RUSKINBOND’Sfirstnovel,TheRoomontheRoof,writtenwhenhewasseventeen,wontheJohnLlewellynRhysMemorial Prize in 1957. Since then he haswritten several novellas (includingVagrants in the Valley, AFlightofPigeonsandDelhiIsNotFar),essays,poemsandchildren’sbooks.Hehasalsowrittenover500shortstories and articles that have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies. He received the SahityaAkademiAwardin1993forOurTreesStillGrowinDehra,acollectionofshortstories,andthePadmaShriin1999.

TalesandLegendsfromIndia

RUSKINBOND

IllustratedbySallyScott

PublishedbyRupaPublicationsIndiaPvt.Ltd1990

7/16,AnsariRoad,DaryaganjNewDelhi110002

Copyright©RuskinBond1982,1990

Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,placesandincidentsareeithertheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously,andanyresemblancetoanyactualpersons,livingordead,eventsorlocalesisentirely

coincidental.

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,transmitted,orstoredinaretrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise,withoutthepriorpermissionofthepublisher.

ISBN:978-81-291-1919-3

Twenty-fifthimpression2015

302928272625

Themoralrightoftheauthorhasbeenasserted.

Thisbookissoldsubjecttotheconditionthatitshallnot,bywayoftradeorotherwise,belent,resold,hiredout,orotherwisecirculated,withoutthepublisher’spriorconsent,inanyformofbindingorcoverotherthanthatin

whichitispublished.

ForRakesh,MukeshandSavitri

Contents

Introduction

TALESFROMTHEEPICS

LoveConquersAllTheCowofPlentyKingBharataShiva’sAnger

NalaandDamayantiTheSuperiorMan

Shakuntala

TALESFROMTHEJATAKA

TheHareintheMoonTheUglyPrinceandtheHeartlessPrincess

TheCraneandtheCrabFriendsinDeed

“Who’llBuyMyMangoes?”

REGIONALTALESANDLEGENDS

ADemonforWorkTheLostRuby

HowaTribalBoyBecameaKingTheHappyHerdsmanTheTiger-King’sGiftTheGhostandtheIdiotBraveandBeautiful

SevenBridesforSevenPrincesABattleofWits

ToriaandtheDaughteroftheSunTheWickedGuru

“AsYourLiberality,SoYourVirtue”TheSongoftheWhistling-Thrush

NotesandSources

S

Introduction

HEHERAZADE,whose lifedependeduponher ability to turnoutone tale afteranother, night after Arabian night, would, I am sure, have approved ofmy

devotingmostofmylifetostory-telling.Althoughinnodangerofbeingexecutedfor failing tomeetadeadline (could thatbehow thewordcame intobeing?),mylifehasinmanywaysdependeduponmystory-tellingabilities,whichhavebeenthebestandonlywayinwhichIhavebeenabletomakealiving–andalsochoosetheplaceofmyabode,thefoothillsoftheHimalayas.

Forovertwenty-fiveyears,eversinceIwasaboyoutofschoolinSimla,Ihavebeen a professional teller of tales – short stories, tall stories, folk-stories, truestories,unfinishedstories....IamstillalongwayfromSheherazade’sthousandandonetales,butthen,Ihaven’thadtheexecutioner ’saxepoisedoverme,spurringmeon:onlytherenttopayandbookstobuyandanoccasionalchickenformysupper,preparedbyPremSingh,whocookschickensbetterthanIwritestories.Premandhis family livewithme, and it is his children, and their demands for stories, thatkeepmeinventingnewtalesordiggingupoldonessuchasthoseinthiscollection.

My early stories, written when I was in my twenties, were about my ownchildhoodinIndiaandsomeofthepeopleIknewasIgrewup.Then,inmythirties,IwroteaboutotherIndianchildren–someofthemareinTheRoadtotheBazaar,alsopublishedbyJuliaMacRae.Nowinmyforties,Ifindmyselfgoingevenfurtherbackintime,totheyoungheroesandheroines,GodsandDemons,ofmyth,legendandfolklore.AlthoughmyfatherwasBritish,IgrewupanIndian,andhavealwayscherished the literature of both East and West. There has been no division ofloyalties;onlyadoubleinheritance.

Someoftheresponsibilityformyinterestinfolkloremustlie(literally)atthedoorofthemotherofmyfriendAnilSingh,whoseancestralhomeisinavillagenotfarfromAgra.LongbeforeIcameto“dwellintheHimalayancountry”(tousea phrase from The Jataka), I spent a winter in my friend’s village in the plains,where I soon discovered that his mother had at her command a great store offolklore,andtherewasnothingshelikedbetterthantotellmestoriesintheeveninggloam–at“cow-dusttime”,thatbriefIndiantwilight–beforeshewentindoorstoprepareourdinner.Shewouldreclineonastringcotinthecourtyard,puffingata

hookah,recountingoldtalesofghosts,fairiesandotherfamiliars.Twoorthreeofthesetalesappearinthiscollection.Thereweremore;butroomhadtobemadeforawiderselection–talesrepresentativeofdifferentpartsofthecountry,offollowersofdifferentfaiths,oftribalpeoples,kingsandcommoners.Ihaveleantheavilyonthe great Hindu religious epic, The Mahabharata, in which so many enchantingstoriesarefound;ontheBuddhistfablesinTheJataka;andontheearlyrenderingsof pioneering folklorists, Indian and British. In a section of Notes, which I havecompiledwithasmuchcareasIhaveretoldthestories,Ihavegiventhesourcesandthebackgroundtothetalesandlegends.

I am fortunate to be living andworking in themountains, in full viewof themajesticsnow-peaksofthefurthestHimalayanranges–thosesamepeakswherethegods and goddesses of Hindu mythology have their abode. And I am doublyfortunateinbeingabletolookdownfromthemountainsupontheplainsofIndia,amelting-potofracesandreligions,wheresomuchhashappened,andstillhappens,toexcitethemindandspirit.Indiaismorethanaland–it isanatmosphere–andthisbookisdesignedtogivethereaderthefeelofIndiaandrecapturesomeofitsoldmagic.

RuskinBondMussoorie,India

TalesfromtheEpics

L

LoveConquersAll

ONGLONGAGOtherewasakingwhoruledoveralargepartofIndia.Hewasagreat horseman, and when he rode he was like a strong wind rushing by.

Horsesknewandlovedhim,andbecauseofhispoweroverthemhewasknownastheLord-of-Horses.

Inspiteofhisfameandpopularity,thekingwasunhappy,fornochildrenhadbeenborntohim,andinIndiathiswasalwaysconsideredagreatcalamity.Hewentfromtempletotemple,prayingandofferingsacrifices,buttonoavail–itseemedasthoughthegodsweredispleasedwithhim.

FinallyheconsultedthegreatsageNarada.“HowcanIpleasethegods?”heasked.“Ihavebeenmarriedfiveyears,butstill

thereisnoheirtothethrone.”“Buildanewtemple,”saidNarada.“BuildatempletoBrahmatheCreator.”“I shall build the most beautiful temple in the land,” said the king, and he

immediatelysummonedhisbestworkmenandtoldthemtobuildatempletallerthananyother.

“Let itbe taller than threepalm trees,”hesaid.“Paint itgoldwithinandgoldwithout.Ahundredstepsofpurewhitemarblemustleaduptoit.”

Within a few months a beautiful golden temple was built, surrounded byflowering trees and shrubs. And every day the king visited the temple, makingspecialofferingstoBrahma,GodofCreation,andhiswife,Savitri,thattheymightsendhimason.

Hisqueenandhisnobles,andeventhesageNarada,hadalmostgivenuphope,whenoneday,asthekinglaidhisofferingsbeforetheshrine,hethoughthesawafiguregrowingoutoftheflamesthathadsprungupfromhissacrifice.Andthenheheardavoice–thevoice,hethought,ofagoddess,becausethoughitwassmallandsweetitfilledthetemplewithitssound.

“You have pleasedmewith your devotion,” were the words he heard. “I amSavitri,wifeofBrahma.Whatisityouseek?”

Hisvoice trembling, thekingsaid,“Goddess, Idesireason,so thatmynamemaynotperishfromtheland.”

“Iwillgiveyouadaughter,”repliedtheclearsweetvoice.

Thefiredieddownandthefigurefaded.And not long afterwards there was great rejoicing in the king’s palace. A

daughterwasborntothequeen–agirlsoradiantlybeautifulthatherparentswereconvinced that she was heaven-born, and sent out a proclamation saying that thechildwastobecalled“Savitri”afterthewifeofBrahma.

AsSavitri grewup,her fatherbegan to thinkabouthermarriage, andhedecidedthat she should choose a husband for herself from among the princes of theneighbouringstates.Hehadnointentionofimposinghiswilluponher.

“Daughter,”hesaidoneday,“doyouwishtomarry?Youmay,ifyouwish,visitthe palaces of our neighbouring kings and choose a husband for yourself fromamong the princes. I know that you are aswise as you are lovely, and that yourchoicewillbepleasingtome.”

Savitri decided that shewould seek her husband, not among herwealthy androyalneighbours,butamongtheremotedwellingsofthehermitsintheforest.Shehadherchariotpreparedforalongjourney,andorderedherdriverstotakethepaththatledintothewilderness.

After driving through the forest for several hours, the chariot-drivers toldSavitrithatahermitagelayahead.Savitriandherhandmaidensgotdownfromthechariotandapproachedasmalltemple,besidewhichstoodahutmadeofleavesandbranches.Insidethehuttheyfoundanoldmanwho,thoughblindandwhite-haired,hadanuprightbearing.Hewas,infact,notapriest,butaking:manyyearsagohehadgoneblindandhadbeendrivenfromhiskingdombyarivalwhotookoverhisthroneandthreateneddeathtoanyoftheking’sfamilywhotriedtoreturn.

As Savitri stoodwatching the blind oldman, a youth on a black horse cameridingthroughtheforestanduptothedoorofthehut.

“Hedresseslikeapeasant,”saidSavitritoherself,“buthesitshishorselikeaprince.”Andwhenshesawhisface,herownlitup,forsheknewthatshehadseenthemanshewouldmarry.

The youth dismounted, tethered his horse, greeted the old man with tenderaffection,andwentintothehut.

“Weneedsearchno further,” saidSavitri toherhandmaidens. “Letusask thehospitalityofthesegoodpeople,andtheninafewdayswewillreturnhome.”

Theoldkingmadethemwelcome.Hetoldthemofhismisfortunesandofhowhe,andhiswife,andtheirlittlesonSatyavan,hadbeendrivenfromthekingdomofShalwatwentyyearsago,andhadlivedeversinceamongthehermitsoftheforest.Satyavan stood aside,watchingSavitri, and falling further in lovewith her everymoment.Notmanydayshadpassedbeforetheyhadvowedtomarryeachother,butSavitrisaidthatfirstshemustreturntoherfather ’skingdomandobtainhisconsenttothemarriage,afterwhichshewouldcomebacktotheforestandfollowSatyavan

fortherestofherlife.“Butdonottellyourparentsasyet,”shesaid.“Letmefirstspeaktomyfather.”Savitri returned to her father ’s palace and found him holding counsel with

Narada. The sage had suggested that it was time that a husband was found forSavitri.

“Well, here she is,” said the king, as Savitri approached. “She will tell youwhetherornotshehasfoundahusband.”

“Yes,father,Ihave,”shecried,asshekneltathisfeetforblessing.“Inhisdressandhispossessionsheisapoorman’sson,butbybirthheisaprince.”

“Andhisname?”“Satyavan.”Before she could say anotherword,Narada, looking horrified, stood up and

withraisedhand,said:“No,Princess,notSatyavan!”“Therecanbenoother,”saidSavitriwithasmile.The king turned to Narada and asked: “Is there something wrong with the

youth?Ishenotallthatmydaughtertakeshimfor?”“Heisallthatshesays...”“Thenishealreadybetrothed?Isthereacurseuponhim?”Narada bowedhis head and in a lowvoice said: “He is destined for an early

death.Yama,theGodofDeath,hassethisnooseforhim.Withinayeartheprincemustdie.”

Savitriwentpale,andalmostfainted.Butshesummonedupallhercourageandsaid,“Narada,youhaveprophesiedhisdoom.Icanbutprayandhope.Buteventheknowledge of this terrible tate cannot shake my purpose. Satyavan shall be myhusbandforayear,evenifforfiftyImustbeawidow!”

Thesagestoodsilent,hisheadsunkuponhisbreast.ThenfinallyheraisedhishandstowardsSavitriinblessing.

“Peacebewithyou,daughterof theLord-of-Horses,”hesaid,and turned andwalkedaway.

The next day it was announced that the Princess Savitri would soonmarry aprince in a distant region, and that, since the journeywould be long and tedious,onlyherfatherwouldaccompanyher.Preparationsweresoonmade,andtheLord-of-Horses and his beautiful daughter set out for the forest. They took with themmanycostlygiftsfortheparentsofthebridegroom.ButwhentheoldKingoftheShalwasheardwhathadbroughtthemtohishome,hewastakenaback.

“Buthowcanthisbe?”heasked.“Howwillyourheaven-sentdaughterfareinthisroughcountry?Therearenomaidstotendonher.Andwhatshallwefeedher?Weeatthefruitsoftheforest.Wesleeponanearthenfloor.”

Savitri took the blind oldman by the hand, and spoke to him so sweetly andgentlythatsheremovedallhisfears.

Thatsameevening,whenSatyavanreturnedfromhunting,Savitriwasgiventohim in marriage. The only guests were the hermits who lived near by. All theybrought as gifts were their blessings; and Savitri pleased them by removing herjewelsandreplacingherrichgarmentswithhumbleclothes.

The Lord-of-Horses bade his daughter farewell, and rode alone back to hiskingdom.

Thedaysandweeksandmonthsslippedby,anditseemedtoSatyavanthathiswifegrewlovelierandmoregentlebythehour.Nomanwasashappyashe.Savitri,too,washappy;butasthedayofdoomapproached,shebecamequietandpensive.She decided she would not leave his side by day or night. So she watched andwaited,andseldomslept.

Onemorning the blind old king asked Satyavan to go to a part of the forestwheretherewasabamboogrove.Heaskedhimtocutandbringhomeseveralstoutpiecesofbamboo.

WhenSatyavansetout,Savitridecidedtofollowhim.

Satyavan, whistling cheerfully, soon reached the place where the bamboosgrew, and raisedhis axe; but hehad scarcely lifted it abovehis head for the firststroke,whenitfellfromhishands.Hesanktotheground.

Savitri,followingclosebehind,knewthatthefatalmomentwasathand.Sheran

forwardand tookhishead inherarms.Ashadowfellover them,andshebecameawareofaterribleformbendingoverher.Hewastallandgaunt,greenishinhue,butwitheyesofafieryred.Hecarriedanooseinoneofhishands.

ThiswasYama,theGodofDeath.Savitri rose slowly from the ground and, bending low before Yama, said:

“Whatdoyouwant,ohmightyone?”“I have come for Satyavan, whose term of life is ended.” And Yama leant

forwardanddrewtheprince’ssoulrightoutofhisbody.Then,turningtothesouth,hefledatlightningspeed.ButSavitri,too,wasfleetoffoot.Lovelentherwings,andshefollowedclose

atYama’sheels.Theycameatlasttotheedgeoftheworld,beyondwhichnomortalmaypassalive,andheretheGodofDeathstoppedandspoke.

“Return, Savitri! You have followed far enough. Return and bury yourhusband’sbodywithduerites.”

“No,greatYama,”answeredSavitri.“WhenIwedmylord,Ivowedtofollowhim,whereverhewentorwastaken.IhavedonenowrongsinceImadethatvow,andsothegodshavenopowerovermetomakemebreakit.”

“Thatistrue,”saidYama,”andyouranswerpleasesme.Askaboonofme–butnotthegiftofyourhusband’slife!”

Savitri thoughtforamoment,andthenaskedthattheoldKingoftheShalwasshouldregainhissight.

“Itisgranted,”saidYama.“Nowreturn.Nomortalmaypassthisspotalive.”But Savitri stood her ground. She knew that no one lovedYama, that hewas

friendlessevenamongthegods,soshedecidedtoflatterhim.“Is it true,ohYama, that amortal ispleasing to thegods if shemingleswith

thosewhoarevirtuous?”“Itistrue,”saidYama.“Then you cannot forceme to go, for you are virtuous, and I becomemore

pleasingtothegodseverymomentIstaybesideyou.”Yamawasdelighted,andtoldSavitrithat,forhergoodsense,shemightobtain

anotherboonfromhim.“Thengrant thatmyfather-in-lawmayregainhis formerkingdom,”shesaid.

Yama assented and told her for the third time to go back and find her husband’sbodybeforeitwasdevouredbyjackals.

“Itdoesnotmatter,”saidSavitri,“ifthejackalsdevourthecorpse.Ofwhatuseisthebodywithoutthesoul?Anotherbodycanbefoundforthesoul,ifitisreleasedfromyournoose,butneveranothersoulforthebody.”

“Youspeakwithmorewisdomthanmostmortals,”saidthegod.“YetonemoreboonwillIgrantyou.”

“Grantmeahundredsons,ohmightyYama,”criedSavitri.Andwhenthegod

bowedhisheadinassent,shelaughedandclappedherhands.“Ifyouareindeedagodwhokeepshiswordwithmen, then release thesoulofSatyavan.There isnoothermanthatIcanmarry,andonlybybringinghimbacktolifecanyougrantmethesonsyouhavepromised!”

Yama realised that Savitri had been allowed, by a greater power than he, totriumphoverhim;soheloosenedthecoilofrope,andSatyavan’ssoulflewupintotheairandbacktotheforestwherehisbodylay.Sometimelater,Savitrireachedthesameplaceandfoundherhusbandlyingjustasshehadlefthim.Sheliftedhishead,andheopenedhiseyesandstretchedhimselfandyawned.

“Imusthave fallen asleep,”he said. “Whydidyounotwakemebefore? It isalmostsunset.”

Hand in hand they walked home, and on the way she told him all that hadhappened.Andwhentheycamehometheyfoundtheirfatherandmotherrejoicingwiththeotherhermitsbecausetheoldman’ssighthadsuddenlybeenrestored.Andeven as they rejoiced amessenger arrived to say that the king’s enemy had beenslainandthatthepeoplewishedtheirformerrulertoreturntothem.

ThenextdaySavitriandSatyavan,with theirparents, returned toShalwa,andthere theyall livedhappily for the restof their lives.Weare told thatSavitri andSatyavanlivedtogetherforfourhundredyears,andthattheyhadahundredsons,asYamahadpromised.

Today,whenanyoneinIndiawishestopayawifethehighestcompliment,itissaidthatsheislikeSavitri,whobroughtbackherhusband’ssoulfromtheedgeoftheworld.

T

TheCowofPlenty

HERE was a wonderful cow called Surabhi, who belonged to the sageVasishtha.Thecowgaveher fortunateowneranything thathewanted: food

anddrink,clothesandevenluxuries.WheneverherownersaidthewordGive, thecowwastheretogivehimthethinghedesired.Itwasnotsurprisingthat jealousyandgreedwere roused in theheartsof thosewhosaworheardof thiswonderfulcreature.

It sohappens that apowerfulking,Vishwamitra,wasonahuntingexpeditionwhichbroughthim,withmanyofhisfollowers,tothehermitageofVasishtha.Theholymangreetedthekingwithgreatcourtesy,thencalleduponthecowtoproduceasumptuousfeastforhisguests.Immediatelyfoodanddrinkissuedfromthecowinanendlessstream.

The king was delighted. But he felt envious too. And soon he was askinghimselfwhyahermitintheforestshouldpossesssuchasplendidcreature.Itwouldbemorereasonable,he thought, if thecowwere inhisownhands toprovidehimwithhismanyneeds.

“I’llgiveyoutenthousandcowsinexchangeforthisone,”hetoldthesage.WhenVasishtharefusedtolistentotheproposal,thekingofferedhimhisentire

kingdom.Thesagerefusedthisgenerousoffer,sayingthatthecownotonlysuppliedhim

with his own necessities, but also served a similar purpose for the gods and thespiritsofthedead.

“Don’tforgetthatIamaking,”saidVishwamitra,“andwhenkingscan’thavewhattheywant,theytakeitbyforce.”

“Itisnotformetoresist,”saidthesage.“Iamonlyahermitandascholar.Mylifeisdevotedtothestudyofthesacredbooks.Icannotsetmyselfagainstthemightof your armedmen.Kings dowhat they like, and takewhat theywant, and nevergiveitamoment’sthought.”

Thekinggrew impatient,puta rope round thecow’sneck,andbegan to leadheraway.

Surabhiwasveryunwillingtogo.Sheturnedhersoft,patheticeyestowardsthesageandrefusedtomove.Thekingstruckherseveraltimeswithastick.

Atfirstthesagesaidnothing.Thenhespoketothecow:“MydearandlovingSurabhi, Iunderstandyour feelings,andIdonotwish to loseyou.Butwhatcan Ido?Thekingisall-powerful.HeistakingyouawaybyforceandIcannotpreventhim.”

When the cow heard thesewords she broke away from her captor and camerunningtothesage.

“Doyouwishme togo?” shecried. “Haveyou lost all affection forme?Doyou not care whether the king ill-treats me or not? Have you given me upcompletely?”

“What can I say?” said the sage. “Awarrior ’s strength lies in the forceathiscommand.Ahermit’s strength lies in the spirit of forgiveness he shows. I cannotstophimfromtakingyou,butIcertainlydonotabandonyouorwishyoutogo.”

“Iwon’tbetakenbyforce,”saidthecow.“Ifyousayyouwantmewithyou,thatisenough!”

As she spoke, herwhole appearance underwent an amazing change.Her eyesflashedfire.Herheadandneckgrewtoanenormoussize,andsherushedatthekingand his followers. Evenmorewonderful, great showers of burning coals pouredfrom her tail, and the coalswere followed by troops of soldiers. They came notonly from her tail, but from her udder and her sides, and from the froth of hermouth. These warriors belonged to many countries and races of men – Greeks,Huns,Scythians,Parthians,Chinese–andtheyallworethegarmentsandcarriedtheweaponspeculiartotheircountry.

As theypoured forth, they attacked theking andhismenwithgreat fury.Butthey inflicted no injury on them. They were content to give them a good fright.AlthoughtheychasedVishwamitraandhismenforadistanceofseventy-fivemiles,theydidnotkillanyofthem.

Bythetimethekinghadrecoveredhisbreath,hewasalreadyachangedman.Hehadboastedthatkingscoulddoastheyliked.Butnowherealisedthatkingswerereallyfeeblecomparedwithmenofwisdomandpiety.Sohegaveuphiskingdomandwenttoliveinaforest.Hedecidedthathewouldpersuadethegodstomakehimone of their priests. And finally, after many years of hardship, prayer andmeditation,heachievedhisgoalandbecameatruesage.

K

KingBharata

1BharataandtheDeer

ING BHARATA ruled over all the world. He was a thoughtful and religiousman,andhelookeduponthewholeworldasevidenceofthesupremespirit

ofGod.He worshipped God in the form of Vishnu, the Preserver, and was full of

devotion, ruling the earth for one hundred thousand years. He had five sons,amongstwhomhedividedallhiskingdom,andwentatlastintotheforestsneartheriverGandak,wherehelivedalone,prayingandmeditating.

Hisworshipconsistedofofferingfreshflowers,tenderleaves,andwildfruitsandroots.Hecontrolledallhissensesandnevergrewweary.Therewasnoonetodisturbhim,noonetotakehismindofftheworshipofGod.Hebathedthreetimesaday,andworshippedVishnuinthegoldensun.

Oneday,whileBharatawasbathing in the river,hehearda lion roaring,andsaw a deer, which was about to give birth to a fawn, fleeing from the lion andsplashingacrosstheriver.Asitreachedtheothersideitgavebirthtothefawn,andthendied.Bharatasawthehelplesslittlefawnstrugglinginthewater.Beingmovedwithcompassion,hetookitinhishandsandsavedit.Thenhetookthefawnhomeandcaredforit,andsoonbegantoloveit.HebecamesoattachedtoitthatlittlebylittlehebeganneglectinghisservicestoGod;buthewasquiteunawarethatthiswashappening.

“Thereisnoonetocareforthisdeer,”hesaidtohimself,“andsoIwilllookafteritandbringitup.Thegreatteacherssaythattohelpthehelplessisavirtue.”

His lovefor thedeergrew,andheusedtobringit tendergrass toeat,andhewouldbatheit,andkeepitnearhim.Sometimeshewouldholditinhisarmsoronhis lap.Heloveditscompany.Often,whenperformingsomeceremony,hewouldbreakoffinthemiddletolookforthedeer.

Butonedaythedeerdisappeared.Bharatawasovercomewithgriefandaterriblesenseofloss.“Did Inot takecareofyou ineveryway?”hemused.“NowIdonotknow if

some animal has killedyou, or if youwill oneday return to gladdenmyheart. IrememberhowyouusedtotouchmegentlywithyourhornsasIsatinmeditation.Irememberhowyouwouldplayfully trampleon the things I brought forworship,andifIspoketoyouinanger,youwouldstandatadistancetillIcalledyouagain.Theotherhermits lookeduponyouasaholyanimal.Perhaps themoonhas takenyou.”

Unabletogetoverhissorrow,heneglectedthereligiousceremoniesheusuallyperformed.He had renounced his family and his kingdom in order to obtain thespiritualfreedomofthehermit.Now,becauseofhisattachmenttothedeer,allhisstrivingsappearedtohavebeenfutile.

Thenonedaythedeerreturned.Bharatawasovercomewithjoy.Hetreateditasthoughitwerehisownson,and

devotedtherestofhisdaystoitswelfare.Inhis lastdays,onhisdeath-bed,his thoughtswereonlyof thedeer; and so,

uponhissoulleavinghisbody,hewasre-bornasadeer.Butthememoryofhispastlife remainedwithhim.He felt sorry thathehadneglectedhisduties toGod,andregrettedhis formerattachment to thedeer.Hedidnotminglewith therestof theherd, and at last left them and went away alone to his old place, where he hadformerly lived and worshipped; and there he remained, bathing in the river andgrazingonitsbanks;andsomuchdidhedesiretobefreedfromthebodyofadeerthat,whenhedied,hewasabletobebornagainintoaBrahminfamily.

2BharataAsABrahmin

Born to a Brahmin father, Bharata was well brought up; but remembering hisformer lives,hekept aloof fromotherpeople, so thatmany thoughthewashalf-witted.When his parents died, his brother forced him to domenialwork. Peoplemadefunofhim,buthepaidnoattention,and tookeverything thatcamehisway,good and bad. He cared neither for cold nor heat, going without clothes andsleepingonthebareground,sothathissacredthreadbecameblackwithdirt.

Inspiteofthesehardships,heremainedsturdyandstrong.One day the king of the country decided to offer a human sacrifice to the

Goddess Kali, and hearing from his servants that Bharata was a useless fellow,seizedhimasbeingperfectlysuitableforthesacrifice.

After a ceremonial bath, Bharata was given fine clothes and decorated withjewels.Hewasgivenrichfood.Burningcamphorandperfumeswereplacedbeforehim.Then, accompaniedbydancers andmusicians, hewas taken to the templeofKali.

AtthetemplethekinghimselfledBharatatoaraisedplatform.Swordinhand,

hewasabouttocutoffBharata’shead,whenKali,seeingBharataandrecognisinghimimmediatelyasamanofGod–amanwithouthatredinhisheart,andwithloveforalllivingcreatures–wasafraidtoreceivesuchasacrifice.

Thegoddessgrewangrywith theking.Shebecamevisible, and so terrifyingwasheraspectthatthekingandhisfollowersfelldeadonthespot.

ThenKaliturnedtoBharataandsaid,“Nodeitywillallowanyharmtocometoyou.”

Shedisappeared,andBharata,whofearedneithertheswordnorKali,remainedstanding,hismindsteadfastinGod.

Thepeoplewhohadgatheredtowatchthesacrificebecamegreatlyafraid.TheymadewayforBharata,andhereturnedtowatchthefieldsasbefore.

W

Shiva’sAnger

HENthegreatGodShivaandhiswifeUmaweresittingonedayonthetopofamountain,thegoddesshappenedtonoticethattheothergodsandtheir

wivesweresettingofftogetheronanexpedition.“Doyouknowwheretheyaregoing?”sheasked.“Yes,”saidShiva,“theyaregoingtoattendasacrificethatisbeingcelebrated

byDaksha,oneoftheGreatSages.”“Butif thegodsaretobethere,whyareyounotgoing?”sheasked.“Youare

thegreatestofthegods.Whyhaveyounotbeeninvited?”“Oh, it’s an old story,” said Shiva. “A long time ago the gods made an

agreementamongthemselvesthatIwastotakenopartinanyofthesacrifices.”Umawas very angry to hear this. She said itwas a strange arrangement that

sought toexclude themostpowerfulof thegods. Indeedshewassoupset thatshesaidshewouldnotspeaktoherhusbanduntilhetookstepstoaltersuchanunjustarrangement.HerattitudemadeShivarealisethathemustdosomething.Sohegotupand, callinguponall hisgreat powersofyoga,hurried to theplacewhere thesacrificewasbeingheld.

Shiva was followed by thousands of demigods, whom he had called intoexistence,andonhisbehalftheyputoutthefires,threwdownthesacrificialstakes,ateupmanyofthosewhowerecelebratingthesacrifice,andinsultedthewivesofthe gods. Lakes of milk were spilt, andmountains of dishes, containing food ofeverykind,werescatteredfarandwide.

Thesacrificeitself,intheformofadeer,tookrefugeinflight.Shivawasveryangrywhenhesawthesacrificerunningaway,andhesetoffin

swiftpursuit.Asheran,adropofperspirationformedonhisbrow.Andwhereitfelltothe

ground,agreatfiresprangup.Fromthefireaterrible-lookingcreatureemerged:goblin-like, with blood-red eyes and a green beard. It pursued the fleeing deer,caughtupwithit,andthensimplygobbleditup.

Having consumed the sacrifice, the creature turned upon the gods and sages,who fled for safety in all directions. Then Brahma, the Creator, intervened, andaskedShiva to recall the terrible beast that his anger hadproduced, assuringhim

that ifhedid so, thegodswould, in future, invitehim to thecelebrationof everysacrifice.

Shiva agreed, but the problem nowwas to dealwith the creature that he hadbrought into being. If it remained as itwas, itwas capable of destroying half theworld. Brahma suggested that they divide the creature into a number of differentparts, and so reduce its strength. Shiva agreed, and the creaturewas divided intomanyparts,andunderthenameofFeverthosepartscontinuetoliveamongbeastsandmen.

Feverworksindifferentways,andshowsitselfinmanydiseasesandailments.But Fever was originally the anger which was produced by Shiva at Daksha’ssacrifice.

L

NalaandDamayanti

ONGAGOtherereignedinBerarafamouskingnamedBhima.Hischiefclaimto fame was that he had a beautiful daughter named Damayanti. She was

waitedupondayandnightbyabandofhandmaidsofgreatbeauty,but sheshoneamongthemlikethemoonamongthestars,andherhandwassought,wearetold,bybothgodsandmortals.

Nala,KingofNishada,came tohearofDamayanti’s lovelinessandhermanyaccomplishments,andwasstruckwithpassionforher.She, in turn,hadheardthatNalawasbraveandhandsome,well-readandskilledinarms.Theylovedeachotherupon the mere fame of their respective virtues, and Damayanti pined for thepresenceofherunknownlover.

OnedaywhileNalawasseatedinagrove,dreamingofhisbeloved,hesawaflockofswans,withwingsallfleckedwithgold,cometorestclosebyhim.

Nalacreptuptotheleaderoftheflockandseizedhim.“O mighty king,” said the swan, “set me free, and I will do your bidding,

whateveritmightbe.”“Ifabirdcandoamortalanyservice,”saidNala,“flytomylove,Damayanti,

and tellherhowmuch I loveher!”He released thebird, and it flewoff toBerar,rejoicinginitsfreedom.

WhenthebirdarrivedinKingBhima’skingdom,itfoundDamayantireclininginhergarden,surroundedbyhercharminghandmaids.

“Whatalovelybird!”shecriedwhenshesawtheswan.“Andlookatitswings,alledgedwithgold!”

Theswancameclosetoherandalloweditselftobemadecaptive.“Sweetprincess,”said theswan,“Icome toyouasamessengerof lovefrom

Nala,KingofNishada.HeisaswonderfultolookuponastheGodofLove,andhasnoequalamongstmortals.Theunionofsuchayouthandmaidenwouldbeaunionofperfection.”

Damayanti was struck with wonder at the bird’s story, and she set him free,saying,“Sweetbird!SpeaktoNalaonmybehalfinlikemanner.”AndtheswanflewbacktoNalawithanansweringmessageoflove.

BeforelongaSwayamvarawasheldforDamayanti.ThiswasanancientHinduritebywhichaprincessmightchooseherhusband

from an assembly of suitors come from all parts to take their chance in theselection. The heroes submitted themselves in silent rivalry to inspection as theprincesswalked along their line to select from the throng the favoured suitor bypresentinghimwithagarland,oracupofwater,orsomesuchtokenofregard.

ManyweretheprinceswhocametowooDamayanti,attractedbythestoriesofher beauty. More wonderful still, some of the gods, equally enamoured of hercharms,camedowntoearthtowooher.Mostprominentamongthenwerethefourgreat guardians of theworld: Indra,God ofHeaven;Agni,God of Fire;Varuna,GodoftheWaters;andYama,GodofDeath.WhatchancedidNala,ameremortal,haveinthisassembly?

Damayanti stepped into the Swayamvara hall, bejewelled from head to foot,bearingagarlandofflowerstoplaceroundtheneckoftheoneshewouldchoosefor her husband.Shewas taken round to each of the assembledprinces, until shecametowhereherlover,Nala,wasseated;butgreatwasherdismaywhenshesawnotonebutfiveNalas,eachindistinguishablefromtheother!Thegodshadassumedhisshapetobaffleher.

ButDamayanti,garlandinhand,didnotpauseforlong.Shehadnoticedthatthegodscastnoshadows,becausetheywerespirits;andthat theireyesneverwinked,because theywere the ever-wakefulGuardianGods; and that their garlandswerefresherthanmost,beingwovenoftheunfadingbloomsofHeaven.BythesetokensdidDamayanti tell thegods fromher lover; and she threwhergarland round theneckofherbeloved,therealNala.

Then,turningtothegods,shesaid:“Forgiveme,Omightygods,thatIhavenotchosenmyhusband from amongyou. I have long since pledgedmyheart to thisprince,and thevowsopledged is sacred.Forgiveme, therefore, forchoosinganearthlylordandnotoneoftherulersofHeaven.”

In this way did Damayanti, the lovely, the peerless, choose Nala for herhusband,withthegodsthemselvesaswitnesses.

Thehappypairthendidhomagebeforethegods,andthesegreatguardiansoftheearthbestoweduponthemdivineblessingsinrewardfortheirconstancy.

J

TheSuperiorMan

AJALIwasafamousascetic–onewhopractisedextremeself-discipline.HehadathoroughknowledgeoftheVedas,mostancientofsacredbooks,andattended

to the sacrificial fires. He observed long fasts. During the rainy season he sleptundertheopenskybynightandlayinwaterbyday.

InthehotweatherJajalididnotseekprotectionfromeithertheburningsunorthe scorching wind. He slept in the most uncomfortable places, and smeared hisbodyandlong,unkempthairwithfilthandmud.Ifheworeanyclothesatall,theyweremadeofragsandskins.Hetravelledoverthewholeearth,anddweltinforests,mountains,orbytheshoresof theocean.Once,whenhewasbesidetheocean,hedecidedtoconcealhimselfbeneathitswaters.Hewasabletodosobymeansofthegreat self-disciplinewhichhehad learnt.Hecould alsoprojecthismind in everydirectionandmakehimselfawareofallthatwashappeningindifferentpartsoftheworld.

AsJajalilayonedayatthebottomoftheocean,thinkingofhowhismindcouldtraveleverywhere,pridefilledhisheart,andhetoldhimselfthattherewasnobodyquitelikehiminalltheworld.Ashemadethisboast,avoicespokeinhisear.Itwasthevoiceofaspiritwhohadbeenwatchinghim.

“You should not have made that boast, most noble Brahmin. There is ashopkeeperIknow,averyvirtuousman,wholivesinBenaresandearnsalivingbybuyingandsellingperfumes.Somesayheisthemostvirtuousofmen,butIdon’tthinkhewouldboastaboutit!”

“A shopkeeper!” said the ascetic. “I should like to see this wonderfulshopkeeper.Tellmewherehelives,andhowtogetthere.”

Thespiritgavehimthenecessarydirections,andJajalilefthiswaterybedandsetoutforBenares.

Onthewayhecametoaforest,wherehedecidedtospendsometimepractisingfreshausterities.Formanydayshestoodabsolutelystill.Henevermovedamuscle,andtoallappearancewasmorelikeapillarofstonethanaman,withhisgreatmassoffilthy,dishevelledhairontop.

Itwashotlongbeforetwobirds,insearchofaplacetobuildtheirnest,decidedthattherewasnobetterspotthantheascetic’shead.Andsotheybuilttheirnestinhis

hair,makinguseofleavesandgrass.Induecourse thenestcontaineda fullclutchofeggs,butJajalinevermoved.

Pitywouldhavepreventedhimfromdoingso.Eventuallytheeggswerehatched,theyoungbirdsemerged.Dayspassed,and their feathersgrew.Asmoredayspassed,theylearnedtofly.Thentheywouldgooffwiththeirparentsforafewhoursatatime,insearchoffood.Bynowtheascetichadreallyfulfilledhisobligationstothewelfareofhisguests;butstillhedidnotmove!Oncetheywereabsentforaweek,buthewaiteduntiltheyreturned.Finally,hewaitedforamonth,andwhentheydidnotcomebackhedecidedthattheyhadabandonedthenestforever,andthathewasfreetomove.

Unfortunately, Jajali felt veryproudof himselfwhenhe thought of his nobleconduct.

“There is nobody likeme in all thewideworld,” he said to himself. “Imusthaveacquiredagreatstoreofmeritbythisunselfishact.”

Hefeltsopleasedwithhimself thatheslappedhisarmsandshoutedout loud,“Thereisnoobodymyequalanywhere!”

Andoncemoreheheardavoice–avoiceas it seemedfromheaven:“Jajali!Don’t say that.You are not as good aman as the shopkeeper inBenares, andhewouldnotboastasyouhavedone.”

Jajali’sheartwasfilledwithanger,andhedecidedthathewouldgotoBenareswithoutfurtherdelayandseethiswonderfulshopkeeper.

WhenhearrivedinBenares,oneofthefirstpersonshesawwastheshopkeeperbusilyengagedinhisshop,buyingandsellingherbsandperfumes.Theshopkeepersaw him and called out a welcome: “I have been expecting you, most nobleBrahmin,foralongtime.Ihaveheardofyourgreatasceticism,ofhowyoulivedimmersedintheocean,andofallthatyouhavedonesince,evenallowingthebirdstobuildanestinyourhair.Iknow,too,ofhowproudyouwereofthat,andofhowavoicefromheavenrebukedyou.Youwereangry,andthatiswhyyoucamehere.Tellmewhatyouwant.Ishalldomybesttohelpyou.”

The Brahmin replied: “You are a shopkeeper, my friend, and the son of ashopkeeper. How does a person like you, who spends all his time buying andselling,acquiresomuchknowledgeandsomuchwisdom?Wheredidyougetit?”

“Myknowledgeandwisdomconsistinnothingbutthis,”saidtheshopkeeper.“Ifollowandobeythatancientteachingwhicheverybodyknowsandwhichconsistsofuniversalfriendlinessandkindnesstomanandbeast.Iearnmylivelihoodbytrade,butmy scales are always just. I never cheat anyone, and I never injure anyone inthought,wordordeed.Iquarrelwithno-one,fearno-one,hateno-one,praiseno-one,abuseno-one.AndIamconvincedthatthelifeIliveisthelifethatsecuresbothprosperity and heaven just as surely as the life that is devoted to penance andsacrifice.”

Asheproceeded,theshopkeeperbecamemoreassertive,morecritical,evenalittleboastful!Notonlydidhecondemnthekillingofanimals,healsoexpressedhisdisapproval of agriculture, because the plough gives pain to the earth and causesdeathofmanytinycreatureslivinginthesoil–apartfromtheforcedlabourittookfrombullocksandslaves!Asforanimalsacrifices,hesaidtheyhadbeenstartedbygreedypriests.The true sacrificewas the sacrificeperformedby themind, and iftherehadtobesacrificesatall,peopleshoulduseherbsandfruitsandballsofrice.Nordidhebelieveinpilgrimages.Therewasnoneedtowanderallovertheland,visitingsacredriversandmountains.Therewasnoplacesoholyasthesoulitself.

Jajaliwasindignant.Hetoldtheholderof thescales,ashecalledhim,thathewas an atheist!Howweremen to live if they did not plough the ground?Wherewouldtheygetfood?Andasforsacrifices,theworldwouldcometoanendifwegavethemup.

TheshopkeeperdeclaredthatifonlymenwouldgobacktotherealteachingoftheVedas, theywouldfindthattherewasnoneedtoploughtheground.Inancientdaystheearthyieldedallthatwasrequired.Herbsandplantsgrewofthemselves.

Despite the strength of the shopkeeper ’s arguments, the ascetic was notconvinced.We are told that both he and the shopkeeper died not long afterwards,andthateachwenttohisownparticularheaven–theirheavensbeingasdifferentasweretheirwaysoflife.

I

Shakuntala

NANCIENTINDIA,whenthegreatGodIndrawasworshipped,therelivedayoungkingnamedDushyanta.Oneday,whilehewashuntinginagreatforest,thekingbecameseparatedfrom

hisfollowers.Hewanderedonalonethroughtheforestuntilhefoundhimselfinapleasantgrovewhichledtoahermitage.Thelittledwellingwasthehomeofanoldhermit calledFatherKanva.The king had heardmany stories about the piety andwisdomoftheoldman,anddecidedtohonourhimwithavisit.

To the king’s disappointment, however, the hermitage was empty. He turnedawayandwasabout to leavethegrovewhenagentlevoicesaid,“Wait,mylord,”andagirlsteppedoutfrombehindthetrees.

In spite of her poor clothes, the girl was so beautiful and dignified that theking’s admiration was aroused and he asked her courteously, “Isn’t this thedwelling-placeofholyKanva?”

“Yes,mylord,”shereplied.“Butmyfatherisawayonapilgrimage.Willyounotresthereawhile?”

She brought him water and fruits for his refreshment, and the king wasdelighted at the hospitality he was shown. It was clear to him that she did notrecognizehimastheking:soDushyanta,wholikedtomingleunrecognisedamonghispeople,pretendedtobeahuntsman,andaskedthegirlhername.

“IamcalledShakuntala,”shesaid.“IamFatherKanva’sadopteddaughter.”Encouragedtogoon,she told theking thatshehadbeen leftanorphanwhen

shewasverysmall,and thatKanvahad treatedheras lovinglyas ifhehadreallybeenherfather.Thoughshewasofnoblebirth,shewasveryhappylivingasimplelifeintheforest.

AsDushyantalistenedtoherandwatchedherbeautifulface,hefeltthathecouldlinger in that enchanting spot for ever; but he knew that his followers must beanxiouslysearchingforhim,sohetookleaveofShakuntalaandmadehiswaybacktothehuntingparty.

Buthedidnot leavetheforest.Insteadheorderedhismentoencampatsomedistancefromthehermitage.Thenextday,andthefollowingdayaswell,foundhimvisitingShakuntalaatthehermitage.

DushyantaandShakuntalaweresoonconfessingtheirloveforeachother;butwhen the girl learnt that it was the king himself who wished to marry her, sheprotested that he would surely regret such a hasty decision. Dushyanta, however,soothed her fears, and, dreading lest something might come between them,persuadedhertowedhimwithoutdelay.

Therewasnoneedforapriesttomarrythelovers,since,inthosedays,itwaslawfulforkingsandwarriorstowedtheirbridesbyasimpleexchangeofflowersorgarlands.AndsoDushyantaandShakuntalavowed tobe true toeachother forever.

“Comewithme tomy palace,” said the king. “My people shall acknowledgeyouastheirqueen.”

“IcannotleavetheforestuntilIhavetoldFatherKanvaofourmarriage,”saidShakuntala. “Imustwait for him to return.But youmust return toyourpalace tocarryoutyourduties.Whenyoucomeagain,Iwillbereadytojoinyou.”

Thekingplacedaring,engravenwiththename“Dushyanta”,uponherfinger,andpromisedtoreturnsoon.

When he had left, Shakuntala wandered dreamily about the forest, forgettingthatsomeonemightvisit thehermitage toseeFatherKanva.Atnightfallwhenshereturnedtothegrove,shewasmetbyavisitorwhowassplutteringwithrage.

ThevisitorwasanoldsagenamedDurvasas,whowasdreadedbyallbecauseofhisviolenttemper.Itwassaidthatifanyoneoffendedhim,hewouldpunishthemseverely.Hewasknownasa“master-curser.”

Thesagehadbeenwaitingatthehermitagealongtime,andfeltthathehadbeeninsultedbyShakuntala.Shepleadedforforgiveness,andbeggedhimtostay;buttheoldmanwasinaterriblemood.Thrustingthegirlaside,hehurriedawaymutteringacurseunderhisbreath.

Shakuntalawastroublednotsomuchbythecurseasbythefeelingthatshehadneglectedherduties;forinIndiaitissomethingofasinifonereceivesavisitorandallowstheguesttodepartunhonoured.

ThensomethinghappenedwhichworriedShakuntalaevenmore.Whilstshewasbathing in the stream near her home, the ring, the king’s gift, slipped from herfingeranddisappearedinthewater.

Shakuntalaweptbitterlyatherloss;butshewasnottoknowwhatheartbreakitwastobringherinthefuture,orhowcloselyherbadluckwasconnectedwiththeangrysageDurvasas.

ItwasagreatrelieftoherwhenFatherKanvareturnedfromhispilgrimage.Hewasnotdispleasedat thenewsofhermarriage toDushyanta.On the contrary,hewasoverjoyed.

“Mydaughter,youareworthyoftheking,”hesaid.“GladlywillIgiveyoutoDushyantawhenhecomestoclaimyou.”

Butthedayspassed,andKingDushyantadidnotcome.Shakuntalafeltagreatweightbegintopressagainstherheart.Whatcouldhave

happened?WasDushyantaill,orhadherepentedofhisrashmarriage?Butno,shecouldneverbelievethat...

ThenFatherKanva, growing uneasy, said: “Mydaughter, since the king doesnotcome,youmust seekhim inhispalace.For though itgrievesme topartwithyou,awife’splaceisbyherhusband’sside.”

Dushyantahadaskedhertowaitforhim;butshecouldnotrefusetodoFatherKanva’sbidding.Andso,forthefirsttimeinherlife,sheleftherforesthomeandjourneyedtotheunknownworldbeyond.

Afterseveraldaysshereachedtheroyalcity,and,learningthatthekingwasinhispalace,sheaskedpermissiontoseehim,sayingthatshehadbroughtamessagefromFatherKanva.

Whenshefoundherselfatthefootoftheking’sthrone,shelookedupsothathecouldseeherface,andsaid,“Donotbeangrywithme,mylord,butsinceyoudidnotkeepyourpromisetoclaimmesoon,Ihavebeenforcedtoseekyouhere.”

“Mypromisetoclaimyou?”KingDushyantalookedbewildered.“Whatdoyoumean?”

Shakuntalalookedathimwithfearinhereyes.“Youaremockingme,mylord,”shesaid.“Haveyouforgottenourmarriagein

the forest, and how you said you would cherish me for ever? Do not look sostrangelyatme,Ibegyou,butacknowledgemeasyourbride!”

“Mybride!”exclaimed theking. “What fantasy is this? Ihavenever seenyoubefore!”

Shakuntala was astounded.What has happened to him? she wondered. I havealwaysdreadedthathewouldrepentofourhastymarriage.Butsurelyhewouldnotdenyme?Andshestretchedoutherarmstohimandcried,“Howcanyousaysuchwords?Theyarenotworthyofaking.WhathaveIdonethatyoushouldtreatmesocruelly?”

“Ihaveneverseenyoubefore,”saidthekingfirmly.“Youmustbeeithermadorwickedtocometomewithsuchatale.”

Shakuntala stood looking at him with growing despair in her heart. Then,realising from the king’s hard countenance the hopelessness of her situation, she

fledfromthepalace,weepingbitterly.

Now,althoughKingDushyantaappearedtohavebecomecallousandcruelinsuchashortspaceoftime,inrealityhehadonlyspokenwhathebelievedtobethetruth.HedidnotrememberShakuntalaatall,andforaverygoodreason.WhentheoldsageDurvasashadmutteredhiscurse,hehaddecreed, firstofall, that sheshouldlosetheking’sring,andthen,thatuntilDushayantasawtheringagain,hewouldbeunabletorememberShakuntala,eventhoughshestoodbeforehim.

NoteventheGodIndracouldalteracurseonceithadbeenpronouncedbytheold sage, and since Dushyanta’s ring had been swept away by the stream in theforest,therewaslittlehopethathewouldeverrememberhisbride.

Severalyearspassed,andthenonedayafishermanwasbroughtbeforethekingtorelateacuriousstory.

Thefishermanhadcaughtafinecarpintheriver,andwhenhehadcutthefishopen,agoldringengravenwiththename“Dushyanta”wasfoundwithinthebodyofthecarp.

Thekingexaminedtheringwithinterest.“Itdoeslooklikemine,”.hesaid,“yetIdon’trememberlosingit.”

Herewardedthefishermanforhishonesty,andafterexaminingtheringagain,heplacedituponhisfinger.

“How strange!” he said. “A cloud seems to be lifting frommy mind. Yes, Iremembernow–thisistheringIgavetomybride,Shakuntala,intheforest.Ah,butwhathaveIdone!ItwasShakuntalawhocametomethatday,andIsentherfrommewithcruelwords.”

Dushyantahastenedtotheforest,butthehermitagewasdeserted.FatherKanvawaslongsincedead.Thekinghadthelandsearched,butitwasasthoughShakuntalahad vanished from the earth.He fell into a deepmelancholy fromwhich no onecouldrousehim.

ButalthoughtheGodIndrahadnotbeenabletoavertthecurseofDurvasas,hehadnotbeenindifferenttothesufferingthathadbeencaused.Andnowthattheringhadbeenrecovered,hewasdeterminedtohelptheunhappyking.

OnedayDushyantawaswalkinginhisgardenwhenhesawastrangeobjectinthesky.Itlookedlikeagreatshiningbird.

As it camenearer, thebirdproved tobe a chariotdrawnbyprancinghorses,whosereinswereheldbyacelestial-lookingbeing.

The chariot alighted on the earth not far from the king, and the charioteercalled:“Dushyanta!Doyounotknowme?IamMatali,thecharioteerofgreatIndra.Comewithme,forIndrahasneedofyou.”

Dushyanta was awestruck; but he stepped into the chariot and was whirledupwardssoswiftlythatsoonhiskingdomlaylikeaspeckbeneathhim.Thechariot

soared still higher, and the horses trod the air as if itwere solid ground beneaththeirfeet.Thensuddenlythechariotstoppedinthemidstoftheclouds,andMatalitoldDushyantatodescend.

Thekingobeyed,andgradually,asthemistclearedandthecloudsmeltedaway,hesawthathewasaloneinabeautifulgarden.HefeltthatsurelyhewasneargreatIndra’sdwelling.

Therewasarustlinginthebushes,andDushyantawaitedbreathlessly.PerhapstheGodwasabouttorevealhimself.

Itwasnot aheavenlybeingwhoappeared, however, but a little boywhowascarryingalioncub.Thecubstruggledfiercelyinhisarms,buttheboyheldontoitwithoutfear.

“Comehere,boy,”calledtheking.“Tellmeyourname.”“Idonotknowit,”saidtheboy.“That is strange,” saidDushyanta.He felt irresistibly drawn towards the boy,

andheldouthishandtohim,buttheboydrewback.“Nooneshalltouchme,”hesaid,andthencalledout:“Mother,comequickly!”“Iamcoming,son,”saidagentlevoice.The king stepped back, trembling violently, for there before him stood

Shakuntala,lookingpaleandsadbutmorebeautifulthanever.Whenshesawthekingshedrewherselfupproudly,butDushyantafellather

feet,crying:“Shakuntala,donot turnfromme.Listen, Ibegofyou!”Andhe toldherofhowhehadforgottenheruntiltherecoveryofthering,andofhowhehadsincesoughthereverywhere.

Shakuntala’s face lit up with joy and she cried, “Oh, Dushyanta, now Iundertand.ItmusthavebeenthepunishmentofDurvasas.”Andshetoldhimaboutthecurseof theangrysage,howshehad lostherring in thestream,andhowshehadsufferedalltheseyearsatthethoughtofherhusband’sdenialofher.

“Butwherehaveyoubeenallthetime?”askedDushyanta.“Whatistheplace?”“This is a sacredmountainnear thedwelling-placeof great Indra.Whenyou

deniedme in your palace, I felt that I should die of grief. But awonderful thinghappenedtome.AsIlayweepingontheground,Indrasendhischariottoearth,andIwasbroughtherebyheavenlybeingswhohavewatchedoverusallthistime.”

“Mother,”criedtheboy,whohadbeenwatchingfromalittledistance.“Whoisthisman?”

“Your father,my child,” said Shakuntala. “Embrace your son, Dushyanta. Hewasagiftfromthegodstocomfortmeinmyloneliness.”

AndasDushyantakneltdowntoembracehisson,Mataliagainappearedinhischariot.

“Areyouhappy,Dushyanta?”heasked,“NowitisIndra’swishthatyoureturnwithmetoearth.Cherishyourson,happymortals,forheshallbecomethefounder

ofaraceofheroes.”The chariot took them back to earth, and from that time Dushyanta and

Shakuntala lived in great happiness, while their son, whom they named Bharata,grewuptofoundanoblerace,asMatalihadforetold.

TalesfromTheJataka

A

TheHareintheMoon

LONG TIME AGO,when animals could talk, there lived in a forest fourwisecreatures–ahare,ajackal,anotter,andamonkey.

Theyweregoodfriends,andeveryeveningtheywouldsittogetherinaforestgladetodiscusstheeventsoftheday,exchangeadvice,andmakegoodresolutions.Theharewas thenoblest andwisestof the four.Hebelieved in the superiorityofmenandwomen, andwasalways tellinghis friends talesofhumangoodnessandwisdom.

One evening,when themoon rose in the sky– and in those days themoon’sface was clear and unmarked – the hare looked up at it carefully and said:“Tomorrowgoodmenwillobserveafast,forIcanseethatitwillbethemiddleofthemonth.Theywilleatno foodbeforesunset,andduring theday theywillgivealmstoanybeggarorholymanwhomaymeetthem.Letuspromisetodothesame.Inthatway,wecancomealittleclosertohumanbeingsindignityandwisdom.”

Theothersagreed,andthenwenttheirdifferentways.Next day, the otter got up, stretched himself, and was preparing to get his

breakfastwhenherememberedthevowhehadtakenwithhisfriends.If I keepmyword, how hungry I shall be by evening! he thought. I’d better

makesurethatthere’splentytoeatoncethefastisover.Hesetofftowardstheriver.A fishermanhadcaught several large fishearly thatmorning,andhadburied

theminthesand,planningtoreturnforthemlater.Theottersoonsmeltthemout.“A supper all ready forme!” he said to himself. “But since it’s a holy day, I

mustn’tsteal.”Insteadhecalledout:“Doesanyoneownthisfish?”Therebeingnoanswer,theottercarriedthefishofftohishome,settingitaside

forhiseveningmeal.Thenhelockedhisfrontdoorandsleptall throughtheday,undisturbedbybeggarsorholymenaskingforalms.

Boththemonkeyandthejackalfeltmuchthesamewaywhentheygotupthatmorning.Theyrememberedtheirvowsbutthoughtitbesttohavesomethingputbyfortheevening.Thejackalfoundsomestalemeatinsomeone’sbackyard.Ah,thatshouldimprovewithage,he thought,andtookithomeforhiseveningmeal.Andthemonkeyclimbedamango treeandpickedabunchofmangoes.Like theotter,theydecidedtosleepthroughtheday.

The harewoke early. Shaking his long ears, he came out of his burrow andsniffedthedew-drenchedgrass.

Wheneveningcomes,Icanhavemyfillofgrass,hethought.Butifabeggarorholymancomesmyway,whatcanIgivehim?Icannotofferhimgrass,andIhavenothingelsetogive.Ishallhavetooffermyself.Mostmenseemtorelishthefleshof the hare. We’re good to eat, I’m told. And pleased with this solution to theproblem,hescamperedoff.

NowtheGodSakkahadbeenrestingonacloudnotfaraway,andhehadheardtheharespeakingaloud.

“Iwilltesthim,”saidthegod.“Surelynoharecanbesonobleandunselfish.”Towardsevening,GodSakkadescendedfromhiscloud,andassumingtheform

ofanoldpriest,hesatdownnearthehare’sburrow.Whentheanimalcamehomefromhisromp,hesaid:“Goodevening,littlehare.Canyougivemesomethingtoeat?Ihavebeenfastingallday,andamsohungrythatIcannotpray.”

Thehare,rememberinghisvow,said:“Isittruethatmenenjoyeatingthefleshofthehare?”

“Quitetrue,”saidthepriest.“Inthatcase,”saidthehare,“sinceIhavenootherfoodtoofferyou,youcan

makeamealofme.”“But I am a holyman, and this is a holy day, and I may not kill any living

creaturewithmyownhands.”“Then collect some dry sticks and set them alight. Iwill leap into the flames

myself,andwhenIamroastedyoucaneatme.”GodSakkamarvelledatthesewords,buthewasstillnotquiteconvinced,sohe

causedafiretospringupfromtheearth.Thehare,withoutanyhesitation,jumpedintotheflames.

“What’shappening?”calledthehareafterawhile.“Thefiresurroundsme,butnotahairofmycoatissinged.Infact,I’mfeelingquitecold!”

Astheharespoke,thefiredieddown,andhefoundhimselfsittingonthecoolsweetgrass.Insteadoftheoldpriest,therestoodbeforehimtheGodSakkainallhisradiance.

“IamGodSakka,littlehare,andhavingheardyourvow,Iwantedtotestyoursincerity. Such unselfishness of yours deserves immortality. It must be knownthroughouttheworld.”

GodSakkathenstretchedouthishandtowardsthemountain,anddrewfromitsomeoftheessencewhichraninitsveins.Thishethrewtowardsthemoon,whichhadjustrisen,andinstantlytheoutlineofthehareappearedonthemoon’ssurface.

Thenleavingthehareinabedofsweetgrass,hesaid:“Foreverandever,littlehare,youshalllookdownfromthemoonupontheworld,toremindmenoftheoldtruth,‘Givetoothers,andthegodswillgivetoyou.’”

I

TheUglyPrinceandtheHeartlessPrincess

NTHEKINGDOMOFMALLAtherewasonceayoungprincenamedKusa,whowasfamedforhisgreatkindnessandwisdom;butunfortunatelyhewasveryugly.In spite of his ugliness, everyone in the kingdomwas extremely fond of the

prince; butKusahimselfwas sensitive about his appearance, andwhenhis father,King Okkaka, urged him to marry, he said: “Don’t askme to get married. Howcouldabeautifulprincesslovesuchanuglyfellow?”

But the king insisted, and at lastKusa grew so tired of refusing to choose abride,thathehituponaschemebywhichhehopedtofreehimselfforeverfromtheproblemof hismarriage.Hewas very skilfulwith his hands, and he fashioned agolden image, and showing the king his handiwork, he said: “If a princess asbeautifulasthisimagecanbefoundforme,Iwillmakehermybride.OtherwiseIwillremainsingle.”

Kusafeltsurethattherewasnoprincesswhocouldcomparewithhisstatue;butthekingwasdeterminedtofindsuchabeauty,andhesentmessengersfarandwide.

The messengers visited many kingdoms, carrying the statue with them.Whenevertheyarrivedatacityoravillage,theyaskedtheinhabitantswhethertheyknewofanyonewhoresembledthegoldenimage.ButnowherewassuchabeautytobefounduntilthemessengersreachedthekingdomofMadda.

The King of Madda had eight lovely daughters, and the eldest of them,Pabhavati, bore an extraordinary resemblance to the golden image. When themessengerssawher,theywentstraighttothekingandsaidthattheyhadcometoaskthehandofPrincessPabhavatiforPrinceKusa,thesonofKingOkkaka.

TheKingofMaddaknewthatOkkakawasarichandpowerfulking,andhewaspleasedattheideaofbeingalliedtohimthroughmarriage.

“IfKingOkkakawillvisitme,”hesaid,“IwillgivehimthehandofPrincessPabhavatiforhisson,PrinceKusa.”

Themessengershurriedback toMallawith thegoodnews,andKingOkkakawasdelightedattheoutcomeoftheirmission;butpoorKusawasdismayed.

“ButmydearFather,”hesaid to theking,“howwillsuchabeautifulprincessbehavewhensheseeshowuglyIam?Shewillsurelyfleefrommeatonce.”

“Donotworry,myson,”saidKingOkkaka.“Iwillreviveanancientcustomin

ordertoprotectyou.Accordingtothiscustom,abridemaynotlookuponthefaceof her husband until one year after themarriage.Therefore, for onewhole year,youmustonlymeetyourbrideinadarkenedroom.”

“Buthowwillthathelpmeintheend?”askedKusadoubtfully.“Mylookswillnothaveimprovedbytheendoftheyear.Shewillhavetoseemesomeday.”

“True,butduring thatyearyourbridewillhave learned to loveyousomuchthat,whensheseesyouatlast,youwillnotbeuglyinhereyes!”

PrinceKusastillhadhisdoubts,butthekingwasinsistentandwastednotimeinvisitingthekingdomofMaddaandreturningwiththebeautifulPrincessPabhavati.Soonafter,themarriageceremonywasperformedinadarkenedchamber,byorderoftheking.

PrincessPabhavatiwassurprisedtodiscoverthatshewasnottolookuponthefaceofherhusbandforoneyearafterthemarriagehadtakenplace.

This is a strange custom, she thought, but she accepted the conditionwithoutprotest,andsettleddowninamagnificentsuiteofapartments,oneroomofwhichwasalwaystobekeptincompletedarkness.

Kusacamedaily to this roomtovisithisbride,andashisvoiceandmannerswerekindandgentle,Pabhavatisoongrewtolovehim,althoughshedidnotgetaglimpse of his face.He spentmany hours playing to her upon his sitar, and shewouldlistentohim,enthralled.

Wasthereeveraprincelikethishusbandofmine?shethought.HowIlongforthedaywhenIshallseehisface!Surelyhemustbeashandsomeasheiskindandwise.

AllmighthavebeenwellifPabhavatihadbeencontenttowaitforayear;but,aftershehadbeenmarriedforonlyamonth,shegrewimpatientandfoundherselfconstantlywonderingaboutPrinceKusa’sappearance.Duringthesecondmonthshecould conceal her curiosity no longer. One day, when Kusa was with her in thedarkenedroom,shesaid:“Dearhusband,itmakesmesadthatImustwaitsolongbeforeIcanlookuponyourface.Ibegyoutomeetmeinthelightofday.”

“No,Pabhavati,thatisimpossible,”saidtheprince.“Icannotdisobeymyfathertheking.Bepatientalittlelonger.Themonthswillpassquickly.”

But the quality of patiencewas absent in the princess, and soon she began toquestionthemaidservantsandothersaboutherhusband’sappearance.Assheneverreceivedaclearanswer,shebecameevenmorecurious.FinallyshebribedoneofherattendantstohelpherobtainaglimpseofKusa.

One day, when the Prince was due to ride through the city at the head of aprocession, the waiting-woman concealed the princess in a corner-room of thepalace,awindowofwhichlookedoutuponthehighway.

Whentheprocessioncameby,Pabhavatihurriedtothewindow.Sheheardthesoundofmusicandshouting,andsawgaybannersandgarlandsthrownatthefeet

oftheelephantuponwhichPrinceKusawasridinginstate.“LongliveKusa,ournobleprince!”criedthepeopleonthestreets.As theelephantpassedbeneath thewindow,Pabhavaticaughtaglimpseof the

prince’sface.Sheshrankbackinhorror.“Oh,no!”shecried.“Canthathideouscreaturebemyhusband?No,thatisnot

Kusa!”Her attendant assured her that it was indeed the prince, whereupon Pabhavati

decidedthatshewouldfleeinstantlyfromsuchanuglyhusband.Shedemandedthatanescortbeprovided forher return to thekingdomofMadda,declaring that shewouldnotbeboundbymarriagetoahusbandwhowassodifferentfromthemanshehadimagined!

KingOkkakacouldhaveforcedtheprincesstoremaininthepalace,butKusashookhisheadsadlyandsaid,“No,letherdoasshewishes.”

Then,forgetfulofalltheloveandtendernessthatshehadreceivedfromKusa,and thinking only of his ugly face, Pabhavati left the palace and returned to herfather ’skingdom.

PrinceKusawasterriblyunhappy;butonedaythethoughtoccurredtohimthatif hewere to visit Pabhavati in her own land, hemight find that her attitude hadchanged.Hechangedhisprincelyrobesforsimpleclothes,and,takinghissitar,hesetoutonfootforthekingdomofMadda.

Aftera journeyofseveraldays,Kusaarrivedoneeveningat thechiefcityofMadda.

Itwasmidnightwhenhe reached the royalpalace.Hecreptbeneath thewalls,thenbeganplayingsoftlyuponhissitar.Heplayedsosweetlythatthesleepersinthepalace stirred and smiled in their dreams.ButPabhavatiwakenedwith a start andtensedasshelistenedtothefamiliarmusic.

ThatisKusabelow,shethought,afraidandangryatthesametime.Ifmyfatherknowsthatheishere,Iwillbeforcedtoreturntothathideoushusband.

But Kusa had no intention of appealing to the king. He would rather losePabhavatiforeverthanhaveherreturnagainstherwill.Hewasdeterminedtokeephispresenceinthecityasecretfromeveryoneexcepttheprincess.

Whenmorningcamehewenttothechiefpotterinthecityandaskedtobecomehisapprentice.

“If Idogoodwork foryou,willyoudisplaymywares in thepalace?”askedKusa.

“Certainly,”saidthepotter.“Butshowmewhatyoucando.”Kusa set to work at the potter ’s wheel, and the bowls he produced were so

beautifullyformedthatthepotterwasdelighted.“Iamsurethekingwillpurchasesuchdaintybowlsforhisdaughters,”hesaid;

andtakingsomeofthebowlsmadebyKusa,hewentstraighttothepalace.

TheKing took a great fancy to the potter ’s newwares.Whenhe learned thattheyhadbeenmadebyanewapprentice,hesaid:“Givetheyoungmanathousandgoldpieces, and tell him that fromnowonhemustworkonly formydaughters.Nowtakeeightofthesebeautifulbowlstotheprincessesasmygiftstothem.”

Thepotterdidashewastold,andtheking’sdaughterswerethrilledwiththeirpresents;butPabhavatiknewinherheartthattheyhadbeenfashionedbyKusa.Shereturnedherbowl to thepotter and said, “Take thisbowlback toyour apprenticeandtellhimthatitisasuglyasheis.”

WhenthepotterpassedontheseremarkstoKusa,theprincesighedandthought:HowcanItouchherhardheart?IfIcouldspeaktoher,itmightmakeadifference.TomorrowIwillseekserviceinthepalace.

Hegavethepotter theking’sgoldpiecesandsaidgoodbye;then,hearingthat

thepalacecookneededanassistant,hepresentedhimselfattheroyalkitchens.The cook tookKusa into his service, and the prince proved to be as good a

cookashewasapotter–somuchso,thatadishspeciallypreparedbyhimwassentstraighttotheking.

The king thoroughly enjoyed the dish, and when he heard that it had beenpreparedbythecook’snewassistant,hesaid:“Givehimathousandpiecesofgold,and from now on let him prepare and serve all the food for myself and mydaughters.”

Kusawashappytogivetheking’sgoldpiecetothechiefcook,thensettoworktoprepareadeliciousmeal.

At dinner, Pabhavati was horrified to see her husband, disguised as a cook,stagger into the banquet-hall with a heavy load of dishes. He gave no sign ofrecognition;but theprincesswasangryand,staringathimwithcontempt,said:“Idonotcareforthesedishes.Bringmefoodthatsomeoneelsehasprepared.”

Her sisters protested, crying out that they had never tasted such deliciouscooking.But althoughKusa cameday after day, serving avarietyof tastydishes,Pabhavatiwouldnottouchanyofthem.

At last the prince decided that therewas noway inwhich he could touch theheartoftheprincess.

NothingthatIdopleasesher,hethought.NowImustleaveherforever.Whilehewaspreparing to leave thepalace, heheard that theKingofMadda

was greatly troubled. The king had received news that seven kings were ridingtowardsthecitywithsevenarmies,andthateachofthesekings,havingheardofthebeautyofPabhavati,wasanxioustomakeherhiswife.

Thekingwas inaquandary,becausehefeltsure that ifhechoseoneof thesekings as the husband of Pabhavati, the other six would attack his kingdom inrevenge.

If only Pabhavati had not left her rightful husband, thought the king, thesetroubleswouldnothavearisen.

Realisingthatitwasuselesstospendhistimeinregrets,thekingsummonedhisadvisersandaskedthemwhichkingheshouldchoosefortheprincess.

“Notoneofthemalone,”declaredthewisemen.“Theprincesshasendangeredthekingdom.Thereforeshemustsuffertheconsequences.Shemustbeexecuted,herbody divided into seven pieces, and one portion presented to each of the sevenkings.Onlyinthiswaycanaterriblewarbeavoided.”

Thekingwashorrifiedby thisadvice fromhismenofwisdom;butwhilehewassittingalone,deepinthought,Kusa,stillintheguiseofacook,cametohimandsaid: “Yourmajesty, letme dealwith these kings.Giveme your army, and Iwillcrushthemordieintheattempt.”

“What!”criedtheastonishedking.“Shallacookdobattlewithkings?”

“Ifacookknowshowtofight,whynot?ButImustconfessthatIamnotreallyaservant,butPrinceKusa,towhomyouonceentrustedyourdaughter.Althoughshehas rejectedme, I still love her, and it is only right that I should dealwith thesesuitors.”

Thekingcouldhardlybelievethat itwasKusawhostoodbeforehim.HehadPabhavatibroughttohim,andwhensheadmittedthatthecook’sapprenticewasherroyal husband, he cried: “You should be ashamed, daughter, for allowing yourhusbandtobetreatedasaservantinthepalace.”

HedismissedPabhavati fromhispresence,andbeggedKusa’spardon for thewayinwhichhehadbeeninsulted.

Kusa replied that all hewantedwas freedom to dealwith the seven invadingkings,andthekingimmediatelyplacedhimattheheadofanarmy.ThefateofthekingdomlayinKusa’shands.

The seven kings were taken by surprise when they saw Kusa and his forcesadvancingtowardsthem,fortheyhadnotexpectedanyresistance.Inspiteof theirsuperior numbers, they were soon routed by an inspired force under Kusa’scommand.Theylaiddowntheirarmsandsurrendered,andthePrinceledthemascaptivestotheking.

“Dealwiththeseprisonersasyouwill,”saidKusa.“Theyareyourcaptives,”saidtheking.“Itisforyoutodecidetheirfate.”“Then,”saidtheprince,“sinceeachofthesekingswishestomarryabeautiful

princess,whydoyounotmarrythemalltothesistersofPabhavati?”Thekingwasdelightedwiththissolutiontohisproblem;itwouldguaranteethe

safetyofhiskingdomforever.Thesevenkingswerebowledoverbythebeautyandgrace of Pabhavati’s sisters. And the seven sisters thought their prospectivehusbandslookedveryhandsomeindeed.

ButPabhavatisatalone,weepingbittertears.ShenowrealisedhowheartlesslyshehadtreatedKusa,andwhatanoblemanandlovershehadscorned.

Hewillneverforgiveme,shethoughtsadly.She went to him, and threw herself at his feet, crying: “Forgive me, my

husband,andtakemeback,evenifyoudecidetotreatmeasaslave.”Kusaraisedhergentlyfromtheground.“Doyoureallywishtoreturntome?”heasked.“Lookatme,Pabhavati. Iam

stillasuglyaswhenyouranawayfromme.”Pabhavatigazedathimsteadfastly;andinsteadoftheloathingwhichKusahad

seeninhereyesbefore,henowsawonlywonderandtenderness.“Youhavechanged!”shecried.“Youarenolongerugly!”“No,”saidKusa.“Ihaven’tchanged.Itisyouwhohavechanged.”

E

TheCraneandtheCrab

VERYSUMMER thewater in thevillagepondfellvery low,andonecouldseethefishswimmingaboutnearthebottom.Acranecaught,sightofthemand

said tohimself,“Imust findaway togetholdof those fish.”Andhesatdown indeepthoughtbythesideofthepond.

Whenthefishcaughtsightof thecrane, theysaid,“Ofwhatareyou thinking,mylord,asyousitthere?”

“Iam thinkingaboutyou,” said thecrane.“Thewater in thispoolbeingverylow,theheatsogreat,andfoodsoveryscarce,Iwaswonderingwhatintheworldyoufishesweregoingtodo!”

“Andwhatdoyousuggestwedo,sir?”“Well,ifyouagree,Iwilltakeyouuponebyoneinmybeak,andcarryyouoff

toafine largepoolcoveredwithfivedifferentkindsof lotus-flowers,and thereIwillputyoudown.”

“But, good sir,” they said, “no crane ever took the slightest thought for thewelfareofafisheversincetheworldbegan.Yourdesireistoeatus,onebyone.”

“No,Iwillnoteatyouwhileyoutrustme,”saidthecrane.“Ifyoudon’ttakemywordthatthereissuchapool,sendoneofyournumbertogowithmeandseeforhimself.”

Believingthistobeafairproposal,thefishpresentedthecranewithagreatbigfish(blindinoneeye),whotheythoughtwouldbeamatchforthecranewhetheronlandorwater.Thecranecarriedthefishoffanddroppedhiminthepool,andafterallowinghimtotakeagoodlookatit,broughthimbacktohisoldpond.Thenhetoldalltheotherfishaboutthecharmsofthenewpool.

Thefishbecameeagertogothere,andsaidtothecrane,“Weshallbegrateful,mylord,ifyouwouldkindlytakeusacross.”

Well,tobeginwith,thecranetookthebigone-eyedfishagainandcarriedhimofftothenewpool;butinsteadofdroppingthefishinthewater,thecranealightedinatreewhichgrewattheedgeofthepool.Dashingthefishdowninaforkofthetree,thecranepeckedittodeath.Hethenpickeditcleanandletthebonesfallatthefootofthetree.

Whenthecranereturnedtothepond,hesaid,“I’vethrownhimin.Who’snext?”

Andsohetookthefishonebyone,andatethemall.Buttherewasstillacrabremaininginthemuddywatersofthepond.Andthecranewantedtoeathimtoo.

“Mistercrab,”hesaid,“I’vecarriedallthosefinefishawayanddroppedthemintoabeautifullargepool.Comealong,I’lltakeyoutheretoo.”

“Andhowwillyoucarrymeacross?”askedthecrab.“Inmybeak,ofcourse.”“Ah,butyoumightdropmelike that.”Andtohimselfhesaid:“Hehasn’tput

the fish in the pool, that’s certain. But if he would really putme in, it would bewonderful.Icoulddowithachange.And,ifhedoesn’t–well,IthinkIknowhowtodealwith him!”And he spoke to the crane: “Youwon’t be able to holdme tightenough, friendcrane.Butwecrabshaveavery firmgrip. If Imight takeholdofyourneckwithmyclaws,Icouldholdontightandgoalongwithyou.”

Thecraneagreed,andthecrabtookholdofthebird’sneckwithhispincers,andsaid, “Let’s go.” The crane flew him across and showed him the pool, and thenstartedoffforthetree.

“You’regoingthewrongway,friend,”saidthecrab.“Don’tcallmefriend,”saidthecrane.“Isupposeyouthoughtmeyourslaveto

liftyouupandcarryyouabout!Well, just takea lookat thatheapofbonesat thefootofthetree.AsIateupallthosefish,soIwilleatyoutoo.”

“Itwasbecauseoftheirownfoolishnessthatthefishwereeaten,”saidthecrab.“Iwon’tbegivingyouthesameopportunity.Ifwedie,wewilldietogether.”Andhetightenedhisgriponthecrane’slongneck.

Withhismouthopenandthe tearsstreamingfromhiseyes, thecranegasped,“Lord,indeedIwillnoteatyou!Sparemylife!”

“Wellthen,juststepdowntothepoolandputmein,”saidthecrab.Thecraneturnedbacktothepool,andplacedthecrabinthemudatthewater ’s

edge.“Thankyou,friend,”saidthecrab,andnippedoffthecrane’sheadasneatlyas

ifhewerecuttingalotus-stalkwithaknife.

A

FriendsinDeed

N ANTELOPE lived in a thicket near a small lake. Not far from the lake, awoodpeckerhadhernestatthetopofatree.Andinthelakelivedatortoise.

Thethreebecamefriends,andlivedtogetherveryhappily.Ahunter,wanderingaboutintheforest,noticedtheantelope’sfootprintsatthe

edgeofthewater;andhesetatrapforit,madeofleatherthongs,andthenwenthisway.Thatnight theantelopewentdownto the lake todrink,andgotcaught in thenoose.Hecriedaloudforhelp.Hearinghim,thewoodpeckerflewdownfromhertree-top,andthetortoisecameoutofthewater,andtheyconsultedeachotheraboutwhattodo.

Saidthewoodpecker,“Friendtortoise,youhaveteethtobitethroughthesnare.Iwillgoandseetoitthatthehunterstaysaway.Ifwebothdoourbest,ourfriendwillnotlosehislife.”

The tortoise began to gnaw the leather thong, and thewoodpeckermade herway to thehunter ’sdwelling.Atdaybreak, thehunter cameout, knife inhand.Assoonas thebird sawhim, shecriedout, flappedherwings, and struckhim in thefaceashewalkedoutofhisfrontdoor.

“Abirdofillomenhasstruckme!”mutteredthehunter,andheturnedbackandremainedindoorsforawhile.Thenhegotreadyagain,andpickeduphishunting-knife.

Thewoodpeckerreasoned,“Thefirsttimehecameoutbythefrontdoor,nowhewillleavebytheback.”Andshesettledonafencebehindthehouse.Sureenough,thehuntercameoutbytheback,andthebirdcriedoutagainandstruckhimintheface.

“An unlucky bird for certain!” exclaimed the hunter. “The creature will notleavemealone.”Turningback,hestayedathometillnextday,whenhepickeduphisknifeandstartedoutagain.

The woodpecker hurried back to her friends. “Here comes the hunter!” shecried.Bythistimethetortoisehadgnawedthroughallthethongsbutone.Histeethfeltasthoughtheywouldfallout,andhismouthwassoreandsmearedwithblood.The antelope saw the young hunter running through the clearing, knife in hand.Makingagreateffort,heburstthroughthelastthong,andfledintothewoods.The

woodpecker flew to the topofa tall tree.But the tortoisewassoweak thathe laywherehewas;andthehunterthrewhimintoabag,andtiedittothetree.

Whentheantelopesawthatthetortoisehadbeencaptured,hewasdeterminedtosave his friend’s life. Sohe let the hunter see him, andpretended to beweak andlame. The hunter saw him, seized his knife, and set off in pursuit. The antelope,keepingjustoutofhisreach,ledhimintotheforest;andwhenhejudgedthattheyhadcomeasufficientdistance,hegave thehunter theslipandreturnedswiftlybyanotherway.Thenheliftedthebagwithhishorns,droppeditontheground,rippeditopenandletthetortoiseout.Andthewoodpeckercamedownfromthetree.

Then the antelope spoke tohis friends: “Youhavebeen true friends andhavesavedmylife.Nowthehunterwillcomeafteryou.Soyou,friendwoodpecker,mustmoveelsewhereintheforestwithyourbrood.Andyou,friendtortoise,mustdiveintothewaterandtakeupresidenceontheothersideofthelake.”

Sotheywenttheirdifferentways,andwhenthehunterreturned,hecouldfindnoneofthem.Hepickeduphistornbag,andwenthomefeelingsorryforhimself.

W

“Who’llBuyMyMangoes?”

HEN ITWASKNOWN that theKingofBenareswas anxious tomarry, kingsandprincescamefromdifferentcornersofthecountrytoproposethathe

marry their daughters. But hewould choose none of them. If the daughterswereacceptable, their parents were not; and so, when they had all gone, the king satgloomilyathiswindow,wonderingifhewouldeverfindsomeonetohisliking.

His window looked out on the market-place. The bazaar was busy andcolourful, fruit-sellers and cloth-merchants and bangle-makers displaying theirwares on the pavements. The humbler tradespeople made their way through thecrowds, and their voices, shouting their wares, rose harshly in the air. Amongstthesevoicesthekingcoulddistinguishone–clearandmusical–calling,“Mangoes!Who’llbuymymangoes?”

Thevoicepleasedhim,andtheking’sgazerovedoverthecrowduntilhefounditsowner–Sujata,thedaughterofapoorfruit-vendor,whowasbusilyplyinghertrade.Inspiteoftheraggedclothesshewore,shewasalovelygirl,gracefulinhermovements, slim-waisted, her eyes bright and lustrous; and she was quiteunconsciousofherbeauty.

Theking’sheartwassmitten.Turning tooneofhiscourtiers,hecommandedhimtobringthegirlbeforehim.

With downcast eyes, the innocent Sujatawas led into the royal presence. Thekingcoulddonothingbutgapeather.

Thecourtiersputtheirheadstogetherandwhispered,“Surelythekingwillnotmarry the daughter of a fruit-seller when he has rejected all the high-bornprincessesintheland!”

But thatwas justwhat theking intended.Sujataconsented towedhim,and themarriagewascelebratedwithallthepompandceremonyofaroyalwedding.

At first thekingandqueen lived together inperfectharmony;but after a fewmonths the king began to notice a disquieting change in his wife. Her naturalsimplicity,whichhadsocharmedhim, lefther;andshebecamecoldandhaughty,especiallywithherservantsorothersofhumbleupbringing.

Bythetimetheyhadbeenmarriedfortwoyears,theking’spatiencehadwornthin.On theirweddinganniversaryheheldabanquet inhonourofhisqueen,and

theysatsidebysidepartakingofthefinedishesthatwereplacedbeforethem.Theking talkedgaily tohis friends,butSujatawas inasurlymood;shesatsilentanddisdainful.Towardstheendofthemeal,bowlsoffruitwereplacedbeforethem–pomegranates,pears,mangoes,datesandfigs.

Theking,withhisownhands,placedalusciousmangouponSujata’splate.“Whatisthisthing?”askedthequeencoldly.“AmIsupposedtoeatit?”The kingwas astonished. “So it has come to this, has it?” he cried in anger.

“You have forgottenwho youwere before Imade you a queen.You have grownproud and scornful. I found you sellingmangoes in themarket-place, and to themarket-placeyoumustreturn!Perhaps,then,youwilllearnagainwhatamangois!”

Sujatagotupwithoutaword,andleftthefeast;andfromthatdaynothingwasheardofher.

The king told everyone that he did notwant to see her again, but he had nottakenhisfeelingsforher intoaccount.As thedaysandweeksandmonthspassed,lifewithouthisbeautifulSujatabecameunbearable.He forgother faults andonlyrememberedhercharmandsimplicityintheearlydaysoftheirmarriage.Hesenthismessengersintothecitytofindherandtobringherback,butshewasnottobefound.Nooneknewwhereshehadgone.

Onedaythekingwasinanothercity,passingthroughthemarket-place.Amidthe clamourof thebazaarhis ears caught thewell-knowncry: “Mangoes!Who’llbuymymangoes?”Andthere,tohisjoy,wasSujatainthecrowd.

Shewasdressedinrags,asofold.Herbeautyhadbeendimmedthroughhunger

andprivation.Butintheeyesofthekingshewasaslovelyasever.Throwingacloakacrosspartofhisface,heapproachedherandasked,“What

haveyouthere,girl?”“Mangoes,finemangoes,sir,”sheanswered.“Ah, Sujata!” cried the king, throwing aside his cloak. “Now that you have

rememberedwhatamangois,pleasecomebackwithmetomykingdom!”Sujatafellathisfeetandbeggedforgiveness,andthekinghelpedhertoherfeet

andheldhertenderly.TheyreturnedtogethertothepalaceinBenares,andlivedashappilyasakingandqueencoulddesire.

RegionalTalesandLegends

I

ADemonforWork

NAVILLAGEinSouthIndiatherelivedaveryrichlandlordwhoownedseveralvillagesandmanyfields;buthewassuchagreatmiserthathefounditdifficult

tofindtenantswhowouldwillinglyworkonhisland,andthosewhodid,gavehimalotoftrouble.Asaresult,heleftallhisfieldsuntilled,andevenhistanksandwaterchannels dried up. This made him poorer day by day. But he made no effort toobtainthegoodwillofhistenants.

Onedayaholymanpaidhimavisit.Thelandlordpouredouthistaleofwoe.“Thesemiserable tenants won’t do a thing forme,” he complained. “Allmy

landsaregoingtowaste.”“Mydeargoodlandlord,”saidtheholyman,“IthinkIcanhelpyou,ifyouwill

repeatamantra–afewmagicwords–whichIwill teachyou.Ifyourepeatitforthreemonths,dayandnight,awonderfuldemonwillappearbeforeyouonthefirstdayofthefourthmonth.Hewillwillinglybeyourservantandtakeuponhimselfalltheworkthathasbeenleftundonebyyourwretchedtenants.Thedemonwillobeyallyourorders.Youwillfindhimequaltoahundredservants!”

Themiserly landlord immediatelyfellat thefeetof theholymanandbeggedfor instruction. The sage gave him themagic words and thenwent his way. Thelandlord,greatlypleased,repeatedthemantradayandnight,forthreemonths,till,onthefirstdayofthefourthmonth,amagnificentyoungdemonstoodbeforehim.

“WhatcanIdoforyou,master?”hesaid.“Iamatyourcommand.”The landlord was taken aback by the sight of the huge monster who stood

before him, and by the sound of his terrible voice, but he summoned up enoughcouragetosay,“Youcanworkformeprovided–er–youdon’texpectanysalary.”

“Very well,” said the demon, “but I have one condition. You must give meenoughworktokeepmebusyallthetime.IfIhavenothingtodo,Ishallkillyouandeatyou.Juicylandlordsaremyfavouritedish.”

Thelandlord,certainthattherewasenoughworktokeepseveraldemonsbusyforever,agreedtotheseterms.Hetookthedemontoalargetankwhichhadbeendryforyears,andsaid:“Youmustdeepenthistankuntilitisasdeepastheheightoftwopalmtrees.”

“Asyousay,master,”saidthedemon,andsettowork.

Thelandlordwenthome,feelingsurethatthejobwouldtakeseveralweeks.Hiswifegavehimagooddinner,andhewasjustsittingdowninhiscourtyardtoenjoythe eveningbreezewhen thedemonarrived, casually remarking that the tankwasready.

“Thetankready!”exclaimedtheastonishedlandlord.“Why,Ithoughtitwouldtakeyouseveralweeks!HowshallIkeephimbusy?”heasked,turningtohiswifeforaid.“Ifhegoesonatthisrate,he’llsoonhaveanexcuseforkillingandeatingme!”

“Youmust not loseheart,myhusband,” said the landlord’swife.“Get all theworkyoucanoutofthedemon.You’llneverfindsuchagoodworkeragain.Andwhenyouhavenomorework forhim, letmeknow–I’ll find something tokeephimbusy.”

Thelandlordwentouttoinspectthetankandfoundthatithadbeencompletedtoperfection.Thenhesetthedemontoploughallhisfarmlands,whichextendedoveranumberofvillages.Thiswasdoneintwodays.Henextaskedthedemontodigupallthewasteland.Thiswasdoneinlessthanaday.

“I’mgettinghungry,”saidthedemon.“Comeon,master,givememorework,quickly!”

Thelandlordfelthelpless.“Mydearfriend,”hesaid,“mywifesaysshehasalittlejobforyou.Dogoandseewhatitisshewantsdone.Whenyouhavefinished,youcancomeandeatme,because I justcan’t seehowIcankeepyoubusymuchlonger!”

The landlord’s wife, who had been listening to them, now came out of thehouse,holdinginherhandsalonghairwhichshehadjustpulledoutofherhead.

“Well,mygooddemon,”shesaid,“Ihaveaverylightjobforyou.I’msureyouwill do it in a twinkling. Take this hair, and when you have made it perfectlystraight,bringitbacktome.”

Thedemonlaugheduproariously,buttookthehairandwentawaywithit.Allnighthesatinapeepultree,tryingtostraightenthehair.Hekeptrollingit

againsthis thighs and then lifting it up to see if it hadbecome straight.Butno, itwouldstillbend!Bymorningthedemonwasfeelingverytired.

Then he remembered that goldsmiths,when straighteningmetalwires,wouldheat them over a fire. So he made a fire and placed the hair over it, and in thetwinklingofaneyeitfrizzledandburntup.

Thedemonwashorrified.Hedarednotreturntothelandlord’swife.Notonlyhad he failed to straighten the hair, but he had lost it too. Feeling that he haddisgracedhimself,heranawaytoanotherpartoftheland.

Sothelandlordwasridofhisdemon.Buthehadlearntalesson.Hedecidedthatitwasbettertohavetenantsworkingforhimthandemons,evenifitmeantpayingfortheirservices.

O

TheLostRuby

NCEUPONATIMEtherelivedaking,whowasagreatandpowerfulmonarch.Onedayhewasverysad,andashesatinhiscouncil-hallsurroundedbyhis

ministers,thechiefminister,whowasagoodandwiseman,askedhim:“DefenderoftheWorld!Whyisyourspiritsadtoday?YourMajestyoughtnottoallowgrieftotroubleyourmind.”

The kingwould not tell himhis grief.On the contrary, he resented his goodminister ’sconcernforhim.“Itisallverywellforyoutotalk,”hesaid.“Butifyouhadreasontobesad,Iamsureyouwouldfindit impossible topractisewhatyouhavejustsuggested.”Andthekingdecidedtoputhischiefministertothetest,andtoldhimtowaitattheroyalpalaceafterthecouncilwasdismissed.

The minister accordingly made his way to the royal apartments and awaitedfurther orders. The king took out a ruby of great price from a beautiful ivorycasket,andplacingitintheminister ’shand,toldhimtolookafteritwithgreatcare.

Whentheministergothome,hefoundhiswiferecliningoncushions,chewingscentedpaan.Hegavehertherubytokeep.Shedroppeditinapartitionofhercash-boxandthoughtnomoreaboutit.

No sooner had the wily king delivered the ruby to his minister than heemployedfemalespiestofollowhimupandmarkwherehekeptthejewel.Afterafewdayshebribedthestewardoftheminister ’shouseholdtostealitforhim.Thekingwassittingonthebalconyofhispalaceoverlookingtheriver,whenthejewelwasbroughttohim.Takingitfromthehandsofthesteward,hedeliberatelythrewitintotheriver.

The next morning, after dismissing his court, he asked the chief minister:“WhereistherubywhichIgaveyoutokeeptheotherday?”Theministerreplied;“Ihavegotit,DefenderoftheWorld.”

“Wellthen,”saidtheking,“goandfetchit,forIwantitrightnow.”Imagine thepoorminister ’samazementwhen,ongoinghome,heunderstood

thattherubywasnowheretobefound.Hehurriedbacktothekingandreportedtheloss.“YourMajesty,”hesaid,“ifyouwillallowmeafewdaysgrace,Ihopetofinditandbringitbacktoyou.”

“Verywell,”saidtheking,laughingtohimself.“Igiveyouthreedaysinwhich

tofindtheruby.If,attheendofthattime,youfailtofindit,yourlifeandthelivesof all who are dear to you will be forfeit. And your house will be razed to thegroundandploughedupbydonkeys!”

Theministerleftthepalacewithaheavyheart.Hesearchedeverywhereforthelostjewel,butbecauseofitsmysteriousdisappearancehedidnothavemuchhopeoffindingit.

Ihavenoone,hethought,towhomIcanleavemyrichesandpossessions.Mywifeistheonlysoulonearthwhoisdeartome,anditseemswemustbothdieafterthreedays.Whatcouldbebetterthanforustoenjoyourselvesduringthisperiod?We’llmakethemostofthetimethat’slefttous.

Inthismoodhereachedhomeandtoldhiswifeabouttheking’sdecision.“Letusspendourwealthliberallyandfreely,”hesaid,“forsoonwemustdie.”Hiswife sigheddeeplyandonlysaid,“Asyouwish.Fatehasdealtusacruel

blow.Letustakeitwithdignityandgoodcheer.”That day saw the commencement of a period of great revelry in the chief

minister ’shouse.Musiciansofallkindswereengaged,andthehallswerefilledwithguests, who came wondering what great luck had come the way of the chiefminister.Richfoodwasserved,andnightanddaythesoundofmusicandlaughterfilledthehouse...

Inaddition, largequantitiesof foodwerepreparedandgiven to thepoor.Noonewhocameto thehousewasallowedto leaveempty-handed.Tradesmen,whentheybroughttheircustomarypresentsoffreshfruit,wererewardedwithgoldcoins,andwentawayrejoicing.

Inavillagenearbytherelivedapoorflower-sellerandafisherwoman:thetwowomen were neighbours and close friends. The flower-seller happened to bevisitingthebazaar,wheresheheardofthegranddoingsattheminister ’shouse.Soshe hurried there,with a present of vegetables and garlands, and received a goldcoin.Thenshewalkedacrosstoherfriend’shouseandadvisedhertotakeapresentoffishtotheminister,whowouldrewardherinthesamemanner.

Thefisherwomanwasverypoor.Herhusbandusedtogofishingdaily,butheseldomwas able to catch large fish; those that he caughtwere so small that theyrarely fetched more than a few pice in the bazaar. So the fisherwoman said toherself: “Those miserable fish that my husband brings home are hardly worthpresentingtotheminister–he’llonlyfeelinsulted”,andshethoughtnomoreaboutit.

But thefollowingmorning,asgoodluckwouldhaveit,herhusbandcaughtalarge Rohu, the most delicious of Indian fresh-water fish. Delighted at his goodfortune, he took it home to show hiswife,who immediately placed the fish in abasket, covered it with a clean cloth, and hurried to the minister ’s house. TheministerwasreallypleasedtoseesuchafinelargeRohufish,andinsteadofgiving

heronegoldcoin,hegavehertwo.Thefisherwomanwasoverjoyed.Sheranhomewithherprize,whichwasenough tokeepherselfandherhusband incomfort formanyamonth.

Thishappenedon the thirdand lastdayof theminister ’s life; thenextdayheandhiswifeweretobeexecuted.Beingveryfondoffish-curry,hesaidtohiswife:“Let’s have one of your delightful fish-curries for lunch today.Wewill never beabletoenjoyitagain.Nowhere’safineRohu.Let’stakeittothekitchenandhaveitcleaned.”

Heandhiswifesattogethertoseethefishcut.Thecooktookouthiskitchen-knifeandsettowork.

Asthecookthrusthisknifeintothefish’sbelly,outdroppedtherubywhichhadbeenthrownintotheriver.

The minister and his wife were overcome with astonishment and joy. Theywashedtherubyinperfumedwater,andthentheministerhastenedtorestoreittotheking.

Thekingwasequallyamazedtoseetherubywhichhehadthrownintotheriver.Heatoncedemandedanexplanationforitsrecovery.Theministertoldhimhowhehaddecided tospendallhis riches,andhowhehad received thepresentofa fishwhich,whenitwascut,gaveupthelostruby.

Thekingthenacknowledgedtheparthehadplayedinthelossoftheruby,“ButIseethatyoutookyourownadvicetome,”hesaid.“Enduresorrowcheerfully!”Hebestowed high honours on his minister, and commended his wisdom andunderstandingbeforeallhiscourtiersandministers.

Andsotheminister ’sevilfortunewaschangedtogood.“AndmaytheEternalDispenserofallGoodthusdealwithhisservants”.

O

HowaTribalBoyBecameaKing

NCEUPONATIMEtherewasaBhuiyatribalboy,whowasleftanorphanwhenhewasveryyoung.Thevillagersusedtogivehimfood,andwhenhegrew

up,hewas sent tograze cattle in the jungle.Atnight heused to sleepon a smallplatformwhichhehadsetupinabanyantree.

GodIndrapitiedtheyouthandsentafairyfromhisheavenlycourtwithatrayofthefinestfood.Buttheyoungmanwasafraidtolookatherand,whenevershecame,hewouldclosehiseyesinterror

Aftersomedayshetoldanoldwomanofthetribeaboutthefairy’svisits.Theoldwoman said: “This food is sent byLord Indra. If you don’t eat it, hewill bedispleased.Butifyoudonotwantthefairytovisityou,thenexttimeshecomes,justcutoffapieceoftheclothwhichcoversherbreast.”

WhenthefairycameagainthenextnightandaskedtheBhuiyatoeat,hepulledoutthecurvedknifewhichheusedtopeelbamboos,andcutoffapieceofherdress.Afterthatshestoppedvisitinghim.

One day the village people said to their barber: “It is time that youngman’sheadwasshaved.”

SothebarberwenttowheretheBhuiyawasstayinginthejungle.Inthosedaysabarberwasreputedtobethecraftiestofmen.Therewasevena

proverbwhichwent:“Asthecrowisamongbirds,soisthebarberamongmen.”Asthebarberwasshavingtheyouth’shead,hesawthepiecefromthefairy’srobe,andthought:“Suchfineclothisnotfoundeveninaking’spalace.”

“Wheredidyougetthis?”heasked.“Myunclegaveittome,”answeredtheyouth.Thebarberwenttothekingandtoldhimaboutthelovelypieceofclothhehad

seenwiththeBhuiya.Thekingsentfortheyouthandsaid,“Youmustgetmeabaleofthiscloth.”

“Iwillgetitifyougivemethreehundredrupees,”saidtheBhuiya.The king gave him themoney, andwith it the youth bought a horse for two

hundredrupees,andtheresthespentongoodclothes.Thenherodeoffinsearchofthecloth.

Presentlyhecametotheoutskirtsofacity,andhaltedatawatertanktobathe

andwaterhishorse.Somesoldiersofthechiefofthatcitysawhim,andoneofthemsaid:“Thismustbesomegreatprince.Ourchiefhasadaughterforwhomhecannotfindasuitablehusband.Ifheweretomarryhertothisprince,histroubleswouldbeover.”

So they told thechiefabout thehandsomeprincewhowasmountedona finehorse,andhesentfortheyouth.

“Whoareyou?”heasked.“Iamachief’sson,”saidtheBhuiya.“Ifanotherkingofferedyouhisdaughterinmarriage,wouldyouaccepther?”“Iwouldhavetoobtaintheconsentofmyparentsandbrothers.”“Ifyourefusetomarryher,Iwillhaveyoukilled.”“InthatcaseImustmarryher,”saidtheBhuiya.Sotheyweremarriedthenextday,withmuchfeastingandceremony.“Ihavesomeurgentbusinessathome,”saidtheyoungmanafterwards,”but I

willreturninafewdaysandtakemywifehome.”SotheBhuiyayouthrodeoff,andaftersomehardridinghereachedthepalace

ofapowerfulqueen,BalwantiRani,wholivedinthedepthsofathickjungle.Thepalace had seven gates, onewithin the other. The first was guarded by a demon,whoseupperlipstretchedtoheavenandlowerliptoPatala,theunderworld.WhentheBhuiyasawhim,hethought,Thismonster ’smouthwillengulfmeandmyhorse.Ihadbettermakefriendswithhim.Betterstill,Iwillclaimarelationship.

Sohewentuptothedemonandsaid:“Isaluteyou,OmaternalUncle!”Thedemonsaid:“Ihavehadno foodfor twelveyears,andwhenpreycomes

myway,itishardthatitshouldturnouttobemysister ’sson.Allthesame,sitdownandtellmewhatyouwant.”

“IamheretoenquireaboutthehealthofBalwantiRani,”saidtheyouth.“Do not ask about her,” said the demon. “She sleeps for twelve years and

remainsawakefortwelveyears.Justnowsheisasleep,andasaresultallherguardsandservantsaredyingofhunger.”

“HowcanImanagetoseeher,Uncle?”“It’sverydifficult.Shehassevenguards.Thefirstismyself.Nextcomesatiger

guard;thenaleopardguard;thenabearguard.Thencomeguardsofdemonsandwitches.YoucannotseetheRaniunlessyougetpastalltheseguards.”

“Well, I must see her, and as my uncle you must tell me how to evade theguards.”

“Verywell,”saidthedemon.“Takehe-goatsforthetigerandtheleopard.Takesome wild plums for the bear. And take some parched rice for the demons andwitches.Theyareveryhungry, and if you feed them, theymay let you in.But becarefulonyourreturn,astheywillthenattackyou.”

TheBhuiya took thesepresentswithhim, anddid ashewas told, andnoone

paid any attention to him. Then he entered a chamber where Balwanti Rani layasleeponacouchofgold.Underherbedwasabetelbox,containingtheingredientsformakingpaan.Theboy took somepaan, chewed it, andwith the red spittle hemadeamarkontheclothwhichcoveredherbreast.Thenhewentaway.

As he returned, all the guards rushed at him, but he threw rice before thedemonsandwitches,goatsbeforethetigerandleopard,andahandfulofwildplumsbefore the bear.And so he escaped towhere his adopted unclewas on guard.Hemountedthehorse,and,salutinghisdemon-uncle,rodeaway.

NextdayBalwantiRani finallywokeup,andprepared forherbath.Butwhenshesawtheredmarkonherrobeshewasveryangry.Shewasdeterminedtofindthepersonwhohaddaredtomarkherrobe.Shemountedonherflyingcouch,andaftermanydaysreachedthetankwheretheBhuiyahadmetthesoldiersoftheking.Therehewas,bathingandwateringhishorse.

“Why did you run away after marking my robe?” demanded Balwanti Rani.“NowImustlivewithyouallmylife!”Andtheyweremarriedonthespot.

Thatnight,whileherhusbandslept,BalwantiRanibuiltapalacemuchgranderthanthatofanyking.NextmorningtheBhuiyasawthepalaceandtoldBalwantiRanitostay therewhilehewent tosee thefatherofhis firstwife.Thechief receivedhimkindly,andthatnighttheyouthstayedwithhisfirstwife,thechief’sdaughter.

Whentheywerealonetogether,thegirlsaid,“Ifmyfatherasksyoutoacceptapresent,takenothingbutthebasketinwhichcowdungiscollectedforthepalace.Ithasmagicpowers,andallmyfather ’sprosperitydependsonit.”

Next day the chief offered many valuable presents to his son-in-law, but theyoungmansaid:“Iwillhavenothingbutthecowdungbasket.”

Thechiefwasveryupset.“Takeanythingbutthatworthlessbasket.”ButtheBhuiyawouldhavenothingexceptthebasket,andatlastthechiefhadto

give it to him, andhe took it andhiswife to thepalacewhichBalwantiRani hadbuilt. Then they all returned to theBhuiya’s native village, and that night his twowivesbuiltapalaceevenmoresplendidthanthelast.

Afewdayslatertheoldbarberarrived.WhenheshavedtheBhuiya’shead,herecognised him.Then hewent and pared the nails of the twowives.After this hewentbacktothekingandsaid:“TheBhuiyatowhomyougavemoneytobuyclothhascomebackrollinginwealth,andhehastwobeautifulwiveswhoarefitonlyforaking.”

“HowdoIgetholdofthem?”askedtheking.“Sendfortheyouth,”saidthebarber,“anddemandyourcloth.Hewon’tbeable

toproduceit,andwillhavetogiveyouthewomeninstead.”Thekingsent for theBhuiyaandasked,“Where is theclothyoupromised to

bringme?”“Youshallhaveittomorrow,”saidtheBhuiya.Whenhegothome,BalwantiRanisawthathewasworriedandaskedhimthe

reason.Hetoldherhowhewasintheking’spower.“Don’tworry,”shesaid.“Iamthefairywhosebreast-clothyoucut.Iwillbring

youfourbalesoftheclothtomorrow.”NextdaytheBhuiyagavetheclothtotheamazedking.Then the barber said: “Tell him to bring you four baskets of ripe mangoes.

They are out of season, and he is sure to fail. Then he will have to give up hiswomen.”

AgaintheBhuiyayouthwastroubled,untilBalwantiRanisolvedtheproblem,forbyhermagicalpowerssheplantedagardenthatnight,andinthemorningthetreeswereladenwithripemangoes.Thesetheyouthgavetotheking.

“Ourplanshavefailedagain,”saidthebarber.“Butletustryanothertrick.CalltheBhuiyaandtellhimtobringyounewsofyourparentsintheworldofthedead.”

Whenthekinggavethisorder,theBhuiyawasveryworried.ButwhenBalwantiRaniheardthestory,shesaid:“Gotothekingandsaythat,inorderthatyoumaybeabletovisitthelandofthedead,youmusthaveahousefilledwithfuel.InthisyoumustbeburntsothatyourspiritcangotoYama.”

Whilethepreparationswerebeingmade,BalwantiRanimadeanundergroundpassage from this place to her own house, andwhen the fire was lit, the Bhuiyaescapedbythepassagetohishome.Hestayedindoorsforsixmonths,livinginthedark, letting his hair and beard grow. Then he came out and said to the king,“Yamarajisaterribleplace.Lookatmyconditionafterbeingthereforsixmonths.Justthinkofwhatyourparentsmustbe,whohavebeentheretwelveyears!”

Thekingwasdeterminedtogoandseehisparentsforhimself.Hehadahousefilledwithfuelandlighted.Thenhesteppedintothefireandwentupinflames.AndtheBhuiyatookpossessionofthekingdom,andruleditformanyyearswithjustice

andwisdom.

A

TheHappyHerdsman

YOUNGHERDSMANwaswatchingsomesheepattheedgeofthejungle,whenatigercameoutandaskedhimforasheep.

“Theyarenotmysheep,”saidtheherdsman.“HowcanIgiveyouone?”“Allright,don’t,”saidthetiger.“I’lleatyouinstead,oneofthesenights.”Whentheherdsmancamehome,hetoldhismotherwhathadhappened,andshe

said,“Wehadbettergettheneighbourstosleepinthehouse,asaprecaution.”So the neighbours brought their beds and slept in the house. The herdsman’s

bedwas placed in the centre. In themiddle of the night the tiger came in quietly,creptundertheherdsman’sbed,andcarrieditoffonhisshoulders.

When they had gone a little distance, the herdsman fortunatelywoke, to findhimselfbeingborneawayonhisbed.Astheypassedunderahugebanyantree,hecaught hold of one of its dangling shoots and climbed up. The tiger, knowingnothingofthis,wentoffwiththebed.

Theherdsmanwassoafraidofthetigerthatheremainedinthetreeallnextday.Intheeveningaherdofcowscametothespotandlaydownunderthebanyantree.Theyremainedthereallnightandnextmorningwentofftograze.Whiletheywereaway,theherdsmancamedownandcleaneduptheareaunderthebanyantree.

Nextnight,whenthecowscameagain,theyweredelightedtofindthatsomeonehad cleaned the area. Theywondered who had done them this service.When thesamethinghappenedthreedaysinsuccession,thecowscalledout,“Showyourself,ohunknownfriend!Wearegrateful,andwishtomakeyouracquaintance.”Buttheherdsmanthoughtthismightbesometrickonthepartofthetiger.Hekeptquietandremainedhiddeninthebanyantree.

Thenthecowsmadeaplan.Oneofthemwasoldandweak,sotheotherstoldher:“Youliehereandpretendtobesick.Ourfriendissuretocomedowntohelpyouafterwehavegone.Whenhecomes,catchholdofhisdhoti,anddon’t letgountilwereturn.”

Theoldcowdidasshewastold.Whenshecaughtholdoftheherdsman’sdhoti,hedidhisbesttodraghimselfaway,butsheheldfast.

When the cows cameback, they told theherdsmanhowgrateful theywere tohim.Theysaid,“Youmayhaveasmuchofourmilkasyouwant.”

So the herdsman continued to live in the banyan tree, and hewouldmilk thecowseveryday.

Oneday,ashewaswalkingaboutbeneaththetree,hesawseveralyoungsnakescomingoutofaholeintheground.Theylookedthinandmiserable.Theherdsmanfeltsorryforthem,soeverydayhegavethemsomemilk.Whentheygrewstrongandbegan tomove about in the jungle, theymet theirmother,who exclaimed: “Ican’tbelieve it! I leftyoustarving,andnowhereyouare,wellandstrong!”Theytoldherhowtheherdsmanhadtakencareofthem.Soshewenttotheherdsmanandsaid:“Askanyboonyouwill.”Andtheherdsmansaid:“Iwishthatmyhairandskinwouldturnthecolourofgold.”Thechangetookplacealmostatonce,andthenthesnakeswentaway.

Onahotsummer’sdaytheherdsmanwentdowntotherivertobathe.Ashewasbathing,astrandofgoldenhaircameawayinhishands.Hemadealittleleaf-boat,andheputthehairinit,andletitfloatdownstream.

Manymilesdownstreamaking’sdaughterwasbathing.Astheleaf-boatfloatedpast, shepickedup thegoldenhair. “Oh, how lovely!” she exclaimed. “My fathermustmarrymetothemanwhohashairlikethis!”

When she showedher father thehair, and toldhimofherdesire tomarry itsowner, the king made every effort to find him. Finally his soldiers traced theherdsman and told him to accompany them back to the king’s palace. “I will donothingofthesort,”hesaid.

Theytriedtodraghimaway,butheplayedonhisfluteandallthecowsrushedup,chargedthesoldiersanddrovethemoff.

When they told the kingwhat had happened, he sent his pet crows to get theflute. They came and perched on the banyan tree, and made a lot of noise. Theherdsmanthrewstonesatthem,butcouldnotdrivethemaway.Finallyhebecamesoangry thathe threwhis fluteat them.Oneof thecrowscaught itneatly in itsbeakandflewoffwithit.

Having got possession of the flute, the king sent another party of soldiers toseizetheherdsman.Heblewuponanotherflute,butthisonedidnothavethesamemagic, and the cows did not rush to his rescue.Hewas carried off to the king’spalace.

The king lost no time in marrying the herdsman to the princess. They weregivenabeautifulhouseandlotsofmoney.But,althoughtheherdsmanwasfondofhiswife,helongedforhisformerlifeasacowherd.

Onedayheaskedhiswifetogivehimtheoldflute.Shetookitoutofherboxandgaveittohim.Whenheblewit,thesoundreachedthecows,andtheyallrushedtotheking’spalaceandbeganknockingdownthewalls.

Thekingwasterrifiedandaskedthemwhattheywanted.“Wewantourcowherd!”theyreplied.

Sothekinghadtogivein.But,beingaking,hebuiltapalaceforhisson-in-lawnear thebanyantree,andgavehimhalfhiskingdom.Thepalaceremainedempty,because theherdsmanandhisprincesspreferred to stay in thebanyan tree,wheretheylivedhappilytogetherformanyayear.

L

TheTiger-King’sGift

ONGAGOinthedaysoftheancientPandyakingsofSouthIndia,afatherandhistwosonslivedinavillagenearMadura.Thefatherwasanastrologer,but

he had never become famous, and so was very poor. The elder son was calledChellan; the younger Gangan. When the time came for the father to put off hisearthlybody,hegavehis few fields toChellan,andapalm leafwith somewordsscratchedonittoGangan.

ThesewerethewordsthatGanganread:

“Frombirth,poverty;Fortenyears,captivity;Ontheseashore,death.Foralittlewhilehappinessshallfollow.”

“Thismustbemyfortune,”saidGangantohimself,“anditdoesn’tseemtobemuchofafortune.Imusthavedonesomethingterribleinaformerbirth.ButIwillgoasapilgrimtoPapanasamanddopenance.IfIcanexpiatemysin,Imayhavebetterluck.”

Hisonlypossessionwasawaterjarofhammeredcopper,whichhadbelongedtohisgrandfather.Hecoiledaroperoundthejar,incaseheneededtodrawwaterfromawell.Thenheputalittlericeintoabundle,saidfarewelltohisbrother,andsetout.

Ashejourneyedhehadtopassthroughagreatforest.Soonhehadeatenallhisfoodanddrunkallthewaterinhisjar.Intheheatofthedayhebecameverythirsty.

Atlasthecametoanold,disusedwell.Ashelookeddownintoithecouldseethatawindingstairwayhadoncegonerounditdowntothewater ’sedge,andthattherehadbeen four landingplacesatdifferentheightsdown this stairway; so thatthosewhowantedtofetchwatermightdescendthestairwaytothelevelofthewaterandfilltheirwater-potswithease,regardlessofwhetherthewellwasfull,orthree-quartersfull,orhalffulloronlyonequarterfull.

Nowthewellwasnearlyempty.Thestairwayhadfallenaway.Gangancouldnot

godowntofillhiswater-jarsoheuncoiledhisrope,tiedhisjartoitandslowlyletitdown.Tohisamazement,asitwasgoingdownpastthefirstlandingplace,ahugestripedpawshotout andcaught it, andagrowlingvoice calledout: “OhLordofCharity, have mercy! The stair is fallen. I die unless you save me! Fear me not.ThoughKingofTigers,Iwillnotharmyou.”

Ganganwas terrified at hearing a tiger speak; but his kindness overcame hisfear,andwithagreateffort,hepulledthebeastup.

TheTigerKing– for itwas indeed theLordofAllTigers–bowedhisheadbefore Gangan, and reverently paced round him thrice from right to left asworshippersdoroundashrine.

“Threedaysago,”saidtheTigerKing,“agoldsmithpassedby,andIfollowedhim.Interrorhejumpeddownthiswellandfellonthefourthlandingplacebelow.Heistherestill.WhenIleapedafterhimIfellonthefirstlandingplace.Onthethirdlandingisaratwhojumpedinwhenagreatsnakechasedhim.Andonthesecondlanding,abovetherat,isthesnakewhofollowedhim.Theywillallclamourforyoutodrawthemup.

“Freethesnake,byallmeans.Hewillbegratefulandwillnotharmyou.Freetherat,ifyouwill.Butdonotfreethegoldsmith,forhecannotbetrusted.Shouldyoufreehim,youwillsurelyrepentofyourkindness.Hewilldoyouaninjuryforhisownprofit.ButrememberthatIwillhelpyouwheneveryouneedme.”

ThentheTigerKingboundedawayintotheforest.

GanganhadforgottenhisthirstwhilehestoodbeforetheTigerKing.Nowhefeltit

morethanbefore,andagainletdownhiswater-jar.As it passed the second landing place on the ruined staircase, a huge snake

dartedoutandtwisteditselfroundtherope.“Oh,IncarnationofMercy,saveme!”ithissed.“Unlessyouhelpme,Imustdiehere,forIcannotclimbthesidesofthewell.Helpme,andIwillalwaysserveyou!”

Gangan’s heartwas again touched, andhe drewup the snake. It glided roundhimasifhewereaholybeing.“IamtheSerpentKing,”itsaid.“Iwaschasingarat.Itjumpedintothewellandfellonthethirdlandingbelow.Ifollowed,butfellonthesecondlanding.Thenthegoldsmithleapedinandfellonthefourthlandingplace,while the tiger fellon the top landing.Yousaved theTigerKing.Youhavesavedme.Youmaysavetherat,ifyouwish.Butdonotfreethegoldsmith.Heisnottobetrusted.Hewillharmyouifyouhelphim.ButIwillnotforgetyou,andwillcometoyouraidifyoucalluponme.”

ThentheKingofSnakesdisappearedintothelonggrassoftheforest.Gangan let downhis jaroncemore, eager toquenchhis thirst.But as the jar

passedthethirdlanding,theratleapedintoit.“AftertheTigerKing,whatisarat?”saidGangantohimself,andpulledthejar

up.Like the tigerand the snake, the ratdid reverence,andofferedhis services if

evertheywereneeded.Andlikethetigerandthesnake,hewarnedGanganagainstthe goldsmith. Then the Rat King – for hewas none other – ran off into a holeamongtherootsofabanyantree.

By this time Gangan’s thirst was becoming unbearable. He almost flung thewater-jar down the well. But again the rope was seized, and Gangan heard thegoldsmithbegpiteouslytobehauledup.

“UnlessIpullhimoutofthewell,Ishallnevergetanywater,”groanedGangan.“Andafterall,whynothelptheunfortunateman?”Sowithagreatstruggle–forhewas a very fat goldsmith – Gangan got him out of the well and on to the grassbesidehim.

Thegoldsmithhadmuchtosay.Butbeforelisteningtohim,Ganganlethisjardownintothewellafifthtime.Andthenhedranktillhewassatisfied.

“Friend and deliverer!” cried the goldsmith. “Don’t believewhat those beastshavesaidaboutme!IliveintheholycityofTenkasi,onlyaday’sjourneynorthofPapanasam.Comeandvisitmewheneveryouarethere.IwillshowyouthatIamnotanungratefulman.”AndhetookleaveofGanganandwenthisway.

“Frombirth,poverty.”

Gangan resumedhis pilgrimage, begginghisway toPapanasam.Therehe stayedmany weeks, performing all the ceremonies which pilgrims should perform,

bathingat thewaterfall,andwatchingtheBrahminpriestsfeedingthefishesinthesacred stream. He visited other shrines, going as far as Cape Comorin, thesouthernmost tipof India,wherehebathed in thesea.Thenhecameback throughthejunglesofTravancore.

Hehadstartedonhispilgrimagewithhiscopperwater-jarandnothingmore.Aftermonthsofwanderings,itwasstilltheonlythingheowned.Thefirstprophecyonthepalmleafhadalreadycometrue:“Frombirth,poverty.”

DuringhiswanderingsGanganhadneveroncethoughtoftheTigerKingandtheothers,butashewalkedwearilyalonginhisrags,hesawaruinedwellbytheroadside, and it reminded him of hiswonderful adventure. And just to see if theTigerKingwasgenuine,hecalledout:“OhKingofTigers,letmeseeyou!”

NosoonerhadhespokenthantheTigerKingleapedoutofthebushes,carryinginhismouthaglitteringgoldenhelmet,embeddedwithpreciousstones.

ItwasthehelmetofKingPandya,themonarchoftheland.Thekinghadbeenwaylaidandkilledbyrobbers,for thesakeof thejewelled

helmet;buttheyinturnhadfallenpreytothetiger,whohadwalkedawaywiththehelmet.

Ganganofcourseknewnothingaboutallthis,andwhentheTigerKinglaidthehelmetathisfeet,hestoodstupefiedatitssplendourandhisowngoodluck.

After theTigerKinghad lefthim,Gangan thoughtof thegoldsmith.“Hewilltake the jewels out of thehelmet, and Iwill sell someof them.Others Iwill takehome.”SohewrappedthehelmetinaragandmadehiswaytoTenkasi.

IntheTenkasibazaarhesoonfoundthegoldsmith’sshop.Whentheyhadtalkedawhile,Ganganuncoveredthegoldenhelmet.Thegoldsmith–whoknewitsworthfarbetter thanGangan–gloatedover it,andatonceagreedto takeout the jewelsandsellafewsothatGanganmighthavesomemoneytospend.

“Nowletmeexaminethishelmetatleisure,”saidthegoldsmith.“Yougototheshrines,worship,andcomeback.Iwillthentellyouwhatyourtreasureisworth.”

GanganwentofftoworshipatthefamousshrinesofTenkasi.Andassoonashehadgone,thegoldsmithwentofftothelocalmagistrate.

“Did not the herald of King Pandya’s son come here only yesterday andannounce that he would give half his kingdom to anyone who discovered hisfather ’s murderer?” he asked. “Well, I have found the killer. He has brought theking’sjewelledhelmettomethisveryday.”

Themagistratecalledhisguards,and theyallhurried to thegoldsmith’sshopandreacheditjustasGanganreturnedfromhistourofthetemples.

“Here is thehelmet!”exclaimed thegoldsmith to themagistrate.“Andhere isthevillainwhomurderedthekingtogetit!”

TheguardsseizedpoorGanganandmarchedhimofftoMadura,thecapitalofthe Pandya kingdom, and brought him before the murdered king’s son. When

GangantriedtoexplainabouttheTigerKing,thegoldsmithcalledhimaliar,andthenewkinghadhimthrownintothedeath-cell,adeep,well-likepit,dugintotheground in a courtyard of the palace. The only entrance to it was a hole in thepavementofthecourtyard.HereGanganwaslefttodieofhungerandthirst.

At first Gangan lay helpless where he had fallen. Then, looking around him, hefoundhimselfonaheapofbones,thebonesofthosewhobeforehimhaddiedinthedungeon;andhewaswatchedbyanarmyofratswhowerewaitingtognawhisdeadbody.HerememberedhowtheTigerKinghadwarnedhimagainst thegoldsmith,andhadpromisedhelpifeveritwasneeded.

“Ineedhelpnow,”groanedGangan,andshoutedfortheTigerKing,theSnakeKing,andtheRatKing.

Forsometimenothinghappened.Thenalltheratsinthedungeonsuddenlylefthim and began burrowing in a corner between some of the stones in the wall.PresentlyGangansawthat theholewasquite large,and thatmanyotherratswerecomingandgoing,workingatthesametunnel.AndthentheRatKinghimselfcamethrough the little passage, and hewas followed by the SnakeKing,while a greatroarfromoutsidetoldGanganthattheTigerKingwasthere.

“Wecannotgetyououtofthisplace,”saidtheSnakeKing.“Thewallsaretoostrong. But the armies of the Rat King will bring rice-cakes from the palacekitchens,andsweetsfromtheshopsinthebazaars,andragssoakedinwater.Theywillnotletyoudie.Andfromthisdayonthetigersandthesnakeswillslaytenfold,andtheratswilldestroygrainandclothasneverbefore.Beforelongthepeoplewillbegintocomplain.Then,whenyouhearanyonepassinginfrontofyourcell,shout:‘Thesedisasters are the resultsofyour ruler ’s injustice!But I can saveyou fromthem!’Atfirsttheywillpaynoattention.Butaftersometimetheywilltakeyouout,and at your word we will stop the sacking and the slaughter. And then they willhonouryou.”

“Fortenyears,captivity.”

For tenyears the tigerskilled.Theserpentsstruck.Theratsdestroyed.Andat lastthepeoplewailed,“Thegodsareplaguingus.”

AllthewhileGangancriedouttothosewhocamenearhiscell,declaringthathe could save them; they thought hewas amadman.So ten years passed, and thesecondprophecyonthepalmleafwasfulfilled.

At last the Snake Kingmade his way into the palace and bit the king’s onlydaughter.Shewasdeadinafewminutes.

Thekingcalledforallthesnake-charmersandofferedhalfhiskingdomtoanyoneofthemwhowouldrestorehisdaughtertolife.Noneofthemwasabletodoso.

Thentheking’sservantsrememberedthecriesofGanganandremarkedthattherewasamadmaninthedungeonswhokeptinsistingthathecouldbringanendtoalltheirtroubles.Thekingatonceorderedthedungeontobeopened.Ladderswereletdown.MendescendedandfoundGangan,lookingmorelikeaghostthanaman.Hishairhadgrownso long thatnonecould seehis face.Thekingdidnot rememberhim, butGangan soon reminded the king of howhe had condemnedhimwithoutenquiry,onthewordofthegoldsmith.

The king grovelled in the dust before Gangan, begged forgiveness, andentreatedhimtorestorethedeadprincesstolife.

“Bringmethebodyoftheprincess,”saidGangan.ThenhecalledontheTigerKingandtheSnakeKingtocomeandgivelifeto

theprincess.Assoonastheyenteredtheroyalchamber,theprincesswasrestoredtolife.

Gladastheyweretoseetheprincessalive,thekingandhiscourtierswerefilledwith fear at the sightof theTigerKing and theSnakeKing.But the tiger and thesnake hurt no one; and at a second prayer fromGangan, they brought life to allthosetheyhadslain.

AndwhenGanganmadeathirdpetition,theTiger,theSnakeandtheRatKingsorderedtheirsubjectstostoppillagingthePandyakingdom,solongasthekingdidnofurtherinjustice.

“Letus find that treacherousgoldsmithandputhim in thedungeon,” said theTigerKing.

ButGanganwantednovengeance.Thatverydayhesetoutforhisvillagetoseehisbrother,Chellan,oncemore.ButwhenheleftthePandyaking’scapital,hetookthewrongroad.Aftermuchwandering,hefoundhimselfonthesea-shore.

Nowithappenedthathisbrotherwasalsomakingajourneyinthoseparts,anditwastheirfatethattheyshouldmeetbythesea.WhenGangansawhisbrother,hisgladnesswassosuddenandsogreatthathefelldowndead.

Andsothethirdprophecywasfulfilled:

“Onthesea-shore,death.”

Chellan,ashecamealongtheshoreroad,hadseenahalf-ruinedshrineofPillaiyar,the elephant-headed God of Good Luck. Chellan was a very devout servant ofPillaiyar,and,thedaybeingafestivalday,hefeltitwashisdutytoworshipthegod.Butitwasalsohisdutytoperformthefuneralritesforhisbrother.

Thesea-shorewaslonely.Therewasnoonetohelphim.Itwouldtakehourstocollect fuelanddriftwoodenoughfora funeralpyre.ForawhileChellandidnotknowwhattodo.ButatlasthetookupthebodyandcarriedittoPillaiyar ’stemple.

Thenheaddressedthegod.“Thisismybrother ’sbody,”hesaid.“Iamunclean

because I have touched it. I must go and bathe in the sea. Then I will come andworshipyou,andafterwardsIwillburnmybrother ’sbody.Meanwhile,Ileaveitinyourcare.”

Chellan left, and thegod toldhis attendantGanas (goblins) towatchover thebody. These Ganas are inclined to be mischievous, and when the god wasn’tlooking,theygobbledupthebodyofGangan.

WhenChellancamebackfrombathing,hereverentlyworshippedPillaiyar.Hethenlookedforhisbrother ’sbody.Itwasnottobefound.Anxiouslyhedemandeditofthegod.Pillaiyarcalledonhisgoblinstoproduceit.Terrified,theyconfessedtowhattheyhaddone.

Chellanreproachedthegodforthemisdeedsofhisattendants.AndPillaiyarfeltsomuchpityforhim,thatbyhisdivinepowerherestoreddeadGangan’sbodytoChellan,andbroughtGangantolifeagain.

The two brothers then returned to King Pandya’s capital, where Ganganmarriedtheprincessandbecamekingwhenherfatherdied.

Andsothefourthprophecywasfulfilled:

“Foralittlewhilehappinessshallfollow.”

But therearewisemenwhosay that the linesof theprophecywerewrongly readandunderstood,andthatthewholeshouldrun:

“Frombirth,poverty;Fortenyears,captivity;Onthesea-shore,deathforalittlewhile;Happinessshallfollow.”

Itisthelasttwolinesthataredifferent.Andthismustbethecorrectversion,becausewhenhappinesscametoGanganitwasnot“foralittlewhile.”WhentheGoddessofGoodFortunedidarrive,shestayedinhispalaceformany,manyyears.

I

TheGhostandtheIdiot

NAVILLAGEnearAgratherelivedafamilywhowasunderthespecialprotectionofaMunjia,aghostwholivedinapeepultree.Theghosthadattachedhimself

to this particular family and showed his fondness for its members by throwingstones, bones, night-soil and other rubbish at them, and making hideous noises,terrifying them at every opportunity. Under his patronage, the family dwindledaway.Onebyonetheydied,theonlysurvivorbeinganidiotboy,whomtheghostdidnotbotherbecausehefeltitbeneathhisdignitytodoso.

ButinanIndianvillage,marriage(likebirthanddeath)mustcometoall,anditwas not longbefore the neighbours began tomakeplans for themarriage of theidiot.

Afterameetingofthevillageeldersitwasdecided,first,thattheidiotshouldbemarried;andsecond,thatheshouldbemarriedtoashrewofagirlwhohadpassedtheageoftwentywithoutfindingasuitor!

The shrew and the idiot were soon married off, then left to manage forthemselves.Thepoor idiothadnomeansofearninga livingandhad to resort tobegging.Hehadbarelybeenabletosupporthimselfbefore,andnowhiswifewasanadditionalburden.Thefirstthingshedidwhensheenteredthehousewastogivehimaboxontheearandsendhimouttobringsomethinghomefordinner.

The poor fellow went from door to door, but nobody gave him anything,becausethesamepeoplewhohadarrangedthemarriagewereannoyedthathehadnot given them a wedding feast. In the evening, when he returned home empty-handed,hiswifecriedout:“Areyouback,you lazy idiot?Whyhaveyoubeensolong,andwhathaveyoubroughtforme?”

Whenshefoundhehadn’tevenapaisa,sheflewintoarageand,removinghishead-cloth,tosseditintothepeepultree.Then,takingupherbroom,shebelabouredherhusbanduntilhefledfromthehouse.

But the shrew’s anger had not yet been assuaged. Seeing her husband’s head-clothinthepeepultree,shebeganventingherrageonthetree-trunk,accompanyingher blows with the most shocking abuse. The ghost who lived in the tree wassensitivetobothherblowsandherlanguage.Alarmedthatherterriblecursesmightputanendtohim,hetooktohisheelsandleftthetreeinwhichhehadlivedforso

manyyears.Ridingon awhirlwind, theghost soon caught upwith the idiotwhowas still

fleeingdowntheroadawayfromthevillage.“Not so fast, brother!” cried the ghost. “Desert your wife, by all means, but

don’tabandonyouroldfamilyghost!Thatshrewhasdrivenmeoutof thepeepultree.Whatpowerfularmsshehas–andwhataviletongue!Shehasmadebrothersofus–brothersinmisfortune.Andsowemustseekourfortunestogether!Butfirstpromisemeyouwillnotreturntoyourwife.”

The idiotmade thispromiseverywillingly,and together they journeyeduntiltheyreachedalargecity.

Beforetheyenteredthecity,theghostsaid,“Nowlisten,brother.Ifyoufollowmyadvice,yourfortuneismade.Inthiscitytherearetwoverybeautifulgirls,onethedaughterofakingandtheotherthedaughterofarichmoney-lender.Iwillgoandpossessthedaughteroftheking,andwhenhefindsherpossessedbyaspirithewill try every sort of remedy butwith no effect.Meanwhile youmustwalk dailythroughthestreetsinthedressofaSadhu–onewhohasrenouncedtheworld–andwhenthekingcomesandasksyouifyoucancurehisdaughter,undertaketodosoandmakeyourownterms.AssoonasIseeyou,Ishallleavethegirl.ThenIshallgoandpossessthedaughterofthemoney-lender.Butdonotgonearher,becauseIam in lovewith thegirl anddonot intendgivingherup! Ifyoucomenearher, Ishallbreakyourneck.”

Theghostwentoffonhiswhirlwind,whiletheidiotenteredthecityonhisownandfoundabedatthelocalinnforpilgrims.

Thefollowingdayeveryoneinthecitywasagogwiththenewsthattheking’sdaughter was dangerously ill. Physicians of all sorts came and went, and allpronouncedthegirlincurable.Thekingwasonthevergeofanervousbreakdown.Heofferedhalfhisfortunetoanyonewhocouldcurehisbeautifulandonlychild.Theidiot,havingsmearedhimselfwithdustandasheslikeaSadhu,beganwalkingthestreets,recitingreligiousverses.

Thepeoplewerestruckbytheidiot’sappearance.Theytookhimforawiseandholy man, and reported him to the king, who immediately came into the city,prostrated himself before the idiot, and begged him to cure his daughter.After ashow ofmodesty and reluctance, the idiot was persuaded to accompany the kingbacktothepalace,andthegirlwasbroughtbeforehim.

Herhairwasdishevelled,herteethwerechattering,andhereyesalmoststartingfrom their sockets. She howled and cursed and tore at her clothes. The idiotconfronted her and recited a fewmeaningless spells. And the ghost, recognisinghim,criedoutinterror;“I’mgoing,I’mgoing!I’monmyway!”

“Givemeasignthatyouhavegone,”demandedtheidiot.“As soon as I leave the girl,” said the ghost, “you will see that mango tree

uprooted.ThatisthesignI’llgive.”A fewminutes later themango tree came crashing down.The girl recovered

from her fit and seemed unaware of what had happened. The news of hermiraculous cure spread through the city, and the idiot became an object ofvenerationandwonder.Thekingkepthiswordandgavehimhalfhisfortune;andsobeganaperiodofhappinessandprosperityfortheidiot.

A fewweeks later the ghost took possession of themoneylender ’s daughter,withwhomhewasinlove.Seeinghisdaughtertakeleaveofhersenses,themoney-lendersentforthehighlyrespectedidiotandofferedhimagreatsumofmoneytocure his daughter. But remembering the ghost’s warning, the idiot refused. Themoney-lenderwasenragedandsenthishenchmentobringtheidiottohimbyforce;andtheidiotwasdraggedalongtotherichman’shouse.

Assoonastheghostsawhisoldcompanion,hecriedoutinarage:“Idiot,whyhave you broken our agreement and come here? Now I will have to break yourneck!”

But the idiot, whose reputation for wisdom had actually helped to make hiswiser,said,“BrotherghostIhavenotcometotroubleyoubuttotellyouaterriblepieceofnews.Oldfriendandprotector,wemustleavethiscitysoon.SHEhascomehere–mydreadedwife!–totormentusboth,andtodragusbacktothevillage.Sheisonherwayandwillbehereanyminute!”

Whentheghostheardthis,hecriedout,“Ohno,ohno!IfSHEhascome,thenwemustgo!”

And breaking down the walls and doors of the house, the ghost gatheredhimselfup intoa littlewhirlwindandwent scurryingoutof thecity to look foravacantpeepultree.

The money-lender, delighted that his daughter had been freed of the evilinfluence,embracedtheidiotandshoweredpresentsonhim.Andinduecoursetheidiot married the money-lender ’s beautiful daughter, inherited his wealth anddebtors,andbecametherichestandmostsuccessfulmoney-lenderinthecity.

O

BraveandBeautiful

NCE UPON A TIME there ruled a Rajput king called Kesarising. He had adaughter,Sunderbai,whowasher father ’schief treasure:notonlywasshe

wellversedintheartsandsciences,butshewasbraveandgenerous;andasforherbeauty,shehadnoequalamongtheprincessesofIndia.

Inspiteofherlearning,Sunderbaiwasaslight-heartedasanyofherfriendsandcompanions.Onedayshewasplayingwithothergirlsinthepalacegardens,whenthe crown prince of Valabhipura, Birsing, happened to pass by. He had been outhunting; and now, hot and tired, he lay down to rest beneath some trees in thegarden.Whilehewasresting,heheardvoicescloseby.Atfirsthepaidnoattention.Butasthevoicesgrewlouder,hecouldnothelpoverhearing.

“WhenImarry,”saidoneofthegirls,“Ishallleadmyhusbandalifeofit!Mentrampleontheirwivesjustasiftheywerepiecesoffurniture.Andyet,ifamanhasnowife,heisquiteuseless.”

“You are quite right,” answered Sunderbai. “But I am going tomarry PrinceBirsing, thesonofthekingofValabhipura.AndImeansotowinhis lovethathewillhaveeyesfornoother.IfhedoesnottreatmeasImeanhimto,Ishallshowhimbymystrengthandcouragethatwomenareeverybitasbraveasmen.Hewillsoloveandhonourmethathewillnevertakeasecondwife.”

Birsingwasall attentionwhenheheardhisname.He realised that the secondspeakermustbetheking’sdaughter.Hedecidedtoslipawaybeforehewasseen;butbeforehewent,helookedthroughthetreesatSunderbai.Hewasquitetakenbyherbeauty;buthelookedthoughtfulasherodeaway.

When the prince reached his own home, he told the king, his father, that hewanted to marry Kesarising’s daughter. As the two families were equal in rank,therewasnoobstacleintheway.Andbeforelong,theweddingwascelebratedwithgreatsplendour,andSunderbaiwascarriedinstatetoBirsing’spalace.

TheyoungprincewishedtoseewhetherSunderbaiwouldmakegoodherboast.Andso,ontheirmarriagenight,hedidnotgonearher.Theprincesswonderedathis conduct, and her maid-servants and companions wondered still more. ButSunderbaihidherfeelings.

Months passed, and then one of the princess’s maids came and said to her,

“Princess,todayisNewYear ’sday,andthereisagreatfestivalatthetemple.Wouldyounotliketogoandseeit?”Sunderbaiagreed,andatoncepreparedtogo.

Earlyinthemorningsheleftherpalace,andwentwithhermaidsandladiestothetemple.WhenBirsingheardthatSunderbaihadgonetothetemple,healsowentthere with some of his courtiers, unseen by her. As she worshipped, she prayedaloud,“GoddessParvati,blessinallwaysmyhusband!”Thensheraisedherhead,and,asshedidso,hereyesmetthoseofBirsing,whohadcomeupquietlybehindher.

Hegaveheramockingsmile,andsaid,“Is this thewayyoumeantoconqueryourhusband–bystrengthandvalour,asyouboastedonce?”

Sunderbai then knew that Birsing had overheard her that day in the garden.Claspingherhands,sheanswered,“Lord,womenarebutfoolishcreatures.Agirl’schatter should not be taken seriously. Pay no heed towhatwas said, and in yourwisdomforgiveme.”

ButBirsingshookhisheadandansweredsternly,“Untilyoumakegoodyourwords,princess,Iwillnotenterthedoorofyourpalace.”Andheturnedawayandleftthetemple.

Sunderbaistoodlookingafterhim,thepictureofdistress.Then,decidingthatifshe wanted to win him, she would have to give him proof of her courage andstrength,shefinishedherworshipandleftthetemple.

Sunderbaispentseveraldaysponderingwhatsheshoulddo.Atlastsheresolvedto leave the palace. The Goddess Parvati might send her the chance which shesought.Buttoleavethepalaceandslipthroughtheguardswasnoeasything.Soshetookfromherfingeraring,givenherbyherfather,Kesarising;andhandingittooneofhertrustedcompanions,shesaid,“Takethistotheking,myfather,andsay,‘Thejewelintheringisloose.Pleasehaveitputright.’”

Thegirldidas shewasasked, andwhenKesarising saw the ring,heguessedthat his daughter was in trouble. After the messenger had gone, he took out thestone. Beneath it was a note, on whichwas written:My father, when two parrotsquarrel,itisuselesstokeeptheminthesamecage.OnedayinthegardenItoldoneofmy companions that if I married Birsing, I would bymy strength and valourmakehimmadlyinlovewithme.TheprinceoverheardwhatIsaid,andisputtingmetothetest.Sendmeaman’sdress,acoatofmail,andaswifthorse.Butletnooneknow.

The kingmanaged to send the horse, clothes, and armour to his daughter bymeansofasecretpassageintoherpalace.Sunderbaidonnedthedressandthecoatofmail,andwarnedhermaidsandcompanions to tellnooneofherflight.Then,mountingherhorse,sherodeawayinthedeadofnight.

Twodays lateraboldandhandsomeyouthcametoValabhipura,andasked toseetheking.Whenthekingaskedthestrangerhisnameandthatofhisfather,theyouthreplied:“MynameisRatanSingh.MyfatherisaRajput,butIhavequarrelledwithhim,andIhavecometoyouinsearchofservice.Anyworkyougiveme,Iwilldo.”

Theking liked theboldand fearlessbearingof theyoungRajputandatoncegavehimaplaceamonghisnobles.RatanSinghsoonprovedhismettle.Byhisskillin riding he always out-distanced the other nobles. Birsing became very fond ofhim;and,neversuspectinghisidentity,toldhiminthestrictestconfidenceallaboutSunderbai’sprideandarrogance,andhowhehadtaughtheralesson.RatanSinghlaughedandsaid,“Youarenottreatingherverykindly,areyou?”TowhichBirsingreplied, “I really love her more than anyone else in the world; nor will I everymarryanyoneelse.ButIwanttotestherandseeifshewillmakegoodherboast.IfsheisatrueRajputni,shewilldoso.”

Not longafterwardsa fierce lionbegan tohaunt theoutskirtsofValabhipura.Everydayitkilledandateoneortwooftheinhabitants.Theyoungnoblesdidtheirbest todestroy it,butnonesucceeded.ThenRatanSinghdecided tohunt theman-eater.

Firstheaskedtheking’scraftsmentomakehimahollowironimageofaman.Thenhehadtheimageplacedinaspotwherethelionhadkilledseveralmen,gotinsideit,andsentawaythemenwhohadbroughtit.Atmidnightthelioncame,and,taking the image to be aman, rushed at it.As the lion tried in vain to knock theimageover,RatanSinghslippedout,andwithasingleblowofhisswordseveredthelion’shead.

Whenthekingheardaboutthisheroicfeat,hebestowedonRatanSingharobeofhonourandagrantofland.

A fewmonths later the kingwas hunting in a distant forest, accompanied byRatan Singh.A neighbouring king heard through his spies of the king’s absence,and,making a surprise attack, tookValabhipura.Birsinghadbeen ill andhadnotgonewithhisfathertothehunt:hetoofellintotheenemy’shands.Havingcapturedthe capital and the heir-apparent, the neighbouring king set up strong defencesroundthecity.

Whenthenewsreachedthekinghewasbroken-hearted.“OhmysonBirsing,”hecriedinRatanSingh’shearing.“Iftheykillyou,howcanIlive?”

Ratan Singh did his best to comfort the old king, then rode swiftly to hisfather ’s kingdom and told Kesarising all that had happened. Taking with him apicked body of lancers, he returned to the old king’s camp.There he divided hismenintofoursquadronsoffiftyeach.Hehadthreeofthemattackdifferentpartsofthe city, while he himself entered the city through the secret passage, took thegarrison by surprise, and, after overcoming the enemy, opened the gates for theothersquadrons.Theysoonrecapturedthecity.RatanSinghthenfreedBirsingfromthedungeoninwhichhehadbeenimprisoned,and,afterembracinghim,tookhimtohisfather.

A little later Ratan Singh excused himself, saying that he had to see somefriends who had just come from his old home.When he did not return, Birsing

began to lookforhim.Buthecould findhimnot.At last somemen toldhim thattheyhadseenRatanSinghenterSunderbai’spalace.

AdarksuspicionenteredBirsing’smind.“Ratan Singh,” he said to himself, “must bemywife’s lover. That is how he

learnt about the secret entrance. Through it he must have gone to have secretmeetingswithher.”

Drawinghissword,herushedupthestepsthatledtoSunderbai’schamber.Shewasalone,androsetogreethim;butherhumilityonlyaddedfueltohisanger.

“WhereisyourRatanSingh,youfaithlesswoman?”hecried.Sunderbai,amazedatthequestion,answered,“Ofwhomdoyouspeak,Lord?”Birsinggrewevenmore furious. “Youwretch!”he cried. “Youknowwell of

whom I speak.Where isRatanSingh, your lover,who came to youby the secretpassageintoyourpalace?Showmewhereheishidden,thatImaycutoffhishead,andthenstabyoutotheheart!”

Sunderbaidrewherself toher fullheightandsaid,“Whatbetterdeathcould Iwish than death at your hands? But before you stabme, look well intomy face.Perhapsyoumay find thereyour friendRatanSingh,withwhomyouarenowsoangry.”

BirsinglookedintoSunderbai’sface.Shesmiledathimmockingly.AtonceherecognisedherasRatanSingh,whohadsavedhisfather ’sthroneandhisownlife.Hefellatherfeetandimploredherpardon.

“Confess,mylord,”saidSunderbaiteasingly,“thatIhaveredeemedthepledgeImadeinmyfather ’sgarden,andthatwomencanbeeverybitasbraveasmen.”

“They canbe as brave as they arebeautiful,” saidBirsing, and embracedhertenderly.

A

SevenBridesforSevenPrinces

LONG TIME AGO therewas a kingwho had seven sons – all of them brave,handsome and clever. The old king loved them equally, and the princes

dressedalikeandreceivedthesameamountsofpocketmoney.Whentheygrewuptheyweregivenseparatepalaces,butthepalaceswerebuiltandfurnishedalike,andifyouhadseenonepalaceyouhadseentheothers.

Whentheprinceswereoldenoughtomarry,thekingsenthisambassadorsallover the country to search out seven brides of equal beauty and talent. Theambassadors travelled everywhere and saw many princesses but could not findsevenequallysuitablebrides.Theyreturnedtothekingandreportedtheirfailure.

Thekingnowbecamesodespondentandgloomythathischiefministerdecidedthatsomethinghadtobedonetosolvehismaster ’sproblem.

“Donotbesodowncast,YourMajesty,”hesaid.“Surelyitisimpossibletofindsevenbridesasaccomplishedasyour seven sons.Letus trust tochance, and thenperhapsweshallfindtheidealbrides.”

Theministerhadthoughtoutascheme,andwhentheprincesagreedtoit,theyweretakentothehighesttowerofthefort,whichoverlookedtheentirecityaswellas thesurroundingcountryside.Sevenbowsandsevenarrowswereplacedbeforethem,andtheyweretoldtoshootinanydirectiontheyliked.Eachprincehadagreedtomarry the girl uponwhose house the arrow fell, be she daughter of prince orpeasant.

The seven princes took up their bows and shot their arrows in differentdirections,andallthearrowsexceptthatoftheyoungestprincefellonthehousesofwell-known and highly-respected families. But the arrow shot by the youngestbrotherwentbeyondthecityandoutofsight.

Servants ran in all directions looking for the arrow and, after a long search,founditembeddedinthetrunkofagreatbanyantree,inwhichsatamonkey.

Greatwasthedismayandconsternationofthekingwhenhediscoveredthathisyoungest son’s arrow had made such an unfortunate descent. The king and hiscourtiersandhisministerheldahurriedconference.Theydecidedthattheyoungestprinceshouldbegivenanotherchancewithhisarrow.But toeveryone’ssurprise,theprincerefusedasecondchance.

“No,”hesaid.“Mybrothershavefoundbeautifulandgoodbrides,and that istheirgoodfortune.ButdonotaskmetobreakthepledgeItookbeforeshootingmyarrow.IknowIcannotmarrythismonkey.ButIwillnotmarryanyoneelse!InsteadIshalltakethemonkeyhomeandkeepherasapet.”

Thesixluckyprincesweremarriedwithgreatpomp.Thecitywasablazewithlightsand fireworks, and there was music and dancing in the streets. People decoratedtheirhouseswiththeleavesofmangoandbananatrees.Therewasgreatrejoicingeverywhere,except in thepalaceof theyoungestprince.Hehadplacedadiamondcollarabouttheneckofhismonkeyandseatedheronachaircushionedwithvelvet.Theybothlookedrathermelancholy.

“Poor monkey,” said the prince. “You are as lonely as I am on this day ofrejoicing.ButIshallmakeyourstayhereahappyone!Areyouhungry?”Andheplacedabowlofgrapesbeforeher,andpersuadedhertoeatafew.Hebegantalkingto the monkey and spending all his time with her. Some called him foolish, orobstinate;otherssaidhewasn’tquiterightinthehead.

Thekingwasworriedanddiscussedthesituationwithhisministerandhisothersons, inabidtofindsomewayofbringingtheprincetohissensesandmarryinghimintoanoblefamily.Butherefusedtolistentotheiradviceandentreaties.

Asthemonthspassed,theprincegrewevenmoreattachedtohismonkey,andcouldbeseenwalkingwithherinthegardensofhispalace.

Thenonedaythekingcalledameetingofallsevenprincesandsaid,“Mysons,I have seen you all settled happily in life. Even you, my youngest, appear to behappy with your strange companion. The happiness of a father consists in thehappinessofhissonsanddaughters.ThereforeIwishtovisitmydaughters-in-lawandgivethempresents.”

The eldest son immediately invited his father to dine at his palace, and theothers did the same. The king accepted all their invitations, including that of theyoungest prince. The receptions were very grand, and the king presented hisdaughters-in-lawwithpreciousjewelsandcostlydresses.Eventuallyitwastheturnoftheyoungestsontoentertaintheking.

The youngest prince was very troubled. How could he invite his father to ahouseinwhichhelivedwithamonkey?Heknewhismonkeywasmoregentleandaffectionatethansomeofthegreatestladiesintheland;andhewasdeterminednottohideherawayasthoughsheweresomeonetobeashamedof.

Walkingbesidehispetinthepalacegardens,hesaid,“WhatshallIdonow,myfriend?Iwishyouhadatonguewithwhichtocomfortme.Allmybrothershaveshowntheirhomesandwivestomyfather.TheywillridiculemewhenIpresentyoutohim.”

Themonkeyhadalwaysbeenasilentandsympatheticlistenerwhentheprincespoketoher.Nowhenoticedthatshewasgesturingtohimwithherhands.Bendingoverher,hesawthatsheheldapieceofbrokenpotteryinherhand.Theprincetooktheshardfromherandsawthatsomethingwaswrittenonit.Thesewerethewords

heread:“Do not worry, sweet prince, but go to the place where you found me, and

throwthispieceofpotteryintothehollowtrunkofthebanyantree,andwaitforareply.”

Theprincedidashewas told.Going to theancientbanyan tree,he threw theshard of pottery into the hollow, and then stood back to see if anything wouldhappen.

Hedidnothavetowaitlong.A beautiful fairy dressed in green stepped out of the hollow, and asked the

princetofollowher.Shetoldhimthatthequeenofthefairieswishedtoseehiminperson.

Theprinceclimbedthetree,enteredthehollow,andaftergropingaboutinthedarkwas suddenly led into a spacious andwonderful garden, at the endofwhichstoodabeautifulpalace.Betweenanavenueoftreesflowedacrystal-clearstream,andonthebedofthestream,insteadofpebbles,therewererubiesanddiamondsandsapphires.Eventhelightwhichlitupthisnewworldwaswarmerandlessharshthanthelightoftheworldoutside.Theprincewasledpastafountainofsilverwater,upsteps of gold, and in through the mother-of-pearl doors of the palace. But thesplendourof the room intowhichhewas led seemed to fadebefore the exquisitebeautyofthefairyprincesswhostoodbeforehim.

“Yes,prince,Iknowyourmessage,”saidtheprincess.“Donotbeanxious,butgo home and prepare to receive your father the king and your royal gueststomorrowevening.Myservantswillseetoeverything.”

Nextmorning,whentheprinceawokeinhispalace,anamazingsightmethiseyes.Thepalacegrounds teemedwith life.Thegardenswerefullofpomegranatetrees,ladenwithfruit,andunderthetreesweregailydecoratedstallsservingsweets,scented-water andcooling sherbets.Childrenwereplayingon the lawns, andmenandwomenweredancingorlisteningtomusic.

Theprincewasbewilderedbywhathesaw,andhewasevenmoreamazedwhenhe enteredhis banquethall and found it full of activity.Tablesgroanedunder theweightofdeliciouspillaus,curriesandbiryanis.Greatchandeliershung from theceiling,bunchesofrosesfilledtheroomwiththeirperfume.

A servant came running to announce that the king and his courtiers werearriving.Theprincehurriedout tomeet them.Afterdinnerwas served, everyoneinsistedonseeingthecompaniontheprincehadchosenforhimself.Theythoughtthemonkeywouldmakeexcellententertainmentaftersuchamagnificentfeast.

The prince could not refuse this request, and passed gloomily through hisroomsinsearchofhismonkey.Hefearedtheridicule thatwouldfollow.This,heknew,washisfather ’swayoftryingtocurehimofhisobstinacy.

He opened the door of his room andwas almost blinded by a blaze of light.

There,onathroneinthemiddleoftheroom,satthefairyprincess.“Come,prince,”shesaid.“IhavesentawaythemonkeyandIamheretooffer

youmyhand.”Onhearing that his pet hadgone, theprinceburst into tears. “Whathaveyou

done?”hecried.“Itwascruelofyoutotakeawaymymonkey.Yourbeautywillnotcompensatemeforthelossofmycompanion.”

“Ifmybeautydoesnotmoveyou,”saidtheprincesswithasmile,“letgratitudehelpyou takemyhand.Seewhatpains Ihave taken toprepare this feast foryourfatherandbrothers.Asmyhusband,youshallhaveall therichesandpleasuresoftheworldatyourcommand.”

Theprincewas indignant. “Ididnotask these thingsofyou–nordo Iknowwhatplothasbeenafoottodeprivemeofmymonkey.Restorehertome,andIwillbeyourslave!”

Then the fairyprincesscamedownfromher throne,and taking theprincebythehand,spoketohimwithgreatloveandrespect.

“Youseeinmeyourfriendandcompanion,”shesaid.“Yes,itwasIwhotooktheformofamonkey, to testyourfaithandsincerity.See,mymonkey’sskin liesthereinthecorner.”

Theprincelooked,andsawinacorneroftheroomtheskinofhismonkey.He joined the fairy princess on her throne, and when she said “Arise, arise,

arise,” the throne rose in the air and floated into the hall where the guests hadgathered.

Theprincepresentedhisbridetohisfather,whowasofcoursedelighted.Theguests were a little disappointed to find that their hostess was not, after all, amonkey. But they had to admit that the prince and the princess made a mosthandsomecouple.

I

ABattleofWits

NAVILLAGEinnorthernIndiatherelivedaBania,amerchantwhoseshopkeptthevillagerssuppliedwiththeireverydaynecessities.Oneday,onhiswaytoaneighbouringtowntomakesomepurchases,hemeta

poorJat,oneofatribeoffarmerswhowasalsogoingtotowntopaythemonthlyinstalmentofadebtheowedtothelocalmahajan,thebankerandmoneylender.

ThedebthadactuallybeenincurredbytheJat’sgreat-grandfatherandhadinthebeginningbeenonlyfiftyrupees;buthisgreatgrandfatherhadbeenunabletorepayit,andinthelastfiftyyears,throughinterestandcompoundinterest,theamounthadgrowntofivehundredrupees.

TheJatwaswalkingalong,wonderingifhewouldevergetoutoftheclutchesofthemahajan,whentheBaniacaughtupwithhim.

“Good day to you, Chowdhri,” said the Bania, who, though he had a pooropinionofthefarmer ’sintelligence,wasalwayspolitetohiscustomers.“Iseeyouaregoingtotowntopayyourinstalmenttothemahajan.Beforelongyouwillhavetogiveupyourlands.Cannothingbedonetosavethem?”

“It is too late to do anything, Shahji,” said the Jat. He was much taller andstrongerthantheBania;atthesametimehewasaneasy-going,good-naturedsort.TheBaniathoughthewassimple-minded.

“Well, let us forget our worries,” said the Bania, “and pass the time tellingstories.”

“Agoodidea,Shahji!Itwillmakethejourneylesstiresome.Butlettherebeonecondition.Nomatterhowfantasticorsillythestory,neitherofusmustcallituntrue.Whoeverdoesso,mustpaytheotherfivehundredrupees!”

“Agreed,” said theBaniawith a laugh. “And letme beginmy story first.Mygreat-grandfatherwasthegreatestofBanias,andtremendouslyrich.”

“True,ohShahji,true!”saidtheJat.“AtonetimehepossessedafleetoffortyshipswithwhichhesailedtoChina,

andtradedthereinrichjewelsandcostlysilks.”“True,ohShahji,true!”saidtheJat.“Well, aftermaking a huge fortunemygreat-grandfather returnedhomewith

manyuniqueandpreciousthings.Onewasastatueofpuregoldwhichwasableto

answeranyquestionputtoit.”“True,ohShahji,true!”“When my great-grandfather came home, many people came to have their

questionsansweredbyhiswonderfulstatue.Onedayyour great-grandfather camewithaquestion.Heasked:‘Whoarethewisestofallmen?’Thestatuereplied:‘TheBanias, of course.’ Then he asked: ‘And who are the most foolish?’ The statuereplied:‘TheJats.’Andthenyourgreat-grandfatherasked,‘AmongtheJats,whoisthemoststupid?’Thestatuereplied:‘Why,youare,ofcourse.’”

“True,ohShahji,true,”saidtheJat,inwardlyresolvingtorepaytheBaniainhisowncoin.

“Myfather,”continued theBania,“washimselfagreat traveller,andduringatouroftheworldhesawmanywonders.Oneday,amosquitohoveringnearhisearthreatened tobitehim.My father,notwishing tokill themosquito, requested it toleave.Themosquitowasamazedatsuchgentlemanlyconduct.Itsaid,‘NobleShahji,youarethegreatestmanIevermet,andImeantodoyouagreatservice.’Sayingthis,themosquitoopeneditsmouth,andinsideitmyfathersawalargepalacewithgoldendoorsandwindows.Atoneofthewindowsstoodthemostbeautifulprincessintheworld.Atthedoorofthepalacehesawapeasantabouttoattacktheprincess.Myfather,whowasverybrave,atoncejumpedintothemouthofthemosquitoandentereditsstomach.Hefounditverydarkinside.”

“True,ohShahji,true!”saidtheJat.“Well, after some timemy father grew used to the darkness andwas able to

makeoutthepalace,theprincessandthepeasant.Heatoncefelluponthepeasant,who happened to be your father. They fought for a year in the stomach of themosquito.Attheendofthattimeyourfatherwasdefeatedandbecamemyfather ’sservant.My father thenmarried the princess and Iwas born from the union. ButwhenIwasfifteenyearsold,aheavyrainofboilingwaterfellonthepalace,whichcollapsed, throwingus into a scalding sea.Withgreat difficultywe swamashore,wherethefourofusfoundourselvesinakitchen,whereawomanwasshakingwithterroratthesightofus.”

“True,ohShahji,true!”“Whenthewoman,whowasacook,realizedthatweweremenandnotghosts,

shecomplainedthatwehadspoilthersoup.‘Whydidyouhavetoentermypotofboilingwaterandfrightenmelikethat?’shecomplained.Weapologised,explainingthatforfifteenyearswehadbeenlivinginthebellyofamosquito,andthatitwasnotourfaultthatwehadfoundourselvesinhercookingpot.‘Ah!Iremembernow,’she said. ‘A little while ago a mosquito bit me on the arm. Youmust have beeninjected intomyarm, forwhen I squeezedout thepoison, a largeblackdrop fellintotheboilingwater.Ihadnoideayouwereinit!’”

“True,ohShahji,true!”saidtheJat.

“Well,whenwe left thekitchenwefoundourselves inanothercountry,whichhappenedtobeourpresentvillage.Herewetooktoshopkeeping.Theprincess,mymother,diedmanyyearsago.That,Chowdhri,ismystory.Improveuponitifyoucan!”

“Averytruestory,”saidtheJat.“Mystory;thoughnolesstrue,isperhapsnotaswonderful.Butitisperfectlytrue,everywordofit...

“My great-grandfather was the wealthiest Jat in the village. His nobleappearance and great wisdom brought praise from all who met him. At villagemeetings hewas always given the best seat, andwhen he settled disputes no onequestionedhisgoodjudgement.Inaddition,hewasofgreatphysicalstrength,andaterrortothewicked.”

“True,ohChowdhri,true,”saidtheBania.“Therewasatimewhenagreatfaminecametoourvillage.Therewasnorain,

the rivers and wells dried up, the trees withered away. Birds and beasts died inthousands. When my great-grandfather saw that the village stores had beenexhausted,and that thepeoplewoulddieofhunger ifsomethingwasnotdone,hecalledtheJatstogetherandsaid,‘BrotherJats,GodIndraisangrywithusforsomereason,becausehehaswithheldtheseasonalrains.ButifyoudowhatI tellyou,Iwillsupplyyouallwithfooduntilthescarcityisover.Iwantyoutogiveyourfieldstome for sixmonths.’Without any hesitation the Jats gavemy great-grandfathertheir fields. Then, stripping himself of his clothes, he gave one great heave andliftedtheentirevillageofathousandacresandplaceditonhishead!”

“True,ohChowdhri,true!”exclaimedtheBania.“Then my great-grandfather, carrying the village on his head, searched for

rain...“Wherever therewasrainhetookthevillage,sothat therainwater fellon the

fieldsandcollectedinthewells.ThenhetoldtheJats(whowereofcoursestill inthevillageonhishead)toploughtheirlandandsowtheirseed.Thecropsthatcameuphadneverbeensowonderful,andthewheatandthemaizerosetosuchaheightthattheytouchedtheclouds.”

“True,ohChowdhri,true,”saidtheBania.“Thenmygreat-grandfatherreturnedtohiscountryandplacedthevillageinits

properplace.Thefarmersreapedarecordharvestthatyear.Evergrainofcornwasasbigasyourhead.”

“True, oh Chowdhri, true,” said the Bania, annoyed at the comparison butanxious not to lose hiswager.By this time, they had reached the outskirts of thetown,buttheJathadnotfinishedhisstory.

“At that timeyour great-grandfatherwasaverypoorman,” said the Jat, “andmine,whohadmadehugeprofitsfromhiswonderfulharvest,employedhimasaservanttoweighoutthegrainforthecustomers.”

“True,ohChowdhri,true,”saidtheBaniawithasourlook.“Being a blockhead, your ancestor oftenmademistakes for which he would

receivethrashingsfrommygreat-grandfather.”“True,ohChowdhri,true!”By this time they had entered the shop of themahajan to whom the Jat was

owing money. Bidding the banker good morning, they sat down on the floor infrontofhim.ButtheJat,withoutspeakingtothebanker,continuedhisstory.

“Well,Shahji, aftermygreat-grandfather soldhisharvesthedischargedyourgreat-grandfather.But,beforehewent,yourancestoraskedmineforaloanoffiftyrupees,whichwasgenerouslygiventohim.”

“True,ohChowdhri,true!”saidtheBania.“Verygood,”saidtheJat,raisinghisvoicesothatthemahajancouldalsohear

them. “Your ancestor did not repay that debt. Nor did your grandfather, or yourfather,repaythedebt.Neitherhaveyourepaidituptothistime.”

“True,ohChowdhri,true!”“Nowthatsumoffiftyrupees,withinterestandcompoundinterest,amountsto

exactlyfivehundredrupees,whichsumyouoweme!”“True,ohChowdhri,true!”

“So,asyouhaveadmittedthedebtbeforethemahajan,kindlypaytheamounttohimsothatImayhavemylandsreleased.”

ThisplacedtheBaniainadilemma.Hehadadmittedadebtbeforeathirdparty.Ifhesaidthatitwasmerelyastory,andcompletelyuntrue,hewouldhavetopaytheJatfivehundredrupeesaccordingtothetermsofthewager.Ifhesaiditwastrue,hewouldhavetopaytheamounttothemahajan.Eitherwayhewastheloser.

SotheBaniapaidup,andneveragaindidhebelittletheintelligenceofhisJatneighbours.

O

ToriaandtheDaughteroftheSun

NCEUPONATIMEtherewasayoungshepherdoftheSantaltribenamedToria,whograzedhissheepandgoatsonthebankofariver.Nowithappenedthat

the daughters of the Sun would descend from heaven every day by means of aspider ’sweb, to bathe in the river. FindingToria there, they invited him to bathewith them.After theyhadbathedandanointed themselveswithoils andperfumes,theyreturnedtotheirheavenlyabode,whileToriawenttolookafterhisflock.

HavingbecomefriendlywiththedaughtersoftheSun,Toriagraduallyfell inlovewithoneof them.But hewas at a loss to knowhow toobtain such a divinecreature.Oneday,whentheymethimandsaid,“Comealong,Toria,andbathewithus,”hesuddenlythoughtofaplan.

While they were bathing, he said, “Let us see who can stay under water thelongest.”Atagivensignaltheyalldived,butverysoonToriaraisedhisheadabovewaterand,makingsurethatnoonewaslooking,hurriedoutofthewater,pickeduptherobeofthegirlheloved,andwasintheactofcarryingitawaywhentheothersraisedtheirheadsabovethewater.

Thegirl ranafterhim,begginghim to returnhergarment, butToriadidnotstoptillhehadreachedhishome.Whenshearrived,hegavehertherobewithoutaword.Seeingsuchabeautifulandnoblecreaturebeforehim,forverybashfulnesshecouldnotopenhismouthtoaskhertomarryhim;sohesimplysaid,“Youcangonow.”

Butshe replied,“No, Iwillnot return.Mysistersby this timewillhavegonehome.Iwillstaywithyou,andbeyourwife.”

Allthetimethiswasgoingon,aparrot,whomToriahadtaughttospeak,keptonflyingabouttheheavens,callingouttotheSun:“Oh,greatFather,donotlookdownwards!”As a result, theSundidnot seewhatwashappeningon earth tohisdaughter.

This girl was very different from the women of the country – she was halfhuman,halfdivine–sothatwhenabeggarcametothehouseandsawher,hiseyesweredazzledjustasifhehadstaredattheSun.

Ithappenedthat thissamebeggar in thecourseofhiswanderingscameto theking’s palace, and having seen the queen,whowas thought by all to be themost

beautiful of women, he told the king: “The shepherd Toria’s wife is far morebeautifulthanyourqueen.Ifyouweretoseeher,youwouldbeenchanted.”

“HowcanIseeher?”askedthekingeagerly.Thebeggaranswered,“Putonyouroldclothesandtravelindisguise.”The king did so, and having arrived at the shepherd’s house, asked for alms.

Toria’swife came out of the house and gave him food andwater, but hewas soastonished at seeingher great beauty that hewasunable to eat or drink.His onlythoughtwas,HowcanImanagetomakehermyqueen?

Whenhegothomehethoughtovermanyplansandatlengthdecideduponone.Hesaid,“IwillorderToriatodigalargetankwithhisownhands,andfillitwithwater,andifhedoesnotperformthetask,Iwillkillhimandseizehiswife.”HethensummonedToriatothepalace,commandedhimtodigthetankandthreatenedhimwithdeathifhefailedtofillthetankwithwaterthesamenight.

Toriareturnedhomeslowlyandsorrowfully.“Whatmakesyousosadtoday?”askedhiswife.Hereplied,“Thekinghasorderedmetodigalargetank,tofillitwithwater,

andalsotomaketreesgrowbesideit,allinthecourseofonenight.”“Don’tletitworryyou,”saidhiswife.“Takeyourspadeandmixalittlewater

withthesand,wherethetankistobe,anditwillformtherebyitself.”Toriadidashewastold,andthekingwasastonishedtofindthetankcompleted

intime.HehadnoexcuseforkillingToria.Later, thekingplantedagreatplainwithmustardseed.Whenitwasreadyfor

reaping,hecommandedToriatoreapandgathertheproduceintoonelargeheaponacertainday;failingwhich,hewouldcertainlybeputtodeath.

Toria,hearingthis,wasagainverysad.Whenhetoldhiswifeaboutit,shesaid,“Donotworry,itwillbedone.”SothedaughteroftheSunsummonedherchildren,the doves. They came in large numbers, and in the space of an hour carried theproduce away to the king’s threshing-floor. Again, Toria was saved through thewisdom of his wife. However, the king determined not to be outdone, so hearrangedagreathunt.Onthedayofthehuntheassembledhisretainers,andalargenumber of beaters and provision-carriers, and set out for the jungle. Toria wasemployedtocarryeggsandwater.Buttheobjectofthehuntwasnottokillatiger,itwastokillToria,sothatthekingmightseizethedaughteroftheSunandmakeherhiswife.

Arriving at a cave, they said that a hare had taken refuge in it. They forcedToriaintothecave.Then,rollinglargestonesagainsttheentrance,theycompletelyblocked it.Theygathered largequantitiesofbrushwoodat themouthof thecave,andsetfiretoit tosmotherToria.Havingdonethis,theyreturnedhome,boastingthattheyhadfinallydisposedoftheshepherd.ButToriabroketheeggs,andalltheashes were scattered. Then he poured the water that he had with him on the

remainingembers,andthefirewasextinguished.Toriamanagedtocrawloutofthecave.Andthere,tohisgreatastonishment,hesawthatallthewhiteashesofthefirewerebecomingcows,whilstthehalf-burntwoodwasturningintobuffaloes.

Toriaherdedthecowsandbuffaloestogether,anddrovethemhome.Whenthekingsawtheherd,hebecameveryenvious,andaskedToriawherehe

hadfoundsuchfinecowsandbuffaloes.Toriasaid,“Fromthatcaveintowhichyoupushedme.Ididnotbringmanywithme,beingonmyown.Butifyouandallyourretainersgo,youwillbeabletogetasmanyasyouwant.Buttocatchthemitwillbenecessarytoclosethedoorofthecave,andlightafireinfront,asyoudidforme.”

“Verywell,” said the king. “I andmy peoplewill enter the cave, and, as youhavesufficientcowsandbuffaloes,kindlydonotgointothecavewithus,butkindlethefireoutside.”

Thekingandhispeople thenenteredthecave.Toriablockedupthedoorway,andthenlitalargefireattheentrance.Beforelong,allthatwereinthecaveweresuffocated.

SomedayslaterthedaughteroftheSunsaid,“Iwanttovisitmyfather ’shouse.”Toriasaid,“Verywell,Iwillalsogowithyou.”“No,itisfoolishofyoutothinkofsuchathing,”shesaid.“Youwillnotbeable

togetthere.”“Ifyouareabletogo,surelyIcan.”Andheinsistedonaccompanyingher.Aftertravellingagreatdistance,Toriabecamesofaintfromtheheatofthesun

thathecouldgonofurther.Hiswifesaid,“DidInotwarnyou?Asforquenchingyourthirst,thereisnowatertobefoundhere.Butsitdownandrest,IwillseeifIcanfindsomeforyou.”

Whileshewasaway,drivenbyhisgreatthirst,Toriasuckedaraweggthathehad brought with him. No sooner had he done this than he changed into a fowl.When hiswife returnedwithwater, she could not find him anywhere; but, sittingwhere she had left him, was a solitary fowl. Taking the bird in her arms, shecontinuedherjourney.

When she reachedher father ’s house, her sisters askedher, “Where isToria,yourhusband?”She replied, “Idon’tknow. I lefthimon the roadwhile Iwent tofetchwater.WhenIreturned,hehaddisappeared.Perhapshewillturnuplater.”

Hersisters,seeing thefowl, thought that itwouldmakeagoodmeal.Andso,whileToria’swifewasresting,theykilledandatethefowl.Later,whentheyagainenquiredofherastothewhereaboutsofherhusband,shelookedthoughtful.

“Ican’tbesure,”shesaid.“ButIthinkyouhaveeatenhim.”

A

TheWickedGuru

CERTAINKINGoftheSouthhadabeautifuldaughter.Whenshehadreachedamarriageable age, the king spoke to hisGuru (spiritual teacher) and said:

“Tellme,OGuru,bythestarstheauspiciousdayformydaughter ’smarriage.”ButtheGuruhadbecomeenamouredofthegirl’sbeauty,andheansweredwith

guile, “Itwillbewrong tocelebrateyourdaughter ’smarriageat this time. Itwillbringevilonbothofyou. Instead,adornherwith thirty-sixornamentsandclotheher in the finest of her garments, cover her with flowers and sprinkle her withperfumes,andthensetherinaspaciousboxafloatonthewatersoftheocean.”

ItwasthetimeofDwaparaYuga–thethirdageoftheworld–andtheGuruhadto be obeyed. So they did as he said, to the great sorrow of the king and all hissubjects.Thekingasked theGuru tostayandcomfort them,buthesaidhehad toreturnatoncetohissacredseat,andleftforhisownhomesomethreedaysdistant.

Assoonashereachedhishouse, theGurustocked itwithgoldandpearlandsilverandcoralandthefinestoffabricsthatwomendelightin,andcalledhisthreehundred and sixty disciples and said: “My children, go and search the ocean, andwhoeverfindsfloatingonitalargebox,bringithere,anddonotcometomeagainuntilIsummonyou.”

Theyallscatteredtodoastheyhadbeentold.Meanwhile, thekingof aneighbouring countryhadgonehuntingon the sea-

shore,wherehehadwoundedabearintheleg.Thewoundedbearlimpedaboutandgave vent to short savage grunts. As the king looked out to sea, he saw a boxfloatingonthecrestsofthewaves.Hewasquiteayoungman,and,beinganexpertswimmer,hesoonbrought theboxashore.Greatwashis surpriseand joy to findthatitcontainedabeautifulgirladornedasabride.

Heputthelamebearintotheboxandsetitafloatonceagain.Thenhehurriedhomewithhisprize.Thegirlwasonlytoogladtomarryherdeliverer,andagreatweddingtookplace.

AllthistimetheGuru’sdisciplesweresearchingforthebox,andwhenoneofthem found it floating near the shore he duly brought it to the Guru, and thendisappearedashehadbeen told.TheGuruwasdelighted.Hepreparedsweetsandfruits and flowers and scents. He closed all the doors of his chamber. He could

hardlycontainhimselfasheopenedthebox.As soonas theboxwasopen,out jumped thebear, savageandhungryandat

warwithallhuman-beingsbecauseofthetreatmenthehadreceived.HeseizedtheGuruinabear-hugandthentoreouthisthroat.

Feelinghislifeebbing,theGurudippedhisfingerinhisownbloodandwrotethisSloka:

Man’sdesiresarenotfulfilled.TheGod’sdesiresprevail.Theking’sdaughterisintheking’spalace.Thebearhaseatenthepriest.

When the Guru failed to send for his disciples, they went together to his house,where, on breaking open his chamber-door, they found his body. The Guru’smurderappeared tobeamystery,until theking,whohadbeensent for, foundtheversesonthewallandhadthemtranslatedbyhisscholars.Onescholarprovedthatthe bear could have escaped by means of a large drain that was found in thebuilding.

Now ithappened that thiskingwas related to theneighbouringkingwhohadfoundandmarriedtheprincessinthebox,andwenttovisithim.

“Howremarkablylikemydaughter,”heremarked,onseeinghishostess.“Yes,thesamedaughterwhowassetafloatinabox,”saidthequeen.Butthey

were overjoyed to see each other again; and the king was especially pleased,becausehehadallalonghopedthathisdaughterwouldmarrytheking-next-door.

A

“AsYourLiberality,SoYourVirtue”

BRAHMINwhohadnochildrenusedtogoeverydaytotheking’spalace,andsay,“Asyourliberality,soyourvirtue.”

Hedidthisdailyforayearandsixmonths,andreceivedarupeeeachtime.At last thekingbegan towonderwhyhewasbothering togiveawaya rupee

everyday, soheasked theBrahmin, “Whatdoyoumeanby the saying, ‘Asyourliberality,soyourvirtue’,whichyoukeeprepeatingeveryday?”

TheBrahmin had no idea – itwas just a phrase he had been taught to repeatsince childhood – so he went home and thought about it, but the king gave himnothing that day; andwhatwasworse, the king said that if theBrahmin failed tocome upwith a suitable explanation, hewould sacrifice him before theGoddessDurga.

ThatverydayadaughterwasborntothechildlessBrahmin,andassoonasshecamefromthewomb,shesmiled,stoodup,andsaid,“Father,whydoyoulooksosad?”

Thefatherreplied,“Whatistheuseoftellingyou?Youwereonlyborntoday.”Buthisbabydaughteragainsaid,“Father,letmehearaboutit.Whyisyourfacesosad?”

Soherfatheranswered,“EverydaysinceIwasaboy,Ihavebeengoingtotheking’spalaceandsaying,‘Asyourliberality,soyourvirtue.’EverytimeIreceivedarupee.ButtodaythekinghasthreatenedtosacrificemetotheGoddessDurgaifIdonotexplainthemeaningofthesayingtohim.Nowisn’tthatunreasonable?Whyshouldanyonewanttoknowthemeaningofsomethingthathasbeenacceptedasthetruthforcenturies?”

Hisdaughtertoldhimtogoandbathe,andsaidshewouldgivehimthemeaningof the saying. So hewent and bathed; and, after he had eaten, he returned to hisdaughter.Shetoldhimtogotothecourt,andifthekingspoketohim,tosay,“Yourmajesty, two days ago a daughter was born in my house. She will tell you themeaningofthesaying.”

Thefatherdidjustashewastold.Thekingwasastonished,anddeclaredthatitwas nonsense to suppose that an infant could explain the meaning of anything.Nevertheless,hetookhiselephants,horsesandsoldiers,andwenttotheBrahmin’s

house.Whenthelittlegirlsawtheking,shestoodupandaskedhimwhyhehadcome

toherhome.Whenhetoldher,shesaid,“Icantellyouthemeaningofthesaying,but for themoment Iwill only say this: in the southern corner of your kingdomlivesanoil-man,andhisredoxwilltellyou.”

So theking tookawayhiselephants,horsesandsoldiers,andwent to theoil-man’shouse,andaskedhimwhetherhekeptaredoxtoturnhisoilmill.

“Thereheisinthefield,”saidtheoil-man.Thekingwentuptotheoxandsaid,“Ho,Mr.Oil-man’sox,canyoutellmethe

meaningofthesaying,‘Asyourliberality,soyourvirtue’?”The ox repliedweeping, “Iwould tell you if I could, but Iwill only say that

thereisaclumpofSheoratreestotheeastofyourpalace,andtheywilltellyou.”So theking tookhis elephants,horsesand soldiers, andwent to theclumpof

Sheoratreesandsaid,“GoodSheoratrees, tellmethemeaningofthesaying,‘Asyourliberality,soyourvirtue’.”

The genius of the Sheora trees replied: “Listen, king of theworld, you havebeenmadeakingbecauseinyourformerlifeyouwereverykindandliberal,andgave yourwholemind to charity. Thewomanwhowas then yourwifewas verypureinheart,andshehasnowbeenborninthehouseofthechildlessBrahmin.Theoil-man’sredoxwasformerlyyourson.Andnow,lastofall,ImustexplainthatIwasonceyourson’swife,butmyheartwashardenedagainsteveryone,andIwasmostunwillingtogiveanythingaway;sointheendIbecamethespirit,orgenius,ofthisgroveoftrees.Icannotmovefromhere.Ourdestiniesarecontrolledbytheactionsofourformerlives.”

Onhearingthisthekingreturnedhome.EverydayafterthattheBrahminwenttothepalace,andrepeatedthesaying,andreceivedhisrupee.

I

TheSongoftheWhistling-Thrush

NTHEWOODEDHILLSofwesternIndialives“TheIdleSchoolboy”–abirdwhocannot learn a simple tune thoughhe is giftedwith one of themost beautiful

voices in the forest.Hewhistlesaway invarious sharpsand flats, andsometimes,whenyouthinkheisreallygoingtoproduceamelody,hebreaksoffinthemiddleofhissongasthoughhehadjustrememberedsomethingveryimportant.

WhyisitthattheWhistling-Thrushcanneverrememberatune?Thestorygoesthatonahotsummer’safternoontheyoungGodKrishnawaswanderingalongthebanksofamountainstreamwhenhecame toasmallwaterfall, shot throughwithsunbeams.Itwasa lovelyspot,coolandinviting.Tinyfishfleckedthepoolat thefoot of the waterfall, and a Paradise Flycatcher, trailing its silver tail, movedgracefullyamongstthetrees.

Krishnawasenchanted.Hethrewhimselfdownonabedofmossandferns,andbegan playing on his flute–the famous flute with which he had charmed all thecreaturesintheforest.Afatyellowlizardnoddeditsheadintimetothemusic;thebirdswerehushed;andtheshymouse-deerapproachedsilentlyontheirtinyhoovestoseewhoitwaswhoplayedsobeautifully.

PresentlythefluteslippedfromKrishna’sfingers,andthebeautifulyounggodfell asleep. But it was not a restful sleep, for his dreams were punctuated by anannoyingwhistling, as though someonewho didn’t knowmuch aboutmusicwaspractisingonhisfluteinanattempttolearnthetunethatKrishnahadbeenplaying.

Awakenow,Krishnasatupandsawaraggedurchinstandingankle-deepinthepool,thesacredfluteheldtohislips!

Krishnawasfurious.“Comehere, boy!” he shouted. “Howdare you stealmy flute and disturbmy

sleep!Don’tyouknowwhoIam?”The boy, instead of being afraid, was thrilled at the discovery that he stood

before his hero, the young Krishna, whose exploits were famous throughout theland.

“Ididnotstealyourflute,lord,”hesaid.“Hadthatbeenmyintention,Iwouldnothavewaitedforyoutowakeup.Itwasonlymygreatloveforyourmusicthatmademetouchyourflute.Youwill teachmetoplay,willyounot?Iwillbeyour

disciple.”Krishna’s angermelted away, andhewas filledwith compassion for theboy.

But itwas too late todoanything, for it iseverlastinglydecreed thatanyonewhotouchesthesacredpropertyofthegods,whetherdeliberatelyorininnocence,mustbemadetosufferthroughouthisnexttenthousandbirths.

Whenthiswasexplainedtotheboy,hefellonhisfaceandweptbitterly,crying,“Havemercy onme,Krishna.Dowithme as youwill, but do not sendme awayfromthebeautifulforestsIlove.”

Swiftly, Krishna communed in spirit with Brahma the Creator. Here was agenuinecaseofacrimecommittedinignorance.Ifitcouldnotbeforgiven,surelythepunishmentcouldbelesssevere?

Brahma agreed, andKrishna laid his hand on the boy’smouth, saying, “Forevertrytocopythesongofthegods,butneversucceed.”Thenhetouchedtheboy’sclothes and said, “Let the raggedness and dust disappear, and only the beautifulcoloursofKrishnaremain.”

ImmediatelytheboywaschangedintothebirdweknowtodayastheWhistlingThrushofMalabar,withitsdarkbodyandbrilliantbluepatchesonheadandwings.In thisguisehe still continues to live among thebeautiful, forestedvalleysof thehills, where he tries unsuccessfully to remember the tune that brought about hisstrangetransformation.

NotesandSources

TALESFROMTHEEPICSLOVECONQUERSALL

The story of Savitri is found in theMahabharata, the great epic poem of India, which contains much of themythologyandreligionoftheHindus.Itisdividedintoeighteenbooksandcontainsabout220,000lines,whichmustmake it the longest poem in theworld.Over the centuries (500B.C.–400A.D.) the poem receivedmanyadditions.IttellstheepicstoryofthegreatwarsbetweenthetwobranchesoftheBharatafamily(thePandavasandtheKauravas).Thedateofthewaritselfwasprobablyinthe14thcenturyB.C.ThetaleofSavitriistoldtotheexiledKingofthePandavastoconsolehimfortheplightofhisenslavedQueenDraupadi.ThestoryofSavitrihasbeenusedasthebasisforashortoperabyGustavHolst,composedin1907.

THECOWOFPLENTY

This is how the story ends in theMahabharata. But theRamayana, the other great Hindu epic, tells us that,before admitting defeat, Vishwamitra made another violent attempt to overcome the power of Vasishtha. Itdescribesagreatslaughteronbothsides,andsaysthatittookamightyeffortonthepartofthecowbeforeshegainedthefinalvictory.

ManyofthesacredhymnsoftheRig-Veda(seenoteonTheSuperiorMan)areattributedtoVasishtha.Hewasconsideredoneofthesevengreatsagesoftheancientworld.

InIndiathecowisreverencedas“thefountainofmilkandcurds.”

KINGBHARATA

Tales of Bharata, an ancient king, are well-known in south India, and appear in early Telegu literature – theTeleguVaishnavas–andalsointheVishnuPuranas,sacredHindutextswritteninapproximately400A.D.

ThisisnotthesameBharata,halfbrotherofRama,whosestoryistoldintheRamayana;norishethesonofDushyantaandShakuntala.

Kali:ThegoddessKali is terrible to lookupon.Shehas four, sometimes ten, arms, and in her hands aredeadlyweapons...KaliorKalikameans“theblack”,andsheisrepresentedwithablackskin,drippingblood,encircledwithsnakes,andhungroundwithskullsandhumanheads...The femaleenergyof theGodShivahastwoaspects,onemild,theotherfierce,andKalirepresentsoneformofthelatter.

Brahmin:ABrahminbelongstothepriestlyorder,thehighestcasteinthesystemofHinduism.Thesacredthread (wornover the left shoulderandextendinghalf-waydown the right thigh) is firstwornwhenaBrahminboyisabouteightyearsold; the threadmustbemadebyaBrahminpriest.ABrahminyouthcannotbemarriedbeforehehasreceivedthethread.

SHIVA’SANGER

This story is found both in the Ramayana and theMahabharata. Although these epic poems contain manyaccounts,likethisone,ofthemightandmajestyofthegods,theyalsodealwiththeactionsofmortalsandtheirromanticadventuresasinthestoryofSavitri.

Daksha: One of the ten great Rishis, or Sages, “mind-born sons of Brahma”, from whommankind hasdescended.Shiva,thegreatGod,isknownastheDestroyerandReproducer.Hiswifeisknownbyseveralnamesandinseveralcharacters,andheresheisUma,“lightandbeautiful”,themountaingoddess.

Inconcluding this tale, theMahabharata goeson to say: “Ifyou read this storyand recite thenamesofShivayouwillneverbe troubledby fever,andmore than that,youwillneverexperience theslightestevilallthroughlife.”

NALAANDDAMAYANTI

Thestory is toldasanepisode in theMahabharata. It firstbecameknown inEnglandbybeing translated intoEnglishversebyDeanMilman.According toone scholar (Balfour), “Beingadomestic story, it isbetter fittedthanbattlestotheHindugenius,andisamodelofbeautifulsimplicity.”

TheMahabaharatagoesontotellusthatNalaandDamayantilivedhappilytogetherforsometime,asortanddaughterbeingborntothem.ButNalawasluredontogamblewithPushkara,whousedcharmeddice.Nalalost kingdom,wife and children, andhewanderedoff a pauper.After various fortunes, he andDamayantimetagain and were reunited. He had learned how to play with dice, and challenged Pushkara, from whom herecoveredallhehadlost.

Swayamvara:FromtheSanskrit,Swayam,herself;andVara,choosing–indicatingthattheladydidindeedchooseforherself.

THESUPERIORMAN

Vedas:ThesacredhymnsoftheVedicperiod,begunasearlyas1500B.C.TheRig-Vedaistheoldest,andtoalarge extent the source fromwhich the later collectionsofhymns aredrawn. It is essentially abookofpraiseaddressed to the nature gods of the Aryans. ‘Veda’ means ‘divine knowledge’. This story is found in theMahabbarata(500B.C.).

SHAKUNTALA

Bharata: Has given his name to India (Bharata-varsha). The wars of his descendants are described in theMahabbarata.EventhoughthisstoryhasitsoriginsintheMahabbarata,Shakuntalaisprobablybest-knownasaverse-playwrittenbyKalidas,India’sgreatestpoet-dramatist,wholivedinthe4thcenturyA.D.ItwasthefirsttranslationmadefromSanskritintoEnglish(bySirWilliamJones,inthelate18thcentury).AfterShakuntala, thebest-knownofKalidas’splaysistheMrichikata,orToyCart.Seealso:TheLostRuby.

TALESFROMTHEJATAKATHEHAREINTHEMOON

WhenEnglishchildrenlookupatthemoon,theyseemarkedonitthefigureofamanwithabundleofsticks,andbyhissideadog.TotheeyesofIndianchildrenthedogseemsmorelikeahare.InSanskritthemooniscalledsasin,“havingahare”.ThisstoryisfoundintheJataka,thegreatcollectionofBuddhistbirth-stories,inwhichtheBodhisattva(Buddha)visits theearthinvariousforms–inthiscaseasahare.ManyofthestoriesintheJatakaare,infact,adaptationsofevenearlierIndiantales.IntheKalmuk(CentralAsian)versionofthelegend,itisthesouloftheharethatistransferredtothemoon.TheGodSakka(notfoundinHindumythology)appearsinmanyoftheJatakatales,whereheisdescribedas“KingoftheGods”.

THEUGLYPRINCEANDTHEHEARTLESSPRINCESS

This is oneof the several stories in theJatakawhich is not a beast fable.The legends in theJataka relate toSakyaMuni,orBuddha’spreviousexistences,whichheissaidtohaverelatedatvarioustimestohishearers,and

inwhichmuchofhisteachingistobefound.Inthisstory,GodSakkadecidestheBuddhashouldgoagainintotheworldofmen,whereheisbornasPrinceKusa.

Sitar:Astringedinstrument.

THECRANEANDTHECRAB

ThisisoneofthebestknownbeastfablesintheJataka,theBuddhistBirth-stories,whichdrawuponevenearlierstoresofIndianfolklore.TheBuddhausedthistaletodrawthefollowingmoral:

“Thevillain,thoughexceedingclever,Shallprospernotbyhisvillainy.Hemaywin,indeed,sharp-wittedindeceit,Butonlyasthecraneherefromthecrab.”

(IntheBirth-story,theBuddhahasbeenlookingonatthedramaintheformofatree-spirit).This tale is an excellent example of how the world’s folklore is interrelated. It is found in the Arabic

Kalila-wa-Damna, the PersianAnwar-i-Suhaili, The Greek Stephanites kai Ichnelates, the French Livres desLumièresandCabinetdesFées, inLaFontaine, theArabianNights, the IndianPanchatantra andHitopadesa,andmany other collections of house-hold stories. In thePanchatantra (composed about 200 B.C.), the crabcrawlsbacktohisoldpond,draggingthecrane’sheadwithhim,asawarningtotheremaininginhabitantsofthepond.

FRIENDSINDEED

In this tale from the Jataka, which extols the virtues of true friendship, the Buddha assumes the form of theAntelope. The three friends, we are told, lived long and happily and then “passed away to be rewardedaccordingtotheirdeeds”.

“WHO’LLBUYMYMANGOES?”

IhaveadaptedthisstoryfromashorttaleintheJataka.KingBrahmadattareignsatBenares,andtheBuddha(intheguiseofaminister)persuadesthekingtoforgivehiswife.

Benares (Varanasi):AlsocalledKashiby theHindus,hasbeen thereligiouscapitalofIndiafrombeyondhistorical times. It ismentioned inboth theMahabharataandRamayana.Sixcenturiesbefore theChristianera,theBuddhacametoBenarestoestablishhisreligion.

REGIONALTALESANDLEGENDSADEMONFORWORK

This tale from south India first appeared in theEnglish rendering byPandit S.M.NatesaSastri, inThe IndianAntiquary,Vol.XVI,October1887.Thestoryexplainsthecustomofnailingahandfulofhairtoatreeinwhichevilspiritsaresupposedtodwell,inordertodrivethemaway.

THELOSTRUBY

“MaytheEternalDispenserofallGoodthusdealwithhisservants”–that’showanIndiantalewastraditionallymade to end by its narrator. This was a popular folk-tale in northern India during the 19th century, when theMoghulkingsstillruledatDelhi.

Persianwas the court language of theMoslem rulers, and the Persian influence on Indian literaturewas

quitemarkedduringtheMoghulperiod(1525-1761).Ontheotherhand,theincidentoftherubybeingfoundinthebellyofthefishwouldappeartobederivedfromKalidas’sShakuntala.

Paan:Abetelleafpreparation,chewedtosweetenthebreathandasadigestive.Pice:Acoinofsmalldenominationnolongerinuse.

HOWATRIBALBOYBECAMEAKING

TheBhuiyas are an ancient tribe living in the forest highlands of central India. Theyworship various deities inNature. But the Hindu influence is quite evident in this tale: the fairy is sent by Indra, the Hindu God of theFirmament;andthereisreferencetoYama,GodofDeath,andhiskingdom,Yamaraj.

WilliamCrooke, aBritish civil servantwhowas devoted to the study and collection of Indian folklore,recountedthistaleinTheIndianAntiquaryofMarch,1894.Hementions that itwas told tohimbyoneof themostprimitivemembersoftheBhuiyatribe,whomhemetintheheartofthejungle.

THEHAPPYHERDSMAN

Thereareseveralvariationson the themeof this folk-tale,which isstill told in thevillagesofnorthernIndia. Ifirsthearditasaboy,fromanoldHinduladywholivedintheMainpuridistrict.

InHindufolklore,thebanyantree,withitsspreadingaerialroots,representsthemattedhairofShiva.Therearemanyfolk-beliefsconnectedwithsnakes.Theyhavethepowerofidentifyingandprotectingthe

heirsofkingdoms.Ahichhatra,‘SnakeUmbrella’,afamousoldtownintheBareillydistrict,hasalegendofthiskindwhichtellsofamanwhofoundAdiraja,theAhircowherd,whowasdestinedtorule,sleepingintheshadeoftheoutspreadhoodofacobra.

Dhoti:A traditionalgarment,unsewn,wornbyHindumenfolk. It ispassedround thewaist, thenbetweenthelegs,andfastenedbybeingtuckedinbehind.ItisshownbeingwornbymalefiguresinHinduandBuddhistsculpturesofovertwothousandyearsago,andtherehasbeennochangeinthegarmentsincethen.

THETIGER-KING’SGIFT

This talefromSouthIndia isset in the timeof thePandyakings,whoruledin thefarsouthfiveorsixcenturiesbeforeChrist.The dynasty had a long andprosperous career, extending into theChristian era.EmbassiesweresenttotheRomanEmperorAugustus.Weread(inStrabo’sRomanGeography)ofoneembassybringingcuriouspresents,amongthemamanwithoutarms,andaserpenttencubitslong!(Thiswasprobablyapython).

Papanasam:IstheplaceofpilgrimagevisitedbyGanganandmeans‘expiationofsin’.Pillaiyar:Theelephant-headedGodofGoodLuck,iscalledGaneshorGanesa,inNorthIndia.Heisalso

theGodofLearning.

THEGHOSTANDTHEIDIOT

Thisfolk-talewasfirsttoldtomebythemotherofayoungfriendofmine,whenIwasaboy,spendingaholidaywithmyfriendinhisvillagenearAgra.Hismother,whosmokedahookahintheevenings,wasagreatonefortellingfolk-tales–preferablyghoststories–beforesendingustobed.

Peepultreesareheldsacred,andarebelievedtobetheabodeofvariousspirits.AMunjiaistheghostofaBrahminyouthwhohascommittedsuicideontheeveofhismarriage.Therearemanykindsofghostsandtree-spiritsinthevillagesinIndia.

BRAVEANDBEAUTIFUL

Rajputs: Literally sons of rajas or princes, the name by which several clans of India designate themselves.Almost all Hindus who have taken to soldiering claim a Rajput origin, a recognition of the superior martialqualitiesoftheRajputrace.

GoddessParvati:(atwhosetempleSunderbaiworships)isthewifeoftheGodShiva.RatanSingh:Singh(meaningLion)isusedasasortofsurnamebytheRajputwarriorclass.Ratanisafirst

name.

SEVENBRIDESFORSEVENPRINCES

This is a popular folk-tale in northern India, considerably influenced by Persian lore, in which fairies (Peris)abound. They were originally beautiful but malevolent sprites, often held responsible for comets, eclipses,failuresofcrops,etc.Inlatertimestheywereseenasdelicate,gentlefairybeings,helpingthepureinhearttofindtheirwaytoheaven.

ABATTLEOFWITS

My friend’s mother, in her village near Agra, was fond of telling this story whenever I stayed with them.NeedlesstosayshewasaJatlady.ThetaleisapopularoneinthefolkloreofNorthernIndia.TheBaniasarebytraditionshopkeepers;theJatsareafarmingcommunityinNorthernIndia.

“Chowdhri”(Chief)and“Shahji”(King)areformsofaddressusedwhentwopeoplearegoingoutoftheirwaytobeverypolitetoeachother.

TheJat’sreferencetoGodIndrawithholdingtheseasonalrainsisaptbecauseIndraistheLordofThunder,whoselightningcleavesthecloudstobringforthrain.HisattributescorrespondtothoseoftheJupiterPluviusoftheRomans.

TORIAANDTHEDAUGHTEROFTHESUN

This Santali legend was first rendered in English by Rev. F. T. Cole, Taljhari, Rajmahal, and appeared in theIndianAntiquary,Vol.IV,1875.

The Santals are one of the aboriginal tribes of India, inhabiting the Santal Parganas, a district of WestBengal. They are noted for being industrious, truthful and kindly people. Good hunters, with spear, bow andarrow, they eat the flesh of most animals. They have four gods of the woods (Dryads), represented by fourstones buried in a clump of trees called the Jairthan, and no Santal village can be settled till the Jairthan isestablished.TheyworshiptheSunattheJomSinfestival,whenmysteriousritesareperformedintheforest.Theirmostsolemnoathistakenwhentouchingatiger’sskin.

THEWICKEDGURU

This folk-tale comes from South India. M. N. Venkataswami includes it in hisFolklore from Dakshina-Desa(1905).

DwaparaYuga:InHinduism,thiswasthethirdageoftheworld,extendingto864,000years.Inthisage,goodnessdeclinedandmankindwasassailedbycalamities;fewdareddisobeytheirGurus.

Sloka:ASanskritword,meaningastanzaorverseoffourlines.

“ASYOURLIBERALITY,SOYOURVIRTUE”

This tale is illustrative of theHindu concept of re-birth andKarma: your actions in this lifewill determine thenatureofthenext.IfounditinG.H.Damant’s‘BengaliFolklore:ALegendofDinajpur’intheIndianAntiquary,Vol. 1, 1872. G. H. Damant was a Deputy Commissioner of the Naga Hills, who fell a victim to the rebelMozemaNagasduringarisingofthattribeinOctober1879.

GoddessDurga:Wife of theGod Shiva, in hermore terrible form. She has ten arms and inmost of herhands are weapons. She is sometimes depicted as a beautiful yellow woman riding on a tiger, and is widelyworshippedinBengal.

Sheoratrees:(Trophisaspera)arefoundinBengalandOrissa.Theyhavescabrousleaveswhichareusedtopolishhornandivory.Thebarkisusedmedicinally,theleavesandsapforwounds.Theberriesaregreedilyeatenbybirds.

THESONGOFTHEWHISTLING-THRUSH

Krishna:ThemostcelebratedheroofIndianmythology,andthemostpopularofallthedeities.Aroundhimtherehasgatheredagreatmassoflegendandfable.