Then the sprite said, “O king! there is a city named Mithalãvatï, the
king of which is Gunãdhip. A young rãjpüt, named Chiramdeva, came from
a distant land to enter his service. He used to go daily to pay his
respects to the king, but did not obtain an interview. And in the course
of a year he consumed all the money he had brought (with him) while
tarrying here without employment, and there (in his native land), his
home went to ruin.”
“It happened one day that the king mounted his horse for the chase,
and Chiramdeva also joined his cavalcade. The king became accidentally
separated from his followers in a forest, and the attendants lost
themselves in another jungle; one, however, Chiramdeva, was following
the king. At length, he called out, and said, ‘Your majesty! all the
attendants have remained behind, while I am accompanying you, making
my horse keep pace with yours.’ On hearing this, the king reined in
his horse, and so he came up (to the king). The king looked at him, and
asked, ‘How hast thou become so emaciated?’”
“Then he replied, ‘If I live with a master, such that he cherishes
thousands of people, while he takes no thought of me, no blame
(attaches) to him for this, but rather my own fate is to blame. As, for
example, by daylight the whole world is clearly visible; yet it is not
visible to the owl;--what blame can be imputed to the sun for this? It
is astonishing to me that he who caused the means, of subsistence to
reach me in my mother’s womb, should take no thought of me now, when I
have been born, and am capable of enjoying worldly aliment. I know
not whether he sleeps or is dead. And, in my opinion, it is better to
swallow deadly poison and die, than to ask for goods and money from a
great man who, while giving the same, makes a wry face, and turns up his
nose (in contempt), and raises his brows. Now these six things render
a man contemptible,--first, the friendship of a perfidious man; second,
causeless laughter; third, altercation with a woman; fourth, the serving
a bad master; fifth, riding a donkey; sixth, unpolished (or uncouth)
speech. * And the following five things the Creator records in a man’s
destiny at the time of his birth,--First, length of life; second, acts;
third, wealth; fourth, know-ledge; fifth, reputation. O king! so long as
a man’s virtues ** are conspicuous, all continue to be his servants; but
when his virtues decrease, his very friends become his enemies.”
* Lit.--A dialect without Sanskrit.
** I should much prefer translating “so long as a man’s
fortunes are in the ascendant,” were it not that none of the
lexicons I have seen sanctions the sense of “fortunes” for
punya.
“This one thing, however, is certain; by serving a good master one
derives benefit sooner or later; he does not remain unbenefited.’”
“On hearing this, the king pondered over all these words, but did not
then make any reply. He said this to him, however, ‘I feel hungry; bring
me something to eat from somewhere.’ Chiramdeva said, ‘Your majesty!
bread ** is not to be obtained here.’ Having said this, he went into
the jungle, killed a deer, took out a flint and steel from his pocket,
kindled a fire, broiled some slices of meat, and served up a plentiful
meal to the king, and partook of it himself as well. To be brief, when
the king was quite satisfied, *** he said, ‘Now, Rãjpüt I conduct me to
the city, for the road is not known to me.’ He conducted the king into
the city, and brought him to his palace. Then the king appointed him to
an office, and bestowed many robes and jewels upon him. After that, he
continued in close attendance upon the king.”
** Lit.--“Grain-food,” which might mean boiled rice, or
cakes of bread and boiled pulse.
*** Lit.--When the king’s belly was filled.
“In short, the king one day sent that Rãjpüt on some business to the
seaside. When he reached the sea-shore, he beheld a temple (dedicated)
to Devi. He entered it, and worshipped Devi. But, on the instant of his
coming out thence, a beautiful damsel came up to him from behind, and
began questioning him, saying, ‘O man! why hast thou come here?’ He
replied, ‘I have come in quest of pleasure, and at the sight of thy
beauty I am fascinated.’ She said, ‘If thou hast any design on me, first
go and bathe in this pool; after that I will listen to whatever thou
shalt say to me.’”
“On the instant of hearing this, he took off his clothes, entered the
pool and dipped, and came out, and lo! he was standing in his own city!
On beholding this marvel, he was filled with fear, and returning home in
his helplessness, clothed himself, and went and related the whole story
to the king. The king no sooner heard it than he said, ‘Show me this
wonder also.’ This said, he ordered the horses, and both mounted and
set off. After several days, they reached the sea-shore, and entered
the same temple of Devi, and paid adoration. Farther, when the king came
out, the very same damsel, accompanied by a female friend, came and
stood beside the king, and on beholding the king’s handsome appearance,
became fascinated, and said, ‘O king! I will execute any command you
may give me.’ The king replied, saying, ‘If thou wilt obey my command,
become the wife of my servant.’ She said, ‘I have become the slave of
thy beauty, how then can I become his wife?’ The king replied, ‘It was
but this instant thou saidst to me, ‘I will obey any command you may
give me.’ Now, whatever the good promise they perform. Keep thy plighted
word, (and) become the wife of my servant.’ On hearing this, she said,
‘Your word is law to me.’ Thereupon the king married his servant to her
without the usual ceremonies, * and brought them both with him to his
palace.”
* A gandharb marriage is one where the usual formalities are
dispensed with, and the parties become man and wife by
mutual consent.
Having related so much of the story, the sprite said, “Tell me, O king!
Of master and servant, whose was the greater virtue?” The king said,
“The servant’s.” The sprite said again, “Was not the merit of the king
greater, who obtained so beautiful a woman, and bestowed her on his
servant?” Thereupon king Bir Vikramãjït said, “What superior merit is
there in their conferring favours, whose office it is to do so? But he
who, while having his own, interests to attend to, promotes the
interests of another--_he_ is the greater. For this reason, the
servant’s merit was the greater.” On hearing these words, the sprite
went and hung himself on that same tree; and the king went and again
took him down from thence, placed him on his shoulder, and carried him
away.