T RA NSLA T O R 'S P REF ACE .

T H E English translation o f these tales has been made by special request, to meet repeated demands fo r a n f as ; translatio o the text edited by the late Dr . Dun

s can Forbes . The aim of the Translator ha been to produce a work which would enable the student to

cua study the original with facility and ac r cy . It being considered that few save students who are compelled to study the Hindi original would be

has likely to peruse the work, the translation been made as literal as it was possible to make it without e doing unpardonable violenc to English idiom . All

ffi ul no t c di c ties have been boldly, if su cessfully, met ;

x and and e planatory other notes have been added , wherever the text appeared to call fo r such . The study o f the translation must not be supposed to dispense with that o f the Grammar o f the language ; I it will be found , however, to prove of the highest utility to a student who has mastered the elementary u it— principles o f Grammar, and ses not as a mere crib but—for the purpose of discovering what light it sheds o n the application o f those principles .

P R E F A C E .

v — T H E origin of these tales is as follows In the reign ’ o f E a aa Jaisinh wai the mperor Muhammad Sh h, R j Sa (who w as the ruler o f Jainagar) ordered the eminent u a i i poet, named S rat, to translate the Bait l Pach s w (which as in the Sanskrit) into the Braj dialect . he Thereupon translated it into the dialect of Braj , in ’ w w . no accordance ith the king s command And , ’ n o f a in during the reig the Emperor Sh hi Alam, and

o f the o f r o f the time lord lo ds, the cream exalted

- o f o f En princes, the Privy Counsellor the Monarch g w t land, hose cour stands as high as Saturn ; the n o f - M oblest the noble, the Governor General, arquis Wellesley (may his government be perpetuated l) ; His and in accordance with the bidding of Honour, il l Mr . John G christ (may his good fortune endure ) ; to the end that illustrious gentleman may learn and M Ali a w mo m ale u nderstand, the poet azhar Kh n ( hose

lume is a w o f i u p Vil ) , ith the aid the poet Shr Lall

a , L ] , rendered the same into easy language such as high and low use in speaking, and which the learned vi PREFACE .

w and the ignorant, the talented and the obtuse, ould all w to comprehend, and hich would be easy the mind

o ne ffi an i n of every , no di culty of y k nd prese ting

to and itself the intellect, wherein the dialect of Braj frequently occurs .

No w w o f Pro , in conformity ith the command the

' fesso r o f i His Hind , the bounteous patron, Honour,

M u ! Captain James o at, (may his prosperity last long )

T arinicharan M itra, (in preparing the work) for the

has o ut press, struck such Sanskrit and Braj words as

in u seldom occur the Urd dialect, and introduced w d . w w use or s in current use Some ords, ho ever, in a u w mong the Hind s , the exclusion of hich he regarded

al he has as detriment , preserved intact . He trusts w w that the ork may meet ith a favourable reception .

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THE BAITAL P AOHCHISI.

INTRODUCTORY TALE .

T R was Dharana ar HE E a city named g , the king of

w w as G andharb d . an hich Sen He had four queens,

o ne m w by them six sons , more learned and ore po er m ful than another . Fate ordaining, after so e days

' so n the king died, and his eldest , Shank by name, became king in his stead . Again, after some days , d a younger brother, Vikram , after slaying his el est

n brother, himself became ki g , and began to govern well. Day by day his dominion so increased that he 1 v became king of all India ; and , after fixing his go ern

011 a . ment a firm basis , he established an era After some time the king thought to himself that he ought to visit those countries of which he had

th e e o f o n e o f th e e e i i o f th e w Jambud wip is nam s v n d vis ons orld, and ie th e e t i i i th e n w w i t o the n impl s c n ral d v s on , or k o n orld accord ng Ba d

it is n e to i . dhas, co fin d Ind a 2 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

d heard . l Having etermined on this , he made over his Bharthari throne to his younger brother , and him

o f set w self assuming the guise a devotee , out to ander from land to land and forest to forest .

A Brahman was practising austerities in that city . One day a deity brought and presented to him the

i and fruit o f immortality . He then took the fru t home w “ wi said to his ife, Whoever shall eat this ll become immortal ; the deity told me this at the time of giving ” ’ w w the fruit . Hearing this, the Brahman s ife ept x is e e cessively, and began to say, This a gr at evil w e f ! o ho w have to suf er For, becoming imm rtal ,

We o n s! is long shall go begging alm Nay , to die

w e die w e better than this ; (for) if , then escape from ” o w f . the trials the orld Then the Brahman said , I took the fruit and brought it ; but, hearing your w I N w w . o ords , am bereft of understanding I ill do

w o u . w i hatever y bid Then his fe said to him, Give

' fruit to k this the ing, and in exchange for it take w al w w e e th , hereby may enjoy the advantages of this w world as ell as that to come .

W n Hearing this speech , the Brahman ent to the ki g and gave him his blessing ; (and) after explaining the

! d o o u circumstances of the fruit , said, Great king y take this fruit and give me some w ealth ; there is

“ in - happiness for me your being long lived . The

i — “ I d a T he n t t in his mmd I u t e e ki g hough , sho ld rav l ov r those tr e w e e I e i coun i s hos nam s am h ar ng . B P A CH C H I THE AITAL S I . 3

v he king having gi en t Brahman a lakh of r upees and m him , t dis issed entered the female apar ments , and v u m gi ing the fruit to the q een whom he loved ost ,

, 0 w said queen do thou eat this , for thou ilt become

w n immortal, and ilt conti ue young for ever . The

, n queen heari g this , took the fruit from the king, (and) o ut o he came int his court . A certain kot wal was the paramour o f that queen

she ru to him gave the f it . It so happened that a ’ courtesan w as the kotw al s mistress ; he gave the fruit

and i s to her described t virtues . That courtesan thought to herself that the fruit w as a fitting present

fo r . w the king Determining this in her mind , she ent

e th and pr sented the fruit to e king . His majesty

took the fruit and dismissed her with much w ealth ; w and contemplating the fruit, and pondering ithin

o f w himself, he became sick the orld , and began to

- sa T he w w y , perishable ealth of this orld is of no use w hatever ; for through it o ne must ultimately fall into

is hell . Preferable to this the practising of religious

the hidin m duties and g in the re embrance of the Deity, ” w in w hereby it may be ell the future .

m n to h Co i g t is determination , he entered the female apartments and asked the queen w hat she had done

w i . I ith the fru t (he gave her) She replied, ate it

n t u . up “ Then the ki g showed the queen tha fr it

She , on the instant of setting eyes on it, stood aghast,

was k . and unable to ma e any reply After that , the 4 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

h w king aving come forth , had the fruit ashed , and ate d m h it, and abandoning his king o and t rone , assumed m the t m u nacco guise of a devotee, and be ook hi self

anied w communication with a p , and ithout holding

l . soul, to the jung e

The throne o f Vikram became vacant . When this

w n he to ne s reached ki g Indra, sent a demon guard w Dharanagar . He kept atch over the city day and o f m t night . To be brief, the report this a ter spread

n Bharthari from cou try to country, that king had abandoned his government and gone aw ay . King w Vikram , too, heard the ne s , and immediately came

h s w as t : w as to i country . It then midnigh he enter in w al o ut g the city at that hour, hen that demon c led ,

“ Who art thou ! and w hither goest thou ! Stand m ” still (and) ention thy name . Then the king said, “ V I m o w n It is I , king ikram ; am entering y city ! ” who art thou, to challenge me Then the demon replied, saying, The deities have sent me to guard

: n a this city if you are really ki g Vikr m , first fight ” w ith me , and then enter the city . O n hearing these w ords the king girt tight his w - aist cloth and challenged the demon . Thereupon

to o , , . the demon stood up to him The battle began . At last the king threw the demon and sat upon his

. 0 breast Then he said, king ! thou hast thrown me I grant thy life as a Upon this the king , w laughing , said , Thou art gone mad ; hose life dost P 5 THE BAITAL A C H C H I S I .

n ! u ho w thou gra t Did I will, I co ld slay thee canst

” “ h m e f ! n 0 t ou grant li e The the demon said ,

king ! I am about to save thee from death ; first attend w to a tale of mine , and thereafter rule over the hole ” w s orld free from all care . At length the king et

to l . him free , and began listen attentively to his ta e Then the demon addressed him thus : There w as in d h n r ha C a d ab n . this city a very liberal king , name

d a w w One y he ent forth casually into the jungle ; hen , what should he behold but an ascetic hanging, head

w w t in do n ards , from a ree , and sustaining himself by haling smoke alone— neither receiving anything from

no r . any one , speaking to any one Perceiving this

e k r stat of his , the ing retu ned home, and seating him

“ in a d w self his court , s i , Whoever ill bring this ascetic

(here) , shall receive a lakh of rupees A courtesan h w d m earing these or s , ca e to the king and spake thus

’ I w If I obtain your majesty s leave, ill have a child i t begotten by that ascetic, and bring here mounted ” o n his shoulder . h The king w as astonished at hearing this speec , and binding the courtesan to (the fulfilment of her contract to) bring the ascetic by giving her a flake of 1 - w betel leaf, dismissed her . She ent to that wild,

' ' h e W ta aswzIce I am obliged t o render thus periphrastically t ords p

- f e wi t re b r d d eleaxr . T he bir d is ete e Zi ne Ice M ate i a b l l a , mad up h a p e te f ve 850. I t i s e p aratio n o areca clo s, giv n and acc p d as a t pledge fo r th e performance o f an ac . 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

’ w as and reaching the ascetic s place , perceived that he

l n - w w rea ly ha ging head do n ards , neither eating nor

w as w . I n drinking anything, and that he ithered up

t ur shor , that co tesan prepared some sweetmeat, and

’ mo nth : d w put it into the ascetic s he, fin ing it s eet, o a ate it up w ith zest . Thereup n the courtesan p l m hi tw o p ied ore (to s mouth) . Thus for days did e w w she continue f eding him ith s eetmeat , by eating

w e . hich he gained a certain degr e of strength Then , opening his eyes, and descending from the tree, he w inquired of her, On hat business hast thou come hither ! ’

u I The co rtesan replied , am the daughter of a god ; I w as practising religious austerities in heaven ; ’ I h no w W ave come into this ild . The devotee said ’ a W i ! w t . gain , here is thy hut Sho me Thereupon

t “ the courtesan brough the ascetic to her hut , and com m enced d w lit - flavo ured fee ing him ith savoury ( . six ) v c o ff k iands , so that the asceti left inhaling smo e, and took to eating food and drinking w ater daily . Even t ually Qupid troubled him upon w hich he had car nal

w and Vi intercourse ith her, ( ) tiated his austerities ; an d the courtesan became pregnant . In ten months

w as w as a boy born . When he some months old , w ! the oman said to the devotee , O saint you should no w set out on a pilgrimage w hereby all the sins of

’ fl ma the esh y be blotted out .

w w d she Deluding him ith such or s , mounted the P A C H I S I THE B AITAL C H . 7

’ bo o n his ur y shoulder , and started for the king s co t,

set o ut u whence she had , after taking p the gage to a ccomplish this matter . When she came before the king, his majesty recognised her from a distance, and

o n o f seeing the child the shoulder the devotee, began ‘ ! saying ! to the courtiers , Just see this is the very ’ same courtesan w ho went to bring the devotee ! 0 ! They replied, king you are quite right ; this is the very same ; and be pleased to observe that all ’ that she had stated in your majesty s presence ere ’

has . she set forth, come to pass When the ascetic heard these remarks o f the

u t he king and co rtiers , he perceived that king had adopted these measures to disturb his religious medi

his tatio ns . With these thoughts in mind , the de vo tee returned from thence, and getting out of the s w city, le the child, repaired to another jungle, and f m began to perform penance . And a ter some ti e that

. king died , and the devotee completed his penance

is men The short o f the story this , that you three o ne have been born under one asterism , conjunction, ’ Yo u r and in o ne moment . took bi th in a king s ’ house ; the second w as an oilman s (child) the third , ’ w as . the devotee , born in a potter s house You still ’ w was govern here , hile the oilman s son the ruler of the infernal regions ; but that potter, bringing his religious meditations to thorough perfection , has killed t the oilman , turned him in o a demon in a burning ’ 011 11 1 U W I I W G L D V g l U u n P ( 1 5 5

- o u . e siris tree, and is intent on killing y If you scape

a o u o f him , you will rule . I h ve apprised y all these circumstances ; do not be careless w ith respect to ” m them . Having narrated thus uch, the demon de

his r c . parted . He (the king) entered p ivate pala e

s o When it wa morn the king came forth, and to k his h seat (on the t rone) , and gave the order for a

s as w general court . As many servant there ere,

an d l ff r great smal , all came and made their o e ings in m the presence, and festive usic burst forth . An ex trao rdinary gladness and rejoicing possessed the w hole e city , such that in every place, and very house, dance and song arose . After this the king began to govern justly . It is related that one d ay an ascetic named Shant ' ’ shil appeared at the king s court w ith. a fruit in his f hand, and, presenting the ruit to the king, spread a w cloth, and sat do n there . After a short time he w w O n ent a ay again . his departure the king thought to himself that this w as probably the person of whom

. H abo urin u the demon had spoken g this s spicion , he d id n not eat the fruit, and , summoni g the stewar d, he w gave it to him, ith instructions to keep it carefully . h w The devotee, o ever, came constantly in this same manner, and left a fruit every day . It so happened that one day the king went to l m inspect his stab e , acco panied by some attendants .

10 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

wh is you have spoken the truth . He ose integrity

is aco m anies us safe, his all safe : integrity alone p , and that it is w hich proves of advantage in both to w . 0 ! is orlds Hear, king each gem perfect as I colour, stone, and form . Were to declare the value o f o f w each to be a crore rupees , even that ould not

is come up to the mark . Of a truth, each gem worth

. w as a clime Hearing this , the king pleased beyond

u and o n w meas re , conferring a robe of honour the je el ’ ler, dismissed him ; and taking the devotee s hand ,

o n t he brought and seated him the hrone . and began

“ thus My w hole realm is not w orth even o ne of w these rubies ; tell me , then , hat is the explanation

o u of this, that y , a religious mendicant , have presented ” me w ith so many gems ! “ ! The ascetic said , Your majesty it is not proper w o f . to speak publicly the follo ing things , viz , magic and incantations , drugs employed in medicines , religious ff duties , family a airs , the eating of impure meats, evil — speech w hich one has heard all these things are no t s o f w ll poken in public ; I i tell you in private . Attend ! w it is a rule , that hatever is heard by three pairs o f cars remains no secret ; the w ords w hich reach tw o pairs of ears no man hears while the contents of one r w a pai of ears are unkno n to Brahm himself, not to ” s . O n w d peak of man hearing these or s , the king the e “ 0 took devote apart and began to say , holy ! u man you have given me so many r bies , and have 11 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . not once partaken of food even ; you have put me to ” ! w great shame Let me kno what it is you desire . “ ! The ascetic said , Sire I am about to practice magical

- - o n o f arts in a large body burning ground , the bank

a i I u the river God var , whereby shall acq ire super

w I o f o u to o ne w natural po ers , and so beg y pass hole night w ith me ; by your being near me my magic “ n w c . w arts ill su ceed The the king said, Very ell ; ” I w : w ill come leave ord with me of the day . The “ un ascetic said , Do you come to me , armed and

o n attended , the Tuesday evening of the dark half of

” “ Yo u a . d the month Bh don The king replie , may go ; ”

I . will assuredly come , and alone Having thus exacted a promise ‘ from the king and

he taken leave , , for his part, went into a temple and

made preparations , and taking all necessaries with w fo r him , ent and fixed himself m a place burning

bodies ; w hile here the king began to ponder (over

the w hat had happened) . In the meantime moment

d . (for him to epart) too, arrived Upon this the king n w there and the girt on his s ord, tightened the cloth

w his a he w ore bet een legs , and betook himself lone to T h him . e the devotee by night, and greeted devotee im w requested h to be seated, hereupon the king sat

ir i , dow n , and the perceived goblins, ev l spirits and

f ; w itches , in various rightful shapes , dancing around w as w hile the ascetic , seated in the centre, striking

t wo skulls together by w ay of music . The king felt 12 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . no fear o r alarm o n beholding this state o f things ; bu t is fo r said to the devotee, What command there ” ! 0 ! no w o u me He replied, king that y have come , — do this at a distance o f tw o £08 south of this place is - w - a burning ground, herein is a siris tree, on which a corpse is suspended ; bring that (corpse) to me at

to i w r once th s place, here I shall be pe forming my ” k t devotions . Having despatched the ing hither, he himself settled dow n in devotional attitude and began muttering prayers .

o ne r o f n For thing, the da kness the ight was in

t d o f itself errifying ; more than this, the ownpour the rain w as as unceasing as if it w ould rain for once and

w to o all that night ; hilst the goblins and ghosts, , were creating such an uproar, that even daring heroes w - ould have been agitated at the spectacle the king,

w o n w a . ho ever, went his y The snakes , which kept w coming and t ining themselves about his legs, he used

a to disentangle by repeating inc ntations . At length, when after passing somehow or other over a perilous

n - road, the king reached the burni g ground, he per ceived that goblins were constan tly seizing men and destroying them ; witches continually munching the

w ar livers of children ; tigers ere ro ing, and elephants

m . w the screa ing In short, hen he noticed tree, he

e o f perceived that every l af and branch it, from the t w root to the opmost t ig, was burning furiously, while from all four sides arose a tumultuous cry of “ Kill B P A C H C H I THE AITAL S I . 13

! him kill him ! Seize him ! seize him ! Take care ” he does not escape ! The king had no fears o n beholding that state of ; he m “ things but said to hi self, It may or may no t be so, but (I am convinced) this is the same devotee w ” about hom the demon spoke to me . And having gone close and observed, he perceived a corpse fas w w tened by a string, and hanging head do n ards . He w as r his glad to see the co pse , thinking trouble had

w . n w been re arded Taki g his s ord and shield, he m l u w cli bed the tree fearless y , and str ck such a blo w ith the sw ord that the rope was severed and the w w corpse fell do n , and instantly began to eep aloud .

w as On hearing his voice the king pleased, and began “ ” ! . to say to himself, Well this man at least is alive

o f w ho w as. Then , descending, he enquired him he

He burst out laughing as soon as he heard . (the ques

w s a . tion) . The king greatly astonished at this Again the corpse climbed up the tree and suspended himself.

u The king, too , that instant climbed up , and cl tching hi w “ him under his arm , brought mdo n, and said, Vile ” wretch ! tell me who thou art . He made no reply .

to The king reflected and said himself, Perhaps this is the very oilman w hom the demon said the devotee ” had deposited in the place w here bodies are burnt .

n be and Thus reflecti g, bound him up in his mantle who brought him to the devotee . The man displays 14 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

such courage w ill (be sure to) succeed in his under

takings .

“ art ! w Then the sprite said, Who thou and hither ” ! I am art thou taking me The king replied, king ”

o ff . Vikram , and am taking thee to a devotee He

I - if rejoined , will go on one condition , thou utterest ” w n w I o a w . a ord the y , ill come straight back The

and w o ff w king agreed to his condition ent ith him .

0 ! who Then the sprite said , king those are learned ,

n w —Meir discerni g , and ise days are passed in the de

o f n a w l o f light so g and the Sh stras , hi e the days the w in un ise and foolish are spent dissipation and sleep . a Hence , it is best th t this long road should be beguiled

: 0 ! by profitable converse do you attend , king to the ” story I relate .

l B etti l baitd l is , t e ti e ete e t e e w e e or a spri haun ng c m ri s (or, ra h r, plac s h r ie are e i ti e ie bod s burn d,) and an ma ng d ad bod s . TALE I .

w as o f a Prata mukut THERE a king Ban ras, named p ;

- u t w as o f his w and Bajra m ku the name son, hose ’ w as a i queen s name Mah dev . One day the prince,

’ a w ccompanied by his minister s son , ent to the chase, and w advanced far into a jungle , in the midst of hich

o f w he beheld a beautiful tank , on the margin hich a i wild geese , br hman ducks, male and female , cranes and w - w w o n ater fo l ere, one and all, disporting ; all four sides y fid ts o f solid masonry w ere constructed w w as in u : o n ithin the tank, the lotus f ll bloom the

n o f f sides were pla ted trees di ferent kinds , under the dense shade o f w hich the breezes came cool and re w i w freshing , h le birds were arbling on the boughs ;

w o f and in the forest bloomed flo ers varied hues , on — w hich w hole sw arms of bees w ere buzzing (such w as the scene) w hen they arrived by the margin o f

re that tank and w ashed their hands and faces, and ascended . “ a On that spot w as a temple sacred to Mah deva .

r Fastening thei horses , and entering the temple, they

a o ut . paid adoration to Mah deva , and came While ' ‘ l 6 THE B A I I A L P A C H C H I S I . t w o f hey ere engaged in adoration , the daughter a

t n , cer ain ki g , accompanied by a host of attendants came to another margin of the tank to bathe ; and,

n m n and having finished her ablutio s , editatio s prayers ,

w o w n w she, ith her maidens , began to alk about in ’ O n the shade of the trees . this side the minister s ’ w as so n w as w son seated, and the king s alking about, ’ w n d o f he , sud enly, his eyes , and the eyes the king s daughter, met . As soon as he beheld her beauty, the ’ w as king s son fascinated, and began saying to him

‘ ’ Yo u w ! w h ! self, retch , Cupid y do you molest me

A nd w in hen the princess beheld the prince, she took her hand the lotus - flo wer w hich she had fixed on her hit head after her devotions , placed it to her ear, it w u ith her teeth , put it under her foot , then took it p

n and pressed it to her bosom, and , taki g her maidens

w . ith her, mounted (her chariot) and departed home “ And the prince , sinking into the depths of despair,

v w d w o n and o er helme ith grief account of her absence , ’ so n w n h came to the minister s , and ith a feeli g of s ame

o f ff 0 laid before him the actual state a airs , saying, ! I h I friend ave seen a most beautiful damsel , (but) know neither her name nor her abode : should I not

I w u m : possess her, ill give p y life this I am firmly

’ resolved upon in my mind . Hearing these circum ’ him stances, the minister s son caused to mount, and

’ brtmht w as g him home, it is true , but the king s son so t be res less from grief at separation , that entirely

18 THE BAITAL P A C H C HI S I .

i a , hended her s gns , and discovered her n me , habitation

’ and all about her . He (the prince) replied , Explain ’ to me whatever you have discovered . He began to ‘ 0 ! say, Attend , king Her having taken the lotus w h e uiva flo er from her ead and put it to her ear, is q lent to her having informed you that she is an inha bitant of the Karnatak (Carnatic) ; and in biting it w i t ith her teeth , she int mated that she is the daugh er o f - vat king Danta and by pressing it under her foot, she declared that her name is Padmavati ; and in again

n u n taki g it p and pressi g it to her bosom , she informed ’ w you that you d ell in her heart . When the prince h w eard these ords , he said to him, It is advisable ’ that you take me to the city in w hich she dwells . No sooner had he said this than both dressed them

o n selves , girt their arms , and taking some jewels wi m to th them , ounted their horses and took the road ” that quarter .

“ the at Having reached Karn ak after several days , and having arrived below the palaces of the king in their stroll through the city , what do they see there but an old w oman sitting at her door and plying her

- w . tw o u cotton heel The , dismo nting from their horses ,

and M ! w e approached her, began to say, other are w travelling merchants , our goods are follo ing us ; w e have come o n ahead to seek a lodging ; if you will ’ w e w give us a place, ill abide . On looking at their

w w a faces and hearing their ords, the old om n took

is compassion on them and said , This house yours ; e n cnrs THE BAITAL r. 19

’ ai as rem n here as long you please . In short, they o f took possession the house o n hearing this ; and after some delay the old woman came and kindly sat

t a , . O n wi h them and began ch tting with them this , ’ so n o f ‘ the minister s enquired her, What family and

’ relations have you go t ! and ho w do yo d subsist ! o ld The woman said, My son is very comfortably ’ provided for in the king s service, and your humble

’ is w et - o f Pad mavati servant the nurse , the king s daughter ; in consequence of old age having overtaken I me remain at home, but the king provides for my

a . w m intenance Once a day, ho ever, I go regularly to 1rl o n m r m see that g ; it is y return f o thence, in ’ I w o e . my home , alone , that give vent to my w Hearing these ords, the prince rejoiced at heart,

‘ o ld o u and said to the woman , When y are starting ’ - w r messa e to morro , please carry a g from me too . ! w She replied , Son hat need to defer it till to morrow ! I w ill this moment convey any message ’ o f yours that yo u communicate to me . Then he

‘ a — s id, Do you go and tell her this, The prince whom you saw o n the margin of the tank on the fifth day o f the light half of the month Jeth has

Q ” arrived here . On hearing these words the o ld woman took her stick and went to the palace . When she got there a she foun d the princess sitting alone . When she p

eared her al . p before , she (the princess) s uted her S I 20 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I .

w , The old oman gave her her blessing , and said

‘ I o u Daughter ! tended y in your infancy , and

has no w w suckled you . God caused you to gro up wh no w d u o u at my heart esires is , that I sho ld see y co m happy in your prime , then should I , too, receive ’ in ff w fort . Addressing her such a ectionate ords as

sa w these; she proceeded to y , The prince hose heart you took captive on the fifth day of the light half of

o f at Jeth , by the side the tank, has alighted my

has fo r house, (and) sent you this message , you to

no w perform the promise you made him , that he has

. I o u arrived And tell y , for my part , that that prince is w o f orthy you, and is as excellent in disposition ’ and mental qualities as yo u are beautiful . w m On hearing these ords she beca e angry, and

' n and applyi g sandal to her hands , slapping the face

‘ w e ! o ut of the old oman , b gan to say , Wretch get ’ ! w of my house She rose annoyed , and ent, in that

to very condition, straight the prince , and related all

w as that had happened to her . The prince astounded ’

w . at these ords Then the minister s son spoke , say

! no m ing, Great king feel anxiety ; this atter has w ’ not come ithin your comprehension . Hereupon he

‘ said , True ; do you then explain it , that my mind

’ ‘ s may obtain rest . He aid, In smearing sandal on

o n the ten fingers, and striking the (woman the) face, w she intimated , that hen the ten nights of moonlight

’ an w shall come to end, she ill meet you in the dark . T H E P A C H BAITAL C H I S I . 2 1

T o t d o ld be brief, af er ten ays the woman again w ent and announced him ; then she tinged three o f w t ff her fingers i h sa ron , and struck them on her ! ’ cheek, saying, Get out of my house After all , the o ld w m o an moved from thence in despair , and came and related to the prince all that had occurred . He w as engulfed in an ocean o f sorrow as soon as he

’ heard it . Seeing this state of his , the minister s son said again , Be not alarmed, the purport of this m ’ ‘ i . M atter is someth ng else He replied, y heart

’ ‘ is . disquieted ; tell me quickly Then he said, She w w is in the state hich omen are in every month, and hence has stip ulated for three days more ; on the ’

u w fo r . fo rth day she ill send you In short, when w en the three days elapsed , the old oman made q uiries after her health o n the part o f the prince . Then she brought the old w oman angrily to the

w w and . estern icket, turned her out Again the old woman came and informed the prince of this event :

- n he became cast down at heari g it . On this the

’ ‘ so n d o f minister s sai , The explanation the affair is ,

- t that she has invited y o u to night by w ay of tha ’ w as w icket . He pleased beyond measure at hearing w this . To be brief, hen the hour arrived , they took

w o f o ut bro n suits clothes , arranged them , fastened o n their turbands, dressed themselves, placed their w w eapons in order about them , and ere ready ; by this time midnight had passed . At that time an 22 THE BAITAL P A C H C HI S I .

‘ w universal stillness prevailed , hen they, too , pursued ” their way in unbroken silence . ’ w When they arrived near the icket, the minister s w he the son remained standing ithout, and ( prince) entered the wicket . What does he perceive, but the

‘ n ! princess, too, standing there expecti g him Thus

d , their eyes met . Then the princess laughe , and w closing the icket, took the prince with her into the festive chamber . Arrived there, the prince beheld censers filled w ith perfume alight in different parts o f

ar o f the room , and maidens dressed in g ments various w colours standing respectfully, ith hands joined , each f according to her station ; o n one side a couch o

- - an - w flowers spread ; atr holders , p boxes, rose ater

- an bottles, trays and four partitioned boxes arr ged in order ; on another side , compound essences , prepared

- w m u f l sandal ood, ixed perf mes , musk, and sa fron fi led

o f in metal cups ; here, coloured boxes exquisite con ac i o ut w o f f tions la d ; there, s eetmeats various kinds placed in order ; all the doors and w alls adorned with pictures and paintings, and holding such faces, that the beholder would be enchanted at the very sight o f

. r each single one In short, eve ything that could con

w as tribute to pleasure and enjoyment got together .

w as o ne o f The whole scene an extraordinary character, ” o f w hich no adequate description can be given . “ Such w as the apartment to which the princess Padmavati took the prince and gave him a seat, and B A I ’l‘A L P A C H C IH S I THE . 23

his having feet washed , and applying sandal to his d bo y , and placing a garland of flowers round his

, w neck and sprinkling rose ater over him, began

o wn fanning him with her hands . Upon this the

the I prince said , At mere sight o f you have become refreshed ; w hy d o you take so much trouble ! These d elicate hands are not fit to handle a fan ; give me ’ o u ; . Pad mavati the fan y be seated replied , Great king ! y o u have been at great trouble to come here fo r w ’ my sake, it behoves me to ait upon you . Then

’ f the and a maiden took the fan rom princess s hand,

, w o n said This is my business ; I ill attend you, and ’ o u n do y both e joy yourselves . They began eating

- r betel leaf together, and engaging in familia con w it versation , hen , by this time, became morning . w The princess concealed him , (and) hen night came o n , they again engaged in amorous pleasures . Thus several days passed aw ay . Whenever the prince showed a wish to depart the princess would not per mit him . A month passed thus ; then the prince be

d . came much isturbed, and very anxious “ Once it happened that he w as sitting alone by night and thinking thus to himself, Country, throne , — family, everything had already been separated from w me ; but such a friend as mine , by hose means I found all this happiness , even him have I not met for a whole month ! What will he be saying in his heart ! and ho w do I know what may be happening ’ to him ! He was sitting occupied with these anxious 24 THE B AITAL m o no m er.

u w in w to o tho ghts hen , the mean hile, the princess

his in arrived , and seeing predicament, began to

‘ ui ! whaf o u q re , Great king grief possesses y that

’ yo u are sitting so dispirited here ! Tell me . Then

‘

. so n o f he said, I have a very dear friend, the the minister ; for a whole month I have recei ved no ao

o f : vr counts him he is such a cle e , learned friend ,

Iris w as I that through talents (it that) obtained thee , ’ and fie (it was who ) explained all thy secrets . The

a ! princess said, Gre t king your soul is really there ; w can ! s is hat happiness you enjoy here Hence, thi

- I and best , will prepare confections and sweetmeats ,

o f v all kinds meats, and ha e them sent ; do you, too , h u go t ere and feast and comfort him well , and ret rn w ’ ith your mind at ease . , On hearing this the prince rose up and came forth ff w and the princess had di erent kinds of s eetmeats, w d . ith poison mixe , cooked and sent The prince had ’ but just gone and sat beside the minister s son w hen ’ w so n the s eetmeats arrived . The minister s enquired ‘ G reat king ! how did these sweetmeats come here !

I w as co n The prince replied, sitting there anxious n e m ki cerni g you, when the princ ss ca e, and loo ng at

- w ! me, asked, Why do you sit cast do n Explain ’ I a the reason of it . On this gave her a full ccount 1 o f n your skill in reading secrets . On heari g this ao

I n t t t n I t e bhed - ckatwr d i t e t hus ransla i g, ak as a compound : o h r rans t e e it the e et o f u e e e w ee to me t la ors r nd r , s cr s yo r cl v rn ss, hich s ms o be

a ti s e to e the e e . gr mma cally inadmis ibl , and los s ns

2 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

— o Pad mavati w I one thing, g again to , and do just hat

o u — first affec tell y , go and display much regard and w o ff tion for her ; (and) hen she falls asleep , take her

w o n i tri je els , and strike her the left thigh w th this ’

l w . dent, and instant y come a ay from thence i w Having received these nstructions , the prince ent

P ad mavati u ff to at night, and after m ch a ectionate w conversation , they both lay do n together to sleep ;

w s but he a secretly w atching his opportunity . To be

ri w o ff b ef, hen the princess fell asleep , he took all her w ornaments, struck her on the left thigh ith the tri

n d is w n an h o . de t , came to house He recounted all ’ the occurrences to the minister s son , and laid the w . u je els before him He then took p the jewels , took the w h s o f prince it him, and , as uming the guise a de vo tee w , ent and sat in a place for burning bodies .

He himself took the part of a spiritual teacher, and him making (the prince) his disciple, said to him,

‘ You go into the market and sell these jew els ; if him anyone should seize you while doing this , bring ’ to me . w Receiving his instructions , the prince took the je els with him to the city: and showed them to a goldsmith

’ - A s in close proximity to the king s palace gate . soon

saw m as he the he recognised them , and said , These ’ w w o u are the princess s je els tell me truly, here did y ’ get them ! He w as saying this to him w hen ten o r tw enty more men gathered round . To be brief, the P A C H C H I S THE BAITAL I . 27

al , w kotw hearing the ne s, sent men and had the prince , e togeth r with the jewels and the goldsmith , seized and him brought before , and inspecting the jewels , asked s w him to tate truly here he had got them . When he said , My spiritual preceptor has given them to me ’ — , I w to sell but kno not whence he got them, then the kotwal had the preceptor also apprehended and

brought before him , and taking them both, together w w ith the je els , into the presence of the king , related all the circumstances . On hearing the narrative the king addressed the M ! w devotee, saying, aster hence did you obtain w ! ’ ! these je els The devotee said, Your majesty o n the fourteenth night of the dark lunar fortnight I visited a burning - ground to perfect some spells for a

' w w I o fl w itch hen the witch came , took her je els and a pparel, and made the impression of a trident on her left thigh ; in this w ay these ornaments came into my

n possession . On heari g this statement of the devo

’ w m tee s, the king ent into his private apart ents, and 1 u nin ~ the devotee to his seat (in the b r g gro und) . The t king said to the queen , Jus see if there is a mark ’ o n P admavati s o r no t so w left thigh , and (if ) hat sort ’ o f a mark there is . The queen having gone and

r r . looked , found the ma k of a t ident She returned

1 T he dedza is e e th e o f ee e ti e w , g n rally, skin a d r, or l opard, or g r, hich T he i e o f religious mendicant s carry w ith them to sit upon . h d a black te e e t he are f e t o use th e an lop is comm only preferre d . Som of gods abl d

- lo tus d ow er fo r the purpose. ‘ I 28 THE BAITAL P A C H C HI S .

‘ to ki ! t and said the ng, Your majesty here are three parallel marks indeed , it appears as if some one had

’ struck her with a trident .

“ ar o ut n On he ing this account , the king came and se t w a for the kot l , and told him to go and bring the de vo tee wa o ff o n the . The kot l set to bring the devotee instant of receiving the ord er ; and the king began ’ ff s h reflecting thus , The a airs of one house old, and ’ o f n w the intentions o e s heart, and any loss hich has — befallen one these it is not right to disclose to any w w a one hen , in the interval, the kot l brought the d evotee into the presence . Then the king took the devotee aside and questioned him, saying , Spiritual guid e ! what punishment is laid dow n in the scrip u ! ’ ‘ t res for a woman On this the devotee said , Your m ! co w w o r ajesty if a Brahman , a , a ife , a child , any one dependent on us , be guilty of a disgraceful act, it is prescribed that such should be banished from the

’ country . On hearing this the king had P ad mavati conveyed

w . u a ay, in a litter and left in a jungle There pon both the prince and the minister’ s son started from their w lodging on horseback , ent to that jungle, took the

P ad mavati w fo r Princess ith them , and set out their o n w country . After some days each reached his ’ father s house . The greatest joy took possession of

lo w i . e . all, high and ; and these ( , the prince and the n princess , ) e tered upon a life of mutual happiness . 9 THE B AITAL P A C H C H I S I . 2

After relating so much of the tale the sprite asked Vikramait w King j , To hich of those four does guilt a ! o u i be ttach If y do not decide th s point, you will

Vikram cast into hell King , i said The guilt attaches " to . T he H o w the king sprite replied, does the ’ sin o n ! m w him u fall the king Vikra ans ered th s , ’ The minister s so n simply did his d uty to his

’ master ; and the kotw al obeyed the king s co m

n mand ; and the princess attai ed her object ; hence , the guilt falls on the king for having inconsiderately

expelled her from the country . ’ O n h a w m e ring these ords fro the king s mouth, the

sprite went and suspended himself o n that same tree . TALE II .

O N h the looking about him, the king perceived t at sprite was no t present ; so he went straight away

h d u back, and, reac ing that place, climbe p the tree ,

r ac o n bound the co pse, and pl ing him his shoulders , set o ff the 0 ! . Then sprite said, king the second story is as follow s “ On the bank of the Yamuna (Jamna) is a city h Dharmmast al . m named , the king of which is na ed hi M G unad . Kesava p oreover, a Brahman named who t o f hi lives there , is in the habi performing s devotions and religious duties o n the banks o f the ’ a w as Madhumavati Jamn ; and his daughter s name .

She was very beautiful . When she became marri age

w all able, her mother, father, and brother, ere three intent o n getting her married . It happened that w h o ne o n hile her fat er had gone day, with e o f his ‘ supporters, to a marriage ceremony somewhere, and

Ja mén th e it Ya amd na is m e n who n t t j , from Sanskr j , p rso i s i utes a

e it . I n a e w e e t e e e e t ie t sacrific , and pays for a vill g h r h r is a h r di ary pr s , ’ ' th e e t ee are i th e Vi e w ho tit te his a md n pri s s f s pa d by llag rs ( cons u j g ) , an d t t w ethe t e e to e his e e t e an ha h r h y choos mploy s rvic s , or hos of y other P A C H C H THE BAITAL I S I . 31

’ b to her rother his teacher s in the village , for in

’ struction , in their absence a Brahman s son came to

’ the house . Her mother, seeing the youth s beauty I w and excellent qualities , said , ill give my daughter ’ r nd in ma riage to thee . A there the Brahman had agreed to give his daughter to a young Brahman ; while his son had given his word to a Brahman at

w to l the place here he had gone study, that he wou d him give his sister .

“

tw o i . e . After some days those ( , the father and so n tw o u ) arrived with the yo ths , and here (at home) the third youth w as stopping fromthe first (aw aiting

’ ’ T rib kram . w as i them) One s name , the other s ’ Baman ; the third s Madhu sudan ; they w ere all o n a par in point of good looks, moral excellence, learning,

to and age . On seeing them, the Brahman began

i - ! T o reflect thus , One g rl, and three suitors elect

I w no t ! A nd w e whom shall shall give her, to hom have all three given our w ords to the three o f them this is a strange piece o f business that has happened ! What shall I do ! ’ He w as sitting reflecting thus w hen in the mean

a and . time snake bit the girl, ( ) she died On hearing w t the ne s , her father, brother, and the three you hs , all

o ff l five ran in a body, and , after much toi and

- trouble, brought all the snake charmers , conjurers ,

e t e t I e t t e e e to the e in o f e e ei n , pri s . obj c , h r for , m an g mploy r as b ng i xac “ ” t m ele an t . and t o that o f customer as bemg both inexac and g 32 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . and as many practisers of magic arts for the purpose o f x h w in . e pelling poison , as t ere ere ( the place) n o t They all looked at the girl, and said she could be

‘ restored to life . The first said , A man bitten by a o r snake on the fifth , sixth , eighth, nine, fourteenth ’ day of the lunar month does not survive . A second

d ‘ w ho o n u sai , One has been bitten a Sat rday or

’ ‘

d . Tues ay , too , does not live A third said , Poison w hich has ascended (into the system) when the moon

in is the fourth , tenth, ninth, sixteenth, nineteenth ,

o f no t . and third asterisms its path , does descend ‘ ‘ w A fourth said , One bitten in any of the follo ing

m . o f embers , viz , an organ sense, the lips , the cheek , ’ the neck , the abdomen , or the navel , cannot escape .

‘ no t A fifth said , In this instance even Brahma could restore to life ; of w hat account are we then ! Do yo u no w perform her funeral rites ; w e are

w w and Having said this , the conjurers ent a ay ; the

w a Brahman took the corpse a ay , burnt it in the pl ce ” w r o ff. for such ites , and ent

No w t , after he had gone , those hree youths acted in this w ise - One o f them picked up an d fastened together her charred bones , and becoming a religious w m mendicant , ent forth to wander fro forest to forest .

A n y o ne w ho has seen th e conj urers at w ork w ill know that th e operator w ete to w the 01so n o u t o f th e te d o w nw ar d s f the al ays pr nds ork p sys m , rom ” head tow ar ds the feet hence th e expressions ascen d mg and descend t in connecti on with th e action o f he poison .

34 T HE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

o f u another part his ho se , brought a book on the

o f m science restoring to life, took a char from it , muttered some prayers , and brought his son back to w l . n ife Then that Brahman , seei g this onder, began

‘ n m h t to po der in his ind , If t is book were to fall in o ’

d l r . my han s I , too, cou d estore my beloved to life m m t Having ade up his ind on his point, he ate the w food , and tarried there . To be brief, hen night

o f came on , after some time all partook supper , and w w and ent and lay do n in their respective places ,

; w ere chatting together on one subject o r another . w w The Brahman, too , ent and lay do n apart, but kept lying aw ake . When he thought that the night w as he far advanced , and all had gone to sleep , arose t ’ quie ly , softly entered his (host s) room, took that

m o f book , and deca ped ; and in the course several days he arrived at the place w here he (the father) had ’ he burnt the Brahman s daughter . He found t other tw o m Brah ans there also, sitting and conversing to

two n g ether . Those also, recognisi g him , approached

‘ m et and ! and him, inquired , saying, Brother you w l have andered from land to and , it is true; but, tell ’ as w ! us , have you learned any science ell He said ,

‘ I have learned the science o f restoring the dead to

' ’ ‘ life . As soon as they heard this , they said, If you d v ’ have learne this , restore our belo ed to life . He

M o f the and replied , ake a heap ashes bones , and I ’ will restore it to life . They gathered together the T H E BAITAL r x cncm sr. 35 a shes and bones . Then he took a charm o ut of the book, and muttered prayers ; the girl rose up alive .

so o f Thereupon Cupid blinded the three , them that ” n h they began wrangling amo g t emselves .

o f Having related so much the tale, the sprite said, 0king ! tell me this ; to whom did that woman (by

! w w f w as right) belong (or, hose i e she King V m w ho but ikra replied, To him built the and ” no t stayed there . The sprite said, If he had pre

ho w she served the bones , could have been restored to life ! And if the other had not returned in

ho w structed in the science, could he have restored her to life ! The king made answ er thus He

u o f who had preserved her bones, occ pied the place

who her so n ; and he gave her life, became, as it

were, her father ; hence , she became the wife of him ’ w ho built a hut and remained there with the ashes . w a On hearing this ans er, the sprite went gain and

su spended himself o n that tree . The king, too, arrived u and close at his heels, and, having bo nd him, placed

o ff . him o n his shoulder, started with him again TALE III .

“ T H E 0 ! sprite said , king there is a city named

B ard w an w u se R n . It , herein is a king named p hap pened one day that the king w as seated in an apart

al w m ment adjoining the gate (of his p ace) , hen , fro w ithout the gate , the loud voices of some people reached d ! w him . The king sai , Who is at the gate and hat

’ noise is that taking place ! Upon this the gate ! fi keeper replied , Great king you have asked a ne

' question ! Knowing this to be the gate o f a w ealthy

o f personage, numbers persons of all kinds come and

fo r o n sit at it the sake of money, and converse a variety o f Meir topics this is noise .

“ On hearing this the king kept silen t ; In the mean w a Birbar a u hile traveller, named , a R jp t, came from ’ to o f the south the king s gate, in the hope obtaining

- service . The gate keeper, after ascertaining his cir cu mst ances ‘ , said to the king, Your majesty ! an armed man has come in the hope of entering your

’ : w t service , and stands at the door i h your majesty s m ’ . leave he shall co e before you Having heard this , B P A C H C H I THE AITAL S I . 37

n n the ki g gave the order to bri g him in . He went

‘ . 0 a u ! and brought him Then the king asked, R jp t

H o w ’ ’ much shall I allow thee fo r daily expenses !

h i h ' On hearing t is B r ar said, Give me a thousand fo ld s ( 8 33 . I about oz ) of gold daily , and shall be able

’ ‘ . H w to subsist The king enquired , o many persons yo u ( d are there with dependent on He replie , ‘ , m w n so n First y ife ; seco d, a ; third, a daughter

, : w fourth myself there is no fifth person ith me .

’ Hearing him speak thus , all the people of the king s

court turned away their faces and began laughing ; but the king began to consider why he had asked for

a sum m a l rge of oney . Ultimately he thought it out

in his o w n n o f w mi d , that a vast sum money given a ay

will some day prove of advantage . Coming to this

fo r a conclusion , he sent his treasurer and s id , Give this Birbar a thousand fo ld s of gold daily from my ’ treasury .

i h fo ld s On hearing this order, B r ar took a thousand

o f w gold for that day, and brought it to the place here

w as two distri he staying, and dividing it into parts, buted o ne half among the Br ahmans ; and again di

vidin o tw o g the remaining half int parts , distributed o ne n w o r portion thereof amo g pilgrims , devotees , the

o f shippers Vishnu, and religious mendicants ; and of the o ne part w hich remained he had food cooked and fed the poor, and what remained over he consumed

w a w w himself. In this y he , ith his ife and children , ' 38 C H I S I THE BAITAL P A C H .

used regularly to subsist . And every night he used to take his sword and shield and go and mount ’ a w gu rd over the king s couch and hen the king,

to o u t o ne in roused from sleep , used call , Is any

’ ‘ w ! s n w Birbar aiting then he u ed to a s er, is in ’ attendance ; what m ay be your commands ! Thus n o ut and answered he whenever the ki g called , there

he k upon , whatever (the ing) ordered to be done, he ” executed . “ w l In this way, through eagerness for ea th, he used to keep awake the whole night long ; nay, whether

e eating, drinking, sle ping, sitting still, or moving about (that is to say) during the whole twenty- four

lit. w hours ( eight atches) , he used to keep his lord in

. one n mind The practice is, that if person sells a other, this one becomes sold ; but a servant , by entering ser

’ l zmse w vice, sells lf ; and, hen sold, he becomes a de

he pendant ; and once dependant, has no prospect of

zho eve . is u that w r peace It notorio s, clever, wise, and ’ r he w his m lea ned may be, still, hen he is in aster s l k n presence, he remains q uite si ent, li e a dumb perso ,

S o is m is through fear . long as he aloof fro him, he

is . n T o at rest On this accou t it that the learned say, perform the duties of a servant is more difficult than ’ to perform religious duties .

s : (To) the tory It is related, that one day the weep ing voice of a w oman chanced to come at night - time

m the - r O n fro burning g ound . hearing it the king B P A C H I THE AITAL C H I S . 39

‘ ! ’ i h called out, Is any one in waiting B r ar instantly ’ I am answered, here ; your commands . Thereupon

‘ him — G o to w the king gave this order, the Spot hence

o n w e y eeping voice of a woman proc eds, and enquire ’ o f o f w t r her the cause her eeping, and re u n quickly . e Having given him this order the king, b gan to say to himself, Whosoever desires to test his servant should order him to do things in season and o ut of season ; t m if he execute his order, know tha he is worth so e w thing ; and if he object, be sure that he is orthless . An d in this same way prove brethren and friends in ’

o f . days adversity, and a wife in poverty

o n direc In fine, receiving this order, he took the tion w hence the sound of her weeping proceeded ; and

s n w the king also , after dre si g himself in black, follo ed

h m o f . i secretly, for the purpose observing his courage W In thi s interval Birhar arrived there . hat does he

r i - f w behold in the bu n ng ground, but a beauti ul oman , . w lavishly decked with je els from head to foot, crying

' aloud and bitterly ! A t o ne moment she was dan c n ing, at another leaping, at a other running ; and not a tear in her eyes And w hile repeatedly beating her

‘ ’ o ut ! ! head , and crying , Alas alas she kept dash ing herself on the ground . Seeing this her condition,

Birhar asked, Why art thou crying and beating thy ! self so violently ! - Who art thou and what trouble has befallen thee P’ ’

I . irh On this she said, am the royal glory B ar 40 I THE BAITAL P A C H C H l S .

’ Wh w ! n she b e said , y art thou eeping Upo this

‘ Birbar gan relating her case to , saying, Impious lit u acts ( . acts such as a Sh dra performs) are commit

’ in w w ted the king s house, hence misfortune ill find

and I admission therein, shall depart thence ; after the lapse of a month the king w ill suffer much affliction w and die ; this is the sorrow w hich makes me eep .

Further, I have enjoyed great happiness in his house, and hence this regret : and this matter will in nowise ’ prove false .

i h d fo r B r ar then asked, Is there any such reme y w it, hereby the king may escape, and live a hundred

’ ‘ ! w at years She said , To ards the east, a distance

o f !co s is e four (eight miles), a temple sacr d to (the

’ goddess) Devi ; if you w ill cut o ff your son s head w o w n ff ' ith your hand , and o er it to that goddess , then the king w ill reign a hundred years precisely as he no w no w reigns , and harm of any kind ill befall the king .

“ as w i h w As soon he had heard these ords , B r ar ent

the o w him . T o home , and king als follo ed be brief, m w w l when he got ho e , he a oke his ife, and minute y w related the hole story to her . On hearing the cir cumstances l , she roused the son a one but the w daughter also a oke . Then that w oman said to her

’ ‘ ! c boy , Son by sa rificing your head the king s life w w ’ ill be saved , and the government , too , ill endure . ‘ M ! When the boy heard this , he said , other in the

42 THE B AITAL P A C c i sr.

’ ‘ man w . so n ! hell His said, Father the by hom ’ — his master s business is accomplished Ma continuing to live in the w orld is attended with advantage ; and ’ n his in this there is advantage in both w orlds . The ‘ is daughter said, If the mother give po on to the daughter, and the father sell the son , and the king

w w e seize everything, then hose protection shall seek ! ’

n w o ne w The four, deliberati g ith another some hat w f i o . after the above fashion, ent to the temple Dev

w irh The king also secretly follo ed them . When B ar arrived there, he entered the temple, paid his adora

i ca tion to Dev , and joined his hands in suppli tion ,

i ! o f and said , O Dev grant that by the sacrificing ’ o my s n the king may live a hundred years . Saying

w sw so much, he struck such a blo with the ord that ’ u n n his son s head fell pon the grou d . On witnessi g ’ u her brother s death, the daughter str ck a blow with

w o n the s ord her own neck , so that her head and

e s n body fell asunder . S en her o and daughter ’ Birbar s w w h dead , ife struck such a stroke it the w o wn s ord on her neck , that her head was severed

o f from her body . Further, seeing the death those

e Birbar sa thre , , reflecting in his mind, began to y ,

so n is w e l I When my dead , for hos sake sha l retain service ! and to w hom shall I give the gold I receive i ! ’ from the k ng Having reflected thus, he struck

w o n o w n his such a blow with the s ord his neck , that T HE BAITAL PACH cn rsr. 43

w as d . n head severe from his body , Agai , beholding the o f death these four, the king said to himself,

‘ For my sake the lives of his family have perished ; accursed is it any longer to govern a realm for w hich

o ne the whole family of is destroyed , while one holds

’ sovereignty ; it is no virtue thus to reign . Having

the w as o n o f deliberated thus , king the point killing w w w himself ith the s ord ; in the meantime , ho ever, i ‘ ! I Dev came and seized his hand, and said , Son w w am ell pleased at thy courage, and ill grant thee ’ f me o . whatever boon thou mayest ask The king said , M ! other if thou art pleased , restore all these four ’ i ’ to life . Dev said, This same shall take place , and wa i h the w on the instant of saying it, Bha n broug t ater of life from the nether regions , and restored all four w to life . After that the king besto ed half his king dom ” o n Birhar . the “ Having related so much , sprite said, Blessed t o f is the servant who did not grudge his life, and hat ’ ! t he his family, for his master s sake And happy is king w ho show ed no eagerness to cling to his dominion — ' 0 ! I , and his life . king ask you this , Whose virtue

w as ! n o f those five , the most excellent Then Ki g ’ mait w as . Vikra j said, The king s virtue the greatest ” ! n w , The sprite asked , Why The the king ans ered

“ w saying, It behoves the servant to lay do n his life

fo r i fo r his master, th s is his duty ; but since the king 44 A H C I S I THE BAITAL P C H .

his o f gave up throne the sake his servant, and ’ at w w as valued not his life a stra , the king s merit ” the superior . Having heard these words , the sprite

‘ again went and suspended himself o n the tree in that

- burning ground . TALE IV .

T H E king, having gone there again , bound the sprite

w . 0 and brought him a ay Then the sprite said ,

! Bho wati o f w king there is a town named g , hich Ru sen p is the king, and he has a parrot named u a Ch r man . One day the king asked the parrot,

’ What different things do yo u know ! Then the

‘ ’ m ! I w parrot said, Your ajesty kno everything .

n o o u w w The ki g rej ined , Tell me, then , if y kno here

’ m me there is a beautiful aiden equal to in rank . ! Then the parrot said , Your majesty in the country o f Ma ad h h Ma ad heshw ar g t ere is a king named g , and

’ his d aughter s name is Chandravati ; you w ill be f married to her . She is very beauti ul, and very ’ learned . h n On earing these words from the parrot, the ki g a summoned an astrologer named Chandrak nt, and ’ T o wh I ! asked him , at maid shall be married

l m h u h1s He a so , having ade the discovery t ro gh

o f o knowledge astrol gy, said , There is a maiden ’

d . named Chand ravati ; yo u will be marrie to her 46 THE B AITAL P A C H C H I S I .

w m Hearing these ords , the king sum oned a Brah man a , and fter explaining all, said to him at the

Ma adheshwar moment of despatching him to King g ,

‘ If you return , after placing the arrangements for I o u my marriage on a firm basis, will make y happy

- i w Hav ng heard these ords , the Brahman took leave ’ No w o f Ma ad heshw ar s , in the possession King g

w as mo lnd w m w as Mad anman daughter a , hose na e

i w a jar . In the same y the princess , too, one day

‘ Mad anman ari asked j , Where is there a husband

’ ‘ w o f ! maind d Rfi sen orthy me On this the sai , p ’ d T o is the King o f B ho gw ati ; li e will be thy lor . be brief, unseen (of one another), the one had become

m o f w o f few ena oured the other, hen , in the course a days , the Brahman also arrived there, and delivered

’ w n his o n sovereig s message to that king . He too consented to his proposal , and summoning a Brahman

o w n him n of his , entrusted to the uptial gifts and all m him w custo ary things , sent along ith that Brahman , v him ‘ and ga e this injunction , Do you go and pre n sent my compliments to the king, and havi g marked

h w u his fore ead ith the sual unguents, return quickly when you return I w ill make preparations for the ’ w edding .

o f the tw o The short story is, the Brahmans set v out thence . In the course of some days they arri ed

’ Ru sen s o f at King p , and related all the occurrences w . as a that place On hearing this the king ple sed, B A ra THE AIT L cn cnrsr. 47 and after making all (necessary) preparations, set o ut to be married . Reaching that country after some d ays , he married, and after receiving the bridal gifts

to and dowry, and bidding adieu the king, started for his o w n kingdom . When leaving, the princess took ’ Mad anman ari s w j cage ith her too . A fter some days

v in o w n they arri ed their country, and commenced ” in living happily their palace . It happened o ne day that the cages of both the

and m ind w a r parrot the ere pl ced near the th one, n n i and the ki g and quee entered into conversat on , ’ f w c saying, No one s li e passes happily ithout a o m panion ; hence it is best fo r us to marry the parrot

maind o ne an in and to other, and put them both one ’ cage ; then will they also live happily . After con

versing together thus , they had a large cage brought, ” and put both into it .

Some days after, the king and queen were seated

n w conversi g with each other, hen the parrot began to

the aw ar d n talk to , saying, Sexual i tercourse is the

all w and o n essence of bliss in this orld ; he who,

n bei g born into the world, has not enjoyed sexual — l a . intercourse his ife has been p ssed in vain Hence, ’ d o thou let me copulate with thee . On hearing this ’ the maiad I . said, have no desire for a male There ’ u ! maind pon he inquired Why The said, The w male sex are sinful , irreligious , deceivers , and ife ’ n killers . Heari g this, the parrot said , The female 48 THE BAITAL rx cnc ni s r.

to o sex , , are deceitful, false , stupid , avaricious crea

rd . tures , and mu eresses

“ When the t w o commenced w rangling in this m t w o anner, the king asked, Why are you quarrel ’ ‘ w ! ma ind ling ith each other The replied , Great

! - w - king the male sex are evil doers and ife killers,

and hence I have no desire to have a male partner . ! I w Your majesty ill tell you a tale, do you be pleased

to hearken for such (as I describe them) are men .

’ T H S E MA I NA STORY.

was Ila ur There a city named p , and a merchant

n Mahadhan w who amed d elt there, could not get a

family . On this account he w as continually making

w n pilgrimages and keeping fasts , and al ays heari g the a Pur nas read, and he used to give gifts largely to the m Brahmans . In fine, after so e considerable time , by

’ ’ w w as God s ill, a son born in that merchant s house .

w a He celebrated the event ith great pomp , and g ve h large gifts to the Bra mans and bards , and also gave w a ay a good deal to the hungry, thirsty , and indigent .

o f When he reached the age five years, he placed him

to (in school) for instruction . He used leave home for the purpose of learning, but used to gamble with w the boys hen he got there . h After some time the merc ant died , and he (the

5 0 THE BAITAL r x c nen i sr.

‘ best thing to be done is to give my girl in marriage to him ; whatever is done no w is best ; as for the — morrow who know s w hat it may bring forth ! Form d to w ing this grand design in his min , he came his ife ’ a d n began to say , A merchant s son has arrived ; if

w e w Ratnavati m you approve , ill give in arriage to

’ hi s and m . w a She , too, delighted on hearing (this),

! w n said , Sir merchant he God brings about a coin cid ence like this , then alone does it occur ; for the desire o f o ur hearts has been obtained without o ur

v lit w e bestirring oursel es in the least ( , sitting quietly

no t at home) ; hence , it is best to delay , but quickly t send for the family priest, have the auspicious momen ’

d w a . determine , and give her a ay in m rriage Here

fo r the upon the merchant sent priest, had the for tunate planetary conjunction determined , and gave w w w his daughter a ay , besto ing a large do ry upon w her . In fine , hen the marriage had taken place they commenced living together there . ‘ — t To proceed Af er some days, he said to the m ’ erchant s daughter, A long time has passed since

I r no w o f h arrived in you land , and ne s my ousehold has reached me, and my mind remains troubled in consequence . I have told you my w hole case ; you should no w so explain matters to your mother that

“ ’ M t . e th e i e l w . the H in d fis fo r e mak g rl s hands y l o Among , som ef e m i e the o f et t e e ar t i e e w days b or arr ag , hands a b ro h d coupl e s a n d y llo w ith turmeric . THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I 5 1 she , o wn w w may of her free ill, allo me to depart,

. I o w - . n that may return to my city . If it be your ’ w o u ish , do y also come . On this , she said to her M r mother, y husband desi es permission to depart to his o w n o u to o land do y , , act in such a manner no w

’ that his mind may receive no pain .

’ ‘ w The merchant s ife went to her husband , and

‘ ’ s - - , in law s aid Your son a ks leave to return home . O n the t ‘ w w hearing this , merchan said , Very ell ; e w o we n ill let him g , for can exercise o authority over ’ a stranger s son w e will do that alone wherein his pleasure consists . Having said this , he sent for his

- in daughter, and asked; Will you go to your father

’ ’ w o r at ! o wn la s , remain your mother s Speak your m ’ . no w ind At this she blushed , and gave ans er,

n M (but) returned to her husba d , and said , y parents have declared that they w ill do that w herein your ’ ’ pleasur e consists ; don t yo u leave me behind . To

his so n - in- law be brief, the merchant summoned , o w w l aded him ith ealth, and dismissed him , and

w his t a allo ed daugh er to accomp ny him in a litter, w t together i h a female servant After this, he set o ut from thence .

When he reached a certain jungle, he said to the

’ e e merchant s daughter , Ther is great danger her if ff w I y o u w ill take o your je els and give them to me , will fasten them round my waist ; w hen w e come to a ’ to wn you can put them on again . She no sooner 5 2 ' ‘ THE B A I I A L P A C H C H I S I .

o ff all he heard this than she took her ornaments , and w o f the having taken them, and sent a ay the bearers

e w - w litter, kill d the oman servant and thre her into a w w w l w ell, and pushing her (his ife) into a e l also, ent ” o ff to his o wn country with all the jewels .

In the meantime, a traveller came along that road,

n w an and heari g the sound of eeping , stopped , and beg

‘ H o w m w to say to himself, co es the eeping voice of a human being (to be heard) in this jungle ! Having

o f reflected thus, he proceeded in the direction the

s w . n ound of the crying, and perceived a ell On looki g w d w ! into it, hat oes he behold but a oman weeping w m Then he took out the oman , and co menced ques tio nin n g her on her circumsta ces , saying, Who art t ho w w hou , and didst thou fall into this ( ell) On

she I r o f hearing this , said , am the daughte Hem

w as bu s gupt, the merchant, and accompanying my w i band to his country, when thieves aylaid us, k lled w w my servant and thre her into a ell , and bound and o ff w w I carried my husband together ith my je els .

’ l o f him o f have no inte ligence , nor he me . When he heard this , the traveller took her along with him , and ’ n left her at the mercha t s door . w n ren . o f She e t to her pa ts They , at the sight her h ! , began enquiring, What has appened to thee

‘ She said , Robbers came and plundered us o n the road , and after killing the servant and casting her into w l l a e l , pushed me into a dry we l, and bound and A P A C H C S THE BAIT L H I I . 5 3

o ff w carried my husband , together ith my jewels .

n m When they bega de anding more money , he said to Yo u I w them , have taken all possessed , hat have I no w ! w r left Beyond this , hether they killed him o

’ him o I let g , have no knowledge . Then her father ! said, Daughter feel no anxiety thy husband lives , w . w few and , God illing, ill join thee in a days , for ’

no t . robbers take money , life

‘ In fine , the merchant gave her other ornaments in o f place all that had disappeared, and comforted and

’ consoled her greatly . And the merchant s son , also , n w havi g reached home, and sold the je els , spent his w days and nights in the company of loose omen , and in gambling , so much so , that all his money was

. to w . expended Then he came ant bread At last, w ff o ne hen he began to su er extreme misery, he day

’ o f - in - w bethought himself going to his father la s , and pretending that a grandson had been born to him , and that he had come to congratulate him . o n the d event . Having etermined on this in his mind , he set o ut .

‘ ln the course of several days he arrived there .

w s u w saw When he a about to enter the ho se, his ife from the front that her husband w as coming (and said

f ‘ u no t w to hersel ) , He m st be allo ed to turn back ’ through any apprehension he may feel . Upon this ‘ ! she approached him and said , Husband be not at all troubled in mind I have told my father that rob 54 THE BAITAL P A C H C H 1s1 .

m m bers ca e and killed my servant, and after aking me a o ff w w t ke all my je els , and casting me into a ell , bound

o u and carried o ff my husband . Do y tell the same tale ; feel no anxiety ; the house is yours, and I am ’ i she your slave . After Speak ng thus entered the w who e m house . He ent to the merchant, rose and braced him, and questioned him on all that had befallen t w him . He related every hing precisely as his ife had ” instructed him to do .

‘ Rej oicings took place throughout the house . Then

w the the merchant, after providing him ith means of i bathing, and placing food before him, and after m nis

m d u tering uch comfort, sai , This house is yo rs , abide ’ (here) in peace . He commenced living there . I n ’ a brief, after several days the merchant s daughter c me and w o ne n w o n lay ith him ight with her je els , and

. w as m fell asleep When it idnight, he perceived that she had fallen into a sound sleep . He then inflicted such

w n o n a a ou d her neck, that she died ; and fter strip

o f w his o w n ping her all her je els, he took the road to ” country .

n i m maind After arrat ng so uch the said, This,

I saw w o wn a your majesty ith my eyes . For this re son

h no w h to d o l I ave ish to ave anything with a ma e . u w Wh You see, yo r majesty hat villains men are o w and o w ould love such, so cherish a serpent in her n home ! Will your majesty be pleased to consider this

’ — had w ! point , What crime that oman committed B A P A C H C THE AIT L H I S I . 5 5

H avin ' heard h the d a g t is , king sai , O p rrot ! d o

’ w are w you tell me hat faults there in omen . There 0 ’ upon the parrot said , Attend , king !

’ T H E PaR T s RO STORY.

is r w There a city (called) Kanchanpur, whe e (d elt)

’ n sa ard att w as a merchant, amed g , whose son s name S h i r d tt . a shri ur w a The name of another city is J y p , here

w as S o mad att there a merchant , named , and his ’ m daughter s name w as Jayshri . She had arried the

m and son of that erchant , the son had gone to a cer ’ r tain country to trade . She used to live at her pa ents w w house . In fine, hen he had spent t elve years in ’ w s e trading , and she arrived at oman s estate here , h ‘ ! o ne d ay addressed a companion o f hers thus : Sister my yo uth is being w asted ; u p to this moment I have ’ ’ O h tasted none of the w orld s joys . hearing these w o o f ords , her compani n said to her, Be good cheer wi w G o d lling, thy husband ill soon come and join

’ thee .

o t w She g vexed at these ords , and ascending to the upper chamber, and peeping through the lattice, w saw a young m an coming along . When he dre near

. her , his eyes and hers suddenly met The hearts of both w ent forth to one another . Then she said to her ’ ‘ n n m an . , companion , Bri g that to me On heari g this ’ him S o mad att s the companion went and said to , 5 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . daughter wishes to see you in private ; but do you

’ m to co e my house . She then put him on the track ’

w . u . to her ho se He said , I ill come at night The ’ companion came and informed the merchant s daughter that he had promised to come at night . When she

‘ Ja shri i heard this, y sa d to her companion , You go

w me w I w home ; hen he arrives , let kno , and ill also

’ come when free to leave home . ‘ w w On hearing her ords, her companion ent home ,

w n and seating herself at the door, began atchi g for his coming . In the meantime he arrived . She seated

w Yo u w him in the door ay, saying, sit here ; I ill go ’ and give notice o f your arrival . And she came to ’ a shri w J y and said, Your s eetheart has arrived . On

‘ she it w hearing this said , Wa a hile let the household I w go to sleep , and then ill come And so , after

‘ w w as some delay, hen it near midnight, and all had

she m gone to sleep , then arose softly and acco panied her, and arrived there in a very short time and the w two met in her house ithout restraint . When nearly h 1 an hour and a alf of night remained , she rose and

w ui he a returned home , and ent q etly to sleep and lso w to ent his house at daybreak .

‘

M . any days passed thus At last her husband , ’ e m n t - i l w too, r turned fro foreig par s to his father n a s

e house . When she beh ld her husband she became

1 ” - L it F lut/rte. A ka/ri is e t o t e t f r . our g g qual w n y ou minut es ; and e e the e t ti e w be 5 1x i te e t an h nc xac m ould m nu s mor han hour and a half.

5 8 THE BAITAL P A C H C HI S I .

w a and a thief seeing her on the y , thought to himself, w Where can this woman be going, alone , ith her

w o n l je els , at this midnight hour Thus soli oquising, w to f w . he ollo ed her In short, she managed someho ’ No w reach her lover s house . , there , a snake had bitten h and left him ; he was lying dead . She t ought he

was w as m the sleeping . Being, as it , consu ed with fire

Of separation , she clasped him to her without restraint, and began caressing him and the thief from a distance ” w as w atching the fun .

to o o n i An evil spirit, , was seated a p pal tree there, l his looking on at the scene . Al at once it came into mind to enter his (dead) body and have carn al inter w o n course ith her . Having resolved this, he entered

w o ff the body, and after having intercourse ith her, bit

n w his w sat o n her ose ith teeth , and ent and the same

r tree . The thief observed all these occur ences . And

i n w as w she, despair, went as she , all stained ith blood, to her companion, and related all that had happened . s th Whereupon her companion aid, Go quickly to y sun husband ere yet the rise, and, arrived there, weep

. o ne aloud and bitterly If any should question thee, ’ has O ff say , He cut my nose . She went thither on th e instant Of hearing her ’ companion s words, and commenced weeping and w ail

. r o f w n ing excessively Hea ing the noise her eepi g,

10! no — w a all her relations came, and she had nose, s

‘ t ! h 0 o u sit ing noseless Then t ey exclaimed, y shameless, B 01-118 1 THE AITAL PACH . 59

d t ! wicke , pi iless , mad wretch Why have you bitten o ff ’ ! to o her nose without any fault on her part He , , o n became alarmed witnessing this farce, and began to sa h w - y to imself, Trust not a anton minded woman, s — a black nake, an armed man, an enemy, and fear the o f h wiles a woman . W at can an eminent poet not describe ! What does he no t know who has acquired supernatural power ! What absurd nonsense does a drunkard not chatter ! What can a woman not ao

' ! it is o f complish True , that the defects horses, the

o f w o f thunder the clouds, the iles woman, and the — destiny of mam these things even the gods do not

w w has u comprehend ; hat po er man , then (to nder stand them) In the meantime her father gave information of the occurrence to the city magistrate . Policemen came from the station there, and bound and brought

o f him before the magistrate . The magistrate the city gave notice to the king . The king having sent him for , and questioned him about the case, he de

o n his clared he knew nothing . And summoning the ’ reu merchant s daughter, and interrogating her, she

‘ ! w o u n w plied , Your majesty hen y see plai ly ( hat ’ w h o u ! has happened), y do y question me Then him I the king said to , What punishment shall

’ ‘ O n a DO inflict o n thee ! he ring this, he replied, ’

u . unto me whatever yo deem just The king said, ’ ‘ w m ! O n Aw ay ith him, and i pale him receiving 60 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

the king’ s order the people took him aw ay to impale ” him . — Observe the coin cidence that thief w as also

t o n . standing here , looking at the scene When he w as co nvmced that this man w as about to be nu

justly put to death , he raised a cry for justice . The um ‘ king s moned him , and asked , Who art thou

man He said , Great king I am a thief ; and this is innocent ; his blood is about to be unjustly shed ; ’ m w yo u have not given judg ent at all isely . Here

upon the king summoned him (the husband) also, and i h questioned the thief, say ng, Declare the trut on ’ 'thy honour ! What are the facts o f this case ! The thief then gave a detailed account of the cir

cumstances m ; and the king, too, co prehended t l thoroughly . U timately he sent attendants, and

’ the w oman s nose brought from the mouth o f her

o who w as l ver, lying dead , and inspected it . Then

w as w as he assured that the man guiltless, and the

u thief tr thful . Hereupon the thief said, To cherish

- m o ld the good , and punish evil doers, has fro of been ’ a duty Of kings . m After relating so uch of the tale, the parrot

uram ! O f Ch an said , Great king such embodiments all crime are w omen ! The king having had the ’ w and oman s face blackened her head shaved, had her m ounted on an ass , and taken round the city, and

then set at liberty ; and after giving betel - leaf to the B ' P A C H C H I 1 THE AIPAL S I . 6

’ so n thief and the merchant s , he allowed them to ’ depart . m Having related so uch of the story, the sprite

0 ! w w o said , king to hich of these t does the greater

Bir Vikramait guilt attach Then King j said . To “ ” . H o w ! the woman On this the sprite said , so r “ w On hea ing this , the king said , Ho ever depraved man w a may be , still some sense of right and rong remains in him but a w oman does‘ not give a tho ught to right and wrong ; hence great guilt attached to the ” w w w oman . Hearing these ords , the Sprite ent again w and hung himself o n the same tree . The king ent a him w u gain and took do n from the tree , tied him p m o n a bundle , placed him his shoulder, and carried w him a ay . TALE V.

“ T H E 0 ! n m sprite said , king there is a city a ed .

w Mahabal w as n . No w Ujjain, of hich ki g , he had a ’ an envoy named H arid s . The name of that envoy s

w as el daughter w as Mahadevi . She extrem y beauti

. a ma l ful When she bec me rriageab e, her father

her thought that he ought to seek a husband for ,

i . d a and give her n marriage In short , the girl one y ! said to her father , Father give me in marriage to ’ some one who is possessed o f all accomplishments .

011 h i I w o ne w ho ao t is , he sa d , ill give thee to is ’ uai ted w q n ith all science .

One day subsequent to this , the king summoned

‘ H arid as h , and said, There is in the sout a king named H arichand ; go and ask after his health and

’ w i w . elfare for me , and br ng me ne s thereof On ’ receiving the king s command he took leave, and ’ arriving at that king s after some days , delivered to a him the whole message of his roy l master, and took ” up his permanent abode near that monarch .

To be brief, it happened one day that the king T HE B P A C H AITAL C H I S I . 63

H arid as questioned him , saying, ! has the Iron Age ( i e . . , o f w o r the fourth age the orld, the age of vice) begun yet or not ! ’ On this he put his hands to

‘ gether and said , Your majesty ! w e are already in li the Iron Age ( t. the Iron Age is present) for false

. the nd u hood is rife in world, a tr th has decreased ; t w ’ people utter sof ords to one s face, while they rb ha our 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 w omen have abandoned modesty ; the son obeys not the ’ father s command ; brother trusts not brother ; friend ship has departed from amongst friends ; faith 1s no l onger found in masters , and servants have cast aside

o we and the duty they to masters , every description ’ O f impropriety meets the eye .

When he had said all this to the king , his majesty w t m arose and en into the private apart ents , and he

n w n o w n (the e voy) came and sat do in his place . In the meantime a Brahman ’ s son came to him and ‘ v ’ said, I ha e come to solicit something of you . On

‘ he said o u hearing this , . . What request have y to ! it ’ make Mention . He replied, Give me your

’ ‘ H rid as w m . a daughter in arriage said , I ill give ’ her to him in whom all accomplishments exist .

he n d am Hearing this , , rejoi e , I acquainted with all ’ w the sciences . Then said the envoy , Sho me some 64 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . thing Of thy knowledge ; I shall thus be able to judge ’ w hether thou art versed in science . Hereupon the ’ so n ‘ h w Brahman s said, I ave made a car hich has w this marvellous property , that it ill convey you in a ’ m oment to any place you may w ish to go to . Then ’ ‘ H arid as . replied , Bring the car to me in the morning

“ H arid as In fine, he brought the car to early in

two the morning . Then the mounted the car, and w o f . arrived in the City Ujjain Here , ho ever, it so happened that, previous to his arrival , another Brah m ’ an s son had come, and said to his eldest son , ’ Give me your sister in marriage ; and he also had

w who replied , saying , I ill give her to one is learned ’ all in the sciences and that Brahman s son , too, had

’

n w all . said , I am acquai ted ith knowledge and science ’ w o u . On hearing this , he had said , To y ill I give her h ’ ’ Another Bra man s son had said to the girl s mother, ’ him . to o Give me your daughter She , , had given w ‘ w ll to the same ans er ; viz . , I i give my girl him ’ ’ w ho t w m is acquain ed ith all science . That Brah an s

had w son also replied , I am acquainted ith the w n S /l d slms hole body of scie ce contained in the , and can sho Ot an arrow which w ill hit an object w hich is ’ no t merely heard, and seen . On hearing this, she w too , had said, I consent, and ill give her to thee .

In short , all the three suitors had come and met

w a H ari a together in this y . d s began to think to

! to w himself, One girl and three suitors hom shall

66 T H E BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . became the w ife o f him w ho slew the demon and ”

u h . bro g t her back The sprite said, The good we —ho w she qualities of all re on a par, came to ” w ! “ become his ife The king replied, The other tw o w w simply conferred favours , for hich they ere recompensed ; but this one fought w ith and slew him the w she ( demon) and brought her a ay, hence became ” r s w his w ife . On hea ing this the prite ent again to

and the same tree, suspended himself on it, and the w king, too, ent immediately, bound the sprite, placed

o ff . him on his shoulder, and carried him as before TALE VI .

“ G N 0 ! is A AI the sprite said, king there a city n u o f Dharmshil w amed Dharmp r, which as king ; and ’ nd hak his minister s name was A . He said o ne day ! to the king, Your majesty build a temple, and

an i m o f i place age Dev therein , and pay constant

is S fid slm adoration thereto, for this said in the to ’ possess great merit . Thereupon the king had a i temple built and (the image of) Dev placed in it, and began offering adoration after the manner prescribed by the Vedas ; and he w ould no t drink water w ithout having worshipped .

W n he a considerable time had passed thus , the

‘ s o ne ! minister aid day , Great king the saying is w n — O f is em t ell k own , The house a sonless man , p y ,

’ a fool s mind is empty , and everything pertaining to ’ is an indigent person empty . On hearing these

d to t D i wor s, the king went the emple of ev , and

his joining hands in supplication , began to extol her, ‘ 0 ! a u saying, Devi Brahm , Vishn , Rudra, Indra await thy bidding the livelong day and thou it w as P I S I 68 THE BAITAL A C H C H .

w ho M - a didst seize the demons ahish sur , Chand ,

M Raktbi , und , j , and slaying the evil spirits relieved h s the earth o f its burthen and w heresoever trouble a w befallen thy orshippers , there thou hast gone and aid ed them ; and in this hope I have approached thy threshhold ; fulfil no w the d esire of my heart also . When the king had celebrated the praises Of the

u goddess to this extent , a voice iss ed from the temple o f i ! w w Dev , saying, King I am ell pleased ith thee ’ ’ i ask any boon that tho u may st desire . The k ng

M ! art leased w said, other if thou p ith me, grant me ’ i ! a son . Dev replied , King thou shalt have a son ’ who ( shall be) very pow erful and very glorious .

ff n o f d n Then the king made o eri gs san al , unbroke w rice, flo ers , incense , lamps and consecrated food , and

M r d o f paid adoration . oreove , he ma e it a practice w d orshipping thus daily . To be brief, after some ays

was . w a son born to the king The king, ith his

and w family kindred , proceeded ith music and song, h vi ” and w orshipped at the s rine of De .

m a o ne In the meanti e , it h ppened day that a w w as asherman , accompanied by a friend of his, " n frOm w w h comi g a certain to n to ards t is city, and the

i s temple o f Dev met his eye . He resolved on pro trating himself (before the shrine) . At that moment ’ d u w ho w as he beheld a washerman s a ghter, very

w a w as handsome, coming to rds him . He fascinated f w w i A at o . the sight her, and ent to orship Dev fter P A C 69 THE BAITAL H C H I S I .

n prostrating himself, he joi ed his hands in supplication , i ! h and said in his heart, O Dev if, t rough thy favour ,

e my marriage to this beautiful being should take plac , w ff ’ I ill devote my head as an o ering to thee . After

vo w his making this , and prostrating himself, he took

w his o wn friend with him, and ent to city .

When he arrived there , the separation (from his love)

u — w so troubled him that sleep , h nger, thirst all ere

o f forgotten . He spent the whole day in thoughts

O n n i w o f his her . perceivi g th s oful state , his friend w ent and told his father all the circumstances . His

o n father also became alarmed hearing these things ,

o n o h and reflecting the matter began to say, From serving his state it seems (to me) that if his betrothal

' no t k w to to that maiden does ta e place , he ill grieve

‘ to him l death ; Wherefore it is better marry to the gir , ’ that thus he may be saved . ’ his ri Having thus considered, he took son s f end ’ o n to w ith him, and reaching that town , went the girl s

to o f father and said, I have come solicit something ll you if you w ill grant my request, I wi make it ’ ‘ w , know n . He replied, If I possess the thing I ill

’ give it speak out . Having secured his promise thus , ’

r to . he said, Give you daughter in marriage my son

to o to O n hearing this , he agreed the proposal ; and aus i having had a priest called in , and the day, the p t cions conjunction , and the moment de ermined , said , ai d au h Bring your son ; I , for my part , will st n my g ' ‘ 7 0 THE B A I I A L P A C H C H I S I .

’

w . ter s hands yello l On hearing this , he arose, returned

o w n s fo r to his house , got ready all the requisite the

fo r o n marriage, and set out the ceremony ; and reach

in a g the place, and having the m rriage ceremony per

he a - in - law formed, took his son and d ughter with him

“ and returned home ; and the bride and bridegroom ” commenced a happy life together . n Again, after some time, an occasio Of rejoicing

’ ’ at so arose the girl s father s , and an invitation came w to these (the bride and bridegroom) also . The ife r w and husband got ready , and taking thei friend ith

o ut them, set for that city . When they arrived near i the place, the temple of Dev came in sight, and then

vo w his came to his mind . Thereupon he reflected

‘ and said to himself, I am a great liar, and a very irre

li io us w h fo r to i e e g retc , I have lied Dev h rs lf

Having said this to himself, he spoke to his friend ,

‘ o u r w saying , Do y ta ry here hile I pay a visit to

’ ‘ i . w D O Dev And to his ife he said , thou also stay

’ . a and n here Having s id this go e to the temple , he

h l w i n bat ed in the poo , ent before Dev , j oi ed his

a i er a h nds in supplicat on, addressed h reverenti lly, and hi raised a sword and struck mself on the neck . His w as r head seve ed from his body , and fell upon the ” ground .

“ b i his To be r ef, after some delay, friend thought that as he had been gone a very long while and had

S ee t a e no e t pag 50. P A C H C H I S I 1 THE BAITAL . 7 no t d he to o yet returne , ought g and see (what had w w il happened) ; so he said to the ife, Stay here ; I l him h ’ soon hunt up and bring him ere . Having said

n i 10 his this , he went i to the temple of Dev , and ! ’ (friend s) head was lying apart from his body ! O n b t eholding this state of things there , he began o say

w ! o ne w to himself, The orld is a hard place No ill w his o wn ff suppose that he , ith hand, o ered his head

as . i w a sacrifice to Dev ; on the contrary, they ill say,

as his that , Wife was very beautiful, he (the friend) , in

to order 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 ’ no t desirable .

Having said this , he bathed in the pool , came into

i Obei the presence of Dev , joined his hands and made w o n sauce, and taking up the s ord , struck himself the

so w as . neck, that his head severed from his body

she , And , weary of standing there alone and watching w for their return till she quite despaired , ent in quest

i . o f them into the temple o f Dev Arrived there, what ‘ w ! does she behold but the t o lying dead Then , see

ing them both dead , she thought to herself, People ff will no t believe that these two have voluntarily o ered il themselves as sacrifices to Devi . Everybody w l say

w anto n that the widow was a wretch, (and) that she killed them both and left them that she might indulge 7 2 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

d to e in her epravity . It is better to die than endur ’ such infamy .

she n After reflecting thus, plu ged into the pool h o f i (and bat ed) , and coming into the presence Dev , bow ed her head in obeisance (then) taking up the

w w as t w s ord, about to s rike herself on the neck , hen i d m Dev descen ed fro the throne, and came and seized

ai ‘ ! her hand, and s d, Daughter ask a boon ; I am ’ ! w l - l w d e l p eased ith thee . On this she sai , Mother ’

w t wo . if thou art pleased ith me, restore these to life i ’ Then Dev said , Unite their heads to their bodies . In the tumult o f her jo y she changed the heads in putting them o n . And Devi brought the w ater o f life and

. T he t wo u l sprinkled it upon them rose p a ive, and

o ne o ne i began disputing with another ; say ng, She m ’ is y wife the other, She is mine .

o f th e Having related so much story, the sprite ai No w Vikramait ! i f t s d, king j of wh ch o these wo ! n is she the wife The ki g said , Hearken ! T he guiding principle for this is laid dow n in the book of law : , thus The Ganges is the best of rivers, and

S umeru is un K al the most excellent of mo tains , and l avriksh o f t and p is the most excellent rees , ( ) the head

o f is supreme among all the members the body . A c cording to this judgment she becomes the Wife o f him

K al aw ilcsk is t ee e w e i to e t the p a fabulous r , yi lding all ish s, sa d xis m d se o f n para i I dia.

TALE VII .

T H E “ 0 ! sprite said , king there is a city named Cham A nd a i Cham akeshwar. p pur, the k ng Of which is p the ’ ’ is an a queen s name Suloch , and the daughter s Trib

- - i . is m w huvan sundar She an e inently beautiful oman , whose face is like the moon , hair like black clouds, ’ ’ w bo w eyes like a gazelle s , eyebro s (arched) like a , ’ ’ nose like a parrot s (beak) , neck like a pigeon s , teeth like the grains of a pomegranate ; the redness of w hose ‘ kandd d ais is lips resembles that Of the , whose w t like a ’ ' a leop rd s, hands and feet like the tender lotus, com

m a- flo w er O f plexion like the cha p ; in short, the bloom ” was her youth daily on the increase . W m hen she became arriageable, the king and

in queen began to feel anxious their minds . And the news spread among the monarchs of the different coun tries (round about) that so beautiful a girl had been

a c Cham akeshw ar born in the p la e of king p that, at a

a mere gl nce at her beauty, gods, men, and holy sages ,

T he ka nd d ri u rb t e t w t red t the f is a cuc i ac ous plan i h frui , or gourd o

e n e e. I ts H di bi b th momordica mo ad lph in name is m . B A I 'I‘A L P A C H O H I S I THE . 7 5

m re ain fascinated . Thereupon the kings o f the diffe t un ren co tries had each his likeness painted , and sent it by the hands of a Brahman to king Cham

akeshw ar p . The king received and showed the

o f to d portraits all the monarchs his aughter, but none of them suited her fancy . Thereupo n the king

‘ e said , Do thou, th n , make a p ublic choice of a ’

. husband To this , too , she did not agree, but said ‘ ! to her father, Father give me to him who pos sesses the three qualities of beauty, strength, and ’ superior knowledge . “ w In fine, hen several days had elapsed , four ff suitors came from four di erent countries . Then the

‘ DO o f king said to them, each you set forth clearly before me the superior qualities and knowledge he ’

. m w possesses One Of the said, I possess such kno ledge that I manufacture a cloth and sell it for five

u . r bies When I realise the price , I give one of the

u ff r bies to Brahmans , Of another I make an o ering to ’ ' w o n o w n the gods , a third I ear my person , a fourth

v w n n I reser e for my ife , the fifth I sell , and co sta tly

w o n s 0 support myself ith the m ey o obtained . N one

w as else possesses this kno ledge . And to the good — ’ are w . looks I possess, they Open to vie The second

‘ w t u said , I am acquainted i h the lang ages of both land and aquatic beasts and birds ; have no equal in ’ strength ; and my beauty is before yo u . The third

w d o w said, So ell I comprehend the learned ritings 7 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . that no equal of mine exists ; and my beauty is before

’ ‘ your eyes . The fourth said , I stand alone in my 1 knowledge of the use of w eapons ; there is no o ne h w like me ; I can shoot an arrow w ich ill strike an

w is d m object hich hear , but not seen ; and y beauty w — l is famous in the orld , you, too, must sure y

9 ” see it . “ o f On hearing the statements the four of them ,

n All theking began to thi k to himself, four are on a par as to e x cellences ; to w hich should I give the ! ’ w girl Having reflected thus , he ent to his daughter and set forth the virtues of the w hole four o f them ,

‘ w O f and said , To hich them shall I give thee (in

O n w hearing this , she hung do n her

r m head t h ough modesty, and kept silent , aking no ” w ans er .

After relating so much of the story, the sprite said ,

! fo r w o f m Now, King Vikram hich the is this w ! n w ho oman suited The ki g replied, He makes cloth and sells it is a sddm by caste ; and he who know s the languages is a dais by caste ; he who has studied the learned writings is a B ral mcm ; and he

- I e t an e th e t e t ere viz. shdst mfo r sl ash a fo r the susp c rror in x h ; , thir d suitor had already claimed the possession Of unrivalled excellence in the skd stras w ile th e f r t a t o f h i s. e i k in ar he w i , h ou h bo s s sup r or s ill c m, h ch e w ould cert ai nly seem to accord better with skastr a than skdsf/ m. Mor e th e e t o f K i Vi w t f t l I t i t t ov r, j udgm n ng kram sho s sa is ac ori y, h nk, ha sh is h i te e astm t e w ord n nd d. B A IT A L P A C H I THE C H S I . 7 7 w ho hits w ith an arrow an object w hich is simply

no t t ar : m heard , and seen , is of caste the wo an is him ’ 3 w suitable for , On hearing these ords , the sprite went again and hung himself on that tree ; and him the king , too , went thither , bound him , placed

o n him o ff. his shoulder, and carried T A L E VIII .

H EN ! T the sprite said , O king there is a city named

Mithalavati w is G unadhi . A , the king of hich p young a u m C hiramd eva a r jp t, na ed , c me from a distant land

s to to to enter hi service . He used go daily pay his w did . respects to the king , but not obtain an intervie And in the course of a year he consumed all the money he had brought ( with him) w hile tarrying here w m and h h is ithout employ ent , t ere (in native land), ” his home w ent to ruin . “ It happened one day that the king mounted his

fo r C hiramd eva horse the chase , and also joined his

“ cavalcade . The king became accidentally separated

w the from his follo ers in a forest, and attendants lost

o ne w m themselves in another jungle ; , ho ever, Chira w w as n . A t n deva, follo i g the king le gth , he called o ut ! , and said, Your majesty all the attendants have w remained behind , hile I am accompanying you, making ’ a w my horse keep p ce ith yours . On hearing this ,

he u the king reined in his horse, and so came p (to B P A C H C H I THE AITAL S I . 7 9

) . d the king The king looked at him , and aske , H o w hast thou become so emaciated P “ ‘ w Then he replied , If I live ith a master, such ‘ that he cherishes thousands of people, while he takes t o f no hought me, no blame (attaches) to him fo r

, but o w n f to this rather my ate is blame . A s, for x e ample, by daylight the whole world is clearly — visible ; yet it is not visible to the o wl what blame can be imputed to the sun for this ! “ It is astonish ing to me that he who caused the means o f sub i ’ s stence to reach me in my mother s womb , should

o f me n o w w take no thought , hen I have been born ,

am o f and capable enjoying worldly aliment . I know not whether he sleeps or is dead . And, in my

to w w n opinion , it is better s allo deadly poiso and die, than to ask for goods and money from a great man

wr who, while giving the same, makes a y face, and turns up his nose (in contempt), and raises his brows .

No w man these six things render a contemptible,

fi o f erfidio us c rst, the friendship a p man ; se ond,

r t causeless laughter ; thi d, altercation wi h a woman ;

u r fo rth, the se ving a bad master ; fifth, riding a 1 ix n . donkey ; s th, u polished (or uncouth) speech And the following five things the Creator record s in a

’ o f - man s destiny at the time his birth, First, length o f w t life ; second , acts ; third , eal h fourth , know

— w i t L it A dialect t hout Sanskri . 8 0 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

’ 0 ! as ledge ; fifth , reputation . king so long a man s e1 ; virtu s are conspicuous , all continue to be his servants w n m but he his virtues decrease , his very friends beco e

w ; his enemies . This one thing , ho ever , is certain by serving a good master one derives benefit sooner or

’

fited . later ; he does not remain unbene kin ' o nd ered On hearing this, the g p over all these l w . ords , but did not then make any rep y He said w s this to him , ho ever , I feel hungry ; bring me ome ’ hiramd eva w . C thing to eat from some here said, 2 ’ ‘ n Your majesty ! bread is not to be obtai ed here .

w u Having said this, he ent into the j ngle , killed a

o ut deer, took a flint and steel from his pocket, kindled a fire , broiled some slices of meat, and served

u n t up a plentif l meal to the ki g , and par ook of it

w . w w as himself as ell To be brief, hen the king ’ No w a u ! quite satisfied , he said, , R jp t conduct me

n w to the city , for the road is not k o n to me He him conducted the king into the city, and brought to k n . f his palace Then the ing appoi ted him to an o fice, and w w besto ed many robes and je els upon him . After

e . that, he continued in clos attendance upon the king

fe t ’ I should much pre r ranslating so long as a man s fortunes are in ‘ ” th e e t w e e it no t t t e o f the e i I asc ndan , r ha non l x cons have seen sanction s the e e o f f t e fo r m a s ns or un s p y . 2 Li t w i i t e i e e ke o f e h ch m gh m an bo l d ric , or ca s br ad and boiled pulse . 3 — ' L ia W e the i e w as e h n k ng s b lly fill d.

8 2 THE B AITAL P A CH CH I S I .

i ‘ m m b say ng, If thou wilt obey y co mand, ecome the ’ Sh e a h the w f n . ife o my serva t s id, I ave become ’ o f ho w h m his ! slave thy beauty, t en can I beco e wife

n w as b ut The ki g replied, It this instant thou saidst

‘ to w l m d o u . me, I i l obey any com an y may give me

No w . , whatever the good promise they perform Keep w w o f m thy plighted ord, (and) become the ife y

’ ‘ O n a is servant . he ring this , she said, Your word

’ law to me . Thereupon the king married his servant 1 to her without the usual ceremonies , and brought ” al them both w ith him to his p ace .

so o f the Having related much the story, sprite a 0 ! s id, Tell me, king Of master and servant, ” w w as ! d hose the greater virtue The king sai ,

“ ’ ” “ The servant s . The sprite said again , Was not

o f e w ho so the merit the king great r, obtained beauti ” w o n ! ful a woman , and besto ed her his servant

u n n Bir Vikramait Wh There po ki g j said, at superior m r w ffi erit is there in thei conferring favours , hose o ce

d o ! he who h o wn it is to so But , w ile having his n t o f i terests to a tend to, promotes the interests — fie is . Fo r another the greater this reason , the ’ was n servant s merit the greater . O nheari g these

w o n words, the sprite ent and hung himself that same tree ; and the king w ent and again took him d w o n o n from thence, placed him his shoulder, and carried him away .

A g and karb marriage is O ne w here th e usual formalities are dispensed w th the tie e e an d wi fe t e t i , and par s b com man by mu ual cons n . TALE IX .

T H E “ 0 ! sprite said , king there is a city named

d w h n i h No Ma anpur, ere was a king amed B r ar . w, in that same country there w as a merchant named

’

H iran ad att h Mad ansena. y , whose daug ter s name was

- w One day , in the spring time , she went, ith her female

an d friends , into her garden , to stroll about enjoy the

to scene . It so happened that, previous her coming o ut S o md att , , the son of a merchant named Dharm

w in datt, had come, ith a friend , to take a stroll the

his forest On return thence , he came into that garden ; (and) on beholding her, became enamoured,

nd ! a began to say to his friend, Brother Should she t w ever be united to me , hen my living ill be to some w purpose and if not, then my living in the orld is in vain .

Addressing these words to his friend , (and) being

a o f distracted by the p ngs separation , he involuntarily approached her, and seizing her hand , began to say ,

If thou wilt not love me, I will sacrifice my life on S 84 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I I .

’

n . thy accou t She replied, Act not thus ; that w ’ ould be a sin . Then he said , Thy amorous glances h m ave pierced my heart , and the fire of separation fro thee has consumed my body ; my whole consciousness and understanding have been destroyed by this pain ; w and at this moment, through the overpo ering

o f o r w influence love, I have no regard for right rong

if w w new l w but thou ilt give me thy ord , ife ill enter ’ u O n m my so l . She said , the fifth day fro this day w w my , marriage ill take place ; but I ill first have t “ w w in ercourse ith thee , and after ards abide at my ’ him husband s After giving this promise, and

she to taking her oath (to keep it) departed her home,

and he to his .

her To be brief, on the fifth day marriage took

u place . Her husband bro ght her to his home after t w the marriage . Af er some days the ives of her hus band ’ s younger and elder brothers compelled her to

go to her husband at night . She entered the nuptial

w r chamber, and sat quietly do n in a corne . In the

m her eantime , her husband seeing her, took hand ,

a sit and m de her on the bed . In fine, as he was

to her o ff w about embrace , she shook him ith her

she hand, and related to him all that had promised ’ the merchant s son . On hearing this her husband ‘ him ’ said If thou really desirest to go to , go .

’ m she Having received her husband s per ission , ’ started for the merchant s place . A thief seeing her B P A C H C H I S I THE AITAL . 8 5

o n to the road, came up her in delight, and said , u m Whither goest tho alone , at this idnight hour, in

h - w t is pitch darkness , bedecked ith such garments and ’ ! w e m jewels She replied, To the place her y dearly ’ ‘ w . t beloved d ells On hearing his the thief said , Who ’ is ! ‘ d thy protector here She began to say , Cupi

w bo w w w my protector, ith his and arro s , is ith me . n l w Havi g said this , she then re ated her hole story to

the n ‘ thief, from beginni g to end, and said , Do not

h w w re spoil my attire ; I give t ee my ord that, hen I ’ w turn thence , I will deliver my je els to thee . O n ‘ hearing this , the thief said to himself, She w m leaves me , in truth, ith a pro ise to deliver up her ! ’ jew els to me ; then w hy should I spoil her attire

u i w Th s reflect ng, he let her go . ( He) himself sat do n

w w l - w S o md att was there, hile she ent to the p ace here him lying asleep . She having suddenly roused as

o t w d a nd soon as she g there , he arose be ildere , com

‘ menced d a h o r saying, Art thou the ug ter of a god,

o r ! who ! sage, serpent l Tell me truly , art thou and

’ ‘ w me ! d am hence art thou come to She replie , I — the daughter of a man the daughter, of the merchant d H iranyad att ; Mad ansena is my name ; and ost thou not remember that thou d idst forcibly seize my hand

o n m in the grove , and didst insist y giving thee my w th w u oath ; and I s ore , at y bidding, that I o ld leave

t i to e f e Nag is th e name o f th e fabulous serpen s (sa d hav a human ac ),

b t i ata th e fe e . inha i ng P la, or in rnal r gions 8 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

! 'I the man I w as married to and come to thee have come accordingly ; do unto me w hatever thou pleas est k ‘ h On this he as ed , Hast t ou told this story to ! ’ h thy husband , or not She replied , saying, I ave m w ff ac entioned the hole a air, and after becoming

uainted w has w q ith everything, he allo ed me to come

’ ‘ S o md att m w to thee . said, This atter is like je els

w o r without apparel, or food ithout clarified butter, — singing o ut o f tune all these things are alike . Simi larl bad y , dirty garments mar beauty, food saps the w w strength, a icked ife deprives of life, a bad son ruins the family . Whereas a demon takes life on his

o r being enraged, a woman , either as a friend a foe , w w is in both cases the occasion of sorro . What a o man does not do is of little moment ; for she does not give utterance to the thoughts o f her mind ; and what is at the tip o f her tongue she does not reveal ; and h w she s e o f. w hat does, does not tell A onderful ’ w creature has God created in the orld in woman . “ ’ w so n After uttering these ords , the merchant s

n w to a swered her, saying, I ill have nothing do ’ ’ w ith another s wife . On hearing this she took her

w a way back home again . On the y she met the thief,

him w . (and) told the hole story The thief, on hear

h . ing it, applauded her ighly, and let her go She came nigh her husband and told him all the circum stances ; but her husband evinced no affection fo r P A C H C H I S I THE BAITAL . 8 7

‘ and T e o f in her , said , h beauty the cuckoo consists ’ its note alone ; a w oman s beauty consists in her fid e lit y to her husban d ; and the beauty of an ugly man h is is kno wled ge ; the beauty of a devotee is his pa ’ tient sufferin g .

m o f s Having related so uch the tory , the sprite id “ 0 ! w m of sa , king hose is the highest erit these ’ ! Vikramait three King j replied, The thief s merit “ ”

. H o w ! is the greatest The sprite said, The

o n king replied, Seeing her heart set another man ,

o f her husband gave her up ; through dread the king , S o md att let her alone ; w hereas there w as no reason ’ n fo r the thief s leavi g her unmolested . Hence the thief is the superior . On hearing this , the sprite w ent again and suspended himself on that tree ; and w him w the king also ent there, took do n from the tree , bound and placed him on his shoulder, and once more carried him aw ay . TALE X .

T HE 0 n ! o f r sprite said , ki g in the country Gau

B arad man he n there is a city called , and t ki g of that m i w place was named G unshekhar . His in ster as a

w n bhaichand A n . follo er of the Jain persuasio , by ame

u i Thro gh his persuasion , the k ng, too , entered the pale of the Jain religion . He prohibited the worship of

o f u ff Shiva, as also that Vishn , and o erings of cattle , l 1 grants of land , ob ations to deceased ancestors , gamb ling and intoxicating liquors—all these he interdicted

w as w no one allo ed to practise them in the city, w and no one could carry a ay bones to the Ganges . ’ A nd m to o w n the inister, , ith the king s sa ction for

w ho these matters , had it proclaimed in the city , that

w all ever performs these acts , the king ill confiscate his i n o n l property, and inflict pun shme t him, and expe ” him from the city .

m to Thereafter the inister said one day the king,

I e e ti i t o f l i/a o f e t i e m e u w it Th s obla ons cons s bal s (p d) m a , or r c ix d p h

flw e &c. ffe e to the e at the e e a a milk, curds, o rs, , and o r d man s s v ral Shr ddh s (or funeral ceremonies and w orship o f th e manes) by the nearest survivin g relations .

9 0 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

l o f o ne o f lame , or b ind eye, or blind both eyes , or

w o r - w m d arfs , hunch backed , or ith so e such bodily

o f defect . According to the limbs beasts and birds w mem hich they devour, they eventually lose similar

ur o f into x i bers of their own . F ther, the drinking cating 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 m a so in his ind , the minister m de him sound a con

to w vert the Jain faith, that hatever he advised the to an king did ; and he paid no respect y Brahman , 1 n o r n ascetic, iti erant devotee, religious me dicant ; and governed his kingdom according to this religion . One w o f day, coming under the po er death, he died .

so n - dhw a n Thereupon his , Dharm j by name, asce ded

a the throne, and beg n to reign . One day, having

A bhaichand a had the minister, , seized, and seven pl its

i o n and f made of the ha r his head, his ace blackened, ( m f o n and the inister) himsel seated a donkey, and a drum beaten a nd hands clapped (in derision) after him, he then banished him from the kingdom, and ” o n o m all carried his government free fr anxiety .

in - One day, the Spring time, the king, aecom

anied his w p by queens, ent to take a stroll in a

. w as n garden There a large tank in that garde , and

T h e sew ai arm d si d ar wesk are e r , y , and , all r ligious mendicants ; the t is o f th e J n e the e B the t firs ai r ligion, s cond a rahman, and hird a Muham madan . T H E B P A C AITAL H C H I S I . 9 ]

O n the lotus was in full bloom therein . beholding the a o f be uty the tank, the king stripped o ff his

‘ went d o wn to clothes, and bathe . Having plucked a

w to d w as flo er, and come the si e, he handing it to o ne o f the queens, when it slipped from his hand ’ and fell on the queen s foot ; and by the blow it ’ n w as inflicted the quee s foot broken . On this the m king became alarmed, and forthwith coming out fro the n and tank, bega applying remedies ; in the mean h n o n . time ig t came , and the moon shone forth No ’ sooner did the moon s beams fall, than blisters arose

o n . a s the body of the second queen F rther, ju t then ’ the sound o f a wooden pestle from some householder s

e ue n and she w as in sudd nly reached the third q e ,

stantl h t at y attacked with so severe a headac e , h she ” w fainted a ay . h 0 n ! After narrating so muc , the sprite said, ki g which o f these three was the most delicate P The w ho o t a king replied, The one g the p in in the head ”

she w as m . and fainted away , the ost delicate On

n hearing these words , the sprite agai went and sus pended himself o n that tree ; and theking w ent there l o f and took him down, and, making a bund e him,

ul o ff w him . placed him o n his sho der, and walked ith TALE XI .

“ T H E ! is sprite said , Your majesty there a city n P un a ur o f w w as amed y p , the king hich named Bal

’ w as S at a rakash labh , and his minister s name y p , (and) ’ the name of the minister s w ife was Lakshmi . One

m r who day the king said to his iniste , If one is a

n w u w m king does not e joy himself ith beautif l o en , ’ n in . his holding sovereignty is vain Havi g said this , and mad e over the burthen o f 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 .

“ w as It so happened that , one day, the minister

his f sitting dejected at home , when wi e asked him ,

' Husband ! you seem to me to be very w eak ! He

‘ o f replied, saying, Night and day the cares govern

w o n ment eigh heavily me, and hence my body has become feeble ; while the king is the w hole day long

’ w o w n u occupied ith his pleas res and enjoyment .

’ ‘ ni f a d h a ! o u The mi ster s wi e s i , O usb nd y have

94 S I THE BAITAL P AC H C H I .

‘ h w said, Your Majesty ! I ave itnessed a marvellous ’ " ‘ ! m . sight The onarch said , Describe it The

‘ ur ! m en o f minister said, Yo majesty olden time have said that o ne should not speak o f such things

as s o f o ne are beyond the comprehen ion any , and saw which no o ne would credit . But this thing I

i w o f . r pla nly ith my eyes , and hence I speak it You 1 majesty ! at the place w here the Lord Raghunath

has r d ! n b i ged the ocean, lo a golde tree came up out

o f sea w as d the , which so splendi ly loaded with w emerald leaves, topaz flo ers , and coral fruit, that a description o f it is impossible ! And upon it was a

very beautiful woman , with a lute in her hands , sing

e a few ing the sweet st o f strains . But fter a minutes ’ w as that tree lost to sight in the ocean . V “ w On hearing these ords, the king entrusted the

set fo r government to the minister , and out alone the

- sea shore . After several days he arrived there , and entered the temple to pay adoration to Mahadeva ; w w h and having bowed do n and ors ipped, he came

o ut 10! w , when the same tree, oman, and all , rose up

o ut o f sea . saw ( the ) As soon as the king her, he

w sat . leaped into the sea, and ent and on the same tree

t to She, together wi h the king, descended the nether it him re io ns. g She looked at (the king) and said,

u at the o f the f i a tit e Rama Ragh n h lord am ly of R ghu,) is a l of , who an n t o f V u w as in the f i a . , as i carna ion ishn , born am ly of R ghu 2 P d td la o ne o f the e e i hells the e i er the e r t is s v n H ndu , and r g on und a h

i i s the b e the Na e e t wi t h e . wh ch a od of gas, or s rp n s human fac s B P A C H C S I THE AITAL H I . 9 5 l

’ Valiant man ! Why hast thou come hither ! The k ’ ing replied , I have come, attracted by thy beauty .

no t u She rejoined , If thou wilt have interco rse with

u o f me d ring the dark fortnight the lunar month , I ’ will marry thee . The king consented to this arrange

. w h w she ment Not ithstanding this , o ever, took the ’ him ” king s solemn promise, and then married .

d r set To be brief, when the a k nights in, she sai d Your majesty is no t to remain near me to

d a a y . On he ring this, the king left her, taking his m w d hi . s or with and going apart, kept secret watch

h n w as and o n W e it midnight, a demon came, , the

o f in his No instant arriving, folded her arms .

n be sooner did the kingwit ess this , than rushed for

w w no t ard with his s ord, and said, Foul fiend lay thy hand o n my wife before my eyes ! First fight

w as m o n with me . It only ere I had set y eyes you ’ that fear possessed me ; n o w I have no fear .

w and This said, he drew his s ord, struck such a w ( ) w as m blo , that the head of tvhe demon severed fro and o n . the body, lay qui ering the ground On

man h beholding this , she said, O gallant thou ast ’ n ! A d one me a great kind ess fter saying this, she

is m t spoke again , saying, It not every oun ain that

contains rubies , nor every city that holds true men,

- w d o nor does the sandal tree gro in every forest, nor ’ n pearls exist in the head of every elephant . Thereupo ‘ e the king enquired, Why did this demon come to the ! ’ o n the fourteenth night o f the waning moon 9 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

’

d M Vid adhar . She sai , y father s name is y I am ’

a ri . said Vidy dhar s d aughter . Sunda is my name No w it w as an established custom for my father not . w as to partake o f food w ithout me . One day I not

at home at meal - time thereupon father became angry ‘ d and pronounced a curse on me, saying, A emon w ill come and embrace thee every fourteenth night of ’

w . ! the aning moon On hearing this , I said, Father you have indeed given me your curse ; but no w have m l man ercy on me He rep ied , When an intrepid w shall come and slay that demon , thou ilt escape from ’

. No w this curse , therefore, I have escaped from that curse ; and I will no w go and pay my respects to my ’ father .

‘ a reciatest The king said , If thou pp the kindness h I ave done thee, come at once and visit my do mi ’ n . ions ; after that, go and visit thy father She said, ’ w sa n Very well ; I consent to hat you y . Thereupo w v the king brought her ith him to his capital . Festi e w music and rejoicing began to take place . The ne s

- Spread throu ghout the city that the king had arrived .

Then songs of congratulation and merry - making com

enced m in every house ; and after that , all the musi

' 1ans and singers o f the city came and offered their w congratulations at the court . The king gave a ay

and n a . many presents , performed ma y pious cts A t No w gain , after some days tha fair one said , , ’ ’ your majesty ! I will go to my father s . The king ’ ‘ W d w : . said in sa ness , Very ell go hen she perceived

TALE XII .

T H E 0 Bir Vikramait ! is Sprite said, king j There a

Chfi a ur w ura city named r p , here a king named Ch man

’ r n m w as Devasw ami. ruled, whose spi itual teacher s a e

s ami and he had a so n named H ari w . He was as 1 beautiful as Cupid, equalled Brihaspati in his know

o f ledge scientific and religious treatises , and was as w d wealthy as Kuvera . He ed ed and brought home a ’ ”

w w as Lavan avati . Brahman s daughter, hose name y “ o ne To be brief, night in the hot season they w ere both sleeping soundly o n the flat roof o f a sum ’ ’ w m l o mer house . The o an s vei accidentally slipped fl

m - o n was her face, while a de i god , seated a car, pro

'ceedin w air sud g some here through the . His gaze d enl be w y falling upon her, lo ered the car, and placing

o n flew o ff her, asleep , the car, with her . After some a k 10! his was time the Brahman lso awo e, and wife i “ not (beside him) . On th s he became alarmed, and t e coming down from thence , searched throughout h

B rihas ati the e e t the et J te the e e t p is r g n of plan upi r, and pr c p or of h t e K uvera the o f w e t . gods . is god al h THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . 9 9

. house When he did not find her there either, he Went about seeking her through all the streets and e o f t no . lan s the city , but did find her Thereupon he

‘ to has o ff ! began to say himself, Who carried her and w hither has she gone ! ff w In short, when his e orts ere of no avail, he u ret rned home helpless and regretful, and searched fo r but did no t her there a second time , find her . When the house appeared desolate to him w ithout

- and her, he lost all self control in his disquietude

o ut d o f ! misery , and began crying , Oh , arling my soul o h o f ! , darling my soul Further, being exceedingly agitated by her separation from him , he gave up the

n d w positio of a householder , renounce the orld, girt

- a simple waist cloth round his loins , rubbed the ashes

co w - o f of burnt dung on his body, put on a necklace

a w o n be ds , quitted the to n , and set out a pilgrimage .

o n his w w Proceeding pilgrimage from to n to to n, and il w v lage to village, he reached a certain to n at mid day

left him , When extreme hunger i no alternative he

- - o f a made a cup shaped vessel the leaves of a dh k tree, and carrying it to the house of a Brahman , said to ’ ‘ him, Give me some food in alms . (The fact is , w man n h as hen a comes u der the influence of love, he

o f no thought duty , caste, or food ; and , regardless of

v n . e erythi g, he eats food wherever he can obtain it )

m o f a When he begged al s the Brahm n , he (the Brah 100 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . man) took the cup - shaped vessel from him and entered ’ it back w the house, and brought ( ) to him filled ith

in . rice boiled milk He took the cup , and came to

w as the margin o f a tank . There a large banyan o f tree there . He placed the cup at the root that, and went to w ash his face and hands in the tank . A black snake came out from the roots of the v u w tree, and ha ing dipped its mo th into the cup , ent aw ay ; and so the w hole contents o f the cup had he

w the come poisoned , hen , in meantime , he also returned

w and ho w after ashing his hands face . This matter,

w as w w o n ever, unkno n to him hile hunger , the other h and , beset him sorely . (Thus) he ate the rice and

and the milk as soon as he came , poison instantly w entered his system . Thereupon he ent to the Brah

o isdn man and said , Thou hast given me p , and I am ’ no w o f . dying it Having said so much , he reeled and fell , and died . Again , the Brahman , seeing him dead,

his o w n o ut turned wife of the house, and said, Go

o f thou hence , thou murderess a Brahman

v o f Ha ing told so much the tale, the sprite said , 0king ! to w hich o f these does the guilt of killing

” “ t ! n a a Brahman a tach The ki g s id , Poison exists ’ in a snake s mouth as a matter of course ; therefore no guilt attaches to it . Again , the Brahman gave him d him alms , consi ering to be hungry ; (therefore) ’ guilt does not attach to him . Further, the Brahman s w ife had given him alms at the bidding of her hus

TALE XIII .

T H E 0 ! sprite said , king there is a city named

- b a d i Chandra riday, n a king named Randh r ruled

w as there . There in the city a merchant named ’ Dharmdhw a w w as S ho bhani j , hose daughter s name and indeed she w as very beautiful . Her youthful

was i 1tself w as prime daily develop ng , and her beauty ” each moment increasing . “ It so happened that robberies became a nightly

ex e occurrence in that city . When the merchants p rienced much vexation at the hands of the thieves, they w ‘ ! all ent to the king in a body and said, Your majesty thieves have committed great outrage in the city ; we

’ can w no longer d ell in the place . The king replied,

has saying, Well ; what happened is beyond remedy lit w ( , hat has happened , has happened) ; but hence

’ forth yo u shall sufler no annoyance ; I will take vigor ’ ous measures against them . After saying this, the king summoned a number of people and told them o ff

ho w w to keep guard, and directed them to keep atch, and commanded them to slay the thieves w herever

an . they found them , without asking y questions B A I 'I‘ A L P A C H C H I S THE I . 103

People began to keep watch over the city, by n , ight and yet robberies took place . All the mer h t in c an s proceeded a body to the king, and said, ‘ r You majesty has sent watchmen , and yet the thieves h no t i n r ave decreased number, and thefts occu daily .

‘ The king replied, Do you take your leave now from

- o w the c to night I will g forth to atch over ity . O n hearing this, they left the king, and went each to his

o w n . No w n home , whe it was night, the king took

w o n his s ord and shield, and, foot and alone, began his watch over the city . Having advanced some dis w tance in the course of his atch , and looked closely,

r he perceived a thief coming towa ds him . On seeing

“ ‘ ’ him ! re , the king called out, Who art thou He

‘ ’ am ! plied , saying , I a thief ; who art thou The i ’ n a . w as king said ( reply) , I lso am a thief He

o n ‘ pleased hearing this , and said , Let us commit a ’ robbery together . w Settling this matter bet een them, the king and

o ne o ne the thief, conversing with another, entered of

o f m the quarters the city , and after com itting thefts

u o ff in several ho ses , carried the articles , and came to l a we l without the city, and having gone down into it, ultimately reached the chief city of the nether regions .

T e h thief stationed the king at the gate, and took the money and treasures to his o w n house . In the mean

a w - o ut time oman servant came of his house, and ,

n w seeing the ki g , began to say , Your majesty hat a ' ‘ 104 THE B A I I A L P A C H C H I S I .

l place yo u have come to with that miscreant ! Wel w o u as ill it be if, ere he return, y fly hence as fast yo u possibly can otherw ise he w ill kill you as soon as ’ ‘ w he arrives . The king replied , But I do not kno ’ the road ! ‘ In w hich direction should I go ! Then

w o e the servant sho ed him the r ad, and the king cam ” c to his pala e .

o In fine, on the foll wing day the king, with all his w o f the s forces , ent to the chief city nether region

w wbll e by the road do n the , and surrounded the entir

sc e household of the thief ; but the thief, e aping by som

w o f who w as other road, ent to the ruler that city, a

an d i demon , said, A king has led an attack aga nst w v w my house ith the ie to kill me ; at this moment,

o u w u w n either y must aid me , or I ill give p d elli g in ’

m m . your city . and take y abode in so e other place

‘ r m Yo u On hea ing this , the de on said , graciously, have supplied me w ith food ; I am w ell pleased ’ w o u . n w w ith y Havi g said this , the demon ent here

w as w e the king ith his army , surrounding the hous ,

the m en h and began devouring and horses . A nd t e king fled on beholding the form of the demon ; and

h w w a the all suc as ere able to run a y , escaped ; and ” rest the demon devoured .

w as o ff w To be brief, the king running alone , hen

' m and i u the thief ca e cr ed out, Art thou , a Rajp t, flying from the battle ! ’ On the instant of hearing

h a and tw o n this , the king alted gain , the co fronted l 06 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

w to , On hearing this , the merchant ent the king d ‘ ! and sai , Your majesty receive five lacs of rupees ’

. , from me, and set the thief at liberty The king said

‘ w w This thief robbed the hole city, and my hole army w w as sw allow ed up through him . I ill not on any

’ o account let him g . When the king did not heed his request , he returned home in despair, and said to

w as his daughter, I said all that it right to say, but the king did not consent

m havm n In the meanti e , g had the thief taken rou d

“ r him - the city, they b ought to a stand still near the

No w o f s . impaling take , the thief having heard the d ’ l pre icament of the merchant s daughter, first aughed

T he w w . aloud , and then ept bitterly people the hile

’ pulled him down on the stake . And the merchant s daughter, receiving intimation of his death, came to the same place to de vote herself to death fo r his sake .

u She had a f neral pile constructed, and sitting thereon,

o ff had the thief taken the stake, placed his head on

l to . her lap , and quietly seated herse f be burnt She w as o n the point of having the torch put to it (the w i pile) , hen (a temple sacred to Dev happening to be o n the spot) Devi instantly came out of her temple ! w h and said, Daughter I am pleased it thy courage ’ ‘ M . ! request a boon She said, other if thou art ’

w e f . pleased ith me, restore this thi f to li e There ’

n l . upon the goddess said, Eve so sha l it be Having

~ nectar fro m n - said this , she brought the u der world , ” and restored the thief to life . P A C H H I I THE BAITAL C S . 107

o f ri in Having told so much the story , the sp te “ 0 ! w h quired , Say, king y the thief first laughed, wh ! “ and y he afterwards wept The king said , I

w w h u w kno the reason y he la ghed, and I kno also w h y he wept . Attend, O sprite The thief thought

No w within himself, that she is giving up all that w she possesses to the king for my sake, hat return ’ ” w o f can I make He ept at the thought this .

w be Again , ho ever, reflected, She loved me when I was about to die : the w ays of God are altogether s t in crutable ; He bestows weal h on the unlucky, know

d o n o f lo w f le ge one origin , a beauti ul wife on a fool and He causes rain to fall in show ers on the mountains .

o f . r Thinking such things, he laughed On hea ing

th w 011 to . this , e sprite ent again and hung that tree

and The king returned there, unloosing him , made a

u bundle of him, placed him on his sho lder, and took him aw ay . TALE XIV .

T H E ! i s sprite said, Attend, King Vikram There a

n K usmavati w S ubichar w as city amed , of hich one ’ w w - a n as rabh . king, hose daughter s ame Chandra p

she w o ut When she became marriageable , ent one

spring day , along with her companions, to stroll about

in No w r the garden . , before a rangements had been made for the ladies to come out before the garden had been cleared of all strangers and others ’ no t to o n permitted set eyes the women) , a Brahman s

so n Manswi o f w o r so , named , t enty years , very hand

r o f some, had come into the garden in the cou se his w wanderings, and meeting ith cool shade under a ’ tree, had fallen asleep there . The king s attendants came and made arrangements for the ladies of the

seraglio in the garden , but it so happened that none ’ of them saw the Brahman s son sleeping there ; and

n so he continued sleeping u der that tree, and the p rincess entered the garden with her attendants . w Strolling about with her companions, here does she ’ come but to the place where the Brahman s so n w as

I 110 T H E BAITAL P A C H C H I S .

! ’ ; remove them He said, Well, tell me your troubles ’ ‘ I will remove them . “ ‘ O n a s w as no w a he ring thi , he said, It but th t the princess came here with her co mpanions ; and it i w as through seeing her that I have fallen into th s s o f w l state . Should I obtain posses ion her I i l pre serve my life ; otherw ise I w ill aban don life . Then he wi l m to replied, Come to my abode ; I l exert yself l suc the utmost to obtain her ; and, if I shou d not ’ ceed l w . , I wil bestow great ealth upon thee There

Manswi G o d has upon said, created many a jewel in the world ; but the jewel, woman , surpasses all ; and fo r her sake it is that man treasures up wealth . w w h When I have lost the oman , hat will I do wit the wealth ! Brute beasts are better o ff in the world than those who do not possess themselves of hand

o f some wives . The fruit merit is wealth, and the

a o f is e o f advant ge wealth ase , and the consequence

is k w no w ease (the ta ing) a ife ; , what happiness can ’ w ! O n there be where there is no ife hearing this, ’ Mfild eva l w v said, I wil give thee hatsoe er thou may st ’ ask . a for Then he s id, O Brahman obtain that ’ ’ m Muld eva same aiden s hand for me . thereupon ‘ a w I - s id, So be it ; come along ith me ; will have ’ r w n that ve y maiden besto ed o thee . “ t h m In shor , ministering muc co fort to him , he him w took to his house ; and hen he reached there, he prepared tw o magic pills . One pill he gave to the P A C H C H I THE BAITAL S I . 111

( ) n n young Brahman , sayi g, Whe thou puttest this into thy mouth , thou wilt be turned into a girl of w t elve years ; and w hen thou takest it out o f thy

w - mouth, thou ilt become the self same man thou ’ w ‘ . u ert before He said f rther, Put this into thy ’ . mo nth mouth On his putting it into his , he be

. uld came a girl of twelve years And he , (M eva)

n o wn havi g put the other pill into his mouth , became a tr nsformed into an o ld man o f eighty years ; and a w t king that young girl ith him, he proceeded to the kin g ( C d he king, seeing the Brahman , salute him , gave him h a seat, and anot er to the young girl also . Then the Brahman gave him his blessing in verse , saying,

Ma y he w hose glory pervades the three w orlds ; and w ho m w , taking the for of a d arf, deceivedl King

w ho Bali ; and , taking monkeys with him, bridged 2 w ho C c the ocean ; and , supporting the mountain (

B i w as we f l in w h o b hi s te t e e t e e al a po r u k g, , y aus ri i s and d vo ion, ov rcam in t i e t e bt e w e e e e t . T he Indra ba l , and o a n d po r ov r h av n and ar h gods e me al e at t t the aid o f Vi nu w ho vite th e b ca arm d his, and sough sh , is d ea t in the f o f w w e t ef e B li w ho i to r h orm a d arf, and n b or a , , accord ng

st ffe e him e e t . T e e th e w f affe t n tte te t cu om, o r d pr s n s h s d ar , c i g u r con mp fo r w w e t e n e i h e e e w te te t orldly al h, d cli d, say ng m r ly an d as much rri ory is r ee f his e te his be e in t o a e . B as could compr d h p c s ali laugh d , and gran d f i i i i i a req uest ; w hereupon the dw ar ncreased h s stature to prod g ous d m n at o ne te a e f t th e e e at the e t o n he sions, and, s p , pl c d his oo on h av ns n x , t e t and e i fo r the t i te h e e his f t ar h ; , no room r main ng h rd s p, plac d oo on ’ B i e e e him w n t o the e i o f a - lo lca e e t al s h ad, and so, pr ss d do r g on n , b n a h th e e t w e e he w as e t ne e t wit e ar h, h r k p in confi m n , and bound h bonds mad t o f twist ed serpen s . 2 Vid a note at page 9 3 . 112 THE BAITAL racn cm sr.

1 vardhan o n w m ) his hand, protected the co herds fro

b o f - a the olts Indra, may the same V sudeva protect you On hearing this, the king inquired , Whence

’ ! Muld eva has your highness come The Brahman , , ‘ m replied , I have come fro the other side of the

Ganges, and my home is there ; and I had gone to

’ w w in bring a ay my son s ife , (and) my absence , a general flight from the village took place ; and so I know not w hither my wife and so n have fled to .

A nd no w w ho w , with this girl ith me, shall I seek ! them It is , therefore, advisable that I leave this

(girl) with your majesty . Keep her with the greatest ’ care until I return . ’ o f On hearing these words the Brahman s, the

‘ H o w king began thinking to himself, shall I take charge of a very beautiful young woman ! And if I

er w do not take h , this Brahman ill curse me, (and)

’ w h my dominion ill be overthrown . Having t ought

his r i ! this over in mind , the king said, You h ghness ’ a the command you have given me sh ll be obeyed . m On this , the king su moned his daughter, and said ,

’ Daughter ! take this Brahman s daughter- in - law and

w o u w all keep her ith y , ith care and attention and , w w d hether sleeping or aking, eating or rinking, or moving about, do not let her be away from you for a ’

. O n o f moment hearing this , the princess took hold

T his allusion to the exploits o f K rishna the curious reader will fin d ” a i 2 t t e f th e a fully expl ined n the 6 h chap r o e Pr m S gar.

' 114 THE BAI PAL P A C H C H I S I .

h m m . remain a wo an by day At lengt , after six onths , ” the princess became pregnant .

o ne w w his They say that, day , the king ent ith ’ w hole family to a marriage festival at his minister s ’ ’ so n house . There the minister s beheld that Brahman s so n se as w fell disgui d a oman , and in love as soon as

saw to he her (or him) , and began to say a friend of his w w l , If this oman does not become mine, I i l ’ sacrifice my life . In the interval , the king having w partaken of the feast, returned to the palace ith his ’ l the so n fami y . But the condition of minister s became most painful thro ugh the anguish o f separation w from his beloved, and he gave up food and ater .

o f f w Seeing this state ( his) , his riend ent and informed

o n the minister . And the minister, hearing the w ! story, ent and said to the king, Your majesty

’ love for that Brahman s daughter - in - law has brought w my son to a retched state . He has given up eating w and drinking . If you ould kindly give the ’ - in- law m w Brahman s daughter to e, his life ould be

’ saved .

f On hearing this, the king said angrily , Thou fool ! It is not the nature o f kings to do such a ! wrong . Hearken Is it right to give aw ay to another

w o f that hich is given in trust, without the permission the person making over the trust , that you mention ’ P O n this matter to me hearing this , the minister

ercel m returned home in despair . But p v g the suffer P A C H C H I THE BAITAL S I . 115

o f h is , ing son he also gave up meat and drink . When three days passed without the minister ’ s eating

, f and drinking then , indeed, all the o ficials combined ,

’ to ! the minister s and said the king, Your majesty ,

is s son in a precarious tate , and in the event of his

. o n dying, the minister , too , will not survive And ’ ff w the minister s dying, the a airs of the state ill come

- to a stand still . It is better that yo u consent to that ’ w w e hich state . Hearing this , the king gave them to permission speak . Then one of them said , Your

! o ld majesty it is long since that Brahman left this , and he has not returned ; God knows w hether he is

o r v dead ali e . It is therefore right that you give that ’ ’ - in - law Brahman s daughter to the minister s son, and

u l u o u so phold your kingdom ; and shou d he ret rn , y can give him villages and w ealth . Should he not be w satisfied ith this , get his son married (to another ’ maiden) and let him depart . ’

On hearing this , the king sent for the Brahman s

‘ a e - in - law d ught r , and said , Go thou to the house of my

’ ’ o f minister s son . She said , The virtue a woman is destroyed by her being gifted with excessive beauty,

’ and a Brahman s character is lost by his serving a king, m and a co w is ruined by grazing in re ote pastures , and ’ w ealth vanishes on meeting with abuse . After saying

so much , she added, If your majesty would give me ’ him , to the minister s son , settle this matter with him ; viz . , that he will do whatever I tell then will I 116 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

’ d h go to his house . The king sai , Say w at should ’ he do . She replied , Your majesty I am a Brahman

is K shatri is woman , and he a by caste ; hence it best that he first perform all the prescribed pilgrimages ; ’ w after that I will cohabit ith him .

When he heard this speech, the king sent for the ’ t and G o u minis er s son said to him, tho , first, and visit all the places of pilgrim age ; after that I will give ’ ’ the Brahman s girl to thee . On hearing these words ’ in min ! from the k g , the ister s son said, Your majesty

u let her go and take p her abode in my house, and ’ o n then I will go pilgrimage . After hearing this , ’ the ‘ i the king said to Brahman s girl, If thou w ll first wi go and take up thy abode in his house , he ll set out ’ ’ o n . pilgrimage Having no alternative, the Brahman s girl went at the king’ s bidding and took up her abode ’

his . t e n to in house Then h mi ister s son said his Wife,

‘ Do v o f you both li e together in one place, on terms

ff ri n lin ac the greatest a ection and f e d ess, and on no

ua a count q rrel and fight with e ch other, and never go ’ to a strange house .

be Having given them these instructions, , for his

o ut o n part, set a pilgrimage ; and here (at home) , his

w as S aubha a- d a i wife, whose name gy sun r , lying at ’ night o n o ne bed along w ith the Brahman s daughter in - law o n , began conversing various topics . After

’ some time the wife of the minister s son spake as fol lows 0 friend at this moment I am consumed

T H E BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

! W h The Brahman said, Your majesty I ent to searc

I ’ for this son of mine , and having discovered him,

o u now v u have brought him to you . If y will gi e p his w - in- law ife, I will take both daughter and son ’ w home . Then the king related the hole story to the

o n Brahman . The Brahman became very angry hear

' ‘ ' in and What ro ceedin t g it, said to the king, p g is his,

’ fo r thee to give my son s w ife to another ! Well ! thou ’ hast acted as thou pleased st ; but now receive my curse .

Thereupon the king said, O holyman be not angry ; ’ l Wh n e . I wil do atev r you bid me The Brahma said, w So be it ; if, through fear of my curse, thou ilt do as I say, then give thy daughter in marriage to my ’ d son . On hearing this, the king summone an astro loger, and after having the auspicious conjunction and h m moment determined, gave his daug ter in arriage to ’ the Brahman s son . Then he took leave of the king

to o wn and came his village, bringing the princess , w w together with her do ry, along ith him

Man On hearing this intelligence, the Brahman swi wi also came there, and commenced quarrelling th

’ w m him , saying, Give me my ife . The Brah an named i ‘ i W Shash said , I have marr ed her before ten itnesses ’ and brought her home ; she is my wife . He replied,

She is with child by me ; ho w can she become thy ’ w ! ife And they went on w rangling with each other .

Muld eva m o f reasoned uch with both them, but neither ” w heeded hat he said .

h the e After relating so muc of story, the sprit said, A l T A L P A C H 1 9 THE B C H IS I . 1

Bir Vikramait ! w ! Say, king j hose wife was she

The king replied , She became the wife of the Brah 'i ” “ man Shash . Then the sprite said, Pregnant by

ho w wi o f the other Brahman , could she become the fe

o ne ! No o ne w ar o f this The king said, was a e her being with child by that Brahman; whereas this o ne married her in the presence o f ten arbitrators ;

sh il to o e . therefore became his wife And the ch d , , ” w ill have the right to perform his funeral obsequies . e w On hearing this, the sprit ent and hung on to the

same tree . Again did the king go, and, after binding

him o n d a the sprite, and placing his shoul er, c rry him

aw ay . TALE XV .

T H E 0 ! i m sprite said , king there is a mounta n na ed

a w - Him chal, here there is a city of the demi gods (or

and Jimutketu h celestial musicians) king ruled t ere . l Once upon a time he w orshipped K alpabriksh - a great deal for the sake o f a son . Thereupon Kalpa briksh w as d af pleased, and sai , I am pleased per ceiving thy services to me ; ask any boon thou desir ’ est . The monarch replied , saying , Grant me a son , ’ s m a o that my kingdom and my name y endure . It ’

E . (the tree) said , ven so shall it be “ s ex e After some time the king had a o n . He p rienced o w m extreme j y , and held rejoicings ith uch noise and display . After making numerous presents

, th s and charitable gifts, he summoned e priest and d fixe on a name for him . The priests named him

- a Jimut b han . When he became twelve years o f age he began to worship Shiva ; and having completed m the study of all the learned writings , beca e a very

Vid e te . 7 2 . no , p

’ ‘ I S I 122 THE B A I l A L P A C H C H .

so n ! is to o said , O this body frail, and riches, , are i w n unabid ng ; hen a man is bor , death, too, attends him w n w ; hence e should o give up dominion , and

no t practise religious duties . It is right to commit a heinous sin for the sake of such a body , and for the sake o f a kingdom ; fo r even king Yu dhishthir experienced remorse after his great w ar w ith the descendants o f ’ his ! Bharat . On hearing this , son said, So be it

n make over the government to your ki smen, and you ’ u yo rself depart and practise religious austerities .

Having resolved on this , and summoned his bro thers w and nephe s, and handed over the government h to t em, father and son both ascended the mountain

Mala achal o n ac m y , and re hing the su mit, built a hut and d w elt there . A friendship arose betw een Jimut a ’ ' b han and a holy sage s son . One day the king s son and the so n of the sage went o ut together fo r a

l the t . stro l on top of the moun ain A temple, sacred w a i to . the Bha n , came in sight there Within temple ,

ri w band s w as a p ncess , ith a lute in her , singing in

o f front the goddess . The eyes of the princess and

o f Jimfit - a those b han met, and both became smitten

w . i ith love But the princess , restraining her feel ngs ,

w rn w and stricken ith shame, tu ed her steps home ard ; i and he , too, for his part, be ng put to shame by the ’ o f his o w n presence the sage s son , came to place . w as lit That night passed by both the lovers ( . rose ” cheeked ones) in extreme restlessness . “ As soon as morn appeared , the princess set o ut T H E B P A O H C H I AITAL S I . 123 fr her r h , t e m o f D i r om qua ter for te ple ev , and the p ince, a t too (st r ing from this side) , no sooner arrived than be

sw as perceived that the princes there . Then he asked

‘ ’ her female companion , Whose daughter is she ! The companion said, She is the daughter o f king Malay

’ is Mala avati ketu her name y , and she is a virgin as yet .

After saying this, the companion (spoke) again (and)

‘ man asked the prince, Say, handsome whence have ’ o u ! ! ‘ y come and what is your name He replied, I

' so n o f m o f - o d s who se am the the onarch the demi g , name is Ji u - Ji u - a co nse m t ketu and my name is m t b han . In

uence o f o ur q Government being overthrown, we, father ’

o ur e . and son , have come and taken up abod here

Again, the companion , after hearing these words ,

was a related all to the princess . She much p ined at

o n h r heart hearing t em, and retu ned home ; and at night she lay d own with a load o f care on her mind . ’ s o f dis But her companion perceiving this tate her s, o n closed the story to her mother . The queen , hear i ing it, mentioned it to the k ng, and said, Your majesty ! your daughter has become marriageable ; ’ ! a w hy do yo u not seek a husband for her On he r s m hi , ing this , the king thought the atter over in mind so n Mitravasu and that very moment summoned his , ‘ ! and said, Son seek a husband for your sister and ’ bring him here . Then he spoke, saying, The king

- Jimfit - k o f the demi gods, etu by name, and whose son

ut - a n n a d his is named Jim b ha , havi g ban oned king I 124 THE BAITA L P A C H C H I S .

’ h has w . dom , , I hear, come here ith his son On earing

- the this , king Malay ketu said , I will give girl to ’ J u - a im t b han . “ Having said this , he bade his son go and bring ’ - r o f Jimut a n . o n b han from the ki g s He , eceipt the ’ king s command , set out for that house, and , on

so n arriving there, said to the father, Let your

as r to accompany me, my fathe has sent for him ’ w besto his daughter upon him . On hearing this , king

Jimut - l w ketu sent his son a ong ith him, and he came ’

- here (to King Malay ketu s house) . Then King

M - alay ketu celebrated his marriage G andharb fashion . t When his marriage had aken place , he brought the

Mitravasu w o wn bride and ith him to his house . Then the three o f them paid their respects to the king , and the king also gave them his blessing . Thus ’ d a did that y pass . ’ m w tw o On the orro s morn, however, the princes w w ent out, as soon as they rose , to take a alk on that l a i 1 Ma a r . mountain of y g On reaching the place , w hat does Jimut - bahan perceive but a very lofty heap w of something hite . Thereupon he questioned his

- in - law is brother , saying , Brother how it that this wh ! M o f ite heap is seen here He replied, illions

This mount ain has already been called M alay achal ; th e change o f name ' e e e t we e fo r acka l im t i f hill mo m is m r ly appar n , ho v r, and g bo h s gni y or tain M a is the t e h N u . I t t i t o f t e alay ac al nam is a moun a n sou h arbada, and is made famous in Sanskrit poetry fo r the cool southerly breeze which w e t e e al ays pr vails h r .

126 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

passionate being like you is not born every day (lit.

every hour) ; do not, therefore, sacrifice your life for

fo r mine ; , thousands of human beings will be bene fited by your remaining alive ; whereas it makes no ’ Jimut- a difference whether I live or die . Then b han

' is the w a sa said , It not y of true men to y (that they w G o ill do a thing) and (then) not to do it . thou 9 ” w hence thou camest .

h S hankhchur his W en he heard this, , for part , w to i G arur ent to pay adoration Dev , and descended

the . from sky In the meantime , the prince perceived

w as that each leg of his as long as four bamboos, and

w as n - his his beak as lo g as a palm tree, belly like a

mountain , his eyes like gates, and his feathers like w clouds . All at once he rushed ith open beak upon the prince . The first time the prince saved himself ;

flew o ff w a but the second time he ith him in his be k , w and began w heeling up ards in the air . While this w as w l o f w going on , a bracelet, on the je e hich the ’ w as prince s name engraved, became unfastened , and

w . fell , all covered ith blood , before the princess She w fell do n in a sw oon at the sight o f it .

few o When , after a minutes , she rec vered her w senses , she sent ord of all that had happened to her a o f father and mother . They came (to her) on he ring

o n this calamity , and seeing the ornament covered f w . No w o ith blood, burst into tears , the three them

S hankhchfir set out in quest (ofhim), and, on the road . n w too joined them , and advanci g beyond them, ent T H E P A C H C H I S I BAITAL . 127

to the place where he had seen the prince, and began

o ut G aru ! hi calling repeatedly , saying, O r let m I ! o ! no t M go let him g He is thy food. y name is S han ’ kchfi . am r I thy food .

G arur al On hearing this , descended in arm , t ‘ a and though to himself, I h ve eaten either a Brahman o r a K shatri ; w hat is this I have done !

‘ to 0 ! After this , he said the prince, man tell me ’ truly ; why art thou giving up thy life ! The prince

e ! replied, O G rur trees cast their shade over

sun others ; and while they themselves stand in the ,

r blossom and bear fruit fo the benefit o f others .

is e o f Such the charact r good men and trees . What is the advantage of this body if it do not come o f use to ! is w t others The saying ell known hat, The

e - w it o ut more th y rub sandal ood , the more gives its perfume ; and the more they go o n peeling the sugar

its cane , and cutting it up into pieces, the more does flavour increase and the more they pass gold through

m u be the fire, the ore s rpassingly beautiful does it

u come . Those who are noble do not give p their

o n natural qualities even losing their lives . What matters it Whether men praise them or blame them ! What matters it whether riches abide with them or no t ! What does it signify whether they die this

o r te ! w ho moment, af r a length of time The men w alk in the path o f rectitude place not their feet in

t h . tt any other pa h, appen what may What ma ers it 128 ’ ‘ THE B A I I A L P A C H C HI S I .

! f his whether they are fat or lean In act , living is bootless whose body proves of no benefit (to anyone) ; ’ — while those who live fo r the good of others their o f living is advantageous . To live for the mere sake

is w a in w n living, the y hich dogs and crows, eve ,

ewho w fo r cherish life . Thos lay do n their lives the

. co w na sake of a Brahman, a , a friend; or a Wife, y , fo r o f l w more, the sake a stranger, assuredy d ell in ’ paradise for ever . r f ‘ w Ga u said, Everyone in the orld cherishes his o wn and r life ; sca ce, indeed , are those in the world who lay dow n their o wn lives to save the lives of

‘ ‘ G arur others After saying this, added, Ask a ’ boon ; I am pleased w ith thy courage . On hearing

Ji mfit - a 0 ! this , b han said, god if you are pleased

an with me, then henceforth eat no more serpents , d ’ restore to life those you have eaten . On hearing

h G arur w o f l t he in t is, brought the ater ife from

h a kl o f fer l regions , and sprin ed it over the bones the

t . serpents, so tha they rose up alive again And he

Jimfit - a said to him (the prince) , O b han , by my ’ n i l favour thy lost ki gdom w l be restored to thee .

ra G aru to After g nting this boon , r departed his o wn S ankhchfir l e and abode, and a so went hom ;

Jimut - a his - i b han too left the place, and met father n law and mother - in - law and w ife o n the road Then he came in their company to his father . When they heard of these circumstances , his uncle and cousins ,

TALE XVI .

T H E 0 Bir Vikramait ! sprite said, King j there is a

- city named Chandra shekhar, and a merchant named

Ratand att w as an inhabitant thereof. He had one

w as Unmadini only daughter, whose name . When w w she attained to omanhood, her father ent to the ! king of the place, and said, Your majesty I have " i m a daughter (lit . there is a g rl in y house) ; if yo u w i desire to possess her, take her ; other ise I w ll give

’ her to some o ne else .

h e tw o When the king eard this , he summon d or

to o three old servants , and said them, G and inspect ’ ’ the appearance of the merchant s dau ghter . They ’ ’ came to the merchant s house at the monarch s bid

o ding, and all became fascinated at the sight f the ’ r — w as gi l s beauty, such beauty, as if a brilliant light placed in a dark house ; eyes like those o f a gazelle ; plaits of hair like female snakes ; eyebrows like a ’ bo w set o f e ; nose like a parrot s a t eth (lit . the set of thirty - two ) like a string o f pearls ; lips like the T P A C H H E BAITAL C HIS I . 13 1

’ M adam throat like a pigeon s ; waist like the ’ leopard s ; hands and feet like a tender lotus ; a face

i the m o l ke oon , a complexion f the colour o f the ckam d o f p , a gait like that a goose, and a voice like ’ the cuckoo s ; at the sight of her beauty the female ’ ” o f a w divinities Indr s paradise ould feel abashed .

o f On beholding beauty this kind , so abundantly all rich in graces , they decided among themselves , ’ (saying) , If such a woman enter the king s household,

n il b e il no t the ki g w l ecom her slave, and w l give a f u the ff o . tho ght to a airs government Hence, it is

to is - u better tell the king that she ill favo red, (and) ’ no t w o f . orthy him Having determined thus, they

h to ac came t ence the king, and gave the following count We have seen the girl ; she is not worthy ’ f u S i o o . y On hearing this , the king a d to the mer ’

ll . chant, I wi not wed her Thereupon what does his the merchant do on returning home, but give

to o ne B albhadra who was daughter in marriage , the ’ commander in - chief o f the king s army . She took up

her abode in his house .

It is said that, one day, the royal cavalcade w as passed by that way ; and she too standing, fully

o n - to ; ( attir ed , her house p, at the moment and) her

eyes and those o f the monarch chanced to meet . The

sa I s s o f king began to y to himself, thi the daughter o r u h o f o d o r f divn , a g , a emale i ity the da g ter a 9 o f is was human being The short it , he fascinated

Vi d a te e 7 4. no , pag 132 THE B AITAL P A C H C H I S I .

d his at the sight of her beauty , and returne thence to

n. w palace in a state of extreme agitatio The arder,

‘ u ! on beholding his co ntenance , said , Your majesty ’ w hat bodily pain are yo u suffering from ! T he

h ‘ monarch replied, W ile coming along the road to

- d ay I saw a beautiful w oman on a house top . I w w she o r o r kno not hether is a houri, a fairy, a human being ; but her beauty drove my mind dis tracted all at once ; and hence (it is that) I am ’ agitated .

‘ - On hearing this , the door keeper said , Your majesty ! she is the daughter o f that same merchant

B albhad ra who ff . ( o ered his daughter to you) , your ’ - in - u e majesty s commander chief, has bro ght her hom ’ hi w ‘ w s . d as ife The king sai , Those hom I sent to ’ see her appearance have deceived me . After saying

- this , the king ordered the mace bearer to bring those persons before him w ithout delay . On receiving this

m - w order from the king, the ace bearer ent and brought

. w his them In short, hen they came before the king,

‘ o n w o u majesty said, The errand hich I sent y , and — that w hich w as the desire of my heart these things

o n o u you failed to accomplish ; the contrary, y fabri cated w a false story, and gave it to me as an ans er .

No w - w w n , to day , I have seen her ith my o eyes . She is e w so b autiful a oman , rich in all distinguishing w f w qualities , that it ould be di ficult to meet ith her ’ equal in these times .

r hi . the u On hearing t s y said , What yo r majesty

S 134 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I I .

ho w an be to your majesty, can she y longer the wife ! ’ ‘ w mi of another The king replied, I ill not com t an act w hereby reproach w ould attach to me in the ’ - in- a w . orld The commander chief said ag in, Your

rn o ut o f a majesty ! I will tu her the house, and pl ce

s o f her somewhere el e, and after making a prostitute ’

w o u . her, ill bring her to y Thereupon the monarch

o f said, If thou makest a harlot a virtuous woman ’ I will punish thee severely . reco llec After saying this, the king pined at the

o f c u . tion her, and, in the o rse of ten days, died

- ih - B albhad ra Then the commander chief, , went and ‘ M asked his spiritual teacher, y master has died for the sake of Unmadini ; w hat is it right for me to do ’ no w ! Favo ur me w s in . , ith your command this matter

‘ u his He said, It is the d ty of a servant to give up ’ ’ w life also after his master s . This servant gladly ent to the place where they had conveyed the king for ’ D r w cremation . u ing the time in hich the king s

was o t funeral pile g ready, he, too, had quitted himself o f his ablutions and devotions - and when they lighted d w the pile, he too re near the pile, and raising his

n S un- ! joi ed hands to the sun, began to say, O deity in thought, word and deed, I solicit the gratification

o f . i this desire, viz , that at every successive b rth I

fo r may meet with this same master, and ( this) hymn ’ your praises . Having uttered this , he bowed in adoration , and leaped into the fire . P A C H C H I S I THE BAITAL . 135

Unmadini When received this intelligence , she to i went her sp ritual teacher, and telling him all, asked sa ! ying, Your highness what is the duty o f a wife ! is He replied, It by doing her duty to him to whom m her father and other have given her that she is termed a woman of good family ; and it is thus written

f law — o . w in the book , viz The oman who in her hus ’ a e s b nd s lif time practises austerities and fa ting, shortens f o f the li e her husband, and is finally cast into hell hi But the best thing is t s , that a woman by doing her

ho w ma duty to her husband, no matter wanting he y o w n M be, secures her salvation . oreover, the woman who entertains the desire to sacrifice herself for her

in - husband the burning ground, most undoubtedly derives as much benefit from as many steps as she takes towards this as w ould be d erived from an equal l - e o f sacrifices. u is no numb r horse F rther, there virtue ’ equal to that o f a w oman s sacrificing herself fo r her ’ O n s al . he husband on the funer pile hearing this,

a made her salutation, and returned home ; and fter

i r bath ng, and perfo mn her devotions, and giving ar to ah l ge gifts Br mans, went to the funeral pile, and

u n going once ro nd to the right in adoratio , said, O ’ ir Lord ! I am Thy servant in each succeeding b th .

she to o in Having said this, , , went and seated herself ”

fire and m . the , was consu ed

a t m edka o r e - sacrifice is o ne er e b we u T h e s , hors , p form d y po rf l e the e t ne it e t e e e. I t e kings alo , as involv s a vas xp ns is r gard d as of high s effi and as e e l d n e . cacy, far xc l ing all or i ary sacrific s 136 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

so the s , After relating much of the story, prite said ! ” 0king ! whose virtue w as greatest of these three ’ ” Bir ikramait . King V j replied , The king s The ” H o w so ! r t sprite said, The king eplied, He lef

- in - alone the wife given to him by the commander chief,

‘ his o n et while he sacrificed life her account, and y wn preserved his virtue . It behoves a servant to lay do his life for his master ; and it is right fo r a wife to o f sacrifice herself for her lord . Therefore the virtue

w s a . the king g reatest Having heard these words,

and the sprite went hung on to that same tree . The

to o a king, , followed him, and ag in bound him, and

o n his him . placed him shoulder, and carried away

S I 138 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I .

1 t r repeated such an incantation , tha a fai y appeared him w before ith joined hands, and said, Your high ’ ness I w ill execute any command you may g1ve me . n The ascetic said, Give this Brahma whatever food

’ e she he desir s . On hearing this , built a very fine w house, and furnishing it ith all comforts, took him w w and o n a ay ith her from that place , seating him a

c n stool, pla ed various kinds of co diments and meats ,

. w i by dishfuls , before him He ate hatever he l ked

’ she to his heart s content . Again , after this , placed

an - and w ff n the p box before him , after rubbing do n sa ro

- w and sandal in rose ater, applied (the mixture) to his body . Farther, she clothed him in garments scented w w f m h w w ith s eet per u es , t re a garland of flo ers round w him his neck, and bringing him a ay thence, seated N on a bed . o w while this w as taking place it became

t o ut evening, and she, too, having firs decked herself , w bed ent and sat on the , and the Brahman passed ” w the hole night in pleasure and enjoyment .

When morn arrived , the fairy went away to her o wn place, and he came to the devotee and said

‘ ’ Master ! she s gone aw ay ; w hat shall I do now !

The ascetic said , She came through the pow er of

’ who magic art, and abides near him possesses the art .

He replied, Impart this art to me, your highness !

’ that I may practise it . Then the devotee gave him a

Ya kska/n i is fe e Ya lcska i o f e - tte t a mal , or k nd d mi god, a ndan on K u era the o f w ea t . , god l h c n cm sr THE BAITAL . 139

charm , and said , Practise this charm for forty days , m at idnight, sitting in water, and with a steadfast ’

. u to to mind Thus sed he go practise the charm , while many and various fri ghtful objects appeared in

o f view but he felt no alarm at any them . When

to e the time expired, he came the devote and said, Your highness ! I come from practising (the charm) ’

o u . for the number of days y prescribed He said,

No w ac fo r e o f pr tise it that numb r days, sitting in ’ M ! o fire . He replied , aster I will g and pay a visit ’ to m . y family , and then return and practise it “ in t to After say g his the devotee , he took leave

his r la and went home ; and when e tions saw him, they embraced him and commenced weeping ; while his

G un akar w so father said, O here have you been

wh o u ! 0 many days , and y did y forget your home m d w ho y son , it is sai that, he leaves a faithful wife his a o n and . lives apart, and turns b ck a youthful

o r o ne woman , he who does not care for who loves 1 him is o n e w w o f lo w . is , a lev l ith the lo est the It

no said, farther, that virtue equals the domestic virtues, and no woman in the w orld imparts happiness equal ’ to that which the mistress o f one s house imparts ; and men those who slight their parents are impious , and i l their future state w l never, never be one of salvation ; ’ thus has Brahma declared . ‘ is On this G um/car spoke , saying, This body

— to ckaa d d l o f th e w e t the e t be . L it I s equal a , or man lo s of mix d ri s 140 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

o f and is fo r composed flesh blood, which same food

its it worms ; and nature is such that, if you neglect

d m . for a day, a feti smell proceeds fro it Fools are

u they who feel affection for s ch a body , and wise are

o r . they who set n t thei heart on it Further, it is of the nature o f this body that it is repeatedly born and

o ne o n destroyed . What dependence can place such

! so e no t a body Cleanse it ever much, it do s become

as e v fil h clean just an arthen essel, led wit filth, does not become clean by washing the Outer surface ; o r

w o ne c e ho ever much washes char oal, it does not b come

can white . Again, by what means that body become ’ a w - ! cle n, in hich the fount of impurity is never failing

‘ Having said so much, he spoke again, saying, Whose father (is one) ! Whose mother ! Whose w ife ! Whose

! wa w brother The y of this orld is such, that num ff bers come and numbers depart . Those who o er sacrifices and burnt - offerings consider Agni (fire) their go d ; while those who are deficient in understanding make an image and w orship it as god ; but the class

r o f ascetics regard god as in thei very bodies . I will no t practise such domestic duties (as those you have l s ’ 2 mentioned), but wil practise religiou meditation .

dr Having said this, he bid adieu to his kin ed, and

“ ” T be e e e f t e th e. his may also r nd r d, Who has a a h r, ' “ Yo abb fis e eit e the ti u t e e b y y may m an, h r par c lar prac ic of d vo tio n y ” “ w w t G o d e to be t ned the t hich union i h is suppos d ob ai , or prac ice of ” the art magic .

14 2 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . same ; and whatever number o f things he may achieve l by force of his intel ect, he, nevertheless, obtains that ” alone which fate has recorded . On hearing this the sprite w ent again and hung on to that tree ; and the king, too, followed him, and having bound him, and

o n w . placed him his shoulder, took him a ay T ALE XVIII .

T H E s ! sprite aid, Your majesty There was a city

Kubal ur the o f named p , name of the king which was

S ud akshi No w Dhanakshi . , a merchant named used

a w lso to live in that city , and he had a daughter hose

w i r in name as Dhanvat . He gave her in mar iage her

ri a t t childhood to a merchant named G au d t . Af er a

r she considerable time she had a gi l, whom named

i . to Mohan When she attained some years, her father ’ d ied; and the merchant s kinsfolk seized all his pro t per y . She, in her helplessness, left the house in the

darkness of the night, and taking her daughter with ” her o ut h o f . , set for the ouse her parents

After proceeding but a short distance, she lost the

n - w road, and came upon a burni g ground, here a thief

- w as stretched u pon an impaling stake . Her hand

“ quite unexpectedly came in contact with his foot . He ’ Wh o no w ! called out, is it that put me to pain just ‘ w l fli On this she replied, I have not il ingly in cted pain ’ o n yo u ; forgive my fault . He said , No one gives 1 44 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

u either ( pain or pleas re to another ; according as the ’ Creator decrees one s fate shall be, so he experiences ;

tho se who f and a firm that they did such and such things,

w t he are very un ise ; for men are fixed to cord of fate,

r w w which d a s them after it hithersoever it pleases . The ways of the Creator are utterly inscrutable ; for

men propose a thing to themselves , and He brings ’ something quite different to pass .

Dhanvati d 0 ! who On hearing this , sai , man

’ u ! m art tho He replied , I am a thief , this is y

o n w third day the impaling stake , and life ill not quit ’ w the body . She said, For hat reason He replied,

u m saying , I am n arried if thou wilt give me thy w in marriage , I ill give thee ten millions of ‘ daughter ’

- gold mohurs . It is notorious that greediness of gain is the root of all evil, pleasure the source of pain, and love the source of sorrow . Whoever keeps clear of

h . w these three lives appy It is not every one, ho ever, w ho Dhanvati r can give them up . Eventually , , th ough

w and greed, became illing to give him her daughter, l asked, It is my desire that thou shou dst have a son ’ ho w ! i but can this be He repl ed, saying, When w she attains to omanhood, send for a handsome

1ve him - ur Brahman , and g five hundred gold moh s , him w ’ and place her with ; thus ill she have a son .

Dhanvati When she heard this, married the girl him to by giving her four turns round the stake .

is - Then the thief said to her, There a banyan tree

' ‘ 146 THE B A I I A L P A C H C H I S ] .

m and n the he repaired to the nuptial cha ber, spe t w hole night in pleasure and enjoyment w ith her . w When it became morning , he ent home , and she

o ne arose and came to her companions . Then of

S a I o u them enquired , y What pleasures did y enjoy

’ ‘ w ! ith your love in the night She replied, When

I W and tremo ur ent sat near him , a kind of made itself felt inmy heart ; (but) when he smi led and took

‘ w as u hold of my hand , I q ite overcome , and no consciousness of w hat took place remained to me . — And it is said that if a husband be l . possessed

w 3 4. 5 . of reno n ; 2 . brave ; clever ; a chief ;

d w w 7 . liberal ; 6 . en o ed ith good qualities ; a pro

o f w — w f tector his ife , such a man a i e never forgets ”

w wo . even in the orld to come , much less in this rld “ t The gist of the s ory is , that on that very night

u w as she conceived . When the f ll time came , a boy

saw n born . On the sixth night, the mother in a visio

w at an ascetic , ith m ted hair on his head, a shining

co w - moon on his forehead, ashes of burnt dung rubbed him w w over . earing a hite Brahminical thread; seated

W u w n w on a hite lot s , earing a ecklace of hite snakes, w t o f k l w n i h a string s u ls thro n rou d his neck , and w ith a skull in one hand and a trident in the other, thus assuming a most terrifying appearance , come

‘ T o - m w before her, and begin to say , orro , at mid

a - night , place bag of one thousand gold mohurs in a large basket, and enclosing this boy therein , leave it h l ’ at the gate of t e pa ace . A P I THE BAIT L A C H C H I S . 147

A s saw soon as she this, her eyes opened . And o n its becoming morning , she told all the circumstances to ‘ . When her m her mother other heard this , she, on the following day, put the boy in a basket in the ’ very manner directed , and left him at the king s gate .

No w a saw , here (at the p lace) the king an apparition ten h with arms , five heads . each ead having three

in , eyes it, and a moon upon it, very large teeth, a in —a m w trident his hand ost terrifying form, hich f ‘ 0 ! came be ore him and said, king a basket is placed at thy door ; bring aw ay the child that is in it w m th d he it is ho will aintain y ominion .

s his . A s soon as the king heard thi , eyes opened

w ff n f er He then related the hole a air to the quee . A t

u that, rising p thence, and coming to the door , he o f perceived the basket placed there . On the instant opening the basket and peering into it , he beheld a

- bo y and a bag of one thousand gold mohurs in it .

He took up the child himself, and told the door

' r in keepers to b ing the bag , He then went into the o n female apartments, and placed the child the

’ queen s lap . o ut By this time the day broke . The king came , and summoning the sages and astrologers , questioned

‘ me w o f them, saying , Tell , hat marks royalty are ’ perceptible in this child ! There upon one of the

who w as a w o f sages , cquainted ith the science inter o preting the spots on the human body , sp ke , saying, C H I S I 148 THE BAITAL P A H C .

Your majesty ! three marks are distinctly perceived

o 2 . n this child 1. a broad chest ; a high forehead e ! 3 . r a la ge face ; in addition to these, your maj sty the w hole thirty - tw o marks w hich are assigned to man o ne no exist in this . Have apprehensions on ’ his account ; he will rule over the kingdom . On

w as n o ff hearing this, the king pleased, and taki g a

o f o wn chaplet pearls from his neck, presented it to that Brahman and after giving large gifts to all the

Brahmans, he bade them name the child . Then the

a ‘ ! d sages s id , Your majesty be please to sit down w ith the queen fastened to you ; let her majesty sit with the child in her lap ; and summon all the ’ musicians, singers , and others employed on festive

a c occasions, and c use rejoicings to take pla e ; then w ill we give him a name after the manner prescribed ’ by the sacred writings . m hi When the onarch heard this, he ordered s t minister to do w hatever they bid him. The minis er had rejoicings for the birth o f the child forthwith proclaimed throughout the city . On hearing this, all w the professional rejoicers ere in attendance, and con grat ulatory songs rung forth from every home ; festive ’ l t e music began to strike up in the king s pa ace , and

o icin . j g to take place Then the king and the queen , c with the hild in her lap , came and sat within a w m w square filled ith coloured eal, perfumes, and s eet meats , and the Brahmans began reading the scrip

15 0 THE BAITAL rA e ncm sr.

1 Phal u the River g , when the hands of all three came ' u o ut w as o n p of the river . He troubled in mind

w w he seeing this, ondering to hich of the hands w should give (the oblations) , and to hich not .

o f Having reached this stage the story , the sprite

0 w o f w as said, King Vikram to hich the three it ! ” right to give the oblations Then the king said, ” “ w To the thief The sprite said again , For hat ! ” “ reason Thereupon he (the king) said , The seed o f the Brahman had been bought ; and the king took a thousand gold mohurs and brought u p the boy ; and therefore neither o f these two had any right to

w r the oblation On hearing these ords , the sp ite w and ent again and hung on to that tree , the king w carried him a ay bound from thence .

’ ’ ’ T t is the t i ef the B n w h o e t him the i w h o ha h s, rahma s b ga and k ng s T he H e i e e t t w h e e f the e e adopted him . indus b l v ha n a son p r orms c r mony in e ti n the fat e is e m itte t o e f the t e w qu s o , h r p r d com rom o h r orld and e ei the la i r c ve ob t on . TALE XIX .

“ T H E 0 n ! h sprite said, ki g t ere is a city named

Chitrakut the w as u R d att . , king of which p One day he mounted his horse and w ent forth alone to hunt ;

h his and , aving lost way , got into a great forest .

he see o n n b ut What does goi g there a large tank , in w w w o f hich lotuses ere flo ering, and various kinds birds were sporting . On all four sides of the tank c ool and perfume - laden breezes w ere blowing under

a o f . the sh de the dense foliage of the trees He , for

w as w h his part , overcome ith the eat , (so) he tied his

- horse to a tree , and spread the saddle cloth , and sat

w - w the do n . A half hour or so had passed hen d o f l aughter a ho y sage , very beautiful , and in the

w . prime of youth , came to gather flo ers Seeing her

the w n en plucking flo ers , the ki g became deeply d amo ured . When she was returning to her abo e , w W after gathering the flo ers , the king said , hat con

o f r fo r o u m e duct is this yours , y not to attend to when I have come as a guest to your abode ! ’

“ On hearing this she stood still again . Then ' ‘ P H I S I 152 THE B A l l A L A C C H .

o ne lo w t the king said , They say that if of cas e come

u o f as a g est to the house one of the highest caste, even he is entitled to respect ; and w hether he be a — if thief, or an outcast, or an enemy , or a parricide , ’ o ne to such a even comes one s house, it is right to show him honour for a guest is more to be hono ured k than anyone else . When the king spo e thus , she

tw o e stood still . Then , in truth , the began to ogl

ne o another . In the meantime the holy sage also

s came up . The king saluted the devotee on eeing

‘ s Ma him , and he (in return) blessed him , aying , y ’ you live long .

“ ‘ the Having said so much , he asked king , Why m ! ’ ‘ ! have you co e here He replied, Your holiness

’ ‘ t I have come a hunting . He said , Why dost hou commit a great sin ! It is said that one man com ’ mltS u h a sin and many men reap the fr its t ereof . ‘ ‘ ! The king said , Your holiness kindly favour me ’ w m w . ith your, j udg ent of right and rong Thereupon the m ! w sage said, Attend , your ajesty A great rong

n n in e is done in killi g an a imal that lives the for st, 1 supporting itself on grass and w ater ; and it is a very meritorious act in man to cherish beasts and

. w ho birds It is said, moreover, that those render

- unapprehensive the timid and refuge seeking, receive

w who the re ard of those are most liberal givers . It d is also sai , that no religious austerity equals forbear

T h t e t ta n f r tr m e t e o . x has , by mis ak ,

1 P C H C H I S I 54 THE BAITAL A .

l ’ p ace . Then the king took the saint s daughter and

et o u - w a s t . for his capital On the road, about mid y ,

and . the sun set the moon rose Then the king ,

n seei g a shady tree , alighted beneath it , and tying

its and the horse to root , spread his saddle covering w t la d a n w . a y o n lo g ith her Thereupon , the hour

t - and of midnigh , a Brahman devouring demon came w 0 ! w d a oke the king, saying, king I ill evour thy ’ ‘ n w w . o t ife The king said , Act so ; hatever thou

’

w . d askest for, I ill grant Then the demon sai ,

’ O king ! if thou w ilt cut o ff the head of a Brahman s

’ w n son seven years old , and give it to me ith thi e

’ w o n w . hand , I ill not eat her The king replied , Even so w ill I do ; but do thou come to me seven ’

w l . days hence in my capital , and I il give it thee

h the Having bound the king by a promise t us , demon departed to his o w n place ; and on the morn

r . ar iving, the king also left and came to his palace ’

i e . The minister hearing of it ( , the king s arrival)

e made great r joicings , and came and presented gifts

ad and the king, after telling the minister of the

‘ r w w ventu e ( ith the demon) , asked, Say , hat ex

ed ient w e n p shall adopt in the matter, for the demo ’ w ! ill come on the seventh day The minister said , Your majesty ! feel no anxiety whatever ; God w ill

’

. n m make all right After sayi g so uch , the minister

m m d m a had an i age a e of a aund and a qu rter of gold , w and je els studded therein , and having it placed on a P 105 T HE BAITAL A C H C H I S I .

t w car , and (conveyed a ay , and) set up at a point w the here four roads met , he said to keepers thereof, t If any persons come to look at his , say to them that any Brahman w ho w ill allow the king to cut o ff the head of a seven - year - o ld son o f his may take pos ’

o f . w . session this Having said this , he came a ay Thereupon the keepers used to say this to those w ho came to look at it (the

“ w O n T w o d ays passed a ay without any result .

w w w ho the third day , ho ever, a eakly Brahman , had

o f - m t three sons , hearing this at er, came home and

w w so n began saying to his ife , If thou ilt give a of

o f thine to the king for a sacrifice , an image a maund and d d w w w a quarter of gol , and stud ed ith je els , ill ’ e w come into the house . On h aring this , his ife said,

‘ ’ I w ill not give the youngest son . The Brahman ‘ w w th said , The eldest I ill not part i When the ! ’ so n . second heard this , he said , Father give me up

’ ‘ w He replied , Very ell . Then the Brahman spoke w again , saying, Wealth it is hich is the source of w " w r . No w all happiness in this o ld , hat happiness

who c w ! o ne r can reach him la ks ealth and if be poo , ’ his coming into the world is useless .

“ d so n Having said this , he took the secon , and

u w gave him p to the guards , and brought a ay the

image to his house ; and the people , for their part,

took the boy to the minister . Further, when seven

w . days passed a ay , the demon , too, came The king l 5 6 THE BAITAL P A C H O H I S I .

n w l took sa dal , unbroken rice, flo ers , perfumes , amps ,

- food for the deity, fruits and betel leaf, and paid his adoration to him ; and , summoning the boy, took

w his him . s ord in hand , and stood ready to sacrifice

d w . Thereupon the boy first laughe , and then ept

w as d n u b w While he oing this , the ki g str ck him a lo w w d d w as ith the s or , so that his hea severed (from

h a his body) . True it is , as the sages ave s id ,

i mi f Woman is the source (l t. ne) o misery in the 1 w o f m n orld , the abode i prude ce (or immorality) , the

a o r n destroyer of cour ge ( dari g) , and the occasioner

o f o f o . infatuati n , (and) the bereaver virtue Who f has pronounced such a source (lit. root) o venom to ! A — r be the highest good gain , it is said Sto e up w v and w to ealth against ad ersity , disburse ealth w w guard your ife , and give up wealth and ife to ” w save your o n life .

n o f the i Havi g related so much the story, spr te m ! said , Your ajesty a man weeps at the moment of

w — the dying ; ill you account for this , Why did he ( ! ” m boy) laugh The onarch replied , He laughed h — t e . at thought of this , viz , That in infancy a mother w protects (her child) , and on his gro ing up the father cherishes him ; (and ) in both good and bad times a — king befriends his subjects , such is the way of the

1 T h e e in i e t o binti in the a are only m an gs ass gn d vocabul ry , sub ” “ " “ ” i i e e t i it ti e o f w i ee t o e e m ss on , r sp c s, sol c a on, non h ch s m apply h r .

D e i in the w the i t e i - niti I efe i i it the si nifica r v g ord from Sanskr , pr r g v ng g ti I e on hav done.

TALE XX .

“ T H E i 0 n ! a m sprite sa d , ki g there is city na ed

Bishal u r w w as n m Bi uleshw ar . p , the king of hich a ed p In his city lived a merchant w hose name w as Arth ’ - i d m w as n . att , and his daughter s na e Anang ma jar

m n o f K anw al ur He had married her to a ercha t p ,

i t m n M . named unn Some days af er, the ercha t crossed the ocean o n a mercantile venture ; and w hen she w a w as attained to om nhood here (at home) , she

o ne d a the n w h standing y in pavilio , and observing at w as d w going on in the roa , hen at that moment a ’ Brahman s son named K amalakar w as coming along .

o f met m The eyes the pair , and they beca e enamoured

t o f of each other at first sight . Again , af er a quarter an ’ n - hour or so, recoveri g self possession , the Brahman s so n , in the restlessness consequent on separation from

e the ‘ ho use his belov d , proceeded to of his friend ; and

w as i here she , too, in extreme d stress through the

o f i n w n the m pain separat o from him, he , in eantime ,

n and u had a female companio came took her p she , P A C H C H S THE BAITAL I I . 15 9

w v - ho e er, no self consciousness remaining . Then she

(the companion) sprinkled rose - w ater (over her) and m m and w i made her s ell perfu es , hile so do ng, her t and M a senses re urned , she said , O Cupid ah deva 1 w no t burnt thee to ashes , and yet thou ilt desist from

but inflict est thy knavish tricks , comest and pain on ’ w innocent , feeble omen .

S he w as w w uttering these ords , hen evening came

o n . w , and the moon appeared Then she said , hile m gazing at the moonlight, O oon I used to be told

w o f that the ater life is in you, and that you shed it in

to - w your beams ; day , ho ever, even you have begun ’ h to pour dow n venom . She t en said to her com

n w pa ion , Take me up , and lead me a ay from this

’ l fo r am p ace, I being burnt to death by the moonlight .

and Thereupon she raised her took her to the pavilion , h and said , Dost thou feel no s ame at uttering such

’ w d ! she 0f ! w or s Then said , riend I am fully a are o f b ut u w all ; C pid has ounded me , and rendered me ff void of shame , and I make great e orts to be patient, b ut the more I continue to be consumed w ith the fire o f - separation, the more venom like does home appear

T he e to me companion said , K ep thy mind at ’ ease I will relieve thee of all thy suflering .

M a e hi w as e e e in e i i e it ti w he ah d va, or S va, onc ngag d r l g ous m d a on, n K amd eva i e te e i e Wi t in his ea t ; w e e , or Cup d, xci d amorous d s r s h br s h r upon T h e i e e th e angry god re duced him to ashes by a fiery glance. cur ous r ad r w ill fin d a detailed account o f th e C i rcumstance m th e fifty - sixth Chapter of th e P r am S ag ar . I S 16 0 THE B AITAL P A C H C H I .

n m h m Havi g said thus uc , the co panion went home, and she (the love - lorn) determined in her mind that a she w ould quit this body for his s ke, and, being born

. s n n again , enjoy life well with him With thi lo gi g in m n o n w as her ind , she threw a oose her neck, and w w r about dra ing it tight, hen the companion ar ived, k o ff and instantly ta ing the rope her neck , said

n n . Everything can be attai ed by livi g, not by dying ’

it ff . She replied , Better is to die than su er such pain

e w w The companion said, R pose a hile, and I ill go ’ and bring him .

she to W Having said this, went the place here

K amalakar w as , and taking a secret look at him , per ceived that he also was much disturbed by the separa

i w as tion from his beloved , wh le his friend rubbing w d do n san al in rose water and applying it to his body, and far ming him with tender leaves o f the plantain

w w as o ut all am tree ; despite hich, he crying afl e

w n to ‘ ( ith passion) and sayi g his friend , Bring me w m l f m poison , I ill sacrifice y i e and be released fro

ff n his this su eri g . Observing this state of , she said to herself, However courageous, learned, sagacious, d m an iscreet, and patient a may be, Cupid reduces

’ him to o f a state distraction all the same . These

u co m thoughts having passed thro gh her mind, the

K amalakar ! n n panion said to him , O A a gmanj ari ’ and o n has sent word to thee to come bestow life her . H e d f replied , She, indee , has given li e to me .

TALE XXI .

“ T H E i u ! i sprite sa d , Yo r majesty there is a c ty named

Ja sthal o f was Varddhaman . y , the king which named

I- n w as a m Vishnusw ami who his city a Br h an named ,

r e had fou sons one a gambl r, the second a lover of

w . omen , the third a fornicator, the fourth an atheist

w as o ne d a his The Brahman y admonishing sons,

n who sayi g, Wealth abides not in the house of him

’ gambles . The gambler became greatly annoyed at

t . hearing his And he (the father) spoke again , say Ranit ing, It is said in the j (or book of policy) , Cut o ff x him the nose and ears of a gambler, and e pel from the ma land, so that others y not gamble and although the w his u gambler may have a ife and family in ho se ,

’ no t d m do consi er the as in the house , for there s no

n w w he k o ing hen may lose them (at play) . Again , those who are attracted by the w iles o f courtesans

h ff n fo r o wn w l t purc ase su eri g their souls, hi e hey part w o f ha l and ith their all under the influence r ots , take

t o . a h h w stealing in the end It is said, f rt er , t at ise men keep far away from such w omen as ensnare their 1 3 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I . 6

hearts in a moment ; w hereas the unwise give up their ‘ Tiearts s , and so lo e all their honesty, good disposition , d m reputation , conduct , ju g ent, piety , and moral cha ’

racter . the t o f h r Moreover, exhorta ion t ei spiritual

a preceptors is unpalatable to them . It is also s id

— o ne o w n w h that When has lost his sense of shame, y should he fear to dishonour any o ne else ! And there — is a proverb to the effect that When w ill the cat that ’ devours its o wn young allow a rat to escape ! He

‘ w o n to sa who no t w ent y , Those do acquire kno ledge

r who o n n in thei childhood , and attaini g to manhood

in become engrossed amorous pleasures , and continue

u — in to pride themselves on their yo th , those persons ,

o ld w lo n m s their age, are consumed ith regretful g g (for that w hich they have neglected in their

“ wo o f m On hearing these rds , all four the came mutually to the decision that it w as better for an igno

w as t rant man to die than live ; and hence , it bes for

them to visit some other land and study science . Deter

” o n w mining this , they ent to another city , and after

some time , having studied and become learned , they

d o set o ut for their home . What they see on the 1 who r road but a Kanjar, , afte skinning and cutting

‘ o f up a dead tiger, and making a bundle its bones , n w as about to take them away . Thereupo they said

te o f e e e e e e in e K anjar is the name o f a lo w cas p opl g n rally mploy d m an e- e are o f w e &c. T he offices such as carrying a ay carcass s, snak charm rs ,

his caste . 164 THE B AITAL P A C H C H I S I .

h let a o f ut his to one anot er , Come , e ch us p know

’ n o n ledge to the proof. Having determi ed this , one o f them called him (the Kanjar) and gave him some w thing, and taking the bundle , sent him a ay ; and , f d . o m quitting the roa , they opened the bundle One the l arranged all the bones in their proper p aces , repeated

a n an incant tion and sprinkled somethi gover them , so

w a that theyb ecame united . In the same y the second h t s . brough the flesh toget er on the bone The third,

m x in the same anner, fi ed the skin on the flesh . The

w a n fourth, in the same y , raised it to life . Thereupo it ” devoured the w hole four of them as soon as it arose .

n o f t After reachi g this point the s ory , the sprite

“ ! w as o f said , Your majesty who the greatest fool

! w ho those four King Vikram replied, He restored

w as . d it to life the greatest fool And it is sai , that knowledge w ithout Wi sdom is o f no use w hatever ; o n

w Su l the contrary, isdom is perior to earning ; and those who lack wisdom die just as he who raised the tiger to life died When the sprite heard these w w ords, he ent and suspended himself on that same

. o n his tree Again did the king bind him, place him shoulder, and carry him away as before .

166 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

w a o f o f devotee . But the y the people this world is o w w (such) , that the b dy may aste a ay, the head

the o ut w shake , teeth drop , and they alk about with k is a stic in their old age , yet, even then , desire not — nd h a w quenched . A thus it is t at time p sses a ay day

, , , comes night arrives a month is over 'a year is com leted d n w n p one is a chil , the an old man , hile nothi g

l w ho is w as w ho h se it. kno n to one im lf is ( I am) , and

are w h r s . others , and y one g ieve for another One m t co es , another goes , and ul imately all life must — w m n M d epart not one of these ill re ai . any and

a various bodies are there , and many and v rious minds , m ff and any and various a ections , and various kinds of delusions has Brahma created ; but the w ise escape t n hese, and que ching hope and desire, shaving their

ff and w - heads , taking a sta ater pot in their hands,

d o f m sub uing the passions love and anger, beco e a o ne scetics , and wander barefooted from place of pilgrimage to another these same find eternal salva w m tion . This orld , oreover, is as a dream ; to w m t a w ho can you impar ple sure in it , to hom pain It is even like the new leaf shooting from the centre o f laintain w n no t w the p tree, herei is pi h hatever .

w ho t o r And those pride hemselves on riches , youth,

w u w . A w ho kno ledge , are n ise gain , they turn

w - devotees , and , taking a ater pot in hand , beg alms d ri n from oor to door, and nou shi g their bodies with

t l and milk , clarified bu ter , and sugar, become lustfu , P A C H C H I S I 1 THE BAITAL . 67 h u h u ave sexual interco rse wit women, they n llify i ’ . f their rel gious meditations A ter repeating so much,

’ w no w he proceeded , saying, I ill go on a pilgrimage . O n w hearing these words, his relations ere much ” pleased .

i o f the Hav ng told so much story, the Sprite said , ! wh w wh Your majesty y did he eep , and y did he ! ” l laugh Then the king said , Ca ling to mind his ’ and mother s love in his infancy, the happiness of his

ff n youth , and from a feeling of a ectio in having

m in w remained so any days that body, he ept ; and

art and new having succeeded in his , entered a body, ” he laughed with pleasure . On hearing these words , the sprite w ent and hung o n to the same tree ; (and) him o n again did the king bind as before, place him

his s him . houlder, and carry away TALE XXIII .

“ T H E ! h was sprite said , Your majesty t ere a city

w n named Dharmpur, here a king amed Dharmaj

. w as ruled In his city a Brahman named Govind , versed in the w hole four Vedas and all the six learned

his treatises , and a careful observer of all religious

H arid att S o md att Ya ad att duties ; and , , gy and Brah mad att w w ere his four sons . They ere very learned , very clever, and at all times obedient to their father .

t so n w as Af er some time his eldest died , and he, too, ” a t the point of death through grief fo r him .

“ ’ me Vishnusharma the At that ti , , king s family

a e w priest , c m and began reasoning ith him , saying,

’ ‘ w When this (being) man enters the mother s omb ,

ff seco ndlv he first su ers pain there , falling under the influence of love in youth , he endures the anguish of

l o ld separation from his be oved ; thirdly, becoming , he is involved in suffering through his body being

. the w e n feeble In brief, many are sorro s att ndant o ’ m w ld and few th ( an s) being born in the or , (are) e

r n m s 170 THE BAITAL ac c r.

m in his r man , wealth re ains behind house, and fathe ,

f so n —no o ne mother, wi e, , brothers and kindred o f his s proves any avail his good and evil deeds, vice and his virtues alone accompany him ; while those same kinsfolk take him to the burning - ground and

see ho w b urn him . And ( ) the night comes to an end o n o ne w w n side, hile day da s on the other ; here the

In . wa moon sets, there the sun rises the same y o ld t youth departs, age comes on thus, also, ime goes o n w passing a ay, and yet , even while perceiving this,

s man does not learn wi dom . Observe, again, in the

ir o r M a who F st, Golden Age, andh ta, a great king, l w filled ( it. covered) the hole earth with the fame o f

o r i A e his virtue ; and in the Second, S lver g , the a w ho d glorious monarch R mchandra, , bri ging the sea, L e ka a destroyed such a fortress as n , and slew R van and A e Yudhisthir d in the Third g , reigne in such a manner that people sing o f his renown to this day

e yet death did not spare even thes . Moreover, the

air birds which fly in the , and the animals which the sea dwell in , when the hour arrives , even these fall 0 into trouble . N one has escaped sorrow on coming

hi . o n t into t s world To grieve this accoun is folly .

’ is to It best, therefore, practise religious duties.

Vishnusharma When had reasoned with him in ’ this manner, it came into the Brahman s mind that he

u would thenceforth perform meritorious and pio s acts . t Having thought his over in his mind, he said to his ’ ‘ B A I l A I . P A C THE H C H IS I . 17 1

‘ n w n so s , I am about to sit do to a sacrifice ; yo u go ’ and bring me a turtle from the sea . On receiving ’ i m w the r father s com and , they ent to a fisherman , ‘ t ’ and said , Take a rupee , and catch a tur le for us .

He took it, and caught one , and gave it to them .

e o f Then the ldest the brothers said to the second,

‘ ’ Do . u thou take it up He said to the yo ngest, ! ’ . d Brother do thou take it up He replie , saying,

‘ I w ill not touch it ; a bad smell will cling to my 1 ’ am in hands , and I very nice (my) eating . The

‘ am r second said, I very particular in my intercou se ’ m w m . a ith wo en The eldest said, I particular in ’ (the matter of) sleeping on a bed .

“ Thus did the three o f them begin w rangling ;

w w as and leaving the turtle here it , they proceeded, ’ w quarrelling the hile, to the king s gate , and said to m the gatekeeper, Three Brah ans have come seek ’ ing justice ; go thou and tell this to the king . w On hearing this , the doorkeeper ent and informed d the king . The king summoned them , and aske , ’ Why are you quarrelling one with another ! Then

o f m ! the youngest the said , Your majesty I am very ’ particular as to food . The second said , Lord of the earth ! I am very particular as to women The

th e teet o f the c I hazard this meaning fo r che m in h vo abulary and n t ee t o me to as the e i t e t e e n o th e di ctionaries, , m an ngs con ain d h r i do s m “ i h e ea e ti t te r l T he t e t w e e , f , p app y . s ud n , ho v r, may pl s s subs u sha or “ ” ” clever fo r nice . ' ‘ 17 2 THE B A II A L P A C H O H I S I .

o f ! r eldest said , Incarnation justice I am particula ’ in the matter of beds . o f When the monarch heard this , he said , Each ’ ’ w r . . you submit to a t ial They said , Very ell The t r king sen for his cook , and said , Prepa e various d hi kin s of condiments and meats , and give t s Brah ’

a h . man thoroug ly good repast On hearing this , the w r w h cook ent and prepa ed food , and taking it him

who w as o f the one nice in the matter food, seated

w as o n him in front o f the dishes . He the point of

u mo nth taking up a mouthful and p tting it into his ,

' w o fiensive m . hen an smell came fro it He let it . go, w ashed his hands , and came to the king . The king ’ n ! asked , Didst thou e joy thy repast Then he said, Your majesty ! I perceived a disagreeable smell in ’

did . the food, (and) not eat The king said again , ’ o ff f l . State the cause the o ensive sme l He replied , Your majesty ! it was rice w hich had been grow n o n

- o f co r s d ed a burning ground the smell p es, pro cee m it ’ fro , and hence I did not eat it . i n w On hear ng this , the king summo ed his ste ard , ! m and asked, Sirrah fro what village does this rice ’ ’ ! u ! come He replied, From Shibp r, your majesty

, a The king said Summon the l ndholder of , that ’ w village . Thereupon the ste ard had the landholder

. a brought before the monarch The king sked him ,

’ w w as w ! On hat land this rice gro n He replied ,

‘ - " On a burning ground, your majesty When the

’ ‘ 174 T H E B A I I A L P A C H C H I S I .

m n sleep thereon . On its becoming orning, the ki g

‘ him and d , l sent for , asked , Di st thou s eep comfort ’ r t ! ! ably th ough the nigh He replied , Your majesty ’ ’ i n ‘ ! I had no sleep the w hole n ght lo g . Why ‘ m ! asked the king . He replied , Your ajesty in the

v o f the w as w se enth fold bedding there a hair, hich w as a co n pricking my b ck , and I had no sleep in ’

u . i seq ence On hearing this , the k ng looked into the

! w as . seventh fold of the bedding, and lo a hair found

‘ n Thereupon he said to him, Thou art indeed a ice ’ judge of beds .

o f After relating so much the story, the sprite

w as the n r o f asked , Who greatest con oisseu those

! ' n Bir Vikrama it w ho w as three Ki g j replied , He the connoisseur in the matter o f beds . When the

w o n sprite heard this , he ent again and hung to that t an d w t er ree ; ( ) the king also en th e on the instant,

him o n and bound him, placed his shoulder, and carried him away . TALE XXIV.

T H E ! Sprite said , Your majesty in the country of

w as m Ya a a Kaling there a Brahman na ed gy Sharm , ’ w w as S o mad atta hose wife s name . She w as very

u . ff beautif l The Brahman began o ering sacrifices, w his w hereupon ife had a beautiful boy . When he attained the age of five years, his father began teach

him S fid stms ing the . At the age of twelve years he

u o f S /l d stm s had finished the st dy all the , and become a great scholar ; and he began to be in constant attend ” a . nce upon, and to help his father

A fterrthe o f in lapse some time the boy died, and their sorrow fo r him his parents uttered loud cries o f lamentation and wailing . On receiving this news all his kinsfolk hastened thither, and fastening the boy

k n - upon a bier, too him away to the bur ing ground ; e and when there, began rep atedly gazing at him , and

o ne ! a saying to another, See even in death he p

’ pears beautiful ! They w ere uttering w ords like w w as these , and arranging the pyre , hile an ascetic also seated there engaged in religious austerity . He S l 7 6 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I I .

h M hearing these words began to think to imself, y ’ body has become very o ld ; if I enter this boy s

c i w body, I can pra t se religious meditation ith ease

and comfort . o f Having thought thus , he entered the body the

u o f child , turned round , and prono ncing the names

Ram a and K rishn as o ne (Balar m) , sat up sits up w f . n rom sleep Whe the people itnessed this , they

“ all returned to their homes in astonishment ; while his father lost all desire fo r the w orld o n witnessing this ” m v w ar el first he laughed; then he ept . s After relating so much of the tory, the sprite said, ! w h w h Say, your majesty y he laughed , and y he ” wept . Thereupon the king said , Seeing the as

i art cetic enter his body , and so learn ng the (of

’ n o w n cha ging one s body . for another) he laughed ; and through regret at having to quit his o w n body he

-I wept, thinking, Thus shall too some day have to

’ w o n . r abandon my body Hearing this , the sp ite went again and suspended himself o n that tree ; and

to o n his him the king, , arrivi g close at heels, bound ,

t o n hi w u m . p him his shoulder, and carried a ay

17 8 THE BAITAL P A C H C H I S I .

m w Bhils were slain . In the meanti e an arro struck ’ the king s forehead w ith such force that he reeled and ’ o ne o f m o ff fell, and the came up and cut the king s

saw head . When the queen and princess the king

w a to dead, they took their y back the jungle weep

ing and beating their breasts . After having pro

ceed ed !co s tw o a or thus , they got tired and sat w n d w t do n , and bega to be trouble i h many an anxious ” thought .

n Chandrasen Duri g this time a king, named , to

w his w gether ith son , hile pursuing the game , came

n - into that jungle , and the ki g noticing the foot prints

o f two w the ( omen) , said to his son, Whence have ’ the foot - prints of human feet come in this vast forest ! ’ w The prince replied , Your majesty these are omen s

’ ’

- foot prints ; a man s foot is not so small . The king

‘ ’

u has o t . observed, Tr e, man not g such delicate feet

a a The prince said gain , They h ve just this moment ’ m us m passed . The onarch said , Come, let seek the w l w in the jungle if we find them, I il give her hose foot ’ this large one is to thee ; and I will take the other . m w Having entered into this utual compact, they ent

w . for ard, and perceived the two seated They were

o n o n r delighted seeing them, and seating them thei

a horses in the manner greed upon , they brought them i h . r o f ome The p nce took possession the queen , and ” the king of the princess .

so Having related much of the story, the sprite said , P A C H C H I S I THE BAITAL . 17 9

Your majesty ! what relationship will there be be ” w two ! t een the children of these On hearing this , u n the king held his tongue thro gh ig orance . n The the sprite said in great glee, Your majesty ! I have been highly pleased at witnessing your patience and ur o ne o u co age ; I tell you thing, however ; do y — z n vi . : o f w atte d thereto, one, the hairs hose body w w are like thorns , and hose body (itself) is like ood ,

w S hantshil and hose name is , has come into your city ,

is who w and he it has deputed you to fetch me, ( hile) he himself is seated in the burning - ground w orking

to o u his spells , and desires kill y . I therefore fore w w has his arn you, that hen he finished devotions ,

sa o u u ! he will y to y , Yo r majesty prostrate yourself t ’ so that eight parts of your body may ouch the ground .

Yo u should then say , I am the king of kings , and all potentates bo w lo w in salutation before me ; up to w n this hour I have not bo ed in adoratio to any one , i and I know not how to d o so ; you are a sp ritual w so i teacher kindly show me ho to do , and then w ll w w , I do it . When he bows do n give him such a blo w ith your sw ord that his head may become severed (from his body) then will you reign uninterruptedly ; w o u , y , w hereas, if you will not do this he ill slay and reign permanently .

Having warned the king in these words, the sprite w and came o ut o f that corpse , and ent his way while t somewhat of night still remained, the king brough I S I 18 0 THE BAITAL P A C H C H .

‘ as the corpse and placed it befo re the ascetic . The

e n cetic became glad on seeing it , and laud d the ki g greatly . After that, he repeated incantations and ff r raised the corpse to life, and o ered up a bu nt

' o flering in sacrifice : and sitting w ith his face so uth

' w o fiered the ' materials he re ards , to his god all had p

a an d ff u - w in p red ; after o ering p betel leaf, flo ers,

a cense , l mps , and consecrated food , he said to the

M n th king, ake obeisa ce very glorious will y dignity 1 the a u w become , and eight supernatur l fac lties ill ” a w u l ays abide in thy ho se . n On heari g this , the king called to mind the words o f t and n his w the spri e , joini g hands , said ith the

m m l u r ! w no t ho w ut ost hu i ity, Yo r everence I kno

bo w d o u w s lritual to in a oration ; y , ho ever, are a p ” w k w d o teacher ; if you ill indly teach me I ill it .

w his As the ascetic , on hearing this , lo ered head to

im i u prostrate h self, that instant the k ng str ck him such a blow w ith his sword that his head was severed ; and w the sprite came and sho ered down flow ers . It is

declared that there is nothing . unlaw ful in slaying him ” w w ho ould himself slay another .

1 ’ e e w e are —1 M aizzmé the ult o f n e e f Th s po rs . , or fac y maki g on s s l as ‘ " ’ l L kima th e f t o f n e e f o ne e e . 2 . a bu ky as pl as s g , or acul y maki g on s s l as ’ ’

i t o n e e e . 3 . A im é th e w e o f in e e in ite l gh as pl as s n , or po r mak g on s s lf fin ly ' ‘ ’ Va hzta 4 P m a th e w e o f tif in e e re . 5 . s . kaxm small . y , or po r gra y g on s d si s , ’

e o ti t i t o e wi 6 . I shitu e e w . or pow r f subj ec ng all h ngs on s ll . or supr m s ay ' ’ z f vasfi ztwm 7 . P r d t the w e o t i i e e t in . 8 . K i md p , or po r ob a n ng v ry h g y , or the e e t e i e pow r o f subdui ng and qu nching na ural d s r .