The sprite said, “Your majesty! there is a city named Punyapur,
the king of which was named Ballabh, and his minister’s name was
Satyaprakash, (and) the name of the minister’s wife was Lakshmi. One
day the king said to his minister, ‘If one who is a king does not enjoy
himself with beautiful women, his holding sovereignty is in vain.’
Having said this, and made over the burthen of government to the
minister, he himself gladly entered upon a course of amorous pleasures.
He abandoned all cares of the state, and commenced spending his days and
nights in enjoyment.”
“It so happened that, one day, the minister was sitting dejected at
home, when his wife asked him, ‘Husband! you seem to me to be very
weak?’ He replied, saying, ‘Night and day the cares of government weigh
heavily on me, and hence my body has become feeble; while the king is
the whole day long occupied with his own pleasures and enjoyment.’ The
minister’s wife said, ‘O husband! you have carried on the government for
a long time, now take leave of the king, and undertake a pilgrimage for
few days.’”
“He remained silent on hearing this speech of hers. Afterwards, when
he stirred out (_lit_. when he rose thence), he went to the king at the
time of his holding a court, and, obtaining his permission to go, set
out on a pilgrimage. Journeying on, he reached Setband Rãmeshwar, * on
the sea-coast. As soon as he arrived there, he visited the shrine of
Mahãdeva, and came out (of the temple), when, his gaze happening to
stray towards the sea, what does he behold, but a (marvellous) tree of
gold come up out of it, the leaves of which were emeralds, the blossoms
topazes, the fruits corals,--it presented a most beautiful sight! And
seated on the tree was a very beautiful woman, holding a lute in her
hands, and singing in most soft and sweet strains. After a few minutes
the tree disappeared in the ocean.”
* etband (from the Sanskrit setu-bandha) signifies a dike or
bridge, and is applied to the ridge of rooks between the
Coromandel coast and Ceylon. This dike or bridge is said to
have been built by the allies of Rama (i.e., the monkey army
under the leadership of Hanuman), when he invaded Ceylon to
recover his wife Sltã, who had been carried off thither by
Bãvan. It is said that, as fast as the monkeys built up the
dike, Bãvan destroyed it; so, to prevent his doing this,
Bãma erected a temple to Shiva (the god adored by Bavan) at
the extremity of the dike. Thenceforth Setband Rãmeshwar
became a place of pilgrimage.
“After beholding this spectacle there, the minister turned back and came
to his own city, and, proceeding to the king, made obeisance, and
joining his hands, said, ‘Your Majesty! I have witnessed a marvellous
sight!’ The monarch said, ‘Describe it.’ The minister said, ‘Your
majesty! men of olden time have said that one should not speak of such
things as are beyond the comprehension of any one, and which no one
would credit. But this thing I saw plainly with my eyes, and hence I
speak of it. Your majesty! at the place where the Lord Raghunãth has
bridged the ocean, lo! a golden tree came up out of the sea, which was
so splendidly loaded with emerald leaves, topaz flowers, and coral
fruit, that a description of it is impossible! And upon it was a very
beautiful woman, with a lute in her hands, singing the sweetest of
strains. But after a few minutes that tree was lost to sight in the
ocean.’”
“On hearing these words, the king entrusted the government to the
minister, and set out alone for the sea-shore. After several days he
arrived there, and entered the temple to pay adoration to Mahãdeva; and
having bowed down and worshipped, he came out, when lo! the same tree,
woman, and all, rose up (out of the sea). As soon as the king saw her,
he leaped into the sea, and went and sat on the same tree. She, together
with the king, descended to the nether regions. ** She looked at him
(the king) and said, ‘Valiant man! Why hast thou come hither?’ The king
replied, ‘I have come, attracted by thy beauty.’ She rejoined, ‘If thou
wilt not have intercourse with me during the dark fortnight of the lunar
month, I will marry thee.’ The king consented to this arrangement.
Notwithstanding this, however, she took the king’s solemn promise, and
then married him.”
* Raghunãth (i.e., the lord of the family of Raghu,) is a
title of Rama, who, as an incarnation of Vishnu, was born in
the family of Raghu.
** Pãtãla is one of the seven Hindu hells, and the region
under the earth which is the abode of the Nagas, or serpents
with human faces.
“To be brief, when the dark nights set in, she said, ‘Your majesty is
not to remain near me today.’ On hearing this, the king left her, taking
his sword with him; and going apart, kept secret watch. When it was
midnight, a demon came, and, on the instant of arriving, folded her in
his arms. No sooner did the king witness this, than he rushed forward
with his sword, and said, ‘Foul fiend! lay not thy hand on my wife
before my eyes! First fight with me. It was only ere I had set my eyes
on you that fear possessed me; now I have no fear.’”
“This said, he drew his sword, and struck such a blow, that the head (of
the demon) was severed from the body, and lay quivering on the ground.
On beholding this, she said, ‘O gallant man! thou hast done me a great
kindness!’ After saying this, she spoke again, saying, ‘It is not every
mountain that contains rubies, nor every city that holds true men, nor
does the sandal-tree grow in every forest, nor do pearls exist in the
head of every elephant.’ Thereupon the king enquired, ‘Why did this
demon come to thee on the fourteenth night of the waning moon?’”
“She said, ‘My father’s name is Vidyãdhar. I am said Vidyãdhar’s
daughter. Sundari is my name. Now it was an established custom for my
father not to partake of food without me. One day I was not at home at
meal-time; thereupon father became angry and pronounced a curse on me,
saying, ‘A demon will come and embrace thee every fourteenth night of
the waning moon.’ On hearing this, I said, ‘Father! you have indeed
given me your curse; but now have mercy on me!’ He replied, ‘When an
intrepid man shall come and slay that demon, thou wilt escape from this
curse.’ Now, therefore, I have escaped from that curse; and I will now
go and pay my respects to my father.’”
“The king said, ‘If thou appreciatest the kindness I have done thee,
come at once and visit my dominions; after that, go and visit thy
father.’ She said, ‘Very well; I consent to what you say.’ Thereupon the
king brought heir with him to his capital. Festive music and rejoicing
began to take place. The news spread throughout the city that the king
had arrived. Then songs of congratulation and merry-making commenced in
every house; and after that, all the musicians and singers of the city
came and offered their congratulations at the court. The king gave away
many presents, and performed many pious acts.”
“Again, after some days that fair one said, ‘Now, your majesty! I will
go to my father’s.’ The king said in sadness, ‘Very well: go.’ When she
perceived the king to be sad, she said, ‘Your majesty! I will not go.’
The king said, ‘Why hast thou given up the idea of going to thy father?’
She replied, ‘I have now become one of the human race, and my father is
a demi-god; * were I to go now, he would show me no respect: this is my
reason for not going.’ On hearing this the king was highly delighted,
and gave away lacs of rupees in presents and religious offerings.
Hearing of these matters touching the king, the minister died
broken-hearted.”
* The Gandharvas are demi-gods inhabiting Indra’s heaven,
and serving as celestial musicians.
Having told so much of the tale, the sprite said, “O king! why did the
minister die?” Then king Bïr Vikramãjït said, “The minister perceived
that the king had taken to sensual enjoyments, and banished all the
cares of government from his mind; that the subjects had lost their
master (or protector); and so, no one would heed what he (the minister)
said. This is the anxiety of which he died.” Having heard this, the
sprite went again and hung himself on that tree. The king went again, as
on previous occasions, and placed him on his shoulder, and carried him
away.