There once lived a certain raja, who had three wives. The two elder had
two sons each, and the younger only one, whose name was Lelha. [12]
The four sons of the first two wives were very friendly with each
other, being seldom separate, but they despised Lelha, and never
permitted him to join them in any of their pastimes or sports.
The raja had a plot of ground set apart for a flower garden, but
there was nothing in it. One day a certain Jugi came to him, and said,
"Oh! raja, if you fill your garden with all kinds of flowering plants,
your whole city will appear enchanting." Having said this, the Jugi
went to his home. The raja was greatly affected by what the Jugi had
said, and was immediately seized with a fit of the sulks. There was
an apartment in the palace set apart for the exclusive use of those
who happened to be in that state of mind. Such an one shut himself
up in this chamber until the fit wore off, or until he was persuaded
to be himself again.
The raja refused his evening meal, and as was his wont, when in this
frame of mind, retired to the sulking apartment, and lay down. The
two elder ranis having been informed of what had occurred, hasted
to the raja, and said, "Oh! raja, why are you sulking?" He replied,
"This morning a Jugi came to me and said, that if I planted flowering
shrubs in my garden the whole city would appear enchanting. If any
one will do this work for me, I will rise, if not, I shall remain
here." The ranis then addressed him thus, "Oh! raja, rise up, and eat
and drink." The raja replied, "Let the young men come to me, I will do
as you desire." The two ranis then left, and calling their sons, sent
them to their father. Coming into the presence of the raja they said,
"Wherefore father are you sulking?" The raja replied, "If you plant
flowers in my flower garden I shall be comforted, and shall leave
my couch." They said, "Is it on this account you are distressed? We
shall cause the garden to be filled with flowers in a short time." On
receiving this assurance the raja left his bed, and partook of food,
and was refreshed. Lelha's mother now appeared on the scene, and
addressing the raja, said, "Wherefore, raja are you sulky?" He replied,
"Who told you I was sulky?" She replied, "A shopkeeper gave me the
information." Then the raja got angry, and ordered her to leave,
but she said, "If you do not tell me why you are sulking I will not
depart, am not I also your humble maidservant? Unless you tell me,
I will not go, I will die here rather than leave." The raja relented,
and related to her all the words of the Jugi. She then returned home.
Her son Lelha entered the house soon after her arrival. He had been
engaged in some field sports, and being wearied and hungry, said to
his mother, "Give me some cooked rice." She was annoyed with him
and said, "Although the raja is ill, your first cry is for boiled
rice." Lelha on hearing this went to his father, and enquired what
was wrong. But the raja flying into a rage scolded him, saying, "Go
away Lelha. What do you want here? Never come near me again. Did not I
build a house for your mother and you at the extreme end of the street,
away from here? Be off, or I shall beat you." To which Lelha replied,
"Oh! father raja, am not I also a son of yours? Let me be foolish
or otherwise, still, I am your son, and unless you inform me of what
has grieved you, I shall die rather than leave this." Then the raja
told him also. He said, "It is because I do not see flowers in the
garden." "Oh!" said Lelha, "Is that what distresses you?" He then left.
The raja's four elder sons caused all manner of flowering shrubs and
trees to be planted in the garden, and in a short time it was in a
blaze of colour, so much so, that the whole city was as if lighted
thereby.
Just at this time, when every tree, shrub and plant was covered with
blossom another Jugi, named Koema Jugi, came to the city and said
to one and another, "You, the citizens of this city, are covering
yourselves with renown, but if you attach hiras [13] and manis [14] to
the branches, you will add renown to renown." The Jugi's words reached
the raja, and he was so much affected by them, that he immediately
began to sulk, and on being questioned by his two ranis, he replied,
"Do you not remember the words of the Koema Jugi?" They said, "Yes,
we remember. He said, 'if you place hiras and manis in this garden
the whole country will be resplendent'." "On that account then, I am
sulking, and if I do not see hiras and manis, I shall not partake of
any food." At the raja's words the two ranis returned sorrowfully to
their apartments.
At that moment their four sons entered the house and asked for
food. The ranis were annoyed, and said, "The raja, your father,
is sulking, and you must have food and drink." On learning their
father's state the youths were distressed on his account, and went
to him weeping, and enquired why he was sulking. He related to them
the words of Koema Jugi, and added, "Unless I see hiras and manis
attached to the branches of the trees in my flower garden, I shall
not rise from my couch." His four sons replied, "Is it for this reason
you are grieving? We will search for, and bring them, and if we fail,
then sulk again, and refuse your food, and die of hunger, and we will
not prevent you, only listen to us this time and get up." The raja
was persuaded to rise, and having partaken of food he was refreshed.