My lord, I set out on my travels in search of you, like the rest, and
arriving one day at Damalipta, I saw a great crowd collected in a
large park outside the city. While looking about me to find some one
of whom I might inquire what this festival was, I espied a young man,
sitting alone in an arbour, amusing himself with playing on a lute.
Going up to him, I asked "What is this concourse of people? Why do you
sit here alone, away from the others?"
He answered: "A long time ago, the king of this country, having no
children, made many prayers and offerings to the goddess Durgâ, in
the hope of propitiating her. At last she appeared to him in a dream,
and said: 'Your prayer is granted; your wife shall bear twins--a
daughter who must be your successor, and a son who must be subject to
her and to her husband when she marries. Further, it is my will and
pleasure that, beginning from her seventh year, you shall make, every
month when the moon is in the constellation Krittika (or the
Pleiades), a great festival, to be called the Festival of the Ball
Dance, at which she shall publicly exhibit her skill before the
people. I also will, that in reference to a husband, she shall have
free choice without any pressure on your part, and that he whom she
marries shall have equal power with her, and reign after your death.'
"The promise given in the dream was fulfilled. The queen bore
twins--a son and a daughter. The king has duly obeyed the commands of
the goddess, and to-day the princess, whose name is Kandukavati, will
again perform the ball dance for the propitiation of Durgâ in the
sight of the people here assembled.
"You asked me also why I am sitting here alone. I will tell you. The
Princess Kandukavati has a dear friend and foster-sister, who is
engaged to me.
"Of late, Bhimadhanwa, the brother of the princess, has cast his eyes
on her, and persecuted her with his importunities. Knowing his
character, I have great fear lest some day he should use violence
towards her. This is why I am so anxious and uneasy, and have no
inclination to join in the festivities."
Just then I heard the tinkling of anklets, and a young lady came to
the place where we were sitting.
On seeing her, my companion started up with great delight, and, taking
her by the hand, introduced her to me, saying: "This is the lady whom
I have told you of, dearer to me than life, the thought of separation
from whom, through the wickedness of that wretch, burns me like fire,
and causes me to suffer misery greater than death. I have no loyalty
or respect towards him, and will lose my life rather than suffer him
to accomplish his wicked purpose."
But she, with tears in her eyes, said: "O my beloved, do not on my
account engage in any act of violence; whatever might be the result,
your own life would, certainly be forfeited. You have continually
professed your great love for me; be guided now by my advice. I am
ready to follow you wherever you go; let us then fly from this
country, and go where we shall be safe from my persecutor."
My new acquaintance then turned to me, and said: "You seem to have
been a great traveller; tell us in what country we may be most in
safety and best able to live."
I smiled at this, and answered: "The world is wide, and there are
plenty of countries pleasant to live in; but, after all, one's own
country is the best; why should you banish yourselves? I think I can
contrive some means by which you will be enabled to remain here in
safety and comfort. Wait then a while, and if I cannot do this I will
tell you where it will be best for you to go."
Before we had time to say more, the young girl started up, saying: "I
dare not stay a moment longer. I have stopped away from my mistress
to see you, and now I hear her coming, and must join her directly. Any
one may see the princess at this festival; I hope you will have a good
view of her." Saying this to me, she ran off, and we both followed her
to the place where the princess was to perform--an open stage which
had been erected in the park.
Presently she made her appearance, followed by a train of female
attendants, and the moment I saw her my heart was drawn towards her. I
almost doubted whether she were a goddess or a mortal; but when she
began to play, I was even more captivated by her graceful movements
than I had been by her beauty.
First she made a low obeisance in honour of the goddess; then taking
up the bright red ball with her slender fingers, she let it drop as
if accidentally, and striking it as it rebounded, caught it on the
back of her hand and sent it high into the air; then she made it rise
and fall, at first slowly, then faster, and then very rapidly, keeping
time to it by graceful movements of the feet. Sometimes it seemed to
stand still, sometimes to fly up like a bird; at one time she would
strike it alternately with her right hand and left hand; at another
send it high into the air, dancing meanwhile to her own singing; then
the ball would go quite away, and come back as if of itself. Thus she
went on a long time amidst the applause of the surrounding spectators,
performing various graceful movements, striking the ball with feet as
well as hands, and even making it whirl round and round her so rapidly
that she seemed to be enclosed in a fiery red cage; now with one hand
holding up her dress or replacing her hair which had fallen down, and
keeping the ball in motion with the other; now taking several balls
and keeping them all in the air at once.
At last the performance was ended; and, after again making a low
obeisance in honour of the goddess, she walked slowly round the stage,
leaning on the arm of her foster-sister Chandrasena, and followed by
her maidens, casting several significant glances at me, and especially
giving me one long lingering look as she withdrew.
My new friend, Kosadâsa, who had stood near me all the time, invited
me to his house, where I was most hospitably entertained.
In the evening, Chandrasena, the lady to whom he had introduced me,
came to see him. I said to her: "I promised to find some means of
freeing you from the importunities of the prince; this is what I have
thought of. I have a magic ointment, a small quantity of which applied
to your face will make you look like a monkey in the eyes of all who
see you. Your persecutor will certainly then be disgusted, and give
you no more annoyance."
"Truly I am exceedingly obliged to you," she answered, "for such a
charming proposal. But whatever I may be in a future birth, I have no
inclination to be turned into a monkey now. If you have nothing better
than this to propose, we shall not esteem your wisdom very highly.
Happily, I have thought of something much better. You have heard that,
according to the word of Durgâ, the princess is to be allowed free
choice of a husband. You are greatly in love with her, and she is
favourably disposed towards you, from your appearance. My mother, of
whom she is very fond, will do everything in her power to promote your
interests; and no doubt she will choose you. The king and queen will
of course give their consent; and the marriage once completed, there
will be no further danger, since Bhimadhanwa will be subject to you,
and you will be able easily to protect me. Wait, therefore, a few
days, and I and my mother will do our best on your behalf. But I must
not stay longer; my mistress will be waiting for me."
After she was gone, Kosadâsa and I got into conversation about that
which so greatly concerned us both; and so much interested were we,
that we never thought of going to bed, but sat up talking all the
night. In the morning, I went to the park, and stood for some time
near the stage on which I had seen the princess; and in imagination
saw her there again, in some of those graceful attitudes which she had
displayed. While I was thus deep in thought, I was accosted by
Bhimadhanwa, who introduced himself to me, appeared very friendly, sat
down with me, and, after some conversation, invited me to his house.
Having no suspicion of treachery, I accompanied him to the palace,
where I was most hospitably entertained. After dinner, not having
slept the night before, I lay down, and was soon fast asleep, and
dreaming of my beloved princess. Presently, I was suddenly awakened,
and found my arms bound with an iron chain, and Bhimadhanwa, with
angry countenance, standing near me. "Vile wretch!" he said. "You
fancied you could plot in safety; and little thought that all which
that girl said was overheard, and brought to me by one of my spies,
who heard it through the open window. My silly sister, forsooth, is in
love with you! You are to marry her, and make me your subject; and you
will order me to give up Chandrasena, that she may marry her lover!
You are much mistaken. I am not so easily managed as that. We shall
soon see how all your fine projects will end." Then calling two strong
men, his servants, at his command they lifted me up, carried me down
to the sea, and threw me in as I was.
Notwithstanding the chain which confined my arms, I managed to keep
afloat, till by a lucky chance I fell in with a piece of wood, and by
throwing myself across it, managed to hold on, and was carried out to
sea. After floating all night, in the morning I was seen from a ship
sailing that way, and taken on board.
The captain, however, who was a foreigner, had not much compassion on
me; and only thought, as I was young and strong, how much he could get
by selling me as a slave; and did not even release my hands. I had not
been long on board, however, when the ship was attacked by pirates,
who surrounded it with their boats, and poured in a shower of arrows
and other missiles.
Seeing that the crew of the merchant-ship were being defeated, I
called out to the captain: "Take off my chain; set me free; and I will
soon drive away the enemy."
He did as I asked; and furnished me with a good bow and arrows, which
I used so effectually, that a large number of the enemy were killed
or wounded; and the boats began to draw off.
Meanwhile, our ship had drifted close to the pirates' galley. I leapt
on board, and most of the crew being disabled, took prisoner the
captain, who turned out to be Bhimadhanwa, the very man who had so
treacherously ill-used me. He was utterly astonished at seeing, me;
and hung down his head ashamed, unable to answer a word, when I said
to him: "Where are all your threats and boastings? You are now as
completely in my power as I was in yours."
Then the sailors, shouting for joy at the victory, bound him with the
chain with which I had been confined; and after taking possession of
the pirate ship, we continued the voyage; but being driven out of our
course by a contrary wind, landed on an uninhabited island, to get
water and wild fruits, and attend to the wounded.
The merchant-captain and crew, delighted at my bravery, and the timely
assistance I had rendered them, treated me with the greatest respect.
While they were engaged, I walked about to explore the island; and
came to a large quantity of stones which had fallen from a high rock.
These I crossed over, and going round to the other side, found a
gentle slope, covered with trees and flowers. Walking slowly among
them, admiring the beautiful scenery and enjoying the cool shade, I
arrived, almost imperceptibly and without fatigue, at the summit,
where I found a small lake, surrounded with ruby-coloured, variegated
rocks, and partly covered with bright lotuses. In this I bathed, and
pulled up some of the lotus-plants, the young shoots of which were
unusually sweet and good.
As I came out of the water, carrying a large root on my shoulder, I
saw standing on the bank a terrible Rakshas in human form, who called
out, in an angry tone "Who are you? Where do you come from? What are
you doing here, destroying my flowers?"
Without showing any sign of fear, I walked boldly up to him, and said:
"I am a brahman, who has just escaped many dangers. I was
treacherously thrown into the sea, rescued by a merchant-ship, then
attacked by pirates; and now, after conquering them, we have put into
this island for water. I have much enjoyed my bathe, and wish you good
morning."
"Stop!" said he. "You will not get off so easily. You seem a bold
fellow, however, and I will give you a chance for life. I shall ask
you four questions. If you can answer them, you are free; if not, I
shall devour you immediately."
"Very good," I answered; "I am ready to hear them." Then he began:
"What is cruel?"
"A wicked woman's heart."
"What is most to the advantage of a householder?"
"Good qualities in a wife."
"What is love?"
"Imagination."
"What best accomplishes difficult things?"
"Cunning. Dhumini, Gomini, Ratnavati, and Nitambavati," I added, "are
examples of what I have said."
"Tell me," said he, "who they were, and how they prove the truth of
your answers?"
"Certainly," I replied; "you shall judge for yourself.
"There were formerly in the country of Trigarta three brothers, all
wealthy, having several wives, many servants and slaves, and numerous
flocks and herds. In their time it happened that there was a great
drought; no rain fell for several years; the streams and fountains
ceased to flow; the pools and lakes were turned to mud, the beds of
rivers almost dry, plants burned up, trees withered; all mirth and
festivity were at an end; bands of thieves roamed about; the dead lay
unburied or unburnt, and their bodies were scattered over the fields.
At last the famine was so great that men began to devour each other.
The three brothers, from their great wealth, were able to hold out a
long time; but when their stores of corn and rice were all consumed,
and their cattle all slaughtered, they, like the rest, were driven to
cannibalism. First they killed and ate their slaves; then, even their
wives and children, till all were gone but themselves and their three
favourite wives. The famine still continuing, they were driven to eat
them also, and drew lots which should be killed first. The lot fell on
Dhumini, the wife of the youngest brother, who, unable to bear the
thought of devouring her, escaped with her in the night. After walking
a long way, till they were quite exhausted, they came to a large
forest, where they found a well of water, and many fruits and roots,
besides deer and other animals, on which they were able to live
without difficulty; and they built a hut there.
"One day when the husband of Dhumini was going about in search of
game, he found a man who had been cruelly treated by robbers; they had
cut off his hands, feet, and nose, and left him to perish. Having
compassion on the poor wretch, he bound up his wounds as well as he
was able, and carried him with much difficulty to his hut. There he
and his wife nursed him till his wounds were healed, and took care of
him afterwards.
"Now such is the depravity of women, that Dhumini fell in love with
this poor mutilated wretch, and determined to have him whether he
would or no.
"One day her husband came home from hunting, tired and thirsty, and
asked her for water. She answered: 'I have a very bad headache, you
must go and draw for yourself.' Then walking softly behind him as he
went, she waited till he stooped down over the well, and pushed him
in.
"Having thus, as she thought, got rid of her husband, she took the
maimed man on her back and carried him till she reached an inhabited
country, where there was no famine, telling those who asked her, that
this man was her husband, and had been mutilated in that manner by a
spiteful enemy.
"She thus became the object of much compassion, and praise, for
devotion to her husband, and the king of the country bestowed on her a
small pension on which she lived in the city of Avanti. Meanwhile her
real husband had managed to climb up from the well, and wandered about
a long time, not knowing where his wife was gone. At last he came to
Avanti in great distress, and was begging for food when she chanced to
see him. Going at once to the king, she said, 'That wicked wretch who
mutilated my husband is now here; I have seen him going about as a
beggar.'
"Upon this he was immediately seized, and, notwithstanding his
protestations of innocence, condemned to death, and led away to
execution.
"On the way, with but faint hopes of saving his life, he said to the
executioner, 'I have been condemned on the evidence of one witness
only; let that man whom I am accused of injuring be questioned; if he
says I am guilty, then indeed I deserve to die.'
"The executioner saying, 'Perhaps he may be innocent--a few minutes'
delay can do no harm,' took him at once to the house of his wife, and
there the poor mutilated wretch, with many tears, declared the
kindness with which he had been treated by the supposed criminal, and
the wickedness of the woman who had forced him to live with her as her
husband.
"Thereupon the execution was stayed, and the king, having been made
acquainted with the whole affair, ordered her to be cut in pieces and
given to the dogs, and showed much favour and kindness to her husband.
"I say, therefore, there is nothing so cruel as the heart of a wicked
woman."
The Rakshas appeared to be satisfied with this story, and said: "Go
on, tell me about Gomini." I continued therefore:
"There was formerly in the country of the Dravidas a young brahman of
great wealth. Somehow he was not married when a mere boy, as is often
the case, and when he grew up he thought to himself: 'Those who have
no wives and those who have bad wives are equally unfortunate, I will
not let my friends choose for me, but travel about and look out for
myself till I find a girl who may suit me.'
"Having formed this resolution, and changed his name, he set out alone,
taking very little with him, but a small bag containing two or three
pounds of rice in the husk.
"Whenever he saw a maiden of his own caste whose appearance he liked,
either in the houses where he was admitted or elsewhere, he would say
to her: 'My dear, could you make me a good dinner with this rice?'
This he did many times, but though parents in general would have been
willing to give him their daughters, he was always laughed at, and
often treated with contempt. One day, while sitting in a public
place in a town which he had lately entered, he observed a young girl
whose parents had fallen into poverty, which was shown by her scanty
dress and slender ornaments. She passed by him accompanied by an old
woman, and stood for a time very near him.
"The more he looked at her the more he was pleased, and thought to
himself: 'This is just the wife to suit me; she is neither too tall
nor too short, too stout or too thin; her limbs are rounded and well
knit; her back is straight, with a slight hollow; her shoulders are
low; her arms plump and soft; the lines of her hands indicate good
fortune; her fingers are long and slender; her nails are like polished
gems; her neck is smooth and rounded as a slender shell; her bosom
full and well shaped; her face has a sweet expression; her lips are
full and red; her chin small and compact; her cheeks plump; her
eyebrows glossy black, gracefully curved, meeting in the middle; her
eyes are long and languishing, very black and very white; her
forehead, adorned by beautiful curls, resembles a piece of the moon;
her ears are delicately formed, and well set off by the ear-rings; her
hair is glossy black, brown at the ends--long, thick, and not too much
curled. My heart seems to be drawn towards her; if she is what she
seems to be, I will certainly marry her; but I must not act rashly; I
will first try her with my test. Then approaching her with a polite
salutation, he said: 'My dear, are you clever enough to make a good
dinner out of this bag of rice;' Without answering a word, she looked
significantly at her old nurse, and taking the rice from his hand,
signed him to sit down on a terrace close by; and sat down herself
near him. Then, first spreading out the rice in the, sun that it might
be quite dry, she rubbed it gently between her hands, so as to get off
the husk unbroken, and giving it to the nurse, she said: 'Take this to
some goldsmith; they use it when prepared in this way for polishing
their gold, and you will get a few pence for it--with them buy a
little firewood, a few cheap dishes, and an earthen pipkin, and bring
also a wooden mortar with a long pestle.' On this errand the old woman
departed, and soon returned, bringing the things required.
"Then the girl put the rice into the mortar, and very gracefully
moving the pestle up and down, separated the rice thoroughly from the
remaining particles of husk and awns; which she carefully winnowed
away.
"After this she washed the rice thoroughly, and the old woman having
meanwhile lighted a fire and placed the pipkin full of water on it,
she threw the rice into the water as soon as it boiled, in such a
manner that the grains lay loose and separate. When they began to
swell and burst, she took the pot from the fire, which she raked
together, and set it with the lid downwards near the embers, first
carefully draining off the rice liquor, and stirring the grains
several times with a spoon to prevent their sticking together.
"After this she put out the fire by throwing water on it, and taking
the charcoal, sent the old woman to sell it, and with the money to
procure some herbs, ghee, curds, tamarind fruit, spices, salt,
myrobalan, and sesamum oil. When these things were brought, she mixed
the myrobalan, finely pounded, with salt, and desired the nurse to
give it with the sesamum oil to the young brahman, and tell him to go
and bathe and anoint himself; and he having received these things,
went to bathe.
"When he was returned and comfortably seated, she gave him to drink
rice liquor, mixed with spices and cooled by fanning, and he was much
refreshed by it; afterwards, soup made with some of the liquor, a few
spoonfuls of rice, butter, and spices; and, lastly, the rest of the
rice mixed with curds, buttermilk, and several condiments, and he had
plenty, though some was left.
"When he had finished, he asked for drink. She gave him water in a new
cooler, sweetened and perfumed with lotus and other flowers; and it
looked and felt so cool, gurgled so pleasantly, and tasted so sweet,
that all his senses were gratified, and he drank eagerly again and
again.
"After waiting on him in this manner, as soon as the dishes and the
remains of the meal had been removed by the old nurse, she sat down
beside him, arranging her scanty patched dress as well as she was
able.
"The young brahman having thus satisfied himself of the capabilities
of the maiden, made known his real name and position to her parents,
and they having gladly accepted him, he married the girl in due form,
and took her home to his own house.
"Not very long afterwards, with very little consideration for her, he
took to himself another wife, a woman of bad character; yet such was
the sweetness of temper of the first, that she showed no anger at
this, but continued to treat her husband with all due honour and
respect, and so gained over her fellow-wife that she became her
dearest friend. At the same time she managed the household admirably,
keeping everything in order, yet making all the servants attached to
her. In short, she acted in such a manner that she entirely gained the
respect and affection of her husband, and he enjoyed great happiness,
and trusted and consulted her in all affairs.
"Therefore I say that the best thing for a householder is to have a
good wife."
Then, in illustration of the third answer, I related the story of
Ratnavati. "There was, in a town in the country of Surat, a rich
ship-captain who had a daughter named Ratnavati. She was married to
Balabhadra, the son of a merchant living in another town. For some
reason he took a sudden dislike to his bride on the very day of the
wedding, and though she continued to live in his house, avoided her
as much as possible, and would never speak to her, notwithstanding the
remonstrances of his friends. The rest of the family and the servants,
seeing this, treated her with neglect and contempt, so that she led a
most wretched life.
"One day, wandering about disconsolate, she met with an old woman, a
buddhist mendicant, who, seeing her weeping and looking miserable,
asked her the reason. She, thinking that this woman might possibly be
possessed of some charm capable of bringing back her husband's
affections, half unwillingly told her the cause of her grief.
"'On the very day of our marriage my husband, from some cause or
other, took a sudden dislike to me, and since then he has treated me
with neglect and contempt, so that I hardly ever see his face, and
then only by chance for a moment, for he avoids me as much as
possible; his family also, following his example, behave to me with
great unkindness. I have no comfort or happiness, and only wish for
death. But you must not tell this to any one; I would not on any
account have my misfortune talked about.'
"The old woman answered: 'Surely this must be a punishment for some
great sin committed in a former existence, or such a charming person
as yourself would never be thus treated by your husband. I recommend.
you to practise penance and prayer; perhaps the gods may be appeased,
and a favourable change produced. Meanwhile, if there is any way in
which I can help you, I will gladly do so. You seem very intelligent;
cannot you think of some stratagem which may have the desired effect?'
"After reflecting for some time, she said Though my husband so
neglects me, I know that he is very fond of women in general, and
ready to be captivated by any one, especially respectable woman who
will give him a little encouragement. Acting on this propensity, I
think, with your help, that something may be done. There is a young
lady, a neighbour, the daughter of a very rich man, in great favour
with the Rajah; she is a friend of mine, and is very like me. As my
husband hardly knows her by sight, and scarcely ever sees me, it might
be possible to pass myself off for her. Do you, therefore, go to him
and say that that young lady is in love with him, and that you will
introduce him to her, only he must not give a hint that you have told
him anything. Meanwhile I will arrange with my friend, and will be
walking in her father's garden some evening, when you can bring him
in.' The old woman was delighted with this contrivance, and promised
to perform her part. She went, therefore, soon afterwards with a
pretended message of love from the merchant's daughter to Balabhadra,
who was delighted at having attracted the attention of such a charming
young lady, and took care to be at the appointed time in the garden,
where he saw his neglected wife playing at ball. As if by accident,
she threw the ball towards him, and the old woman said: This is an
invitation; pick up the ball, and take it to her with a pretty speech,
and you will get acquainted with her.' In this way an intimacy began,
and he often met his wife in the same place in the evening without in
the least suspecting the deception. At last she gave him a hint that
she was ready to run away with him. Madly in love, he eagerly caught
at the proposal, and one night, having collected what money he could
carry, he eloped with her, saying nothing to any of his friends. They
were much astonished by his sudden disappearance; but when they found
that Ratnavati was gone also, they readily believed the story told by
the old woman, that he had fallen in love with his own wife; but was
ashamed to acknowledge this after having so long neglected her, and
was therefore gone to live in another place, where he was not known.
Believing this story, her relations and his thought it best to take no
steps in the matter, and abstained from making inquiry after him.
"Meanwhile Balabhadra went to a town at some distance, and there by
his skill and energy, though beginning with a small capital, amassed
in a few years a considerable fortune, and was much respected in the
place.
"When Ratnavati eloped under another name, she engaged a woman to
accompany her as a servant; and this woman one day having committed
some fault, was beaten by her master, who scolded her and told her she
was lazy, thievish, and impudent. Smarting under the punishment, she
determined to be revenged, and going to the magistrate told him: 'This
man, who seems to you so respectable, is a wicked wretch who has
abandoned his own wife, and run away in the night with the daughter of
one of his neighbours, with whom he is now living.'
"The magistrate having heard this, and being very covetous, thought:
'If this man is convicted, his property will be confiscated, and I
shall get a share of it.' He therefore began to take proceedings
against Balabhadra, who was greatly alarmed. But his wife said to him,
'Do not be frightened; put a good face on the matter, and say: "This
is not Kanakavati, the daughter of Niddhipatidatta; this is my own
lawful wife, the daughter of Grihagupta, who lives at Valabhi. She was
married to me with the proper ceremony and with the full consent of
her parents. This woman's accusation is altogether false; but if you
will not believe my assertion, send to Valabhi, to my wife's father,
and hear what he will say--or send to the town where I formerly lived,
and make inquiries there."'
"This was done, he was admitted to bail, and a letter was written to
the father of Ratnavati, who answered it in person, and declared that
the lady in question was really his daughter. Thus the matter was
settled; but the husband, thinking that the old man was deceived by
the likeness, held to his former belief, and continued to live happily
with his wife, without ever discovering the delusion. Therefore I say
that love is only imagination."
The Rakshas, though appearing to be satisfied with these stories,
required me to relate that of Nitambavati, which I proceeded to do.
"In a city called Madhura, there dwelt a man named Kalahakantaka, of
great strength and vigour, ready at any time to take up the quarrel of
a friend, famed for deeds of violence, and devoted to pleasures and
amusements.
"One day he saw a picture exhibited by a painter, a new-comer, and
stopped to look at it. It was the portrait of a lady so beautiful
that he fell in love with her at once. Desirous of finding out whom it
represented, he praised the picture exceedingly, and having put the
artist in good humour, got him to say who the lady was. 'Her name,'
said he, 'is Nitambavati; she is the wife of a merchant living at
Avanti or Oujein, and I was so struck by her beauty that I sought and
obtained permission to paint her portrait.'
"On hearing this, Kalahakantaka, taking another name, went to Oujein;
and there, having disguised himself as a mendicant, got admission to
the merchant's house, saw the lady, whose beauty exceeded even his
expectation, and was confirmed in his wicked purpose.
"At this time a guardian or watchman was wanted for the public
cemetery, and he applied for and obtained the office.
"With the clothes which he took from the bodies brought to be burnt
there, he bribed an old woman to take a message from him. She went to
Nitambavati, and said: 'A very handsome young man is much in love with
you--pray let him see you if only for once.' On receiving this
message, the merchant's wife was very indignant, and sent the old
woman away with angry words. Kalahakantaka, however, was not
discouraged, and said to his messenger: 'Go again, and say to the
lady: "Do you imagine that a person like me devoted to religious
meditation, who have passed so many years in pilgrimages to holy
places, would wish to lead you into sin? Far from it. I had heard that
you were childless, and wishing for children, and I know of means
through which your wish may be accomplished; but I thought it right to
find out first whether you were worthy of such a service, and now
that I have ascertained you to be virtuous and true to your husband, I
will gladly assist you."'
"With this story the old cheat went again to the lady, who, believing
her to be sincere, gladly accepted the offer, and she went on to say:
'The reason of your being childless is that a spell has been laid upon
your husband, which can only be removed by the means which I will
indicate to you. You must go at night to a clump of trees in the park.
I will come to you there, and will bring with me a man skilled in
incantations. You have only to stand for a moment, putting your foot
into his hand while he utters certain charms, then go home, and, as if
in play, strike your husband on the breast. This will dissolve the
spell, and by-and-by you will have children.' Anxious to have the
spell removed from her husband, Nitambavati consented to this, and
went at night to the appointed place. There she found Kalahakantaka
waiting, and as the old woman had directed, put her foot into his hand
while he knelt before her.
"No sooner had he got hold of it than he took off her anklet, and
slipping his hand up her leg, inflicted a slight wound above the knee,
and ran away.
"The poor lady, dreadfully frightened, blaming herself, and enraged
with the old woman, who had so cruelly deceived her, got home as well
as she could, washed and bound up the cut, and kept her bed for
several days, having taken off the other anklet, that the loss might
not be observed.
"Meanwhile the rascal took the anklet he had stolen to the husband,
saying: 'I wish to dispose of this, will you buy it?'
"Recognising the ornament as having been his wife's, he asked: 'Where
did you get this?'
"The man answered: 'I will not tell you now, but if you are not
satisfied that it is honestly mine, take me before the magistrates,
and I will then declare how I came by it.'
"Upon this the merchant went to his wife and said: 'Let me see your
anklets.'
"With some confusion and alarm, she answered: 'I have only one of
them, the other being, as I suppose, loosely fastened, dropped off a
few days ago when I was walking in the evening in the garden, and I
have not been able to find it.'
"Dissatisfied with this answer, the husband went before the
magistrates with the man who had offered the anklet for sale, and he
being there questioned, said: 'You know I was appointed not long ago
to the care of the public cemetery, and as people come sometimes after
dark to steal the clothes, or to lay a dead body on a pile prepared
for another, and so cheat me of my fees, I have lately kept watch
there at night.'
"'A short time ago I saw a woman in a dark dress dragging away part of
a half-burnt body, and ran to seize her. In the struggle her anklet
came off, and I gave her a slight wound on the leg, but she got away,
and I could not overtake her; this is how the ornament came into my
possession. I leave it to you to say whether I have done wrong or no.'
"Then the magistrates and citizens who were assembled were
unanimously of opinion that the woman was a Sâkini.[10]
"She was therefore divorced from her husband, and condemned to be tied
to a stake in the cemetery, and left there.
"In this state she was found by Kalahakantaka, who cut the cords which
fastened her, and, falling at her feet, confessed all that he had
done, alleging his great love for her as an excuse for his cruel
conduct: 'And now,' said he, 'consent to be my wife, and I will carry
you away to my own home in a distant country, where you will not be
known. I will do everything in my power to make your life happy, and
atone for the suffering which I have caused you.'
"For a long time the unhappy lady refused; but at last, overcome by
his earnest entreaties, and feeling how unjustly she had been
disgraced and ill-treated, she consented to accompany him. Thus, by
cunning, he gained his end, which he could not have accomplished by
any other means. Therefore I say cunning best accomplishes difficult
things."
Having heard these stories, the Rakshas was much pleased, and offered
me his assistance if I should require it. At that moment several
pearls fell close beside us. Looking up to see whence they came, I
perceived a Rakshas flying through the air, carrying a woman who was
struggling with him.
"Shall that monster carry off the lady before our eyes? O that I could
fly to rescue her!"
As I exclaimed thus, my new ally, without waiting to be entreated,
sprang into the air, and calling out "Stop! stop! wicked wretch!"
attacked and dragged down the other Rakshas. He, in defending himself,
when only a short distance from the ground, let the lady fall, and I
caught her with outstretched arms in such a manner that, though much
shaken and alarmed, she was not seriously injured. I held her for a
moment insensible in my arms, while I gazed at the combatants. Their
flight was of short duration, for they attacked each other so
furiously that both were killed.
Then laying my burden on the soft grass in a shady place, and
sprinkling her with water, I soon had the happiness of seeing her open
her eyes, and of recognising the beloved of my heart, the Princess
Kandukavati, who was equally delighted on finding who was her
deliverer.
When sufficiently recovered, she said to me: "On returning home after
the ball dance, longing to see you, and sad with the thought that we
might never meet again, I was filled with great happiness by the
report which Chandrasena brought me of your love; but when I heard
that you had been bound and thrown into the sea by my wicked brother,
I fell into the deepest despair, and wished for death. Wandering in
this state of mind about the gardens, I was espied by that vile
Rakshas, who, having assumed a human form, first made love to me, and
then, when rejected, forcibly carried me off. He is, happily, now
dead, and all that I have suffered is as nothing now that I am with
you; let us return as soon as possible to my parents, who will have
been greatly distressed at my disappearance."
Without delay I carried her down to the shore, embarked, set sail at
once, and the wind being favourable, we soon reached Damalipta. Here
we found great confusion and grief among the people, and were told on
inquiring: "The king and queen, utterly broken down by the loss of
their son and daughter, have determined to abandon life, and have just
set out for a holy place on the bank of the Ganges, with the intention
of fasting to death there; and several of the old citizens have
accompanied them with the same purpose."
On hearing this I immediately went after them, and having soon
overtaken them, was able to give them great happiness, by telling them
of all that had occurred, and how both their son and daughter were
safely returned; and they went back with me to the city, to the great
joy of the people. The king treated me with great honour, and not long
afterwards the princess became my wife. Her brother was reconciled to
me, and at my request, though very reluctantly, gave up all further
attention to Chandrasena, who was happily united with her lover.
When King Sinhavarma was attacked as you know, I marched with an army
to his assistance; and have thus the great pleasure of meeting with
you.
The prince having heard this story said "Your adventures have indeed
been strange, and your escape from death wonderful. Great is the power
of fate, but excellent also is courage and presence of mind such as
you have shown." Then turning to Mantragupta, he desired him to relate
his adventures, which he immediately began to do:--
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