Then the sprite said, “Your majesty! there is a city in the south named
Dharmpur, a king of which was named, Mahãbal. Once upon a time another
king of that same region led an army against and invested his capital.
He continued fighting for several days. When his army went over (in
part) to the enemy, and a portion was cut to pieces, then, having no
help for it, he took his wife and daughter with him, and went forth by
night into the jungle. After he had penetrated several miles (_lit_.
kos) into the jungle, the day broke, and a village came in view. Then,
leaving the queen and princess seated beneath a tree, he went himself
towards the village to get something to eat, and in the meantime (a body
of) Bhils came and surrounded him, and told him to throw down his arms.”
“On hearing this, the king commenced discharging arrows, and they did
the same from their side. Thus did the fight last for three hours, and
several, of the Bhils were slain. In the meantime an arrow struck the
king’s forehead with such force that he reeled and fell, and one of them
came up and out off the king’s head. When the queen and princess saw the
king dead, they took their way back to the jungle weeping and beating
their breasts. After having proceeded a _kos_ or two thus, they got
tired and sat down, and began to be troubled with many an anxious
thought.”
“During this time a king, named Chandrasen, together with his son, while
pursuing the game, came into that jungle, and the king noticing the
foot-prints of the two (women), said to his son, ‘Whence have the
foot-prints of human feet come in this vast forest?’ The prince replied,
‘Your majesty! these are women’s foot-prints; a man’s foot is not so
small.’ The king observed, ‘True, man has not got such delicate feet.’
The prince said again, ‘They have just this moment passed.’ The monarch
said, ‘Come, let us seek them in the jungle; if we find them, I will
give her whose foot this large one is to thee; and I will take the
other.’ Having entered into this mutual compact, they went forward,
and perceived the two seated. They were delighted on seeing them, and
seating them on their horses in the manner agreed upon, they brought
them home. The prince took possession of the queen, and the king of the
princess.”
Having related so much of the story, the sprite said, “Your majesty!
what relationship will there be between the children of these two?” On
hearing this, the king held his tongue through ignorance.
Then the sprite said in great glee, “Your majesty! I have been highly
pleased at witnessing your patience and courage; I tell you one thing,
however; do you attend thereto,--viz.: one, the hairs of whose body are
like thorns, and whose body (itself) is like wood, and whose name is
Shãntshïl, has come into your city, and he it is who has deputed you to
fetch me, (while) he himself is seated in the burning-ground working his
spells, and desires to kill you. I therefore forewarn you, that when he
has finished his devotions, he will say to you, ‘Your majesty! prostrate
yourself so that eight parts of your body may touch the ground.’ You
should then say, ‘I am the king of kings, and all potentates bow low in
salutation before me; up to this hour I have not bowed in adoration
to any one, and I know not how to do so; you are a spiritual teacher,
kindly show me how to do so, and then will I do it.’. When he bows down,
give him such a blow with your sword that his head may become severed
(from his body); then will you reign uninterruptedly; whereas, if you
will not do this, he will slay you, and reign permanently.”
Having warned the king in these words, the sprite came out of that
corpse, and went his way; and while somewhat of night still remained,
the king brought the corpse and placed it before the ascetic. The
ascetic became glad on seeing it, and lauded the king greatly. After
that, he repeated incantations and raised the corpse to life, and
offered up a ‘burnt-offering in sacrifice: and sitting with his face
southwards, offered to his god all the materials he had pre? pared; and
after offering up betel leaf, flowers, incense, lamps, and consecrated
food, he said to the king, “Make obeisance; very glorious will thy
dignity become, and the eight supernatural faculties * will always abide
in thy house.”
* These powers are--1. Mahima, or the faculty of making
one’s self as bulky as one pleases. 2. Laghims, or the
faculty of making one’s self as light as one pleases. 3.
Anima, or the power of making one’s self infinitely small.
4. Prakamya, or the power of gratifying one’s desires. 5.
Vashita, or power of subjecting all things to one’s will. 6.
Ishita or supreme sway. 7. Prãpti, or the power of obtaining
everything. 8. Kãmãvasãÿitwam, or the power of subduing and
quenching natural desire.
On hearing this, the king called to mind the words of the sprite, and
joining his hands, said with the utmost humility, “Your reverence! I
know not how to bow in adoration; you, however, are a spiritual teacher;
if you will kindly teach me, I will do it.” As the ascetic, on hearing
this, lowered his head to prostrate himself, that instant the king
struck him such a blow with his sword that his head was severed; and
the sprite came and showered down flowers. It is declared that there is
nothing unlawful in slaying him who would himself slay another.
At that time Indra and the rest of the gods, having witnessed the king’s
courage, mounted their cars and began to raise shouts of victory and
exultation. And king Indra said in pleasure to king Bïr Vikramãjït, “Ask
a boon.” Then the king joined his hands and said, “Your majesty! Let
this story concerning me become famous in the world.” Indra replied, “So
long as the moon, sun, earth and sky endure, this story shall be famous;
and thou shalt be ruler over the whole earth.”
After saying this, king Indra went to his place, and the king took those
two corpses and threw them both into the oil-cauldron. Thereupon the two
heroes came and presented themselves, and began to say, “What command
is there for us?” The king replied, “When I remember you, then do you
come.” Taking from them their promise to do this, the king returned
home, and began to attend to his government. It is said that,--Whether
one be learned or a fool, a child or a man, he alone who is wise will
win success.