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TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Love-cluster

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TRANSLATED FROM THE SANSKRIT BY

ARTHUR

RYDER

WITH TWENTY ILLUSTRATIONS IN

COLOUR BY W, NAHL

PERHAM *

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LONDON M.

DENT

NEW YORK:

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TORONTO

fif

E. P.

SONS LTD. DUTTON y CO.

MCMXVII

THE NEW YORK, PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTUn. Ltf/OX

Tttew

* i

Prinicd in Great Britain by Turnbull

&r*

Spears, Edinburgh

H CONTENTS

Introduction

.....

Page I

Goblinstory 1

Whose

The Prince's Elopement.

fault ivas

the.

resulting death of his parents-in-law ? 2.

The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl Whose 'wife should she be? Life.

The Parrot and

men 4.

The Brave

Man,

Wise Man, and

the

.25

Which of .

the Clever

To which should the girl be given ?

The Girl who transposed the Heads of her HusWhich combination of band and Brother. . head and body is h?r husband ?

The Mutual Services, of fang Fierce-lion Prince Good. Which ij tfa mow, deserving?

'worse,

King Skudraka and Hero's Family. the Jive deserves the most honour?

Man. 6.

Which are

the Thrush.

or 'women ?

and

Specialist in Food, the Sptciili;t in Women, and the Specialist in Cotton* -Which i: the cleverest?

The

The Four

Scientific

the girl be given ?

10.

The Three banner.

1 1

Wives

Which

the most delicate?

The King -who won a Fairy as

Delicate is

To "which should

Suitors.

of King

his Wife.

did his counsellor's heart break ?

Virtue.

Why .

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

vi Goblin story

12.

Page

The Brahman ivho died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of a Hawk fell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman. Who is to blame for his death ?

.109

The Girl 'who shoiued Great Devotion

Did 14.

The

he iveep or laugh ?

ivho changed into a Woman at Will. his "wife his or the other man's ? .

125

.135

The King tuho died for Love of his General's Wife ; the General follows him in Death. Which is the more worthy? . .

17.

The Youth who went through the Proper Cere-

Why did hefail to win the magic spell ? The Boy whom his Parents, the King, and the Giant conspired to Kill. Why did he laugh monies.

1 1

The Fairy Prince Cloud-chariot and the Serpent Shell- crest. Which is the more self-sacrificing?

Thief.

Man Was

15.

to the

at the

moment of death ?

W'fe, and., her Lover, who all 'ffitych wci the most foolish ? die&jvf'.L'rve-.

19.

The

20.

The Four Brothers,

^an,

Life. all ?

163

1J2

bis.

'iub& -brought a

when ,,.,,..<.

ffi*hich'is\toblaine ,,

, .

157

Dead Lion he

kills .

187

them .

107 7'

21.

The Old\Hei.-Mit\j'vtio\techanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy. Why did he weep and dance?

.....

2Og

22.

The Father and Son who married Daughter and Mother. What relation were their children ?

209

Conclusion

21J

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Love-cluster

window

stood at her lattice

Frontispiece facing page

They

took

to the

her body

cemetery and burned

The thrush suddenly became a goddess

and bravely saluted her Trusty worshipped the goddess

The giant came out in anger and the brave man fought <with

him

nothing rash,

Good sank

'wonderful

The brothers

daughter, leave the rope alone

and when he

the ocean,

into

saw a

went

a turtle

city

me !

The summer came on him

With a turn of the chief's

An He

elephant

was

she

that

Come, come

found

and birds .

.88

saved, the king

a lion

cried,

.97

the cries of all beasts

saw

there they

She gradually recovered consciousness

When

.67

and

looked about he

the ocean,

" / understand

-55

.112

the wrist he sent the dagger JJying from

hand

came

by,

.121

crushing the people in his path

126

.....

climbed the rock of sacrifice, eager another

give his

life for

vii

viii

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS facing page

Shall I go into the fire or go home

The giant laughed aloud, spit fire showed his dreadfulJangs

his

ivrath, .

.1 74

.....

merchant named Fortune richer 'wealth

and

The

lion arose

comforted her

than

killed his four creators

and

the

163

and

god of

soothed her 'with tender 'words

l88

.200 .

214

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

INTRODUCTION the

bank of the Godavari River

kingdom called the Abiding Kingdom. There lived the son of King Victory,

the famous

King

Triple-victory, mighty as the

king of the gods.

this

king

sat in

judgment, brought him every day one piece of fruit as an expression of homage. And the king took it and gave it each to a

monk

called Patience

day

the treasurer

who

stood

near.

Thus twelve

years passed.

Now

one day the monk came to court, gave the king a piece of fruit as usual, and went away. But on this day the king gave the fruit to a pet baby monkey that had escaped from his And as keepers, and happened to wander in. the

monkey

priceless,

When

ate the fruit,

split

open, and a

magnificent .gem came out. the king saw this, he took it and asked

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

the treasurer

the fruits

Where have you been keeping

which the monk brought

gave

them to you." When the treasurer heard this, he was frightened and said " Your Majesty, I have thrown them all through the window. If your Majesty desires, I will look for them now." And when the king had dismissed him, :

he went, but returned " Your

moment, and

in a

said

Majesty, they were all smashed again in the treasury, and in them I see heaps of :

dazzling gems." When he heard

the king was delighted, and gave the jewels to the treasurer. And when the monk came the next day, he asked him this,

Monk, why do you keep honouring me in Unless I know the such an expensive way? reason,

will not take

Then said

" :

are a brave

fruit."

took the king aside and

hero, there

need help.

you

monk

the

your is

a business in

ask for your help in

And

man."

it,

which

because

the king promised

his assistance.

you

monk was

pleased, and said again last the night of the waning moon, King, on must go to the great cemetery at nightfall,

Then "

the

and come

me under

the fig-tree."

Then

the

INTRODUCTION

" king said Certainly," and Patience, the monk,

went home well pleased. So when the night came, the mighty king remembered his promise to the monk, and at dusk he wrapped took his sword in

his

head

black

veil,

hand, and went to the without being seen. When his

cemetery he got there, he looked about, and saw the monk standing under the fig-tree and making great

here

Monk,

So he went up and said Tell me what I am to

circle.

magic

am.

for you."

And when

the

monk saw

delighted and said

the king, he

King,

you wish

all

and you

alone,

will

see

and a dead body hanging from

tree

was to

favour, go south from here some

distance

a sissoo

it.

so kind as to bring that here." the brave king heard this, he agreed, and, true to his promise, turned south and

When

And

walked with difficulty along the cemetery road, he came upon the sissoo tree at some distance, and saw a body he So climbed on the it. tree, cut hanging

started.

the rope, and as

fell,

to the ground. unexpectedly cried aloud, let

fall

And as

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Then

alive.

thinking its

king climbed down, and was alive, he mercifully rubbed the

Then the body gave a loud laugh. king knew that a goblin lived in it,

limbs.

So the and said without

fear

What

are

you laughCome, let us be off." But then ing about he did not see the goblin on the ground any :

longer.

And when

he looked up, there he

So the was, hanging in the tree as before. king climbed the tree again, and carefully brave man's heart carried the body down.

harder than a diamond, and nothing makes

tremble.

Then he put it

And

the

his shoulder,

body with the goblin in and started off in silence.

he walked along, the goblin in the "O King, to amuse the journey, body said as

will

tell

you

a story.

Listen."

FIRST GOBLIN The Prince's Elopement.

Whose fault

'was the

resulting death of his parents-in-law ? a

where Shiva

THERE

city

lives.

called It

Benares loved

pious people like the soil of Mount The river of heaven shines there Kailasa.

like a pearl

And in the city lived Valour who burned up all his

necklace.

a king called

enemies by his valour, as a fire burns a forest. He had a son named Thunderbolt who broke the pride of the love-god by his beauty, and This prince the pride of men by his bravery. had a clever friend, the son of a counsellor.

One day with

his

the prince was enjoying himself friend hunting, and went a long

And

he came to a great forest. There he saw a beautiful lake, and being tired,

distance.

he drank from sellor's

sat

son,

with

washed

down under

a tree

his

friend

hands and

on the bank.

the counfeet,

and

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

And

then he saw a beautiful maiden

who

had come there with her servants to bathe. She seemed to fill the lake with the stream of her beauty, and seemed to make lilies grow there with her eyes, and seemed to shame the

with a face more lovely than the moon.

lotuses

She captured the that he saw her.

prince's

And

heart

the

moment

prince took her

eyes captive.

The

had a strange feeling when she saw So him, but was too modest to say a word. girl

she gave a hint of the feeling in her heart. She put a lotus on her ear, laid a lily on her

head

she had

made

heart.

the edge look like of teeth, and placed her hand on her But the prince did not understand her

signs,

only the clever counsellor's son under-

after

row

stood them

all.

moment

her servants. sofa

later the

went away,

led by on the, But her thoughts were

girl

She went home and

and stayed

there.

sat

with the prince.

The

prince

went slowly back

his

city,

and was

terribly lonely without her, and grew Then his friend the son thinner every day.

of the counsellor took him aside and told him

THE

ELOPEMENT

PRINCE'S

was not hard courage and said

that she lost all

know

But he had

to find.

friend,

don't

her name, nor her home, nor her family. do you vainly can I find her ?

How

Why

try to comfort Then the counsellor's son said

not see

all

" Did you

that she hinted with

her

signs

When she put the lotus on her ear, she meant that she lived in the kingdom of a king named And when

Ear-lotus. teeth, she

meant

man named

made

she

the

row of

was the daughter of

that she

And when

Bite there.

she laid

on her head, she meant that her name was Lily. And when she placed her hand on And her heart, she meant that she loved you. the

lily

there

a king

There

country.

whom Battler,

named Ear-lotus

the

king

but they

pearl of a girl and her life,

whom name

rich

very

His

likes.

him

call

Kalinga

man

there

name

real

Bite.

he loves is

in the

has a

more than

Lily.

This

his

true,

So I understood her because people told me. and the other things." signs about her country

When

the counsellor's son

prince

was delighted

and pleased

had

said this, the

him so clever, because he knew what to do. to

find

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Then he formed

a plan with the counsellor's

and started for the lake again, pretending that he was going to hunt, but really to find

son,

the girl that he loved. On the way he rode the wind away from his soldiers, and started for the Kalinga country with the like

counsellor's son.

When

they reached the city of King Earthey looked about and found the house

lotus,

man

of the

called

house near by to

Bite,

and they went

to a

with an old woman.

live

And the counsellor's son said to the old woman " Old woman, do you know any:

body named Bite

in this city

woman answered him respectfully My son, I know him well. I was his nurse. And I am a servant of his daughter But I do not go there now because my Lily. Then

the old

dress

and

stolen.

steals

Then satisfied

presents.

naughty son

gambler

clothes."

the counsellor's son

was pleased and

own

cloak and other

her with

And

his

he said

" :

Mother, you must

Go to do very secretly what we tell you. the and her that tell Bite's daughter Lily, prince whom she saw on the bank of the lake

THE is

ELOPEMENT

PRINCE'S

and sent you with

here,

love-message

to her."

The

old

woman was

pleased with the gifts to Lily at once. And when she got " a chance, she said child, the prince and the counsellor's son have come to take

and went

you.

me what

Tell

now."

But the

girl

scolded her and struck her cheeks with both

hands smeared with camphor.

The

old

woman was

hurt by this treatment,

and came home weeping, and men " see how :

sons,

she

two the marks

said to the left

of her fingers on my face." And the prince was hopeless and sad, but the very clever counsellor's son took him aside

and

My friend, do not be sad. She was only keeping the secret when she scolded the old woman, and put ten ringers white with camphor on her face. She meant that you must wait before seeing her, for the next ten said

nights are bright with moonlight." So the counsellor's son comforted the prince, took a little gold ornament and sold it in the

market, and bought a great dinner for the old woman. So they two took dinner with the old

woman.

They

did this for ten days, and

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

then the counsellor's son sent her to Lily again, to find out something more.

And

the old

food and drink.

woman was

eager for dainty So to please him she went

and then came back and said My children, I went there and stayed with But she her for some time without speaking.

to Lily's house,

spoke herself of my naughtiness in mentioning you, and struck me again on the chest with three fingers stained red.

came back

disgrace." Then the counsellor's son whispered to the

When Don't be alarmed, my friend. prince she left the marks of three red fingers on the old woman's heart, she meant to say very :

cleverly that there were three dangerous days So the counsellor's son comforted the coming." prince.

And when three days were gone, he And this the old woman to Lily again.

sent

time

was very respectfully entertained, and treated to wine and other things the whole But when she was ready to go back in day. the evening, a terrible shouting was heard outside. They heard people running and " A mad elephant has Oh, oh crying she went and

THE

ELOPEMENT n

PRINCE'S

escaped from his stable and

running around

and stamping on people." Lily said to the old woman you must not go through the street

Then

the elephant

and

is.

will put

you down with window into the

let

great

Mother,

now where in a

you

ropes

" :

swing

through

this

Then you

garden.

can climb into a tree and

jump on

and go home by way had her servants let the old

woman down from

the wall, of another tree." So she

the

window

And

into the garden by a rope-swing. the old woman went home and told the

prince and the counsellor's son all about it. Then the counsellor's son said to the prince " She friend, your wishes are fulfilled. :

has been clever enough to show you the road. So you must follow that same road this very evening to the room of your darling."

So the prince went son

counsellor's

by the

woman had shown

garden with the road that the old

to the

them.

And

there he

saw

rope-swing hanging down, and servants above keeping an eye on the road. And when the

he got

into

window

pulled at the rope and he

darling.

the

swing, the

And when

servants

came

had gone

the

to his

in,

the

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

counsellor's son

went back

woman's

to the old

house.

But the prince saw Lily, and her face was beautiful like the full moon, and the moonlight of her beauty shone forth, like the night when

moon shines in secret And when she saw him,

because of the dark.

the

around

his

she threw her arms

neck and kissed him.

So he married

her and stayed hidden with her for some days. One day he said to his wife " dear,

came with me, the old woman's

friend the counsellor's son

and he house.

staying

all

alone at

must go and

him, then

see

will

come back." But Lily was shrewd and said " My dear, I must ask you something. Did you understand the signs I made, or was it the counsellor's :

son

And

dear,

the

prince

said

did not understand

friend has wonderful

them

wisdom.

her

all,

but

understood

me." Then the sweet " dear, you did girl thought, and said wrong not to tell me before. Your friend is everything and

told

a real brother to

me.

him some nuts and other very

first."

ought

have sent

nice things

the

THE Then

PRINCE'S

she

ELOPEMENT

him

go, and he the same road,

let

friend

went to and told

his

all by night by had said. But the counsellor's " That is son said foolish," and did not think much of it. So they spent the night talking.

that his wife :

Then when

the time for the twilight sacrifice came there with cooked

came, a friend of Lily's

She came and asked the counsellor's son about his health and

rice

and

nuts

her hand.

And she cleverly tried " Your wife the from keep prince eating. expecting you to dinner," she said, and a

gave him the present. to is

moment Then

later she

went away.

the counsellor's son said to the prince

will

show you some-

Look, your Majesty. So he took a little of the thing curious." cooked rice and gave it to a dog that was there. And the moment he ate it, the dog died. And the prince asked the counsellor's son strange thing could mean.

And that

signs,

he replied

was

this

" Your Majesty, she knew

clever

because

and she wanted

to kill

understood her

out of love

For she thought the prince would

for you.

not

what

all

her

would leave her

own for

was alive, but sake and go back to

while

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS own

his

to eat. I

will

So she sent me poisoned food city. But you must not be angry with her. think up some scheme."

Then

praised the counsellor's You are truly the body son, and said And then suddenly a great of wisdom."

the

prince

of grief-stricken people was heard Alas The king's little son is dead."

wailing " Alas

When

heard

this,

the

counsellor's son

" Your Majesty, go and her drink to make to-night Lily's house, wine until she loses her senses and seems to be

was

delighted, and

Then

dead.

said

as she lies there,

make

mark on

her hip with a red-hot fork, steal her jewels, and come back the old way through the win-

do the right thing." Then he made a three-pronged fork and

dow.

After that

will

And

the prince took the crooked, cruel thing, hard as the weapon of Death, and went by night as before to

gave

to the prince.

king," he thought, ought Lily's house. the words of a high-minded not to disregard

So when he had

stupefied her with wine, he branded her hip with the fork, stole her jewels, returned to his friend, and told

counsellor."

him everything, showing him

the jewels.

THE Then

ELOPEMENT

PRINCE'S

the counsellor's son

was

scheme

sure that his

felt

He went

successful.

the

cemetery in the morning, and disguised himself a

and

hermit,

And

he said

the

among

And

i :

prince

and the

his

sell

policemen

was given

pupil.

necklace from

this pearl

jewels.

market-place.

you, say this

the

" Take

the

arrest

to sell

teacher.'

So the prince went

to the market-place

and

necklace

for

offering the sale, and he was arrested

stood

there

And

pearl

while doing

they were eager to policemen. of the jewels from theft the rind out about Bite's daughter, they took the prince at once

the

And when he saw the chief of police. that the culprit was dressed like a hermit, he to

asked him very gently

you get

this

Holy

necklace

pearl

sir,

daughter and was stolen." " Gentlemen, prince said to them Bite's

gave it to ask him."

Then him come :

sell.

You had

where did

belongs

Then

the

teacher

better

go and

the chief of police went and asked Holy sir, how did this pearl necklace

into

your pupil's hand

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

And to

the shrewd counsellor's son whispered

him

about

Sir,

the time

all

hermit,

in this region.

wander

And

happened to be here in this cemetery, I saw a whole company of witches who came here And one of the witches split open at night. the heart of a king's son, and offered it to She was mad with wine, and her master. But when screwed up her face most horribly. she impudently tried to snatch

rosary as

became angry, and branded her prayed, on the hip with a three-pronged fork which And I had made red-hot with a magic spell. I took this pearl necklace from her neck. I

Then, sent

was not

a thing for a hermit,

to be sold."

When

went and

heard

told

the

chief of police whole story to the king. this,

the

And when

the king heard and saw the evidence, he sent the old woman, who was reliable, to identify

the

pearl

necklace.

And

heard

from her that Lily was branded on the hip. Then he was convinced that she was really So he a witch and had devoured his son.

went himself disguised

who was how Lily

to the counsellor's son,

hermit, and

asked

look her liody lo

tin-

ccnielciy :uul luiriiol

it.

THE

ELOPEMENT

PRINCE'S

should be punished. And by his advice, she was banished from the city, though her parents So she was banished naked to the wept. forest

done

and knew that the counsellor's son had but she did not

it all,

die.

And

at nightfall the prince and the counselson put off their hermit disguise, mounted on horseback, and found her weeping. They lor's

put her on a horse and took her to their

And when

country. prince lived

they

got

there,

own the

most happily with her.

But Bite thought that his daughter was eaten by wild beasts in the wood, and he died of grief.

And

wife died with him.

his

When

he had told this story, the goblin asked " O the king King, who was to blame for of the the prince, or the the death parents :

counsellor's

son,

Lily

very wise man, so resolve point.

You seem

doubts on this

you know and do not

tell

the

truth, then your head will surely fly into a

hundred

pieces.

answer, then

and go back

will

you give a good jump from your shoulder if

to the sissoo tree."

Then King B

And

Triple-victory said to the goblin

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

You know

are

You

of magic.

master

surely

It was yourself, but I will tell you. not the fault of any of the three you mentioned. It was entirely the fault of King

Ear-lotus."

But the goblin

" :

The king's fault ? the crows to blame

the

Are

the rice

said

Then

How

could

did

other

three

when

the geese eat

it.

the king said

not to blame.

" But those three are

was right

for the counsellor's

So he is not and the prince were Lily love and could not stop to think.

son to do his master's business.

blame.

madly

And

They only looked after They are not to blame. " But the king knew well,

and he had

among

the people.

doings of

rascals.

spies

their

the

And

affairs.

Law-books very

find

own

out the facts

knew about

the

So he acted without think-

He is to blame." When the goblin heard

ing.

test

this,

he wanted to

So he went back the king's constancy. magic in a moment to the sissoo tree.

And

the king

went back

fearlessly to get him.

SECOND GOBLIN The Three Lovers wbo brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wife should she be ? e

King Triple-victory went back under

goblin.

the

sissoo

tree

And when

the

fetch

he got there and

looked about, he saw the goblin fallen on the

ground and moaning. Then, when the king put the body with the goblin in it on his shoulder and started to carry him off quickly and silently, the goblin on his shoulder said to him " O King, you have fallen into a very disagreeable task which you do not deserve. So to amuse you I will tell another story. :

Listen."

On where he had

When

the

bank of the Kalindi River

farm

a very learned Brahman lived. And a very beautiful daughter named Coral. the Creator fashioned her fresh and

peerless loveliness, surely

he must have despised 19

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

the cleverness he the

nymphs of

showed before

in fashioning

heaven.

When she

had grown out of childhood, there came from the city of Kanauj three Brahman And youths, endowed with all the virtues. each of them asked her father for her, that she And though her father might be his own. would rather have died than give her up to anyone, he made up his mind to give her to But the girl would not marry one of them.

any one of them for some time, because she was afraid of hurting the feelings of the other So they stayed there all three of them two. day and night, feasting on the beauty of her face, like the birds that live on moonbeams.

Then

all at once Coral fell sick of a burning And when the Brahman and died. fever youths saw that she was dead, they were But they adorned her smitten with grief. body, took it to the cemetery, and burned it. And one of them built a hut there, slept on a bed made of her ashes, and got his food by

begging.

The

second took her bones and went

And to dip them in the sacred Ganges river. a monk and became wandered in the third other countries.

THE THREE LOVERS And

as he

wandered, the monk came to a and was entertained

village called Thunderbolt, in the house of a Brahman.

But when he had been honoured by the master of the house and had begun to eat dinner there, the little boy began to cry and would not stop even when So his mother took Kim on they petted him. her arm, and angrily threw him into the blazAnd being tender, he was reduced to ing fire. ashes in a moment. When the monk saw this, his hair stood on " Alas I have come into the end, and he said !

house of a

would be the

house

devil.

will not eat this food.

like eating sin."

said

him

studied to good purpose. ing the dead to life."

But the master of " Brahman, I have

See

skill in

bring-

So he opened a book, took out a magic spell, read it, and sprinkled water on the ashes. And the moment the water was sprinkled, the boy stood up alive before.

just as

Then

the

monk was

highly

delighted and

And

finished his dinner with pleasure. the master of the house hung the book

on an ivory peg, took dinner with the monk, and went to bed. When he was asleep, the

monk

got up quietly, and tremblingly took the

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

book, hoping to bring his darling Coral back to

went away and

travelled night and reached the cemetery. day, finally And he caught sight of the second youth, who had come back after dipping the bones in the life.

until

And Ganges. who had made on the

girl's ashes.

Then hut.

And

he also found the third youth, a hut and lived there, sleeping

the

monk

cried

"Brother, leave your I will bring the dear girl back to life." while they eagerly questioned him, he :

opened the book, and read the magic spell, and And Coral sprinkled holy water on the ashes. immediately stood up, alive. more beautiful than ever. she were

When to

life

And

the girl

She looked

was

made of

gold. the three youths

saw her come back they went mad with love,

that,

and fought with one another to possess her. One said " I brought her to life by She is my wife." magic spell. The second said " She came to life

because

journey to the sacred

river.

She

wife."

The

third said

why

she came to

life.

That kept her ashes. She is my dear wife."

THE THREE LOVERS O

King, you are able to decide their dispute. Whose wife should she be ? If you

Tell me.

know and

say what

false,

then your head

will split.

When

the king heard this, he said

" goblin

magic

spell

the

painfully found the and brought her back to life, he

what

did only

The man who a father

not her husband.

And

ought the

to do.

man who went

dip her bones in the sacred river, he did only what a son ought to do. He is not her

But the man

husband.

ashes and lived a hard did

what

a lover

ought

who

life

slept

with her

in the cemetery,

to do.

deserves to

be her husband."

When

the goblin heard this answer of

King

Triple-victory, he suddenly escaped from his shoulder and went back. And the king wished to

the

monk had

asked him

;

Greatgo back and get him. minded people do not waver until they have

decided

kept their promises, even at the cost of

life.

THIRD GOBLIN The Parrot and

men

ivorse,

the

Which are

the Thrush.

king

women

went back

sissoo tree to fetch the goblin.

THEN

the

When

he got there, he took the body with

and started off in silence. And as he walked along, the " O King, you must goblin said to him again be very tired, coming and going in the night. So to amuse you I will tell another story. the goblin in

his shoulder,

Listen."

There

a city called And long ago a is

Patna, the

gem

of the

king lived there whose name was Lion-of-Victory. Fate had made him the owner of all virtues and all wealth. earth.

And

he had a parrot called Jewel-of-Wisdom,

intelligence and knew all the sciences, but lived as a parrot because of a curse.

that

had divine

This king had

a son called

Moon, and by 25

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

the advice of the parrot this prince married the daughter of the king of the Magadha country ;

and her name was Moonlight. Now this had a thrush named princess Moony, who was like the parrot, because she had learning and And the parrot and the thrush intelligence. lived in one cage in the palace.

One day thrush

and

bed

parrot eagerly said to the darling, love me, and share my

the

My my

chair

and

food

amusements."

But the thrush said " I do with men. Men :

will

are

have nothing bad and un-

grateful."

Then

the parrot said

" :

Men

are not bad.

only women who are bad and hearted." And they quarrelled. It

Then

two

cruel-

wagered their freedom with each other and went to the prince to have the

birds

their quarrel decided. And the prince mounted his father's judgment throne, and when he had

heard the cause of the quarrel, he asked the " How are men thrush Tell the ungrateful ? :

she said, " Listen, Prince," and to prove her point she started to tell this story illustrating the faults of men.

truth."

Then

THE PARROT AND THE THRUSH

There is a famous city called Kamandaki, where a wealthy merchant lived named Fortune.

And

a son

time

was born

him and named Treasure. Then when the father went to heaven, the young man became unruly because

very

And

vices.

him.

ruined the

the

root

of gambling and other

came

together, and with scoundrels is

rascals

Association

from

which

springs

the

tree

calamity.

no long time he lost all he had through and being ashamed of his poverty, he own country and went to wander in

his vices, left

his

other places. And during his travels he came to a city called Sandal City, and entered the

house

of a

When

eat.

merchant, seeking something to saw the youth, he

the merchant

asked him about his family, and finding that he was a gentleman, he entertained him. And

thinking that Fate had sent the young man, he gave him his own daughter Pearl, together

with some money. married, he lived in

And when

Treasure was

his father-in-law's house.

time passed, he forgot his former miseries of his life, and longed for the

in the comforts

old

vices,

and wanted

go home.

So the

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

28 rascal

managed

who had no

to persuade his father-in-law,

other

children,

took

wife

his

Pearl with her beautiful ornaments, and an old woman, and started for his own country.

Presently he

came

wood where he

said

he was afraid of thieves, so he took all his wife's ornaments. Perceive, O Prince, how cruel and hard are the ungrateful hearts of

who

indulge in gambling and other vices. And the scoundrel was ready, just for money, to kill his good wife. He threw her and the those

old

woman

into a pit. Then the rascal the old woman perished there.

away and But Pearl, with the managed

to get out

by and bushes, and weeping

life

little

went

she had

left,

clinging to the grass

and bleeding, she asked the way step by step, and painfully reached her father's house by the way she had bitterly,

And her mother and father were sur" and asked her prised Why did you come back so soon, and in this condition ?

come.

And that good wife said " On the road we were robbed, and my husband was forcibly carried off. And the old woman fell into a and And a kinddied, but I escaped. pit hearted traveller pulled me from the pit." :

THE PARROT AND THE THRUSH Then

and mother were saddened, but they comforted her, and Pearl stayed her father

there, true to her husband.

Then

time Treasure

lost all

gambling, and he reflected money from the house of

go there and

will

his

daughter So he went

And him

tell

well and

again

his

money

will get

father-in-law.

father-in-law that

my his

house." father-in-law.

he went, his ever-faithful wife saw She ran and fell at the rascal's

afar off.

and

him

the story that she had For the heart of a invented for her parents.

feet

told

all

faithful wife does not

change even when she

husband is a rogue. Then that rascal went without fear into the house of his father-in-law and bowed low learns that her

before

his

feet.

And

his

father-in-law

re-

him and made a great joiced when he saw " feast with his relatives, for he said My from the robbers. delivered alive son is :

Heaven be

praised

Then Treasure

enjoyed the wealth of his father-in-law and lived with his wife Pearl.

Now what

one night

this

worst of scoundrels did

ought not to repeat, but

will tell

it,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

30 or

Prince.

would be While Pearl lay

story

that wretch

killed

When

Listen,

asleep trusting him, her in the night, stole all

own country. and ungrateful men are.

her jewels, and escaped

This shows

spoiled.

how bad

the thrush

to his

had

told

her story,

the

It is prince smiled and said to the parrot your turn now." " Your Majesty, Then the parrot said women are cruel and reckless and bad. To :

prove

it,

There

I is

a story. Listen." a city called Joyful, where lived a

will

tell

prince of merchants named Virtue, who owned millions of money. He had a daughter

named Fortune, peerless in beauty, dearer to him than life. And she was given in marriage to a merchant's son

name was

Ocean.

from Copper City, whose He was her equal in

wealth, beauty, and family; a delight to the eyes of men.

One day when

was away from home, she saw from the window a handsome young man. And the moment she saw him, the fickle girl went mad with love, and secretly sent a messenger to invite him in, and made Thus her heart was love to him in secret. her husband

THE PARROT AND THE THRUSH

on him alone, and she was happy with

fixed

him.

But

delighted

her

the

hearts

And when Fortune sent

his

parents-in-law. the day had been spent in feasting,

was her

husband came home and

last

adorned

her

room.

husband's

mother,

him and pretended to her husband went to sleep, too,

cold toward

weary with

his journey,

and

But she was sleep.

for

And

he was

and had been drinking

wine.

When

the house had gone to sleep after their dinner, a thief made a hole in And the wall and came into that very room.

everyone

just then the merchant's

daughter got up with-

him, and went out secretly to a And the thief was meeting with her lover. " She has gone out disappointed, and thought

out

seeing

into the night wearing the very jewels that I came to steal. I must see where she goes." So the thief went out and followed her.

But she met

woman

friend

who had

flowers in her hand, and went

very far away.

And

whom

to a park not there she saw the man

meet hanging on a For the policeman had thought he was a she

came

tree.

thief,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

had put a rope around

his

neck and hanged

him.

And

at the sight

she went

distracted,

and

I am undone," lamented pitifully Oh, oh and fell on the ground and wept. Then she took her lover down from the tree and made !

him sit up, though he was dead, and adorned him with perfumes and jewels and flowers. But when in her love-madness she lifted his face and kissed him, a goblin who had come dead lover, bit off her nose. And she was startled and ran in pain from the spot. But then she came back to see if to

live

her

But the goblin perhaps he was alive after all. had gone, and she saw that he was motionless and dead.

So she slowly went back home, frightened and disgraced and weeping. And the concealed thief saw it all and " What has the wicked woman thought Can women be so dreadful done ? Alas What might she not do next ? as this ? So out of curiosity the thief still followed her from afar. :

And and

the wretched

cried aloud,

cruel

and

woman said

enemy, my own

entered the house

" Save

husband.

me from my

cut off

The

thrush suddenly became

goddess.

THE PARROT AND THE THRUSH

had done nothing." And her servants heard her cries and all arose in exciteHer husband too awoke. Then her ment.

nose and

came and saw that her nose was cut and in his anger he had his son-in-law

father off,

arrested.

the poor man did not know what to Even when he was being bound, he remained silent and said nothing. Then they all woke up and heard the story, but the thief

And

do.

who knew

the whole truth, ran away. And the merchant's son was haled

when day came,

And king by his father-in-law. Fortune went there without her nose, and the

before

the

king heard the

the whole

merchant's

son

story

and condemned

death for mistreating

his wife.

So the innocent, bewildered man was led to the place of execution and the drums were beaten. Just then the thief came up and said " to the king's men Why do you kill this man without any good reason ? I know how the whole thing happened. Take me to the I will tell all." and king, So all the king's men took him to the king. :

And

the thief told the king

all

the adventures

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

of the night, and said " Your Majesty, if you cannot trust my word, you may find the nose at this moment between the teeth of the dead :

body."

Then the king sent men to investigate, and when he found it was true, he released the merchant's son from the punishment of death. As for wretched Fortune, he cut off her ears,

and banished her from the country. he took from her father, the merchant, money, and made the thief the chief of

And

too,

He was

are

As he spoke into

went

his

police.

pleased with him.

Prince, this

women

all

a god, to

shows

how

cruel

and

false

nature.

these words, the parrot changed curse was fulfilled, and

for the

heaven

like a

god.

And

the thrush

suddenly became a goddess, for her curse was So at an end, and flew up likewise to heaven. their dispute

When

was never

asked the king bad,

had

the goblin

women

settled at that court.

this

story,

me. Are men know and do not you to pieces." And when

King,

told tell

your head will fly the king heard these words of the goblin on tell,

THE PARROT AND THE THRUSH his

shoulder,

there

goblin is

he said

an occasional bad

women are usually many of them." Then

that

Here and

magic goblin

there,

now and

then,

man

like that.

But

bad.

hear

about

the goblin disappeared from the king's shoulder as before. And the king tried again to catch him.

FOURTH GOBLIN King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which of the Jive deserves the most honour ?

King under the

THEN

Triple-victory went back and caught the

sissoo tree

who gave

a horse-laugh. But the king without fear put him on his shoulder as before and started toward the monk. And

goblin,

he walked along, the goblin on his shoulder " O said to him again King, why do you take such pains for that wretched monk ? as

Have you no Well,

after all,

sense about this fruitless task I

your devotion.

amuse the weary journey, another story.

There

will

So, tell

you

Listen."

Beautiful, and it There lived a king named Shudraka, of tremendous power and mighty He was so used to victory that the courage. is

city

called

deserves the name.

fire

of his courage was kept blazing by the 37

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

wind from the fans of his vanquished earth

was

rich

days of old. men.

Now

one

in the foes.

hands of the wives

Under

his

rule the

and always good, as in the And he was fond of brave

day a

Brahman named Hero

came from Malwa to pay his homage to this He had a wife named Virtue, a son king. named Trusty, and a daughter named Heroic. And he had just three servants, a dagger at his hip, a sword in his hand, and a shield in These were all the servants his other hand. he had when he asked the king for five hundred gold-pieces a day as his wages. And the king thought from his appearance that he was a remarkably brave man, so he But out of gave him the wages he asked. on his he track, to learn put spies curiosity

what he

did with

all

the

money. on the king in the morning, and at noon he took his sword and stood at the palace gate and divided his daily salary. One hundred gold-pieces he gave to his wife And with for food and household expenses. he another hundred bought clothes and And and such things. perfumes and nuts

Now

Hero

called

KING SHUDRAKA another hundred he

Vishnu

ceremonial

and

which were

left

devoted to the worship

And

taking

the

two hundred Brahmans and This was the

the

he gave

unhappy and the

the

after

Shiva,

bath.

poor.

way he divided and spent the money every Then after he had sacrificed and eaten day. dinner, he stood every night alone at the his sword and shield. All Shudraka learned from his King spies and was greatly pleased and forbad the spies to follow him again. For he thought him a

gate with

palace

this

wonderful man, worthy of especial honour. Then one day a veil of clouds covered the sky and poured down rain in streams day and night, so that the

Only Hero was

highway was at

And

palace gate. dreadful darkness

quite deserted. his post as usual by the when the sun set and

was spread abroad and the

king wished to test So at night he climbed to " Who the palace roof and cried is there " at the gate ? And Hero answered I am " here." And the king thought How steadfast this man Hero is, and how devoted to rain

fell

sheets,

the

Hero's behaviour.

must surely give him

a greater post."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

And

he descended from the roof and entered

the palace and went to bed. The next night it rained

again in sheets

and the world was wrapped

in the darkness

And

of death.

again

the

king thought

behaviour, and climbing to the roof he called out toward the palace gate " test

his

Who

there

here,

And when Hero

your Majesty,"

the

said

king was greatly

astonished.

Just then he heard at a distance a sweetAnd he thought voiced woman crying. :

Who

this

who

deep despair

violence,

Who

laments so piteously, as if In my kingdom there is no

no poor man and none

distressed.

And being merciful, he " who stood below Listen, Hero, A woman is weeping at some distance. Hero. Go and learn why she weeps and who she is." And Hero, said " Certainly," arranged his

called

can she be

dagger, took his sword in his hand, and started. He did not even think of the pelting hail, the lightning, or the rain and darkness. when the king saw him setting out alone

flashing

And

in a night like that, curiosity,

he was

rilled

with pity and

and descending from the palace

roof,

KING SHUDRAKA took his sword and followed being

all

alone, without

seen.

As Hero

sound of crying, he came to a beautiful lake outside the city, and there he saw a woman in the midst of the water, " Alas for lamenting in these words you, brave and merciful and generous How shall traced the

live

without you

And Hero was her

"Who

amazed, and timidly asked and why do you weep ? "

are you,

" she replied Hero, I am the Goddess of the Earth, and now my lord, this virtuous

And

King Shudraka,

How am

shall

with

When Hero said

going to die

three days.

find another such master

distracted

and

grief,

heard

and

lament."

he was frightened

this,

there

any remedy for which the this, any way king might be saved ? And the goddess answered " There is one remedy, my son, and it is just :

Goddess,

your hands."

tell

quickly,

Then

that

said

may

What good would

once.

otherwise

And Hero

life

Goddess,

adopt it be to us

" ?

the goddess said

no other man devoted

" :

son, there

to his master as

you

are

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

42 so

learn

you may

how

There

to save him.

a temple to the Dreadful If king near his palace.

Goddess

you

by that your son

built

sacrifice

He king will not die. will live another hundred years. If you do it this very night, then the blessing will come, to her at once, then the

not otherwise."

" Then I will Hero, the hero, replied And go, Goddess, and do it this moment." " the Goddess of the Earth said Good fortune

And

go with you," and she vanished. And the king, who had followed secretly, heard it all.

So he still followed to find out how Hero would behave. But Hero went straight home, woke his wife Virtue, and told her all that the Goddess of the Earth had said. And his wife said " My dear, if so much depends on it, wake the boy and tell him." Then Hero woke the " him and said little all, boy, told My boy, :

you

are sacrificed to the Dreadful Goddess,

our king will

If not, he will die in three

live.

days."

And

the

boy was

dear father,

With-

true to his name.

out fear and without hesitation he said a lucky

boy

" :

the king lives

Tiusty worshipped the goddess and bravely saluted her.

KING SHUDRAKA the cost of

delay

Besides, that

life.

we have

for the food

pay

eaten.

Take me quickly and

the

May my death

goddess. averted by

delighted

" Well said

and

Why

sacrifice

evil

king's

would then

fate

And Hero was

' !

congratulated him, saying are indeed my son."

You

So Hero's wife Virtue and his daughter Heroic went through the night with Hero and Trusty

to the

The king unnoticed.

temple of the Dreadful Goddess.

them, disguised and the father took Trusty from

too followed

Then

shoulder in the presence of the goddess. And Trusty worshipped the goddess, and

his

Goddess, by bravely saluted her, and said the sacrifice of my head may the king live another hundred years and rule a thornless :

kingdom."

And

he prayed, Hero cut off his head and offered it to the Dreadful Goddess, saying " May the king live at the cost of my son's Then a voice cried from heaven " O life as

Hero,

who

else

You have

devoted to his master as you

given life and royal power to the king at the cost of your only son, and such a son." All this the king himself saw and heard. are

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Then Hero's daughter Heroic

kissed the lips

brother, and was blinded with sorrow, and her heart broke, and she died. Then Hero's wife Virtue said "

of her dead

dear,

we have done our duty by the king. And you see how my daughter died of grief. So now I say What good is life to me without my :

children

given

was

a fool before.

should have

my own

So now

head to save the king. to burn myself at once."

me And when she insisted, Hero said What happiness is there in a so. permit

life

your children ? And your giving your own life instead, do If there had been any not grieve about that. constant

mourning

for

as for

should of course have given my So wait a moment. I will build you life. a funeral pile out of these logs." So he built

other way,

the pile and lighted

And

Virtue

fell

it.

at her

husband's

feet,

then

worshipped the Dreadful Goddess, and prayed " O Goddess, may I have the same husband in another and may this same King life, :

Shudraka be saved life."

And

the cost of

she died in the blazing

Then Hero thought

son's

fire.

have done

KING SHUDRAKA

duty by the king, as the heavenly voice adAnd I have paid for the king's food mitted.

which want

So now

have eaten.

live

alone

why

not

should

for

right

man like me to go on living at the expense of all the family which I ought to support.

Why

should

So Hero

hymn

Saviour

goddess

approached the goddess with " O of praise Demon-slayer Trident - holder Devil - killer first

Joy of the wise

Protectress of the universe

best

Victory to thee, world adores

feet the

the pious

the

please

myself?'

sacrificing

not

fearless

refuge of

Kali of the dreadful ornaments

of mothers, whose

Honour and

kindly goddess glory to thee, of my head sacrifice the Be pleased to accept Then he in behalf of King Shudraka."

suddenly

cut

off

his

own head

with

his

dagger.

King Shudraka beheld this from his hidingwas filled with amazement and place, and grief

and admiration.

And

he thought the like of

this. have never seen or heard That good man and his family have done a

hard thing for me.

this

strange world

who

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

brave as that, to give his son, his If I should family, and his life for his king ? a for his make full return not kindness, my

else

kingdom would mean nothing to me, and my If I lost my life would be the life of a beast. virtue, it would all be a disgrace to me." So the king drew his sword and approached the goddess and prayed

Goddess, I have Now be pleased always been devoted to you. with the sacrifice of my body, and grant my

Bring back to Hero and his family,

prayer. for

life

this virtuous

who

gave

their

man lives

me."

But when he started to cut off his own " head, there came a voice from heaven My I am rash. do well with son, nothing pleased The Brahman character. Hero and his your children and his wife shall come back to life." :

And when

the voice ceased,

Hero

stood

and

uninjured with his son and his Then the king hid daughter and his wife. himself again and looked on with eyes filled

alive

with tears of joy, and could not see enough of them.

Now dream,

Hero, gazed

like at

his

man awaking from son and

his

wife

and

KING SHUDRAKA

He and was greatly perplexed. spoke to each by name, and asked them how they had come to life after being reduced to <c Or a Is this a fancy of mine ? ashes.

his daughter,

dream the

illusion

goddess

said to

Or an

him

And

" :

the favour of

wife

and children

his

the favour of the goddess

are alive."

and having worshipped the goddess, he went home happy And when with his children and his wife. he had seen his son and his wife and daughter

last

safe at

Hero

believed

it,

home, he went back that same night

to the palace gate.

And King Shudraka saw

all

this

and went

back without being seen himself, and climbed " Who is there to the roof, and called :

And Hero replied " Your At your comMajesty, I, Hero, am here. mand I followed the woman who cried. She

the

gate

must have been a witch, for she vanished the moment I saw her and spoke to her." When the king heard this, he was astonished

beyond measure,

And

happened. of brave men are

had seen what really " Ah, the hearts deep as the sea, if they do

for he

he thought

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

not boast after doing an unparalleled action." So the king descended from the roof, entered the

and passed the

palace,

of the night

rest

there.

Then when the court was held ing, Hero came to see the king.

morn-

in the

And

stood

there, the delighted king told all his counsellors and the others the story of the

And

were amazed and confounded hearing of Hero's virtues, and they praised " Well done Well done " him, crying Then the king and Hero lived happily night.

all

together, sharing the

When

the

goblin

power had

told

asked King Triple-victory: of all these was the most

know and

will

you of will be

not

tell,

equally. this

story,

King, which worthy ? If you

then the curse

told

fulfilled."

"O king said to the goblin magic creature, King Shudraka was the most noble of them all." But the goblin said " Why not Hero, the like of whom as a servant is not to be found in the whole world ? Or why should not his wife

And

the

receive the

most

praise,

who

did not

waver

KING SHUDRAKA when

she

saw her son

her eyes?

Or why

killed like a beast before

not the boy Trusty the showed such wonderful manis

most worthy, who hood when only a say that "

them

little boy ? Why do you was Shudraka the best among King

Then

the king answered the goblin:

Hero.

his

to save his

duty

and

was

children.

faithful

wife

gentleman born, so it was king at the cost of life, wife

And his who only

wife was a

son, and

always

them.

like the threads.

lady, a

what was

did

in following her husband. their

"Not

right

And

Trusty was For the cloth is But the king has a

right to use his subjects' lives to save his own. So when Shudraka gave his life for them, he

proved himself the best of When the goblin heard the

king's

shoulder

home without being

and seen.

all."

he jumped from went back to his

this,

And

the king

was

not disturbed by this magic, but started back through the night to catch him.

FIFTH GOBLIN The Brave Man,

the

Wise

Man, and

the

To which should the girl

Clever Afan. be given ?

King Triple-victory went back sissoo tree and saw the body

the

THEN to

with the goblin in it hanging there just He took it down without being before.

frightened

and quickly

all

set

its

twistings and writhings,

out again.

And

he walked "O

along in silence as before, the goblin said

King, you are obstinate, and you are pleasing to

look

at.

another story.

There out the Merit,

amuse you,

will

tell

Listen."

famous throughThere lived a king named

a city called Ujjain,

world.

who had

counsellor

Brahman

with all noble named Hariswami, The counsellor had a worthy wife, and a son named Devaswami was born to her,

adorned

virtues.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

and was

good

as she.

And

they had one

daughter named Moonlight, who was worthy of her name, for she was famous for her match-

beauty and charm.

less

When

the girl had grown out of childhood, was she proud of her wonderful beauty, and she told her mother, her father, and her brother :

marry a brave man or a wise man or a I should die if I were married to man.

will

clever

anyone

else."

Now

while her father was busy looking for such a husband for her, he was sent by King

Merit to another king in the southern country When he to make a treaty for war and peace.

had finished his business, a Brahman youth, who had heard of his daughter's beauty, came and asked him for her. And he said " My daughter will not marry anyone unless he is a clever man or a wise man :

Which of these are you ? And the Brahman said " I am a Tell me." " Show clever man." me," said the father, and a flying chariot by his made man clever the Then he took Hariswami in this magic skill. or a

brave man.

chariot,

and

carried

took the delighted

to the sky. And he father to the camp of the

him

MEN

BRAVE, WISE, AND CLEVER

king of the southern country where he had Then Hariswami appointed been on business. the marriage for the seventh day.

At Ujjain for

came

to the girl's

And when

her.

Brahman youth in brother and asked him

another

time

this

was

that

told

she

would marry only a wise man or a clever man or a brave man, he said he was a brave man. Then when he had shown his skill with weapons, the brother p'romised his And without telling brave man.

sister to

the

his

mother, he consulted the star-gazers and appointed the marriage for the seventh day.

the same time a third

came

mother and asked for the " the mother said My son, a wise

to the girl's

And

girl.

man

Brahman youth

or a

marry

man

clever

man shall Which And he said

a brave

daughter, but no one

else.

of these are you? Tell me." " I am a wise man." So she asked him about :

the past and the was a wise man.

future,

and found that he

Then

she promised to give him her daughter on the seventh day. The next day Hariswami came home and

told his wife

And

and

she and

his

son

all

that he

he each told him

had done.

all

that she

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

So Hariswami was greatly perplexed, because three bridegrooms had been Then the seventh day came and invited.

or he

the

had done.

bridegrooms came

three

Hariswami's

house.

Strange to say,

Then

disappeared.

giant

moment Moonlight "A wise man said

that

the

named Smoke-tail has

den in the Vindhya

carried her to his

forest."

When Hariswami

heard

this

from the wise

man, he was frightened and asked the to find a remedy for the trouble.

clever

man

man made

the clever

And

a chariot as before, full of

kinds of weapons, and brought Hariswami with the wise man and the brave man in a all

Vindhya forest. And the wise man showed them the giant's den. When the giant saw what had happened, he

moment

to the

came out

anger, and the brave man fought a famous duel with

Then came

with him.

strange weapons between a man and a giant for the sake of a woman, like the ancient fight

between

Rama

giant was

and

terrible

Ravana. fighter,

Though the brave

the

man

presently cut off his head with an arrow shaped like a half-moon. When the giant was killed,

1 The

giant

came out

ani;er

and

tlie

brave

man

fought with him.

BRAVE, WISE, AND CLEVER

MEN

they found Moonlight in the den and all went back to Ujjain in the clever man's chariot. Then when the proper time for the wedding there arose

a great dispute three in Hariswami's house.

came,

The

man

wise

said

covered her by my wisdom, have found her hiding-place ?

among

had not

the

dis-

how

could you She should be

given to me."

man said " If I had not made a flying chariot, how could you have gone there in a moment and come back like the gods, or how could you have had a chariot-fight with The

him

clever

She should be given to me." " If I had not killed brave man said the giant in the fight, who would have saved ?

The

her

spite

all

should be given to

And silent,

your pains me."

The

girl

they quarrelled, Hariswami stood

confused, and perplexed.

When

the goblin had told this story, he " said to the king King, do you say to which of them she should be given. If you :

know and split

into a

will

not

hundred

tell,

then your head will

pieces."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Then the king broke silence and said " She should be given to the brave man, who risked his life and killed the giant and saved :

the

girl.

The

wise

man and

the clever

man

were only helpers whom Fate gave him. A star-gazer and a chariot-maker work for other people, do they not ? '

When

the

goblin

suddenly escaped and went back. get him, and

heard

from

And

went

the

answer, he king's shoulder

this

the king determined to again to the sissoo tree.

SIXTH GOBLIN The Girl who transposed

Heads of her

the

Husband and Brother. Which combination of head and body is her husband? king went

the

THEN sissoo

put

tree,

shoulder

the

back

goblin

before, and

the

his

started

toward the monk. And the goblin " said to him O King, you are wise and To amuse good, so I am pleased with you. silence

you, therefore, I will tell you another story with a puzzle in it. Listen."

named GloryHis city was named the world. And in this city was a splendid

Long ago banner in Beautiful.

there

was

a king

And to the temple to the goddess Gauri. right of the temple was a lake called Bath of

And on a certain day in each year crowd of people came there on a pilgrimage from all directions to bathe. Gauri.

a great

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

One day

laundryman named White came

And the there from another village to bathe. had also come there youth saw a maiden who Her name was Lovely, and her She robbed father's name was Clean-cloth. the moon of its beauty and White of his heart. So he inquired about her name and family and went home lovesick. bathe.

When

he got there, he was And when eat without her.

and could not his mother asked ill

him, he told her what was in his heart, but did not change his habits. But she went

and

her

told

husband,

whose

name

was

Spotless.

So Spotless went and saw how his son was " acting, and said My son, why should you be downcast ? Your desire is not hard to obtain. For if I ask Clean-cloth, he will :

surely give inferior

you

him

his

daughter. birth,

wealth,

know him and

are

not

social

knows me. So there is no difficulty about it." Thus Spotless comforted his son, made him eat and take care of himself, went with him the next

position.

day

to Clean-cloth's house,

girl

might be given

and asked that the

to his son

White.

And

GIRL

WHO

Clean-cloth

TRANSPOSED HEADS

give her

graciously promised

to him.

Then when White

his

of him.

the time came, Clean-cloth gave

charming daughter, a wife worthy And when he was married, White

went happily

his

father's

house with his

sweet bride.

Now

he lived

brother came to all

there

Lovely's

happily,

And when

they had asked him about his health and his sister visit.

had greeted him with a kiss, and after he had " rested, he said My father sent me to invite and White to a festival in our house." Lovely :

And

all

the relatives said

was

good plan and entertained him that day with appropriate things to drink and eat.

The

next morning

White

set

out

for

his

father-in-law's house, together with his brother-

in-law and Lovely. And when he came to the city Beautiful, he saw the great temple of Gauri. And he said to Lovely and her " brother :

first

went

will

see this goddess.

will

and you two stay here."

So White

entered the

to see the goddess.

temple and bowed before the goddess whose eighteen arms had killed the horrible demons,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

whose lotus-feet were set upon a giant that she had crushed. And when he had worshipped her, an idea " People honour this suddenly came to him. goddess with all kinds of living sacrifices. Why should I not win her favour by sacrificing And he fetched a sword from a myself?' deserted inner room, cut ofF his own head, and let it fall on the floor. brother-in-law

his

Presently

the

entered

And temple to see why he delayed so long. when he saw his brother-in-law with his head cut his

he went

off,

own head

mad

in the

with

and cut off with the same

grief,

same way

sword.

Then when he failed to come out, Lovely was alarmed and entered the temple. And when she saw her husband and her brother in is

that

cried

" Alas

and me But presently she

fell

weeping

What

Before

killing

" goddess

happiness

life

O and

good

for

she

herself,

Goddess

thought

prayed

One only

character

now

to the

lamenting for

rose,

the pair so unexpectedly dead, and

This

the end of

floor.

she

condition,

Partaker

deity

the

of the

nothing

ra^li,

daughter, leave the rope alone.'

GIRL life

WHO TRANSPOSED HEADS

of Shiva

Refuge of

swoop

was not

devoted to you. I I

right,

Then

for

one

fell

was always

refuge

when

pray to you, and hear my one pitiful prayer. shall leave this wretched body of mine on

this

women-folk have you killed all

of grief! Why husband and my brother

Destroyer

spot,

but

may

Goddess,

every future I

life

of mine,

have the same husband

Thus she prayed, praised, and the goddess, then tied a rope to

and brother."

worshipped an ashoka tree which grew there. But while she was arranging the rope about " Do her neck, a voice from heaven cried :

Leave the rope nothing rash, my daughter. alone. Though you are young, I am pleased Place the two with your unusual goodness. heads on the two bodies and they shall rise up again and live through my favour."

So Lovely left the rope alone and joyfully went to the bodies. But in her great hurry She put and confusion she made a mistake. head on her brother's body and her husband's her brother's head on her husband's body.

Then

they arose, sound and well, like men awaking from a dream. And they were all

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

one another's adventures, goddess, and went on their

hear

delighted

the

worshipped

way.

Now

she walked along, Lovely noticed that she had made a mistake in their heads. as

And

she

what

to do.

When

was troubled and

the

goblin

asked the king

" :

had

did

told

this

not

know

story,

King, when they were

mingled in this way, which should be her husband ? If you know and do not tell, then the curse I spoke of will be fulfilled." And the king said to the goblin " The body with the husband's head on it is her :

For the head is the most important It is by the head that we recognize

husband.

member. people."

Then shoulder

And

the as

the

catch him.

goblin slipped

and quickly disappeared. went back, determined to

before,

king

from the king's

SEVENTH GOBLIN The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which is the more deserving? king went

the

THEN sissoo

put

tree,

the

back

the

goblin on

his

shoulder as before, and started. And " as he walked along, the goblin said King, I will tell a to amuse weariness. your story you

Listen."

the

Copper

shore

City.

lion lived.

There

the a

Ocean

Eastern

king named Fierce-

turned his back to other men's

He destroyed wives, but not to fighting men. his enemies, but not other men's wealth. One day

a popular prince named Good came to the king's gate. He introthe south from duced himself, but did not get what he wanted

from the king. born a prince, I

to be

And he why am

poor,

" If

am I so And if poor did God give me so why thought

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

many

desires

For

this

king pays

at-

me, though I wait upon him and grow weary and faint with hunger." While he was thinking, the king went tention

hunting.

He went

with

many horsemen and

footmen, and the prince ran along in the dress of a pilgrim with a club in his hand. And during the hunt the king chased a great boar a long distance, and so came into another There he lost sight of the boar, for forest.

was covered with leaves and grass. And the king was tired and lost his way in the

trail

the forest.

Only

the

pilgrim-prince thought

nothing of his life, and hungry 'and thirsty as he was, he followed on foot the king who rode a swift horse.

And when

him following, he My good man, do you perspoke lovingly the know way we came ? haps And the pilgrim bowed low and said " I know, your Majesty. But first rest yourself a moment. The blazing sun, the middle jewel the king sawr

in the girdle of heaven's bride, is terribly hot." Then the king said eagerly " See if there is :

water anywhere."

And

the pilgrim agreed and climbed a high

SERVICES OF KING FIERCE-LION tree

And

and looked around.

he saw a river

and climbed down and took the king to it. He unsaddled the horse, gave him water and And when the king grass, and let him rest. had bathed, the pilgrim took two fine mangoes from his skirt, washed them and gave them to the king.

Where

you get these ? asked the king, " Your and the pilgrim bowed and said Majesty, I have lived on such food for ten While I was serving your Majesty, I years. had to live like a monk." And the king said did

What

can

say

You

deserve your

name of

Good." And he was filled with pity and shame, and thought " A curse on kings, who do not know whether their servants are happy or not And a curse on their attendants, who do not And when the them this and that tell pilgrim insisted, the king was prevailed on to He rested there with take the two mangoes. the pilgrim and ate the mangoes and drank water with the pilgrim, who was accustomed to eat mangoes and drink water. Then the pilgrim saddled the horse and went ahead to show the way, and at last, at the king's command, mounted behind on the horse :

;

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

66 so the

home.

king found his soldiers and went safely And when he got there, he proclaimed

the devotion of the pilgrim, and made him a rich man, but could not feel that he had paid his debt.

King

So Good stayed there happily with and stopped living as a

Fierce-lion

pilgrim.

the king sent Good to Ceylon to ask for the hand of the daughter of the King

One day

So he set out after sacrificing to the proper god, and entered a ship with some Brahmans chosen by the king. And when the ship had safely reached the middle of the ocean, there suddenly arose from the waves a of Ceylon.

very large flag-pole made of gold, with a top It was adorned with that touched the sky.

waving banners of various colours and was astonishing. At the same

moment

quite

the clouds gathered,

began to rain violently, and

mighty wind And the ship was driven by the storm blew. and Then the winds caught on the flag-pole. a

pole began to sink, dragging the ship with it And the Brahmans into the raging waves.

who were

there were

cursed the

name

overcome with

fear

of their king Fierce-lion.

and

sank

iiilu

the

ore-. in,

;ind

when

lie

a wonderful city.

looked aln>ut

SERVICES OF KING FIERCE-LION But Good could not endure

that because of

took his sword

his devotion to his king. in

his

hand,

girt

his

garment, and threw

He himself after the flag-pole into the sea. had no fear of the pole which seemed a refuge from the ocean. Then as he sank, the ship was battered by the winds and waves and And all in it fell into the mouths of broke up. sharks.

But Good sank

and when he There city.

into the ocean,

looked about he saw a wonderful

entered

shrine

tall

Gauri,

the

heavenly mountain, with great gem-sprinkled banners on walls made of different kinds of golden temple blazing with jewelled with a garden that had a pool, the

jewels, in a pillars,

which were made of splendid gems. After he had bowed low and praised and

stairs

worshipped

the goddess

there,

sat

before her in amazement, wondering all

down it

was

a conjuror's trick.

was suddenly opened Her eyes were like by She had lotuses, her face like the moon. a smile like a flower and a body soft as lotusJust a

stems.

then the

door

heavenly maiden.

And

a thousand

women

waited upon

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

She entered the shrine of the goddess and the heart of Good at the same moment. And when she had worshipped the goddess there, she went out from the shrine, but not from the heart of Good. She entered a circle of light, and Good followed her. And he saw another splendid house, that seemed like a place of meeting for all riches and all And he saw enjoyments. a the girl sitting on jewelled couch, and he and sat beside her. He was like approached a man painted in a picture, for his eyes were fastened on her face. Now a servant of the maiden saw that his body was thrilled, that he was intent upon the She understood maiden, that he was in love. " his feelings and said to him Sir, you are her.

our

guest. Enjoy the hospitality of Arise. Bathe. Eat." And he felt a

mistress.

her words and went to a pool in the garden which she showed him. He plunged into the pool, and when he little

rose

hope

the surface, he

found himself

the

King Fierce-lion in Copper City. And when he saw that he had come there so " Oh, what does it suddenly, he thought pool of

SERVICES OF KING FIERCE-LION mean

Where

that

garden ? What a difference between the sight of that girl which was like nectar to me, and this immediate separation from her which is like ?

heavenly

I was It was no dream. poison awake when the serving-maid deceived me and made a fool of me." He was like a madman without the girl. He wandered in the garden and mourned in a lovelorn He was surrounded by way. wind-blown flower-pollen which seemed to him the yellow flames of separation. And when the gardener saw him in this state, he went and told the king. And the king was troubled. He went himself to see Good, and asked him sooth" What does this mean ? Tell me, ingly

terrible

Where did you go ? And where come ? And where did you stay ? you And what did you fall into ? Then Good told him the whole adventure.

friend.

did

And

the king thought for me that this brave

now

" :

Ah,

man

fortunate

lovelorn.

For

have a chance to pay my debt to him." So the king said to him " My friend, give I over this vain grief. will go with you by I

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

the same road, and bring

you to the heavenly So he comforted Good, and made

maiden."

him take

bath.

The

next day he transferred his royal duties his counsellors and entered a ship with

Good. Good showed the way through the sea and they saw the flag-pole with its banners rising

Then Good here

middle of the ocean. " Your said to the king Majesty,

the

sink

When

the

before in

magic

down

sinking pole, Good the king followed him.

the

jumped

They sank down and came

Good.

heavenly

Then

out

the

girl,

of the

" There she

circle is,

Beauty of light

the lovely

Good, and the king thought But when quite right to love her."

creature," said

to the

and

the king was astonished, and after worshipped the goddess, he sat down

personified, came with her friends.

first,

And

he had

with

up.

you must sink too So when they came near

along the flag-pole."

city.

standing

flag-pole there,

saw the king looking like a god, she wondered who the strange and wonderful man might be, and entered the shrine to worship

she

the goddess.

SERVICES OF KING FIERCE-LION

But the king took Good and went into the garden to show how little he cared about A moment later the girl came from the her. shrine she had been praying for a good ;

And

husband. friend,

she said to a girl friend wonder where I could see the

man man ?

who was here. Where is the great You girls must hunt for him and ask him to be

good enough For he hospitality.

we must

to is

come and accept our a wonderful man, and

be polite to him."

So the

girl

found him

the garden and

gave him her mistress' message very respectBut the brave king spoke loftily to fully. " Your words are hospitality enough. her :

Nothing

else is

Now when

necessary." mistress

her

had heard what

thought he was a noble character, She was attracted better than anybody else. he

said, she

by the courage of the king in refusing a sort of hospitality which was almost too much to offer a mere man, and thought about the So fulfilment of her prayer for a husband. She drew she went into the garden herself. near to the king and lovingly begged him to accept her hospitality.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

But the king pointed

dear

here, and

he told

girl,

came

Good and

said

of the goddess follow-

And by

to see her.

saw the goddess and her It was very marvellous temple. only afterwards that I happened to see you." " O Then the girl said King, you may be interested in seeing a city which is the wonder of the three worlds." And the king ing the flag-pole

laughed and said too.

believe

And

there."

there

the

girl

told

a said

pool

about that, for

bathing

King,

I am not a deceitful not say that. girl. should I deceive an honourable man, especially

Why

your noble character has made me feel like a servant ? Pray do not refuse me." So the king agreed and went with Good as

and the girl to the edge of the circle of light. There a door opened and he entered and saw another

heaven

;

heavenly city like a second hill of for it was built of gems and gold,

and the flowers and fruits of every season grew there at the same time. And the princess seated the king on a splendid throne and brought him gifts and said

" Your

Majesty,

the

daughter

SERVICES OF KING FIERCE-LION

of the great god Black-wheel. But Vishnu sent my father to heaven. And I inherited

two magic cities where one has everyhe wants. There is no old age or death thing these

And now you

to trouble us here.

place of

father to rule over the cities and

So she offered him But the king said you are my daughter and

over me." she

all

case in

are in the

had.

herself

and

" In

that

give you

brave friend Good."

marriage my In the king's words she saw the fulfilment to

of her prayer, and being sensible and modest, she agreed. So the king married them and

gave all and said

magic wealth to happy Good, My friend, I have paid you now

the

" :

one of the two mangoes which I ate. remain in your debt for the second."

for I

But

asked the princess how he could And she gave the king get back to his city.

Then he

sword called Invincible, and the magic fruit which wards off birth, old age, and death. a

And

the king took the sword and the fruit, plunged into the pool which she showed him,

and

came up

his

completely successful.

own

country,

feeling

But Good ruled happily

over the kingdom of the princess.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

When

the

goblin had told this

asked the king

two deserves more

King,

credit

for

which

story, he of these

plunging into

the sea?"

And

the king was afraid of the curse, he gave a true answer " Good seems to :

the

more deserving,

for he did not

know

me the

beforehand, but plunged without hope while the king knew the truth

truth

into the sea,

when he jumped."

And goblin

soon as the king broke slipped from his shoulder as

silence, the

before

without being seen and went to the sissoo

And

tree.

king tried as before to catch him. Brave men do not waver until they have finished what they have begun. the

EIGHTH GOBLIN The

Specialist in Food^ the Specialist in Women, and the Specialist in Cotton. Which is the cleverest ?

the king

tree,

put

went back under the

sissoo

caught the goblin just as before, him on his shoulder, and started

And

walked along, the goblin on his shoulder spoke and said "O King, listen once more to the following toward the monk.

as he

story to beguile your weariness." ,

In the

Anga country

there

a great region

There lived a great Brahman, Forest. and pious wealthy, whose name was VishnuTo his worthy wife three sons were swami. When they had born, one after another. called

grown

to be

young men,

luxury, they were to

specialists

in matters of

sent one

day by their father find a turtle for a sacrifice which he had begun. So the brothers went to the ocean and there

they found a

turtle.

Then

the eldest said to 76

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

76 the

two younger

" One of you

turtle for Father's

sacrifice.

take

this

cannot carry a

slimy thing that smells raw."

But when younger

said

shouldn't

When

the

said

eldest

Sir,

you

the

two

disgust,

why

this,

feel

the eldest heard this, he said

" :

You

take the turtle, otherwise Father's sacrifice will Then you and be ruined on your account.

Father too will surely go to hell." When they heard him, the two younger brothers laughed and said

know our common duty, Then the eldest said not aware that

For

Sir,

you seem

but not your own." " What Are

you

a connoisseur in

a specialist in foods.

How

food

can

loathsome thing ? When he heard these words, the second " brother said But I am even more of a contouch

this

noisseur.

how

can

touch

After

this

specialist

women.

it ?

speech,

the

eldest

said

the

Do you then, being younger than youngest we, carry the turtle." Then the youngest frowned and said to them: " I am a Fools in :

great specialist

cotton."

THE

SPECIALISTS

three brothers quarrelled, and arroleaving the turtle behind them, they

So the gantly

went

have the matter decided

Pinnacle,

the capital of a king called Conqueror.

When

they came there, and had been announced and introduced by the door-keeper, they told their story to the king.

heard

all,

you one all

he said

And when "

Stay here.

the king had I will examine

So they agreed and

after another."

stayed there. the king invited

Then

them

in at his

own

dinner hour, seated them on magnificent seats, and set before them sweet dishes of six flavours, fit

for a king.

While

all

the rest ate, one of

the Brahmans, the specialist in food, disgustedly shook his head and refused to eat. And when

the king himself asked him why he would not eat food that was sweet and savoury, he respectfully

replied

" Your

Majesty,

this

food

of smoke from a burning Therefore, I do not wish to eat it, corpse. however sweet it may be." there

Then smelt of

the odour

at it

the king's command all the rest and declared it the best of winter

But the and perfectly sweet. held his nose and would not touch rice,

food-critic it.

Now

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

when

the king reflected and made a careful investigation, he learned from the commissioners that the

dish

was made of

grown near Then he was greatly

rice

village crematory. " astonished and pleased, and said Brahman, are a of food. you certainly judge Pray take :

something

else."

king dismissed them to their rooms, and sent for the most beautiful woman of his court. And at night he sent After

dinner

the

lovely creature, all adorned, to the second She came brother, the specialist in women.

this

with

a servant of the

king to his chamber, and when she entered, she seemed to illuminate the room. But the judge of women almost fainted, and stopping his nose with his left hand, he said to his servants

" :

Take

her

A goaty smell

away

issues from her." and astonishment, conducted her to the king and told him what had happened. Then the king sent for the " Brahman, she specialist in women, and said has anointed herself with sandal, camphor, and

If not,

shall die.

So the

servants, in distress

aloes,

so that

delightful

How

her neighbourhood.

have

goaty

smell

perfume pervades could this

But

spite

woman of

this

Tim

lirolliiT,

W.-IK

;<>

tlie

ocean, ;mcl there they found a turtle.

THE

SPECIALISTS

And the specialist in women would not yield. when the king endeavoured to learn the truth, he heard from her own lips that in her infancyshe had been separated from her mother and had been brought up on goat's milk. Then the

king was greatly astonished and loudly praised the critical judgment of the specialist in women.

Quickly he had

couch prepared for the

So the third brother, the specialist in cotton. critic of cotton went to sleep on a bed with seven quilts over the frame and covered with When only a half of a pure, soft coverlet.

watch of the night was gone, he suddenly started from the bed, shouting and writhing with pain, his hand pressed to his And the king's men who were stationed side. the

first

saw the curly red outline of a hair deeply imprinted on his side. They went at once and informed the king, who said to them " See whether there is So they anything under the quilts or not." went and searched under each quilt, and under the last they found one hair, which they immediately took and showed to the king. there

king summoned the specialist in cotton, and finding the mark exactly corre-

And

the

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

spending to the

hair,

was

astonishment.

And

with extreme

spent that night the hair could sink into his

wondering how body through seven

Now when

filled

quilts.

the king arose in the morning,

he was delighted with their marvellous critical judgment and sensitiveness, so that he gave each of the three specialists a hundred thousand And they were contented and gold-pieces. stayed there, forgetting all about the turtle, and thus incurring a crime through the failure

of their father's

When

sacrifice.

he had told

this

remarkable

story,

the goblin on the king's shoulder said King, remember the curse I spoke of :

and

declare which of these three was the cleverest."

When

he heard

this, the wise king answered " Without doubt I the goblin regard the in cotton as the cleverest, on whose specialist body the imprint of the hair was seen to :

The other two might possibly appear visibly. have found out beforehand."

When the king had said this, the goblin slipped And

the king went back under the sissoo tree again to fetch him.

from

his shoulder as before.

NINTH GOBLIN The Your

To 'which should

Scientific Suitors.

the girl be given ?

king went

the sissoo

put

tree,

goblin

And

shoulder, and started.

spoke to him again you go to such pains lin

night

the

Do you

not

back

King,

this

the

see

the

his

the gob-

why

cemetery at home of the

of dreadful creatures, terrible in the night, wrapped in darkness as in smoke ? Why do you work so hard and grow weary ghosts,

full

for the sake of that

the journey, tell

listen

monk to

Well, to amuse

puzzle which

will

you."

In the Avanti country the gods

the

a city

built

beginning of time, adorned

with wonderful wealth, and opportunities for In the earliest age it was called enjoyment.

Lotus City, then Pleasure City, then Golden 81

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

City, and now it lived a king named

called

Heroic.

Ujjain.

There

And

queen

his

was named Lotus.

One day

king went with her to the sacred Ganges river and prayed to Shiva that And after long he might have children. the

prayer

heard

from heaven,

voice

for

Shiva was at last pleased with his devotion " O King, there shall be born to you a brave son to continue your dynasty, and a daughter more beautiful than the nymphs of :

heaven."

When

he heard

the

heavenly

voice,

the

king was delighted at the fulfilment of his wishes, and went back to his city with the queen.

And

called

Brave,

Grace

who

When

first

Queen Lotus

daughter named put the god of love to shame.

and

the girl

then

grew up, the king sought for her, and invited

for

a suitable husband

all

the

not

bore a son

neighbouring princes by letter, but one of them seemed good enough for

the

to his tenderly said dear, I do not see a husband daughter worthy of you, so I will summon all the But the kings hither, and you shall choose."

her.

king

understand the cries of

all

beasts

and birds."

THK FOUR

SCIENTIFIC SUITORS "

would

dear father, such a choice I would rather be very embarrassing.

not.

Just

princess said

marry me

any good-looking understands a single science I wish from beginning to end. nothing more nor less than that."

young man, who

Now

while the king was looking for such a husband, four brave, good-looking, scientific

men from came

the south heard of the matter and

And when

him.

science to the king. The first said " :

my name

had been

explained a

own

his

working-man, and

make five One I give day. a Brahman. One

Five-cloth.

of clothes a

suits

each

received,

hospitably

they

splendid to

some wear

I and one to god o myself, and one I shall give to my wife when I have one. The fifth I sell, to buy This is my science. food and things. Pray

me Grace." The second said

give

name all

and

princess." The third

and

birds.

said

Pray

" :

my name

a farmer,

understand the

Linguist.

beasts

soldier,

" :

give a

and cries

my of the

strong-armed I have

Swordsman.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

84 no

on earth

rival

manship.

King,

daughter." The fourth said

" :

my name

man, and wonderful

science.

of swords-

the science

King, Life.

For

give

pray

am I

your Brah-

possess

dead creatures are

brought to me, I can quickly restore them to life. Let your daughter find a husband in a man who has such heroic skill."

When

they had spoken, and the king had seen that they all had wonderful garments and personal beauty, he and his daughter swung in doubt.

When

the goblin had told this story, he said " Remember the curse I mentioned,

to the king

and

tell

which of them the

girl

given."

And

the king said to the goblin

are merely trying to gain time

should be

" :

Sir,

you

by making me

no puzzle about that. How could a warrior's daughter be given to Or to a farmer, a working-man, a weaver ?

break

silence.

And

There

knowledge of the speech of beasts and birds, of what practical And what good is a Brahman who use is it ? either

his

THE FOUR neglects his

SCIENTIFIC SUITORS

own

affairs

despising real courage ? be given to the warrior

some manhood with

and turns magician,

course she should

Swordsman who had

his science."

When

the goblin heard this, he escaped by magic from the king's shoulder, and disappeared. And the king followed him as before. Dis-

couragement never enters the brave heart of a resolute man.

TENTH GOBLIN The Three Delicate Wives of King VirtueWhich is the most delicate ? banner. went to the sissoo tree, on his shoulder once more, and started toward the monk. And as he walked along, the goblin on his " O shoulder said King, I will tell you a the king put the goblin

THEN

strange Listen."

story

relieve

your

weariness.

There once was a king in Ujjain, whose He had three name was Virtue-banner. loved them dearly. and princesses as wives,

One

of them was named Crescent, the second

While the king and the third Moon. lived happily with his wives, he conquered all his enemies, and was content. Star,

One day

time of the spring festival, the king went to the garden to play with his There he looked at the flowerthree wives. at the

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS laden vines with black rows of bees on them

they seemed like the

bow

ready for service.

all

of the god of love, heard the songs of

the trees;

nightingales

And

commands of Love. drank wine which

;

seemed

they sounded like with his wives he

Love's

very

life-blood.

Then

the king playfully pulled the hair of Crescent, and a lotus-petal fell from her

Queen

hair into her lap. And the queen was so delicate that it wounded her, and she screamed and fainted.

when

And

king was

the

distracted,

but

servants sprinkled her with cool water her, she gradually recovered con-

and fanned

And

sciousness.

king took her to the upon his dear wife with

the

palace and waited a hundred remedies

which

the

physicians

brought.

And when

the king

saw

that she

was made

comfortable for the night, he went to the palace Now while balcony with his second wife Star, she slept on the king's breast, the moonbeams found their way through the window and fell

upon

her.

And

started up, crying

king awoke

she

awoke

moment, and

in a

burned

' !

Then

the

and anxiously asked what the

Sin; gradually

recovered consciousness.

THE THREE DELICATE WIVES

matter was, and he saw great blisters on her When he asked her about it, Queen body. Star said

did

it."

The moonbeams

And

the king

was

that

fell

distracted

when he

saw how she wept and suffered. He called the servants and they made a couch of moist lotusleaves, and dressed her wounds with damp sandal-paste. At. that moment the third queen, Moon, left And as she her room to go to the king.

moved through

the noiseless night, she clearly heard in a distant part of the palace the sound

of pestles " oh

Oh,

grinding

And

grain.

It will kill

down

" 1

she

cried

She wrung

her

agony in the hall. But her servants returned and led her to her room, where she took to her bed and wept. And when the servants asked what the matter was, she tearfully showed her hands with bruises on them, like two lilies with black So they went and bees clinging to them. And he came in great distress, told the king. She showed wife about it. his dear and asked her hands and spoke, though she suffered: " when I heard the sound of the hands

pestles,

and

sat

dear,

these bruises came."

Then

the king

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

made them

give her a cooling plaster of sandal-

paste and other things.

And

the king thought One of them was wounded by a falling lotus-petal. The second :

was burned by the moonbeams. The third had her hands terribly bruised by the sound of

them which is

love

pestles.

The is

very delicacy positively inconvenient."

And it

he wandered about

dearly, but alas so great a virtue, !

in the palace,

and

the night had three hundred But in the morning the king and his

seemed

hours. skilful

physicians

before

his

long

took

such

wives

were

measures

that

and he

well

was happy.

When

he had told

asked

most

delicate

this

story,

the goblin

King, which of them was the '

" The the king said bruised by the mere sound of

And

who was the pestles, when nothing touched her. The other two who were wounded or blistered by

one

actual contact with lotus-petals or are not equal to her."

moonbeams,

When the goblin heard this, he went back, and the king resolutely hastened to catch him again.

ELEVENTH GOBLIN 'The

King

Why

isoho

'won a Fairy as bis Wife.

did bis counsellor's heart break

went

the king

before

goblin on And his shoulder, and started back. the

THEN

sissoo

put the

tree,

the goblin said once more you wonderfully well because :

discouraged. little

story Listen."

the

So to

will tell relieve

Glory-banner, seemed an incarnation

you

are not

a delightful

you your

Anga country was

named

King,

weariness.

young king

beautiful

that

god of love. He had conquered all his enemies by his strength of arm, and he had a counsellor of the

named Farsight. At last the king, proud of beauty, entrusted

kingdom

all

the

to his counsellor,

his

power

youth and

his

quiet

and gradually de91

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

He spent voted himself entirely to pleasure of ladies the all his time with the court, and more

listened

than to the

attentively to their advice of statesmen.

love-songs

took

greater pleasure in peeping into their windows But than into the holes in his administration.

Farsight

bore

whole

the

burden of

public

business, and never wearied day or night. Then the people began to murmur " The counsellor Farsight has seduced the king, and :

the kingly glory."

And

the counsellor said to his wife, whose " was Prudence dear, the king

name

now

he alone has

voted

his

all

and great infamy

pleasures, me by the people.

deis

They say I heaped upon have devoured the kingdom, though in fact Now popular I support the burden of it. man. Was not gossip damages the greatest

Rama

abandon his good wife by So what shall I do now ? popular clamour ? Then his clever wife Prudence showed that " She said she deserved her name. My and a leave the on dear, king go pilgrimage. forced

Tell

him

that

you

are

and should be permitted countries for

time.

an to

old travel

Then

the

man now, in

foreign

gossip will

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY when they see that you are And when you are gone, the king

cease,

his

own

burdens.

unselfish.

will bear

And thus his levity will And when you come back,

gradually disappear. you can assume your office without reproach." To this advice the counsellor assented, and said to the

" Your

king

in the course

of conversation

permit me to go on a few days. Virtue seems of supreme importance to me." " But the king said No, no, counsellor. Is there no other kind of virtue except in Majesty,

pilgrimage for a

pilgrimages

How

kind of thing ? heaven in your

Then

about generosity and that

Isn't

possible to prepare for

own house ?

the counsellor said

" Your Majesty,

one gets worldly prosperity from generosity and that kind of thing. But a pilgrimage A prudent man should gives eternal life. attend to it while he has strength. The chance

may

lost,

no one can be sure

for

of his health."

But the king was

when " Your

the

still

doorkeeper

arguing against

came

and

said

Majesty, the glorious sun is diving beneath the pool of heaven. Arise. The

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

your bath is slipping away." And the king went immediately to bathe. The counsellor went home, still determined on his pilgrimage. He would not let his wife go with him, but started secretly. Not even hour

for

knew. He wandered alone through many countries to many holy places, and finally came to the Odra country. There he saw a city near the ocean, where he entered a temple to Shiva There he sat, and sat down in the court. hot and dusty from long travel, when he was seen by a merchant named Treasure who had come to worship the god. The merchant gathered from his dress and appearance that he was a high-born Brahman, and invited him home, and entertained him with food, bathing, and the like. When the counsellor was rested, the merhis servants

chant asked him

do you come?

And

Who

you ? Whence And where are you going?'' :

the other replied

named

Farsight.

are

came here on

from the Anga country." Then the merchant Treasure "

preparing

for

Brahman

pilgrimage

said

trading

him

voyage

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY Golden

Do you

Island.

And when

stay in

come back, and you

house.

are wearied

from your pilgrimage, rest here for a time before going home." But Farsight said " I I would rather do not want to stay here. go with you." And the good merchant agreed. :

And had

the counsellor slept lain in for

many

the

first

bed he

nights.

The

next day he went to the seashore with the merchant, and entered the ship loaded He sailed along, with the merchant's goods.

admiring the wonders and terrors of the sea, There till at last he reached Golden Island. he stayed for a time until the merchant had Now on the finished his buying and selling.

way

back, he saw a magic tree suddenly rising It had beautiful branches,

from the ocean.

of jewels, and splendid And sitting on a jewelled couch in blossoms. the branches was a lovely maiden of heavenly

boughs of gold,

beauty.

what

And

fruits

while the counsellor wondered

meant, the maiden took her lute in her hand, and began to sing it

all

Whatever seed of

The

fruit

fate

appears

is 'tis

sown, strange

Whatever deed a man has done, Not God himself can change.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

And when

made her meaning clear, maiden heavenly straightway sank with the magic tree and the couch. And Farsight " What a wonderful thought thing I have she had

the

What a strange place the ocean seen to-day is for the appearance of a tree with a fairy in !

And

if this

a usual occurrence at

sea,

why do not other goddesses arise ? The pilot and other sailors saw that he " was astonished, and they said Sir, this wonderful maiden appears here regularly, and sinks a moment after, but the sight is :

new

Then

you."

the

amazement, came

with

Treasure, and

his

servants

the

spent

with

shore

the

goods and caused

his

rejoice,

home with him and

the

And when

disembarked.

merchant had unloaded

filled

counsellor,

counsellor

went

many happy days

there.

last

he said to Treasure

" :

Merchant,

I have rested happily for a long time in your I wish to own country. house. go to And in spite of Peace be with you

Now

urging from the merchant, Farsight took his leave, and started with no companion except his

own

courage.

went through many

\Vlit-n lie

saw that she was saved, the king crird :t

('<>me,

cmiie to

me!"

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY and

countries

And

last

reached

the

Anga

who had

been sent by country. him saw before he reached King Glory-banner When the king learned of it, he the city. scouts

went himself out of the city to -meet him, for he had been terribly grieved by the drew He embraced and near, separation. and took counsellor the him, all greeted worn and dusty with the weary journey, into an inner room.

And the

king

leave to

soon as the counsellor was refreshed, " said

How

do so harsh and

after

who

all,

can

did

why

Counsellor, could you

bring a

loveless

yourself

thing

understand

you

the

But

strange

workings of stern necessity ? To think that you should decide all at once to wander off

you

Well, tell me what countries and what new things you saw."

pilgrimage visited,

Then

the

counsellor

told

him

the

whole

truthfully and in order, the journey to Golden Island and the fairy who rose singing from the sea, her wonderful

story

beauty

and the magic tree. But the king immediately hopelessly

that

his

kingdom

fell

and

love so his

life

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

98 seemed

worthless to

took the counsellor sellor, I

him without aside

and said

not.

bow

" Coun-

Remember

simply must see her.

shall die if

her.

fate.

that I

You will take the journey which you took. I must not refuse me nor accompany me. You must go alone and in disguise. rule the kingdom, and not dispute my words. Swear to do it on your life." So he spoke, and would not listen to advice,

shall

but dismissed the counsellor.

Then

Farsight

a great festival was made can a good counsellor be

was unhappy though for

him.

How

happy when a vice

his

master

devotes

himself to

The

next night King Glory-banner threw of government on that excellent burden the counsellor, assumed the dress of a hermit,

and

left

his

city.

And

he travelled, he

monk named Grass, who said when the " before him as a holy man bowed king My a if sail with merchant named son, you Fortune, you will obtain the maiden you saw

Go on fearlessly." So the king bowed again and went on After crossing rivers and mountains rejoicing.

desire.

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY he came to the

he met

And on

ocean.

the shore

once the merchant Fortune

whom

monk had mentioned, bound for Golden And when the merchant saw the Island.

the

appearance and his signet ring, bowed low, took him on the ship, and

king's

he set

sail.

When

the ship reached the middle of the maiden the sea, suddenly arose, sitting in the And as the king branches of the magic tree.

gazed eagerly her lute

her,

sang as before to

she

Whatever seed of

fate

sown,

The

fruit appears 'tis strange Whatever deed a man has done,

Not God himself can change. Whatever, how, for whom, and where 'Tis fated so to be,

That thing, just so, for him, and there Must happen fatally.

This song she sang, hinting at what was And the king gazed at her to happen. smitten by love, and could not move. Then " O Sea, in hiding her, you deceive he cried :

those

who

think

Honour and

they

have

you

glory

your !

treasures.

seek

your

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

ioo

Grant me

protection.

the

king prayed,

Then

tree.

the

the king

desire

' !

And

maiden sank with the

jumped

after

her into

the sea.

The good merchant Fortune thought he was

and was ready

But he was comforted by a voice from heaven " Do There is which said nothing rash. For no danger when he sinks in the sea. lost

to die of grief.

the king Glory-banner, disguised as a He came here for the sake of the hermit. is

maiden

And

she was his wife in

;

win

will in

kingdom merchant

the

and

her

Anga

former

return

country."

life.

his

the

complete his business. But King Glory-banner sank in the sea, He and all at once he saw a heavenly city. looked

sailed

amazement

the

balconies with

their splendid jewelled pillars, their walls bright with gold, and the network of pearls in their

windows. And he saw gardens with pools that had stairways of various gems, and magic But rich as it trees that yielded all desires. was, the city was deserted.

entered house after house, but did not

find the

maiden anywhere.

Then he climbed

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY

101

a high balcony built of gems, opened a door, And there he saw her all alone, and entered.

lying on a jewelled couch, and clad in splendid He eagerly raised her face to see garments.

was really she, and saw that it was indeed At the sight of her he the maiden he sought. if

had the strange feeling of the desert in

And

summer

at the sight

she opened her eyes,

traveller in a

of a

saw

river.

that he

was

handsome and loveable, and left her couch in But she welcomed him and with confusion. downcast eyes lotuses she did

slowly spoke

you come And what that

you

seemed

that

honour to " Who are

full-blown

his feet.

you,

sir

Then

she

How

did

this

inaccessible

under-world

this

hermit garb

For I see you would do

are a king.

Oh,

sir, if

me a kindness, tell me this." And the king answered her maiden, I am King Glory-banner :

" Beautiful of the

Anga

country, and I heard from a reliable person To see that you were to be seen on the sea. I assumed left this garb, my kingdom, you and followed you hither. Oh, tell me who

you

are."

Then

she said

him with

bashful

love

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

102 u

there

Moonshine.

Sir,

Moonlight.

named daughter, and my name

king of the

his

Now my

fairies

has

father

left

alone in this city. I do not know where he went with the rest of the people, or why.

Therefore, as my home is lonely, I rise through the ocean, sit on a magic tree, and sing about fate."

Then

king remembered the words of the monk, and urged her with such gentle, tender words that she confessed her love and the

But she made a conagreed to marry him. " dition dear, on four set days in each :

month

you

must

me go

let

There

unhindered and unseen.

And

somewhere is

reason."

the king agreed, married her, and lived

heavenly happiness with her. While he was living in heavenly " Moonlight said to him one day

you must wait here. I on an errand. For this

am is

bliss,

dear,

going somewhere

one of the

set days.

While you

stay here, sweetheart, you must not go into that crystal room, nor plunge into this If you do, you will find yourself at pool. that very moment in the world again." said good-bye and left the city.

So she

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY But the king took her

learn

sword and followed,

his

And

secret.

103

saw

giant

approaching with a great black cave of a mouth that

yawned

The

like the pit.

giant

fell

down

and howled horribly, then took Moonlight inmouth and swallowed her.

to his

And

the

king's

blazed

anger

forth.

took his great sword, black as a snake that has

up wrathfully, and cut He was blinded by his madness, he did not know what to do, he was afflicted by the loss of his But Moondarling. its

sloughed

skin, ran

off the giant's head.

open the stomach of the giant, and and unhurt, like the brilliant,

light split

came out

alive

moon coming

spotless

out from a black cloud.

When

he saw that she was saved, the king cried and ran forward Come, come to me and embraced her. And he asked her " What

does

illusion

this a

dear, listen illusion.

dream, or an " And the fairy answered to me. It is not a dream, not an

mean, dearest

laid this curse

father, the

upon me.

king of the fairies, My father had many

me so that And I used

sons, but he loved

without me.

deserted spot twice a

month

he could not eat to

come

this

worship Shiva.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

io 4

" One day I came here and it happened that I That day spent the whole day in worship. my father waited for me and would not eat or drink anything, though he was hungry and angry with me. At night I stood before him

with downcast

had done wrong. And he forgot his love and cursed me so ' Because you have despised strong is fate. me and left me hungry a whole day, a giant eyes, for

named Terror-of-Fate will swallow you four times a month when you leave the city. And each time you will split him open and come out. And you shall not remember the curse nor the pain of being swallowed And you must live here alone.'

afterwards, alive.

" But when

and

begged him, he thought awhile

the

softened

banner,

King

by the

giant,

the

and

your husband,

curse.

and

When shall

Angas,

shall

see kill

Glorybecome

you swallowed the giant,

then

the curse shall

end, and you shall remember

all

arts.'

your magic and went with mountain.

curse.

But

his I

And now

Then he to

left

here,

Nishadha

the

people stayed here because of the the curse is ended, and I

remember everything.

So now

shall

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY Nishadha mountain to see my course now I remember how to fly.

to the

105

father.

And

are at liberty to stay here, or to go back

you to your own kingdom." Then the king was her

thus

Let

ful.

beautiful

for seven days.

garden, and forget

may go

your

father, her, in

days

he begged wife, do not go

kind as you are beautihappy with you in the

her

six

and

So he persuaded for

sad,

longings.

Then you

go home." and was happy with and

the

will

garden.

And

the

ponds looked like longing eyes, and the ripples like hands raised to detain them, and the cries of swans and cranes " Do not leave us and seemed to say go lilies

the

away."

On his

the seventh

wife to

get back

day the king cleverly led the pool from which one could There he threw his the world.

arms about her and plunged into the pool, and came up with her in the pool in the garden of his

own

palace.

gardeners saw that the king had come back with a wife, and they joyfully ran and He came and fell told the counsellor Farsight.

The

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

106 the

and

the

and

feet,

king's fairy

then

the

into

the

led

And

palace.

king the

" Wonder-

counsellor and the people thought ful The king has won the fairy whom others could see only for a moment like the :

Whatever is written lightning in the sky. in one's fate, that comes true, however im-

may be." But when Moonlight saw was in his own country, and

possible

that

the

king

the seven days

were over, she thought she would fly away like other fairies. But she could not remember how. Then she became very sad,

woman who

like a

" the king said dear ? Tell me."

And

has been robbed. :

" The curse

bound have

over.

so long in lost

Why

are

you

And

the

fairy

Yet because

so sad, said

have been

the fetters of your love,

magic

arts.

cannot

fly."

" The fairy is really mine," and he was happy and made a great

Then

the king thought

feast.

When the counsellor Farsight saw this, he went home, and lay down on his bed, and his heart broke, and he died. Then the king governed the kingdom himself, and lived for

THE KING WHO WON A FAIRY a

time

long

heavenly

107 with

happiness

Moonlight.

When said

" :

had

this

King, when should

why Was

happy, break ?

told

the

story,

the

king

goblin

was

heart

counsellor's

from grief because he did Or from sorrow not win the fairy himself ? because the king came back, and he could no If you know and will longer act as king ? it

me, then you will lose your virtue, and your head will go flying into a hundred not

tell

pieces."

And

the

king said

the

goblin neither of these would reasons magic creature, be possible for a high-minded counsellor.

But he thought his

duties

What

will

for

' :

The king

used to neglect

the sake of ordinary

happen now, when he

women. loves

In spite of all my efforts, a terrible 1 misfortune has happened.' think that was

fairy

why

his

Then

heart broke."

went back to his tree in a moment. And the king was still determined to catch him, and went once more to the sissoo tree. the magic goblin

TWELFTH GOBLIN 'The Brabr?ian

a Snake

'who died- because Poison

in the

C/a'ws of a

from Haivk fell into

a Dish of

Food given him by a CharitWoman. Who is to blame for his

able

death ? the king

THEN sissoo

tree,

went back under

the

goblin on

his

the

put

And

shoulder, and started as before.

he walked along, the goblin said to him " O again King, listen to a very condensed

story."

There a

a city called Benares.

Brahman named Devaswami, whom

He was

honoured.

very

rich,

lived

the king

and he had

named Hariswami. This son had a wonderful wife, and her name was Beautiful. a

son

doubt

the

Creator

the priceless elements of after

his

practice

put

together in

charm and

making

the

her

loveliness

nymphs of

heaven. 109

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

no One

night Hariswami was sleeping on a balcony cooled by the rays of the moon.

And

took

her,

prince named Love-speed was flying through the air, and as he passed he saw Beautiful asleep beside her husband. He fairy

still

through the

asleep,

and

her

carried

off

air.

Presently Hariswami awoke, and not seeing the mistress of his life, he rose in anxiety. And he wondered " Oh, where has my :

wife gone ? she playing

how

she angry with hide-and-seek with Is

will take

me, to see So he roamed anxiously

it ?

over the balcony during the rest of the But he did not find her, though he night. searched as far as the garden. all

Then he was overcome by his sorrow and sobbed convulsively. " Oh, Beautiful, my darling

Fair as the

moonlight

Was

the

moon

White

the

night jealous of your

she carry you away ? Your shamed the moon who refreshed me with beams cool as sandal but now that you are gone, the same beams torment me like

beauty

did

;

loveliness

;

blazing coals, like poisoned arrows

And

Hariswami lamented

' !

thus, the night

THE BRAHMAN came

an end, but his anguish did not end. The pleasant sun scattered the darkness, but to

could

not

His

Hariswami's madness. a

increased

pitiful

hundredfold, when

of the birds ended.

cries

His

lamentations the

comfort him, but he could not courage while his loved one was there,

And

she stood.

sobbing

out

And

pluck up lost. :

" Here

Arid here

here she bathed.

she adorned herself.

nightly

relatives tried

went here and

darkness

blind

the

scatter

here she played."

gave him good " is not dead," advice. they said. Why should you make way with yourself? You will surely find her. Pluck up courage and hunt for her. Nothing is impossible to the

His

and

relatives

friends

" She

man." And when they urged him, Hariswami after some days plucked up heart. brave

and

determined

" I will give all my fortune thought to the Brahmans, and then wander to holy I will wear Thus and sins, places. away my

when my

sins are

darling in

gone, perhaps

wanderings."

shall

So he

find

arose

and bathed.

the

day

provided food and

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

ii2

made

and

drink,

Brahmans, and gave them his piety.

Then he

As he wandered,

started to

the

like a lion, the blazing

sunbeams

made

its

hotter

all

yet

sun

And

mane.

broken-hearted the

he had except

wander

holy

summer came on him

the filled

mouth, and the wind blew,

its

the hot

the

of travellers

sighs

separated from their wives. mud dried and cracked, as

And

the

for

to find his wife.

hoping

places,

feast

great

And

the yellow if the lakes were

loss

of their

lotuses.

with

chirping birds, lament the absence of the spring, and their withering leaves seemed like lips that

seemed

trees,

grow dry in the heat. At this time Hariswami was

distressed

the heat and the loss of his wife, thirst,

and weariness.

And

by hunger, he sought for There he saw

came to a village. many Brahmans eating in the house of a Brahman named Lotus-belly, and he leaned food, he

against the doorpost, speechless and motionless. Then the good wife of that pious Brahman " Hunger is a pitied him, and she thought :

Look heavy burden. It makes anyone light. at this hungry man standing with bowed head

The summer came an him

like a lion.

THE BRAHMAN He

at the door.

has

come from

Therefore he

113

looks like a pious

man who

a far country, and he a proper person for is

tired.

feed."

So the good woman took

in her

hands a dish

rice, melted butter, and and candied sugar, courteously gave it to him. " Go to the edge of our pond, And she said and eat it."

with excellent

filled

thanked her, took the dish, went a little and set it down under a fig-tree on the way, Then he washed his hands edge of the pond. and

feet in

the

pond, rinsed

his

mouth, and

joyfully drew near to eat the good food. At that moment a hawk settled on the tree, carrying a black snake in his beak and claws.

And

the snake died in the grasp of the hawk, and his mouth opened, and a stream of poison came out. This poison fell into the dish of food.

But Hariswami did not see it. He came up And immediately he hungry, and ate it all. felt

the

terrible

stammered out

effects

" :

of the

poison.

Oh, when fate goes wrong, Even this rice and wrong.

everything goes the milk and the melted butter and the candied H

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

ii4

And he staggered up poison to me." " to the Brahman's wife and said Oh, Brah-

sugar

man's wife, I have been poisoned by the food you gave me. Bring a poison-doctor at once. Otherwise you will be the murderer of a

Brahman." the good woman was terribly agitated. But while she was running about to find a

And

Hariswami turned up his eyes and died. Thus, though she was not to blame, she was really charitable, the poor wife though was reproached by the angry Brahman who She was thought she had murdered her guest. a really good action. So falsely accused for on a and went she was dejected pilgrimage. poison-doctor,

When said

" :

he had told

King,

this

story, the

who murdered

the

goblin

Brahman

woman who the snake, or the hawk, or her husband ? This him the food, gave or the

presence of the god of Therefore, death, but they could not decide. killed the Brahman ? King, do you say.

was discussed

the

Who

Remember tell

the curse, if

you know and do not

the truth."

Then

the

king broke

silence

and

said

THE BRAHMAN "

Who

115

murder ? The snake cannot be blamed, because he was being eaten by his enemy and could not help himself. The hawk was hungry and saw nothing. He was not to blame. And how can you blame either or did the

both of the charitable people to a guest

who

gave food

arrived unexpectedly

They

were quite virtuous, and cannot be blamed. I should say that the dead man himself was to blame, for he dared to accuse one of the others."

When the goblin heard this, he jumped from the king's shoulder and escaped to the sissoo tree. And the king ran after him again, determined

to catch him.

THIRTEENTH GOBLIN The Girl who showed Great Devotion t

Thief.

Did he weep

to the

or laugh ?

the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his shoulder,

THEN and

started.

the goblin said to

you another There

story.

named

he walked along,

King,

will

tell

Listen."

a city called

once the capital of giants.

And

him

Ayodhya, which was

Rama

the exterminator of

In this city lived a strong-armed king Hero-banner who protected the world

as a wall

protects a city.

During

his reign

merchant named Jewel lived in the His wife was named Pleasing, and a city. daughter named Pearl was given to her great

prayers. As the girl grew up in her father's house, her natural virtues grew too beauty, charm, :

and modesty.

And

thus she became a

young 117

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

woman. Now in her young womanhood she was asked in marriage not only by great But she was merchants, but even by kings. She would not prudent and did not like men. if he had been her husband. have loved a god merely hearing talk of So her father was silent on the

She was ready

to die at

her marriage. subject, though him sad. And

where At

tender love for her

his

made

the story was known everyAyodhya.

this

time

all

the

citizens

were

being

and they petitioned King plundered by "O Hero-banner in these words King, we are plundered every night by thieves, and canthieves,

not catch them.

Your Majesty must

decide

what to do." So the king stationed nightwatchmen in hiding about the city, to search out the thieves.

When

the

watchmen

failed

catch

the

king himself took his sword, and wandered about alone at And he saw a man creeping along a night. thieves for

all

their searching, the

wall with noiseless steps, often casting a fearful The king concluded that glance behind him. this city,

was the thief who all alone robbed the And the thief and went up to him.

GIRL

WHO SHOWED DEVOTION

asked him " I am a

who he

was.

The king

replied

thief."

Then are

the thief said joyfully friend.

Come

" :

Good

house.

You

will

you like a friend." So the king agreed and went with the thief to a house hidden in a grove and guarded by a wall, full of delightful and beautiful things, and bright with shining There the thief offered the king a seat, gems. and went into an inner room. treat

At that moment a serving-maid came into " Your the room and said to the king Majesty, have come into the of death ? why you jaws :

This wonderful thief has gone out, intending do you a mischief. He is certainly

treacherous.

Go away

quickly."

So the king quickly went away, returned to the city, and drew up a company of soldiers. With these soldiers he went and surrounded the house where the serving-maid had been. When the thief saw that the house was surrounded, he knew that he was betrayed, and came out to fight and die like a man. He showed more than human valour. He cut off the trunks of elephants, the legs of horses,

and the heads of

men

;

and he was

all

alone,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

i2o

with only his sword and

When

shield.

the

king saw that his army was destroyed, he ran forward himself.

The king was

swordsman, so with a turn of his wrist he sent the sword and the dagger flying from the thief's hand. Then he threw away his own sword, wrestled with scientific

the thief, threw him, and took him alive. The next morning the thief was led to the place of execution to be impaled, and the drums beaten. And Pearl, the merchant's

were

saw him from her balcony. All bloody and dusty as he was, she went mad with daughter,

love, I

found her

going

father,

marry

You must

execution.

Otherwise

king.

But her father

daughter

and

said

" :

? '

the

do you mean,

stole

How

being led

with him."

the citizens had, and the king's can I save to kill him.

king

him from

What

thief

him: "Father,

who

save

shall die

That

said to

that thief

everything

men

are

going

him from the

what nonsense are you talkBut the more he scolded, the more

Besides,

ing determined she became.

And

he loved his

daughter, he went to the king and offered he had for the release of the thief.

all

"Wilh a turn of the wrist he sent the

from the

chief's

hand.

Hying

GIRL

WHO SHOWED DEVOTION

121

But the king would not be tempted by He would not release the thief who millions. stole everything, whom he had captured at the risk of his life. So the father returned home sadly.

And

litter,

and went

to die

with him.

the girl, not heeding the arguments of her relatives, took a bath, entered a

of the rogue, parents and her relatives

to the death-scene

Her

followed her, weeping.

that

the

executioners

impaled ebbed away, he saw the and the people with her, and learned her

the thief. girl

moment

story.

Then

his life

the tears rolled

down

but he died with a smile on his

The

his cheeks,

lips.

faithful girl took the thief's

body from

and mounted the pyre to burn But the blessed god Shiva was staying invisibly in the cemetery, and at that moment he spoke from the sky " O faithful wife, I

the

stake,

herself.

pleased with your constancy to the husband

Choose whatever boon you

of your choice. will from me."

The

worshipped the gracious god and " O blessed one, my father has a he have hundred. Otherwise May

girl

chose her boon

son.

his childless life

would end when

gone."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

122

And

god spoke again from the sky O faithful wife, your father shall have a But choose another boon. A hundred sons. woman faithful as you are deserves more than the

the

thing you asked." " O she said god,

little

Then

have

won

your favour, may this my husband live and always be a good man." The invisible Shiva spoke from the sky " So be it. Your husband shall be made alive :

and

well.

shall be a

good man, and King

shall be pleased with him." the thief arose at once, alive and well.

Hero-banner

Then

And

jewel was overjoyed and took Pearl and the thief,

the merchant

astonished.

went home with his rejoicing a feast great as his own and made relatives, delight, in honour of the sons he was to have. And the king was pleased when he learned the story, and in recognition of the stupendous his son-in-law,

courage of the at

once.

he appointed him general thief reformed, married the

thief,

The

merchant's daughter, and her, devoted to virtue.

When

the goblin

had

lived

told

happily with

this

story,

GIRL

WHO SHOWED DEVOTION

123

reminded the king of the curse, and said "O when the thief on the stake saw :

king, the merchant's daughter approaching with her Tell me." father, did he weep or laugh ?

And 4

king answered can make no return to the

his unselfish

from

grief.

does this

girl

a thief like

this

thought merchant for :

Therefore

friendship.' And he also reject

me ?

he wept

thought: 'Why and fall in love with kings

How

strange

women

are

' !

Therefore he laughed from astonishment." When the goblin heard this, he immediately slipped from the king's shoulder and escaped to his home. But the king was not dis-

couraged. tree.

followed

him

the

sissoo

FOURTEENTH GOBLIN The

Man who Was

Will.

bis

changed

into a

Woman

wife bis or the other man's

the king went back as before the sissoo tree, put the goblin shoulder, and started toward the

under

his

monk.

And as he walked along, the goblin told the king a story. There was a

city called

Shivapur

in Nepal.

king named Glory-banner lived He laid there, and he deserved the name. the burden of government on his counsellor named Ocean-of-Wisdom, and devoted himself

Long ago

to a life of pleasure

with

his

wife Moonbright.

In course of time a daughter named Moonborn to them, pleasing as the light was

When she moonlight to the eyes of men. grew up, she went one day in spring with her servants to a festival in the garden. There she was seen by a Brahman youth 125

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

126

named Master-mind, the son of Rich, who had come there to the festival. When he saw her plucking flowers with one arm uplifted,

mad with

His heart was taken captive by the gay maiden, and he was no he went

love.

longer master of his mind. He thought " Is she the goddess of love, Or plucking the spring flowers in person ? :

she a forest goddess, the spring-time ? is

come here

worship

Then

the princess

of love incarnate.

on him, she fell in and even her own at

each

saw him,

like a

new god

The moment

her eyes fell love, forgetting her flowers limbs. While they looked

other, lost in love

people

picture, a great wail of anguish arose. They lifted their heads to learn what the matter was,

then an elephant that had broken his chain, maddened by the scent of another mad

and

just

came by, crushing the people in his had thrown off his driver and the path. And everyankus hung from him as he ran. elephant,

one

fled in terror.

But the youth Master-mind ran up in a hurry and took the princess in his arms. And with a mixture of fear and love and

eli'plmnt

came

by,

crushing the people in

lii-i

MAN CHANGED INTO A WOMAN modesty she half embraced him

127

he carried

her far out of the elephant's path. people gradually gathered, and she

Then went

her to

the palace, looking at the youth, and burning over the flame of love.

And

the youth

and thought a

went home from the garden,

cannot

moment without

from

teacher

And

live,

her.

Root,

who

cannot exist

must seek help a thorough is

so the

day slowly passed. next morning he went to his teacher Root, and found him with his constant friend

rogue."

The

He drew

Moon.

And

desire.

bowed, and told his the teacher laughed and promised near,

to help him. So that wonderful

rogue put a magic pill in his mouth, and thus changed himself into He put a second pill into an old Brahman.

changed him that prince of rogues into a lovely girl. " O took him to the king and said King, this maiden has come a long distance to marry my only son. But my son has gone away, Master-mind's

mouth, which

Then

and the

girl.

while

going to look for him.

For you are a protector

looking for

son."

Please keep to be trusted

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

128

The king was promised

afraid

it.

said

And "

curse,

summoning

he his this

Daughter, keep your chamber, and let her live with you." So the girl took the Brahman in his girl form to her Master-mind youth daughter,

maiden

own

apartments.

When Root

had gone away, Master-mind in his girl form lived with his beloved, and -in a few days came to know her in an intimate and loving way, as girl friends do. Then when he saw that she was pining away and tossing on her couch, he asked the princess " one evening My dear girl, why do you grow pale and thin day by day, grieving as if separated from your love ? Tell me. Why :

not trust a loving, innocent girl like me ? you will not tell me, I shall starve myself."

And a

little

not

the princess trusted him and said after " hesitation dear girl, why should

I Listen. will tell you. you One day went to the spring festival in the There I saw a handsome Brahman garden. I

trust

youth, sight

fair as

the

whom

moon

but not so cold, the kindled my love. For he

adorned the garden as the spring-time

does.

MAN CHANGED INTO A WOMAN While a

eager eyes were feasting on his face,

mad

great

129

that

elephant

had

broken

his

chain came charging and thundering past like servants a black cloud in the dry season.

scattered in terror,

and

carried

far

tell

how

felt

servants

away. as

in his

seemed

around,

brought here helpless. from heaven to earth.

felt as

From

be in a

cannot

touched him.

gathered

But arms and

helpless.

a stream of nectar.

sandal bath, in

was

Brahman youth took me

the

Presently

and I if I had

that

day

was fallen I

see

thoughts my dear preserver beside me. embrace him in my dreams. What need of

I wear ? away the time, thinking him of and The fire only him. constantly of separation from the lord of my life devours

more words

me day and

night."

When

Master-mind heard these welcome he words, rejoiced and counted himself happy. And thinking the time to reveal himself had come, he took the pill from his mouth, and disclosed

his

in the garden.

And

form.

natural

" Beautiful maiden, and enslaved bought

was

am with

he a

sick at

whom

kindly

said

you

glance the separation

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

from you so I took the form of a girl, and came here. So now bring heaven in a loving ;

glance to

love-tortured heart."

When

the princess saw that the lord of her was beside her, she was torn between love and wonder and modesty, and did not know what she ought to do. So they were secretly life

married and lived there in supreme happiness. Master-mind lived in a double form. By day

he was a

girl

man

night a

After

with the

without the time the

in his

mouth, by

pill.

brother-in-law of King

daughter with great to a Brahman, the son of the counsellor

Glory-banner gave

pomp

pill

his

Ocean-of-Wisdom. And the princess Moonher cousin's wedding and light was invited to uncle's house. And Master-mind went to her went with her in his girl form. When the counsellor's son saw Master-

mind terribly

his

girl

with

smitten

His heart was he went home wife.

lovely stolen

the

feeling

made

him

form, arrows

the

lonely

crazy

sham

was

he of

love.

girl,

and

even with his to

think

When his father tried to lovely face. from his madness and he woke soothe him, that

MAN CHANGED INTO A WOMAN

131

stammered out his insane desire. And his father was terribly distressed, knowing that all this depended on another. Then the king learned the story and came there. When the king saw his condition and perceived that he was seven parts gone in him the he said " How can I love,

who was

girl

man

give the

me by

intrusted to

Yet without her he gone in love, and will die.

Brah-

will be ten parts

And

dies,

then his father, the counsellor, will die

too.

And

the counsellor perishes,

What

will perish.

shall

kingdom

do?"

He consulted his counsellors, and they said " Your Majesty, the first duty of a king is the preservation of the virtue of his people. :

This

the

fundamental

established as such

counsellor is

lost

;

how

lost,

among the

principle,

counsellors.

fundamental

then can virtue

in this case

the

counsellor

would be

through

his

and

If the

principle

preserved

sinful

to destroy

son.

You must

by all means avoid the loss of virtue which would ensue. Give the Brahman's girl to the counsellor's son.

And when

the

Brahman

re-

turns, further measures will suggest themselves."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

132

To give

king agreed, and promised

this the

the

sham

the

girl

son.

counsellor's

So Master-mind in his girl form was brought from the chamber of the princess, and he " Your said to the king Majesty, I was :

brought purpose. well and

here If

by somebody for a given you give me to somebody else,

good.

You

are

the

and wrong depend on you. to-day, but only on one

husband

shall

marriage and

shall bite out

So the

Right

king. will

marry him

condition.

after the

go away immediately not return until he has

on a pilgrimage I

for

six

months.

been

Otherwise

tongue."

counsellor's son

he joyfully assented.

was summoned, and

He made

the

man

his

wife at once, put the sham wife in a guarded room and started on a pilgrimage. So Master-

mind

lived there in his

When

woman

form.

he realized that the counsellor's son

would soon return, Master-mind fled by night. And Root heard the story, and again assumed He took his the form of an old Brahman. friend Moon, went to Glory-banner, and said " Your Majesty, I have brought respectfully :

son.

Pray give me

daughter-in-law."

MAN CHANGED INTO A WOMAN The king was said

" :

Brahman,

afraid I

do not

Be I

curse,

know where

daughter-in-law has gone. atone for my carelessness,

my own daughter." The prince of rogues

133

your

merciful.

will

your

give

son

Brahman

the form of an

But the king finally persuaded him, and with all due form married his daughter Moonlight to Moon, who pretented to be the old Brahman's son. Then Root went home with the bride and

old

angrily refused.

bridegroom. But then Master-mind presence

of Root a

came, and

great

dispute

the

arose

be-

tween him and Moon. " Master-mind said Moonlight should be I married the girl first with given to me. :

teacher's permission." " Fool said

What

Her

father

Moon in

you

wife

have

rights

gave

her

regular marriage."

So they disputed about the princess whom one had won by fraud and the other by But they could reach no decision. force.

King,

tell

me.

Whose

wife

she

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

134

doubts, and about your head.

Resolve

ment

Then

the king said

rightful wife of

him

the

Moon.

remember the agree"

the

For she was married

the regular way by her father in Master-mind presence of her relatives. in

married her secretly, like a a

think she

thief takes things

thief.

And when

from other people,

never right."

When home

the goblin heard this, he went back And the king stuck to his as before.

purpose.

goblin on sissoo tree.

went

back

again, his shoulder, and started

put

the

from the

FIFTEENTH GOBLIN The

Prince

Fairy

Cloud-chariot

Which

Shell-crest.

Serpent

and

the

self-sacrificing ?

the king walked along with the goblin. And the goblin said " king, listen to a story the like of which was never

heard."

There all

mountain found.

are

gems

mountains.

Its

proud

the theme of song. seen its top.

its

summit

brilliant like a

Himalaya where

called It

the

loftiness

The sun

king

everywhere

himself has not

a city called

heap of sunbeams

Golden left

City,

in trust

by the sun. There lived a glorious fairy-king named Cloud-banner. In the garden of his palace was a wishing-tree which had come down to him from his ancestors.

King

Cloud-banner

had worshipped 135

the

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

136 tree

which was

had

obtained

really a god,

son

This son remembered

and by

former

his

its

grace Cloud-chariot.

named

lives.

was destined to be a Buddha in a future life. He was generous, noble, merciful to all creatures, and obedient to his parents.

When

him crown counsellors virtues

grew

up,

the

king

anointed

prince, persuaded thereto by his as well as by the remarkable

of the youth.

While Cloud-chariot father's counsellors came

was crown prince, his " Crown to him one day and kindly said prince, you must always honour this wishing:

tree in

your garden for it yields all desires, and cannot be taken away by anybody. As ;

long as it is favourably disposed to us, the king of the gods could not conquer us, and of course nobody else could."

Then Cloud-chariot thought " Alas The men of old had this heavenly tree, yet they !

did not pluck from

were mean-spirited. for some kind of degraded

But

heart."

They wealth.

fruit.

They

simply begged

And

and the great tree get from it the wish which

themselves

will

any worthy

they too. is

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT With to

137

thought the noble creature went He showed such complete father. this

his

deference as to delight his father, then when his father was comfortably seated, he whispered :

you know

Father,

all

life

including

possessions,

uncertain

are

bodies,

yourself that in this sea a

our

rippling

own wave.

Especially is money fleeting, uncertain, fickle the twilight lightning. The only thing

which does not perish is service. This gives birth to virtue and glory, twin witnesses in life

Father through all the ages to come. Why do we keep such a wishing-tree for the sake of transient blessings ? Our ancestors clung !

it,

saying

where

are

they

or they to

beg fruit

this

that

now

mine, ?

What

mine.'

And

them,

Then, you bid me, I will generous wishing-tree for the one if

it ?

counts,

the

fruit

service

others."

His father graciously assented, and Cloudchariot went to the wishing-tree, and said " O god, you have fulfilled the wishes of our :

Fulfil now my Remove poverty from the

fathers.

be with you.

Go.

one world.

give you

single

wish.

blessing

to the

needy

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

138 world."

And

verently, there " I go, since

bowed

Cloud-chariot

came

voice from

the

retree

you give me up." And the and wishing-tree immediately flew from heaven rained so much money on the earth that nobody was poor. And Cloud-chariot's reputation for universal benevolence was spread abroad. But all the relatives were jealous and envious.

They thought

they could easily conquer without the father his

that

and to fight to wishing-tree, and they prepared Cloud-chariot But take away his kingdom. " said to his father Father, how can you What hightake your weapons and fight ? Cloud-chariot

minded man would

want

kingdom

killing his relatives just for the

wretched, perishable body the

kingdom,

and go

sake

after this

Let us abandon

away somewhere to Then we to virtue.

devote ourselves entirely shall be blessed in both worlds.

And

let

these

wretched relatives enjoy the kingdom which they hanker after." And Cloud-banner said " My son, I only :

want

the

kingdom

for you,

and

you give what benevolent from motives, good is up I am an old man." to me?

it it

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT So Cloud-chariot with

his father

There he

left

the

139

kingdom and went

and mother to the Malabar

hills.

and waited on

built a hermit's retreat,

his parents.

One

he wandered

day, as

there

lived

king of the Siddhas.

made

friends

son

of All-wealth,

Cloud-chariot spoke to him and with him.

Then one day

met

who And

the

Friend-wealth,

about, he

Cloud-chariot saw a shrine to

the goddess Gauri in the grove, and entered

And

he saw a slender, lovely maiden surrounded by her girl friends and playing on there.

honour of Gauri. The deer listened to her music and her song, motionless as if ashamed because her eyes were lovelier than their own. When Cloud-chariot saw the slender maiden, his heart was ravished. And he seemed to her to make the garden a lute, in

beautiful like the spring-time.

ing came over

strange long-

She became

her.

so helpless

were alarmed. Then Cloud-chariot asked one of her friends

that her friends

name

good ?

And

girl,

What

what

your

family does she adorn

the friend said

" This

friend's sweet '

Sandal,

sister

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

140

of Friend-wealth, and daughter of the king of the Siddhas." Then she earnestly asked for the

name and family of Cloud-chariot from

hermit's son

who had come

And

with him.

then she spoke to Sandal with words punctuated " dear, why do you not show by smiles

? He is a guest the world would be glad to honour." But the bashful princess remained silent with

hospitality to the fairy prince

whom

all

downcast is

eyes.

the friend said

" She

Accept a hospitable greeting from

bashful.

me."

Then

And

him

she gave

a garland.

Cloud-chariot, far gone in love, took garland and put it around Sandal's neck. the loving, sidelong glance

seemed

the

And

which she gave him

another garland of blue lotuses.

So they pledged themselves without speaking

word.

Then

came and said to the Princess, your mother remembers princess Come at once." And she went slowly, you. after drawing from her lover's face a passionate glance, for which Love's arrow had wedged a And Cloud-chariot went to the hermipath. a serving-maid

tage, thinking of her

while she, sick with the separation from the lord of her life, saw her ;

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT

141

mother, then tottered to her bed and

Her

it.

eyes were blinded

as if

fell upon from smoke by

of love within her, her limbs tossed in And though her friends fever, she shed tears. anointed her with sandal and fanned her with the

fire

found no

lotus-leaves, she

rest

on her bed or

the lap of a friend or on the ground. Then when the day fled away

with the

passionate red twilight, and the moon drew near to kiss the face of the laughing East, she despaired of life, and her modesty would not

her send a message in spite of all her love. But somehow she lived through the night.

let

And

Cloud-chariot too was in anguish at the Even in his bed he was fallen inseparation. to the

hand of Love.

so recent,

Though he had already grown

shame kept him pangs of

love.

silent,

his passion pale.

was

Though

his looks told

of the

And

so he passed the night. he arose and went to the

In the morning And his friend, the hermit's shrine of Gauri. him and tried to comfort him. followed son,

that

moment

the lovelorn Sandal came out

of her house alone, for she could not endure the separation, and crept to that lonely spot to

end her

life there.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

She did not see her lover behind a tree, and with eyes brimming with tears she prayed to " O the goddess Gauri I could since goddess, :

not

this

life

have

Cloud-chariot

husband, grant that in another he may be my husband."

life

last

Then

she tied her garment to the limb of an ashoka tree before the goddess and cried:

Alas,

lord

Alas, Cloud-chariot

say your benevolence you not save me ?

universal.

They

Why

did

But

as she

fastened the garment about her neck, a voice from the sky was heard in the

Clouddaughter, do nothing rash. the future of the shall be chariot, fairies, king air

your husband."

And

Cloud-chariot heard the heavenly voice,

and with sweetheart.

" Here

his

friend

The

approached his rejoicing

friend

said

the

girl

the gift which the goddess grants And Cloud-chariot spoke more than is

you." one tender word and loosed the garment from her neck with his own hand.

a girl friend who had been gathering flowers there and had seen what was

Then

came up joyfully and

said,

happening, while Sandal's

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT

143

modest eyes seemed to be tracing a figure on " the ground My dear, I congratulate you. Your wish is granted. This very day Prince :

Friend-wealth said in All-wealth,

your father

presence c

King

Father, the fairy deserves honour

Cloud-chariot, who from all the world, who gave away the wishingtree, is here, and we should treat him as an

prince

honoured guest.

could not find another

So let us welcome him bridegroom like him. with the gift of Sandal who is a pearl of a

And

the king agreed, and your brother Friend-wealth has this moment gone to the

girl.'

I think hermitage of the noble prince. your So to will soon take place. go your marriage chamber, and let the noble prince go to his

hermitage." So she went slowly and happily and lovingly. And Cloud-chariot hastened to the hermitage.

There he greeted Friend-wealth and heard his message, and told him about his own birth and Then Friend-wealth was delighted former life. and told Cloud-chariot's parents who were Then he went home and made also delighted. his

own

parents

happy with the news.

That very day he

invited Cloud-chariot to

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

And

they made a great feast as was proper, and married the fairy prince and Then Cloud-chariot was Sandal on the spot.

his

home.

completely happy and spent some time there with his bride Sandal.

took a walk for pleasure about the hills with Friend-wealth, and came to the There he saw great heaps of bones, seashore. " What creatures and he asked Friend-wealth

One day he

did these heaps of bones belong to said Friend-wealth brother-in-law

merciful prince Listen, my friend. tell you the story briefly." :

Long ago Kadru, the mother of made a wager with her rival

His

to I

the will

the serpents, Vinata, the

She won mother of the great bird Garuda. Now the wager and enslaved her rival. he had Garuda's anger continued even after

mother from slavery. He kept going into the underworld where Kadru's offspring, Some he killed, the serpents, live, to eat them.

freed his

others he crushed.

Then Vasuki, king of would

the serpents, feared be lost if the serpents

that in time

all

were

be slain thus.

all

agreement with Garuda.

So he made an "O said

king

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT of

one serpent every day

will send

birds,

145 to

the shore of the southern sea for

you

But you are never

underworld

the

enter

to eat.

What

advantage would it be to you if all the serpents were slain at once ? And an Garuda agreed, with eye to his own

again.

advantage. Since that time

snake sent

Garuda every day by Vasuki here on the

eats the

seashore.

And these heaps of bones from the serpents that have been eaten, have in time formed a regular mountain.

When

Cloud-chariot heard this story from the lips of Friend-wealth, he was deeply " friend, wretched indeed grieved and said

that king. Vasuki

his

own

coward.

subjects

first.'

deliberately sacrifices their enemy. is a

has a thousand heads, yet could

not find a single eat

who

mouth

How

to say

* :

could he be so

Garuda,

mean as to ? Or how

beg Garuda to destroy his own race can Garuda, the heavenly bird, do crime ? Oh, insolent madness

such

So the noble Cloud-chariot made up mind that he would use his poor body day

to save

the

life

of one serpent at

his

that

least.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

146

moment

a door-keeper, sent by Friendwealth's father, came to summon them home.

that

And

Cloud-chariot said

I will

follow."

" :

first.

you go

So he dismissed Friend-wealth,

and remained there himself. As he walked about waiting for the thing he hoped for, he heard a pitiful sound of weepHe went a little way and ing at a distance.

saw near

a lofty rock a sorrowful, He was at that moment

youth.

a creature that

seemed

handsome abandoned

to be a policeman,

and was gently persuading his old, weeping mother to return. And Cloud-chariot wished So he hid himself to know who it might be.

and

listened, his heart

The youth.

mother

old

anguish,

and "

started

bowed down

was to

Shell-crest

Oh,

whom

melting with pity.

lament

Oh,

over

by the

virtuous

fondled, not counting the labour son, and the pain Oh, my son, my only son I

Where

shall

see

you again

Oh,

When

your bright face is gone, ling fall into black despair. will old father !

can he

by the

the

live

rays

then

Your tender form

of the sun.

How

can

pangs of being eaten by Garuda

dar-

your

How

hurt

bear

Oh,

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT my unhappy and

the

fate

Why

did

choose

serpent-king

the

from the broad serpent-world, and

him

upon

she lamented, the youth, her son,

Mother,

torture

Garuda

And

Who

am unhappy

yet more

time

last

for

son

only seize

the

Creator

And said

147

bow

before you.

Why

For time

come."

the mother cried

save

will

enough. home.

Return

son

Alas, alas for

And

she gazed

about wildly and wept aloud. All this Cloud-chariot, the future Buddha, And with deep pity he heard. " Alas This is a serpent named thought

saw and

And

eat.

this

him out of her son,

and she

anguish. life

by Vasuki

sent here

Shell-crest,

great

his

mother,

love.

mourning

should

did

for

forever

following her only

pain and bitter

curse

not save one in such

the cost of a

Garuda

body which must

useless

agony

perish any-

way some day." So Cloud-chariot joyfully approached and " said to the old mother Serpent-mother, I :

will save

your

son.

not weep."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

148

But the old mother thought that this was "O Garuda, and she screamed Garuda, eat Eat me me :

Then

Garuda.

not

said:

Shell-crest

be alarmed.

not

this

What

"Mother,

difference between one who soothes our like the moon, and the fearful Garuda

feelings '

And fairy,

his

Cloud-chariot said

come

to save

garment and

Mother,

son.

your

will put

my own body

offer

the

hungry bird. Do you take your son and go home." " But the old mother said No, no. You a me. To think that son to are more than :

such

we!" And

you should

feel

Cloud-chariot answered

beg you

not to disappoint

insisted,

Shell-crest said

such

for

pity

Mother, I me." But when he " Noble :

being,

you

have certainly shown compassion, but I do not wish to save my body at the expense of

Who

yours. the cost of a creatures

themselves. merciful to

would save pearl

me,

who

The world are

But creatures all

common

merciful

you,

stone at full

only to

who

the world, are very rare.

are

Oh,

climlvd the n>rk of

sacrifice,

eager to give Li-

life

f..r

another.

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT

could not stain the pure family dark spot stains the

pious being,

149

of Shell-guard, as the disk of the moon."

Then "

Shell - crest

from

return

Mother,

Do you

said

desolate

this

of Death

And

for a

worship

will

and

shore

place.

not see the rock of sacrifice wet with

blood of serpents, the terrible

the

mother

his

return

the

plaything

moment Shiva

god

quickly

the

there.

Garuda

before

comes.'

So went

Shell-crest took leave of his to

worship I

Cloud-chariot in

this

should be happy."

Then he saw the

against

mother and

"If Garuda should come

thought: interval,

And

Shiva.

the trees stiffening themselves made by the sweeping

wind

"Garuda is wings of the king of birds. coming," he thought, and climbed the rock of sacrifice, eager to his life for give another.

And Garuda

straightway pounced upon the noble creature and lifted him from the rock in

his

beak.

While

Cloud-chariot's

flowed in streams and the forehead,

Garuda

carried

gem

him

fell

off

blood

from

his

and began

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

50 eat

hills.

Malabar eaten, Cloud-

him on the summit of And while he was being

chariot

thought

" In

every

the

future

mine may my body do some good to I would not attain heaven and body. tion without doing some good first." a shower of flowers fell from heaven fairy prince. At that moment the blood-stained

life

somesalva-

Then on the

gem from

his forehead fell in front of his wife Sandal.

the sight, and as her parents-in-law were near, she tearfully showed And they were alarmed at the it to them.

She was

anguish

gem and wondered what

sight of their son's

Then

meant.

King Cloud-banner disby his magic arts, and he

covered the truth

and

his

started

queen

run

with

Cloud-

chariot's wife Sandal.

that

moment

Shell-crest

worship of Shiva. stained with blood, and

his

me, poor sinner creature

has

find

him

He saw cried

from

the

rock

" Alas

for

Surely that noble, merciful

given

place of mine. the great being

returned

his

body

must find him.

Garuda

Where

has

been carried by my enemy ? alive, then I shall not sink into

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT

151

So he followed weepthe slough of infamy." ing the broad trail of blood.

Now

Garuda

noticed

Cloud-chariot

that

was happy while being eaten, and he thought " This must be some strange, great being, for :

happy while I am eating him. not die, and what remains of him

And

with delight.

he turns

does

thrilled

bene-

a gracious,

upon me. Surely, he is no I will stop serpent, but some great spirit. eating him and ask him." But while he reflected, Cloud-chariot said " O There king of birds, why do you stop ? is still some flesh and blood on me, and I see look

volent

that

you

When

Pray continue

are not satisfied.

able

words, he said

Tell

me who you

You

are

Certainly

mean

urge him What does the

a serpent.

Continue your meal. fool would begin a thing and then stop

At afar

that

" :

What

moment

not a serpent.

Shell-crest shouted

Garuda, do

and reckless crime.

serpent.

are."

But Cloud-chariot continued " question

to eat."

the king of birds heard these remark-

from

not commit a great

What madness is this I am the serpent."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

ij2

And

he ran between them and spoke again " O the agitated bird Garuda, what

madness

this

the hood

While

not see that

and the forked tongue

how

not see

Do you

gentle his

have

Do you

" is

appearance

was speaking, Cloud-chariot's wife Sandal and his parents hurried up. And when his parents saw how he was lacerated, " Alas, my they wept aloud and lamented he

son

Cloud-chariot Alas Alas, merciful who gave his darling, " others !

for

life

for

when

But

How then

they

cried

" :

Garuda

Alas,

could you do this thoughtless thing ? Garuda was filled with remorse and

thought

enough

" Alas

How

to eat a future

who

be Cloud-chariot,

whose fame the world. to

could

Buddha

gives his

mad

This must

life

for others,

trumpeted abroad through

If he

dead,

burn myself

alive.

ought fruit of the poison-tree of

and

a sinner,

Why

sin taste

all

does the

sweet

While Garuda was thus deep in anxious Cloud-chariot saw his relatives thought, fell down, and died from the pain gathered, of his wounds.

Then, while

his grief-stricken

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT

153

parents were loudly

lamenting, while Shellcrest was accusing himself, Sandal looked up

heaven and,

stammering with tears, reproached the goddess Gauri who had " Oh, graciously given her this husband to

voice

Mother

You

should be

told

that the fairy prince fate that husband, but it is

you spoke falsely." Then Gauri appeared in a visible form, " and said Daughter, my words are not :

false."

And

nectar

from a

alive,

she sprinkled Cloud-chariot with And straightway he stood jar.

and more

unhurt

beautiful

than

before.

As they

all

bent low in worship, and Cloudto bend again, the goddess

chariot rose only " said son, :

own

of your anoint

you

body. king of

pleased with your gift

With my own hand the

And

fairies."

she

anointed

Cloud-chariot with liquor from the and then disappeared, followed by the jar, And showers of worship of the company. heavenly blossoms fell from the sky, and the drums of the gods were joyfully beaten in heaven.

Then Garuda

reverently

said

Cloud-

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

154 chariot

" :

King,

pleased with your

more than human character. For you have a done strange thing of unparalleled nobility, be marvelled at throughout the universe, to be written upon the walls of heaven. to

Therefore I am at your service. Choose from me what boon you will." The noble creature said to Garuda " O :

Garuda, you must repent and eat no more And you must restore to life those serpents. that you ate before, who now are nothing but bones."

And Garuda no serpents eaten shall

Then down to

said:

hereafter.

come

all

"So be it. And those

will eat

that

have

to life."

the serpents

who had

been eaten

the bones, suddenly stood up. And through the grace of Gauri all the leading fairies learned immediately the wonderful deed

Cloud-chariot.

bowed

his

feet

they all came and and took him, freshly

anointed by the very hand of Gauri, with his

and friends to the Himalaya There Cloud-chariot lived happily with his father and his mother and his wife Sandal and Friend-wealth and the generous rejoicing relatives

mountain.

FAIRY PRINCE CLOUD-CHARIOT And

Shell-crest.

he ruled

the

fairy

155

world

radiant with gems.

When story,

the goblin had told this long, strange " he said to the king King, tell

me.

Which was

the

self-sacrificing,

Cloud-chariot or

Shell-crest

and do not

then the curse

tell,

you know

If I

mentioned

before will be fulfilled."

And

the king said

remarkable

was

" There was nothing

what Cloud-chariot

did.

by experiences of But Shell-crest deserves many past lives. He was saved from death. His enemy praise. had another victim, and was far away. Yet he ran after and offered his body to Garuda." When the goblin heard this, he went back prepared

for

to the sissoo tree.

catch

him

again.

And

the

the king returned to

SIXTEENTH GOBLIN :

The King who died for Love of his General's Wife ; the General follows him in Death. Which is the more 'worthy ? went back under the put the goblin on his And before, and started. " him O King, I will

the king

THEN sissoo

tree,

shoulder as

the tell

goblin said to you another little

weariness.

story to

there

Long ago

was

in these evil days.

bravery

and kept

flowed, In this

who one

your

a city named Golden the Ganges, where a

City on the bank of quarter of the old perfect virtue Glorious,

relieve

Listen."

he the

There was deserved

world

the

from

still

lingers

king named

His

name. being

over-

the shore of the sea.

king's city lived a great merchant, had a daughter named Passion. Every-

who saw

her

fell

in love

and went mad

with passion. 167

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

158

When

she

said

the

gem

to be a

merchant went

virtuous

and

grew

young woman, the to King Glorious

" Your Majesty, I have a daughter, of the three worlds, and she is

old

enough to marry. I could not give her to anyone without consulting your Majesty. For you are the master of all gems in the

world.

Pray

marry

her

and

his

own Brahmans

thus

lay

under obligations."

So the king sent examine her qualities.

mans saw her supreme troubled

and thought

But when the Brahloveliness, they were " If the king should

marry her, his kingdom would be ruined. He would think only of her, and would doubtless neglect the kingdom. Therefore we must not report her good qualities to the king."

So they returned to the king and said " Your So Majesty, she has bad qualities." the king did not marry the merchant's But he bade the merchant give daughter. :

And daughter to a general named Force. she lived happily with her husband in his his

house.

After

time

the

lion

spring

came

THE KING WHO DIED FOR LOVE the

through

dancing

elephant of winter.

forth

see the spring

beaten

within

doors.

fallen

sickness

slew

the

Glorious went

to elephant the drum was

festival.

warn

and

And King

back

the

forest

159

And women

virtuous

stay

Otherwise they would have love with his beauty, and love-

might be expected.

But when Passion heard the drum, she did She went out on not like to be left alone. the

balcony,

She seemed

the

king might see her. the flame of love which the

that

spring-time was fanning with southern breezes. And the king saw her, and his whole being He felt her beauty sinking was shaken.

deep in his heart like a victorious arrow of Love, and he fainted.

His servants brought him back to consciousThere ness, and he returned to the city. he made inquiries and learned that this was So Passion whom he had rejected before. he banished from the country the Brahmans who had said that she had bad qualities, and he thought longingly of her every day. And as he thought of her, he burned over the flame of love, and wasted

away day

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

i6o

And though from shame

and night. conceal

to,

it,

finally

told

who

anguish to responsible people him. " Do not suffer. said not seize her?'

not do

asked

do you

Why

tried

reason

the

his

They

But the virtuous king would

it.

Then General Force heard the story. He came and bowed at the feet of the king and said

" Your Majesty, she

slave, therefore she

you

wife.

my own

better yet,

the wife of your I your slave. give her accord. Pray take is

will

leave her here in

Then you cannot be blamed

the palace.

you marry her." And the general begged and insisted. " I But the king became angry and said am a king. How can I do such a wicked :

If thing ? virtuous ?

should transgress, devoted to

You are me to a

who would be me Why do 6

sin which is pleasant for you urge the moment, but causes great sorrow in the If you abandon your wedded next world ?

wife,

man

gression

shall

my ?

How

not pardon you. position overlook such

It is better to die."

Thus

could a a

trans-

the king

THE KING WHO DIED FOR LOVE away

life

For the truly great throw

it.

argued against

rather than virtue.

the citizens

fever-flame

all

left

refused.

shrivelled

The

and

love

general

king.

actions

away over

the

There

was

died.

Glorious

King

And the glory. the death of his alive.

And when

came together and urged him, he

was steadfast and So he slowly nothing

161

could

except his not endure

burned himself

devoted

men

are

blameless.

When had told

the

goblin

this story,

on the king's shoulder "O he asked the king

King, which of these two, the king and the Remember general, was the more deserving ? the curse before you answer." The king said " I think the king was the more deserving." :

" goblin said reproachfully He King, why was not the general better ? offered the king a wife like that, whose charms

Then

the

knew from when his king

And long married life. he burned himself like died,

man.

But the king gave her up

a faithful

without really knowing her attractions."

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

162

Then

the king laughed and said

" True

The general was enough, but not surprising. a gentleman born, and acted as he did from devotion to his superior. protect their masters even

own who

For servants must at

the cost of their

But kings are like mad elephants cannot be goaded into obedience, who

lives.

break

the

binding-chain

and

are insolent,

their

virtue.

judgment

trickles

They from

them with the holy water of consecration. Their eyes are blinded by the hurricane ot power, and they do not see the road. the most ancient times, even the kings

From who

conquered the world have been maddened by love and have fallen into misfortune. But

though he ruled the whole world, though he was maddened by the girl Passion, preferred to die rather than set his foot on He was a hero. He the path of iniquity. this king,

was the

Then

better of the two."

goblin escaped by magic from shoulder and went back. And

the

king's

the

king pursued

great

man

him,

stops in the

undertaking.

undiscouraged.

middle of the hardest

j,(i

into the

fire

or go

home?"

SEVENTEENTH GOBLIN The Youth 'who went through Ceremonies.

Why

the

did he fail

Proper win the

magic spell? the

king went back through cemetery filled with

the night to the

THEN

ghouls, terrible with funeral piles that

seemed flame.

ghosts with

wagging tongues of But when he came to the sissoo tree,

he was surprised to see a great

many

bodies

hanging on the tree. They were all alike, and in each was a goblin twitching its limbs. And the king thought " Ah, what does this mean ? Why does that magic goblin For I do not know keep wasting my time ? which of all these I ought to take. If I :

should not succeed in this night's endeavour, then I would burn myself alive rather than

become a laughing-stock." But the goblin understood the king's purpose, and was pleased with his character. 163

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

So he gave up his magic arts. Then the He king saw only one goblin in one body. took him down as before, put him on his shoulder, and started once more. And as he walked along, the goblin said "O King, if you have no objections, I will :

tell

you a

There

Listen."

story.

a city called Ujjain,

whose people

delight in noble happiness, and feel no longing In that city there is real darkness for heaven. at

real

night,

intelligence

madness in elephants, sandal, and moonlight. as

poetry, real coolness in pearls,

lived a

Heaven-lord, rich rich in learning.

son

He king named Moonshine. counsellor a famous Brahman named

There had

real

money,

And

the

rich

counsellor

piety, a

had

named Moon-lord.

This son went one day to a great resort of There the dice, beautiful gamblers to play. of as the eyes gazelles, were being thrown

And

constantly.

on, "

looking

embrace

gamblers

Calamity seemed " Whom

thinking

And

seemed

the loud to

shouts

suggest

the

shall

of angry question

THE MAGIC SPELL "

Who

there that

would not be

165

fleeced here, '

were he the god of wealth himself? This hall the youth entered, and played He staked his clothes and everywith dice.

Then thing else, and the gamblers won it all. he wagered money he did not have, and lost And when they asked him to pay, he that. So the gambling-master caught him and beat him with clubs.

could

not.

When

he was bruised

over by the clubs, the Brahman youth became motionless like a stone, and pretended to be dead, and waited. all

After he had lain thus for the

two

or three days, gambling-master said to the " He lies like a stone. Take him

heartless

gamblers

somewhere and throw him

into a blind well.

pay you the money he owes." So the gamblers picked Moon-lord up and went far into the forest, looking for a well. I

will

Then one as

good

him

into

old gambler said to the others He as dead. What is the use of throwing :

a well

now

will

leave

here and go back and say we have left in a well." And all the rest agreed, and

him

there,

When

him him left

and went back. they were gone, Moon-lord rose and

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS When

entered a deserted temple to Shiva.

had rested "

there, he thought in great trusted the rascally gamblers,

little

Ah, anguish and they cheated me. I

naked and dusty as father say if he saw

Where

shall

go now,

am What would my me now, or any relative,

I will stay here for the any friend ? present, and at night I will go out and try to

find food

somehow

While he

to appease

reflected

hunger."

and naked-

in weariness

ness, the sun grew less hot and disappeared. Then a terrible hermit named Stake came

had smeared his body with When he had seen Moon-lord and ashes. who he was and heard his story, he asked " Sir, said, as the youth bent low before him

there,

and he

you have come

hermitage,

guest Rise, bathe, and parfainting with hunger. take of the meal I have gained by begging." Then Moon-lord said to him " Holy sir, :

Brahman.

such a meal

How

can

partake

Then

the hermit-magician went into his hut and out of tenderness to his guest he thought And of a magic spell which grants all desires.

the spell appeared in

bodily form, and said

THE MAGIC SPELL

167

" What shall I do ? " And the hermit said " Treat that man as an honoured guest." Then Moon-lord was astonished to see a golden palace rise before him and a grove with :

women

They came

it.

palace and said

him from

the

come, bathe, eat, So they led him in and gave him a chance to bathe and anoint himself and dress. Then they led him to Sir,

rise,

and meet our mistress."

another room.

There the youth saw beauty, see

whom

woman

of wonderful

the Creator must have

what he could

him

do.

half of her seat.

made

She rose and offered

And

he ate heavenly

food and various fruits and chewed betel leaves

and

sat

happily with her on the couch. morning he awoke and saw

the

temple to Shiva, but the heavenly creature was gone, and the palace, and the women in it.

So he went out his

and the hermit in how he had " And he said Holy sir, distress,

hut smiled and asked him

spent the

night.

through your kindness I spent a happy night, but I shall die without that heavenly creature." Then the hermit laughed and said " Stay here. You shall have the same happiness :

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

So Moon-lord enjoyed those

again to-night." delights

every

night

the favour

through

the hermit.

came

Moon-lord

Finally

what

see

mighty spell that was. So, driven on by his " fate, he respectfully begged the hermit Holy :

sir, if

really feel pity for a

you

me, teach

that

poor suppliant

which has such

spell

power."

And when he insisted, You could never win the

stand in the water to win a

spell. it.

of magic to bewilder

net

hermit said

the

One

has to

And it weaves the man who is

repeating the words, so that he cannot win it. For as he mumbles it, he seems to lead another

baby, then a boy, then a youth, And he falsely then a husband, then a father. life,

first

imagines that such and such people are his He forgets friends, such and such his enemies. his real

But

life

and

his

man mumbles

desire it

win the

spell.

constantly for twenty-

four years, and remembers his own life, and is not deceived by the network of magic, and the end burns himself alive, he comes out of the water, and has real magic power.

then

comes only

to a

good

pupil,

and

a teacher

THE MAGIC SPELL

169

bad pupil, the teacher loses it too. Now you have the real benefit through my magic power. Why insist on more? If I tries to

teach

lost

to a

powers,

go too." But Moon-lord

not

fear,

men

seek aid

said

holy

sir."

spell. life,

can do anything. And the hermit

not do out of regard to those

who

spell.

bank, and words of the the My son, And while you are leading an imaginary you will at last be awakened by my

will

teach him the

So the hermit went said

" :

What

promised to holy

then your happiness would

to the river

mumble

Then plunge into the magic fire magic. which you will see. I will stand here on the bank while you mumble it." So he purified himself and purified Moonlord and made him sip water, and then he And Moon-lord taught him the magic spell. bowed to his teacher on the bank, and plunged into the river.

And

he mumbled the words of the

spell

he was bewildered by its magic. He forgot all about his past life, and went He was born in another through another life. in the water,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Brahman. Then he grew up, was consecrated, and went to school. Then he took a wife, and after many experiences half pleasant, half painful, he found himcity as the

son

self the father

of a

of a family.

some years with

his parents

Then he and

lived for

his relatives,

devoted to wife and children, and interested in

many

things.

While he was experiencing

all

these labours

life, the hermit took pity on him and repeated magic words to enlighten him. And Moon-lord was enlightened in the midst

of another

of his

new

life.

He remembered

himself and

teacher, and saw that the other life was network of magic. So he prepared to enter the fire in order to win magic power. But older people and reliable people and his parents and his relatives tried to prevent him. In spite of them he hankered after heavenly pleasures, and went to the bank of a river where a funeral pile had been made ready. And his relatives went with him. But when he got there he saw that his old parents and his wife and his little children were weeping. And he was perplexed, and thought " Alas If I enter the all these

his

fire,

my own

THE MAGIC SPELL people will die.

my no.

do not

know whether

promise will come true or not.

teacher's

Shall

And

into

the

go home

fire,

No,

How

could a teacher with such powers Indeed, I must enter the falsely ?

promise

And

fire."

And

did.

he was astonished to

snow, and

cool as

the

fear of

his

lost

feel

he came out of the water of the

found

171

himself

the

fire

river,

He saw

bank.

Then

it.

and his

teacher standing there, and fell at his feet, and told him the whole story, ending with the blazing funeral pile.

Then

his teacher said

son,

think

you must have made some mistake. Otherwise, why did the fire seem cool to you ? That never happens in the winning of this magic

spell."

And Moon-lord

said

" :

Holy

sir,

do not

remember making any mistake." Then his teacher was eager to know about it, so he tried to remember the spell himself. But it him or not come to to his would So pupil. went lost their away sad, having they magic.

When

the

goblin had told

this

story,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

asked the king " O King, explain the matter did they lose their magic, when to me. had been done according to everything :

Why '

precept

Then

the king said magic creature, I see that you are only trying to waste my time. :

will

Still,

come

to a

Magic powers do not you. because he does things that are

tell

man

hard, but because he does things with a pure that

The Brahman youth was defective at He hesitated even when his mind point.

was

enlightened.

heart.

And

Therefore he failed to win the

the magic. teacher lost his magic because he taught it to an unworthy pupil." Then the goblin went back to his home.

And

the king ran to find him, never hesitating.

EIGHTEENTH GOBLIN The Boy 'whom

bis Parents, the Ki?ig^

Giant conspired to

Why

Kill.

and

the

did he laugh

moment of death ?

at the

the king

went

to the sissoo tree,

put the goblin on his shoulder as beAnd the fore, and started in silence.

THEN

goblin on his shoulder saw that he was silent

and

said

home.

King,

Spend

story.

are

you

night

so obstinate rest.

You

to that rascally monk. insist, then I will tell you another

ought not to take

But

why the

you

Listen."

There

a city called Brilliant-peak.

There

king named Moon, who deWise men eyes of his subjects.

lived a glorious

lighted the said that he

was

home of beauty.

brave, generous, and the very

But

in spite

he was very sad at heart. wife worthy of him.

all his

wealth,

For he found no 173

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

174

One day

king went with soldiers on horseback into a great wood, to hunt there and this

forget his sorrow.

There he

split

open

many

boars with his arrows as the sun splits the black darkness, and made fierce lions into cushions for his arrows,

with

and slew mountainous monsters

his terrible darts.

As he hunted, he spurred his horse and beat him terribly. And the horse was so hurt by the spur and the

whip

rough from smooth. than the wind, and

that he could not

tell

dashed

off quicker

moment

carried the

king into another forest a hundred miles away. There the king lost his way, and as he wandered about wearily, he saw a great lake.

stopped there, unsaddled his horse, let him bathe and drink, and found him some grass in Then he bathed and the shade of the trees.

drank himself, and when looked all about him.

had

rested,

And

he saw a hermit's daughter of marvellous beauty under an ashoka tree with another girl. She had no ornaments but flowers. She was

charming even

was

in a dress

made of

bark.

She

particularly attractive because of her thick masses of hair arranged in a girlish way.

The

giant laughed aloud, spit ike in his \vialh, showed his dreadful fangs.

and

WHY THE BOY LAUGHED And

the

" thought

come

fell

king

Who

bathe in

she

these

with

love

in ?

she

waters

175

her and

goddess

Or Gauri,

separated from her husband Shiva, leading a Or the lovely hard life to win him again ?

human

form, and trying to I will be attractive in the daytime ? go to her

moon, taking

and find out." So he drew near to her. And when she saw him coming, she was astonished at his beauty and dropped her hands, which had been weav-

And she thought ing a garland of flowers. " Who can he be in this forest ? Some fairy :

Blessed are my eyes this day." perhaps. So she rose, modestly looking another way, and started to go away, though her limbs failed her. Then the king approached and said " Beautiful maiden, I have come a long disI ask tance, and you never saw me before. and to look at should welcome only you, you :

me.

Is this

hermit manners, to run

away

Then her clever friend made the king sit down and treated him as an honoured guest.

And good adorn

the

king respectfully asked

girl,

what happy family does your

What

her

are the syllables of her

friend

name,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

which must be a delight

to the ear

at her age does she torture a

a flower

And she

with a hermit's

body

life in

Or why

as delicate as

a lonely

wood?"

" Your Majesty, the daughter of the hermit Kanva and the friend answered

the heavenly nymph Menaka. here in the hermitage, and her

With

bloom.

She grew up

name

Lotus-

her father's permission she came And her father's

here to the lake to bathe.

hermitage

Then

not far from here."

the king

was

He mounted

delighted.

his horse and rode to the hermitage of holy Kanva, to ask for the girl. And he entered

the

hermitage

modest

garb,

leaving

his

Then he was surrounded by with hermits hoary crowns and bark garments like the trees, and saw the sage Kanva radiant

horse outside.

and cool and fell

the moon.

And

he drew near

at his feet.

And him

the wise hermit greeted him and let " son Moon, I will rest, then said :

Listen. your advantage. you something know what fear of death there is in mortal to

tell

then do you uselessly kill the Warriors were made by the wild beasts ? Creator to protect the timid. Therefore pro-

creatures.

Why

WHY THE BOY LAUGHED tect

out

your

subjects

righteousness, and root flees before you,

As Happiness

evil.

strive

overtake her with

177

all

your means,

elephants and horses and things.

kingship.

Abandon Death. ceived.

Enjoy your Become glorious.

generous.

of hunting,

of For slayer and slain are equally deWhy spend your time in such an evil this

vice

this sport

pursuit

The "

sensible

Holy

sir, I

king was

and

pleased

said

And great is my From now on I

instructed.

gratitude for this instruction. Let the wild animals live withhunt no more.

out fear."

Then

the hermit said

" :

your protection of the animals. boon you will."

Then sir,

the quick-witted

you

pleased with

Choose any

king said

are kindly disposed, give

" :

Holy

me your

daughter Lotus-bloom." So the hermit gave him his daughter, the child of the nymph, who then came up after

So they were married, and the king wore cheerful garments, and Lotus-bloom was adorned by the hermits' wives. And the weepher bath.

ing hermits accompanied them in procession to M

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

178

the edge of the

Then

the

king took his wife Lotus-bloom, mounted his horse,

and

hermitage.

started for his city.

the sun, seeing the king tired with his long journeying, sank wearily behind the last

And fawn-eyed

western mountain.

night ap-

of darkness, like peared, clad in the garment And the a woman going to meet her lover. kino: o

saw an ashvattha

tree

on the shore of a

pond in a spot covered with grass and twigs, and he decided to spend the night there. So he dismounted, fed and watered his horse, brought water from the pond, and rested with his beloved.

the

And

they passed the night there. morning he arose, performed his

devotions, and prepared to set out with his wife to rejoin his soldiers. Then, like a cloud

black as soot with

tawny

lightning-hair, there wore a chaplet of

appeared a great giant. human entrails, a cord of

chewing the head of from a skull.

The

giant

laughed

human

hair,

he was

man, and drinking blood aloud,

spit

fire

his

And wrath, and showed his dreadful fangs. " Scoundrel I he scolded the king and said am a giant named Flame-face. This tree is :

WHY THE my home

;

pass here.

BOY LAUGHED

even the gods do not dare to tresBut you and your wife have tres-

Now

passed and enjoyed yourselves.

your own

impudence, you

lovesick, so

it,

and

will drink

giant was

rascal

frightened

invincible,

when he saw

and

Forgive me.

give you

will be satisfied.

eat

" :

human

that

was

wife

his

trespassed

your guest,

seeking protection in your hermitage. will

are

your blood."

trembling, so he said respectfully ignorantly.

swallow

You

open your heart and

will split

The king was the

179

And

sacrifice, so that

Be merciful then and

you

forget

your anger." Then the giant forgot his anger, and thought: " " not ? And he said " Very well.

Why

King, I want a noble, intelligent Brahman boy seven years old, who shall give himself up of his own accord for your sake. And when

mother must hold his hands tightly to the ground, and his father must hold his feet, and you must cut off his head with your own sword. If you do this within seven he

killed,

days, then

offered me.

your people."

his

will

you have you and all

forgive the insult

If not,

will

kill

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

i8o

And

so frightened that he the giant disappeared. Moon mounted his horse with

Then

Then King his

wife Lotus-bloom and rode for

heart,

seeking " Alas thought :

and by can I

was

the king

consented.

and

his

soldiers.

will

And

was bewildered by hunting

find myself ruined. find such a sacrifice for the giant love,

sad

away

Where

my own

city

now, and

Well,

see

what

happens." So he continued his search, and found his

and

There his subjects because he had found a wife worthy of him, and they made a But it was a day of despondency great feast. and dreadful agony for the king. On the next day he told his counsellors the whole story. And one counsellor named Wise " Your I will said Majesty, do not despair. soldiers

his

city

Brilliant-peak.

were delighted

find a victim for the sacrifice.

The world

strange place." Thus the counsellor comforted the king, and

made

a statue of a

boy out of

gold.

And

sent the statue about the land, with constant

" beating of drums and this proclamation want a noble Brahman boy seven years old :

WHY THE who

BOY LAUGHED

181

will offer himself as a sacrifice to a giant

And when with the permission of his parents. he is killed, his mother must hold his hands, and

his father

must hold

the

reward,

will

king hundred villages and

his feet.

his

give

And

parents

statue of gold

this

as a

and

gems."

Now

a Brahman boy on a farm, seven only years old, but wonderfully

there

who was

was

He was

of great beauty, and even in childhood he was always thinking about others. I will He said to the heralds " brave.

Gentlemen,

you

give

body.

Wait

hurry back after telling

So they

told the

this

" Mother

Father

moment.

And

he went

before his parents, and !

wretched body of mine

going to give

order to win

lasting happiness. Pray permit me. will take the king's gift, this statue of

made of gold and gems, and together with the hundred will

good.

pay

will

parents."

to go.

boy

bowed

into the house, said

give

And

myself to

you

Thus

villages.

debt to you, and do some real you will never be poor again, and

And

have plenty more sons." But his parents immediately said

will

" :

Son,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

you saying ? Have you the rheumatism ? Or are you possessed by a devil ? If Who would not, why do you talk nonsense ? sacrifice his child for money ? And what child would give his body ? But the boy said " I am not mad. Listen. are full of sense. The words My body is the seat of unnameable impurities, it is loathsome and full of pain. It perishes in no long time at best. If some good can be done with the what

are

worthless thing, that is a great advantage in this weary life, so wise men And what say. there except helping others ? If one can serve his parents so easily, then

good

any-

how

lightly should the body be esteemed Thus the boy, with his bold words and his !

firm purpose,

And the

persuaded his grieving parents.

he went and got from the king's men golden statue and the hundred villages,

and gave them to his parents. So the boy with his parents followed the king's men to the city the king looked upon

magic jewel rejoiced

for

greatly.

his

Brilliant-peak. the brave boy

And as

own

preservation, and adorned the boy with

garlands and perfumes, put

him on an

elephant,

WHY THE BOY LAUGHED and took him with

his parents

the

183

home

of the giant.

There the priest traced a magic circle beside the tree, and reverently lit the holy fire.

Then

the horrible giant Flame-face appeared,

mumbling words of

his

own.

staggered,

was drunk with blood, and snorted and yawned. His eyes flashed fire and his shadow made the whole world dark. " Great And the said for he

king

here

being,

asked I

for,

promised

human

the

and

respectfully

this

it.

sacrifice

you

the seventh day since merciful. Accept this

sacrifice."

And the

the giant licked his chops, and looked boy over, who was to be the sacrifice.

" I have done boy thought some good with this body of mine. May I never rest in heaven or in eternal salvation, but may I have many lives in which to do

Then

the noble

some good with my body." was filled with the chariots

down flowers. Then the boy was

And of

the

gods

air

who

rained

His mother held held his

feet.

his

When

before the giant. hands, and his father laid

the king

drew

his

sword

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

and was ready

to strike, the

heartily that

of them, even the giant, forgot

all

boy laughed

what they were doing, looked at the boy's face, and bowed low before him.

When

the goblin had told this strange story, he asked the king " King, why did the

at the

boy laugh

moment of

death

have a

If you know great curiosity about this point. and will not tell, then your head will fly into

a hundred pieces." And the king said

the

why

you

comes

" :

Listen.

boy laughed.

any weak

creature,

will

When he

tell

danger

cries for

life

If they are not mother and father. from he the king, whom there, begs protection heaven made his protector. Failing the king, to

his

cries to a

god.

Some one of

these should

But in the case of this boy was His parents held contrary. everything his hands and feet because they wanted money. And the king was ready to kill him with his be his protector.

own giant,

hand, to

who

save

his

own

life.

And

the

a kind of a god, had come there So the boy thought to eat him.

especially 4 They are

ridiculously

fooled

about

their

WHY THE BOY LAUGHED which of pain and bodies,

are

fragile,

185

worthless, the seat The bodies of the

suffering. And such creatures as greatest gods perish. ' these imagine that their bodies will endure !

So when he saw felt

that his

own

strange madness, and wishes were fulfilled, the

their

Brahman boy laughed

astonishment and

delight."

Then

the

goblin

slipped

shoulder and went back to the

from the king's his home. And

king followed with determination.

heart of a

ocean.

good man

like the heart

cannot be shaken.

The of the

NINETEENTH GOBLIN The Man, bis Wife, and her Lover, wbo all died jor Love. Which was the most foolish ? e

the king

THEN sissoo

tree,

took

went back under the the goblin on his

shoulder, and set out in haste.

And

he walked along, the goblin on his shoulder " O King, I will tell you a story about

said

a great love.

There

Listen."

a city called Ujjain,

like a divine city

who have

made by

which seems

the Creator for the

from heaven. In this pious city there was a famous king named LotusHe delighted the good, and defeated belly. the king of the demons. While he was king, a merchant named fallen

Fortune, richer than the god of wealth, lived

had one daughter named the model from Love-cluster, whom the Creator had made the nymphs of in

the

city.

who seemed

187

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

This merchant gave his daughter to a merchant named Jewel-guard from Copper heaven.

City.

As he was

a tender father

and had no other

merchant stayed with Love-cluster and her husband.

children, the

his

daughter

Now

Love-

cluster came to hate Jewel-guard as a sick But hates a pungent, biting medicine.

beautiful

woman was

dearer than

life

man the

to her

husband, dear as long-gathered wealth to

miser.

One day Jewel-guard City

Then

pay

the

hot

loving

started

for

Copper

his

parents.

visit

summer came, and

the roads

by the sharp arrows The winds blew soft with the of the sun. fragrance of jasmine and trumpet-flower, like sighs from the mouths of mountains separated from the springtime. And wind-swept dustclouds flew to the sky like messengers from were blocked for

travellers

And the burning earth begging for clouds. the feverish days moved slowly like wayfarers

And the cling to the shade of trees. nights clad in pale yellow moonlight became feeble without the invigorating embrace of

who

very

winter.

merchant named Fortune, richer than the God of Wealth.

THE MAN, At

this

WIFE,

time

AND LOVER

189

anointed

with

Love-cluster,

cooling sandal, and clad in stood at her lattice-window. a

handsome youth with

trusted.

thin

And

friend

seemed the god

anew and seeking his bride. of the king's priest, and his

garments, she saw

whom

of love born

was the son

name was Lotus-

lake.

And when

Lotus-lake saw the lovely girl, he expanded with delight as lotuses in a lake When the expand at the sight of the moon.

two young people saw each

other, their hearts

embraced each other

bidding of Love,

at the

their teacher.

So Lotus-lake was smitten with love, and was led home with difficulty by his friend. And Love-cluster was equally maddened by First she learned from her friend his love. name and home, then slowly withdrew to her room. There she thought of him and became feverish with love, simply tossing on her couch, seeing nothing and hearing nothing. After two or three days spent in this way, she felt bashful and fearful, pale and thin from the separation, and hopeless of union with her lover. So, as if drawn on by the moonbeam

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

190

which shone through her window, she went out at night when her people were asleep, determined to

under a

tree

There stood set

Gauri, to

this

other

have

not

could

and

her,

life, '

life

came

to a

pool

her garden.

bowed said

before "

may And tied

goddess,

husband in some

husband

made

she

the

Goddess, since

Lotus-lake he be

garment, and

she

a family image of the goddess She drew near by her father.

image,

praised in

And

die.

noose of her

the ashoka tree

be-

fore the goddess.

moment

her trusty friend awoke, and not finding her in the room, hunted about There and came luckily into the garden. that

saw the girl fastening the noose about " And her neck, and she cried, No, no

she

running up, she cut the noose.

When friend

it was her own and taken the noose had run up

Love-cluster saw that

who

away, she fell to the ground in great agony. But her friend comforted her and asked the reason of her sorrow. said

" :

Jasmine,

with him

love.

Then

friend, I

she

arose

and

cannot be united

dependent on

THE MAN,

WIFE,

AND LOVER Death

father and other people.

191

the happiest

thing for me." And as she spoke, she was terribly scorched by the fiery darts of love, and determined

And her no more hope, and fainted. " Alas friend Jasmine lamented Love is a to feel

hard master.

has reduced her to this con-

But she gradually brought her back to life with cool water and fans and things. She made an easy bed of lotus-leaves. She put pearls cool as snow on her heart. Then Love-cluster came to herself and " slowly said to her weeping friend My dear, dition."

the

fire

within

things as pearls.

cannot be quenched by such If

you want

be clever enough to bring

to save

life,

lover to me."

" the loving Jasmine said dear, In the morning I the night is almost over.

And

bring your lover here to meet you. brave and go now to your room." will

was

She took the pearls from her neck and gave them to her And she said " Let us friend as a present. go now. Then in the morning you must So she went to her keep your promise." Love-cluster

contented.

room.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

In the morning Jasmine crept out without being seen to hunt for the house of Lotus-

When

she got there, she found LotusHe was lake under a tree in the garden. lake.

lying on

couch of lotus-leaves

sandal, and

with

friend

the

moistened

who knew

was fanning him with plantain-leaf he was tortured by the flames of

his

secret

fans,

for

love.

And was

Jasmine hid,

out whether this

to find

lovesickness for her friend or not.

Then friend,

the friend said to Lotus-lake

comfort

moment

this

" :

heart

by glancing a your Do not charming garden.

be so troubled."

But he

said to his friend

" :

heart has

It is no been stolen by Love-cluster. longer How can I comfort it ? Love in my body.

has

made an empty quiver of me.

some plan by which

may

So invent

meet the thief of

heart."

Then Jasmine came fear and showed

out joyfully and without And she said " Sir,

herself.

Love-cluster has sent

to you, and to you. Is it

the bearer of a message good manners to enter the heart of an innocent girl ? force, steal her thoughts, and run

away

THE MAN,

AND LOVER

WIFE,

strange, but the sweet girl

193

ready to give her person and her life to you, her charmer. For day and night she heaves sighs hot as the It is

smoke from the

of love that burns in her

And

heart.

and

fire

fall,

teardrops carry her rouge away like bees longing for the honey of

her lotus-face.

So, if

you wish

it,

will

tell

good for both of you." you what And Lotus-lake said " good girl, the is

words which tell me that my love is lonely and longing, frighten me and comfort me.

You

Devise a plan." And Jasmine answered " This very night will bring Love-cluster secretly to the garden. are our only refuge.

You must

be outside.

Then

will

cleverly

you in, and so you two will be united." Thus Jasmine delighted the Brahman's son, and went away successful to please Love-cluster let

with the news.

Then

the sun and the daylight fled away, And the East adorned pursuing the twilight. And the white nighther face with the moon.

blooming

lotuses laughed, their faces

expanding

the thought of the glory that was coming At that hour the lover Lotus-lake to them. at

came N

secretly,

adorned and

filled

with longing,

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

And Jasto the garden-gate of his beloved. mine led Love-cluster secretly into the garden, through the day somehow. Then Jasmine made her sit down under the mango trees, while she went and let Lotus-lake

had

for she

lived

So he entered and looked upon Love-

in.

upon the shade of And as he drew near,

cluster as the traveller looks trees

with thick

foliage.

him and ran

she saw

to him, for love took her modesty, and she fell on his neck.

away " Where would you go thief of

heart

' !

have caught you,

she cried.

Then

excessive

She joy stopped her breathing, and she died. a broken like vine fell on the ground by the wind.

are

Strange

the

mysterious ways

Love.

When

Lotus-lake saw that terrible

fall,

r And he cried Oh, what does it mean ? fainted and fell down. Presently he came to He himself, and took his darling on his lap. :

embraced her and kissed her and wept

He was

down by own heart

so borne

terribly.

the terrible burden

broke. And when of grief that his they were both dead, the night seemed to die

away

shame and

fear.

In the morning the relatives heard the story

THE MAN, WIFE, AND LOVER

195

from the gardeners, and came there filled with timidity and wonder and grief and madness.

They

did not

long

time

know what downcast

with

do, but stood a

Unfaithful

eyes.

women

disgrace a family. Presently the husband

back from his

Jewel-guard came father's house in Copper City,

filled

with love for Love-cluster.

came

to his father-in-law's

When

house and saw the

he was blinded by tears and went There he saw thoughtfully into the garden. business,

dead in another man's arms, and his body was scorched by the flames of grief, and he died immediately.

his wife

Then

the

whole

screamed so that

and came

all

there.

household

and

shouted

the citizens heard the story The demi-gods themselves

with pity and prayed to the goddess Gauri whose image had been set up there " before by Love-cluster's father Oh, Mother, the merchant who set up this statue was always

were

filled

devoted to you.

Show mercy

him

in his

affliction."

And

the gracious goddess heard their prayer. " All three shall She said live again, and :

shall forget

their

love,"

Then through

her

196

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS all

grace they sleep.

waking from their love was

arose like people

They were

alive,

and

While all the people there rejoiced at gone. what had happened, Lotus-lake went home, head

And

the merchant and took his shamefaced daughter her husband and went into the house and made a feast.

bending

his

When the road

shame.

the goblin had told this story on " in the night, he said King,

which was the most

foolish

those

among

who

you know and do not tell, you must remember the curse I spoke of died for love

before."

Then

the

king

creature, Jewel-guard

them.

When

answered

" :

was the most

magic

foolish of

he saw that his wife had died

man, he should have been he was loving, and died of

for love of another

angry.

Instead,

grief."

Then the goblin slipped from the king's shoulder and quickly set out for his home. And the king ran after him again, eager as before.

TWENTIETH GOBLIN The Four Brothers ivbo brought a Dead Lion to Life. Which is to blame 'when he kills them all? king went back to the took the goblin, put him

the

THEN

sissoo tree,

his

shoulder,

and

the

along

" again able

road,

Bravo, King

character.

story, and

There

the

started

And

place he wished to reach.

a strange one.

You will

are a

tell

the

he walked

began

goblin !

for

talk

remark-

you another

Listen."

a city called There Flower-city. lived a king named Earth-boar. In his kingdom was a farm where a Brahman lived is

whose name was Vishnuswami. His "wife was named Swaha. And four sons were born to them. After relatives

time

took

all

the

father

money.

and the So the four

died,

197

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS brothers consulted together for us to do here. Suppose :

And house

after

" There is nothing we go somewhere."

long journey they came to the maternal grandfather in a

their

The grandfather was village called Sacrifice. dead, but their uncles sheltered them, and they continued their studies.

But they did not amount to much, so in time their uncles became scornful in such And they matters as food and clothing. were troubled. Then the eldest took the others aside and " said Brothers, no man can do anything anywhere on earth. Now I was wandering about discouraged, and I came to a wood. There I saw to-day a dead man whose limbs And I wished lay relaxed on the ground. ' for the same fate, and I thought He is He is free from the burden of woe.' happy. So I made up my mind to die, and hanged I lost conmyself with a rope from a tree. sciousness, but before the breath of life was gone, the cord was cut and I fell to the And when I came to myself, I saw ground. a compassionate man who had happened by at that moment, and he was fanning me with :

THE FOUR BROTHERS And

his garment.

he said to

c :

199

friend,

me why you The righteous man you are so despondent. finds happiness, the unrighteous man finds are

unhappiness

man.

educated

because

Tell

his

unrighteousness,

and for no other reason. your mind

of unhappiness,

because

this

you made up

Why

practise righteousness instead.

pains of comforted

hell

suicide

up see

holy

Thus

and came

could not even die

Now

place,

that

shall I

when

burn

may

money

Do you

uncertain as an

not

You

was unbody at some

know ?

the

feel

again

autumn cloud

gave

here.

woes of poverty." Then the younger brothers said " Sir, why is an intelligent man sad of

man

fate

not

seek the the

And

me and went away.

the idea of suicide

willing.

him

that

lack

for

money matter

how carefully won and guarded, three things are fickle and bring sorrow at the last evil The resolute friendships, a flirt, and money. :

and

sensible

that

virtue

man

should by

which brings

all

means acquire

him Happiness

captive in bonds."

So the

eldest

brother straightway plucked

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

200

and

heart,

said

What

virtue

we should acquire ? Then they all reflected, and

which

together

and each of us

will will

So they appointed the

four

place started

brothers

took counsel

wander over the earth, learn some one science." for in

meeting, and four different

directions.

After

time

meeting-place,

they all gathered at the and asked one another what

The

they had learned. a

learned

first

by which

science

said

" :

have

can take the

any animal whatever and put the proper kind of flesh on it." The second said " I have learned a science

skeleton of

by which

can

on the

put

flesh-covered

skeleton the proper hair and skin."

The third

said

My science

this.

When

the skin and the flesh and the hair are there, I

can put in

and the other organs

the eyes

of sense."

The there,

fourth said I

" :

When

the

can give the creature the

organs

are

breath of

life."

all

four went into the forest to find a

skeleton and

test

their

various

sciences.

The

lion arose

and killed

his four creators'.

THE FOUR BROTHERS would have

fate

of a

lion

flesh.

fourth

third provided all the organs. gave life to the thing, and it was

The

lion.

out the skeleton with apsecond added the skin

The

hair.

The a

And

fitted

first

propriate

and

they found the skeleton they took that, not

it,

there.

the difference.

knowing

The

201

lion

arose with terrible massive

mane, dreadful teeth in. his mouth, and curvHe arose and killed ing claws in his paws. his four creators, then ran into the forest.

Thus the Brahman youths all perished because they did wrong to make a lion. could expect a good result from creating a badThus, if fate opposes, even tempered creature ?

Who

a virtue that has been painfully acquired does not profit, but rather injures. But the tree of

manhood, with the water of

intelligence poured of conduct about the watering-trench vigorous root of fate, generally bears good fruit.

into

its

When

the goblin

asked the king

who

had

told this

story,

was walking through the

King, remember the curse I and tell me which of them was mentioned, most to blame for creating the lion ? " night

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

102

And

the

king

reflected

wants to escape again.

Very

silence

well.

" :

He will

The one So he said again." who gave life to the lion, is the sinner. The others did not know what kind of an animal it

catch

him

was, and just showed their skill in creating flesh and skin and hair and organs. They were not

But the blame because they were ignorant. one who saw that it was a lion and gave it life exhibit his skill, he was guilty of the just to to

murder of Brahmans." Then the goblin went home. followed him again, and came tree.

And

the king

to the sissoo

TWENTY-FIRST GOBLIN The Old Hermit who exchanged

Dead

that of the

Boy.

Why

bis

Body for

did be weep

and dance ?

the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his shoulder in spite

And

silence.

writhings, and set out in the goblin on his shoulder said

all its

king of kings, you are terribly obstinate So to amuse the about this impossible task.

weary journey

will

heaven.

where There

Pradyumna. region

set

Brahmans wealthy,

lived.

pious,

Listen."

a city called people lived as happily as in ruled a famous king named

And apart

a story.

country was

In the Kalinga Beautiful,

tell

in a part

of this city was a

by the king, where many Among them was a learned, hospitable

Brahman

named

Sacrifice.

In his old age a single son was born to

him

203

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

2o 4

and

his

the fostering care of his father,

and

his

signs of excellence.

The boy grew under

wife.

worthy

and showed

father,

was

his parents

Devasoma

called

were entirely de-

voted to him. In his sixteenth year the boy attracted everyhis learning and modesty. Then he

one by

suddenly

fell

ill

When

of a fever and died.

and mother saw that he was really dead, they embraced the body and wept aloud. But their love for him would not permit them his father

burn the body.

So the old the father

" :

relatives

gathered, and said

Brahman,

a city in the sky.

life

Do you

imaginary not

know

this,

you who know things above and things below The kings who enjoyed themselves ?

gods upon the earth, they have gone one one to cemeteries filled with processions of by weeping ghosts. Their bodies were burned

by the jackals.

How much

case.

Therefore,

what

you

body

fire

flesh-devouring No one could

you

mean

less

are

and

prevent

eaten it

by their

in the case of others

wise

man,

embracing

this

tell

dead

THE OLD HERMIT So let

relatives

persuaded him to

son go, and they put the body in a brought it to the cemetery with

his

litter

the

last

205

and

weeping and wailing.

that time a hermit

was

fulfilling a

hard

vow, and was living in a hut in the cemetery. He was very thin because of his age and his hard life. His veins stuck out like cords to him, as if afraid that he would break His hair was tawny like the pieces.

bind in

lightning.

This hermit heard the wailing of the people, and turned to his pupil who begged food for him. Now this pupil was proud and And the hermit said " arrogant.

what

this

wailing

hear

boy,

outside

and find out, then return and tell me why this unheard-of commotion is taking place." " I will not But the said pupil

yourself.

hour

go.

for

begging

by."

Then

" Fool

passing

Glutton do you mean by your hour for begging ? Only one half of the first watch of the day the teacher said

What is

gone."

Then

the

bad

pupil

became angry and

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

206 said

old

Decrepit

And you

pupil.

man

are not

not your

teacher.

Do your begging yourself." going away. And he angrily threw down his staff and bowl before the old man, and got up, and went away.

Then

the

hermit

laughed.

left

his

hut and went to the place where the dead Brahman boy had been brought to be burned.

He saw how

the people mourned over such youthful freshness dead, and felt his own age

So he made up his mind to exchange his body for the other by magic. He went aside and wept at the top of his and weakness.

Then he danced with

voice.

the proper

all

gestures.

After that, full of the longing to enjoy the happiness of youth, he left his own withered

body by magic and entered the body of the Brahman youth. So the Brahman youth came to life on the funeral pyre and stood And a cry of joy arose from all the up. relatives

alive

" See

The boy

alive

Then the magician in Brahman boy said to the

the

body of

relatives

the

went

THE OLD HERMIT the other world, and

and directed

now I

Shiva gave

will

life

not

last.

life

perform a great vow.

going off to perform the

not,

207

vow.

Do you

then go home, and I will come later." So he spoke to those gathered there, having

made up his mind what to home full of joy and grief.

and sent them He went himself

do,

and threw his old body into went off, a young man.

When

the goblin had

a pit,

told

this

and then

story,

Triple-victory, who was walk" King, when the ing through the night magician entered another person's body, why

said to

King

did he

dance

before doing it, or why did he have a great curiosity about this

weep I

point."

And

was afraid of the curse, and said " Listen, goblin.

the king

broke silence

so he

am leaving to-day this body with won magic powers, the body which '

thought

which

my first

his

parents petted

when

wept from grief, body which he found he

Then he thought

' :

With

was a child.' So and from love of it

hard to leave.

new body

can

208 learn

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS more magic.'

at getting

When

So he danced from joy

youth."

goblin heard this answer, he returned quickly to the sissoo tree. And the the

king pursued him, undismayed.

TWENTY-SECOND GOBLIN The Father and Son ivbo married Daughter and Mother. What relation 'were their children ?

king paid no attention to the terrible witch of night, clad in black

THE

darkness,

flaming eyes.

with

the

funeral

piles

bravely went through the

dreadful cemetery to the sissoo

tree,

put the

goblin on his shoulder, and started as before. And as he walked along, the goblin said to

him:

comings to be.

King, I am very tired with these and goings, but you do not seem

will tell

you

Great Puzzle.

Listen."

was a king named Virtue He was the best country. of righteous men, and was born in a great His wife came from the Malwa family. And country, and her name was Moonlight.

Long ago

there

the southern

209

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

210

whom

had one daughter,

they

they named

Beauty.

When

was grown up, the relatives conspired to wreck the kingdom and drive King Virtue out. But he escaped by night, took a great many jewels, and fled from his kingdom with his beautiful wife and his this

daughter

daughter.

started

his father-in-law's

for

house in Malwa, and came with his wife and forest.

There they

blessed

sun arose in

daughter to the Vindhya spent a weary night. In the morning the the to

east,

warn

stretching out his rays like hands the king not to go into the forest

where robbers with

and

his

their

grass.

was

The king went on

lived.

trembling

and

daughter

his

foot

wife,

were wounded by the thorny

feet

So they came

of Death

fortified

village.

were no righteous people there, and it was filled with robber-men who killed and robbed other people. As the king drew near with his fine It

like the city

garments

his

rob him.

When

said to his

for there

gems, many robbers saw distance, and ran out armed to

and

him from he

;

saw them coming, wife and daughter " These are the king

THE FATHER AND SON men.

wild into

They must

the thick

woods."

her

daughter Beauty middle of the forest.

211

not touch you. Go So the queen with

fled

into

fear

the

But the brave king took his sword and and killed many of the wild men as they charged down, raining arrows on him. Then their leader gave an order, and all the robbers fell on the king at once, wounded shield

every limb in his body, and killed him ; for he was all alone. So the robbers took the

and went away. the queen had hidden in and had seen her husband killed.

jewels

Now

thicket,

Then

she

long distance in fear and came with her The rays daughter into another thick wood. fled a

of the midday sun were so

fierce that travellers

had to sit in the shade. So Queen Moonlight and Princess Beauty sat down under an ashoka tree near a lotus-pond in terrible weariness and fear and grief.

Now lived

gentleman named Fierce-lion who near came on horseback with his son a

into that

wood

to hunt.

The

son's

name was

saw the footAnd Strong-lion. of and the the princess, and he prints queen the

father

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

212

said to his son

son, these footprints are

clean-cut and ladylike.

And

Let us follow them.

two women, you shall marry one of them, whichever you choose." if

find

And the son one who has

" Father, the Strong-lion said the little feet in this line of :

footprints, seems to be the wife for me. one with the bigger feet must be older. is

the wife for you." But Fierce-lion said

you mean

" :

She

what do

son,

Your mother went

The

heaven

before your eyes. When so good a wife I think of another ? how could gone,

But

his

son said

" Not

so,

Father.

an empty place without Besides, you have surely heard what

householder's house a wife.

the poet says '

What

fool

would go

into a house

'Tis a prisoner's abode, Unless a buxom wife is there,

Looking down the

road.'

So, Father, I beg you on my life to marry the second one, whom I have chosen for you." Then Fierce-lion said " Very well," and

went on slowly with footprints.

And when

his

son, following the he came to the pond,

THE FATHER AND SON he saw

and

Queen Moonlight,

charm.

And

with

213

radiant with beauty his

son

eagerly

But when she saw him, she approached her. rose in terror, fearing that he was a robber. But her no reason robbers.

who

sensible daughter said There is to fear. These two men are not :

They

two

are

well-dressed gentlemen, to hunt." Still the

probably came here

queen swung in doubt.

Then

dismounted and stood " Beautiful he said lady,

Fierce-lion

before her.

And

do not be frightened. We came here to hunt. Pluck up heart and tell me without fear who

Why have

you come

into this lonely wood ? For your appearance is that of ladies who wear gems and sit on pleasant balconies.

you

are.

And why press

this

should feet

fit

to saunter in a court,

thorny ground

strange

sight.

For the wind-blown dust faces and robs them of beauty. your

settles It

hurts

us to see the fierce rays of the sun such figures. Tell us your story.

fall

upon

For our

hearts are sadly grieved to see you in such a And we cannot see how you could plight. live in a forest filled

Then

with wild beasts."

the queen sighed, and between

shame

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

214

and grief she stammered out her story. And Fierce-lion saw that she had no husband to So he comforted her and soothed care for her. her with tender words, and took care of her His son helped the two and her daughter. ladies on horseback and led them to his own the city of the god

of wealth.

city,

rich

And

the queen seemed to be in another

life.

She was helpless and widowed and miserable. So she consented. What could she do, poor

woman

Then, because the queen had smaller the

son

light.

Strong-lion

And

Fierce-lion,

feet,

Queen Moon-

married the

father,

married

her daughter, the princess Beauty, because of would break the bigness of her feet. a promise that had been made solemnly ?

Who

Thus, because of their inconsistent feet, the daughter became the wife of the father and the mother-in-law of her

own

the mother became the wife

mother.

And

of the son and

daughter-in-law of her own daughter. And as time passed, sons and daughters were born to each pair.

the

When

the goblin

had

told

this

story,

comforted her and soothed her

\\ilh

lender words.

THE FATHER AND SON u

215

King, when children were born to the father and daughter, and other children to the son and mother, what relation were those children to one another? asked

the

king

you know and do not

tell,

then remember

spoke of before." When the king heard the goblin's question, he turned the thing this way and that, but the curse

say a word. And when the

could

not

silence.

So he went on in goblin saw that he

could not answer the question, he laughed in " This his heart and thought king cannot :

give an answer to

walks on

just

deceive

Well, acter.

And

silence.

me because am pleased So

Great Puzzle.

and give the magic power he to this king."

are

he cannot

of the power of the curse. with his wonderful char-

will cheat that rogue

So the goblin

So he

said

aloud

of a monk,

striving after

King, you and with your comings goings in weary :

cemetery in the black night, yet happy, and never hesitate at all.

this dreadful

you seem

astonished and pleased at your perseSo now you may take the dead verance. I

body and go ahead.

will

leave the body.

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

216

And

you something that will do you good, and you must do it. The monk for whom you are carrying this body, is a He will call upon me and worship rogue. me, and he will try to kill you as a sacrifice. Lie flat on the ground in an He will say O King, you must say attitude of reverence.' I

will

tell

to that

rascal

of reverence.

likewise.'

ground

cut

his

off"

* :

do not

Show me

know

first,

Then when

show you

this attitude

and then I will he lies on the

the attitude of reverence,

head with your sword.

Then you

will get the kingship over the fairies which he is trying to get. Otherwise, the monk will

you and get the magic power. That is why I have delayed you so long. Now go ahead, and win magic power." So the goblin left the body on the king's And the king reshoulder and went away. monk was planning how the Patience flected He took the body and joyfully to hurt him. went to the fig-tree.

kill

CONCLUSION King Triple-victory came to the monk Patience with the body on his shoulder. And he saw the monk alone in the

dark night, looking

sitting

down

under the cemetery tree and road. He had made a

the

magic circle with yellow powdered bones in a In it he had put a spot smeared with blood. jug filled with blood and lamps with magic oil. He had kindled a fire and brought together the things he needed for worship. The monk rose to greet the king

who came "

and he said O King, a have me done a hard and great favour, you This is a strange business and a strange one. carrying the body,

time and place for such as you. They say truly that you are the best of kings, for you others

serve

without

thinking

of yourself.

the very thing that makes the greatness of a great man, when he does not give a thing

This

up, though it costs his very life." So the monk felt sure that he was quite 217

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

218

and he took the body from the He bathed it and put garking's shoulder. and lands on it, set it in the middle of the Then he smeared his own body with circle. ashes, put on a cord made of human hair, wrapped himself in dead men's clothes, and successful,

moment, deep in thought. And the goblin was attracted by his thought into the body, and the monk worshipped him. stood a

First

he offered liquor

gave him human

human

a skull, then he

teeth carefully cleaned,

eyes and flesh.

and

So he completed

worship, then he said to the king

his

King,

on the ground before this master magician in an attitude of reverence, so that he may give you what you want." And the king remembered the words of the fall

flat

goblin.

said to the

monk

Holy

sir, I

do not know that attitude of reverence. Do you show me first, and afterwards I will

in the

same way."

And when

the

monk

fell

on the ground

show the attitude of reverence, the king cut off his head with a sword, and cut out his And he gave the head heart and split it open. and the heart

to the goblin.

CONCLUSION Then

all

the

gods were delighted and

little

" Well done

219

And

the goblin was pleased and spoke to the king from the body

cried

King, this monk was But you trying to become king of the fairies. shall be that when you have been king of the he was living in

whole world." "O king answered the goblin magic creature, if you are pleased with me, I Yet I ask have nothing more to wish for.

And

the

you to make me one promise, that these twenty-two different, charming puzzle-stories shall be known all over the world and be received with honour."

it.

And the goblin And I will

Listen.

When

answered tell

anyone

you tells

King, so be something more. or

hears

with

proper respect even a part of these puzzle-stories, And he shall be immediately free from sin.

wherever these stories are told, elves and giants and witches and goblins and imps shall have no power." Then the goblin left the dead body by

Then magic, and went where he wanted to. all little the Shiva appeared there with gods, When the king and he was well pleased.

220

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

bowed

before him, he said

you did well to kill this sham monk who tried by Thereforce to become king of the fairies. fore you shall establish the whole earth, and And then become king of the fairies yourself. :

son,

long enjoyed the delights of heaven and at last give them up of your own So accord, then you shall be united with me.

when you have

receive

from

this

sword

called

Invincible.

While you have it, everything you say come true.' So Shiva gave him the magic sword, flowery words vanished with the gods.

ceived

his

O CHILDREN'S ROOM

will

re-

worship, and