The sprite said, “O king! there is a city named Ujjain, of which Mahãbal was king. Now, he had an envoy named Haridãs. The name of that envoy’s daughter was Mahãdevï. She was extremely beautiful. When she became marriageable, her father thought that he ought to seek a husband for her, and give her in marriage. In short, the girl one day said to her father, ‘Father! give me in marriage to some one who is possessed of all accomplishments. On this, he said, ‘I will give thee to one who is acquainted with all science.’”
“One day subsequent to this, the king summoned Haridãs, and said, ‘There is in the south a king named Harichand; go and ask after his health and welfare for me, and bring me news thereof.’ On receiving the king’s command he took leave, and arriving at that king’s after some days, delivered to him the whole message of his royal master, and took up his permanent abode near that monarch.”
“To be brief, it happened one day that the king questioned him, saying, ‘Haridãs! has the Iron Age (i.e. the fourth age of the world, or the age of vice) begun yet or not?’ On this he put his hands together and said, ‘Your majesty! we are already in the Iron Age (lit. the Iron Age is present); for falsehood is rife in the world, and truth has decreased; people utter soft words to one’s face, while they harbour deceit in their hearts; virtue has vanished; vice has increased; the earth has begun to yield less fruit; kings have begun levying contributions by violence; Brahmans have become covetous; women have abandoned modesty; the son obeys not the father’s command; brother trusts not brother; friendship has departed from amongst friends; faith is no longer found in masters, and servants have cast aside the duty they owe to masters, and every description of impropriety meets the eye.’”
“When he had said all this to the king, his majesty arose and went into the private apartments, and he (the envoy) came and sat down in his own place. In the meantime a Brahman’s son came to him and said, ‘I have come to solicit something of you.’ On hearing this, he said, ‘What request have you to make? Mention it.’ He replied, ‘Give me your daughter in marriage.’ Haridãs said, ‘I will give her to him in whom all accomplishments exist.’ Hearing this, he rejoined, ‘I am acquainted with all the sciences.’ Then said the envoy, ‘Show me something of thy knowledge; I shall thus be able to judge whether thou art versed in science.’ Hereupon the Brahman’s son said, ‘I have made a car which has this marvellous property, that it will convey you in a moment to any place you may wish to go to.’ Then Haridãs replied, ‘Bring the car to me in the morning.’”
“In fine, he brought the car to Haridãs early in the morning. Then the two mounted the car, and arrived in the City of Ujjain. Here, however, it so happened that, previous to his arrival, another Brahman’s son had come, and said to his eldest son, ‘Give me your sister in marriage and he also had replied, saying, ‘I will give her to one who is learned in all the sciences;’ and that Brahman’s son, too, had said, ‘I am acquainted with all knowledge and science.’ On hearing this, he had said, ‘To you will I give her.’ Another Brahman’s son had said to the girl’s mother, ‘Give me your daughter.’ She, too, had given him the same answer; viz., ‘I will give my girl to him who is acquainted with all science.’ That Brahman’s son also had replied, ‘I am acquainted with the whole body of science contained in the Shãstras, and can shoot an arrow which will hit an object which is merely heard, and not seen.’ On hearing this, she, too, had said, ‘I consent, and will give her to thee.’”
“In short, all the three suitors had come and met together in this way. Haridãs began to think to himself, ‘One girl and three suitors! to whom shall I give her, and to whom not?’ He was troubled with this thought, when a demon came at night and carried off the girl to the summit of a mountain in the Vindhyã range. It is said that too much of anything is not good. Sïtã was exceedingly beautiful, and Rãvan carried her off; King Bali gave gifts largely,—he became indigent; Rãvan utterly ruined his family by his excessive pride.”
“In brief, when mom arrived, and none of the household found the girl, they began to fancy all sorts of things; and the three suitors, too, on bearing of the matter, came there. One of them was a wise man,—him Haridãs questioned, saying, ‘O wise man! tell me whither the girl has gone?’ He considered for a moment or so, and said, ‘A demon has carried off your daughter, and lodged her on a mountain.’ On this, the second said, ‘I will kill the demon and bring her back.’ Then, again, the third said, ‘Mount my car and bring her back.’ On the instant of hearing this, he mounted the car, reached the place, slew the demon, and forthwith brought her back. And then they began quarrelling with one another. Thereupon the father pondered over the matter in his mind, and said, ‘All of them have conferred obligations on me, to whom shall I give her, and to whom not?’” Having related so much of the story, the sprite said, “Now, king Vikram! whose wife, out of the three, did the maiden become?” He replied, “She became the wife of him who slew the demon and brought her back.” The sprite said, “The good qualities of all were on a par,—how came she to become his wife?” The king replied, “The other two simply conferred favours, for which they were recompensed; but this one fought with and slew him (the demon) and brought her away, hence she became his wife.” On hearing this the sprite went again to the same tree, and suspended himself on it, and the king, too, went immediately, bound the sprite, placed him on his shoulder, and carried him off as before.
Again the sprite said, “O king! there is a city named Dharmpur, of which Dharmshil was king; and his minister’s name was Andhak. He said one day to the king, ‘Your majesty! build a temple, and place an image of Devi therein, and pay constant adoration thereto, for this is said in the Shãstra to possess great merit.’ Thereupon the king had a temple built and (the image of) Devi placed in it, and began offering adoration after the manner prescribed by the Vedas; and he would not drink water without having worshipped.”
“When a considerable time had passed thus, the minister said one day, ‘Great king! the saying is well known,—The house of a sonless man is empty, a fool’s mind is empty, and everything pertaining to an indigent person is empty.’ On hearing these words, the king went to the temple of Devi, and joining his hands in supplication, began to extol her, saying, ‘O Devi! Brahma, Vishnü, Rudra, Indra await thy bidding the livelong day; and thou it was who didst seize the demons Mahish-aspr, Chand Mund, Raktbij, and slaying the evil spirits, relieved the earth of its burthen; and wheresoever trouble has befallen thy worshippers, there thou hast gone and aided them; and in this hope I have approached thy threshhold; fulfil now the desire of my heart also.’”
“When the king had celebrated the praises of the goddess to this extent, a voice issued from the temple of Devi, saying, ‘King! I am well pleased with thee; ask any boon that thou may’st desire.’ The king said, ‘Mother! if thou art pleased with me, grant me a son.’ Devi replied, ‘King! thou shalt have a son (who shall be) very powerful and very glorious.’ Then the king made offerings of sandal, unbroken rice, flowers, incense, lamps and consecrated food, and paid adoration. Moreover, he made it a practice of worshipping thus daily. To be brief, after some days a son was born to the king. The king, with his family and kindred, proceeded with music and song, and worshipped at the shrine of Devi.”
“In the meantime, it happened one day that a washerman, accompanied by a friend of his, was coming from a certain town towards this city, and the temple of Devi met his eye. He resolved on prostrating himself (before the shrine). At that moment he beheld a washerman’s daughter, who was very handsome, coming towards him. He was fascinated at the sight of her, and went to worship Devi. After prostrating himself, he joined his hands in supplication, and said in his heart, ‘O Devi! if, through thy favour, my marriage to this beautiful being should take place, I will devote my head as an offering to thee.’ After making this vow, and prostrating himself, he took his friend with him, and went to his own city.”
“When he arrived there, the separation (from his love) so troubled him that sleep, hunger, thirst—all were forgotten. He spent the whole day in thoughts of her. On perceiving this woful state of his, his friend went and told his father all the circumstances. His father also became alarmed on hearing these things, and reflecting on the matter began to say, ‘From observing his state it seems (to me) that if his betrothal to that maiden does not take place, he will grieve to death; wherefore it is better to marry him to the girl, that thus he may be saved.’”
“Having thus considered, he took his son’s friend with him, and on reaching that town, went to the girl’s father and said, ‘I have come to solicit something of you; if you will grant my request, I will make it known.’ He replied, ‘If I possess the thing, I will give it; speak out.’ Having secured his promise thus, he said, ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ On hearing this, he too agreed to the proposal; and having had a priest called in, and the day, the auspicious conjunction, and the moment determined, said, ‘Bring your son; I, for my part, will stain my daughter’s hands yellow.’ * On hearing this, he arose, returned to his own house, got ready all the requisites for the marriage, and set out for the ceremony; and on reaching the place, and having the marriage ceremony performed, he took his son and daughter-in-law with him and returned home; and the bride and bridegroom commenced a happy life together.”
“Again, after some time, an occasion of rejoicing arose at the girl’s father’s, and so an invitation came to these (the bride and bridegroom) also. The wife and husband got ready, and taking their friend with them, set out for that city. When they arrived near the place, the temple of Devi came in sight, and then, his vow came to his mind. Thereupon he reflected and said to himself, ‘I am a great liar, and a very irreligious wretch, for I have lied to Devi herself!’ Having said this to himself, he spoke to his friend, saying, ‘Do you tarry here while I pay a visit to Devi.’ And to his wife he said, ‘Do thou also stay here.’ Having said this and gone to the temple, he bathed in the pool, went before Devi, joined his hands in supplication, addressed her reverentially, and raised a sword and struck himself on the neck His head was severed from his body, and fell upon the ground.”
“To be brief, after some delay, his friend thought that as he had been gone a very long while and had not yet returned, he ought to go and see (what had happened); so he said to the wife, ‘Stay here; I will soon hunt him up and bring him here.’ Having said this, he went into the temple of Devi, and lo! his (friend’s) head was lying apart from his body! On beholding this state of things there, he began to say to himself, ‘The world is a hard place! No one will suppose that he, with his own hand, offered his head as a sacrifice to Devi; on the contrary, they will say, that, as his wife was very beautiful, he (the friend), in order to possess her, killed him, and is practising this artful trick. Therefore it is preferable to die here; whereas to obtain an evil reputation in the world is not desirable.’”
“Having said this, he bathed in the pool, came into the presence of Devi, joined his hands and made obeisance, and taking up the sword, struck himself on the neck, so that his head was severed from his body. And she, weary of standing there alone, and watching for their return till she quite despaired, went in quest of them into the temple of Devi. Arrived there, what does she behold but the two lying dead! Then, seeing them both dead, she thought to herself, ‘People will not believe that these two have voluntarily offered themselves as sacrifices to Devi. Everybody will say that the widow was a wanton wretch, (and) that she killed them both and left them that she might indulge in her depravity. It is better to die than to endure such infamy.’”
“Alter reflecting thus, she plunged into the pool (and bathed), and coming into the presence of Devi, bowed her head in obeisance; (then) taking up the sword, was about to strike herself on the neck, when Devi descended from the throne, and came and seized her hand, and said, ‘Daughter! ask a boon; I am well-pleased with thee.’ On this she said, ‘Mother! if thou art pleased with me, restore these two to life.’ Then Devi said, ‘Unite their heads to their bodies.’ In the tumult of her joy she changed the heads in putting them on. And Devi brought the water of life and sprinkled it upon them. The two rose up alive, and began disputing one with another; one saying, ‘She is my wife;’ the other, ‘She is mine.’”
Having related so much of the story, the sprite said, “Now king Vikramãjit! of which of these two is she the wife?” The king said, “Hearken! The guiding principle for this is laid down in the book of law, thus: ‘The Ganges is the best of rivers, and Sumeru is the most excellent of mountains, and Kalpavriksh * is the most excellent of trees, (and) the head is supreme among all the members of the body. According to this judgment she becomes the wife of him who possesses the superior member.’” On hearing these words the sprite went and again suspended himself on that tree; and the king having gone and bound him, placed him on his shoulder and carried him off.
The sprite said, “O king! there is a city named Champãpur, the king of which is Champakeshwar. And the queen’s name is Sulochanã, and the daughter’s Tribhuvan-sundari. She is an eminently-beautiful woman, whose face is like the moon, hair like black clouds, eyes like a gazelle’s, eyebrows (arched) like a bow, nose like a parrot’s (beak), neck like a pigeon’s, teeth like the grains of a pomegranate; the redness of whose lips resembles that of the kandüri, * whose waist is like a leopard’s, hands and feet like the tender lotus, complexion like the champa-flower; in short, the bloom of her youth was daily on the increase.”
“When she became marriageable, the king and queen began to feel anxious in their minds. And the news spread among the monarchs of the different countries (round about) that so beautiful a girl had been born in the palace of king Champakeshwar that, at a mere glance at her beauty, gods, men, and holy sages, remain fascinated. Thereupon the kings of the different countries had each his likeness painted, and sent it by the hands of a Brahman to king Champakeshwar.
“The king received and showed the portraits of all the monarchs to his daughter, but none of them suited her fancy. Thereupon the king said, ‘Do thou, then, make a public choice of a husband.’ To this, too, she did not agree, but said to her father, ‘Father! give me to him who possesses the three qualities of beauty, strength, and superior knowledge.’”
“In fine, when several days had elapsed, four suitors came from four different countries. Then the king said to them, ‘Do each of you set forth clearly before me the superior qualities and knowledge he possesses.’ One of them said, ‘I possess such knowledge that I manufacture a cloth and sell it for five rubies. When I realise the price, I give one of the rubies to Brahmans, of another I make an offering to the gods, a third I wear on my own person, a fourth I reserve for my wife, the fifth I sell, and constantly support myself with the money so obtained. No one else possesses this knowledge. And as to the good looks I possess,—they are open to view.’ The second said, ‘I am acquainted with the languages of both land and aquatic beasts and birds; have no equal in strength; and my beauty is before you.’ The third said, ‘So well do I comprehend the learned writings that no equal of mine exists; and my beauty is before your eyes.’ The fourth said, ‘I stand alone in my knowledge of the use of weapons; * there is no one like me; I can shoot an arrow which will strike an object which is heard, but not seen; and my beauty is famous in the world,—you, too, must surely see it.’”
“On hearing the statements of the four of them, the king began to think to himself, ‘All four are on a par as to excellences; to which should I give the girl?’ Having reflected thus, he went to his daughter and set forth the virtues of the whole four of them, and said, ‘To which of them shall I give thee (in marriage)?’ On hearing this, she hung down her head through modesty, and kept silent, making no answer.”
After relating so much of the story, the sprite said, “Now, King Vikram! for which of them is this woman suited?” The king replied, “He who makes cloth and sells it is a südra by caste; and he who knows the languages is a bais by caste; he who has studied the learned writings is a Brahman; and he who hits with an arrow an object which is simply, heard, and not seen, is of her caste: the woman is suitable for him.” On hearing these words, the sprite went again and hung himself on that tree; and the king, too, went thither, bound him, placed him on his shoulder, and carried him off.
Then the sprite said, “O king! there is a city named Mithalãvatï, the king of which is Gunãdhip. A young rãjpüt, named Chiramdeva, came from a distant land to enter his service. He used to go daily to pay his respects to the king, but did not obtain an interview. And in the course of a year he consumed all the money he had brought (with him) while tarrying here without employment, and there (in his native land), his home went to ruin.”
“It happened one day that the king mounted his horse for the chase, and Chiramdeva also joined his cavalcade. The king became accidentally separated from his followers in a forest, and the attendants lost themselves in another jungle; one, however, Chiramdeva, was following the king. At length, he called out, and said, ‘Your majesty! all the attendants have remained behind, while I am accompanying you, making my horse keep pace with yours.’ On hearing this, the king reined in his horse, and so he came up (to the king). The king looked at him, and asked, ‘How hast thou become so emaciated?’”
“Then he replied, ‘If I live with a master, such that he cherishes thousands of people, while he takes no thought of me, no blame (attaches) to him for this, but rather my own fate is to blame. As, for example, by daylight the whole world is clearly visible; yet it is not visible to the owl;—what blame can be imputed to the sun for this? It is astonishing to me that he who caused the means, of subsistence to reach me in my mother’s womb, should take no thought of me now, when I have been born, and am capable of enjoying worldly aliment. I know not whether he sleeps or is dead. And, in my opinion, it is better to swallow deadly poison and die, than to ask for goods and money from a great man who, while giving the same, makes a wry face, and turns up his nose (in contempt), and raises his brows. Now these six things render a man contemptible,—first, the friendship of a perfidious man; second, causeless laughter; third, altercation with a woman; fourth, the serving a bad master; fifth, riding a donkey; sixth, unpolished (or uncouth) speech. * And the following five things the Creator records in a man’s destiny at the time of his birth,—First, length of life; second, acts; third, wealth; fourth, know-ledge; fifth, reputation. O king! so long as a man’s virtues ** are conspicuous, all continue to be his servants; but when his virtues decrease, his very friends become his enemies.”
“This one thing, however, is certain; by serving a good master one derives benefit sooner or later; he does not remain unbenefited.’”
“On hearing this, the king pondered over all these words, but did not then make any reply. He said this to him, however, ‘I feel hungry; bring me something to eat from somewhere.’ Chiramdeva said, ‘Your majesty! bread ** is not to be obtained here.’ Having said this, he went into the jungle, killed a deer, took out a flint and steel from his pocket, kindled a fire, broiled some slices of meat, and served up a plentiful meal to the king, and partook of it himself as well. To be brief, when the king was quite satisfied, *** he said, ‘Now, Rãjpüt I conduct me to the city, for the road is not known to me.’ He conducted the king into the city, and brought him to his palace. Then the king appointed him to an office, and bestowed many robes and jewels upon him. After that, he continued in close attendance upon the king.”
“In short, the king one day sent that Rãjpüt on some business to the seaside. When he reached the sea-shore, he beheld a temple (dedicated) to Devi. He entered it, and worshipped Devi. But, on the instant of his coming out thence, a beautiful damsel came up to him from behind, and began questioning him, saying, ‘O man! why hast thou come here?’ He replied, ‘I have come in quest of pleasure, and at the sight of thy beauty I am fascinated.’ She said, ‘If thou hast any design on me, first go and bathe in this pool; after that I will listen to whatever thou shalt say to me.’”
“On the instant of hearing this, he took off his clothes, entered the pool and dipped, and came out, and lo! he was standing in his own city! On beholding this marvel, he was filled with fear, and returning home in his helplessness, clothed himself, and went and related the whole story to the king. The king no sooner heard it than he said, ‘Show me this wonder also.’ This said, he ordered the horses, and both mounted and set off. After several days, they reached the sea-shore, and entered the same temple of Devi, and paid adoration. Farther, when the king came out, the very same damsel, accompanied by a female friend, came and stood beside the king, and on beholding the king’s handsome appearance, became fascinated, and said, ‘O king! I will execute any command you may give me.’ The king replied, saying, ‘If thou wilt obey my command, become the wife of my servant.’ She said, ‘I have become the slave of thy beauty, how then can I become his wife?’ The king replied, ‘It was but this instant thou saidst to me, ‘I will obey any command you may give me.’ Now, whatever the good promise they perform. Keep thy plighted word, (and) become the wife of my servant.’ On hearing this, she said, ‘Your word is law to me.’ Thereupon the king married his servant to her without the usual ceremonies, * and brought them both with him to his palace.”
Having related so much of the story, the sprite said, “Tell me, O king! Of master and servant, whose was the greater virtue?” The king said, “The servant’s.” The sprite said again, “Was not the merit of the king greater, who obtained so beautiful a woman, and bestowed her on his servant?” Thereupon king Bir Vikramãjït said, “What superior merit is there in their conferring favours, whose office it is to do so? But he who, while having his own, interests to attend to, promotes the interests of another—he is the greater. For this reason, the servant’s merit was the greater.” On hearing these words, the sprite went and hung himself on that same tree; and the king went and again took him down from thence, placed him on his shoulder, and carried him away.
The sprite said, “O king! there-is a city named Madanpur, where was a king named Birbar. Now, in that same country there was a merchant named Hiranyadatt, whose daughter’s name was Madansenã. One day, in the spring-time, she went, with her female friends, into her garden, to stroll about and enjoy the scene. It so happened that, previous to her coming out, Somdatt, the son of a merchant named Dharmdatt, had come, with a friend, to take a stroll in the forest. On his return thence, he came into that garden; (and) on beholding her, became enamoured, and began to say to his friend, ‘Brother! Should she ever be united to me, then my living will be to some purpose; and if not, then my living in the world is in vain.’”
“Addressing these words to his friend, (and) being distracted by the pangs of separation, he involuntarily approached her, and seizing her hand, began to say, ‘If thou wilt not love me, I will sacrifice my life on thy account.’ She replied, ‘Act not thus; that would be a sin.’ Then he said, ‘Thy amorous glances have pierced my heart, and the fire of separation from thee has consumed my body; my whole consciousness and understanding have been destroyed by this pain; and at this moment, through the overpowering influence of love, I have no regard for right or wrong; but if thou wilt give me thy word, new life will enter my soul.’ She said, ‘On the fifth day from this day my marriage will take place; but I will first have intercourse with thee, and afterwards abide at my husband’s.’ After giving him this promise, and taking her oath (to keep it) she departed to her home, and he to his.”
“To be brief, on the fifth day her marriage took place. Her husband brought her to his home after the marriage. After some days the wives of her husband’s younger and elder brothers compelled her to go to her husband at night. She entered the nuptial chamber, and sat quietly down in a corner. In the meantime, her husband seeing her, took her hand, and made her sit on the bed. In fine, as he was about to embrace her, she; shook him off with her hand, and related to him all that she had promised the merchant’s son. On hearing this her husband said, ‘If thou really desirest to go to him, go.’”
“Having received her husband’s permission, she started for the merchant’s place. A thief seeing her on the road, came up to her in delight, and said, ‘Whither goest thou alone, at this midnight hour, in this pitch-darkness, bedecked with such garments and jewels?’ She replied, ‘To the place where my dearly beloved dwells.’ On hearing this the thief said, ‘Who is thy protector here?’ She began to say, ‘Cupid, my protector, with his bow and arrows, is with me.’ Having said this, she then related her whole story to the thief, from beginning to end, and said, ‘Do not spoil my attire; I give thee my word that, when I return thence, I will deliver my jewels to thee.’”
“On hearing this, the thief said to himself, ‘She leaves me, in truth, with a promise to deliver up her jewels to me; then why should I spoil her attire?’ Thus reflecting, he let her go. (He) himself sat down there, while she went to the place where Somdatt was lying asleep. She having suddenly roused him as soon as she got there, he arose bewildered, and commenced saying, ‘Art thou the daughter of a god, or sage, or serpent? * Tell me truly, who art thou? and whence art thou come to me?’ She replied, ‘I am the daughter of a man—the daughter of the merchant Hiranyadatt; Madansenã is my name; and dost thou not remember that thou didst forcibly seize my hand in the grove, and didst insist on my giving thee my oath; and I swore, at thy bidding, that I would leave the man I was married to and come to thee? I have come accordingly; do unto me whatever thou pleasest.’”
“On this he asked, ‘Hast thou told this story to thy husband, or not?’ She replied, saying, ‘I have mentioned the whole affair, and after becoming acquainted with everything, he has allowed me to come to thee.’ Somdatt said, ‘This matter is like jewels without apparel, or food without clarified butter, or singing out of tune—all these things are alike. Similarly, dirty garments mar beauty, bad food saps the strength, a wicked wife deprives of life, a bad son ruins the family. Whereas a demon takes life on his being enraged, a woman, either as a friend or a foe, is in both cases the occasion of sorrow. What a woman does not do is of little moment; for she does not give utterance to the thoughts of her mind; and what is at the tip of her tongue she does not reveal; and what she does, she does not tell of. A wonderful creature has God created in the world in woman.’”
“After uttering these words, the merchant’s son answered her, saying, ‘I will have nothing to do with another’s wife.’ On hearing this she took her way back home again. On the way she met the thief, (and) told him the whole story. The thief, on hearing it, applauded her highly, and let her go. She came nigh her husband and told him all the circumstances; but her husband evinced no affection for her, and said, ‘The beauty of the cuckoo consists in its note alone; a woman’s beauty consists in her fidelity to her husband; and the beauty of an ugly man is his knowledge; the beauty of a devotee is his patient suffering.’”
Having related so much of the story, the sprite said, “O king! whose is the highest merit of these three?” King Vikramãjït replied, “The thief’s merit is the greatest.” The sprite said, “How?” The king replied, “Seeing her heart set on another man, her husband gave her up; through dread of the king, Somdatt let her alone; whereas there was no reason for the thief’s leaving her unmolested. Hence the thief is the superior.” On hearing this, the sprite went again and suspended himself on that tree; and the king also went there, took him down from the tree, bound and placed him on his shoulder, and once more carried him away.
The sprite said, “O king! in the country of Gaur there is a city called Baradmãn, and the king of that place was named Gunshekhar. His minister was a follower of the Jain persuasion, Abhaichand by name. Through his persuasion, the king, too, entered the pale of the Jain religion. He prohibited the worship of Shiva, as also that of Vishnu, and offerings of cattle, grants of land, oblations * to deceased ancestors, gambling and intoxicating liquors—all these he interdicted: no one was allowed to practise them in the city, and no one could carry away bones to the Ganges. And the minister, too, with the king’s sanction for these matters, had it proclaimed in the city, that whoever performs these acts, the king will confiscate all his property, and inflict punishment on him, and expel him from the city.”
“Thereafter the minister said one day to the king, ‘Attend, O king! to an exposition of the sacred law Whosoever takes the life of any one, this same takes his life also in another state of existence. It is on account of this sin that living and dying are inseparable from man on his entering this world. He is born again and again, and again he dies. Hence, it behoves man, on his being born into the world, to treasure up virtuous deeds. Observe (how) Brahmã, Yishnü, Mahãdeva, in one form or another, become incarnate in the world under the influence of love, anger, covetousness, or infatuation! A cow, forsooth, is superior to them, for she is free from passion, hatred, pride, anger, covetousness, infatuation; moreover, she sustains the subjects. And the sons which are born to her also impart the utmost ease to the living things of the earth, and cherish them. It is for this reason that all the deities and holy sages hold the cow sacred. Therefore, to worship the gods, is not well: worship the cow in this world. And it is a duty to protect the life of every animal, from the elephant to the ant; including beasts, birds, &c., up to man; there is no duty equal to that in the world. Those who add to their flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures, ultimately suffer the torments of hell. Hence it is incumbent on man to preserve life. Those who regard not the sufferings of others, but go on destroying the life of other creatures, and eating them—their lives are shortened on the earth, and they are born cripples, or lame, or blind of one eye, or blind of both eyes, or dwarfs, or hunch-backed, or with some such bodily defect. According to the limbs of beasts and birds which they devour, they eventually lose similar members of their own. Further, the drinking of intoxicating liquors is a great sin. Hence the consumption of flesh and intoxicating drinks is not right.’”
“Thus unfolding to the king the wisdom stored up in his mind, the minister made him so sound a convert to the Jain faith, that whatever he advised the king did; and he paid no respect to any Brahman, ascetic, itinerant devotee, or religious mendicant; * and governed his kingdom according to this religion. One day, coming under the power of death, he died. Thereupon his son, Dharm-dhwaj by name, ascended the throne, and began to reign. One day, having had the minister, Abhaichand, seized, and seven plaits made of the hair on his head, and his face blackened, and (the minister) himself seated on a donkey, and a drum beaten and hands clapped (in derision) after him, he then banished him from the kingdom, and carried on his government free from all anxiety.”
“One day, in the spring-time, the king, accompanied by his queens, went to take a stroll in a garden. There was a large tank in that garden, and the lotus was in full bloom therein. On beholding the beauty of the tank, the king stripped off his clothes, and went down to bathe. Having plucked a flower, and come to the side, he was handing it to one of the queens, when it slipped from his hand and fell on the queen’s foot; and by the blow it inflicted the queen’s foot was broken. On this the king became alarmed, and forthwith coming out from the tank, began applying remedies; and in the meantime night came on, and the moon shone forth. No sooner did the moon’s beams fall, than blisters arose on the body of the second queen. Farther, just then the sound of a wooden pestle from some householder’s suddenly reached the third queen, and she was instantly attacked with so severe a headache, that she fainted away.”
After narrating so much, the sprite said, “O king! which of these three was the most delicate?” The king replied, “The one who got the pain in the head and fainted away, she was the most delicate.” On hearing these words, the sprite again went and suspended himself on that tree; and the king went there and took him down, and, making a bundle of him, placed him on his shoulder, and walked off with him.
The sprite said, “Your majesty! there is a city named Punyapur, the king of which was named Ballabh, and his minister’s name was Satyaprakash, (and) the name of the minister’s wife was Lakshmi. One day the king said to his minister, ‘If one who is a king does not enjoy himself with beautiful women, his holding sovereignty is in vain.’ Having said this, and made over the burthen of government to the minister, he himself gladly entered upon a course of amorous pleasures. He abandoned all cares of the state, and commenced spending his days and nights in enjoyment.”
“It so happened that, one day, the minister was sitting dejected at home, when his wife asked him, ‘Husband! you seem to me to be very weak?’ He replied, saying, ‘Night and day the cares of government weigh heavily on me, and hence my body has become feeble; while the king is the whole day long occupied with his own pleasures and enjoyment.’ The minister’s wife said, ‘O husband! you have carried on the government for a long time, now take leave of the king, and undertake a pilgrimage for few days.’”
“He remained silent on hearing this speech of hers. Afterwards, when he stirred out (lit. when he rose thence), he went to the king at the time of his holding a court, and, obtaining his permission to go, set out on a pilgrimage. Journeying on, he reached Setband Rãmeshwar, * on the sea-coast. As soon as he arrived there, he visited the shrine of Mahãdeva, and came out (of the temple), when, his gaze happening to stray towards the sea, what does he behold, but a (marvellous) tree of gold come up out of it, the leaves of which were emeralds, the blossoms topazes, the fruits corals,—it presented a most beautiful sight! And seated on the tree was a very beautiful woman, holding a lute in her hands, and singing in most soft and sweet strains. After a few minutes the tree disappeared in the ocean.”
“After beholding this spectacle there, the minister turned back and came to his own city, and, proceeding to the king, made obeisance, and joining his hands, said, ‘Your Majesty! I have witnessed a marvellous sight!’ The monarch said, ‘Describe it.’ The minister said, ‘Your majesty! men of olden time have said that one should not speak of such things as are beyond the comprehension of any one, and which no one would credit. But this thing I saw plainly with my eyes, and hence I speak of it. Your majesty! at the place where the Lord Raghunãth has bridged the ocean, lo! a golden tree came up out of the sea, which was so splendidly loaded with emerald leaves, topaz flowers, and coral fruit, that a description of it is impossible! And upon it was a very beautiful woman, with a lute in her hands, singing the sweetest of strains. But after a few minutes that tree was lost to sight in the ocean.’”
“On hearing these words, the king entrusted the government to the minister, and set out alone for the sea-shore. After several days he arrived there, and entered the temple to pay adoration to Mahãdeva; and having bowed down and worshipped, he came out, when lo! the same tree, woman, and all, rose up (out of the sea). As soon as the king saw her, he leaped into the sea, and went and sat on the same tree. She, together with the king, descended to the nether regions. ** She looked at him (the king) and said, ‘Valiant man! Why hast thou come hither?’ The king replied, ‘I have come, attracted by thy beauty.’ She rejoined, ‘If thou wilt not have intercourse with me during the dark fortnight of the lunar month, I will marry thee.’ The king consented to this arrangement. Notwithstanding this, however, she took the king’s solemn promise, and then married him.”