps in that affair."

 

When the ministers heard all this, and perceived me to be acquainted

with secrets known only to the king and themselves, they were quite

confirmed in their first impression; and while congratulating me and

the queen, were loud in their praise of the power of magic.

 

My parents were immediately liberated from prison; and having been

informed by the old nurse of what had been done by me, were quite

prepared when I went to them in public; and afterwards, when we met

in private, were able to give way to their feelings of affection and

delight at seeing me again.

 

After a short time, with the consent of my wife, I resigned the crown,

and reinstated my parents in their former position; retaining for

myself the dignity of heir-apparent.

 

Soon afterwards, a letter arrived from Sinhavarma, an old friend of my

father's, congratulating him on his restoration, and asking for help

against Chandavarma, who was marching to attack him. Upon which I

hastily equipped an army, and marched to his assistance; and have now

had the great happiness of meeting with you, as well as of helping to

defeat the enemy.

 

Rajavahana having heard this story, smiled, and said: "Truly, our

friend here has committed great sins; but how can I blame him when

his motives were so good, and he had the praiseworthy object of

liberating from a long imprisonment those who are so dear to him, and

of punishing the usurper and oppressor? His courage and ingenuity have

been great; and I congratulate him on his success."

 

Then turning to Arthapala, he said: "Do you relate your adventures."

And he immediately began his story in the following manner:--

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

 

ADVENTURES OF ARTHAPALA.

 

 

My Lord, having the same object as your other friends, I wandered

about over various countries in search of you. In the course of my

travels, I arrived one day at the sacred city of Benares. There I

bathed in the pure crystal water of the river; and duly worshipped the

mighty god, the slayer of Andhaka, at his temple outside the city.

After finishing my devotions, I was going on my way, when I saw a

tall, stout man, carrying an iron club, with his eyes red and swelled

from weeping, and engaged in making a noose with his sash.

 

I thought to myself: "This man has fallen into some great calamity.

He is thinking of doing violence to himself or to others. I will see

if I can assist him." I therefore went up to him, and said: "This

conduct of yours seems to indicate some rash purpose. May I know the

cause of your grief? Perhaps I may be able to help you."

 

He hesitated for a moment, and looked very hard at me; but at last he

said: "What harm can there be in telling you? You shall know my

troubles, if you wish to learn them."

 

Then we sat down together under a shady tree, and he began his tale as

follows: "O, fortunate sir, I was once as happy as you appear to be.

My father was in good circumstances, and brought me up carefully; but

I preferred a wild, dissipated life, and at last became a robber. One

night I broke into the house of a rich man in this city, was caught

in the act, and condemned to death.

 

"My hands were fettered by being passed through holes in a heavy piece

of wood; and in this state I was led out for execution into a public

square, where a furious elephant was brought forward to trample me to

death. When he came near me, I shouted as loudly as possible, in order

to frighten him; and lifting up my arms, gave him a violent blow on

the trunk. Upon this, he turned away; and as I continued to shout out

and abuse him, all the efforts of the driver to make him attack me

were in vain.

 

"Again and again, with much difficulty, the driver brought him in

front of me; but each time, instead of attacking me, he turned back,

alarmed by my menacing appearance and loud shouts; and at last ran

right away, leaving me uninjured.

 

"The courage which I had shown was observed by the king's chief

minister, Kamapala, who was looking on from one of the towers of the

palace; and he sent for me, and said: 'You seem to be a very strong,

brave man. I did not think that elephant could have been so cowed by

any one. It is a pity that such qualities should not be better

employed. Are you willing, if you are pardoned, to forsake your evil

ways, and lead an honest life? If you will give me a promise to this

effect, I will take you into my service.'

 

"I gladly gave the promise which he required; and he obtained my

pardon, and became my protector and master; and I have served him

faithfully ever since. After some years, seeing my devotion to him, he

placed great confidence in me, and one day told me his own history.

 

"'There was,' said he, 'formerly at Pushpapuri a very learned and

pious man, named Dharmapala, one of the king's ministers. His eldest

son was like him; but I, the youngest, was of a very different

disposition. I had no inclination for work or study; but thought only

of amusement, and spent my time among gamblers and disreputable

characters. My father and brother did all they could to restrain me;

but, impatient of their control, I left my home and friends, and

wandered about the world. One day I came to this city, Benares, and

not long after my arrival, I made acquaintance with the king's

daughter, who, with her female friends, was playing at ball in a park

outside the town. We fell in love with each other; and I contrived, by

disguising myself as a woman, to enter her private apartments and to

have many secret meetings with her; the result of which was the birth

of a child.

 

"'The devoted attendants kept the whole affair secret, removed the

infant as soon as it was born, and telling the mother it was dead,

gave it to a savari woman, who carried it to the public cemetery and

left it there.

 

"'As she was returning; she was stopped by the watchmen, and in her

fright told them what she had done. Information was given to the king,

and further inquiry being made, my offence was discovered, and one

night I was arrested, while quietly sleeping unsuspicious of danger.

Being condemned to death, I was led to execution outside the city. By

a fortunate chance I got my hands free, and snatching the sword from

the executioner, laid about me so vigorously that all the men fell

back, and I made my escape to the forest. There I wandered about for

some time, subsisting on wild fruits and roots, and sleeping in the

trees.

 

"'While living this precarious life, I was one day astonished at

meeting a young lady, with many female attendants. She addressed me by

my name, and desired me to sit down with her, under a large tree.

 

"'When, with much surprise, I asked who she was, and how she came to

be in that wild forest, with such a retinue, and why I was so favoured

by her, she told me the reason of her coming, saying: My name is

Taravali. I am the daughter of a chief Yaksha. A short time ago I

went to visit a friend, living on the Malaya Mountains, and while

flying through the air on my return, as I passed over the cemetery of

Benares, I heard the cry of a child.

 

"'Moved with compassion, I alighted on the ground, took it up and

carried it to my father. He took it to our master, the god Kuvera, who

sent for me, and asked, "What induced you to bring this child?" "A

strong feeling of compassion," I answered, as if it had been my own.

 

"'You are right,' he replied; 'there is good reason for what you have

done;' and he showed me how, in a former existence, when you were

Sudraka and I Aryadasi, the child, now born of the Princess Kantimati,

was ours; therefore, I am really your wife, and it was indeed a

maternal instinct which prompted me to save the infant. Kuvera,

however, would not allow me to keep the boy, but ordered me to take

him to the Queen Vasumati, that he might be brought up together with

her son, who will one day become a great monarch.

 

"Having performed the command of the god, I am permitted by him to

find you out, and relieve you from your present distress."

 

"So saying, she embraced me, and afterwards took me to a fairy palace

in the forest, furnished with all comforts and luxuries, where I

passed some time with her in great happiness.

 

"One day, when she was expressing her great love for me, I said: 'I

have a strong desire to take some vengeance on the king who would have

put me to death.' Upon which, with a smile, she said, 'Ah! you wish

to see Kantimati; I am not jealous, I will take you to her.'

 

"Then lifting me up, she bore me through the air to the palace, and

without disturbing the guards, placed me at the bedside of the king.

 

"Grasping a sword lying near him, I awakened him, and said: 'I am,

your son-in-law; I took your daughter without your consent, and am now

come to make submission and atone for my fault."

 

"Seeing the drawn sword held over him he was much alarmed, and said:

'I must have been mad to act as I did and reject such a son-in-law; I

will now acknowledge you, and you shall duly marry my daughter.'

 

"He kept his word, the next day announced the intended marriage to all

the court, and shortly afterwards publicly gave me his daughter.

 

"Taravali remained with me, became great friends with her fellow-wife,

told her the story which she had related to me, and how her son had

been preserved and was taken care of by Queen Vasumati.

 

"Thus I have for some years lived happily, holding, as you know, a

very important office."

 

[End of the story of Kamapala as told to his servant.]

 

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