“‘There was a city named Ilãpur, and a merchant named Mahãdhan dwelt
there, who could not get a family. On this account he was continually
making pilgrimages and keeping fasts, and always hearing the Purãnas
read, and he used to give gifts largely to the Brahmans. In fine, after
some considerable time, by God’s will, a son was born in that merchant’s
house. He celebrated the event with great pomp, and gave large gifts to
the Brahmans and bards, and also gave away a good deal to the hungry,
thirsty, and indigent. When he reached the age of five years, he placed
him (in school) for instruction. He used to leave home for the purpose
of learning, but used to gamble with the boys when he got there.”
“‘After some time the merchant died, and he (the son) becoming his
own master, used to spend his days in gambling and his nights in
fornication. Thus he dissipated his whole wealth in a few years, and
having no alternative, quitted his country, and proceeding from bad to
worse, arrived at the city of Chandrapur. In that place dwelt a merchant
named Hemgupt, who possessed much wealth. He went to him, and mentioned
his father’s name and circumstances. He (the merchant) felt instant
pleasure on hearing these accounts; and rising and embracing him,
inquired, ‘How came you here?’ Then he said, ‘I had engaged a vessel,
and set out for an island to trade, and having arrived there, and sold
the goods, had taken in other goods as cargo, and left with the vessel
for my own land, when suddenly so violent a storm arose that the ship
was wrecked, and I was left seated on a plank; and so, drifting on, I
have reached this shore. But I feel a sense of shame at having lost
all my property and wealth. How can I now return and show my face to my
fellow-citizens in this state?’”
“‘To be brief, when he uttered such words in his presence, he (the
merchant) too began to think to himself, ‘God has relieved me of any
anxiety without any effort of my own (_lit_. I sitting at home); now, a
coincidence like this occurs through the mercy of God alone; it behoves
me to make no delay now. The best thing to be done is to give my girl in
marriage * to him; whatever is done now is best; as for the morrow--who
knows what it may bring forth!’ Forming this grand design in his mind,
he came to his wife and began to say, ‘A merchant’s son has arrived; if
you approve, we will give Ratnãvati in marriage to him.’ She, too, was
delighted on hearing (this), and said, ‘Sir merchant! when God brings
about a coincidence like this, then alone does it occur; for the desire
of our hearts has been obtained without our bestirring ourselves in the
least (_lit_., we sitting quietly at home); hence, it is best not to
delay, but quickly send for the family priest, have the auspicious
moment determined, and give her away in marriage.’ Hereupon the merchant
sent for the priest, had the fortunate planetary conjunction determined,
and gave his daughter away, bestowing a large dowry upon her. In fine,
when the marriage had taken place, they commenced living together
there.”
* Lit. “make the girl’s hands yellow.” Among the Hindus, for
some days before marriage, the hands of a betrothed couple
are stained yellow with turmeric.
“‘To proceed:--After some days, he said to the merchant’s daughter, ‘A
long time has passed since I arrived in your land, and no news of my
household has reached me, and my mind remains troubled in consequence. I
have told you my whole case; you should now so explain matters to your
mother that she may, of her own free will, allow me to depart, that I
may return to my own city. If it be your wish, do you also come.’ On
this, she said to her mother, ‘My husband desires permission to depart
to his own land; do you, too, act in such a manner now that his mind may
receive no pain.’”
“‘The merchant’s wife went to her husband, and said, ‘Your son-in-law
asks leave to return home.’ On hearing this, the merchant said, ‘Very
well; we will let him go, for we can exercise no authority over a
stranger’s son; we will, do that alone wherein his pleasure consists.’
Having said this, he sent for his daughter, and asked, ‘Will you go to
your father-in-law’s, or remain at your mother’s? Speak your own mind.’
At this she blushed, and gave no answer, (but) returned to her husband,
and said, ‘My parents have declared that they will do that wherein your
pleasure consists; don’t you leave me behind.’ To be brief, the merchant
summoned his son-in-law, loaded him with wealth, and dismissed him,
and allowed his daughter to accompany him in a litter, together with a
female servant. After this, he set out from thence.”
“‘When he reached a certain jungle, he said to the merchant’s daughter,
‘There is great danger here; if you will take off your jewels and give
them to me, I will fasten them round my waist; when we come to a town
you can put them on again.’ She no sooner heard this than she took off
all her ornaments, and he having taken them, and sent away the bearers
of the litter, killed the woman-servant and threw her into a well, and
pushing her (his wife) into a well also, went off to his own country
with all the jewels.”
“‘In the meantime, a traveller came along that road, and hearing the
sound of weeping, stopped, and began to say to himself, ‘How comes the
weeping voice of a human bring (to be heard) in this jungle?’ Having
reflected thus, he proceeded in the direction of the sound of the
crying, and perceived a well. On looking into it, what does he
behold but a woman weeping! Then he took out the woman, and commenced
questioning her on her circumstances, saying, ‘Who art thou, and how
didst thou fall into this (well)?’ On hearing this, she said, ‘I am the
daughter of Hemgupt, the merchant, and was accompanying my husband to
his country, when thieves waylaid us, killed my servant and threw her
into a well, and bound and carried off my husband together with my
jewels. I have no intelligence of him, nor he of me.’ When he heard
this, the traveller took her along with him, and left her at the
merchant’s door.”
“‘She went to her parents. They, at the sight of her, began enquiring,
‘What has happened to thee?’ She said, ‘Robbers came and plundered us
on the road, and after killing the servant and casting her into a
well, pushed me into a dry well, and bound and carried off my husband,
together with my jewels. When they began demanding more money, he said
to them, ‘You have taken all I possessed, what have I now left?’ Beyond
this, whether they killed him or let him go, I have no knowledge.’ Then
her father said, ‘Daughter! feel no anxiety; thy husband lives, and,
God willing, will join thee in a few days, for robbers take money, not
life.’”
“‘In fine, the merchant gave her other ornaments in place’ of all
that had disappeared, and comforted and consoled her greatly. And the
merchant’s son, also, having reached home, and sold the jewels, spent
his days and nights in the company of loose women, and in gambling, so
much so, that all his money was expended. Then he came to want bread.
At last, when he began to suffer extreme misery, he one day bethought
himself of going to his father-in-law’s, and pretending that a grandson
had been born to him, and that he had come to congratulate him on the
event. Having determined on this in his mind, he set out.”
“‘In the course of several days he arrived there. When he was about to
enter the house, his wife saw from the front that her husband was coming
(and said to herself), ‘He must not be allowed to turn back through
any apprehension he may feel.’ Upon this she approached him and said,
‘Husband! be not at all troubled in mind; I have told my father that
robbers came and killed my servant, and after making me take off all my
jewels, and casting me into a well, bound and carried off my husband.
Do you tell the same tale; feel no anxiety; the house is yours, and I am
your slave.’ After speaking thus she entered the house. He went to the
merchant, who rose and embraced him, and questioned him on all that had
befallen him. He related everything precisely as his wife had instructed
him to do.”
“‘Rejoicings took place throughout the house. Then the merchant, after
providing him with the means of bathing, and placing food before him,
and after ministering much comfort, said, ‘This house is yours, abide
(here) in peace.’ He commenced living there. In brief, after several
days the merchant’s daughter came and lay with him one night with her
jewels on, and fell asleep. When it was midnight, he perceived that she
had fallen into a sound sleep. He then inflicted such a wound on her
neck, that she died; and after stripping her of all her jewels, he took
the road to his own country.”
“‘After narrating so much the _maina_ said, ‘This, your majesty! I saw
with my own eyes. For this reason I have no wish to have anything to
do with a male. You see, your majesty! what villains men are! Who would
love such, and so cherish a serpent in her own home? Will your
majesty be pleased to consider this point,--What crime had that woman
committed?’”
“Having heard this, the king said, ‘O parrot! do you tell me what faults
there are in women.’ Thereupon the parrot said, ‘Attend, O king!’”