Part 35 (1/2)

”So women, who a.s.sociate with witches, fall into evil courses, but they are restrained and saved by the advice of the old. Now, prince, hear the story of the man who brought the amalaka fruit.”

Story of the servant who tasted the fruit. [81]

A certain householder had a stupid servant. As the householder was fond of amalakas, he said to his servant, ”Go, and bring me some perfectly sweet amalakas from the garden.” The foolish fellow bit every one, to taste if it was sweet, and then brought them, and said; ”Look, master, I tasted these and found them sweet, before bringing them.” And his master, seeing that they were half eaten, sent them away in disgust and his stupid servant too.

”Thus a foolish person ruins his master's interests and then his own, and here by way of episode hear the story of the two brothers.”

Story of the two brothers Yajnasoma and Kirtisoma.

There were two Brahmans, brothers, in the city of Pataliputra; the elder was called Yajnasoma and the younger Kirtisoma. And those two young Brahmans had much wealth derived from their father. Kirtisoma increased his share by business, but Yajnasoma exhausted his by enjoying and giving. Then, being reduced to poverty, he said to his wife; ”My dear, how can I, who am reduced from riches to poverty, live among my relations? Let us go to some foreign country.” She said,--”How can we go without money for the journey.” Still her husband insisted, so she said to him: ”If you really must go, then first go and ask your younger brother Kirtisoma for some money for the journey.” So he went and asked his younger brother for his travelling expenses, but his younger brother's wife said to him: ”How can we give even the smallest sum to this man who has wasted his substance. For every one who falls into poverty will sponge on us.” When Kirtisoma heard this, he no longer felt inclined to give anything to his elder brother, though he loved him. Subjection to bad women is pernicious!

Then Yajnasoma went away silent, and told that to his wife, and set out with her, relying upon the help of Heaven only. When they reached the wood, it happened that, as he was going along, he was swallowed by a monstrous serpent. And when his wife saw it, she fell on the ground and lamented. And the serpent said with a human voice to the lady: ”Why do you lament, my good woman?” The Brahman lady answered the snake: ”How can I help lamenting, mighty sir, when you have deprived me in this remote spot of my only means of obtaining alms?” When the serpent heard that, he brought out of his mouth a great vessel of gold and gave it her, saying, ”Take this as a vessel in which to receive alms.” [82] The good Brahman lady said, ”Who will give me alms in this vessel, for I am a woman?” The serpent said: ”If any one refuses to give you alms in it, his head shall that moment burst into a hundred pieces. What I say is true.” When the virtuous Brahman lady heard that, she said to the serpent, ”If this is so, then give me my husband in it by way of alms.” The moment the good lady said this, the serpent brought her husband out of his mouth alive and unharmed. As soon as the serpent had done this, he became a man of heavenly appearance, and being pleased, he said to the joyful couple: ”I am a king of the Vidyadharas, named Kanchanavega, and by the curse of Gautama I was reduced to the condition of a serpent. And it was appointed that my curse should end when I conversed with a good woman.” When the king of the Vidyadharas had said this, he immediately filled the vessel with jewels, and delighted flew up into the sky. And the couple returned home with abundance of jewels. And there Yajnasoma lived in happiness having obtained inexhaustible wealth.

”Providence gives to every one in accordance with his or her character. Hear the story of the foolish man who asked for the barber.”

Story of the fool who wanted a barber.

A certain inhabitant of Karnata pleased his king by his daring behaviour in battle. His sovereign was pleased, and promised to give him whatever he asked for, but the spiritless warrior chose the king's barber.

”Every man chooses what is good or bad according to the measure of his own intellect: now hear the story of the foolish man who asked for nothing at all.”

Story of the man who asked for nothing at all.

A certain foolish man, as he was going along the road, was asked by a carter to do something to make his cart balance evenly. He said, ”If I make it right, what will you give me?” The carter answered; ”I will give you nothing at all.” Then the fool put the cart even, and said, ”Give me the nothing-at-all you promised.” But the carter laughed at him. ”So you see, king, fools are for ever becoming the object of the scorn and contempt and reproach of men, and fall into misfortune, while the good on the other hand are thought worthy of honour.”

When the prince surrounded by his ministers, had heard at night these amusing stories from Gomukha, he was enabled to enjoy sleep, which refreshes the whole of the three worlds.

CHAPTER LXII.

The next morning Naravahanadatta got up, and went into the presence of the king of Vatsa his loving father. There he found Sinhavarman, the brother of the queen Padmavati and the son of the king of Magadha, who had come there from his own house. The day pa.s.sed in expressions of welcome, and friendly conversation, and after Naravahanadatta had had dinner, he returned home. There the wise Gomukha told this story at night, in order to console him who was longing for the society of Saktiyasas.

Story of the war between the crows and the owls. [83]

There was in a certain place a great and shady banyan-tree, which seemed, with the voices of its birds, to summon travellers to repose. There a king of the crows, named Meghavarna, had established his home, and he had an enemy named Avamarda, king of the owls. The king of the owls surprised the king of the crows there at night, and after inflicting a defeat on him and killing many crows, departed. The next morning the king of the crows, after the usual compliments, said to his ministers Uddivin, adivin, Sandivin, Pradivin, [84] and Chirajivin: ”That powerful enemy, who has thus defeated us, may get together a hundred thousand soldiers, and make another descent on us. So let some preventive measure be devised for this case.” When Uddivin heard this, he said; ”King, with a powerful enemy, one must either retire to another country, or adopt conciliation.” When adivin heard this, he said, ”The danger is not immediate; let us consider the intentions of the adversary and our own power, and do the best we can.” Then Sandivin said, ”King, death is preferable to submission to the foe, or retiring to another country. We must go and fight with that feeble enemy; a brave and enterprising king, who possesses allies, conquers his foes.” Then Pradivin said, ”He is too powerful to be conquered in battle, but we must make a truce with him, and kill him when we get an opportunity.” Then Chirajivin said, ”What truce? Who will be amba.s.sador? There is war between the crows and the owls from time immemorial; who will go to them? This must be accomplished by policy; policy is said to be the very foundation of empires.” When the king of the crows heard that, he said to Chirajivin,--”You are old; tell me if you know, what was originally the cause of the war between the crows and the owls. You shall state your policy afterwards.” When Chirajivin heard this, he answered, ”It is all due to an inconsiderate utterance. Have you never heard the story of the donkey?”

Story of the a.s.s in the panther's skin. [85]