diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:09 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:09 -0700 |
| commit | ced6d144493f5abc6ed30bd231290c135fd55b82 (patch) | |
| tree | 86948c7e1b6e01a09b63f707c3f959bd4334873e | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-0.txt | 2411 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/11167-h.htm | 3501 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/book.png | bin | 0 -> 364 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/external.png | bin | 0 -> 172 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/front.jpg | bin | 0 -> 87270 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p000.jpg | bin | 0 -> 87385 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p022.jpg | bin | 0 -> 77653 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p032.jpg | bin | 0 -> 83761 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p039.jpg | bin | 0 -> 85032 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p068.jpg | bin | 0 -> 86918 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p071.jpg | bin | 0 -> 82248 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p106.jpg | bin | 0 -> 97173 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11167-h/images/p132.jpg | bin | 0 -> 82194 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-0.txt | 2803 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 56533 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 837163 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/11167-h.htm | 3917 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/book.png | bin | 0 -> 364 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/external.png | bin | 0 -> 172 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/front.jpg | bin | 0 -> 87270 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p000.jpg | bin | 0 -> 87385 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p022.jpg | bin | 0 -> 77653 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p032.jpg | bin | 0 -> 83761 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p039.jpg | bin | 0 -> 85032 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p068.jpg | bin | 0 -> 86918 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p071.jpg | bin | 0 -> 82248 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p106.jpg | bin | 0 -> 97173 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11167-h/images/p132.jpg | bin | 0 -> 82194 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/11167-8.txt | 2803 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/11167-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 56466 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/11167.txt | 2803 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/old/11167.zip | bin | 0 -> 56431 bytes |
35 files changed, 18254 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11167-0.txt b/11167-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa95a96 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2411 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11167 *** + + Deccan Nursery Tales + or + Fairy Tales from the South + + + by + + C.A. Kincaid, C.V.O. + + + + 1914. + + + + + To my little son + + Dennis + + Whose interest in these stories + first induced me to offer them to the public + this little volume is affectionately inscribed + + + +PREFACE + +These stories first appeared in the Times of India newspaper, and my +acknowledgments are due to the editor for his courtesy in permitting +their publication. + +I have translated all of them as literally as possible from the +original Marathi. But, owing to the difference between Marathi and +English canons of taste, I have had in a very few places slightly +to change the sense. In some places, owing to the obscurity of the +original text, I have had to amplify the translation. In other places +I have had to cut short the descriptions of Hindu rites and ceremonies +so as to avoid wearying the English reader. + +It may not be out of place to say just a word about the Indian gods +mentioned in the stories. It must be remembered that the main Hindu +gods are three in number. They are all sprung from a common origin, +Brahma, but they are quite separate beings. They do not form a trinity, +i.e. three in one or one in three. And each of them has a wife and a +family. The following genealogical tree will, I hope, help the reader. + + + Brahma + Shiva = Parwati + Ganpati + = the daughters of Agni + Kartakswami [1] + Vishnu = Mahalaxmi + Brahmadev = Saraswati + + +Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati, +Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following +stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five +principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is +worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn +inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed to bring ill +fortune. Then again, besides the main gods, the world according +to Hindu belief, which in this respect closely resembles that of +the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras (demons), Devkanya +(wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of Patâla), and +Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of these find a +place in the ensuing fairy tales. + +The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu +the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In +practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the +Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as they feel +inclined, or as the particular sect to which they belong requires them. + +Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of +twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra, +corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other +in the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, +Ashwin, Kartih, Margshish, Paush, Mag, Phalgun, Each month begins on +the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. The first +half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. This is +the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the period +from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the +month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by +the interposition of an "adhik" or intercalary month every third year. + +C.A.K. + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. The Sunday Story + II. The Monday Story + III. The Tuesday Story + IV. The Wednesday and Thursday Story + V. The Friday Story + VI. The Saturday Story + VII. Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + VIII. The Island Palace + IX. Nagoba, the Snake-King + X. Parwati and the Beggar-Man + XL Parwati and the Brahman + XII. Soma, the Washerwoman + XIII. Vasishta and the Four Queens + XIV. The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + XV. Parwati and the Priest + XVI. The Rishi and the Brahman + XVII. The King and the Water-Goddesses + XVIII. The Lid of the Sacred Casket + XIX. The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + XX. The Golden Temple + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"Gave memorial honours to his dead father" +"It curled itself up inside the earthen jar" +"And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut" +"And stuck them into a corner of the eaves" +"They no longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law" +"They asked her what the reason was, and she told them" +"She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's house" +"The god revealed himself to the king and his companions in all his +glory and splendour" + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Sunday Story + +When Englishmen and Englishwomen are little boys and girls, they +listen with open ears to the tales of Golden-hair and the three Bears, +of Cinderella and the Prince, and of the Wolf and Little Red Riding +Hood. As the boys and girls grow up, the stories fade gradually from +their minds. But a time comes when they have children of their own. And +then, to amuse the children, they can find no tales more thrilling +than those which fascinated them in their own childhood. Thus the +old nursery tales are handed down for centuries from generation to +generation. Exactly the same process goes on in India, There, too, when +little Indian boys and girls grow up and have little boys and girls of +their own, they too tell to wide-eyed audiences the tales which they +themselves found so thrilling in their own childhood. Indian nursery +tales, it is true, have a more religious tinge than those of Europe, +but they are none the less appreciated on that account. The first six +stories in this little book purport to explain the connexion between +the heavenly bodies and the days of the week. So each day of the week +has its separate tale. And all through Shravan or August, probably +because it is the wettest month in the year, Deccan mothers tell afresh +every week-day that day's story. And little Deccan children listen +to the tales as they fall due with the same unvarying attention. For +in nurseries, Indian as well as English, tales are loved the better +when no longer new, and where the end is well known to, and therefore +the better understood by, the tiny round-eyed listeners. + +Now this is the tale which is told every Sunday [2] in Shravan: Once +upon a time there was a town called Atpat, and in it there lived a +poor Brahman. Every day he used to go into the woods to fetch sticks +and to cut grass. One day he met there some nymphs and wood-fairies, +who said that they were performing holy rites in honour of the sun. He +asked, "What are these rites?" They replied, "If we tell you, you will +become proud and vain and you will not perform them properly." But the +Brahman promised, "No, I shall not become proud or vain and I shall +observe the rites you tell me." They then told him that the month of +Shravan was coming, and that on the first Sunday of Shravan he was +to draw a picture of the sun with red sandal paste, that he was to +offer to the drawing flowers and fruit, and that he should continue +doing this for six months. Thereafter he should in various ways, +which they told him, entertain guests and give alms to the poor. + +The Brahman went home and performed the rites to the letter, so that +the sun-god was very pleased. Wealth came to the Brahman and he grew +richer and richer, and at last the queen of the land sent for him. The +poor Brahman began to tremble and shake all over, but the queen said, +"Do not shake or tremble, but give your daughters in marriage to our +house." The Brahman said, "My daughters are poor; you will make them +slaves or maid-servants." "No," said the queen, "I shall not make +them slaves or maid-servants; I shall marry one to a king, and one to +a minister." The Brahman agreed, and when the month of Margashish, +or December, came he gave his two daughters in marriage, one to the +king and one to the minister. Immediately after the marriage the +Brahman said good-bye to his daughters, and did not see them again +for twelve years. Then he visited the elder one, who had married the +king. She gave him a wooden stand on which to sit while eating, and +water in which to wash his feet, and then said, "Papa, papa, there +is pudding to eat, there is water to drink." But the Brahman said, +"Before I eat or drink, I must tell you my story." But his daughter +said, "Papa, I have no time to listen to your story; the king is +going a-hunting, and I must not keep him waiting for his dinner." The +Brahman thought this very disrespectful and went off in a great rage +to the house of his other daughter, who had married a minister. She +welcomed her father and gave him a wooden stand on which to eat, +and water to wash his feet, and said, "Papa, papa, here is pudding to +eat and here is water to drink." But the Brahman said, "Before I eat +or drink I must tell you my story." His daughter said, "Of course, +papa, tell it to me, and I shall listen as long as you like." Then +she went into an inner room and she fetched six pearls. She took three +herself and three she put in her father's hand. And he told her how he +had met the nymphs and wood-fairies, who had told him to worship the +sun-god, and she listened to it all without missing a syllable. Then +the Brahman ate and drank and went back to his own house. His wife +asked him about their two daughters. He told her everything and said, +"The elder one who would not listen to my story will come to grief." + +And so she did. For the king, her husband, took an army into a +far country and never came back. But the daughter who had listened +to the story lived well and happy. As time went on the undutiful +daughter became poorer and poorer, until one day she said to her +eldest son, "Go to your aunt's house and beg of her to give you a +present, and bring back whatever she gives you." Next Sunday the +boy started and went to the village where his aunt lived. Standing +by the village tank he called out, "O maids, O slave-girls, whose +maids and slave-girls are ye?" They answered, "We are the maids and +the slave-girls of the minister." The boy said, "Go and tell the +minister's wife that her sister's son is here. Tell her that he is +standing by the village tank, that his coat is tattered and that +his garments are torn, and ask her to let him come into her house +through the back door." The slave-girls took him in through the +back door. His aunt had him bathed, and gave him clothes to wear, +and food to eat, and drink, and a pumpkin hollowed out and filled +with gold coins. As he left, she called to him, "Do not drop it, do +not forget it, but take it carefully home." But as the boy went home, +the sun-god came disguised as a gardener and stole the pumpkin filled +with gold. When the boy reached his mother's house she asked, "Well, +my son, what did your aunt give you?" He said, "Fortune gave, but Karma +[3] took away; I lost everything my aunt bestowed on me." Next Sunday +the second son went and stood by the village tank and called out, +"O slave-girls and maid-servants, who is your master?" They said, +"Our master is the minister." "Then tell the minister's wife that +her nephew is here." He was taken in by the back door. He was bathed +and clothed and given food and drink. As he was going, his aunt gave +him a hollow stick full of gold coins and said, "Do not drop it, +do not forget it, mind it carefully and take it home." On the way +the sun-god came in the guise of a cowherd and stole the stick. When +the boy got home his mother asked him what he had brought. He said, +"Fortune gave, but Karma took away." On the third Sunday a third son +went and stood by the village tank. His aunt received him like the +others and had him bathed, clothed, and fed. As he was going away, +she gave him a hollow cocoa-nut stuffed with gold coins and said, +"Do not drop it, do not forget it, but mind it carefully and take it +home." On the way back he put down the cocoa-nut on the edge of a well, +and it toppled over and fell into the water with a great splash. When +he reached his mother's house she asked him what his aunt's present +was. He said, "I have lost everything which fortune brought me." On +the fourth Sunday the fourth son went. His aunt welcomed him like +the others, and had him bathed and fed. When he left she gave him an +earthen pot full of gold coins. But the sun-god came in the guise +of a kite and snatched the pot away. When the boy reached home his +mother asked him whether his aunt had given him anything. He said, +"I have lost everything which my aunt gave me." On the fifth Sunday +the mother herself got up and went to her sister's village and stood +by the tank. The minister's wife took her in through her back door +and had her clothed and fed. Then the minister's wife told her that +all her trouble had come through not listening to her father's story, +and the minister's wife repeated it to her. The king's wife listened +to it, and stayed with her sister until the following month of Shravan, +or August, when she did fitting worship to the sun. + +Instantly good fortune came to her. After years of weary fighting, her +husband, the king, at last overcame his enemies, and after taking great +wealth from them turned homewards with his army. As he went towards his +capital, he passed the village where the minister's wife lived. There he +learnt that his queen was with her sister, so he sent for her with a +befitting escort. "O auntie, auntie," cried all the queen's little +nephews and nieces, "umbrellas have come for you, and horse-tails and +guards and foot-soldiers." Every one rushed out to see, and the king and +queen greeted each other after years of separation. The sisters gave +each other gifts of clothes, and the king and his queen went away +together. At the first halting-place the servants cooked the food. The +queen filled the king's plate and then her own, and then she thought of +the story which her sister had told her. She ordered her servants to go +through the neighbouring village and bring in any one who was hungry and +too poor to buy food. They found none such in the village, but on the +way back they met a starving wood-cutter, and, bringing him to the +queen, told him to listen to the tale which she would tell him. The +queen brought six pearls. Three she gave to the wood-cutter, and three +she kept herself. Then she told him the story of her father and the +wood-fairies. The wood-cutter listened with all attention, and as he +listened his faggot of wood became all of gold. He went away delighted, +promising to worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had shown to +the Brahman. + +Next day the cavalcade reached the second halting-place. Food was +cooked; the queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate, and +again she told her, servants to bring from the neighbouring village any +one who was hungry and too poor to buy food. They came upon a petty +farmer, whose well had dried up and whose crops had withered. He was +sitting sadly by his field when they called him to go with them and +listen to the queen's tale. He went with them to the camp. There the +queen brought six pearls and gave three of them to the farmer and +kept three of them herself. Then she told the story of her father +and the wood-fairies. And as the farmer listened, all attention, +the water began to pour into the well, and the crop began to look +fresh and green. He went away delighted, and promised to worship the +sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. Next day the +cavalcade reached the third halting-place. Food was cooked, and the +queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate. Then she told +the servants to search in the neighbouring village for any one who +was hungry and too poor to buy food. They met an old woman. Her eldest +son had been lost in the forest. Her second son had been drowned in a +pond. Her third son had died of snake-bite. They told her to come and +listen to the queen's story. She went with them, and as she listened, +all attention, first the son who had been lost in the forest walked +into the camp, next the son who had been drowned in the pond, and +last of all the son who had died of a snake-bite. The old woman went +away crying with joy, and promising to worship the sun in the way +the wood-fairies had instructed the Brahman. Next day the cavalcade +reached the fourth halting-place. Food was cooked, and the queen first +filled the king's plate and then her own. After dinner she sent her +servants as before to bring in some poor and hungry man from the +neighbouring village. They found a man whose eyes were so crooked +that he could hardly see, who had no arms or legs, and who had not +even a name. For he was only known as "Lump of flesh." He was lying +on his face, but when they brought him into camp, the queen had him +placed on his back and had a jug of water poured over him. Then she +took six pearls. Three she kept herself, and three she placed on the +stomach of "Lump of flesh." Then she told him the tale of her father +and the wood-fairies. He listened, all attention, and as he listened +his arms and legs grew out of his body, and hands and feet appeared +at the ends of them. He too went away delighted, and he promised to +worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. + +At the end of the next day's march the king and queen reached their +home. Food was cooked, and as they sat down to dinner the sun-god +himself appeared and joined them at their meal. The king had all +the doors flung wide open, and ordered a fresh and far more splendid +dinner to be prepared, with any number of dishes, each dish having +six separate flavours. When it was served the sun-god and the king +began to eat, but in the first mouthful the sun-god found a hair. He +got very very angry, and called out, "To what sinful woman does this +hair belong?" Then the poor queen remembered that during her twelve +years of poverty she had always sat under the eaves combing her hair, +and knew that it must have been one of her hairs which had got into +the sun-god's food. She begged for mercy, but the sun-god would +not forgive her until she had clothed herself in a black blanket, +plucked a stick out of the eaves, and had gone outside the town and +there thrown the stick and the hair over her left shoulder. Then the +sun-god recovered his good-humour, and finished his dinner. And the +Brahman, the king and queen, and the wood-cutter and the farmer whose +well had dried up, and the old woman who had lost her children, and +"Lump of flesh" with the cross eyes, they all remained in the favour +of the sun-god and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Monday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +very saintly king. One day he formed the wish to fill the shrine of +Shiva, the moon-god, with milk up to the ceiling. He consulted his +chief minister, and the latter sent a crier through Atpat ordering, +under terrible penalties, all the townspeople to bring every Monday all +the milk in their houses and offer it to the god Shiva. The townspeople +were frightened at the threatened punishments, and the next Monday +they brought all the milk in Atpat to Shiva's shrine, not keeping a +drop for their calves or even for their children. But although all the +milk in Atpat was every Monday poured into Shiva's shrine, it yet did +not become full to the ceiling. But one day an old woman came to the +shrine. She had done all her housework. She had fed all the children +and had bathed all her little daughters-in-law. Then she took a few +drops of milk, a little sandal-wood paste, and a few flowers, and +half-a-dozen grains of rice and went to worship at Shiva's shrine. She +prayed to Shiva, "The little milk that I can offer is not likely to +fill your shrine, seeing that all the milk offered by the king could +not. Nevertheless I offer the milk with all my heart." She then got +up and went back to her house. Then a strange thing happened. Directly +the old woman turned her back, the shrine filled with milk right up to +the ceiling. The priests ran and told the king, but none of them could +say how it happened. The following Monday the king placed a soldier +by the door; and again the old woman came and worshipped, and again +the shrine filled with milk to the ceiling. The soldier ran and told +the king, but could not explain the cause. The third Monday the king +himself went and watched by the shrine. From his hiding-place he saw +the old woman come up and noticed that the shrine filled with milk +immediately after she had worshipped. He ran after her and caught +her. The old woman begged the king to spare her life, and this he +promised to do if she told the truth. She said, "O King! you ordered +all the milk in Atpat to be brought to Shiva's shrine. But what was +the result? All the calves began lowing and all the children began +crying, because they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people +were so worried by the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva +was displeased at this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This, +therefore, is what you should do. Let the children and the calves +have their milk. Then take whatever is over to the shrine, and it +will at once fill up to the ceiling." The king let the old woman go, +and had it proclaimed by beat of drum that the townspeople were to +bring to the shrine on the following Monday only the milk remaining +after the children and the calves had been fed. The townspeople were +delighted. The children stopped crying and the calves stopped lowing, +and all the milk left by them was brought to Shiva's shrine. The +king prayed long and earnestly, and when he looked up he saw that +the shrine was full right up to the ceiling. He gave the old woman +a handsome present. And she went back to her home, and she did her +housework, and then she bathed all her little daughters and all her +little daughters-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Tuesday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. [4] In it there lived +a bania who had no son. Every day a religious mendicant used to come +to his house and call out, "Alms! Alms! In the name of God, give me +alms." But when the bania's wife offered him alms he refused them, +because she had no children. She told her husband, who advised her +to play a trick on the mendicant. She hid behind her door, and as he +called out "Alms! alms!" she slipped a gold piece into his wallet. But +the mendicant caught her and became very angry. He cursed her and +told her that she would always remain without any children. She +was terrified and fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness. Then +he pitied her and said, "Tell your husband to put on blue clothes, +mount a blue horse, and ride into the jungle. He should ride on until +he meets a horse. He should then dismount and dig in the ground. He +will in the end come to a temple to Parwati. He must pray to her and +she will bestow a child on him." When her husband came back she told +him what had happened. So he at once put on blue clothes, mounted a +blue horse, and rode into the forest. He met the horse, dismounted, +and began digging. At last he discovered a temple to Parwati, all of +gold, with diamond pillars and a spire made of rubies. Inside was a +statue of the goddess, and to it he prayed, saying, "I have houses and +cottages, cattle and horses, money and goods of all kinds, but I am +very sad because I have no son." The goddess pitied him and asked, +"Which will you have, a son who will be good but will die young, +or a son who will live long but will be born blind?" The poor bania +became greatly perplexed, but at last said, "I choose a son who will be +good but will die young," The goddess said, "Very well. Step behind +me. There you will find an image of Ganpati. Behind it is a mango +tree. Climb upon Ganpati's stomach and pick one mango. Go home and give +it to your wife to eat, and your wish will be gratified." Parwati then +disappeared. The bania climbed upon Ganpati's stomach and ate as many +mangoes as he could. He next filled a large bundle full of mangoes +and stepped down. But when he reached the ground he found that there +was only one mango in the bundle. He climbed up again and refilled his +bundle, but when he stepped down he again found only one mango. This +happened three or four times. At last Ganpati got very sore and angry +with having his stomach trampled on. So he shouted out, "One mango is +all you'll get. So be off home!" The bania was frightened out of his +wits and galloped home with his one mango. His wife ate it, and in nine +months she presented her husband with a son. When the little boy was +eight years old his sacred thread was put on, and his mother said, +"It is time to think of his marriage." But the bania said, "I dare +not marry him unless he first makes a pilgrimage to Benares." His +maternal uncle agreed to take the little boy to Benares. + +So off they started together, and some days later the uncle and nephew +halted at a village where some little girls were playing. One of +the little girls said to the other, "You are nothing but a wretched +little widow." But the other little girl said, "Oh no! there are +never any widows in our family. Mother worships Parwati and so I +can never be a widow." The uncle heard this, and thought that if his +nephew could only marry a little girl who could not become a widow, +he would not die young. So he began to think how he could bring +about the marriage. Now it so happened that the little girl was +to be married that day. But in the morning the boy to whom she was +betrothed fell ill. Her parents were in great trouble, but at last +they thought that, rather than postpone the wedding and disappoint +all the guests, it would be better to marry their little daughter to +the first traveller who passed through the village. So they went to +the rest-house to inquire if any one was there. There they found the +uncle and nephew, and they married their little girl to the latter +that very evening when the cows were homing. They drew on the wall +a picture of Shiva and Parwati, and they put the children to bed +beneath it. Parwati appeared to the little girl in her sleep. The +goddess said, "My child, a snake will come to bite your husband: give +it milk to drink. Then put near it a new earthen jar. When the snake +has finished drinking, it will enter the earthen jar. Then at once +pull off your bodice and stuff it into the jar's mouth. Next morning +give the jar to your mother." Next evening everything happened as +Parwati had said. The snake came to bite her husband as he slept. But +the little girl offered it milk, which it drank. After drinking, +it curled itself up inside the earthen jar, and, the moment it did +so, the little girl slipped off her bodice and stuffed it into the +mouth of the jar. Next morning her husband gave her a ring, and she +in exchange gave him a sweet-dish, and he and his uncle continued +their journey to Benares. When they had gone, the little girl gave the +earthen jar with the snake inside it to her mother. The mother took +out the bodice, but instead of a snake a garland lay inside, and the +mother put it round her little daughter's neck. Some weeks passed, +but neither uncle nor nephew returned. So the little girl's parents +grew anxious. The sick boy who was to have been her husband recovered, +but she could no longer marry him, and the boy whom she had married +had gone away and might never return. In despair the parents built +a house, in which they entertained every traveller who passed by, +hoping that sooner or later one of the travellers would prove to be +their daughter's husband. To all of them the mother gave water; the +daughter washed their feet; her brother gave them sandal-wood paste; +and her father gave them betel-nut. But it was all in vain; none of +the travellers' fingers fitted the ring given to the little girl by +her husband, nor could any of them produce the sweet-dish which she +had given him in exchange. + +In the meantime the uncle and nephew had reached Benares and had +given large sums in charity, and had visited all the holy places +and had received the blessings of all the Brahmans. One day the +little boy, fainted. And in a dream he saw the messenger of Yama, +the god of death, come close to him as if to carry him off. Next he +saw the goddess Parwati come to his rescue and, after a struggle, +drive away Yama's messenger. When the boy woke up he told the dream to +his uncle. The latter was overjoyed because he felt certain that now +the boy would no longer die young. He told his nephew to get ready, +and next day they left Benares. On their way home they passed by +the village where the nephew had been married. As they were having +breakfast near the village tank, a maid-servant invited them to come +to the house which the girl's parents had built for the reception of +travellers. At first the uncle declined, but when a palki was sent +for them, he and his nephew entered it. When the little girl began to +wash her husband's feet, she recognised him. She tried on the ring, +which fitted his finger, and he in turn showed her the sweet-dish +which she had given him. The parents were as pleased as possible, and +they sent a messenger to invite the boy's parents. They came, and the +boy's mother threw herself at her daughter-in-law's feet and thanked +her for saving her son. Then there was a great feast and everybody +was very happy indeed, and at the end they all worshipped Parwati, +[5] so she became as pleased as everybody else. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Wednesday and Thursday Story + +There was once upon a time a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a prince who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Every day +there used to come to the prince's house two Brahmans, an uncle and a +nephew. But when they asked for alms the daughters-in-law sent word +that they were too busy to give them any. Some time afterwards the +prince lost all his riches and became very poor. The two Brahmans +again came to beg, but the elder daughter-in-law said to them, +"We are no longer busy, but we have nothing to give you. If we had, +we should give it to you." The youngest daughter-in-law, however, +was a clever little girl, and she thought to herself, "The Brahmans +will get very angry with us. When we had money, we gave them nothing; +and now we give them nothing because we have nothing to give." So she +fell at the elder Brahman's feet and said, "We have been very wicked +and have deserved to become poor. But please forgive us and tell me +how we may become rich as we were before." The elder Brahman said, +"Every Wednesday and every Thursday you must invite a Brahman to +dinner. And if you have no money to pay for the dinner, draw a pair +of cow's feet on your money-box. If you want grain for the dinner, +draw a pair of cow's feet on your corn-bin. Then worship the feet and +welcome the Brahmans. For you will find that you will have money in +your box and grain in your corn-bin. And in time you will all get as +rich as you were before." The little girl did what the Brahman told +her. And whenever she invited Brahmans to dinner, she drew the cow's +feet on the cash-box and on the corn-bin, and there was always money +and grain sufficient for the meal. + +But some days later she fell asleep and dreamt that Budh [6] and +Brahaspati came to her bedside and said, "Little girl, little girl, +your husband has been made king over a great country. Go to him, and, +when you have found him, do not forget to worship us and to give feast +to the Brahmans." Then the little girl woke up and she told the other +six daughters-in-law. But they were jealous of her, and they became +very angry; and they kicked her so often and boxed her ears so hard +that she forgot all about drawing the cow's feet on her money-box and +on the corn-bin. So she never found any money in the box or any corn +in the bin. And every day they became poorer and poorer. First all the +men servants ran away, then the male members of the family left, and +at last the seven daughters-in-law were left alone in the house. They +were starving, but they did not know how to get any food. One day +they heard that a king in a neighbouring country wished to construct +a tank and was calling for labourers. So they decided to go to the +tank and work there just like common coolie women. Now who do you +think the king was? He was the youngest son of the prince of Atpat +and the husband of the youngest daughter-in-law. When the prince had +lost all his money, his youngest son left the house and set off on +a journey. As he travelled he came to a city, the king of which had +just died without leaving any children or relatives. His subjects +did not know how to choose a successor. At last they gave a garland +of flowers to a she-elephant and turned it loose. The elephant walked +straight to the prince's son and put the garland round his neck. The +townspeople were very angry. They snatched away the garland and drove +away the prince's son. They again gave the garland to the elephant, +but the elephant again put the garland round the neck of the prince's +son. The townspeople again snatched away the garland. But when the +elephant put it round the young man's neck for the third time, they +lifted him high in the air and declared him to be their king. At first +he was so pleased at being king that he forgot all about his poor +little wife. But one night Budh and Brahaspati appeared to him in a +dream and reminded him of her and told him how poor she was. But he +could not leave his kingdom to go and look for her. So he thought that +he would dig a tank and call together labourers from every quarter. And +every day he used to go to the tank and search among the labourers to +see if his wife was there. One day he recognised his wife and called +her to him. Then they told each other how Budh and Brahaspati had +appeared to each of them in a dream. And the king was so delighted at +finding his wife that he at once proclaimed her queen of the country. + +So the little daughter-in-law was crowned queen, but she did not let +the other daughters-in-law who were also working at the tank know of +her good fortune. As queen, she gave a great feast to all the workers +on the tank. But in her own palace she took some wheat flour, and +she kneaded it into shapes resembling human feet and human fists. And +when the other daughters-in-law were with the crowd of workers eating +at the feast, she went up to them, and to each daughter-in-law who +had kicked her she gave a flour foot, and to each daughter-in-law +who had struck her with her hands she gave a flour fist. Then the +daughters-in-law recognised who the little queen was, and they fell at +her feet and begged for her forgiveness. So the little queen forgave +them and took them back with her into her husband's palace. And they +all lived together happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Friday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +miserably poor Brahman. He had a wife who was as poor as he was. One +day she felt her poverty so much that she went to a gossip of hers +who lived close by and told her all about her troubles. The neighbour +could suggest nothing better than that the poor woman should worship +the goddess Shukra or Venus. So she told the Brahman woman to fast +every Friday through the month of Shravan. Every Friday evening she +should invite a married lady friend to her house. She should bathe her +friend's feet. She should give her sweetened milk to drink and fill +her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should continue +to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, and in +the end the goddess would certainly do something for her. The Brahman +woman thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra +and had a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had +advised her. + +Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town, +who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same +time he invited all the townspeople with the single exception of +his sister. The poor lady thought that she must have been left out +by accident, and that there would be no harm in going, even although +uninvited. She put on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children +with her, went off to the dinner. She seated herself close to her +children, and was eating away when her brother came round serving +ghee. When he saw his sister he shouted at her, "You have neither nice +clothes nor nice jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming +as you have come. I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow." + +Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed +the previous day's feast, persuaded their mother to take them again +to her brother's house. Once more she went and sat down with her +children among the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before +when he came round serving the ghee. He shouted at her, "A beggar +woman must, I suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away +although told to. But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I'll have you +turned out." Next day, however, she again went with her children to +her brother's house. But near the entrance his servants caught her +and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad +and hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased +with her devotion and so took pity on her. She helped the poor +woman's husband so that he rapidly acquired great wealth. When her +husband had become very rich she asked her brother to dinner. But +the brother remembered how he had treated her and was ashamed to +accept. He pressed her to dine with him first, and begged so hard +that she at last consented. Next day she put on all her jewels and +her finest clothes. Her brother gave her a wooden platform to sit on +and plates made out of leaves from which to eat her dinner. Before +she sat down she took off her gold-embroidered shawl and put it +close to her plate. Her brother saw her, but thought she did it +because she felt the room hot. She then placed her jewelry on the +wooden platform. Her brother thought that she did it because she +felt the jewelry heavy. She took a portion of rice and placed it on +her necklace. She put a portion of vegetables on her pendant, and a +sweet ball she placed on her jewelled star. + +Her brother at last asked her, "What are you doing?" She said, +"I am giving to the guests whom you really invited." But he did +not understand, and asked, "Why do you not begin to eat?" She said, +"I have not been invited to this dinner. It was given in honour of +my finery and not of me. I had my dinner the day when you gave the +feast to the one thousand Brahmans." + +The brother felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He threw himself at +his sister's feet and begged for her forgiveness. So she forgave him +and sat down to dinner. And the brother in turn went to her house and +dined with her. And Shukra was pleased with both sister and brother, +and they all lived happily ever afterwards. May I and my readers do +the same. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Saturday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town-called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had three daughters-in-law. He rose early even during +the rainy season, and every day immediately after his morning meal he +used to go to his field with his children and his daughters-in-law. One +first Saturday in Shravan he got up as usual and said to the youngest +of his daughters-in-law, "To-day is Saturday; you had better stay +at home, and although there is very little in the house, you must +try to get some sort of a dinner ready. Go upstairs and scrape +together all the grain there is in the grain-jars and make bread +with it. For vegetables you had better gather grass and make some +chutney out of clover leaves." When the Brahman had left, his little +daughter-in-law followed his orders as best she could. There was in the +jar upstairs only grain for half an ordinary loaf. So she made tiny, +tiny loaves and prepared some vegetables out of grass and made some +clover chutney. Then she sat down to wait for the family's return +from the field. As she did so, Saturn came disguised as a beggar all +covered with sores, and cried, "O Lady! I am aching all over: give +me hot water to bathe in and oil to rub myself with, and then give me +something to eat." The little daughter-in-law felt very sorry for the +poor beggar. She went inside and got him a few drops of oil and warmed +some water for his bath, and then gave him one of the tiny loaves to +eat. The beggar ate it, and then gave her his blessing, saying, "You +will never want for anything." He then folded up the leaves from which +he had eaten, stuck them into a corner of the eaves, and disappeared. + +Shortly afterwards the family came home and found a splendid dinner +waiting for them. They said to themselves, "Where did this all come +from? There was practically nothing in the house." Next Saturday +another daughter-in-law stayed at home. Again Saturn in the guise +of a beggar covered with sores came to the house. He asked as +before for hot water, oil, and food. But his daughter-in-law said, +"I have nothing to give you." The god pressed her, saying, "Give me a +little of anything that you have." But the daughter-in-law repeated, +"I have nothing." The god replied, "Very well, you will lose that +little you have." With this threat he disappeared. But, when the +daughter-in-law went upstairs to fetch grain for dinner, she could +find nothing in any of the jars. Shortly afterwards the family came +home, but there was no dinner for them. So they all got angry with +the daughter-in-law, and, although she told them about the beggar, +they scolded her harder than ever. A third Saturday came round, and +a third daughter-in-law remained at home. Again Saturn came, and the +third daughter-in-law behaved just as the second had done. She gave +the god neither hot water, oil, nor food. And the god told her that +she should lose the little she had. When the family came home there +was no dinner for them, and they scolded the third daughter-in-law +just as hard as they had scolded the second one. + +The fourth Saturday it was once more the +turn of the youngest daughter-in-law. Again +Saturn came in the guise of a beggar covered +with sores and asked for hot water, oil, and +food. The little daughter-in-law gave them +as she had done before, and the god blessed +her, saying, "God will make you rich and +happy." Then he folded up the leaves from +which he had eaten and stuck them into a +corner of the eaves. When the little daughter-in-law +went upstairs, she saw any amount of +grain in the jars, and she prepared a splendid +dinner. So when the family came home they +were delighted. They could no longer restrain +their curiosity, and exclaimed, "Where did all +this food come from?" The little daughter-in-law +told them about the beggar covered with +sores and about his blessing. To test her +story, they looked for the folded leaves which +he had stuck into a corner of the roof. They +found them, but when they pulled them out +they were full of pearls and diamonds. Then +the old Brahman guessed that the beggar was +Saturn in disguise, and he also understood why, +when the other two daughters-in-law gave him +nothing and were cursed by him, there was +nothing for dinner. So they all knelt down +and prayed to Saturn, and the god forgave the +two-daughters-in-law who had given him +nothing. And he was more pleased than ever +with the little daughter-in-law who had befriended +him. And so they all lived happily +ever afterwards. And may Saturn be pleased +with us all as he was with the little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a king who had two queens. Of one of them he was very fond, but +the other one he did not care for. The name of the favoured one was +Patmadhavrani, and the name of the unloved one was Chimadevrani. Now +the king had an enemy called Nandanbaneshwar. Such a terrible enemy +he was too! He could jump into the clouds or dive into the bottom of +the ocean. At one moment he would shoot up into heaven. At another he +would sink down into hell, and through fear of his enemy, the king had +become as dry and as thin as an old bit of stick. One day the king, in +despair, assembled all his subjects and ordered them to seek out and +kill Nandanbaneshwar. All the subjects said, "Certainly, certainly, +O King," and began to search everywhere for Nandanbaneshwar. Now in +Atpat there lived a poor woman who had one son. On hearing the orders +of the king, he said to her, "Mother, Mother, give me some bread, +for I am going out to kill the king's enemy." The old woman said, +"Do not be silly; you are only a poor boy, and people will laugh +at you. Here, take this bit of bread and go and eat it behind a +tree." The boy said, "Very well," and took the bread. But, after +taking it, he joined the other villagers and went at their head to +seek out and kill Nandanbaneshwar. But when evening fell they had +not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home. And +when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved. But +the old woman's son stayed in a wood outside the village. And lo +and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from Patâla [7] +and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and began to worship +Mahalaxmi. The boy was at first terribly frightened, but at last he +plucked up courage enough to ask, "Ladies, ladies, what does one gain +by worshipping Mahalaxmi?" "Whatever you lose you will find," said the +serpent-maidens from Patala; "and whatever you want you will get." The +boy resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi. And he joined the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, and all night long +they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods +echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they made. [8] + +At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy included, +prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. She first +blessed the serpent--maidens from Patâla and then the wood-nymphs. And +then she blessed the poor old woman's son and said, "You will get half +the kingdom of Atpat and half the king's treasure. He will build you a +house as high as his own, and he will give you the name of 'Navalvat' +or 'Wonderways.' For this very morning the king's mighty enemy will +break his neck and be found lying dead in the king's courtyard," +With these words the goddess vanished and flew to Kolhapur, [9] and +the old woman's son went home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up +and went into the king's courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar +lying dead from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back +into the palace to tell the king. The king inquired who had killed +Nandanbaneshwar. Every one said that the old woman's son must have +killed him, because he stayed behind when the others went home. The +king sent for the old woman's son. He was very frightened, and when +he reached the royal hall he called out, "I have made no false charge +against any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King, +have you sent for me?" "Do not be afraid," said the king. "My enemy +Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is you who killed +him. Tell me if this is true." "No, O King," said the boy, "he was +killed by the arts of Mahalaxmi." "Where did you meet her?" asked the +king. The boy said, "I stayed when the other villagers returned home, +and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs. They taught me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning +she revealed herself and promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be +found lying dead, that you would give me half your kingdom and half +your treasure, that you would build me a palace as high as your own, +and that you would call me Navalvat or Wonderways." The king did as +the goddess had foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his +treasuries to Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof +was exactly on the same level as that of his own palace. + +When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for +Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told +her all that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patâla do, and +he also told her on the eighth day of the month of Ashwin [10] to +tie on her wrist a thread with sixteen strands in it, and to wear +it continually for the rest of the month. When the 8th of Ashwin +came, Queen Patmadhavrani dutifully tied round her wrist a thread of +sixteen strands, and resolved to wear it every day for the rest of the +month. But a day or two later the king came to Queen Patmadhavrani's +apartments and began to play saripat [11] with her. As they played +he noticed the thread on her wrist and asked what it was. She told +him how Wonderways had instructed her to tie it on. But the king got +very angry and roared out, "I have in my palace garlands and twine, +bracelets, and hobbling-ropes. So throw away that wretched piece of +thread. I will not let you wear it." The queen did as she was bid, and, +pulling off the thread bracelet, threw it on the floor. Next morning +the maids and the slave-girls began to sweep the palace, and among +the sweepings one of them noticed the queen's thread bracelet. She +picked it up and showed it to Wonderways, and he grew very wroth with +Queen Patmadhavrani. He took the thread and at once went with it to +the palace of the unloved Queen Chimadevrani. He told her what had +happened, and she begged him to give the thread to her and to tell +her how to worship Mahalaxmi. But he said, "You will grow vain and +get so conceited that you will not do what I tell you to do." But +she promised that she would obey him in everything. So just as he had +told the Queen Patmadhavrani, he told Queen Chimadevrani all the rites +which he had seen the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs +perform. Everything went on just the same for a whole year. But the +next year on the 8th of Ashwin a very strange thing happened. The +goddess Mahalaxmi disguised herself as an old beggar-woman and +came to Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen +Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour +to the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and +therefore specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out +at this, and when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, "Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house to-day?" The +queen replied, "I have nothing in my house to-day." The old woman +went on, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give +this beggar-woman a little water, you will acquire merit sufficient +for all your kingdom." But the queen replied, "Even if I were to +give you a copper cauldron of water it would not suffice for all my +kingdom." The old woman then said, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother +of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a little rice and curds, +you will gain enough merit for all your kingdom." The queen replied, +"Even if I were to give you a big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, +I should not gain enough merit for all my kingdom." Then the old woman +got very angry and cursed the queen, saying, "You will become half a +frog and half a human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife's +bath-room and croak like a frog." But the queen did not mind her the +least little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the +noise was like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a +great rage and entered Queen Chimadevrani's part of the palace. There +she saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful +image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, +"Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house +to-day?" "To-day," said the queen, "we are worshipping Mahalaxmi." Then +the old beggar-woman said, "I am Mahalaxmi." But the queen doubted and +asked her, "By what sign shall I know you?" The goddess replied, "In +the morning I shall take the shape of a little girl. In the afternoon +I shall take that of a young married woman. In the evening I shall +become an old hag." After the goddess had taken all three shapes, +Queen Chimadevrani called her into the palace and bathed and anointed +her. She gave her a silk skirt and a platform to sit upon. Then she +sent for Wonderways, and both of them worshipped the old beggar-woman +and blew on earthen pots in her honour. The king heard the blowing +on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why there was such a noise +in Queen Chimadevrani's quarters. The sepoy went there, and when he +saw what was happening joined also in the worship. After a little +while he went back and told the king. The king said that he would +go there too. He followed the sepoy, and Queen Chimadevrani came +to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where both played +at saripat until dawn. And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by and watched +them. At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her blessing. She +blessed the queen and said, "The king will take you back with him to +the palace, and your co-wife will become half frog, half human being, +and will have to croak outside your bath-room while you bathe." But +Queen Chimadevrani begged the goddess not to place such a terrible +curse on Patmadhavrani. The goddess relented a little, but said, +"The king will drive her into the jungle for twelve years." At these +words she vanished and flew to Kolhapur. When the sun rose the king +placed Queen Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own +part of the palace. He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani +asking her to join them. Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani +appeared, dressed all in rags with a skirt round her legs and her +hair all unfastened. On her head was a pot full of burning coal, +and she began to shout and scream at the top of her voice. The king +became very angry and roared out, "Who is this that is shouting +and screaming? Is it a ghost or a she-devil or what?" The sepoys +replied, "O King, it is neither a ghost nor a she-devil, it is your +Queen Patmadhavrani." "Take her into the jungle," roared the king, +"and kill her there." Then he went back into the palace and began +to live in great happiness with Queen Chimadevrani. But the sepoys +took Patmadhavrani into the jungle and told her that they had been +ordered to kill her. She began to weep. The sepoys were kind-hearted +men and they felt very sorry for her. They said, "Lady, lady, do not +weep. We have eaten bread and drunk water at your hands so we cannot +kill you. We will leave you here, but you must never come back into +the kingdom again." The sepoys left her and returned to Atpat. But +the poor queen wandered on until she came to a distant town, where +she entered a coppersmith's lane. Therein a coppersmith was making +bangles for a beautiful young princess who had just been crowned +queen of the city. But suddenly none of the bangles would join. He +began to search for the cause, and asked his workmen whether any +stranger had come near his house. The workmen looked about and found +Queen Patmadhavrani in hiding close by. They told the coppersmith, +and he and his men beat her soundly and drove her away. She ran +into the lane of some weavers who were weaving a sari for the new +queen. Suddenly none of the looms would work. They began looking +about to see if any stranger had come. After a little while they found +the queen. So they beat her soundly and drove her away. Then she ran +out of the town back into the jungle. There she wandered about until +she came to the cave of a rishi or sage. The rishi was sitting lost +in meditation. But she bided her time, and, when he went to bathe, +she slipped into the cave and swept it and neaped it and tidied up +all the utensils used by him for worship. Then she slipped out of +the cave and ran back into the jungle. This went on every day for +twelve years without the rishi showing that he was aware of what she +was doing. But in his heart he was really pleased with her. And one +day he called out in a loud voice, "Who is it who sweeps and neaps my +cave? Whoever she is, let her step forward." The queen stepped into +the presence of the rishi and threw herself at his feet and said, "If +you promise not to punish me, I shall tell you." The rishi promised, +and she told him her story. The rishi took out his magic books and, +consulting them, learned that Mahalaxmi had cursed her. So he taught +her how to worship Mahalaxmi, and all night long they blew on earthen +pots and performed rites in her honour. At dawn she revealed herself +and the queen asked her for her blessing. But the goddess was still +very angry with the queen. Then the rishi joined her in begging the +goddess's pardon, and at last she relented. She said to the queen, +"Put under that tree a foot-bath full of water, sandal-wood ointment, +plates full of fruit, a stick of camphor, fans made of odorous +grasses; and handle them all so that they retain the fragrance of +some scent which the king will remember you used. To-morrow the king +will come. He will be thirsty. He will send his sepoys to look for +water. They will see all your things ready. And when they go back and +tell him, he will come himself." Next morning, as the goddess had +foretold, the king came. He saw the cool shade of the tree. He was +tired with hunting, so he sat down and rested. He washed his feet +in the foot-bath. He ate up all the fruit, drank the cold water, +and sucked the stick of camphor. When he had rested to his heart's +content, he asked the sepoy, "How is it that in the water I drank, +in the fruit I took, in the camphor I ate, I noticed a scent which +Patmadhavrani always used?" The sepoys replied, "If the king promises +to pardon us, we will tell him." The king promised. The sepoys then +told him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten +bread and had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king +told them to look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched +and searched until they came to the rishi's cave. Then they ran back +and told the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to +the rishi. The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great +length. At last he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the +queen. The king obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to +his care and blessed both her and her husband. The king put her in +his chariot and took her to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped +his chariot and sent for Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed +and anointed herself, and put on all her silk clothes, her shawls, +her embroideries, and her jewels. In front of her she placed all the +horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went to meet the king they blew their +very loudest on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the +noise, and roared out, "Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is +it the serpent-maidens of Patâla or is it the wood-nymphs who live +in the heart of the forest?" The sepoys said, "O King, it is neither +the serpent-maidens of Patâla nor is it the wood-nymphs who live in +the heart of the forest. It is Queen Chimadevrani, who is coming to +meet you as you ordered." The king turned to Patmadhavrani and said, +"If you had come in this guise to meet me, instead of coming like a mad +woman, you would never have suffered as you did." Queen Patmadhavrani +said nothing, but sat still in the chariot, and the king lifted Queen +Chimadevrani into the chariot, and all three entered the city. And as +they entered, the horn-blowers blew so loud that every one was quite +deafened. And the king lived from that time forth in perfect happiness +with both his wives. And because of his happiness, he ruled so well +that his subjects thought that King Ramchandra of Ayodhya had come +back to rule over them. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Island Palace + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. He had a disciple who used every day to go to the village pond +and bathe and worship the god Shiva. On the way he had to walk through +the sandy island in the dry bed of the river. And, as he went home +across the island, he used to hear a voice cry, "Shall I come? Shall I +come? Shall I come?"; but when he looked round he could see no one. The +Brahman's disciple at last got so frightened that he withered up until +he became as dry and as thin as a bone. At last the Brahman said, +"You have no wish to eat or drink; yet you are so thin. What is the +reason?" The boy replied, "I neither wish to eat, nor want to eat, +nor crave to eat. But I am frightened out of my wits. For whenever +I come back from my bath I hear a voice behind me call out, 'Shall I +come? Shall I come? Shall I come?'; but when I look round there is no +one there." The Brahman said, "Do not be afraid, and when you next hear +the voice, do not look behind you, but call out as boldly as you can, +'Come along, come along, come along.'" Next day the disciple went as +usual to his bath in the village pond. He worshipped the god Shiva, +and as he came home he heard the cry behind him, "Shall I come? Shall +I come? Shall I come?" The boy was very frightened, but he did not +look behind him. In a short time he mastered his fears, and then in +a voice like a bull roaring he cried out, "Come along, come along, +come along." At last he reached home, calling all the time and without +once looking behind him. + +The Brahman looked up as the disciple came in, and he saw that just +behind was walking a young girl. He at once married the girl to his +disciple and gave them a house to live in close by his own. Now, on +the first Monday in the month of Shravan, or August, the disciple +got up and said to his wife, "I am going out to worship the god +Shiva. But do not wait for me. Just eat your breakfast directly you +feel hungry." He went out, and in a little time his wife began +to feel hungry. Nevertheless, she knew that, in spite of what +her husband had said, she ought not to eat anything while he was +worshipping Shiva. So she waited for a little time, but at last she +got so terribly hungry that she could not wait any more. So she sat +down and cooked her breakfast, and had just put one mouthful into +her mouth when her husband came to the outer door. "Wife, wife," he +called, "open the door!" Then the little wife got very frightened. She +pushed the uneaten breakfast under the bed, got up, washed her hands, +and opened the door. She then told her husband that she had waited +for him, and she cooked a fresh breakfast, which both ate one after +the other. Next Monday exactly the same thing happened. The little +wife cooked her breakfast and was just beginning it when her husband +came. She then hid her uneaten breakfast under her bed and pretended +that she had waited for his return. And on the two following Mondays +the naughty little wife deceived her husband in just the same way. + +Now on the last Sunday in Shravan, when husband and wife went to lie +down, the former noticed a light shining under the bed. He looked to +see what it was, and saw several platefuls of jewels. He asked his wife +whence they had come. Now they were really the uneaten breakfasts, +which the god Shiva had turned into gold and jewels. But the naughty +little wife got very frightened and told her husband a bigger story +than ever. "They are presents," she said, "from my mother and father +and their family." "But where is your father's house?" asked the +husband. "It is in the sandy island," said the little wife, "which +lies in the dry bed of the river." "You must take me there," said her +husband. Next morning they started off together. And the naughty little +wife could hardly walk, she was so frightened. For she knew quite well +that her father had no house in the sandy island. But on the way she +prayed to Shiva, "Please, please, god Shiva, create a house for my +father in the sandy island which lies in the dry bed of the river, +even if it be only for half an hour." + +At last the husband and wife came to the sandy island. And there, lo +and behold! they saw a great big palace, and a splendidly dressed young +man came forward and greeted the disciple as his brother-in-law. And +a handsome old knight came forward and greeted the disciple as his +son-in-law. And a beautiful young woman greeted the naughty little +wife as the sister of her husband. And a lovely little girl ran up and +embraced her and called her "sister." And slave girls and maid-servants +ran forward to offer her their service. A guard of soldiers kept +watch by the palace, and at the door there were sentries, who made +way for them as they passed. Inside the house the little wife and +her husband were given platforms to sit upon, and a splendid feast +was all ready prepared for them to eat. After they had feasted, they +got up and said good-bye to the little wife's father and mother, and +garlands of flowers were placed round their necks, and they started +for their home. When they had gone half-way, the naughty little wife +remembered that she had hung her garland on a peg and had forgotten +to bring it with her. So she and her husband went back to the sandy +island. But when they got there, there was no palace, there were no +soldiers to guard it, there were no sentries at the door, there were +no maid-servants nor slave girls. There was nothing there but just +a sandy island in the middle of a dry river-bed. And on the sand lay +the garland which the naughty little wife had forgotten. She took it +up and put it round her neck. + +But her husband asked her, "What has happened to your father's +house?" The naughty little wife replied, all in tears, "As it came, +so it went. But if you promise to forgive me, I shall tell you." The +husband promised. So she told him how every Monday she had felt so +hungry and how she had cooked her breakfast, and then, on hearing her +husband's voice, had pushed it under their bed. She also told him that +the god Shiva had turned the food into gold and jewels. "Then when you +asked me," she went on, "I felt so frightened that I said they were +presents from my father and mother and the rest of my family. And +when you made me take you to my father's house, I prayed the god +Shiva to create, if only for half an hour, a house for my father on +the sandy island in the dry river-bed. And he graciously granted my +request." Then the husband forgave the naughty little wife. And she +became quite good and never told him any more stories. And they both +went home and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Nagoba, the Snake-King + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a Brahman who had seven little daughters-in-law. In the fulness of +time the month of Shravan came and with it Nagpanchmi Day [12]. In +honour of the festival, one little daughter-in-law went to her +grandpapa's house, another went to her great grandpapa's house, +another went to her father's house, until at last only the youngest +daughter-in-law remained behind. Her father and mother were dead, +and she had no uncles and no aunts and no little brothers or +sisters. So the poor little daughter-in-law felt very sad and +sat down and cried in a corner. Then she remembered that it was +Nagpanchmi Day, and that it was a festival in honour of Nagoba, the +great snake-king. So she prayed under her breath, "Please, please, +snake-king, come and pretend that you have been sent to fetch me +to my father's house!" And the great snake-king heard the prayer +and felt quite sorry for the poor little daughter-in-law who was +crying in the corner. He assumed the guise of a Brahman and came to +the house where the little daughter-in-law was, and said that he had +been sent to fetch her to her father's house. Her father-in-law was +very much astonished. For he wondered why, if the new-comer really +was a relative of the little daughter-in-law, he had never paid him +a visit before. At last he asked the little daughter-in-law who the +new-comer was. She did not know in the least. But she was so overjoyed +that some one should have come for her that she at once answered, +"He is my mother's brother." Her father-in-law believed her and sent +her off in the care of Nagoba, the snake-king. Still disguised as a +Brahman, he took her to the entrance of his underground palace and +there he told her who he was. He then reassumed his true appearance, +and, expanding the mighty hood behind his head, he seated the little +girl on it and took her down to his splendid dwelling-house beneath +the earth. In the central hall he presented her to the snake-queen +and to all the snake-princes, and told them that in no circumstances +whatever were they to bite the little daughter-in-law. + +One day the snake-queen was about to be confined. So she asked +the little daughter-in-law to sit by her side with the lamp in +her hand. The little daughter-in-law did so, and a little time +afterwards the snake-queen gave birth to a fresh litter of little +snake-princes. When the little daughter-in-law saw them all wriggling +about, she was frightened out of her wits. She let the lamp slip +out of her hands. It fell on the ground and burnt all the little +snakes' tails off. The snake-queen did her best to comfort them, +but the stumps of the little princes' tails ached so dreadfully that +it was ever so long before the snake-queen could put them off to +sleep. When the snake-king came home that evening, she told him what +had happened. And she was so cross with the little daughter-in-law, +that the snake-king had to promise that she should go back to her +father-in-law's house. A few days later, the snake-king assumed once +again the guise of a Brahman, and, loading the little daughter-in-law +with presents, took her back to her husband's home. In the course of +time the little snake-princes grew up, but their tails never grew +again. So their father, the snake-king, called one little prince, +No-tail; and the second little prince, Cut-tail; and the third little +prince, Dock-tail. And one day they asked the snake-queen how it was +that their tails had been broken off. She told them how the little +daughter-in-law had burnt them off by dropping the lamp on them. + +The snake-princes, when they heard their mother's answer, were +terribly cross with the little daughter-in-law, and they vowed that +they would be revenged on her. So they found out where she lived, +and they sent a message to her house, saying that they were coming to +pay her a visit. But they really meant to bite her to death directly +they saw her. The little daughter-in-law was overjoyed when she heard +that the snake-princes were coming to visit her. For ever since the +snake-king had pretended to be her uncle, she always thought of little +No-tail and little Cut-tail and little Dock-tail as if they had been +her own cousins. Now it so happened that the very day on which they +were expected at the little daughter-in-law's house was Nagpanchmi +Day. The little daughter-in-law was sitting in the house all alone +waiting for little Prince No-tail, little Prince Cut-tail, and little +Prince Dock-tail. They were late in coming, so to pass the time she +drew pictures of Nagoba, the snake-king, on her dining-platform and on +the wall. When she had finished the pictures, she worshipped them and +offered them milk and food. Then she prayed to the great snake-king, +"Please please, King Nagoba, guard from all hurt, wherever they may +be, my little cousins No-tail and Cut-tail and Dock-tail." And last +of all she prostrated herself at full length before the pictures +which she had drawn on the wall and on her dining-platform. + +In the meantime little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and +little Prince Dock-tail had come up without the little daughter-in-law +noticing them. But when they saw the honour which she was paying +their father, King Nagoba, and heard the prayer which she had offered +on their behalf, they no longer wished to kill or bite the little +daughter-in-law. On the contrary, they made themselves known to +her and stayed all that day in the house and were as good and as +nice as possible. When night fell, they drank the milk which she +had offered to the snake-king. And in its place they put a necklace +with nine beautiful jewels in it. Before day broke they went away +quietly and returned to their father's palace under the ground. Next +morning when the little daughter-in-law woke up she saw the lovely +necklace lying where the milk had been. She gave a shout of delight, +and putting it round her neck, she ran all over the house showing it +to everybody. And every one was perfectly charmed with it. And the +snake-princes never again came to bite any one in that household. And +the little daughter-in-law and her husband and her father-in-law and +little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and little Prince +Dock-tail, they all lived happily for ever so long afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Parwati and the Beggar-Man + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In It there lived +a Brahman. He had seven daughters, and when they had reached a +marriageable age he asked them who would arrange their marriages +and bring them handsome husbands and make their fortunes. The six +eldest daughters said, "Papa, Papa, you of course. You will arrange +our marriages and bring us handsome husbands and make our fortunes +for us." But the youngest daughter was a naughty little girl. She +got into a temper all about nothing, and she stamped her foot, and +she turned her back on her father and said, "I will arrange my own +marriage, and I will get a handsome husband for myself, and I will +make my fortune myself." The Brahman was very angry with her, and so +how do you think he punished her? He first searched about and found +six rich and handsome boys. Then he married them with great pomp and +display to his six eldest daughters. But the youngest girl he gave in +marriage to a miserable beggar-man. You never saw such a beggar-man +as he was! There was not a spot on his skin that was not black with +leprosy, and his feet and hands had rotted right off. If you had seen +him you would have said, "If that beggar-man does not die to-day +he will certainly die to-morrow. For he cannot possibly live any +longer!" When the marriage was celebrated, the little girl's mother +filled her lap with pulse and then handed her over to the beggar-man +to see what sort of fortune would be hers. But in a few days the +beggar-man died. His corpse was taken to the burning-ground, and +his little widow followed it. But when his relatives wanted to burn +the body, she forbade them and told them to go away. For she said, +"My fortune is still to come, whatever it may be." They all got round +her and tried to persuade her that there was no use in her staying by +the corpse, but she would not mind what they said. At last they were +quite tired out and went home, leaving her in the burning-ground. When +they had gone she took her husband's corpse on to her lap. Then she +prayed to the god Shiva and said: + + + "My parents disown me. O why was I born + Both as orphan and widow to live all forlorn?" + + +As she prayed, she put the pulse which her mother had put into her +lap grain by grain in the dead man's mouth. Then she sat there crying +until midnight. Now it happened that on that very night Shiva and +Parwati were in their chariot driving through the air over that very +place. Parwati said suddenly to her husband, "I hear a woman crying, +let us go and see what it is." The god Shiva drove his chariot down to +earth. He and Parwati got out and saw the Brahman's youngest daughter +crying. They asked her what the reason was, and she told them. Then +Parwati pitied her and said, "Your aunt has acquired great merit by +her piety and devotions. You go to her and get her to give you all +her merit and so you will bring your husband back to life." The god +Shiva and Parwati then mounted on their chariot and disappeared. Next +morning the little widow left her husband's body, went to her aunt's +house and begged her to give her all the merit which she had acquired, +and told her the cause of the request. The aunt was very good and +gave her all her own merit. The little widow then went back to the +burning-ground and with its aid brought her husband back to life. But +this time he was no longer a beggar-man black with leprosy and with +feet and hands that had rotted away. He was a beautiful young man +with well-shaped feet and a beautiful fair skin, and the little widow +took her husband back to her father's house. "Papa, Papa," she said, +"you turned me out, but the gods have brought me back, and good fortune +came to me without your bringing it." The father was too frightened +of Parwati to say anything, so he held his peace. And the little girl +and her husband, the beggar-man, lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Parwati and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman. When the month of Bhadrapad came round, every household +bought little images of Parwati, and the women began to walk about +the streets and sound gongs. When the poor Brahman's children saw +this they went home and said to their mother, "Mummy, Mummy, please +buy us little images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls +have." But their mother said, "What is the use of my buying images +of Parwati? If I do we shall have to make offerings, and there is +absolutely nothing in the house. You run to papa and tell him to go +into the bazaar and buy grain. If he buys grain I'll buy you images of +Parwati." The children got up and ran to their father and cried out, +"Papa, Papa, Mama says that she will buy us images of Parwati if you +will go into the bazaar and get food to offer to them." Their father +at first searched all over the house but could find no grain. And +then he looked in his purse but he could find no money with which to +go to the bazaar and buy grain. But although he tried to explain this +to his children, they would not listen to him. They screamed at him +and shouted, "Papa, Papa, Mummy says that she will buy us images of +Parwati if you will get food to offer to them." "Papa, Papa, why should +we not have images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls." At +last they bothered the poor Brahman so much that he felt worried to +death. "I love," he said, "my children as if they were made of gold, +but they will not mind what I say. They will not understand that it +is nothing but poverty which prevents my buying food and offering it +to Parwati. I might go out and beg, but when I do, no one ever gives +me anything. Death is better than a life like this." With these words +he got up and walked to the edge of the village pond and determined +to drown himself. It was dark when he started, and half-way he met +an old woman. She heard him coming and asked him who he was. He told +her all his trouble, and said that he meant to jump into the pond to +escape from his children. The woman comforted him and prevailed on him +to turn home again. He took her home. His wife came to the door with +a lamp and asked who she was. The husband did not like to say that he +had only just met her on the road, so he said to his wife, "She is my +grandmother." The wife thereupon welcomed her and invited her to come +in and stay to supper. But her heart felt as heavy as lead, for she +knew that there was nothing to eat inside the house. When the old woman +had seated herself inside the house, the Brahman's wife got up and, in +despair, went to look inside the grain-pots. She knew they were empty, +but she thought that she would first look into them once again. But, +lo and behold! when she looked this time she found the grain-pots +brimming over with grain. She called her husband, and they were both +perfectly delighted. And the wife prepared bowls full of rice-gruel, +and every one, children and all, ate the rice-gruel till the skins +on their stomachs felt quite tight. And they went to bed as happy as +possible. Next morning the old woman called to the Brahman, "My son, +my son, get me water for my bath and cook me a nice hot dinner, and +please be quick about it, and do not start making objections." The +Brahman got up and called his wife, and they got water for the old +woman's bath, and then the Brahman went out to beg. When he had gone +out before, no one had ever given him anything. But to-day every one +ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper coins. Then he went +back home in splendid spirits. His wife prepared a glorious dinner, and +the children ate so much that the skin on their stomachs felt as tight +as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old woman said to the Brahman, +"To-morrow I want a milk-pudding for dinner." "But, Grandmamma," said +the Brahman, "where shall I get the milk from?" The old woman said, +"Don't worry about that. Just get up and hammer down as many pegs as +you can in your courtyard. Then this evening, when the cattle come +home, call to the village cows and buffaloes by name, and they will +come to you, and if you milk them you will get enough milk for my +pudding to-morrow." The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, +and that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by name to come +to his courtyard. And from every direction the cows and buffaloes came +running up. And behind them galloped all the little calves with their +heels in the air and their tails stuck out straight behind them. At +last the Brahman's courtyard was filled so full that no more cows or +buffaloes could enter. And he milked them all, and next day his wife +cooked a milk-pudding such as one would not see again if one lived a +thousand years. And the children ate until they were so tired of eating +that they just rolled over and went fast asleep. But that evening the +old woman said, "My son, my son, I want you to take me home." "But, +Grandmamma, Grandmamma," said the Brahman, "how can I take you home, +for I have had all this good luck only because of you. Directly you go +away my good luck will vanish." "Do not be afraid," said the old woman, +"for I am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will never +vanish. Therefore you must come with me and see me home." But the +Brahman said, "I do not want my good luck only to continue. I want +it to increase." The old woman said, "If you come with me I shall +give you some sand. When you go back home, scatter it all over the +house and over your jars and your pots, and put it inside your boxes +and your cupboards, and scatter it all over your courtyard too, and +you will find that your good luck will never be any less than it is +now." The Brahman was satisfied with this. He worshipped the old woman +and went with her towards the tank until she suddenly disappeared. He +returned home and scattered sand all over his house and over his +jars and his pots and inside his boxes and his cupboards, and from +that day on, his good luck never left him. And his wealth increased, +and his children increased. And they all lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Soma, the Washerwoman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He had also +one daughter called Gunvanti and a wife called Dhanvanti. Whenever +a mendicant Brahman came to this house, it was the custom of all +the ladies to give him alms and then prostrate themselves in front +of him. One day a Brahman came, tall as a tree and shining like the +sun. The seven daughters-in-law ran out as usual and gave him alms +and then threw themselves at full length at his feet. The Brahman +blessed them and said, "Increase of children be yours; increase of +wealth be yours; may your husbands cherish you all your lives." But +the Brahman's daughter Gunvanti was a lazy little girl, and when the +mendicant came she was still in bed. Her mother, Dhanvanti, rushed +into her room and cried, "Daughter, daughter, get up and give the +Brahman alms," The little girl jumped up in a fright and ran out and +put alms before him and prostrated herself at his feet. The mendicant +blessed her and said, "Observe the precepts of religion." + +The little girl ran back to her mother. "Mother, Mother," she cried, +"Bhatji [13] did not give me the same blessing as he gave to my +sisters-in-law," Her mother said, "Go back again and give him some +more alms and see what he does," The little girl ran back, put +some more alms before the mendicant, and again prostrating herself +asked for his blessing. Once more he said, "Observe the precepts +of religion," Then Dhanvanti asked him why he gave her daughter +such a strange blessing. The mendicant replied, "Because widowhood +will come upon her immediately after her marriage," Dhanvanti threw +herself before the Brahman and grasped his feet and cried, weeping, +"Tell me how I may escape this evil; what shall I do to save my one +little girl from becoming a widow?" The Brahman pitied her and said, +"Lady, lady, do not weep; I shall give you a remedy by which to cure +this evil. Across the seven seas there is an island. In it there lives +a washerwoman called Soma. If you can fetch her to your daughter's +wedding, she will escape the evil that threatens her. When the wedding +is over, you must send Soma back with all honour to her house." With +these words the mendicant took up his wallet and went to collect alms +elsewhere. When her husband returned home Dhanvanti told him what had +happened. "Some one," she added, "must go across the seven seas, to +fetch Soma, the washerwoman." The father and mother called up their +sons and said, "Those of you who honour your parents will take your +sister and cross the seven seas to bring Soma here." But all the +sons turned to their mother and said, "All you care about is your +daughter. You do not love us the least little bit. So we shall not +cross the seven seas and bring Soma here just on her account." The +mother began to cry, and the father got very cross. He turned to his +wife and said, "From henceforth you have no sons. To me our seven sons +are as if they had never been born. But do not get frightened about +our little girl I myself shall cross the seven seas and fetch Soma, the +washerwoman." Then the youngest of the seven sons said to his father, +"Daddy, Daddy, you must not say that you have no sons when here we are, +all seven of us. I shall take my sister Gunvanti with me, and we shall +go and fetch Soma, the washerwoman." A few days later the two children +prostrated themselves before their parents and began their voyage. + +In course of time they came to the seashore. But the wind was +blowing, the waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over +the rocks. The brother and sister could not imagine how they were to +continue their journey. There was no one near to give them food, there +was no one near to give them drink, and they could think of nothing +better than to lie down and die. But they first resolved to pray to +the god Shiva, "Please, please, God Shiva," prayed the two children, +"get us out of this terrible trouble." After praying they went and +sat under a banian tree, and all day long they had nothing to eat or +drink. Now on the very top of the banian tree was an eagle's nest, +and in it there were several little eagles. When evening came, father +eagle and mother eagle came home and began to feed their young. But +the little eagles would not eat anything at all. Mother eagle said, +"Children, children, what is the matter?" "O Mummy, Mummy," cried +the little eagles, "two strangers have come to our house, and they +are sitting under our tree, and they have had nothing to eat all +day!" Father eagle and mother eagle flew to the ground and began to +ask the boy what his trouble was. "Do not be frightened," said father +eagle; "whatever your business, I'll help you to get it done. Do not +go to bed without supper. I'll bring you some fruit. Eat some of it +yourself and give the rest to your little sister." + +The boy told father eagle what had happened, and how it was that they +had to cross the seven seas. Father eagle said, "I shall carry you +both across directly you wake up to-morrow, and I shall put you down +at Soma the washerwoman's door." Then the two children felt very happy +and thanked the god Shiva. And after eating father eagle's fruit, +they lay down under the tree and fell fast asleep in no time. Next +morning father eagle and mother eagle came down the tree, and father +eagle took the boy on his back, and mother eagle took the girl on +her back, and off they flew across the seven seas. The wind blew, +and the waves rolled mountains high, and the foam splashed over the +rocks. But father eagle and mother eagle flew straight on until they +came to the door of Soma, the washerwoman. There they left the boy and +girl and went back to the tree where the little eagles were waiting +for them. The boy and girl were too frightened to walk into Soma's +house, so they hid all that day, and next morning they got up at dawn +and they swept the courtyard and neaped the floor with cow-dung. And +then, before any one could see them, they ran away and hid. And this +they did every day for a whole year. + +At last Soma one day called all her children and all her little +daughters-in-law and said, "Who among you gets up so early? Who sweeps +my courtyard? Who clears my floor?" All the children and all the +little daughters-in-law said, "It is not I," "It is not I," "It is not +I." Then Soma became very curious to know who it was. So the following +night she did not go to bed. She sat up, but nothing happened until +just after dawn. Then she saw the little Brahman girl sweeping the +courtyard and her brother cleaning the floor. Soma got up and said, +"Children, who are you?" They replied, "We are Brahmans." "But I am +only a washerwoman," said Soma; "I am a low-caste woman, why do you +sweep my courtyard and neap my floor? It will be reckoned unto me +as a sin If I accept the service of Brahmans." The boy said, "This +is my sister, and a Brahman has told us that unless you come to her +wedding she will be widowed shortly after marriage. Our father and +mother told us to go and bring you back with us. So, in order to make +you pleased with us, we have been working as your servants." "Do not +work for me any more," said Soma, "I shall gladly go to your wedding," +She then called to her daughters-in-law and said, "I am going to this +child's wedding. But if any one of our relations dies when I am away, +do not burn his body until I come back." She went with the two Brahman +children to the seashore. The wind was blowing, and the great waves +were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the rocks. But Soma +took the boy under one arm and the girl under the other. She jumped +far up into the sky and right over the seven seas, and when she got +to the opposite shore she put the children down again. They led her to +their father's house. Their mother Dhanvanti welcomed the washerwoman +and fell at her feet to thank her for her coming. The youngest brother +then went to Ujjain, and after making inquiries brought back a boy of +suitable caste and age to be a husband for his sister. On an auspicious +day the wedding was celebrated. But as the bridegroom and bride were +throwing rice [14] over each other, the bridegroom fainted. He fell +on the ground and lay there motionless. The little bride did not know +what to do, she was so frightened. And all the grown-up people were +almost as frightened as she was. But Soma, the washerwoman, stepped +forward and said, "It is nothing, do not be afraid." She took some +water in her hand and sprinkled it over herself. Now the secret of +Soma's power was this:-- + +She had acquired great merit by observing every Monday the following +practices: She would get up early, bathe, dress in silence, make +various gifts to Brahmans, and then walk one hundred and eight times +round a peepul tree. But now by sprinkling water over herself she had +transferred the whole of her merit to Gunvanti. By this means the +little bride had been able to restore her husband to life, and the +wedding ceremony finished amidst the happiness of all. Soma then took +leave to go, and started on her homeward journey. When she reached the +seashore, the wind was blowing, and the great waves came rolling in, +and the spray was splashing over the rocks. But now that she had given +away all her merit to Gunvanti, she had none left by means of which she +could jump across the seven seas. She sat down forlorn by the bank of +a river. Then she got up, bathed in the water, and prayed to the god +Vishnu. Next she took one hundred and eight sand-grains in her hand, +and then walked one hundred and eight times round a peepul tree by +the river's edge. Instantly her powers returned to her, and going back +to the shore, she sprang into the heavens and over the seven seas and +alighted close to her own door. There all her little daughters-in-law +ran out to meet her and cried, "O Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, we +have been watching for you. For while you were away your sons, your +husband, and all your sons-in-law died. But just as you told us to do, +we did not burn their corpses, but kept them in the house. And now +they have all suddenly come back to life." Soma questioned the little +daughters-in-law and learnt that her sons and husband and sons-in-law +had all died at the very moment when she gave her merit to Gunvanti, +and that they had come back to life precisely when she finished her +one-hundred-and-eighth turn round the peepul tree. And they were all so +glad to have Soma back with them again, and for ever such a long time +afterwards she and her family lived happily together. And the Brahman +in his joy at his son-in-law's recovery forgave his disobedient sons, +and they too all lived happily together ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Vasishta and the Four Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled +a king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the +housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself +divided the work between them. To the first queen he gave all the +dairy work, to the second queen he gave all the cooking, to the +third he gave the nursery, and he ordered the fourth to look after +the royal wardrobe. At first all went well. But in a little while +the first queen said to the third queen, "Why should you have charge +of the nursery? Why should you not work in the dairy?" The second +queen said to the fourth queen, "Why should I have to do all the +cooking?" The third queen asked, "Why should I have always to look +after the children?" And the fourth queen stamped her foot and said, "I +won't look after the king's clothes." And all day long they quarrelled +and screamed at each other, and the poor king was more uncomfortable +than ever. His face grew sad and careworn, and, from the time he got +up to the time he went to bed, he could think of nothing but the way +that his four queens were squabbling with each other. + +One day the rishi, or sage, Vasishta [15] paid the king a visit. The +king prostrated himself before the great sage and gave him a throne +to sit upon. Vasishta looked at the king's face and saw how sad and +careworn it was. He asked the cause, and the king told him. Then +the rishi rose, and the king went with him to the palace of the +four queens. When they reached it, they called to the queens to come +out. The rishi then asked them why they quarrelled. The first queen +cried out, "Why should I have to do the dairy work?" And the second +queen cried out, "Why should I be only a cook-woman?" And the third +cried out, "Why should I have all the children to look after?" And the +fourth cried out, "Why should I have all the bother of sorting out all +the king's clothes?" The king said, "You must do these things because +I ordered you to." But the queens did not mind a word that he said, +and they all screamed together so loud that the king and the rishi +had to put their fingers in their ears to save themselves from being +deafened. For a while the rishi became absorbed in thought, and then +he turned to the first queen and said, "You have been placed in charge +of the dairy, have you not?" The first queen assented. "Then listen +to me," said Vasishta. "In a former life you were a cow, and near the +spot in the jungle where you used to graze was an altar to Shiva. And +every day at noon you used to come and stand near it and let milk +drop upon it. And, because in this way you honoured the god Shiva, you +have in this life become one of the queens of the king of Atpat. But +you did not in your former life attain to full merit. So the god +Shiva directed the king to place you in charge of his dairy, and the +king conveyed the god's directions to you. You should therefore obey +them, and you should honour the king as if he were Shiva himself. In +this way you will attain to full merit and ascend to Shiva's heaven, +Kailas." Vasishta then blessed the first queen. She prostrated herself +before him, and, giving up all thought of quarrelling, went away and +busied herself with her dairy work. + +Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She replied, "Why should I be just a +cook-woman?" The rishi thought for a while and said, "Lady, in a +former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and you used to beg +your food from door to door. But every Monday you used to fast, and +whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and offer to the +god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. Therefore in this +life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And because you cooked +for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you in charge of his +kitchen. Therefore, obey the god's directions and give a great feast +to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the favour of Shiva, and he +will take you with him to Kailas." Then he blessed the second queen, +and she prostrated herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the +king's dinner. + +The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, "What are you +quarrelling about?" The queen answered, "Why should I do nothing but +fiddle about the nursery?" Vasishta thought for a while and said, +"In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a jungle tribe. Every +Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the choicest fruits that +you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he has made you a +queen, and he has entrusted the king's children to you. Therefore +look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he will take you +to live with him in Kailas." The rishi then blessed the third queen, +and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran off, her face +all smiles, to play with the king's children. + +Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She answered, "Why should I do nothing but +look after the king's clothes?" The rishi said, "In a former life, +O Queen, you were a kite that flew high up in the heavens. Beneath +where you used to fly was an altar to Shiva, and every day at noon +you would spread your wings over it and shade it from the sun's +heat. So the god was pleased with you and in this life made you one +of the queens of Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva's altar, +so now a canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva, +now do service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain +full merit and in the end reach Kailas." Then the rishi blessed her, +and she went off quite gaily to attend to the king's clothes. + +And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily ever +afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story +should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured +them of their squabbling. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy +little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all +the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she +got very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she +had done, he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family +began asking where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had +eaten them. And then every one began abusing the mice, saying what +horrid little wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be +if the cat caught and ate them up. But, when the mice heard all this, +they were very angry with the little daughter-in-law for bringing a +false charge against them, and they all met together and vowed that +they would be revenged on her. Some days later the king invited a +guest to his house, and the same night the mice went into the little +daughter-in-law's room and dragged out one of her bodices and put +it across the guest's bed. Next morning the bodice was discovered +in the stranger's bed, and the little daughter-in-law was utterly +disgraced. Her father-in-law and all her brothers-in-law scolded her +dreadfully, and at last the king drove her out of the house. Now it +so happened that it had till then always been the work of the little +daughter-in-law to look after the lamps in the king's palace. Every +morning she used to rub them well and trim the wicks. She used to light +them herself and neap the burners with sugar-candy, and on Divali [16] +Day she used to worship them and make them suitable offerings. But, +directly the little daughter-in-law was driven away, none of the +lamps were any longer cared for. On the next Divali Day the king was +returning from a hunt, and he camped under a tree. Suddenly he saw all +the lamps in his town of Atpat come and settle on its branches. One +lamp after another told what was happening in its house--when there had +been a dinner party, what there had been to eat, who had been invited, +how they themselves had been cared for, and what honours they had +received on Divali Day. After all the other lamps had told their story, +the big lamp from the king's palace began, "Brother lamps, I do not +know how to tell you. For none among you is so wretched as I am. In +former years I was the most fortunate of all the lamps in Atpat. No +other lamp had such honours paid it as I had, and this year I have +to drag out my days In unspeakable misery." All the other lamps tried +to comfort it, and asked it how it was that ill-fortune had overtaken +it. "O brother lamps, how can I tell you?" repeated the big lamp. "I +am the chief among the lamps that shine In the palace of the King of +Atpat. One day the king's little daughter-in-law ate some sweetmeats +and to save herself blamed the mice. To revenge themselves, they in +turn brought a false charge against her by putting her bodice on the +bed of one of the king's guests. So she was disgraced and driven out +of the house. And after she left ill-fortune came upon me. For every +year it was she who worshipped me and paid me honour; and wherever she +is I wish her well, and I give her my blessing." The king listened +attentively to the talk between the lamps, and thus he learnt that +his daughter-in-law was innocent. He went home and asked whether +there was any other evidence against her besides her bodice. And +when he learnt that there was none, and that no one had seen anything +happen between her and the king's guest, he sent a messenger for her +and had her brought home. And he begged her pardon for the past, and +gave her full authority over all his household; and the king lived +and ruled ever afterwards as wisely and as well as King Ramchandra +of Ayodhya. And if any one brings a false charge against any of us, +may the lamps save us as they did the king's little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Parwati and the Priest + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there was a +temple to the god Shiva. One day when Shiva and his wife Parwati +were walking about they happened to come to this temple. They sat +down there and began to play saripat. [17] After some time Parwati +seeing a priest close by asked him who had won, she or Shiva. "Shiva," +the priest replied. Parwati became very angry and cursed him, so that +he became a leper, and the pains which overtook him were absolutely +unendurable. One day a band of Apsaras [18] came down from heaven to +the temple. They saw that the priest who lived in it was a leper, +and they asked him the reason. He told them how Parwati had cursed +him. They replied, "Do not be afraid; do as we tell you and you will +get rid of your leprosy. Fast all next Monday, bathe that evening, +worship the god Shiva, and then get half a pound of flour and mix +it with treacle and ghee and eat it for dinner. But whatever you do, +eat no salt all day. Do this for sixteen Mondays in succession, and +on the seventeenth Monday get five pounds of flour, mix with it ghee +and treacle, and offer it to Shiva inside this temple. Then divide it +into three parts; leave one for the god, distribute a second among +the Brahmans or give it to your cows, and take the third home to +be eaten by you and your family." The Apsaras disappeared, and the +priest followed their instructions and became quite well. Some time +afterwards Shiva and Parwati came again to the temple. Parwati saw +the priest cured of his leprosy and asked him how he had got rid of +it. He told her exactly what he had done. She was very much surprised, +and thought that if she did the same she might win back her son +Kartakswami, [19] who had quarrelled with her and had run off in a +rage. On the seventeenth Monday Kartakswami suddenly appeared, and +both of them were reconciled. Later on, Kartakswami asked Parwati how +she had brought him back, and Parwati told him. Now Kartakswami had a +Brahman friend who had gone into a far-off country, and Kartakswami +met him by accident shortly afterwards. He told the Brahman how the +priest had cured himself of leprosy, and how he and Parwati had become +reconciled. So the Brahman also practised the same rites for seventeen +Mondays. He then set out for a distant country. As he travelled he +came to a town. Now it happened that in that town arrangements were +being made for the marriage of the king's daughter. Several princes +had come from far-off countries to compete for her hand, and the king +had erected a splendid pavilion for the royal betrothal. But he would +not himself choose a prince to be his daughter's husband. He ordered +that a garland should be placed on a she-elephant's trunk, and that +the prince round whose neck the she-elephant threw the garland should +be chosen to marry the king's daughter. But the she-elephant passed +by all the princes in turn, until she came to where the Brahman +stood. For he had come with the crowds of people to see the royal +betrothal. Then the she-elephant stopped and put the garland round +the Brahman's neck. The king ordered the Brahman to step forward, and +he married him to his daughter. Some years later when the princess +grew up, and she and the Brahman began to live together, she asked +her husband by what merit he had succeeded in winning her for his +wife, and he told her. And she in turn practised the same rites for +seventeen Mondays. Nine months later a beautiful baby boy was born to +her; and when he in turn grew up she told him the rites which she had +practised to obtain him. And he in turn began to perform them. On the +sixteenth Monday he set out for a journey. As he travelled in a distant +country he came to a town over which ruled a king who had no son and +only one daughter. The king had for a long time past been searching +for a beautiful and virtuous young man, resolved when he found him to +hand over to him his kingdom and marry him to his daughter. As the +Brahman's son entered the town the king saw him and noticed on him +all the marks of royal origin. So he summoned him to his house and +married him to his daughter and seated him on his own throne. Now +the next Monday was the seventeenth Monday since the Brahman's son +had begun the rites which the Apsaras had told to the priest. That +morning he got up and went to the temple and sent a message home to +his wife that she should send him five sers of flour mixed with ghee +and treacle. But the queen was too proud to do this. For she feared +that the people in the street would laugh at her if she sent her +husband five sers of flour mixed with ghee and treacle. So instead +she sent him five hundred rupees in a plate. But because the flour +and ghee and treacle were not sent, the king was unable to complete +his ceremonial, and it was all spoilt. And the god Shiva instead of +being pleased became very angry indeed. And he told the king that, +if he kept the queen as his wife, he would lose his kingdom and die +a beggar. Next day the king sent for his chief minister and told him +what had happened. At first the minister said, "The kingdom belongs +to the queen's father. If you drive her out your subjects will hate +you." But the king replied, "Yes, but not to obey the god's command +is a worse thing still." At last the minister agreed with the king, +and the order went forth that the queen should be driven out of the +city. So the queen was driven out and became quite poor and wandered +along the road. At last she came to a distant town and lodged there +with an old woman, who gave her food and drink. One day the old woman +sent the queen out to sell fruit puddings. As she went into the bazaar +a great wind came and carried off the fruit puddings. When she returned +to the old woman's house, the queen told her what had happened, and +the old woman drove her out of the house. Then she went and lodged +with an oilman, who had great jars full of oil. But one day she went +and looked inside the jars, and all the oil disappeared. So the oilman +drove her off out of the house. The queen left the town and walked +along until she came to a river with abundant water in it. But directly +her eyes fell on the water, it all flowed away and left the water-bed +quite dry. She then journeyed on until she came to a beautiful lake, +but when her glance rested on the lake, it became full of worms, and +the water began to stink. And, when the cowherds came as usual to +water their cattle, the cattle would not drink the stinking water, +and they had to go home thirsty. By chance a Gosavi, or holy man, +came that way and saw the queen, and she told him her story. The +holy man took her to his house and treated her as his own daughter, +and she did her best to serve him faithfully. But, at whatever thing +she looked, it would either disappear or become full of worms and +maggots. At last the holy man searched for the cause of this by means +of his inner knowledge. And thus he learnt that she had incurred the +sin of spoiling the worship of Shiva, which the Apsaras had first +taught the priest. Unless that sin were atoned for, her evil glance +would never be purified. So the holy man prayed to the god Shiva, +and the god was pleased with him; and when the holy man interceded +with him on the queen's behalf, the god said that he would forgive her +if she began and completed properly the rites which she had spoiled +when her husband was performing them. The queen did so, and the god's +anger vanished. Suddenly there rose in the heart of her husband, the +king, a wish to see his queen, and he sent out messengers on every +side to look for her. At last one of the messengers saw the queen in +the holy man's hermitage and went back and told the king. The king +was overjoyed, and, taking his chief minister with him, he journeyed +to the hermitage. He threw himself at the holy man's feet and then +loaded him with presents. And the holy man was pleased and said, +"O King, I have treated your wife exactly as if she had been my own +daughter. She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's +house. Now take her with you back again and once more go through the +marriage ceremony with her." The king consented, and both he and the +queen prostrated themselves before the holy man, and then they both +returned to Atpat. And they celebrated their home-coming with the +greatest splendour. And the rest of the king's reign was as happy as +possible. And we shall be just as happy if we honour Shiva like the +King of Atpat did. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Rishi and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. For many years he lived happily and cultivated his fields of +rice and grain. But one day his wife gave up the observances imposed +on her, and, as a result, the whole house was stained by her conduct, +and pollution hung like a black cloud over it. Her husband should +have driven her out, but he had not the heart to do so. So he, too, +incurred the blame of his wife's sin. In course of time they died, +and, as a punishment for their wickedness, the husband became in his +next life a bullock, and the wife became a dog. But the gods so far +relented as to find them a home in the house of their only son. + +Now the son was a very pious man, who never failed in his religious +rites. He worshipped the gods, gave memorial honours to his dead +father, and welcomed to his house every Brahman who passed by. One +year, on the anniversary of his father's death, he told his wife +to prepare a milk-pudding in honour of the dead, and announced that +he would invite Brahmans to partake of it. The wife was as pious as +her husband and never failed to obey his commands. So she made a big +milk-pudding, and she boiled vegetables and stewed fruits. But just as +she had finished and was about to invite her husband and his Brahman +guests to begin their feast, the dog saw that a snake had entered the +grain-jar, which had not been properly shut, and that it had left its +poisonous trail all over the grain from which the milk-pudding had been +prepared. The dog at once realised that, if the Brahmans who had been +invited to the memorial feast ate the poisoned grain, they would die, +and that the sin of Brahman murder would be incurred by the host, +her son. So she suddenly rushed up and put her foot right into the +middle of the milk-pudding. The son's wife was very angry. She threw +a red-hot coal at the dog with such skill that it dropped on to the +middle of her back and burnt a big hole in it. Then the son's wife +cooked a fresh milk-pudding and fed the Brahmans. But she was so +cross with the dog that she would not give her the smallest possible +scrap. So the poor dog remained hungry all day. When night fell she +went to the bullock who had been her husband and began to howl as +loudly as she could. The bullock asked her what the matter was. She +told him how she had seen that a snake had poisoned the grain, and +how, to prevent the Brahmans dying and her son incurring the sin of +their death, she had put her paw into the middle of the milk-pudding; +how her daughter-in-law had been angry and had burnt a hole in her +back with a live coal, and how her back hurt so that she did not know +what to do. The bullock answered, "You are suffering for the pollution +with which you darkened our house in a former life, and, because I +let you remain in the house and touched you, I too am suffering, and +I have become a bullock. Only to-day my son fastened me to his plough, +tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too have, like you, had nothing to eat +all day. Thus all my son's memorial services are useless." Now the son +happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He +at once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he +brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at +heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until +at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself +before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman's son +said, "I am sad because my father has been born again as a bullock +and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their release," The +rishi said, "There is only one way to help them. You must worship the +seven sages who have their home in the Great Bear." [20] And he told +the Brahman's son the ceremonies which he should observe, and how he +should worship the seven sages continually every month of Bhadrapad, or +September, for seven years. The Brahman's son obeyed the rishi, and at +the end of the seven years a fiery chariot came down from heaven. The +bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome +woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off +to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The King and the Water-Goddesses + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled +a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a +village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it +filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him, +and the water-goddesses were pleased and said, "O King, O King, +sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the +tank will fill with water." The king heard it and went home very +troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved +the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of +many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last +he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, "Daughter-in-law, +it is a long time since you went to see your parents. You had better +go and pay them a visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look +after him here." The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her +parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable +day and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in +his honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took +him into the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and +told him not to stir. The water-goddesses were pleased, and a great +mass of water suddenly rushed into the tank, and it was filled right +up to the brink. After a time the daughter-in-law came back from her +father's house and brought her brother with her. They asked where her +son was, but they could get no information. Whenever they asked the +king, he did nothing but say how the water had come into the tank, +and what a beautiful tank it was, and how happy it would make all +the villagers. At last the daughter-in-law guessed what had happened, +and when the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shravan, +or August, came round, she and her brother went to the edge of the +tank and began to worship the water-goddesses. She took a cucumber +leaf, and on it she placed some curds and rice. Next she mixed +with them some butter and a farthing's worth of betel-nut. Then she +told her brother to pray, "O Goddess, Mother of All, if any one of +our family is drowned in the tank please give him back to us." He +did so and then threw the offering into the lake. Then they both +turned to go home. But as she was turning homewards, she felt some +one pull her by the legs. She looked down and saw that it was her +missing son. When she saw him she dragged him with all her might to +the bank, and then she and her brother walked home with him. When +the king heard that she was coming, together with her missing son, +he wondered greatly, and going to her he fell at her feet and said, +"O my daughter, I offered your son to the water-goddesses; how has +he come back again?" She said, "I worshipped the water-goddesses +and made offerings to them. Then my son came out of the water, and +I lifted him up and drew him to the shore." The king was overjoyed +and showed the greatest favour to his daughter-in-law. And she and +her little son lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Lid of the Sacred Casket + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had two twin sons. While they were still quite young, +the twins' parents died, and their relatives stole from them all +their property and then turned them out of the house. The twins +wandered along until they came to a town. It was then noon, and +the boys were weary with walking and were tortured with hunger and +thirst. As they entered the town, a Brahman came out of his door +to throw food to the crows. He saw the two boys and called them in, +fed them, and then made them tell him their story. When he heard it +he resolved to provide for them, and he lodged them in his house and +taught them to recite the Vedas. On Lalita Panchmi Day the Brahman +began to perform certain ceremonies. His pupils asked him why he did +so. The sage replied that by doing so one could attain to wealth, +knowledge, and to the wish of one's heart. The boys begged him to +instruct them, and they quickly learnt how to worship the goddess +Parwati. Not long afterwards the Brahman provided them with wives, +and they returned to their own city, acquired wealth, and were very +happy. A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a +wise boy and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita +Panchmi Day. So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the +younger was foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to +dislike him, and he lost all his money. And at last he became so poor +that he and his wife had to give up their house and go and live on +the charity of his elder brother. One day the elder brother's wife +spoke so crossly and said such nasty things to the younger twin, +that he felt that he could not stay in the house any longer. And he +remembered then that of recent years he had entirely forgotten to +worship Parwati. He felt very penitent, and he decided that somehow or +other he would win back the goddess's favour. Taking his wife with him, +he left his brother's house and journeyed to a distant country. At +last he came near a town, and, meeting a cowherd, the younger twin +asked him what its name was. The cowherd said, "The town is called +Upang." "Who is the king?" asked the younger twin. The cowherd replied, +"He also is called Upang." The wanderer then asked whether there was +any place where he and his wife could lodge. The cowherd told him +that in the town there was a temple of Parwati, and close to it +was a rest-house where the wanderer and his wife could lodge. The +cowherd directed them to the rest-house. And before lying down the +younger twin worshipped Parwati in the temple and begged her pardon +for his previous neglect. Parwati felt sorry for him, and that night +she appeared to him in a dream. She told him to go to King Upang's +palace and to beg from him the lid of the sacred casket in which +the accessories of worship were kept. He should, thereafter, always +pray to it, and in the end he would come by his heart's desire. The +younger twin woke up, and the same morning he went to King Upang's +palace and begged from him the lid of the sacred casket in which were +kept the accessories of worship. The king at first refused, but when +the younger twin told the king of his dream the king consented. The +Brahman took the lid home, worshipped it, and, just as the goddess +had foretold, he came by his heart's desire. Property and happiness +returned, and a year later his wife bore him a daughter. As the years +passed the little girl grew up. One day she took the lid of the sacred +casket and went with some playmates to play and bathe by the bank of +a river. Suddenly the corpse of a Brahman came floating by. Seeing +it, the little girl took the lid of the casket and for fun began to +splash water on it. Such was the power of the sacred lid, that the +corpse instantly became alive again and became a Brahman, tall as a +tree and beautiful as the sun. The little girl fell in love with him +on the spot and told him that he must become her husband. "But," said +the Brahman, "how shall I manage it?" The little girl said, "Come home +with me at dinner-time, take as usual water [21] in your hand, but do +not sip it. Then my daddy will ask you, 'Bhatji, Bhatji, why do you +not sip the water in your hand?' You must reply, 'I am ready to dine +if you marry me to your daughter. If you will not, I shall get up and +go away.' Then he will consent to our marriage." The Brahman agreed, +and he went home with the little girl, and everything happened as she +had planned. To prevent the Brahman from getting up without any food, +the little girl's father agreed to their marriage. When a favourable +day came they were married, and when she was old enough the little +girl went to her husband's house. As she went she carried off the +lid of the sacred casket of King Upang. But, because it had gone, +her father lost all his wealth and fell once more into the greatest +poverty. His wife went to her daughter's house and asked for it +back, but she refused to give it up. The wife was very angry and +every day began to hate her son-in-law more and more. But for him, +as she thought, the little girl would never have married and would +not have stolen the lid of the sacred casket. One day the wife met +her son-in-law on the road, and she gave him such a fearful slap in +the face that he instantly fell on the ground and became a corpse +again. His mother-in-law then-snatched from him the lid of the casket, +which he happened to have in his hand, and ran away home. There he +lay until the little girl, his wife, began to search for him. When +she found him she prayed to the goddess, and by her aid and by means +of the merit which she had acquired by worshipping the lid of the +casket while she had it, she restored her husband to life. But the +twin and his wife went on becoming poorer and poorer. And at last +they went back to his brother's house and asked him why it was that +the younger twin was always losing his wealth as fast as he gained +it. The elder brother listened to the whole story and then he said, +"I do not wonder at it. First you lost the lid of the casket, then, +in order to get it back, your wife killed a Brahman. Your only chance +now is to worship Parwati harder than ever, and perhaps in the end +you may recover your good estate." So the younger brother went home +and worshipped Parwati with greater vigour than ever. And at last +she relented and gave him her blessing. He recovered his wealth and +came by all that his heart desired. And he and his wife lived happily +ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who used always to perform Shradh or memorial ceremonies +to his father on the last day of the month of Shravan. When performing +these ceremonies he always invited other Brahmans to dine. But it so +happened that on every last day of the month of Shravan, [22] from the +day of his father's death onwards, his daughter-in-law gave birth to a +little boy. And just as the Brahmans had begun to enjoy their dinner, +the child would die. So all the Shradh ceremonies had to cease, +and the poor Brahmans had to be sent away feeling most dreadfully +hungry. This happened regularly for six years. But, when the seventh +little boy was born only to die just as his guests were beginning +to enjoy their dinner, the poor Brahman lost all patience. He took +the newly-born child and placed it in his daughter-in-law's lap and +then drove her out of the house and into the jungle. The poor woman +walked along until she came to a great, dark forest. In it she met the +wife of a hobgoblin, [23] who asked, "Lady, Lady, whose wife are you, +and why do you come here? Run away as quickly as you can. For, if my +husband the hobgoblin sees you, he will tear you to pieces and gobble +you up." The poor woman said she was the daughter-in-law of a Brahman, +and explained how every year she had given birth to a son on the last +day of Shravan, how it had died in the middle of the Shradh feast, +and how at last her father-in-law had put the child in her lap and +had driven her from home and into the forest. The hobgoblin's wife +repeated, "If you value your life at all, go away." The Brahman +woman began to cry, until at last the hobgoblin's wife had pity on +her and said, "Do not be afraid; walk a little way until you come to +an altar to the god Shiva, Close by is a bel [24] tree; climb into it +and hide among the branches. To-night the serpent-maidens from Patâla +and the wood-nymphs, together with a train of seven demon Asuras, +[25] will come and worship at the altar. After making their offerings +to the god, they will call out, 'Is there any uninvited guest present +to whom we can make a gift?' You must then call out in reply, 'Yes, +I am here.' They will see you and question you, and you must tell them +all your story." The poor Brahman woman agreed. She walked on until +she came to the god Shiva's altar. She climbed into the branches of +the bel tree. She remained there until midnight came. Suddenly the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, accompanied by a +train of seven demon Asuras, came and worshipped at the altar. After +making offerings to the god they called out, "Is there any uninvited +guest present to whom we can make a gift?" The Brahman woman at once +climbed down the bel tree and called out in answer, "Yes, I am here," +The serpent-maidens from Pâtala and the wood-nymphs, greatly surprised, +asked her who she was, and she told them all her story. Then the +serpent-maidens of Pâtala and the wood-nymphs ordered their train +of demon Asuras to go and search for the seven sons of the Brahman +woman. The seven demon Asuras spurred their horses and rode off in all +directions. In a little time the giant captain of the demon guards +rode up carrying in his arms the body of a little boy of six. Then +another rode up carrying the body of a little boy of five. And four +others rode up carrying a little boy of four, a little boy of three, +a little boy of two, and a little boy only one year old. Last of +all the seventh demon Asura rode up with a newly-born baby boy. The +demons placed the bodies in front of the serpent-maidens from Patâla +and of the wood-nymphs. And first of all the little boy of six came to +life and got up and ran to his mother. Next the little boy of five, +and then the little boy of four, and then the little boy of three +came to life and ran to their mother. Then the little boy of two +came to life and got up, but he could only walk to his mother. Next +the little one-year-old boy came to life, but he could not get up, +so he lay on his back and kicked up his legs. And last of all the +newly-born baby came to life, but he could not even kick up his +legs. And they were all delighted to see their mother, and she was +overjoyed to have all her sons again. But the serpent-maidens from +Patâla and the wood-nymphs warned her that she must pray to the +sixty-four Yoginis, the attendants who wait on Durga, the Goddess +of Death, or else her children would be snatched from her again. And +they told her to pray her hardest, for her prayer had to travel down +to the depths of Hell. So the Brahman woman prayed her hardest to +the sixty-four Yoginis, and then she prostrated herself before the +serpent-maidens from Patâla, and the wood-nymphs, and their train of +demon Asuras. And then she took the little one-year-old boy on her hip, +and the newly-born baby boy in her arms, and she walked with her other +five sons to the village. When the villagers saw her coming they ran +and said to the Brahman, "Bhatji, Bhatji, your daughter-in-law is +coming back home." And the Brahman became very angry and vowed that +he would drive her away again. So he watched for her coming. But +first of all he saw walking towards his house a little boy of six, +and then a little boy of five, and then a little boy of four, and +then two other little boys of three and two. Last of all he saw his +daughter-in-law with a one-year-old boy on her hip and a newly-born +baby in her arms. He rose and fetched a cauldron of water and two +handfuls of rice from his house. And he waved his hands filled with +rice round the heads of his daughter-in-law and of all her children, +and last of all he washed their feet. In this way he welcomed back to +his house his grandchildren and their mother. And he made her tell +him all her story; and she, and her children, and the Brahman spent +the rest of their lives in great peace and perfect happiness. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +The Golden Temple + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there reigned a +king who had four daughters-in-law. He loved three of them very dearly, +but the fourth, who was an ugly little girl, he did not like at all. To +the three daughters-in-law he gave nice food and fine clothes. But +to the ugly little daughter-in-law he gave nothing but scraps from +his table and thick, coarse clothes to wear. He would not even let her +sleep inside the house, but made her sleep in the stable and look after +the cows. The poor ugly daughter-in-law grew so unhappy that, when the +first Monday in Shravan [26] came, she ran out of the palace, and out +of the town, and then away as fast as her fat little legs would carry +her. At last she went and hid herself in the woods. Now it so happened +that that very day a band of serpent-maidens [27] had come up from +Patala. After wandering through the forest and bathing in the running +streams, they had joined a bevy of wood-nymphs and were coming in her +direction. At first she was too terrified to say a single word. But at +last she asked, "Ladies, ladies, where are you going?" "To the temple +of Shiva," they replied, "to worship the god. For by doing that, one +wins the love of one's husband, one obtains children, and one comes by +the wish of one's heart." When the ugly daughter-in-law heard that by +doing what the serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs were about to do +she could win love for herself, she at once thought that in this way +she, too, might win the love of her father-in-law. So she told the +serpent-maidens of Patala and the wood-nymphs that she would go with +them. They went deeper and deeper into the forest until at last they +came to a temple of the god Shiva. There the serpent-maidens and the +wood-nymphs offered to the god rice, betel-nut, incense, flowers, and +the leaves of the bel tree. The ugly little daughter-in-law did just +as they did. And when she had finished she cried out, "O God Shiva, +please, please vouchsafe my prayer also, and make my father-in-law +and my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like +me as much as they now dislike me." That evening she went home and +fasted, and all the scraps which they threw to her from the king's +table she gave to her favourite cow. And then she sat by herself and +prayed to the god Shiva. The following Monday she once more ran out of +the palace and out of the town and into the woods as fast as her fat +little legs would carry her. There she met again the serpent-maidens +of Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs and went with them to the +temple of Shiva in the distant heart of the forest. The first time the +serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs had given her the incense and the +flowers, the rice and the betel-nut, and the leaves of the bel tree, +with which to perform her worship. But they had told her that the +next time she must bring them herself. So when she ran away on the +second Monday in Shravan she brought with her incense and flowers, +rice and betel-nut and bel-tree leaves, and after offering them and +some sesamums to the god she once more prayed, "O God Shiva, please, +please grant my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." Then she went home and fasted, and giving all her dinner +to her favourite cow she sat by herself and prayed to Shiva. That +evening the king asked her who the god was whom she was honouring, +and where he lived. The ugly little daughter-in-law replied, "Afar +off my god lives, and the roads to him are hard, and the paths to him +are full of thorns. Where snakes abound and where tigers lie in wait, +there is his temple." The third Monday in Shravan, the ugly little +daughter-in-law again started from the palace with her flowers and +incense, her betel-nut and bel leaves, her rice and sesamum, in order +to meet the serpent-maidens of Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs, and +with them to worship the god in the hidden depths of the forest. This +time the king and her other male relatives followed her and said +to her, "Ugly little daughter-in-law, take us with you and show us +your god." But the temple of Shiva was ever so far from the king's +palace. The ugly daughter-in-law did not mind, for she was used to +cruel treatment. She had also walked to the temple twice before, and +her feet had got as hard as two little stones. But the king and his +relatives were tired to death; and their feet swelled up to the size +of an elephant's, and they became as full of thorns as the back of a +porcupine. And they muttered to each other, "How on earth does that +ugly little daughter-in-law manage to walk as she does through the +heart of the forest?" The ugly daughter-in-law at last felt sorry for +them. She prayed to the god Shiva to build a temple near at hand. The +god consented, and, with the help of the serpent-maidens of Patâla +and of the wood-nymphs, he created suddenly a beautiful temple all of +pure, yellow gold. Its pillars were studded with jewels, and the jars +in it were all of crystal. In the middle there rose from the ground +an altar to the god Shiva. And last of all the god revealed himself +to the king and his companions in all his glory and splendour. For +a moment only they saw him; and then he vanished. The king and his +companions stared, too astonished to move or speak. But the ugly +little daughter-in-law prostrated herself and offered to the god +flowers and incense. Then she cried out, "O God Shiva, please, please +vouchsafe my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." When the king heard her prayer his heart softened to her, +and he spoke kindly to her and gave her jewelry and trinkets. In a +little while he took off his turban and, placing it on a peg, walked +out to look at a lovely lake which, unnoticed by any one before, +now stretched out close by the temple. And behind him strolled out +his companions. But when they had gone out of sight, the beautiful +golden temple by the lake vanished for ever. After looking at the +lake the king came back to fetch his turban which he had left in +the temple. But he could not find the beautiful temple all of pure, +yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its crystal jars. The +king asked the little daughter-in-law the cause. She said nothing, +but straightway walked deeper into the forest. And the king and his +companions, although weary to death, followed her. At last they came to +the temple where she had worshipped, together with the serpent-maidens +from Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs. It was a tiny temple, +and inside it there was a rough altar. At the foot of the altar lay +the flowers which the ugly daughter-in-law had offered to the god, +and close by on a peg hung the turban left by the king. Again the +king asked his daughter-in-law the meaning of what had happened. She +replied, "This temple that you see is my own poor little temple. But, +because of my prayers, the god Shiva showed himself to you in the +beautiful temple, all of pure, yellow gold, with its jewel-studded +pillars and its crystal jars." When the king heard her reply, he grew +more pleased than ever with the daughter-in-law whom formerly he had +so disliked. And because the god had revealed himself at her prayer, +the king, to do her honour, sent for his royal palanquin and had her +carried home in state. And the ugly little daughter-in-law became out +of the four the king's favourite. And he was so much nicer to her than +he was to his other three daughters-in-law that they became as jealous +as cats. But the king and the ugly little daughter-in-law did not mind +them the least little bit. And they both lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +NOTES + +[1] For an account of the birth of Kartakswami see The Tale of the +Tulsi Plants p. 93. + +[2] In India days of the week have the same mysterious connexion +with the astral bodies that they have in Europe. Aditwar or Raviwar +is sun's day (Sunday); Somwar is moon's day (Monday); Mangalwar is +Mars' day (mardi); Budhwar is Mercury's day (mercredi); Brihaspatiwar +is the day of Diespiter or Jupiter (jeudi); Shukrawar is Venus' day +(vendredi); Shaniwar is Saturn's day (Saturday). + +[3] His bad actions in a former life. + +[4] All these stories take place in Atpat town. This literally means +"City Splendid." But in the tales it is simply a fabulous city. + +[5] Although Tuesday is really the day of Mars, Mangal, this tale +by a popular error connects the day with Mangalgauri or Parwati, +Shiva's wife. + +[6] Budh is Mercury; Brahaspati is Jupiter. + +[7] For serpent-maidens of Patâla see note to Story XX. + +[8] Mahalaxmi is always worshipped in this way. And it is a common +practice for anyone who wants anything to blow on a pot and then wish +for it. + +[9] Kolhapur is the chief seat of the worship of Mahalaxmi. + +[10] Ashwin corresponds approximately with October. + +[11] A kind of draughts. + +[12] Nagpanchmi Day falls on Shravan Sud 5, i.e. the 5th day of the +bright half of Shravan. + +[13] Bhatji is the name by which a mendicant Brahman is addressed. + +[14] This is called the akshataropan. + +[15] Vasishta was the family priest of King Dasaratha, father of +Ramchandra. After death he became one of the stars in the constellation +of the Great Bear. + +[16] Divali is the feast of lamps in the month of Kartih. + +[17] Saripat is a kind of draughts. + +[18] Apsaras are attendants on the gods. + +[19] Kartakswami was really Parwati's step-son (see Preface). + +[20] The Indians do not associate the Great Bear constellation with a +bear, but they believe it to be the habitation of seven rishis. The +seven rishis vary in different works. In the Mahabharat the names +given are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatya, and Vasishta. + +[21] Aposhani. This is the water which a Brahman sips from his hand +before and after his meal. + +[22] Shravan corresponds roughly with August. The death of the child +nullified all the virtue of the Shradh feast, which had at once to +be stopped. + +[23] Zhoting is really the unquiet ghost of a Musulman, but hobgoblin +is probably a sufficiently close translation. + +[24] A tree sacred to Shiva. + +[25] The Asuras, who are now reckoned petty demons, had once upon +a time a much higher position. They are the same as Ahura-Magda, +the Jupiter of the Iranians. The latter, curiously enough, +degraded the Devas or Hindu Gods to the subordinate place of +demons. (Cf. Rawlinson's Bactria, page 21.) + +[26] Shravan = August. + +[27] Nag-kanya. These are the maidens of the race of the Nagas, who +are said to have sprung from Kadru, wife of Kasyapa. One of them, +Ulupi, married the hero Arjuna. They live in Patâla, the lowest of +the seven underground regions. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11167 *** diff --git a/11167-h/11167-h.htm b/11167-h/11167-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..650ef29 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/11167-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3501 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> + +<html lang="en-uk"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>Deccan Nursery Tales; or, Fairy Tales from the South</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +body +{ +font: 100%/1.2em "Times New Roman", Times, serif; +margin: 1.58em 16%; +text-align: left; +} +/***** Titlepage *****/ +.titlePage +{ +border: #DDDDDD 2px solid; +margin: 3em 0% 7em 0%; +padding: 5em 10% 6em 10%; +} +h1.docTitle +{ +font-size:1.6em; +line-height:2em; +} +h2.byline +{ +font-size:1.1em; +font-weight:normal; +line-height:1.44em; +} +span.docAuthor +{ +font-size:1.2em; +font-weight:bold; +} +h2.docImprint +{ +font-size:1.2em; +font-weight:normal; +} +/***** End Titlepage *****/ +.transcribernote +{ +background-color:#DDE; +border:black 1px dotted; +color:#000; +font-family:sans-serif; +font-size:80%; +margin:2em 5%; +padding:1em; +} +.advertisment +{ +background-color:#FFFEE0; +border:black 1px dotted; +color:#000; +margin:2em 5%; +padding:1em; +} +.width20 +{ +width: 20%; +} +.width40 +{ +width: 40%; +} +.indextoc +{ +text-align: center; +} +.div0 +{ +padding-top: 5.6em; +} +.div1 +{ +padding-top: 4.8em; +} +.index +{ +font-size: 80%; +} +.div2 +{ +padding-top: 3.6em; +} +.div3, .div4, .div5 +{ +padding-top: 2.4em; +} +.footnotes .body, +.footnotes .div1 +{ +padding: 0; +} +.apparatusnote +{ +text-decoration: none; +} +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, pseudoh4 +{ +clear: both; +font-style: normal; +text-transform: none; +} +h3, .pseudoh3 +{ +font-size:1.2em; +line-height:1.2em; +} +h3.label +{ +font-size:1em; +line-height:1.2em; +margin-bottom:0; +} +h4, pseudoh4 +{ +font-size:1em; +line-height:1.2em; +} +.alignleft +{ +text-align:left; +} +.alignright +{ +text-align:right; +} +.alignblock +{ +text-align:justify; +} +p.tb, hr.tb +{ +margin-top: 1.6em; +margin-bottom: 1.6em; +margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; +text-align: center; +} +p.argument, p.note, p.tocArgument +{ +font-size:0.9em; +line-height:1.2em; +text-indent:0; +} +p.argument, p.tocArgument +{ +margin:1.58em 10%; +} +p.tocChapter +{ +margin:1.58em 0%; +} +p.tocSection +{ +margin:0.7em 5%; +} +.epigraph +{ +font-size:0.9em; +line-height:1.2em; +width: 60%; +margin-left: auto; +} +.epigraph span.bibl +{ +display: block; +text-align: right; +} +.trailer +{ +clear: both; +padding-top: 2.4em; +padding-bottom: 1.6em; +} +.figure +{ +margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; +} +.floatLeft +{ +float:left; +margin:10px 10px 10px 0; +} +.floatRight +{ +float:right; +margin:10px 0 10px 10px; +} +p.figureHead +{ +font-size:100%; +text-align:center; +} +.figAnnotation +{ +font-size:80%; +position:relative; +margin: 0 auto; /* center this */ +} +.figTopLeft, .figBottomLeft +{ +float: left; +} +.figTop, .figBottom +{ +} +.figTopRight, .figBottomRight +{ +float: right; +} +.figure p +{ +font-size:80%; +margin-top:0; +text-align:center; +} +img +{ +border-width:0; +} +p.smallprint,li.smallprint +{ +color:#666666; +font-size:80%; +} +span.parnum +{ +font-weight: bold; +} +.leftnote +{ +font-size:0.8em; +height:0; +left:1%; +line-height:1.2em; +position:absolute; +text-indent:0; +width:14%; +} +.pagenum +{ +display:inline; +font-size:70%; +font-style:normal; +margin:0; +padding:0; +position:absolute; +right:1%; +text-align:right; +} +a.noteref, a.pseudonoteref +{ +font-size: 80%; +text-decoration: none; +vertical-align: 0.25em; +} +.displayfootnote +{ +display: none; +} +div.footnotes +{ +margin-top: 1em; +padding: 0; +} +hr.fnsep +{ +margin-left: 0; +margin-right: 0; +text-align: left; +width: 25%; +} +p.footnote +{ +font-size: 80%; +margin-bottom: 0.5em; +margin-top: 0.5em; +} +p.footnote .label +{ +float:left; +width:2em; +height:12pt; +display:block; +} +.footnotes td, .footnotes th, .footnotes .tablecaption +{ +font-size: 80%; +} +/****** Tables ******/ +td.sum +{ +padding-top: 2px; border-top: solid black 1px; +} +/****** Poetry ******/ +.lgouter +{ +margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; +display:table; /* used to make the block shrink to the actual size */ +} +.lg +{ +text-align: left; +} +.lg h4, .lgouter h4 +{ +font-weight: normal; +} +.lg .linenum +{ +color:#777; +font-size:90%; +left:-2.5em; +margin:0; +position:absolute; +text-align:center; +text-indent:0; +top:auto; +width:1.75em; +} +p.line +{ +margin: 0 0% 0 0%; +} +span.hemistich /* invisible text to achieve visual effect of hemistich indentation. */ +{ +color: white; +} +.versenum +{ +font-weight:bold; +} +/***** Drama *****/ +.speaker +{ +font-weight: bold; +margin-bottom: 0.4em; +} +.sp .line +{ +margin: 0 10%; +text-align: left; +} +/***** End Drama *****/ +/* right aligned page number in table of contents */ +.tocPagenum, .flushright +{ +position: absolute; +right: 16%; +top: auto; +} +.footnotes .line +{ +font-size:80%; +} +span.corr +{ +border-bottom:1px dotted red; +} +span.abbr +{ +border-bottom:1px dotted gray; +} +span.measure +{ +border-bottom:1px dotted green; +} +/****** Font Styles and Colors *****/ +.letterspaced +{ +letter-spacing:0.2em; +} +.smallcaps +{ +font-variant:small-caps; +} +.caps +{ +text-transform:uppercase; +} +/* overline is actually a bit too high; overtilde is approximated with overline */ +.overline, .overtilde +{ +text-decoration: overline; +} +.rm +{ +font-style: normal; +} +.red +{ +color: red; +} +/***** End Font Styles and Colors *****/ +hr +{ +clear:both; +height:1px; +margin-left:auto; +margin-right:auto; +margin-top:1em; +text-align:center; +width:45%; +} +h2.docImprint,h1.docTitle,h2.byline,h2.docTitle,.aligncenter,div.figure +{ +text-align:center; +} +h1,h2 +{ +font-size:1.44em; +line-height:1.5em; +} +h1.label,h2.label +{ +font-size:1.2em; +line-height:1.2em; +margin-bottom:0; +} +h5,h6 +{ +font-size:1em; +font-style:italic; +line-height:1em; +} +p,p.initial +{ +text-indent:0; +} +p.firstlinecaps:first-line +{ +text-transform: uppercase; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter +{ +float: left; +clear: left; +margin: 0em 0.05em 0 0; +padding: 0px; +line-height: 0.8em; +font-size: 420%; +vertical-align:super; +} +.lg +{ +padding: .5em 0% .5em 0%; +} +p.quote,div.blockquote,div.argument +{ +font-size:0.9em; +line-height:1.2em; +margin:1.58em 5%; +} +.pagenum a, a.noteref:hover, a.hidden:hover, a.hidden +{ +text-decoration:none; +} +ul { list-style-type: none; } +.castlist, .castitem { list-style-type: none; } +/***** External Links *****/ +.pglink +{ +background: url(images/book.png) center right no-repeat; +padding-right: 18px; +} +.exlink +{ +background: url(images/external.png) center right no-repeat; +padding-right: 13px; +} +.pglink:hover +{ +background-color: #DCFFDC; +} +.catlink:hover +{ +background-color: #FFFFDC; +} +.exlink:hover +{ +background-color: #FFDCDC; +} +body +{ +background: #FFFFFF; +font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; +} +body, a.hidden +{ +color: black; +} +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, .pseudoh4 +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; +} +p.byline +{ +font-style: italic; +margin-bottom: 2em; +} +.figureHead, .noteref, .pseudonoteref, span.leftnote, p.legend, .versenum, .stage +{ +color: #001FA4; +} +.rightnote, .pagenum, .linenum, .pagenum a +{ +color: #AAAAAA; +} +a.hidden:hover, a.noteref:hover +{ +color: red; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-weight: bold; +} +sub, sup +{ +line-height: 0; +} +.pagenum, .linenum +{ +speak: none; +} +</style> + +<style type="text/css"> +.xd19e192 +{ +text-align:right; +} +.xd19e193 +{ +text-align:left; +} +.xd19e79width +{ +width:545px; +} +.xd19e85width +{ +width:506px; +} +.xd19e117 +{ +text-align:center; +} +.xd19e184 +{ +text-align:right; +} +.xd19e191 +{ +width:100%; +} +.xd19e524width +{ +width:504px; +} +.xd19e575width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e604width +{ +width:507px; +} +.xd19e724width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e748width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e895width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e1014width +{ +width:503px; +} +.xd19e1018 +{ +text-align:center; +} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11167 ***</div> + +<div class="front"> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="figure xd19e79width"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt= +"Original Front Cover." width="545" height="720"></div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="figure xd19e85width" id="p000"><img src="images/p000.jpg" +alt="“Gave memorial honours to his dead father”" width= +"506" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“Gave memorial honours to his dead +father”</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="titlePage"> +<h1 class="docTitle">Deccan Nursery Tales</h1> +<h1 class="docTitle">or</h1> +<h1 class="docTitle">Fairy Tales from the South</h1> +<h2 class="byline">By<br> +<br> +<span class="docAuthor">C. A. Kincaid, C.V.O.</span><br> +<br> +Indian Civil Service<br> +<br> +Author of ‘The Outlaws of Kathiawar,’ ‘The Tale of +the Tulsi Plant’<br> +<br> +Illustrations by M. V. Dhurandhar</h2> +<h2 class="docImprint">1914.</h2> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e115" href="#xd19e115" name= +"xd19e115">vi</a>]</span></p> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<p class="xd19e117">To my little son</p> +<p class="xd19e117">Dennis</p> +<p class="xd19e117">Whose interest in these stories<br> +<br> +first induced me to offer them to the public<br> +<br> +this little volume is affectionately inscribed <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e127" href="#xd19e127" name= +"xd19e127">vii</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="pre" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Preface</h2> +<p>These stories first appeared in the <i>Times of India</i> newspaper, +and my acknowledgments are due to the editor for his courtesy in +permitting their publication.</p> +<p>I have translated all of them as literally as possible from the +original Marathi. But, owing to the difference between Marathi and +English canons of taste, I have had in a very few places slightly to +change the sense. In some places, owing to the obscurity of the +original text, I have had to amplify the translation. In other places I +have had to cut short the descriptions of Hindu rites and ceremonies so +as to avoid wearying the English reader.</p> +<p>It may not be out of place to say just a word about the Indian gods +mentioned in the stories. It must be remembered that the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e140" href="#xd19e140" name= +"xd19e140">viii</a>]</span>main Hindu gods are three in number. They +are all sprung from a common origin, Brahma, but they are quite +separate beings. They do not form a trinity, <i>i.e.</i> three in one +or one in three. And each of them has a wife and a family. The +following genealogical tree will, I hope, help the reader.</p> +<ul> +<li>Brahma +<ul> +<li>Shiva = Parwati +<ul> +<li>Ganpati</li> +</ul> +</li> +<li>= the daughters of Agni +<ul> +<li>Kartakswami<a class="noteref" id="xd19e160src" href="#xd19e160" +name="xd19e160src">1</a></li> +</ul> +</li> +<li>Vishnu = Mahalaxmi</li> +<li>Brahmadev = Saraswati</li> +</ul> +</li> +</ul> +<p>Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati, +Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following +stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five +principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is +worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn +inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e174" href="#xd19e174" name= +"xd19e174">ix</a>]</span>to bring ill fortune. Then again, besides the +main gods, the world according to Hindu belief, which in this respect +closely resembles that of the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras +(demons), Devkanya (wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of +Patâla), and Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of +these find a place in the ensuing fairy tales.</p> +<p>The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu +the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In +practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the +Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as <a id= +"xd19e178" name="xd19e178"></a> they feel inclined, or as the +particular sect to which they belong requires them.</p> +<p>Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of +twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra, +corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other in +the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin, +Kartih, Margshish, Paush, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e182" href= +"#xd19e182" name="xd19e182">x</a>]</span>Mag, Phalgun, Each month +begins on the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. +The first half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. +This is the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the +period from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the +month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by +the interposition of an “adhik” or intercalary month every +third year.</p> +<p class="xd19e184">C. A. K. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e186" +href="#xd19e186" name="xd19e186">xi</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e160" href="#xd19e160src" name="xd19e160">1</a></span> For an +account of the birth of Kartakswami see <i>The Tale of the Tulsi +Plants</i> p. 93.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="toc" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<div class="table xd19e191"> +<table width="100%"> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192"></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192"><span class= +"smallcaps">page</span></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">I.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch01">The Sunday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">1</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">II.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch02">The Monday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">14</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">III.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch03">The Tuesday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">18</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">IV.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch04">The Wednesday and +Thursday Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">26</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">V.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch05">The Friday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">32</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">VI.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch06">The Saturday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">36</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">VII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch07">Mahalaxmi and the Two +Queens</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">41</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">VIII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch08">The Island +Palace</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">56</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">IX.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch09">Nagoba, the +Snake-King</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">63</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">X.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch10">Parwati and the +Beggar-Man</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">69</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XL</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch11">Parwati and the +Brahman</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">73</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch12">Soma, the +Washerwoman</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">79</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XIII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch13">Vasishta and the Four +Queens</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">89</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XIV.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch14">The Lamps and the +King’s Daughter-in-Law</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">95</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XV.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch15">Parwati and the +Priest</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">99</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XVI.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch16">The Rishi and the +Brahman</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">107</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XVII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch17">The King and the +Water-Goddesses</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">112</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XVIII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch18">The Lid of the Sacred +Casket</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">115</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XIX.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch19">The Brahman Wife and +Her Seven Sons</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">122</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XX.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch20">The Golden +Temple</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">128</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e386" href="#xd19e386" name= +"xd19e386">xiii</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Illustrations</h2> +<ul> +<li><a href="#p000">“Gave memorial honours to his dead +father”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum"><i>Frontispiece</i></span></li> +<li> <span class="tocPagenum"><span class="smallcaps">face +page</span></span></li> +<li><a href="#p022">“It curled itself up inside the earthen +jar”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">22</span></li> +<li><a href="#p032">“And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits +of cocoa-nut”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">32</span></li> +<li><a href="#p039">“And stuck them into a corner of the +eaves”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">39</span></li> +<li><a href="#p068">“They no longer wished to kill or bite the +little daughter-in-law”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum">68</span></li> +<li><a href="#p071">“They asked her what the reason was, and she +told them”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">71</span></li> +<li><a href="#p106">“She has lived here just as if she had been +in her father’s house”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum">106</span></li> +<li><a href="#p132">“The god revealed himself to the king and his +companions in all his glory and splendour”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum">132</span></li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e445" href="#xd19e445" name= +"xd19e445">1</a>]</span> +<div class="body"> +<div id="ch01" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Sunday Story</h2> +<p>When Englishmen and Englishwomen are little boys and girls, they +listen with open ears to the tales of Golden-hair and the three Bears, +of Cinderella and the Prince, and of the Wolf and Little Red Riding +Hood. As the boys and girls grow up, the stories fade gradually from +their minds. But a time comes when they have children of their own. And +then, to amuse the children, they can find no tales more thrilling than +those which fascinated them in their own childhood. Thus the old +nursery tales are handed down for centuries from generation to +generation. Exactly the same process goes on in India, There, too, when +little Indian boys and girls grow up and have little boys and girls of +their own, they too tell to wide-eyed audiences the tales which they +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e452" href="#xd19e452" name= +"xd19e452">2</a>]</span>themselves found so thrilling in their own +childhood. Indian nursery tales, it is true, have a more religious +tinge than those of Europe, but they are none the less appreciated on +that account. The first six stories in this little book purport to +explain the connexion between the heavenly bodies and the days of the +week. So each day of the week has its separate tale. And all through +Shravan or August, probably because it is the wettest month in the +year, Deccan mothers tell afresh every week-day that day’s story. +And little Deccan children listen to the tales as they fall due with +the same unvarying attention. For in nurseries, Indian as well as +English, tales are loved the better when no longer new, and where the +end is well known to, and therefore the better understood by, the tiny +round-eyed listeners.</p> +<p>Now this is the tale which is told every Sunday<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e456src" href="#xd19e456" name="xd19e456src">1</a> in Shravan: +Once upon a time there <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e462" href= +"#xd19e462" name="xd19e462">3</a>]</span>was a town called Atpat, and +in it there lived a poor Brahman. Every day he used to go into the +woods to fetch sticks and to cut grass. One day he met there some +nymphs and wood-fairies, who said that they were performing holy rites +in honour of the sun. He asked, “What are these rites?” +They replied, “If we tell you, you will become proud and vain and +you will not perform them properly.” But the Brahman promised, +“No, I shall not become proud or vain and I shall observe the +rites you tell me.” They then told him that the month of Shravan +was coming, and that on the first Sunday of Shravan he was to draw a +picture of the sun with red sandal paste, that he was to offer to the +drawing flowers and fruit, and that he should continue doing this for +six months. Thereafter he should in various ways, which they told him, +entertain guests and give alms to the poor.</p> +<p>The Brahman went home and performed the rites to the letter, so that +the sun-god was very pleased. Wealth came to the Brahman and he grew +richer and richer, and at last the queen of the land sent for him. The +poor Brahman began to tremble and shake all over, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e466" href="#xd19e466" name= +"xd19e466">4</a>]</span>but the queen said, “Do not shake or +tremble, but give your daughters in marriage to our house.” The +Brahman said, “My daughters are poor; you will make them slaves +or maid-servants.” “No,” said the queen, “I +shall not make them slaves or maid-servants; I shall marry one to a +king, and one to a minister.” The Brahman agreed, and when the +month of Margashish, or December, came he gave his two daughters in +marriage, one to the king and one to the minister. Immediately after +the marriage the Brahman said good-bye to his daughters, and did not +see them again for twelve years. Then he visited the elder one, who had +married the king. She gave him a wooden stand on which to sit while +eating, and water in which to wash his feet, and then said, +“Papa, papa, there is pudding to eat, there is water to +drink.” But the Brahman said, “Before I eat or drink, I +must tell you my story.” But his daughter said, “Papa, I +have no time to listen to your story; the king is going a-hunting, and +I must not keep him waiting for his dinner.” The Brahman thought +this very disrespectful and went off in a great rage to <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e468" href="#xd19e468" name= +"xd19e468">5</a>]</span>the house of his other daughter, who had +married a minister. She welcomed her father and gave him a wooden stand +on which to eat, and water to wash his feet, and said, “Papa, +papa, here is pudding to eat and here is water to drink.” But the +Brahman said, “Before I eat or drink I must tell you my +story.” His daughter said, “Of course, papa, tell it to me, +and I shall listen as long as you like.” Then she went into an +inner room and she fetched six pearls. She took three herself and three +she put in her father’s hand. And he told her how he had met the +nymphs and wood-fairies, who had told him to worship the sun-god, and +she listened to it all without missing a syllable. Then the Brahman ate +and drank and went back to his own house. His wife asked him about +their two daughters. He told her everything and said, “The elder +one who would not listen to my story will come to grief.”</p> +<p>And so she did. For the king, her husband, took an army into a far +country and never came back. But the daughter who had listened to the +story lived well and happy. As time went on the undutiful daughter +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e472" href="#xd19e472" name= +"xd19e472">6</a>]</span>became poorer and poorer, until one day she +said to her eldest son, “Go to your aunt’s house and beg of +her to give you a present, and bring back whatever she gives +you.” Next Sunday the boy started and went to the village where +his aunt lived. Standing by the village tank he called out, “O +maids, O slave-girls, whose maids and slave-girls are ye?” They +answered, “We are the maids and the slave-girls of the +minister.” The boy said, “Go and tell the minister’s +wife that her sister’s son is here. Tell her that he is standing +by the village tank, that his coat is tattered and that his garments +are torn, and ask her to let him come into her house through the back +door.” The slave-girls took him in through the back door. His +aunt had him bathed, and gave him clothes to wear, and food to eat, and +drink, and a pumpkin hollowed out and filled with gold coins. As he +left, she called to him, “Do not drop it, do not forget it, but +take it carefully home.” But as the boy went home, the sun-god +came disguised as a gardener and stole the pumpkin filled with gold. +When the boy reached his mother’s house she asked, “Well, +my son, what did your aunt give you?” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e474" href="#xd19e474" name= +"xd19e474">7</a>]</span>He said, “Fortune gave, but +Karma<a class="noteref" id="xd19e476src" href="#xd19e476" name= +"xd19e476src">2</a> took away; I lost everything my aunt bestowed on +me.” Next Sunday the second son went and stood by the village +tank and called out, “O slave-girls and maid-servants, who is +your master?” They said, “Our master is the +minister.” “Then tell the minister’s wife that her +nephew is here.” He was taken in by the back door. He was bathed +and clothed and given food and drink. As he was going, his aunt gave +him a hollow stick full of gold coins and said, “Do not drop it, +do not forget it, mind it carefully and take it home.” On the way +the sun-god came in the guise of a cowherd and stole the stick. When +the boy got home his mother asked him what he had brought. He said, +“Fortune gave, but Karma took away.” On the third Sunday a +third son went and stood by the village tank. His aunt received him +like the others and had him bathed, clothed, and fed. As he was going +away, she gave him a hollow cocoa-nut stuffed with gold coins and said, +“Do not drop it, do not forget it, but mind it carefully and take +it home.” On the way back he put down the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e479" href="#xd19e479" name= +"xd19e479">8</a>]</span>cocoa-nut on the edge of a well, and it toppled +over and fell into the water with a great splash. When he reached his +mother’s house she asked him what his aunt’s present was. +He said, “I have lost everything which fortune brought me.” +On the fourth Sunday the fourth son went. His aunt welcomed him like +the others, and had him bathed and fed. When he left she gave him an +earthen pot full of gold coins. But the sun-god came in the guise of a +kite and snatched the pot away. When the boy reached home his mother +asked him whether his aunt had given him anything. He said, “I +have lost everything which my aunt gave me.” On the fifth Sunday +the mother herself got up and went to her sister’s village and +stood by the tank. The minister’s wife took her in through her +back door and had her clothed and fed. Then the minister’s wife +told her that all her trouble had come through not listening to her +father’s story, and the minister’s wife repeated it to her. +The king’s wife listened to it, and stayed with her sister until +the following month of Shravan, or August, when she did fitting worship +to the sun. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e481" href="#xd19e481" +name="xd19e481">9</a>]</span></p> +<p>Instantly good fortune came to her. After years of weary fighting, +her husband, the king, at last overcame his enemies, and after taking +great wealth from them turned homewards with his army. As he went +towards his capital, he passed the village where the minister’s +wife lived. There he learnt that his queen was with her sister, so he +sent for her with a befitting escort. “O auntie, auntie,” +cried all the queen’s little nephews and nieces, “umbrellas +have come for you, and horse-tails and guards and foot-soldiers.” +Every one rushed out to see, and the king and queen greeted each other +after years of separation. The sisters gave each other gifts of +clothes, and the king and his queen went away together. At the first +halting-place the servants cooked the food. The queen filled the +king’s plate and then her own, and then she thought of the story +which her sister had told her. She ordered her servants to go through +the neighbouring village and bring in any one who was hungry and too +poor to buy food. They found none such in the village, but on the way +back they met a starving wood-cutter, and, bringing him to the queen, +told him to <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e484" href="#xd19e484" +name="xd19e484">10</a>]</span>listen to the tale which she would tell +him. The queen brought six pearls. Three she gave to the wood-cutter, +and three she kept herself. Then she told him the story of her father +and the wood-fairies. The wood-cutter listened with all attention, and +as he listened his faggot of wood became all of gold. He went away +delighted, promising to worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had +shown to the Brahman.</p> +<p>Next day the cavalcade reached the second halting-place. Food was +cooked; the queen filled the king’s plate and then her own plate, +and again she told her, servants to bring from the neighbouring village +any one who was hungry and too poor to buy food. They came upon a petty +farmer, whose well had dried up and whose crops had withered. He was +sitting sadly by his field when they called him to go with them and +listen to the queen’s tale. He went with them to the camp. There +the queen brought six pearls and gave three of them to the farmer and +kept three of them herself. Then she told the story of her father and +the wood-fairies. And as the farmer listened, all attention, the water +began to pour <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e488" href="#xd19e488" +name="xd19e488">11</a>]</span>into the well, and the crop began to look +fresh and green. He went away delighted, and promised to worship the +sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. Next day the +cavalcade reached the third halting-place. Food was cooked, and the +queen filled the king’s plate and then her own plate. Then she +told the servants to search in the neighbouring village for any one who +was hungry and too poor to buy food. They met an old woman. Her eldest +son had been lost in the forest. Her second son had been drowned in a +pond. Her third son had died of snake-bite. They told her to come and +listen to the queen’s story. She went with them, and as she +listened, all attention, first the son who had been lost in the forest +walked into the camp, next the son who had been drowned in the pond, +and last of all the son who had died of a snake-bite. The old woman +went away crying with joy, and promising to worship the sun in the way +the wood-fairies had instructed the Brahman. Next day the cavalcade +reached the fourth halting-place. Food was cooked, and the queen first +filled the king’s plate and then her own. After dinner she sent +her <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e490" href="#xd19e490" name= +"xd19e490">12</a>]</span>servants as before to bring in some poor and +hungry man from the neighbouring village. They found a man whose eyes +were so crooked that he could hardly see, who had no arms or legs, and +who had not even a name. For he was only known as “Lump of +flesh.” He was lying on his face, but when they brought him into +camp, the queen had him placed on his back and had a jug of water +poured over him. Then she took six pearls. Three she kept herself, and +three she placed on the stomach of “Lump of flesh.” Then +she told him the tale of her father and the wood-fairies. He listened, +all attention, and as he listened his arms and legs grew out of his +body, and hands and feet appeared at the ends of them. He too went away +delighted, and he promised to worship the sun in the way the +wood-fairies had told the Brahman.</p> +<p>At the end of the next day’s march the king and queen reached +their home. Food was cooked, and as they sat down to dinner the sun-god +himself appeared and joined them at their meal. The king had all the +doors flung wide open, and ordered a fresh and far more splendid dinner +to be prepared, with any <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e494" href= +"#xd19e494" name="xd19e494">13</a>]</span>number of dishes, each dish +having six separate flavours. When it was served the sun-god and the +king began to eat, but in the first mouthful the sun-god found a hair. +He got very very angry, and called out, “To what sinful woman +does this hair belong?” Then the poor queen remembered that +during her twelve years of poverty she had always sat under the eaves +combing her hair, and knew that it must have been one of her hairs +which had got into the sun-god’s food. She begged for mercy, but +the sun-god would not forgive her until she had clothed herself in a +black blanket, plucked a stick out of the eaves, and had gone outside +the town and there thrown the stick and the hair over her left +shoulder. Then the sun-god recovered his good-humour, and finished his +dinner. And the Brahman, the king and queen, and the wood-cutter and +the farmer whose well had dried up, and the old woman who had lost her +children, and “Lump of flesh” with the cross eyes, they all +remained in the favour of the sun-god and lived happily ever +afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e496" href="#xd19e496" +name="xd19e496">14</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e456" href="#xd19e456src" name="xd19e456">1</a></span> In India +days of the week have the same mysterious connexion with the astral +bodies that they have in Europe. Aditwar or Raviwar is sun’s day +(Sunday); Somwar is moon’s day (Monday); Mangalwar is +<span class="corr" id="xd19e458" title= +"Source: Mar’s">Mars’</span> day (mardi); Budhwar is +Mercury’s day (mercredi); Brihaspatiwar is the day of Diespiter +or Jupiter (jeudi); Shukrawar is Venus’ day (vendredi); Shaniwar +is Saturn’s day (Saturday).</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e476" href="#xd19e476src" name="xd19e476">2</a></span> His bad +actions in a former life.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch02" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Monday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +very saintly king. One day he formed the wish to fill the shrine of +Shiva, the moon-god, with milk up to the ceiling. He consulted his +chief minister, and the latter sent a crier through Atpat ordering, +under terrible penalties, all the townspeople to bring every Monday all +the milk in their houses and offer it to the god Shiva. The townspeople +were frightened at the threatened punishments, and the next Monday they +brought all the milk in Atpat to Shiva’s shrine, not keeping a +drop for their calves or even for their children. But although all the +milk in Atpat was every Monday poured into Shiva’s shrine, it yet +did not become full to the ceiling. But one day an old woman came to +the shrine. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e502" href="#xd19e502" +name="xd19e502">15</a>]</span>She had done all her housework. She had +fed all the children and had bathed all her little daughters-in-law. +Then she took a few drops of milk, a little sandal-wood paste, and a +few flowers, and half-a-dozen grains of rice and went to worship at +Shiva’s shrine. She prayed to Shiva, “The little milk that +I can offer is not likely to fill your shrine, seeing that all the milk +offered by the king could not. Nevertheless I offer the milk with all +my heart.” She then got up and went back to her house. Then a +strange thing happened. Directly the old woman turned her back, the +shrine filled with milk right up to the ceiling. The priests ran and +told the king, but none of them could say how it happened. The +following Monday the king placed a soldier by the door; and again the +old woman came and worshipped, and again the shrine filled with milk to +the ceiling. The soldier ran and told the king, but could not explain +the cause. The third Monday the king himself went and watched by the +shrine. From his hiding-place he saw the old woman come up and noticed +that the shrine filled with milk immediately after she had worshipped. +He ran after her <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e504" href= +"#xd19e504" name="xd19e504">16</a>]</span>and caught her. The old woman +begged the king to spare her life, and this he promised to do if she +told the truth. She said, “O King! you ordered all the milk in +Atpat to be brought to Shiva’s shrine. But what was the result? +All the calves began lowing and all the children began crying, because +they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people were so worried by +the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva was displeased at +this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This, therefore, is what you +should do. Let the children and the calves have their milk. Then take +whatever is over to the shrine, and it will at once fill up to the +ceiling.” The king let the old woman go, and had it proclaimed by +beat of drum that the townspeople were to bring to the shrine on the +following Monday only the milk remaining after the children and the +calves had been fed. The townspeople were delighted. The children +stopped crying and the calves stopped lowing, and all the milk left by +them was brought to Shiva’s shrine. The king prayed long and +earnestly, and when he looked up he saw that the shrine was full right +up to the ceiling. He gave <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e506" +href="#xd19e506" name="xd19e506">17</a>]</span>the old woman a handsome +present. And she went back to her home, and she did her housework, and +then she bathed all her little daughters and all her little +daughters-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e508" href= +"#xd19e508" name="xd19e508">18</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch03" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Tuesday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat.<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e514src" href="#xd19e514" name="xd19e514src">1</a> In it there +lived a bania who had no son. Every day a religious mendicant used to +come to his house and call out, “Alms! Alms! In the name of God, +give me alms.” But when the bania’s wife offered him alms +he refused them, because she had no children. She told her husband, who +advised her to play a trick on the mendicant. She hid behind her door, +and as he called out “Alms! alms!” she slipped a gold piece +into his wallet. But the mendicant caught her and became very angry. He +cursed her and told her that she would always remain without any +children. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e517" href="#xd19e517" +name="xd19e517">19</a>]</span>She was terrified and fell at his feet +and begged for forgiveness. Then he pitied her and said, “Tell +your husband to put on blue clothes, mount a blue horse, and ride into +the jungle. He should ride on until he meets a horse. He should then +dismount and dig in the ground. He will in the end come to a temple to +Parwati. He must pray to her and she will bestow a child on him.” +When her husband came back she told him what had happened. So he at +once put on blue clothes, mounted a blue horse, and rode into the +forest. He met the horse, dismounted, and began digging. At last he +discovered a temple to Parwati, all of gold, with diamond pillars and a +spire made of rubies. Inside was a statue of the goddess, and to it he +prayed, saying, “I have houses and cottages, cattle and horses, +money and goods of all kinds, but I am very sad because I have no +son.” The goddess pitied him and asked, “Which will you +have, a son who will be good but will die young, or a son who will live +long but will be born blind?” The poor bania became greatly +perplexed, but at last said, “I choose a son who will be good but +will die young,” The goddess said, “Very well. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e519" href="#xd19e519" name= +"xd19e519">20</a>]</span>Step behind me. There you will find an image +of Ganpati. Behind it is a mango tree. Climb upon Ganpati’s +stomach and pick one mango. Go home and give it to your wife to eat, +and your wish will be gratified.” Parwati then disappeared. The +bania climbed upon Ganpati’s stomach and ate as many mangoes as +he could. He next filled a large bundle full of mangoes and stepped +down. But when he reached the ground he found that there was only one +mango in the bundle. He climbed up again and refilled his bundle, but +when he stepped down he again found only one mango. This happened three +or four times. At last Ganpati got very sore and angry with having his +stomach trampled on. So he shouted out, “One mango is all +you’ll get. So be off home!” The bania was frightened out +of his wits and galloped home with his one mango. His wife ate it, and +in nine months she presented her husband with a son. When the little +boy was eight years old his sacred thread was put on, and his mother +said, “It is time to think of his marriage.” But the bania +said, “I dare not marry him unless he first makes a pilgrimage to +Benares.” His <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e521" href= +"#xd19e521" name="xd19e521">21</a>]</span>maternal uncle agreed to take +the little boy to Benares.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e524width" id="p022"><img src="images/p022.jpg" +alt="“It curled itself up inside the earthen jar”" width= +"504" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“It curled itself up inside the earthen +jar”</p> +</div> +<p>So off they started together, and some days later the uncle and +nephew halted at a village where some little girls were playing. One of +the little girls said to the other, “You are nothing but a +wretched little widow.” But the other little girl said, “Oh +no! there are never any widows in our family. Mother worships Parwati +and so I can never be a widow.” The uncle heard this, and thought +that if his nephew could only marry a little girl who could not become +a widow, he would not die young. So he began to think how he could +bring about the marriage. Now it so happened that the little girl was +to be married that day. But in the morning the boy to whom she was +betrothed fell ill. Her parents were in great trouble, but at last they +thought that, rather than postpone the wedding and disappoint all the +guests, it would be better to marry their little daughter to the first +traveller who passed through the village. So they went to the +rest-house to inquire if any one was there. There they found the uncle +and nephew, and they married their <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e530" href="#xd19e530" name="xd19e530">22</a>]</span>little girl +to the latter that very evening when the cows were homing. They drew on +the wall a picture of Shiva and Parwati, and they put the children to +bed beneath it. Parwati appeared to the little girl in her sleep. The +goddess said, “My child, a snake will come to bite your husband: +give it milk to drink. Then put near it a new earthen jar. When the +snake has finished drinking, it will enter the earthen jar. Then at +once pull off your bodice and stuff it into the jar’s mouth. Next +morning give the jar to your mother.” Next evening everything +happened as Parwati had said. The snake came to bite her husband as he +slept. But the little girl offered it milk, which it drank. After +drinking, it curled itself up inside the earthen jar, and, the moment +it did so, the little girl slipped off her bodice and stuffed it into +the mouth of the jar. Next morning her husband gave her a ring, and she +in exchange gave him a sweet-dish, and he and his uncle continued their +journey to Benares. When they had gone, the little girl gave the +earthen jar with the snake inside it to her mother. The mother took out +the bodice, but instead of a snake a garland lay inside, and +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e532" href="#xd19e532" name= +"xd19e532">23</a>]</span>the mother put it round her little +daughter’s neck. Some weeks passed, but neither uncle nor nephew +returned. So the little girl’s parents grew anxious. The sick boy +who was to have been her husband recovered, but she could no longer +marry him, and the boy whom she had married had gone away and might +never return. In despair the parents built a house, in which they +entertained every traveller who passed by, hoping that sooner or later +one of the travellers would prove to be their daughter’s husband. +To all of them the mother gave water; the daughter washed their feet; +her brother gave them sandal-wood paste; and her father gave them +betel-nut. But it was all in vain; none of the travellers’ +fingers fitted the ring given to the little girl by her husband, nor +could any of them produce the sweet-dish which she had given him in +exchange.</p> +<p>In the meantime the uncle and nephew had reached Benares and had +given large sums in charity, and had visited all the holy places and +had received the blessings of all the Brahmans. One day the little boy, +fainted. And in a dream he saw the messenger of Yama, the god +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e536" href="#xd19e536" name= +"xd19e536">24</a>]</span>of death, come close to him as if to carry him +off. Next he saw the goddess Parwati come to his rescue and, after a +struggle, drive away Yama’s messenger. When the boy woke up he +told the dream to his uncle. The latter was overjoyed because he felt +certain that now the boy would no longer die young. He told his nephew +to get ready, and next day they left Benares. On their way home they +passed by the village where the nephew had been married. As they were +having breakfast near the village tank, a maid-servant invited them to +come to the house which the girl’s parents had built for the +reception of travellers. At first the uncle declined, but when a palki +was sent for them, he and his nephew entered it. When the little girl +began to wash her husband’s feet, she recognised him. She tried +on the ring, which fitted his finger, and he in turn showed her the +sweet-dish which she had given him. The parents were as pleased as +possible, and they sent a messenger to invite the boy’s parents. +They came, and the boy’s mother threw herself at her +daughter-in-law’s feet and thanked her for saving her son. Then +there was a great feast and everybody <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e538" href="#xd19e538" name="xd19e538">25</a>]</span>was very +happy indeed, and at the end they all worshipped Parwati,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e540src" href="#xd19e540" name="xd19e540src">2</a> so +she became as pleased as everybody else. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e543" href="#xd19e543" name="xd19e543">26</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e514" href="#xd19e514src" name="xd19e514">1</a></span> All these +stories take place in Atpat town. This literally means “City +Splendid.” But in the tales it is simply a fabulous city.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e540" href="#xd19e540src" name="xd19e540">2</a></span> Although +Tuesday is really the day of Mars, Mangal, this tale by a popular error +connects the day with Mangalgauri or Parwati, Shiva’s wife.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch04" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Wednesday and Thursday Story</h2> +<p>There was once upon a time a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +prince who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Every day there +used to come to the prince’s house two Brahmans, an uncle and a +nephew. But when they asked for alms the daughters-in-law sent word +that they were too busy to give them any. Some time afterwards the +prince lost all his riches and became very poor. The two Brahmans again +came to beg, but the elder daughter-in-law said to them, “We are +no longer busy, but we have nothing to give you. If we had, we should +give it to you.” The youngest daughter-in-law, however, was a +clever little girl, and she thought to herself, “The Brahmans +will get very angry with us. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e549" +href="#xd19e549" name="xd19e549">27</a>]</span>When we had money, we +gave them nothing; and now we give them nothing because we have nothing +to give.” So she fell at the elder Brahman’s feet and said, +“We have been very wicked and have deserved to become poor. But +please forgive us and tell me how we may become rich as we were +before.” The elder Brahman said, “Every Wednesday and every +Thursday you must invite a Brahman to dinner. And if you have no money +to pay for the dinner, draw a pair of cow’s feet on your +money-box. If you want grain for the dinner, draw a pair of cow’s +feet on your corn-bin. Then worship the feet and welcome the Brahmans. +For you will find that you will have money in your box and grain in +your corn-bin. And in time you will all get as rich as you were +before.” The little girl did what the Brahman told her. And +whenever she invited Brahmans to dinner, she drew the cow’s feet +on the cash-box and on the corn-bin, and there was always money and +grain sufficient for the meal.</p> +<p>But some days later she fell asleep and dreamt that Budh<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e553src" href="#xd19e553" name="xd19e553src">1</a> +and Brahaspati came to her <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e556" +href="#xd19e556" name="xd19e556">28</a>]</span>bedside and said, +“Little girl, little girl, your husband has been made king over a +great country. Go to him, and, when you have found him, do not forget +to worship us and to give feast to the Brahmans.” Then the little +girl woke up and she told the other six daughters-in-law. But they were +jealous of her, and they became very angry; and they kicked her so +often and boxed her ears so hard that she forgot all about drawing the +cow’s feet on her money-box and on the corn-bin. So she never +found any money in the box or any corn in the bin. And every day they +became poorer and poorer. First all the men servants ran away, then the +male members of the family left, and at last the seven daughters-in-law +were left alone in the house. They were starving, but they did not know +how to get any food. One day they heard that a king in a neighbouring +country wished to construct a tank and was calling for labourers. So +they decided to go to the tank and work there just like common coolie +women. Now who do you think the king was? He was the youngest son of +the prince of Atpat and the husband of the youngest daughter-in-law. +When the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e558" href="#xd19e558" name= +"xd19e558">29</a>]</span>prince had lost all his money, his youngest +son left the house and set off on a journey. As he travelled he came to +a city, the king of which had just died without leaving any children or +relatives. His subjects did not know how to choose a successor. At last +they gave a garland of flowers to a she-elephant and turned it loose. +The elephant walked straight to the prince’s son and put the +garland round his neck. The townspeople were very angry. They snatched +away the garland and drove away the prince’s son. They again gave +the garland to the elephant, but the elephant again put the garland +round the neck of the prince’s son. The townspeople again +snatched away the garland. But when the elephant put it round the young +man’s neck for the third time, they lifted him high in the air +and declared him to be their king. At first he was so pleased at being +king that he forgot all about his poor little wife. But one night Budh +and Brahaspati appeared to him in a dream and reminded him of her and +told him how poor she was. But he could not leave his kingdom to go and +look for her. So he thought that he would dig a tank and call +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e560" href="#xd19e560" name= +"xd19e560">30</a>]</span>together labourers from every quarter. And +every day he used to go to the tank and search among the labourers to +see if his wife was there. One day he recognised his wife and called +her to him. Then they told each other how Budh and Brahaspati had +appeared to each of them in a dream. And the king was so delighted at +finding his wife that he at once proclaimed her queen of the +country.</p> +<p>So the little daughter-in-law was crowned queen, but she did not let +the other daughters-in-law who were also working at the tank know of +her good fortune. As queen, she gave a great feast to all the workers +on the tank. But in her own palace she took some wheat flour, and she +kneaded it into shapes resembling human feet and human fists. And when +the other daughters-in-law were with the crowd of workers eating at the +feast, she went up to them, and to each daughter-in-law who had kicked +her she gave a flour foot, and to each daughter-in-law who had struck +her with her hands she gave a flour fist. Then the daughters-in-law +recognised who the little queen was, and they fell at her feet +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e564" href="#xd19e564" name= +"xd19e564">31</a>]</span>and begged for her forgiveness. So the little +queen forgave them and took them back with her into her husband’s +palace. And they all lived together happily ever afterwards. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e566" href="#xd19e566" name= +"xd19e566">32</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e553" href="#xd19e553src" name="xd19e553">1</a></span> Budh is +Mercury; Brahaspati is Jupiter.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch05" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Friday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +miserably poor Brahman. He had a wife who was as poor as he was. One +day she felt her poverty so much that she went to a gossip of hers who +lived close by and told her all about her troubles. The neighbour could +suggest nothing better than that the poor woman should worship the +goddess Shukra or Venus. So she told the Brahman woman to fast every +Friday through the month of Shravan. Every Friday evening she should +invite a married lady friend to her house. She should bathe her +friend’s feet. She should give her sweetened milk to drink and +fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should +continue to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, +and in the end the goddess would certainly <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e572" href="#xd19e572" name= +"xd19e572">33</a>]</span>do something for her. The Brahman woman +thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra and had +a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had advised +her.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e575width" id="p032"><img src="images/p032.jpg" +alt= +"“And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits +of cocoa-nut”</p> +</div> +<p>Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town, +who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same time he +invited all the townspeople with the single exception of his sister. +The poor lady thought that she must have been left out by accident, and +that there would be no harm in going, even although uninvited. She put +on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children with her, went off +to the dinner. She seated herself close to her children, and was eating +away when her brother came round serving ghee. When he saw his sister +he shouted at her, “You have neither nice clothes nor nice +jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming as you have come. +I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow.”</p> +<p>Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed +the previous day’s feast, persuaded their mother to take them +again to her brother’s house. Once more <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e583" href="#xd19e583" name= +"xd19e583">34</a>]</span>she went and sat down with her children among +the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before when he came round +serving the ghee. He shouted at her, “A beggar woman must, I +suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away although told to. +But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I’ll have you turned +out.” Next day, however, she again went with her children to her +brother’s house. But near the entrance his servants caught her +and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad and +hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased with her +devotion and so took pity on her. She helped the poor woman’s +husband so that he rapidly acquired great wealth. When her husband had +become very rich she asked her brother to dinner. But the brother +remembered how he had treated her and was ashamed to accept. He pressed +her to dine with him first, and begged so hard that she at last +consented. Next day she put on all her jewels and her finest clothes. +Her brother gave her a wooden platform to sit on and plates made out of +leaves from which to eat her dinner. Before she sat down she took off +her gold-embroidered <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e585" href= +"#xd19e585" name="xd19e585">35</a>]</span>shawl and put it close to her +plate. Her brother saw her, but thought she did it because she felt the +room hot. She then placed her jewelry on the wooden platform. Her +brother thought that she did it because she felt the jewelry heavy. She +took a portion of rice and placed it on her necklace. She put a portion +of vegetables on her pendant, and a sweet ball she placed on her +jewelled star.</p> +<p>Her brother at last asked her, “What are you doing?” She +said, “I am giving to the guests whom you really invited.” +But he did not understand, and asked, “Why do you not begin to +eat?” She said, “I have not been invited to this dinner. It +was given in honour of my finery and not of me. I had my dinner the day +when you gave the feast to the one thousand Brahmans.”</p> +<p>The brother felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He threw himself at +his sister’s feet and begged for her forgiveness. So she forgave +him and sat down to dinner. And the brother in turn went to her house +and dined with her. And Shukra was pleased with both sister and +brother, and they all lived happily ever afterwards. May I and my +readers do the same. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e591" href= +"#xd19e591" name="xd19e591">36</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch06" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Saturday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town-called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had three daughters-in-law. He rose early even during +the rainy season, and every day immediately after his morning meal he +used to go to his field with his children and his daughters-in-law. One +first Saturday in Shravan he got up as usual and said to the youngest +of his daughters-in-law, “To-day is Saturday; you had better stay +at home, and although there is very little in the house, you must try +to get some sort of a dinner ready. Go upstairs and scrape together all +the grain there is in the grain-jars and make bread with it. For +vegetables you had better gather grass and make some chutney out of +clover leaves.” When the Brahman had left, his <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e597" href="#xd19e597" name= +"xd19e597">37</a>]</span>little daughter-in-law followed his orders as +best she could. There was in the jar upstairs only grain for half an +ordinary loaf. So she made tiny, tiny loaves and prepared some +vegetables out of grass and made some clover chutney. Then she sat down +to wait for the family’s return from the field. As she did so, +Saturn came disguised as a beggar all covered with sores, and cried, +“O Lady! I am aching all over: give me hot water to bathe in and +oil to rub myself with, and then give me something to eat.” The +little daughter-in-law felt very sorry for the poor beggar. She went +inside and got him a few drops of oil and warmed some water for his +bath, and then gave him one of the tiny loaves to eat. The beggar ate +it, and then gave her his blessing, saying, “You will never want +for anything.” He then folded up the leaves from which he had +eaten, stuck them into a corner of the eaves, and disappeared.</p> +<p>Shortly afterwards the family came home and found a splendid dinner +waiting for them. They said to themselves, “Where did this all +come from? There was practically nothing in the house.” Next +Saturday another daughter-in-law stayed at home. Again <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e601" href="#xd19e601" name= +"xd19e601">38</a>]</span>Saturn in the guise of a beggar covered with +sores came to the house. He asked as before for hot water, oil, and +food. But his daughter-in-law said, “I have nothing to give +you.” The god pressed her, saying, “Give me a little of +anything that you have.” But the daughter-in-law repeated, +“I have nothing.” The god replied, “Very well, you +will lose that little you have.” With this threat he disappeared. +But, when the daughter-in-law went upstairs to fetch grain for dinner, +she could find nothing in any of the jars. Shortly afterwards the +family came home, but there was no dinner for them. So they all got +angry with the daughter-in-law, and, although she told them about the +beggar, they scolded her harder than ever. A third Saturday came round, +and a third daughter-in-law remained at home. Again Saturn came, and +the third daughter-in-law behaved just as the second had done. She gave +the god neither hot water, oil, nor food. And the god told her that she +should lose the little she had. When the family came home there was no +dinner for them, and they scolded the third daughter-in-law just as +hard as they had scolded the second one.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e604width" id="p039"><img src="images/p039.jpg" +alt="“And stuck them into a corner of the eaves”" width= +"507" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“And stuck them into a corner of the +eaves”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e608" href="#xd19e608" name= +"xd19e608">39</a>]</span></p> +<p>The fourth Saturday it was once more the turn of the youngest +daughter-in-law. Again Saturn came in the guise of a beggar covered +with sores and asked for hot water, oil, and food. The little +daughter-in-law gave them as she had done before, and the god blessed +her, saying, “God will make you rich and happy.” Then he +folded up the leaves from which he had eaten and stuck them into a +corner of the eaves. When the little daughter-in-law went upstairs, she +saw any amount of grain in the jars, and she prepared a splendid +dinner. So when the family came home they were delighted. They could no +longer restrain their curiosity, and exclaimed, “Where did all +this food come from?” The little daughter-in-law told them about +the beggar covered with sores and about his blessing. To test her +story, they looked for the folded leaves which he had stuck into a +corner of the roof. They found them, but when they pulled them out they +were full of pearls and diamonds. Then the old Brahman guessed that the +beggar was Saturn in disguise, and he also understood why, when the +other two daughters-in-law gave him nothing and were cursed by him, +there was <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e611" href="#xd19e611" +name="xd19e611">40</a>]</span>nothing for dinner. So they all knelt +down and prayed to Saturn, and the god forgave the two-daughters-in-law +who had given him nothing. And he was more pleased than ever with the +little daughter-in-law who had befriended him. And so they all lived +happily ever afterwards. And may Saturn be pleased with us all as he +was with the little daughter-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e613" href="#xd19e613" name="xd19e613">41</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch07" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had two queens. Of one of them he was very fond, but the other +one he did not care for. The name of the favoured one was +Patmadhavrani, and the name of the unloved one was Chimadevrani. Now +the king had an enemy called Nandanbaneshwar. Such a terrible enemy he +was too! He could jump into the clouds or dive into the bottom of the +ocean. At one moment he would shoot up into heaven. At another he would +sink down into hell, and through fear of his enemy, the king had become +as dry and as thin as an old bit of stick. One day the king, in +despair, assembled all his subjects and ordered them to seek out and +kill Nandanbaneshwar. All the subjects said, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e619" href="#xd19e619" name= +"xd19e619">42</a>]</span>“Certainly, certainly, O King,” +and began to search everywhere for Nandanbaneshwar. Now in Atpat there +lived a poor woman who had one son. On hearing the orders of the king, +he said to her, “Mother, Mother, give me some bread, for I am +going out to kill the king’s enemy.” The old woman said, +“Do not be silly; you are only a poor boy, and people will laugh +at you. Here, take this bit of bread and go and eat it behind a +tree.” The boy said, “Very well,” and took the bread. +But, after taking it, he joined the other villagers and went at their +head to seek out and kill Nandanbaneshwar. But when evening fell they +had not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home. +And when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved. +But the old woman’s son stayed in a wood outside the village. And +lo and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from +Patâla<a class="noteref" id="xd19e621src" href="#xd19e621" name= +"xd19e621src">1</a> and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and +began to worship Mahalaxmi. The boy was at first terribly frightened, +but at last he plucked up courage enough to ask, “Ladies, ladies, +what <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e627" href="#xd19e627" name= +"xd19e627">43</a>]</span>does one gain by worshipping Mahalaxmi?” +“Whatever you lose you will find,” said the serpent-maidens +from Patala; “and whatever you want you will get.” The boy +resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi. And he joined the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, and all night +long they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods +echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they +made.<a class="noteref" id="xd19e629src" href="#xd19e629" name= +"xd19e629src">2</a></p> +<p>At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy +included, prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. +She first blessed the serpent--maidens from Patâla and then the +wood-nymphs. And then she blessed the poor old woman’s son and +said, “You will get half the kingdom of Atpat and half the +king’s treasure. He will build you a house as high as his own, +and he will give you the name of ‘Navalvat’ or +‘Wonderways.’ For this very morning the king’s mighty +enemy will break his neck and be found lying dead in the king’s +courtyard,” With these words <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e634" href="#xd19e634" name="xd19e634">44</a>]</span>the goddess +vanished and flew to Kolhapur,<a class="noteref" id="xd19e636src" href= +"#xd19e636" name="xd19e636src">3</a> and the old woman’s son went +home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up and went into the +king’s courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar lying dead +from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back into the palace to +tell the king. The king inquired who had killed Nandanbaneshwar. Every +one said that the old woman’s son must have killed him, because +he stayed behind when the others went home. The king sent for the old +woman’s son. He was very frightened, and when he reached the +royal hall he called out, “I have made no false charge against +any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King, have you +sent for me?” “Do not be afraid,” said the king. +“My enemy Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is +you who killed him. Tell me if this is true.” “No, O +King,” said the boy, “he was killed by the arts of +Mahalaxmi.” “Where did you meet her?” asked the king. +The boy said, “I stayed when the other villagers returned home, +and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e639" href="#xd19e639" name= +"xd19e639">45</a>]</span>Patâla and the wood-nymphs. They taught +me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning she revealed herself and +promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be found lying dead, that you +would give me half your kingdom and half your treasure, that you would +build me a palace as high as your own, and that you would call me +Navalvat or Wonderways.” The king did as the goddess had +foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his treasuries to +Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof was exactly on the +same level as that of his own palace.</p> +<p>When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for +Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told her all +that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patâla do, and he also +told her on the eighth day of the month of Ashwin<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e643src" href="#xd19e643" name="xd19e643src">4</a> to tie on her +wrist a thread with sixteen strands in it, and to wear it continually +for the rest of the month. When the 8th of Ashwin came, Queen +Patmadhavrani dutifully tied round her wrist a thread of sixteen +strands, and resolved to wear it every <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e646" href="#xd19e646" name="xd19e646">46</a>]</span>day for the +rest of the month. But a day or two later the king came to Queen +Patmadhavrani’s apartments and began to play saripat<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e648src" href="#xd19e648" name="xd19e648src">5</a> +with her. As they played he noticed the thread on her wrist and asked +what it was. She told him how Wonderways had instructed her to tie it +on. But the king got very angry and roared out, “I have in my +palace garlands and twine, bracelets, and hobbling-ropes. So throw away +that wretched piece of thread. I will not let you wear it.” The +queen did as she was bid, and, pulling off the thread bracelet, threw +it on the floor. Next morning the maids and the slave-girls began to +sweep the palace, and among the sweepings one of them noticed the +queen’s thread bracelet. She picked it up and showed it to +Wonderways, and he grew very wroth with Queen Patmadhavrani. He took +the thread and at once went with it to the palace of the unloved Queen +Chimadevrani. He told her what had happened, and she begged him to give +the thread to her and to tell her how to worship Mahalaxmi. But he +said, “You will grow vain and get so conceited that you will not +do what I tell you <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e651" href= +"#xd19e651" name="xd19e651">47</a>]</span>to do.” But she +promised that she would obey him in everything. So just as he had told +the Queen Patmadhavrani, he told Queen Chimadevrani all the rites which +he had seen the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs +perform. Everything went on just the same for a whole year. But the +next year on the 8th of Ashwin a very strange thing happened. The +goddess Mahalaxmi disguised herself as an old beggar-woman and came to +Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen +Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour to +the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and therefore +specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out at this, and +when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, “Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house +to-day?” The queen replied, “I have nothing in my house +to-day.” The old woman went on, “Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, +mother of sons, if you give this beggar-woman a little water, you will +acquire merit sufficient for all your kingdom.” But the queen +replied, “Even if I were to give you a copper cauldron +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e653" href="#xd19e653" name= +"xd19e653">48</a>]</span>of water it would not suffice for all my +kingdom.” The old woman then said, “Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a +little rice and curds, you will gain enough merit for all your +kingdom.” The queen replied, “Even if I were to give you a +big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, I should not gain enough +merit for all my kingdom.” Then the old woman got very angry and +cursed the queen, saying, “You will become half a frog and half a +human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife’s bath-room +and croak like a frog.” But the queen did not mind her the least +little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the noise was +like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a great rage +and entered Queen Chimadevrani’s part of the palace. There she +saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful +image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, +“Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your +house to-day?” “To-day,” said the queen, “we +are worshipping Mahalaxmi.” Then the old beggar-woman said, +“I am Mahalaxmi.” But <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e656" href="#xd19e656" name="xd19e656">49</a>]</span>the queen +doubted and asked her, “By what sign shall I know you?” The +goddess replied, “In the morning I shall take the shape of a +little girl. In the afternoon I shall take that of a young married +woman. In the evening I shall become an old hag.” After the +goddess had taken all three shapes, Queen Chimadevrani called her into +the palace and bathed and anointed her. She gave her a silk skirt and a +platform to sit upon. Then she sent for Wonderways, and both of them +worshipped the old beggar-woman and blew on earthen pots in her honour. +The king heard the blowing on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why +there was such a noise in Queen Chimadevrani’s quarters. The +sepoy went there, and when he saw what was happening joined also in the +worship. After a little while he went back and told the king. The king +said that he would go there too. He followed the sepoy, and Queen +Chimadevrani came to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where +both played at saripat until dawn. And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by +and watched them. At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her +blessing. She blessed the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e658" href= +"#xd19e658" name="xd19e658">50</a>]</span>queen and said, “The +king will take you back with him to the palace, and your co-wife will +become half frog, half human being, and will have to croak outside your +bath-room while you bathe.” But Queen Chimadevrani begged the +goddess not to place such a terrible curse on Patmadhavrani. The +goddess relented a little, but said, “The king will drive her +into the jungle for twelve years.” At these words she vanished +and flew to Kolhapur. When the sun rose the king placed Queen +Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own part of the +palace. He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani asking her to +join them. Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani appeared, dressed all +in rags with a <span class="corr" id="xd19e660" title= +"Source: skirit">skirt</span> round her legs and her hair all +unfastened. On her head was a pot full of burning coal, and she began +to shout and scream at the top of her voice. The king became very angry +and roared out, “Who is this that is shouting and screaming? Is +it a ghost or a she-devil or what?” The sepoys replied, “O +King, it is neither a ghost nor a she-devil, it is your Queen +Patmadhavrani.” “Take her into the jungle,” roared +the king, “and kill her there.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e663" href="#xd19e663" name= +"xd19e663">51</a>]</span>Then he went back into the palace and began to +live in great happiness with Queen Chimadevrani. But the sepoys took +Patmadhavrani into the jungle and told her that they had been ordered +to kill her. She began to weep. The sepoys were kind-hearted men and +they felt very sorry for her. They said, “Lady, lady, do not +weep. We have eaten bread and drunk water at your hands so we cannot +kill you. We will leave you here, but you must never come back into the +kingdom again.” The sepoys left her and returned to Atpat. But +the poor queen wandered on until she came to a distant town, where she +entered a coppersmith’s lane. Therein a coppersmith was making +bangles for a beautiful young princess who had just been crowned queen +of the city. But suddenly none of the bangles would join. He began to +search for the cause, and asked his workmen whether any stranger had +come near his house. The workmen looked about and found Queen +Patmadhavrani in hiding close by. They told the coppersmith, and he and +his men beat her soundly and drove her away. She ran into the lane of +some weavers who were weaving a sari for the new queen. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e665" href="#xd19e665" name= +"xd19e665">52</a>]</span>Suddenly none of the looms would work. They +began looking about to see if any stranger had come. After a little +while they found the queen. So they beat her soundly and drove her +away. Then she ran out of the town back into the jungle. There she +wandered about until she came to the cave of a rishi or sage. The rishi +was sitting lost in meditation. But she bided her time, and, when he +went to bathe, she slipped into the cave and swept it and neaped it and +tidied up all the utensils used by him for worship. Then she slipped +out of the cave and ran back into the jungle. This went on every day +for twelve years without the rishi showing that he was aware of what +she was doing. But in his heart he was really pleased with her. And one +day he called out in a loud voice, “Who is it who sweeps and +neaps my cave? Whoever she is, let her step forward.” The queen +stepped into the presence of the rishi and threw herself at his feet +and said, “If you promise not to punish me, I shall tell +you.” The rishi promised, and she told him her story. The rishi +took out his magic books and, consulting them, learned that Mahalaxmi +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e667" href="#xd19e667" name= +"xd19e667">53</a>]</span>had cursed her. So he taught her how to +worship Mahalaxmi, and all night long they blew on earthen pots and +performed rites in her honour. At dawn she revealed herself and the +queen asked her for her blessing. But the goddess was still very angry +with the queen. Then the rishi joined her in begging the +goddess’s pardon, and at last she relented. She said to the +queen, “Put under that tree a foot-bath full of water, +sandal-wood ointment, plates full of fruit, a stick of camphor, fans +made of odorous grasses; and handle them all so that they retain the +fragrance of some scent which the king will remember you used. +To-morrow the king will come. He will be thirsty. He will send his +sepoys to look for water. They will see all your things ready. And when +they go back and tell him, he will come himself.” Next morning, +as the goddess had foretold, the king came. He saw the cool shade of +the tree. He was tired with hunting, so he sat down and rested. He +washed his feet in the foot-bath. He ate up all the fruit, drank the +cold water, and sucked the stick of camphor. When he had rested to his +heart’s content, he asked the sepoy, “How is it that +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e670" href="#xd19e670" name= +"xd19e670">54</a>]</span>in the water I drank, in the fruit I took, in +the camphor I ate, I noticed a scent which Patmadhavrani always +used?” The sepoys replied, “If the king promises to pardon +us, we will tell him.” The king promised. The sepoys then told +him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten bread and +had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king told them to +look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched and searched +until they came to the rishi’s cave. Then they ran back and told +the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to the rishi. +The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great length. At last +he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the queen. The king +obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to his care and blessed +both her and her husband. The king put her in his chariot and took her +to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped his chariot and sent for +Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed and anointed herself, and put on +all her silk clothes, her shawls, her embroideries, and her jewels. In +front of her she placed all the horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e672" href="#xd19e672" name= +"xd19e672">55</a>]</span>to meet the king they blew their very loudest +on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the noise, and roared +out, “Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is it the +serpent-maidens of Patâla or is it the wood-nymphs who live in +the heart of the forest?” The sepoys said, “O King, it is +neither the serpent-maidens of Patâla nor is it the wood-nymphs +who live in the heart of the forest. It is Queen Chimadevrani, who is +coming to meet you as you ordered.” The king turned to +Patmadhavrani and said, “If you had come in this guise to meet +me, instead of coming like a mad woman, you would never have suffered +as you did.” Queen Patmadhavrani said nothing, but sat still in +the chariot, and the king lifted Queen Chimadevrani into the chariot, +and all three entered the city. And as they entered, the horn-blowers +blew so loud that every one was quite deafened. And the king lived from +that time forth in perfect happiness with both his wives. And because +of his happiness, he ruled so well that his subjects thought that King +Ramchandra of Ayodhya had come back to rule over them. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e674" href="#xd19e674" name= +"xd19e674">56</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e621" href="#xd19e621src" name="xd19e621">1</a></span> For +serpent-maidens of Patâla see <a href="#n129.1">note to Story +XX</a>.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e629" href="#xd19e629src" name="xd19e629">2</a></span> Mahalaxmi +is always worshipped in this way. And it is a common practice for +anyone who wants anything to blow on a pot and then wish for it.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e636" href="#xd19e636src" name="xd19e636">3</a></span> Kolhapur is +the chief seat of the worship of Mahalaxmi.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e643" href="#xd19e643src" name="xd19e643">4</a></span> Ashwin +corresponds approximately with October.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e648" href="#xd19e648src" name="xd19e648">5</a></span> A kind of +draughts.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch08" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Island Palace</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. He had a disciple who used every day to go to the village pond +and bathe and worship the god Shiva. On the way he had to walk through +the sandy island in the dry bed of the river. And, as he went home +across the island, he used to hear a voice cry, “Shall I come? +Shall I come? Shall I come?”; but when he looked round he could +see no one. The Brahman’s disciple at last got so frightened that +he withered up until he became as dry and as thin as a bone. At last +the Brahman said, “You have no wish to eat or drink; yet you are +so thin. What is the reason?” The boy replied, “I neither +wish to eat, nor want to eat, nor crave to eat. But I am frightened +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e680" href="#xd19e680" name= +"xd19e680">57</a>]</span>out of my wits. For whenever I come back from +my bath I hear a voice behind me call out, ‘Shall I come? Shall I +come? Shall I come?’; but when I look round there is no one +there.” The Brahman said, “Do not be afraid, and when you +next hear the voice, do not look behind you, but call out as boldly as +you can, ‘Come along, come along, come along.’” Next +day the disciple went as usual to his bath in the village pond. He +worshipped the god Shiva, and as he came home he heard the cry behind +him, “Shall I come? Shall I come? Shall I come?” The boy +was very frightened, but he did not look behind him. In a short time he +mastered his fears, and then in a voice like a bull roaring he cried +out, “Come along, come along, come along.” At last he +reached home, calling all the time and without once looking behind +him.</p> +<p>The Brahman looked up as the disciple came in, and he saw that just +behind was walking a young girl. He at once married the girl to his +disciple and gave them a house to live in close by his own. Now, on the +first Monday in the month of Shravan, or August, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e684" href="#xd19e684" name= +"xd19e684">58</a>]</span>the disciple got up and said to his wife, +“I am going out to worship the god Shiva. But do not wait for me. +Just eat your breakfast directly you feel hungry.” He went out, +and in a little time his wife began to feel hungry. Nevertheless, she +knew that, in spite of what her husband had said, she ought not to eat +anything while he was worshipping Shiva. So she waited for a little +time, but at last she got so terribly hungry that she could not wait +any more. So she sat down and cooked her breakfast, and had just put +one mouthful into her mouth when her husband came to the outer door. +“Wife, wife,” he called, “open the door!” Then +the little wife got very frightened. She pushed the uneaten breakfast +under the bed, got up, washed her hands, and opened the door. She then +told her husband that she had waited for him, and she cooked a fresh +breakfast, which both ate one after the other. Next Monday exactly the +same thing happened. The little wife cooked her breakfast and was just +beginning it when her husband came. She then hid her uneaten breakfast +under her bed and pretended that she had waited for his return. And on +the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e686" href="#xd19e686" name= +"xd19e686">59</a>]</span>two following Mondays the naughty little wife +deceived her husband in just the same way.</p> +<p>Now on the last Sunday in Shravan, when husband and wife went to lie +down, the former noticed a light shining under the bed. He looked to +see what it was, and saw several platefuls of jewels. He asked his wife +whence they had come. Now they were really the uneaten breakfasts, +which the god Shiva had turned into gold and jewels. But the naughty +little wife got very frightened and told her husband a bigger story +than ever. “They are presents,” she said, “from my +mother and father and their family.” “But where is your +father’s house?” asked the husband. “It is in the +sandy island,” said the little wife, “which lies in the dry +bed of the river.” “You must take me there,” said her +husband. Next morning they started off together. And the naughty little +wife could hardly walk, she was so frightened. For she knew quite well +that her father had no house in the sandy island. But on the way she +prayed to Shiva, “Please, please, god Shiva, create a house for +my father in the sandy island which lies in the dry bed of the river, +even if it be only for half an hour.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e690" href="#xd19e690" name= +"xd19e690">60</a>]</span></p> +<p>At last the husband and wife came to the sandy island. And there, lo +and behold! they saw a great big palace, and a splendidly dressed young +man came forward and greeted the disciple as his brother-in-law. And a +handsome old knight came forward and greeted the disciple as his +son-in-law. And a beautiful young woman greeted the naughty little wife +as the sister of her husband. And a lovely little girl ran up and +embraced her and called her “sister.” And slave girls and +maid-servants ran forward to offer her their service. A guard of +soldiers kept watch by the palace, and at the door there were sentries, +who made way for them as they passed. Inside the house the little wife +and her husband were given platforms to sit upon, and a splendid feast +was all ready prepared for them to eat. After they had feasted, they +got up and said good-bye to the little wife’s father and mother, +and garlands of flowers were placed round their necks, and they started +for their home. When they had gone half-way, the naughty little wife +remembered that she had hung her garland on a peg and had forgotten to +bring it with her. So she and her husband went back to the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e693" href="#xd19e693" name= +"xd19e693">61</a>]</span>sandy island. But when they got there, there +was no palace, there were no soldiers to guard it, there were no +sentries at the door, there were no maid-servants nor slave girls. +There was nothing there but just a sandy island in the middle of a dry +river-bed. And on the sand lay the garland which the naughty little +wife had forgotten. She took it up and put it round her neck.</p> +<p>But her husband asked her, “What has happened to your +father’s house?” The naughty little wife replied, all in +tears, “As it came, so it went. But if you promise to forgive me, +I shall tell you.” The husband promised. So she told him how +every Monday she had felt so hungry and how she had cooked her +breakfast, and then, on hearing her husband’s voice, had pushed +it under their bed. She also told him that the god Shiva had turned the +food into gold and jewels. “Then when you asked me,” she +went on, “I felt so frightened that I said they were presents +from my father and mother and the rest of my family. And when you made +me take you to my father’s house, I prayed the god Shiva to +create, if only for half an hour, a house for my <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e697" href="#xd19e697" name= +"xd19e697">62</a>]</span>father on the sandy island in the dry +river-bed. And he graciously granted my request.” Then the +husband forgave the naughty little wife. And she became quite good and +never told him any more stories. And they both went home and lived +happily ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e699" href= +"#xd19e699" name="xd19e699">63</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch09" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Nagoba, the Snake-King</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had seven little daughters-in-law. In the fulness of time +the month of Shravan came and with it Nagpanchmi Day<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e705src" href="#xd19e705" name="xd19e705src">1</a>. In honour +of the festival, one little daughter-in-law went to her +grandpapa’s house, another went to her great grandpapa’s +house, another went to her father’s house, until at last only the +youngest daughter-in-law remained behind. Her father and mother were +dead, and she had no uncles and no aunts and no little brothers or +sisters. So the poor little daughter-in-law felt very sad and sat down +and cried in a corner. Then she remembered that it was Nagpanchmi Day, +and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e711" href="#xd19e711" name= +"xd19e711">64</a>]</span>that it was a festival in honour of Nagoba, +the great snake-king. So she prayed under her breath, “Please, +please, snake-king, come and pretend that you have been sent to fetch +me to my father’s house!” And the great snake-king heard +the prayer and felt quite sorry for the poor little daughter-in-law who +was crying in the corner. He assumed the guise of a Brahman and came to +the house where the little daughter-in-law was, and said that he had +been sent to fetch her to her father’s house. Her father-in-law +was very much astonished. For he wondered why, if the new-comer really +was a relative of the little daughter-in-law, he had never paid him a +visit before. At last he asked the little daughter-in-law who the +new-comer was. She did not know in the least. But she was so overjoyed +that some one should have come for her that she at once answered, +“He is my mother’s brother.” Her father-in-law +believed her and sent her off in the care of Nagoba, the snake-king. +Still disguised as a Brahman, he took her to the entrance of his +underground palace and there he told her who he was. He then reassumed +his true appearance, and, expanding the mighty <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e713" href="#xd19e713" name= +"xd19e713">65</a>]</span>hood behind his head, he seated the little +girl on it and took her down to his splendid dwelling-house beneath the +earth. In the central hall he presented her to the snake-queen and to +all the snake-princes, and told them that in no circumstances whatever +were they to bite the little daughter-in-law.</p> +<p>One day the snake-queen was about to be confined. So she asked the +little daughter-in-law to sit by her side with the lamp in her hand. +The little daughter-in-law did so, and a little time afterwards the +snake-queen gave birth to a fresh litter of little snake-princes. When +the little daughter-in-law saw them all wriggling about, she was +frightened out of her wits. She let the lamp slip out of her hands. It +fell on the ground and burnt all the little snakes’ tails off. +The snake-queen did her best to comfort them, but the stumps of the +little princes’ tails ached so dreadfully that it was ever so +long before the snake-queen could put them off to sleep. When the +snake-king came home that evening, she told him what had happened. And +she was so cross with the little daughter-in-law, that the snake-king +had to promise that she should go back to her <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e717" href="#xd19e717" name= +"xd19e717">66</a>]</span>father-in-law’s house. A few days later, +the snake-king assumed once again the guise of a Brahman, and, loading +the little daughter-in-law with presents, took her back to her +husband’s home. In the course of time the little snake-princes +grew up, but their tails never grew again. So their father, the +snake-king, called one little prince, No-tail; and the second little +prince, Cut-tail; and the third little prince, Dock-tail. And one day +they asked the snake-queen how it was that their tails had been broken +off. She told them how the little daughter-in-law had burnt them off by +dropping the lamp on them.</p> +<p>The snake-princes, when they heard their mother’s answer, were +terribly cross with the little daughter-in-law, and they vowed that +they would be revenged on her. So they found out where she lived, and +they sent a message to her house, saying that they were coming to pay +her a visit. But they really meant to bite her to death directly they +saw her. The little daughter-in-law was overjoyed when she heard that +the snake-princes were coming to visit her. For ever since the +snake-king had pretended to be her uncle, she always thought +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e721" href="#xd19e721" name= +"xd19e721">67</a>]</span>of little No-tail and little Cut-tail and +little Dock-tail as if they had been her own cousins. Now it so +happened that the very day on which they were expected at the little +daughter-in-law’s house was Nagpanchmi Day. The little +daughter-in-law was sitting in the house all alone waiting for little +Prince No-tail, little Prince Cut-tail, and little Prince Dock-tail. +They were late in coming, so to pass the time she drew pictures of +Nagoba, the snake-king, on her dining-platform and on the wall. When +she had finished the pictures, she worshipped them and offered them +milk and food. Then she prayed to the great snake-king, “Please +please, King Nagoba, guard from all hurt, wherever they may be, my +little cousins No-tail and Cut-tail and Dock-tail.” And last of +all she prostrated herself at full length before the pictures which she +had drawn on the wall and on her dining-platform.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e724width" id="p068"><img src="images/p068.jpg" +alt= +"“They no longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“They no longer wished to kill or bite the +little daughter-in-law”</p> +</div> +<p>In the meantime little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and +little Prince Dock-tail had come up without the little daughter-in-law +noticing them. But when they saw the honour which she was paying their +father, King Nagoba, and heard the prayer which <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e730" href="#xd19e730" name= +"xd19e730">68</a>]</span>she had offered on their behalf, they no +longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law. On the +contrary, they made themselves known to her and stayed all that day in +the house and were as good and as nice as possible. When night fell, +they drank the milk which she had offered to the snake-king. And in its +place they put a necklace with nine beautiful jewels in it. Before day +broke they went away quietly and returned to their father’s +palace under the ground. Next morning when the little daughter-in-law +woke up she saw the lovely necklace lying where the milk had been. She +gave a shout of delight, and putting it round her neck, she ran all +over the house showing it to everybody. And every one was perfectly +charmed with it. And the snake-princes never again came to bite any one +in that household. And the little daughter-in-law and her husband and +her father-in-law and little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail +and little Prince Dock-tail, they all lived happily for ever so long +afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e732" href="#xd19e732" +name="xd19e732">69</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e705" href="#xd19e705src" name="xd19e705">1</a></span> Nagpanchmi +Day falls on Shravan Sud 5, <i>i.e.</i> the 5th day of the bright half +of Shravan.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch10" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Parwati and the Beggar-Man</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In It there lived a +Brahman. He had seven daughters, and when they had reached a +marriageable age he asked them who would arrange their marriages and +bring them handsome husbands and make their fortunes. The six eldest +daughters said, “Papa, Papa, you of course. You will arrange our +marriages and bring us handsome husbands and make our fortunes for +us.” But the youngest daughter was a naughty little girl. She got +into a temper all about nothing, and she stamped her foot, and she +turned her back on her father and said, “I will arrange my own +marriage, and I will get a handsome husband for myself, and I will make +my fortune myself.” The Brahman was very angry with her, and so +how do you <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e738" href="#xd19e738" +name="xd19e738">70</a>]</span>think he punished her? He first searched +about and found six rich and handsome boys. Then he married them with +great pomp and display to his six eldest daughters. But the youngest +girl he gave in marriage to a miserable beggar-man. You never saw such +a beggar-man as he was! There was not a spot on his skin that was not +black with leprosy, and his feet and hands had rotted right off. If you +had seen him you would have said, “If that beggar-man does not +die to-day he will certainly die to-morrow. For he cannot possibly live +any longer!” When the marriage was celebrated, the little +girl’s mother filled her lap with pulse and then handed her over +to the beggar-man to see what sort of fortune would be hers. But in a +few days the beggar-man died. His corpse was taken to the +burning-ground, and his little widow followed it. But when his +relatives wanted to burn the body, she forbade them and told them to go +away. For she said, “My fortune is still to come, whatever it may +be.” They all got round her and tried to persuade her that there +was no use in her staying by the corpse, but she would not mind what +they said. At last they were <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e740" +href="#xd19e740" name="xd19e740">71</a>]</span>quite tired out and went +home, leaving her in the burning-ground. When they had gone she took +her husband’s corpse on to her lap. Then she prayed to the god +Shiva and said:</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“My parents disown me. O why was I born</p> +<p class="line">Both as orphan and widow to live all +forlorn?”</p> +</div> +<div class="figure xd19e748width" id="p071"><img src="images/p071.jpg" +alt= +"“They asked her what the reason was, and she told them”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“They asked her what the reason was, and +she told them”</p> +</div> +<p>As she prayed, she put the pulse which her mother had put into her +lap grain by grain in the dead man’s mouth. Then she sat there +crying until midnight. Now it happened that on that very night Shiva +and Parwati were in their chariot driving through the air over that +very place. Parwati said suddenly to her husband, “I hear a woman +crying, let us go and see what it is.” The god Shiva drove his +chariot down to earth. He and Parwati got out and saw the +Brahman’s youngest daughter crying. They asked her what the +reason was, and she told them. Then Parwati pitied her and said, +“Your aunt has acquired great merit by her piety and devotions. +You go to her and get her to give you all her merit and so you will +bring your husband back to life.” The god Shiva and Parwati then +mounted on their <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e754" href= +"#xd19e754" name="xd19e754">72</a>]</span>chariot and disappeared. Next +morning the little widow left her husband’s body, went to her +aunt’s house and begged her to give her all the merit which she +had acquired, and told her the cause of the request. The aunt was very +good and gave her all her own merit. The little widow then went back to +the burning-ground and with its aid brought her husband back to life. +But this time he was no longer a beggar-man black with leprosy and with +feet and hands that had rotted away. He was a beautiful young man with +well-shaped feet and a beautiful fair skin, and the little widow took +her husband back to her father’s house. “Papa, Papa,” +she said, “you turned me out, but the gods have brought me back, +and good fortune came to me without your bringing it.” The father +was too frightened of Parwati to say anything, so he held his peace. +And the little girl and her husband, the beggar-man, lived happily ever +afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e756" href="#xd19e756" +name="xd19e756">73</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch11" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Parwati and the Brahman</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman. When the month of Bhadrapad came round, every household +bought little images of Parwati, and the women began to walk about the +streets and sound gongs. When the poor Brahman’s children saw +this they went home and said to their mother, “Mummy, Mummy, +please buy us little images of Parwati like the other little boys and +girls have.” But their mother said, “What is the use of my +buying images of Parwati? If I do we shall have to make offerings, and +there is absolutely nothing in the house. You run to papa and tell him +to go into the bazaar and buy grain. If he buys grain I’ll buy +you images of Parwati.” The children got up and ran to their +father and cried out, “Papa, Papa, <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e762" href="#xd19e762" name="xd19e762">74</a>]</span>Mama says +that she will buy us images of Parwati if you will go into the bazaar +and get food to offer to them.” Their father at first searched +all over the house but could find no grain. And then he looked in his +purse but he could find no money with which to go to the bazaar and buy +grain. But although he tried to explain this to his children, they +would not listen to him. They screamed at him and shouted, “Papa, +Papa, Mummy says that she will buy us images of Parwati if you will get +food to offer to them.” “Papa, Papa, why should we not have +images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls.” At last +they bothered the poor Brahman so much that he felt worried to death. +“I love,” he said, “my children as if they were made +of gold, but they will not mind what I say. They will not understand +that it is nothing but poverty which prevents my buying food and +offering it to Parwati. I might go out and beg, but when I do, no one +ever gives me anything. Death is better than a life like this.” +With these words he got up and walked to the edge of the village pond +and determined to drown himself. It was dark when he started, and +half-way <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e764" href="#xd19e764" name= +"xd19e764">75</a>]</span>he met an old woman. She heard him coming and +asked him who he was. He told her all his trouble, and said that he +meant to jump into the pond to escape from his children. The woman +comforted him and prevailed on him to turn home again. He took her +home. His wife came to the door with a lamp and asked who she was. The +husband did not like to say that he had only just met her on the road, +so he said to his wife, “She is my grandmother.” The wife +thereupon welcomed her and invited her to come in and stay to supper. +But her heart felt as heavy as lead, for she knew that there was +nothing to eat inside the house. When the old woman had seated herself +inside the house, the Brahman’s wife got up and, in despair, went +to look inside the grain-pots. She knew they were empty, but she +thought that she would first look into them once again. But, lo and +behold! when she looked this time she found the grain-pots brimming +over with grain. She called her husband, and they were both perfectly +delighted. And the wife prepared bowls full of rice-gruel, and every +one, children and all, ate the rice-gruel till the skins on their +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e766" href="#xd19e766" name= +"xd19e766">76</a>]</span>stomachs felt quite tight. And they went to +bed as happy as possible. Next morning the old woman called to the +Brahman, “My son, my son, get me water for my bath and cook me a +nice hot dinner, and please be quick about it, and do not start making +objections.” The Brahman got up and called his wife, and they got +water for the old woman’s bath, and then the Brahman went out to +beg. When he had gone out before, no one had ever given him anything. +But to-day every one ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper +coins. Then he went back home in splendid spirits. His wife prepared a +glorious dinner, and the children ate so much that the skin on their +stomachs felt as tight as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old woman +said to the Brahman, “To-morrow I want a milk-pudding for +dinner.” “But, Grandmamma,” said the Brahman, +“where shall I get the milk from?” The old woman said, +“Don’t worry about that. Just get up and hammer down as +many pegs as you can in your courtyard. Then this evening, when the +cattle come home, call to the village cows and buffaloes by name, and +they will come to you, and if you milk them <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e768" href="#xd19e768" name= +"xd19e768">77</a>]</span>you will get enough milk for my pudding +to-morrow.” The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, and +that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by name to come to his +courtyard. And from every direction the cows and buffaloes came running +up. And behind them galloped all the little calves with their heels in +the air and their tails stuck out straight behind them. At last the +Brahman’s courtyard was filled so full that no more cows or +buffaloes could enter. And he milked them all, and next day his wife +cooked a milk-pudding such as one would not see again if one lived a +thousand years. And the children ate until they were so tired of eating +that they just rolled over and went fast asleep. But that evening the +old woman said, “My son, my son, I want you to take me +home.” “But, Grandmamma, Grandmamma,” said the +Brahman, “how can I take you home, for I have had all this good +luck only because of you. Directly you go away my good luck will +vanish.” “Do not be afraid,” said the old woman, +“for I am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will never +vanish. Therefore you must come with me and see me home.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e770" href="#xd19e770" name= +"xd19e770">78</a>]</span>But the Brahman said, “I do not want my +good luck only to continue. I want it to increase.” The old woman +said, “If you come with me I shall give you some sand. When you +go back home, scatter it all over the house and over your jars and your +pots, and put it inside your boxes and your cupboards, and scatter it +all over your courtyard too, and you will find that your good luck will +never be any less than it is now.” The Brahman was satisfied with +this. He worshipped the old woman and went with her towards the tank +until she suddenly disappeared. He returned home and scattered sand all +over his house and over his jars and his pots and inside his boxes and +his cupboards, and from that day on, his good luck never left him. And +his wealth increased, and his children increased. And they all lived +happily ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e773" href= +"#xd19e773" name="xd19e773">79</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch12" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Soma, the Washerwoman</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He had also +one daughter called Gunvanti and a wife called Dhanvanti. Whenever a +mendicant Brahman came to this house, it was the custom of all the +ladies to give him alms and then prostrate themselves in front of him. +One day a Brahman came, tall as a tree and shining like the sun. The +seven daughters-in-law ran out as usual and gave him alms and then +threw themselves at full length at his feet. The Brahman blessed them +and said, “Increase of children be yours; increase of wealth be +yours; may your husbands cherish you all your lives.” But the +Brahman’s daughter Gunvanti was a lazy little girl, and +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e780" href="#xd19e780" name= +"xd19e780">80</a>]</span>when the mendicant came she was still in bed. +Her mother, Dhanvanti, rushed into her room and cried, “Daughter, +daughter, get up and give the Brahman alms,” The little girl +jumped up in a fright and ran out and put alms before him and +prostrated herself at his feet. The mendicant blessed her and said, +“Observe the precepts of religion.”</p> +<p>The little girl ran back to her mother. “Mother, +Mother,” she cried, “Bhatji<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e784src" href="#xd19e784" name="xd19e784src">1</a> did not give me +the same blessing as he gave to my sisters-in-law,” Her mother +said, “Go back again and give him some more alms and see what he +does,” The little girl ran back, put some more alms before the +mendicant, and again prostrating herself asked for his blessing. Once +more he said, “Observe the precepts of religion,” Then +Dhanvanti asked him why he gave her daughter such a strange blessing. +The mendicant replied, “Because widowhood will come upon her +immediately after her marriage,” Dhanvanti threw herself before +the Brahman and grasped his feet and cried, weeping, “Tell me how +I may escape this evil; what shall I do to save my one little +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e787" href="#xd19e787" name= +"xd19e787">81</a>]</span>girl from becoming a widow?” The Brahman +pitied her and said, “Lady, lady, do not weep; I shall give you a +remedy by which to cure this evil. Across the seven seas there is an +island. In it there lives a washerwoman called Soma. If you can fetch +her to your daughter’s wedding, she will escape the evil that +threatens her. When the wedding is over, you must send Soma back with +all honour to her house.” With these words the mendicant took up +his wallet and went to collect alms elsewhere. When her husband +returned home Dhanvanti told him what had happened. “Some +one,” she added, “must go across the seven seas, to fetch +Soma, the washerwoman.” The father and mother called up their +sons and said, “Those of you who honour your parents will take +your sister and cross the seven seas to bring Soma here.” But all +the sons turned to their mother and said, “All you care about is +your daughter. You do not love us the least little bit. So we shall not +cross the seven seas and bring Soma here just on her account.” +The mother began to cry, and the father got very cross. He turned to +his wife and said, “From henceforth you <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e789" href="#xd19e789" name= +"xd19e789">82</a>]</span>have no sons. To me our seven sons are as if +they had never been born. But do not get frightened about our little +girl I myself shall cross the seven seas and fetch Soma, the +washerwoman.” Then the youngest of the seven sons said to his +father, “Daddy, Daddy, you must not say that you have no sons +when here we are, all seven of us. I shall take my sister Gunvanti with +me, and we shall go and fetch Soma, the washerwoman.” A few days +later the two children prostrated themselves before their parents and +began their voyage.</p> +<p>In course of time they came to the seashore. But the wind was +blowing, the waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the +rocks. The brother and sister could not imagine how they were to +continue their journey. There was no one near to give them food, there +was no one near to give them drink, and they could think of nothing +better than to lie down and die. But they first resolved to pray to the +god Shiva, “Please, please, God Shiva,” prayed the two +children, “get us out of this terrible trouble.” After +praying they went and sat under a banian tree, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e793" href="#xd19e793" name= +"xd19e793">83</a>]</span>and all day long they had nothing to eat or +drink. Now on the very top of the banian tree was an eagle’s +nest, and in it there were several little eagles. When evening came, +father eagle and mother eagle came home and began to feed their young. +But the little eagles would not eat anything at all. Mother eagle said, +“Children, children, what is the matter?” “O Mummy, +Mummy,” cried the little eagles, “two strangers have come +to our house, and they are sitting under our tree, and they have had +nothing to eat all day!” Father eagle and mother eagle flew to +the ground and began to ask the boy what his trouble was. “Do not +be frightened,” said father eagle; “whatever your business, +I’ll help you to get it done. Do not go to bed without supper. +I’ll bring you some fruit. Eat some of it yourself and give the +rest to your little sister.”</p> +<p>The boy told father eagle what had happened, and how it was that +they had to cross the seven seas. Father eagle said, “I shall +carry you both across directly you wake up to-morrow, and I shall put +you down at Soma the washerwoman’s door.” Then the two +children felt very happy and thanked the god <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e797" href="#xd19e797" name= +"xd19e797">84</a>]</span>Shiva. And after eating father eagle’s +fruit, they lay down under the tree and fell fast asleep in no time. +Next morning father eagle and mother eagle came down the tree, and +father eagle took the boy on his back, and mother eagle took the girl +on her back, and off they flew across the seven seas. The wind blew, +and the waves rolled mountains high, and the foam splashed over the +rocks. But father eagle and mother eagle flew straight on until they +came to the door of Soma, the washerwoman. There they left the boy and +girl and went back to the tree where the little eagles were waiting for +them. The boy and girl were too frightened to walk into Soma’s +house, so they hid all that day, and next morning they got up at dawn +and they swept the courtyard and neaped the floor with cow-dung. And +then, before any one could see them, they ran away and hid. And this +they did every day for a whole year.</p> +<p>At last Soma one day called all her children and all her little +daughters-in-law and said, “Who among you gets up so early? Who +sweeps my courtyard? Who clears my floor?” All the children and +all the little <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e801" href="#xd19e801" +name="xd19e801">85</a>]</span>daughters-in-law said, “It is not +I,” “It is not I,” “It is not I.” Then +Soma became very curious to know who it was. So the following night she +did not go to bed. She sat up, but nothing happened until just after +dawn. Then she saw the little Brahman girl sweeping the courtyard and +her brother cleaning the floor. Soma got up and said, “Children, +who are you?” They replied, “We are Brahmans.” +“But I am only a washerwoman,” said Soma; “I am a +low-caste woman, why do you sweep my courtyard and neap my floor? It +will be reckoned unto me as a sin If I accept the service of +Brahmans.” The boy said, “This is my sister, and a Brahman +has told us that unless you come to her wedding she will be widowed +shortly after marriage. Our father and mother told us to go and bring +you back with us. So, in order to make you pleased with us, we have +been working as your servants.” “Do not work for me any +more,” said Soma, “I shall gladly go to your +wedding,” She then called to her daughters-in-law and said, +“I am going to this child’s wedding. But if any one of our +relations dies when I am away, do not burn his <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e803" href="#xd19e803" name= +"xd19e803">86</a>]</span>body until I come back.” She went with +the two Brahman children to the seashore. The wind was blowing, and the +great waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the rocks. +But Soma took the boy under one arm and the girl under the other. She +jumped far up into the sky and right over the seven seas, and when she +got to the opposite shore she put the children down again. They led her +to their father’s house. Their mother Dhanvanti welcomed the +washerwoman and fell at her feet to thank her for her coming. The +youngest brother then went to Ujjain, and after making inquiries +brought back a boy of suitable caste and age to be a husband for his +sister. On an auspicious day the wedding was celebrated. But as the +bridegroom and bride were throwing rice<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e805src" href="#xd19e805" name="xd19e805src">2</a> over each +other, the bridegroom fainted. He fell on the ground and lay there +motionless. The little bride did not know what to do, she was so +frightened. And all the grown-up people were almost as frightened as +she was. But Soma, the washerwoman, stepped forward and said, “It +is nothing, do not be afraid.” She took some <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e808" href="#xd19e808" name= +"xd19e808">87</a>]</span>water in her hand and sprinkled it over +herself. Now the secret of Soma’s power was this:--</p> +<p>She had acquired great merit by observing every Monday the following +practices: She would get up early, bathe, dress in silence, make +various gifts to Brahmans, and then walk one hundred and eight times +round a peepul tree. But now by sprinkling water over herself she had +transferred the whole of her merit to Gunvanti. By this means the +little bride had been able to restore her husband to life, and the +wedding ceremony finished amidst the happiness of all. Soma then took +leave to go, and started on her homeward journey. When she reached the +seashore, the wind was blowing, and the great waves came rolling in, +and the spray was splashing over the rocks. But now that she had given +away all her merit to Gunvanti, she had none left by means of which she +could jump across the seven seas. She sat down forlorn by the bank of a +river. Then she got up, bathed in the water, and prayed to the god +Vishnu. Next she took one hundred and eight sand-grains in her hand, +and then walked one hundred and eight times <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e812" href="#xd19e812" name= +"xd19e812">88</a>]</span>round a peepul tree by the river’s edge. +Instantly her powers returned to her, and going back to the shore, she +sprang into the heavens and over the seven seas and alighted close to +her own door. There all her little daughters-in-law ran out to meet her +and cried, “O Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, we have been watching +for you. For while you were away your sons, your husband, and all your +sons-in-law died. But just as you told us to do, we did not burn their +corpses, but kept them in the house. And now they have all suddenly +come back to life.” Soma questioned the little daughters-in-law +and learnt that her sons and husband and sons-in-law had all died at +the very moment when she gave her merit to Gunvanti, and that they had +come back to life precisely when she finished her +one-hundred-and-eighth turn round the peepul tree. And they were all so +glad to have Soma back with them again, and for ever such a long time +afterwards she and her family lived happily together. And the Brahman +in his joy at his son-in-law’s recovery forgave his disobedient +sons, and they too all lived happily together ever afterwards. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e814" href="#xd19e814" name= +"xd19e814">89</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e784" href="#xd19e784src" name="xd19e784">1</a></span> Bhatji is +the name by which a mendicant Brahman is addressed.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e805" href="#xd19e805src" name="xd19e805">2</a></span> This is +called the akshataropan.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch13" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Vasishta and the Four Queens</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled a +king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the +housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself +divided the work between them. To the first queen he gave all the dairy +work, to the second queen he gave all the cooking, to the third he gave +the nursery, and he ordered the fourth to look after the royal +wardrobe. At first all went well. But in a little while the first queen +said to the third queen, “Why should you have charge of the +nursery? Why should you not work in the dairy?” The second queen +said to the fourth queen, “Why should I have to do all the +cooking?” The third queen asked, “Why should I have always +to look after the children?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e820" href="#xd19e820" name="xd19e820">90</a>]</span>And the +fourth queen stamped her foot and said, “I <i>won’t</i> +look after the king’s clothes.” And all day long they +quarrelled and screamed at each other, and the poor king was more +uncomfortable than ever. His face grew sad and careworn, and, from the +time he got up to the time he went to bed, he could think of nothing +but the way that his four queens were squabbling with each other.</p> +<p>One day the rishi, or sage, Vasishta<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e827src" href="#xd19e827" name="xd19e827src">1</a> paid the king a +visit. The king prostrated himself before the great sage and gave him a +throne to sit upon. Vasishta looked at the king’s face and saw +how sad and careworn it was. He asked the cause, and the king told him. +Then the rishi rose, and the king went with him to the palace of the +four queens. When they reached it, they called to the queens to come +out. The rishi then asked them why they quarrelled. The first queen +cried out, “Why should I have to do the dairy work?” And +the second queen cried out, “Why should I be only a +cook-woman?” And the third cried <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e830" href="#xd19e830" name="xd19e830">91</a>]</span>out, +“Why should I have all the children to look after?” And the +fourth cried out, “Why should I have all the bother of sorting +out all the king’s clothes?” The king said, “You must +do these things because I ordered you to.” But the queens did not +mind a word that he said, and they all screamed together so loud that +the king and the rishi had to put their fingers in their ears to save +themselves from being deafened. For a while the rishi became absorbed +in thought, and then he turned to the first queen and said, “You +have been placed in charge of the dairy, have you not?” The first +queen assented. “Then listen to me,” said Vasishta. +“In a former life you were a cow, and near the spot in the jungle +where you used to graze was an altar to Shiva. And every day at noon +you used to come and stand near it and let milk drop upon it. And, +because in this way you honoured the god Shiva, you have in this life +become one of the queens of the king of Atpat. But you did not in your +former life attain to full merit. So the god Shiva directed the king to +place you in charge of his dairy, and the king conveyed the god’s +directions to you. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e832" href= +"#xd19e832" name="xd19e832">92</a>]</span>You should therefore obey +them, and you should honour the king as if he were Shiva himself. In +this way you will attain to full merit and ascend to Shiva’s +heaven, Kailas.” Vasishta then blessed the first queen. She +prostrated herself before him, and, giving up all thought of +quarrelling, went away and busied herself with her dairy work.</p> +<p>Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, “What are +you quarrelling about?” She replied, “Why should I be just +a cook-woman?” The rishi thought for a while and said, +“Lady, in a former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and +you used to beg your food from door to door. But every Monday you used +to fast, and whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and +offer to the god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. +Therefore in this life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And +because you cooked for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you +in charge of his kitchen. Therefore, obey the god’s directions +and give a great feast to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the +favour of Shiva, and he will take you with him to Kailas.” Then +he blessed the second <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e836" href= +"#xd19e836" name="xd19e836">93</a>]</span>queen, and she prostrated +herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the king’s +dinner.</p> +<p>The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, “What are +you quarrelling about?” The queen answered, “Why should I +do nothing but fiddle about the nursery?” Vasishta thought for a +while and said, “In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a +jungle tribe. Every Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the +choicest fruits that you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he +has made you a queen, and he has entrusted the king’s children to +you. Therefore look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he +will take you to live with him in Kailas.” The rishi then blessed +the third queen, and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran +off, her face all smiles, to play with the king’s children.</p> +<p>Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, +“What are you quarrelling about?” She answered, “Why +should I do nothing but look after the king’s clothes?” The +rishi said, “In a former life, O Queen, you were a kite that flew +high up in the heavens. Beneath where you used to fly was an altar to +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e842" href="#xd19e842" name= +"xd19e842">94</a>]</span>Shiva, and every day at noon you would spread +your wings over it and shade it from the sun’s heat. So the god +was pleased with you and in this life made you one of the queens of +Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva’s altar, so now a +canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva, now do +service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain full merit +and in the end reach Kailas.” Then the rishi blessed her, and she +went off quite gaily to attend to the king’s clothes.</p> +<p>And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily +ever afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story +should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured +them of their squabbling. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e846" href= +"#xd19e846" name="xd19e846">95</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e827" href="#xd19e827src" name="xd19e827">1</a></span> Vasishta +was the family priest of King Dasaratha, father of Ramchandra. After +death he became one of the stars in the constellation of the Great +Bear.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch14" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Lamps and the King’s Daughter-in-Law</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy +little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all +the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she got +very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she had done, +he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family began asking +where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had eaten them. And +then every one began abusing the mice, saying what horrid little +wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be if the cat caught +and ate them up. But, when the mice heard all this, they were very +angry with the little daughter-in-law for <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e852" href="#xd19e852" name="xd19e852">96</a>]</span>bringing a +false charge against them, and they all met together and vowed that +they would be revenged on her. Some days later the king invited a guest +to his house, and the same night the mice went into the little +daughter-in-law’s room and dragged out one of her bodices and put +it across the guest’s bed. Next morning the bodice was discovered +in the stranger’s bed, and the little daughter-in-law was utterly +disgraced. Her father-in-law and all her brothers-in-law scolded her +dreadfully, and at last the king drove her out of the house. Now it so +happened that it had till then always been the work of the little +daughter-in-law to look after the lamps in the king’s palace. +Every morning she used to rub them well and trim the wicks. She used to +light them herself and neap the burners with sugar-candy, and on +Divali<a class="noteref" id="xd19e854src" href="#xd19e854" name= +"xd19e854src">1</a> Day she used to worship them and make them suitable +offerings. But, directly the little daughter-in-law was driven away, +none of the lamps were any longer cared for. On the next Divali Day the +king was returning from a hunt, and he camped under a tree. Suddenly he +saw all the lamps <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e857" href= +"#xd19e857" name="xd19e857">97</a>]</span>in his town of Atpat come and +settle on its branches. One lamp after another told what was happening +in its house--when there had been a dinner party, what there had been +to eat, who had been invited, how they themselves had been cared for, +and what honours they had received on Divali Day. After all the other +lamps had told their story, the big lamp from the king’s palace +began, “Brother lamps, I do not know how to tell you. For none +among you is so wretched as I am. In former years I was the most +fortunate of all the lamps in Atpat. No other lamp had such honours +paid it as I had, and this year I have to drag out my days In +unspeakable misery.” All the other lamps tried to comfort it, and +asked it how it was that ill-fortune had overtaken it. “O brother +lamps, how can I tell you?” repeated the big lamp. “I am +the chief among the lamps that shine In the palace of the King of +Atpat. One day the king’s little daughter-in-law ate some +sweetmeats and to save herself blamed the mice. To revenge themselves, +they in turn brought a false charge against her by putting her bodice +on the bed of one of the king’s guests. So she was disgraced and +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e859" href="#xd19e859" name= +"xd19e859">98</a>]</span>driven out of the house. And after she left +ill-fortune came upon me. For every year it was she who worshipped me +and paid me honour; and wherever she is I wish her well, and I give her +my blessing.” The king listened attentively to the talk between +the lamps, and thus he learnt that his daughter-in-law was innocent. He +went home and asked whether there was any other evidence against her +besides her bodice. And when he learnt that there was none, and that no +one had seen anything happen between her and the king’s guest, he +sent a messenger for her and had her brought home. And he begged her +pardon for the past, and gave her full authority over all his +household; and the king lived and ruled ever afterwards as wisely and +as well as King Ramchandra of Ayodhya. And if any one brings a false +charge against any of us, may the lamps save us as they did the +king’s little daughter-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e861" href="#xd19e861" name="xd19e861">99</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e854" href="#xd19e854src" name="xd19e854">1</a></span> Divali is +the feast of lamps in the month of Kartih.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch15" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Parwati and the Priest</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there was a +temple to the god Shiva. One day when Shiva and his wife Parwati were +walking about they happened to come to this temple. They sat down there +and began to play saripat.<a class="noteref" id="xd19e867src" href= +"#xd19e867" name="xd19e867src">1</a> After some time Parwati seeing a +priest close by asked him who had won, she or Shiva. +“Shiva,” the priest replied. Parwati became very angry and +cursed him, so that he became a leper, and the pains which overtook him +were absolutely unendurable. One day a band of Apsaras<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e870src" href="#xd19e870" name="xd19e870src">2</a> +came down from heaven to the temple. They saw that the priest who lived +in it was a leper, and they asked him the reason. He told them +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e873" href="#xd19e873" name= +"xd19e873">100</a>]</span>how Parwati had cursed him. They replied, +“Do not be afraid; do as we tell you and you will get rid of your +leprosy. Fast all next Monday, bathe that evening, worship the god +Shiva, and then get half a pound of flour and mix it with treacle and +ghee and eat it for dinner. But whatever you do, eat no salt all day. +Do this for sixteen Mondays in succession, and on the seventeenth +Monday get five pounds of flour, mix with it ghee and treacle, and +offer it to Shiva inside this temple. Then divide it into three parts; +leave one for the god, distribute a second among the Brahmans or give +it to your cows, and take the third home to be eaten by you and your +family.” The Apsaras disappeared, and the priest followed their +instructions and became quite well. Some time afterwards Shiva and +Parwati came again to the temple. Parwati saw the priest cured of his +leprosy and asked him how he had got rid of it. He told her exactly +what he had done. She was very much surprised, and thought that if she +did the same she might win back her son Kartakswami,<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e875src" href="#xd19e875" name="xd19e875src">3</a> who had +quarrelled with her and had run off in a rage. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e881" href="#xd19e881" name= +"xd19e881">101</a>]</span>On the seventeenth Monday Kartakswami +suddenly appeared, and both of them were reconciled. Later on, +Kartakswami asked Parwati how she had brought him back, and Parwati +told him. Now Kartakswami had a Brahman friend who had gone into a +far-off country, and Kartakswami met him by accident shortly +afterwards. He told the Brahman how the priest had cured himself of +leprosy, and how he and Parwati had become reconciled. So the Brahman +also practised the same rites for seventeen Mondays. He then set out +for a distant country. As he travelled he came to a town. Now it +happened that in that town arrangements were being made for the +marriage of the king’s daughter. Several princes had come from +far-off countries to compete for her hand, and the king had erected a +splendid pavilion for the royal betrothal. But he would not himself +choose a prince to be his daughter’s husband. He ordered that a +garland should be placed on a she-elephant’s trunk, and that the +prince round whose neck the she-elephant threw the garland should be +chosen to marry the king’s daughter. But the she-elephant passed +by all the princes in turn, until she came <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e884" href="#xd19e884" name= +"xd19e884">102</a>]</span>to where the Brahman stood. For he had come +with the crowds of people to see the royal betrothal. Then the +she-elephant stopped and put the garland round the Brahman’s +neck. The king ordered the Brahman to step forward, and he married him +to his daughter. Some years later when the princess grew up, and she +and the Brahman began to live together, she asked her husband by what +merit he had succeeded in winning her for his wife, and he told her. +And she in turn practised the same rites for seventeen Mondays. Nine +months later a beautiful baby boy was born to her; and when he in turn +grew up she told him the rites which she had practised to obtain him. +And he in turn began to perform them. On the sixteenth Monday he set +out for a journey. As he travelled in a distant country he came to a +town over which ruled a king who had no son and only one daughter. The +king had for a long time past been searching for a beautiful and +virtuous young man, resolved when he found him to hand over to him his +kingdom and marry him to his daughter. As the Brahman’s son +entered the town the king saw him and noticed on him <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e886" href="#xd19e886" name= +"xd19e886">103</a>]</span>all the marks of royal origin. So he summoned +him to his house and married him to his daughter and seated him on his +own throne. Now the next Monday was the seventeenth Monday since the +Brahman’s son had begun the rites which the Apsaras had told to +the priest. That morning he got up and went to the temple and sent a +message home to his wife that she should send him five sers of flour +mixed with ghee and treacle. But the queen was too proud to do this. +For she feared that the people in the street would laugh at her if she +sent her husband five sers of flour mixed with ghee and treacle. So +instead she sent him five hundred rupees in a plate. But because the +flour and ghee and treacle were not sent, the king was unable to +complete his ceremonial, and it was all spoilt. And the god Shiva +instead of being pleased became very angry indeed. And he told the king +that, if he kept the queen as his wife, he would lose his kingdom and +die a beggar. Next day the king sent for his chief minister and told +him what had happened. At first the minister said, “The kingdom +belongs to the queen’s father. If you drive her out your +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e888" href="#xd19e888" name= +"xd19e888">104</a>]</span>subjects will hate you.” But the king +replied, “Yes, but not to obey the god’s command is a worse +thing still.” At last the minister agreed with the king, and the +order went forth that the queen should be driven out of the city. So +the queen was driven out and became quite poor and wandered along the +road. At last she came to a distant town and lodged there with an old +woman, who gave her food and drink. One day the old woman sent the +queen out to sell fruit puddings. As she went into the bazaar a great +wind came and carried off the fruit puddings. When she returned to the +old woman’s house, the queen told her what had happened, and the +old woman drove her out of the house. Then she went and lodged with an +oilman, who had great jars full of oil. But one day she went and looked +inside the jars, and all the oil disappeared. So the oilman drove her +off out of the house. The queen left the town and walked along until +she came to a river with abundant water in it. But directly her eyes +fell on the water, it all flowed away and left the water-bed quite dry. +She then journeyed on until she came to a beautiful lake, but when her +glance rested <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e890" href="#xd19e890" +name="xd19e890">105</a>]</span>on the lake, it became full of worms, +and the water began to stink. And, when the cowherds came as usual to +water their cattle, the cattle would not drink the stinking water, and +they had to go home thirsty. By chance a Gosavi, or holy man, came that +way and saw the queen, and she told him her story. The holy man took +her to his house and treated her as his own daughter, and she did her +best to serve him faithfully. But, at whatever thing she looked, it +would either disappear or become full of worms and maggots. At last the +holy man searched for the cause of this by means of his inner +knowledge. And thus he learnt that she had incurred the sin of spoiling +the worship of Shiva, which the Apsaras had first taught the priest. +Unless that sin were atoned for, her evil glance would never be +purified. So the holy man prayed to the god Shiva, and the god was +pleased with him; and when the holy man interceded with him on the +queen’s behalf, the god said that he would forgive her if she +began and completed properly the rites which she had spoiled when her +husband was performing them. The queen did so, and the god’s +anger vanished. Suddenly there rose in <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e892" href="#xd19e892" name="xd19e892">106</a>]</span>the heart of +her husband, the king, a wish to see his queen, and he sent out +messengers on every side to look for her. At last one of the messengers +saw the queen in the holy man’s hermitage and went back and told +the king. The king was overjoyed, and, taking his chief minister with +him, he journeyed to the hermitage. He threw himself at the holy +man’s feet and then loaded him with presents. And the holy man +was pleased and said, “O King, I have treated your wife exactly +as if she had been my own daughter. She has lived here just as if she +had been in her father’s house. Now take her with you back again +and once more go through the marriage ceremony with her.” The +king consented, and both he and the queen prostrated themselves before +the holy man, and then they both returned to Atpat. And they celebrated +their home-coming with the greatest splendour. And the rest of the +king’s reign was as happy as possible. And we shall be just as +happy if we honour Shiva like the King of Atpat did.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e895width" id="p106"><img src="images/p106.jpg" +alt= +"“She has lived here just as if she had been in her father’s house”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“She has lived here just as if she had been +in her father’s house”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e899" href="#xd19e899" name= +"xd19e899">107</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e867" href="#xd19e867src" name="xd19e867">1</a></span> Saripat is +a kind of draughts.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e870" href="#xd19e870src" name="xd19e870">2</a></span> Apsaras are +attendants on the gods.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e875" href="#xd19e875src" name="xd19e875">3</a></span> Kartakswami +was really Parwati’s step-son (see <a href= +"#pre">Preface</a>).</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch16" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Rishi and the Brahman</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. For many years he lived happily and cultivated his fields of +rice and grain. But one day his wife gave up the observances imposed on +her, and, as a result, the whole house was stained by her conduct, and +pollution hung like a black cloud over it. Her husband should have +driven her out, but he had not the heart to do so. So he, too, incurred +the blame of his wife’s sin. In course of time they died, and, as +a punishment for their wickedness, the husband became in his next life +a bullock, and the wife became a dog. But the gods so far relented as +to find them a home in the house of their only son.</p> +<p>Now the son was a very pious man, who never failed in his religious +rites. He worshipped <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e907" href= +"#xd19e907" name="xd19e907">108</a>]</span>the gods, gave memorial +honours to his dead father, and welcomed to his house every Brahman who +passed by. One year, on the anniversary of his father’s death, he +told his wife to prepare a milk-pudding in honour of the dead, and +announced that he would invite Brahmans to partake of it. The wife was +as pious as her husband and never failed to obey his commands. So she +made a big milk-pudding, and she boiled vegetables and stewed fruits. +But just as she had finished and was about to invite her husband and +his Brahman guests to begin their feast, the dog saw that a snake had +entered the grain-jar, which had not been properly shut, and that it +had left its poisonous trail all over the grain from which the +milk-pudding had been prepared. The dog at once realised that, if the +Brahmans who had been invited to the memorial feast ate the poisoned +grain, they would die, and that the sin of Brahman murder would be +incurred by the host, her son. So she suddenly rushed up and put her +foot right into the middle of the milk-pudding. The son’s wife +was very angry. She threw a red-hot coal at the dog with such skill +that it dropped on to the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e909" href= +"#xd19e909" name="xd19e909">109</a>]</span>middle of her back and burnt +a big hole in it. Then the son’s wife cooked a fresh milk-pudding +and fed the Brahmans. But she was so cross with the dog that she would +not give her the smallest possible scrap. So the poor dog remained +hungry all day. When night fell she went to the bullock who had been +her husband and began to howl as loudly as she could. The bullock asked +her what the matter was. She told him how she had seen that a snake had +poisoned the grain, and how, to prevent the Brahmans dying and her son +incurring the sin of their death, she had put her paw into the middle +of the milk-pudding; how her daughter-in-law had been angry and had +burnt a hole in her back with a live coal, and how her back hurt so +that she did not know what to do. The bullock answered, “You are +suffering for the pollution with which you darkened our house in a +former life, and, because I let you remain in the house and touched +you, I too am suffering, and I have become a bullock. Only to-day my +son fastened me to his plough, tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too +have, like you, had nothing to eat all day. Thus all my son’s +memorial <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e911" href="#xd19e911" name= +"xd19e911">110</a>]</span>services are useless.” Now the son +happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He at +once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he +brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at +heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until +at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself +before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman’s +son said, “I am sad because my father has been born again as a +bullock and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their +release,” The rishi said, “There is only one way to help +them. You must worship the seven sages who have their home in the Great +Bear.”<a class="noteref" id="xd19e913src" href="#xd19e913" name= +"xd19e913src">1</a> And he told the Brahman’s son the ceremonies +which he should observe, and how he should worship the seven sages +continually every month of Bhadrapad, or September, for seven years. +The Brahman’s son obeyed the rishi, and at the end of the seven +years a fiery <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e919" href="#xd19e919" +name="xd19e919">111</a>]</span>chariot came down from heaven. The +bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome +woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off +to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e922" href="#xd19e922" name= +"xd19e922">112</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e913" href="#xd19e913src" name="xd19e913">1</a></span> The Indians +do not associate the Great Bear constellation with a bear, but they +believe it to be the habitation of seven rishis. The seven rishis vary +in different works. In the Mahabharat the names given are Marichi, +Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatya, and <span class="corr" id= +"xd19e915" title="Source: Vashista">Vasishta</span>.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch17" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The King and the Water-Goddesses</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled +a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a +village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it +filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him, and +the water-goddesses were pleased and said, “O King, O King, +sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the tank +will fill with water.” The king heard it and went home very +troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved +the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of +many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last +he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, +“Daughter-in-law, it is a long time since you went to see your +parents. You had <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e928" href= +"#xd19e928" name="xd19e928">113</a>]</span>better go and pay them a +visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look after him +here.” The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her +parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable day +and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in his +honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took him into +the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and told him not +to stir. The water-goddesses were pleased, and a great mass of water +suddenly rushed into the tank, and it was filled right up to the brink. +After a time the daughter-in-law came back from her father’s +house and brought her brother with her. They asked where her son was, +but they could get no information. Whenever they asked the king, he did +nothing but say how the water had come into the tank, and what a +beautiful tank it was, and how happy it would make all the villagers. +At last the daughter-in-law guessed what had happened, and when the +seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shravan, or August, came +round, she and her brother went to the edge of the tank and began to +worship the water-goddesses. She took a <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e930" href="#xd19e930" name="xd19e930">114</a>]</span>cucumber +leaf, and on it she placed some curds and rice. Next she mixed with +them some butter and a farthing’s worth of betel-nut. Then she +told her brother to pray, “O Goddess, Mother of All, if any one +of our family is drowned in the tank please give him back to us.” +He did so and then threw the offering into the lake. Then they both +turned to go home. But as she was turning homewards, she felt some one +pull her by the legs. She looked down and saw that it was her missing +son. When she saw him she dragged him with all her might to the bank, +and then she and her brother walked home with him. When the king heard +that she was coming, together with her missing son, he wondered +greatly, and going to her he fell at her feet and said, “O my +daughter, I offered your son to the water-goddesses; how has he come +back again?” She said, “I worshipped the water-goddesses +and made offerings to them. Then my son came out of the water, and I +lifted him up and drew him to the shore.” The king was overjoyed +and showed the greatest favour to his daughter-in-law. And she and her +little son lived happily ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e932" href="#xd19e932" name="xd19e932">115</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch18" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Lid of the Sacred Casket</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had two twin sons. While they were still quite young, the +twins’ parents died, and their relatives stole from them all +their property and then turned them out of the house. The twins +wandered along until they came to a town. It was then noon, and the +boys were weary with walking and were tortured with hunger and thirst. +As they entered the town, a Brahman came out of his door to throw food +to the crows. He saw the two boys and called them in, fed them, and +then made them tell him their story. When he heard it he resolved to +provide for them, and he lodged them in his house and taught them to +recite <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e938" href="#xd19e938" name= +"xd19e938">116</a>]</span>the Vedas. On Lalita Panchmi Day the Brahman +began to perform certain ceremonies. His pupils asked him why he did +so. The sage replied that by doing so one could attain to wealth, +knowledge, and to the wish of one’s heart. The boys begged him to +instruct them, and they quickly learnt how to worship the goddess +Parwati. Not long afterwards the Brahman provided them with wives, and +they returned to their own city, acquired wealth, and were very happy. +A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a wise boy +and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita Panchmi Day. +So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the younger was +foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to dislike him, +and he lost all his money. And at last he became so poor that he and +his wife had to give up their house and go and live on the charity of +his elder brother. One day the elder brother’s wife spoke so +crossly and said such nasty things to the younger twin, that he felt +that he could not stay in the house any longer. And he remembered then +that of recent years he had entirely forgotten to <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e940" href="#xd19e940" name= +"xd19e940">117</a>]</span>worship Parwati. He felt very penitent, and +he decided that somehow or other he would win back the goddess’s +favour. Taking his wife with him, he left his brother’s house and +journeyed to a distant country. At last he came near a town, and, +meeting a cowherd, the younger twin asked him what its name was. The +cowherd said, “The town is called Upang.” “Who is the +king?” asked the younger twin. The cowherd replied, “He +also is called Upang.” The wanderer then asked whether there was +any place where he and his wife could lodge. The cowherd told him that +in the town there was a temple of Parwati, and close to it was a +rest-house where the wanderer and his wife could lodge. The cowherd +directed them to the rest-house. And before lying down the younger twin +worshipped Parwati in the temple and begged her pardon for his previous +neglect. Parwati felt sorry for him, and that night she appeared to him +in a dream. She told him to go to King Upang’s palace and to beg +from him the lid of the sacred casket in which the accessories of +worship were kept. He should, thereafter, always pray to it, and in the +end he would come <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e942" href= +"#xd19e942" name="xd19e942">118</a>]</span>by his heart’s desire. +The younger twin woke up, and the same morning he went to King +Upang’s palace and begged from him the lid of the sacred casket +in which were kept the accessories of worship. The king at first +refused, but when the younger twin told the king of his dream the king +consented. The Brahman took the lid home, worshipped it, and, just as +the goddess had foretold, he came by his heart’s desire. Property +and happiness returned, and a year later his wife bore him a daughter. +As the years passed the little girl grew up. One day she took the lid +of the sacred casket and went with some playmates to play and bathe by +the bank of a river. Suddenly the corpse of a Brahman came floating by. +Seeing it, the little girl took the lid of the casket and for fun began +to splash water on it. Such was the power of the sacred lid, that the +corpse instantly became alive again and became a Brahman, tall as a +tree and beautiful as the sun. The little girl fell in love with him on +the spot and told him that he must become her husband. +“But,” said the Brahman, “how shall I manage +it?” The little girl said, “Come home with me at +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e944" href="#xd19e944" name= +"xd19e944">119</a>]</span>dinner-time, take as usual water<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e946src" href="#xd19e946" name="xd19e946src">1</a> in +your hand, but do not sip it. Then my daddy will ask you, +‘Bhatji, Bhatji, why do you not sip the water in your +hand?’ You must reply, ‘I am ready to dine if you marry me +to your daughter. If you will not, I shall get up and go away.’ +Then he will consent to our marriage.” The Brahman agreed, and he +went home with the little girl, and everything happened as she had +planned. To prevent the Brahman from getting up without any food, the +little girl’s father agreed to their marriage. When a favourable +day came they were married, and when she was old enough the little girl +went to her husband’s house. As she went she carried off the lid +of the sacred casket of King Upang. But, because it had gone, her +father lost all his wealth and fell once more into the greatest +poverty. His wife went to her daughter’s house and asked for it +back, but she refused to give it up. The wife was very angry and every +day began to hate her son-in-law more and more. But for him, as she +thought, the little girl would <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e950" +href="#xd19e950" name="xd19e950">120</a>]</span>never have married and +would not have stolen the lid of the sacred casket. One day the wife +met her son-in-law on the road, and she gave him such a fearful slap in +the face that he instantly fell on the ground and became a corpse +again. His mother-in-law then-snatched from him the lid of the casket, +which he happened to have in his hand, and ran away home. There he lay +until the little girl, his wife, began to search for him. When she +found him she prayed to the goddess, and by her aid and by means of the +merit which she had acquired by worshipping the lid of the casket while +she had it, she restored her husband to life. But the twin and his wife +went on becoming poorer and poorer. And at last they went back to his +brother’s house and asked him why it was that the younger twin +was always losing his wealth as fast as he gained it. The elder brother +listened to the whole story and then he said, “I do not wonder at +it. First you lost the lid of the casket, then, in order to get it +back, your wife killed a Brahman. Your only chance now is to worship +Parwati harder than ever, and perhaps in the end you may recover your +good estate.” So <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e952" href= +"#xd19e952" name="xd19e952">121</a>]</span>the younger brother went +home and worshipped Parwati with greater vigour than ever. And at last +she relented and gave him her blessing. He recovered his wealth and +came by all that his heart desired. And he and his wife lived happily +ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e954" href= +"#xd19e954" name="xd19e954">122</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e946" href="#xd19e946src" name="xd19e946">1</a></span> Aposhani. +This is the water which a Brahman sips from his hand before and after +his meal.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch19" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who used always to perform Shradh or memorial ceremonies +to his father on the last day of the month of Shravan. When performing +these ceremonies he always invited other Brahmans to dine. But it so +happened that on every last day of the month of Shravan,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e960src" href="#xd19e960" name="xd19e960src">1</a> +from the day of his father’s death onwards, his daughter-in-law +gave birth to a little boy. And just as the Brahmans had begun to enjoy +their dinner, the child would die. So all the Shradh ceremonies had to +cease, and the poor Brahmans <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e963" +href="#xd19e963" name="xd19e963">123</a>]</span>had to be sent away +feeling most dreadfully hungry. This happened regularly for six years. +But, when the seventh little boy was born only to die just as his +guests were beginning to enjoy their dinner, the poor Brahman lost all +patience. He took the newly-born child and placed it in his +daughter-in-law’s lap and then drove her out of the house and +into the jungle. The poor woman walked along until she came to a great, +dark forest. In it she met the wife of a hobgoblin,<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e965src" href="#xd19e965" name="xd19e965src">2</a> who asked, +“Lady, Lady, whose wife are you, and why do you come here? Run +away as quickly as you can. For, if my husband the hobgoblin sees you, +he will tear you to pieces and gobble you up.” The poor woman +said she was the daughter-in-law of a Brahman, and explained how every +year she had given birth to a son on the last day of Shravan, how it +had died in the middle of the Shradh feast, and how at last her +father-in-law had put the child in her lap and had driven her from home +and into the forest. The hobgoblin’s wife repeated, “If you +value your life at all, go away.” The <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e968" href="#xd19e968" name= +"xd19e968">124</a>]</span>Brahman woman began to cry, until at last the +hobgoblin’s wife had pity on her and said, “Do not be +afraid; walk a little way until you come to an altar to the god Shiva, +Close by is a bel<a class="noteref" id="xd19e970src" href="#xd19e970" +name="xd19e970src">3</a> tree; climb into it and hide among the +branches. To-night the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs, together with a train of seven demon Asuras,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e974src" href="#xd19e974" name="xd19e974src">4</a> +will come and worship at the altar. After making their offerings to the +god, they will call out, ‘Is there any uninvited guest present to +whom we can make a gift?’ You must then call out in reply, +‘Yes, I am here.’ They will see you and question you, and +you must tell them all your story.” The poor Brahman woman +agreed. She walked on until she came to the god Shiva’s altar. +She climbed into the branches of the bel tree. She remained there until +midnight came. Suddenly the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs, accompanied by a <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e980" +href="#xd19e980" name="xd19e980">125</a>]</span>train of seven demon +Asuras, came and worshipped at the altar. After making offerings to the +god they called out, “Is there any uninvited guest present to +whom we can make a gift?” The Brahman woman at once climbed down +the bel tree and called out in answer, “Yes, I am here,” +The serpent-maidens from Pâtala and the wood-nymphs, greatly +surprised, asked her who she was, and she told them all her story. Then +the serpent-maidens of Pâtala and the wood-nymphs ordered their +train of demon Asuras to go and search for the seven sons of the +Brahman woman. The seven demon Asuras spurred their horses and rode off +in all directions. In a little time the giant captain of the demon +guards rode up carrying in his arms the body of a little boy of six. +Then another rode up carrying the body of a little boy of five. And +four others rode up carrying a little boy of four, a little boy of +three, a little boy of two, and a little boy only one year old. Last of +all the seventh demon Asura rode up with a newly-born baby boy. The +demons placed the bodies in front of the serpent-maidens from +Patâla and of the wood-nymphs. And first of <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e982" href="#xd19e982" name= +"xd19e982">126</a>]</span>all the little boy of six came to life and +got up and ran to his mother. Next the little boy of five, and then the +little boy of four, and then the little boy of three came to life and +ran to their mother. Then the little boy of two came to life and got +up, but he could only walk to his mother. Next the little one-year-old +boy came to life, but he could not get up, so he lay on his back and +kicked up his legs. And last of all the newly-born baby came to life, +but he could not even kick up his legs. And they were all delighted to +see their mother, and she was overjoyed to have all her sons again. But +the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs warned her +that she must pray to the sixty-four Yoginis, the attendants who wait +on Durga, the Goddess of Death, or else her children would be snatched +from her again. And they told her to pray her hardest, for her prayer +had to travel down to the depths of Hell. So the Brahman woman prayed +her hardest to the sixty-four Yoginis, and then she prostrated herself +before the serpent-maidens from Patâla, and the wood-nymphs, and +their train of demon Asuras. And then she took the little one-year-old +boy <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e984" href="#xd19e984" name= +"xd19e984">127</a>]</span>on her hip, and the newly-born baby boy in +her arms, and she walked with her other five sons to the village. When +the villagers saw her coming they ran and said to the Brahman, +“Bhatji, Bhatji, your daughter-in-law is coming back home.” +And the Brahman became very angry and vowed that he would drive her +away again. So he watched for her coming. But first of all he saw +walking towards his house a little boy of six, and then a little boy of +five, and then a little boy of four, and then two other little boys of +three and two. Last of all he saw his daughter-in-law with a +one-year-old boy on her hip and a newly-born baby in her arms. He rose +and fetched a cauldron of water and two handfuls of rice from his +house. And he waved his hands filled with rice round the heads of his +daughter-in-law and of all her children, and last of all he washed +their feet. In this way he welcomed back to his house his grandchildren +and their mother. And he made her tell him all her story; and she, and +her children, and the Brahman spent the rest of their lives in great +peace and perfect happiness. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e986" +href="#xd19e986" name="xd19e986">128</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e960" href="#xd19e960src" name="xd19e960">1</a></span> Shravan +corresponds roughly with August. The death of the child nullified all +the virtue of the Shradh feast, which had at once to be stopped.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e965" href="#xd19e965src" name="xd19e965">2</a></span> Zhoting is +really the unquiet ghost of a Musulman, but hobgoblin is probably a +sufficiently close translation.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e970" href="#xd19e970src" name="xd19e970">3</a></span> A tree +sacred to Shiva.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e974" href="#xd19e974src" name="xd19e974">4</a></span> The Asuras, +who are now reckoned petty demons, had once upon a time a much higher +position. They are the same as Ahura-Magda, the Jupiter of the +Iranians. The latter, curiously enough, degraded the Devas or Hindu +Gods to the subordinate place of demons. (Cf. Rawlinson’s +<i>Bactria</i>, page 21.)</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch20" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Golden Temple</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there reigned +a king who had four daughters-in-law. He loved three of them very +dearly, but the fourth, who was an ugly little girl, he did not like at +all. To the three daughters-in-law he gave nice food and fine clothes. +But to the ugly little daughter-in-law he gave nothing but scraps from +his table and thick, coarse clothes to wear. He would not even let her +sleep inside the house, but made her sleep in the stable and look after +the cows. The poor ugly daughter-in-law grew so unhappy that, when the +first Monday in Shravan<a class="noteref" id="xd19e992src" href= +"#xd19e992" name="xd19e992src">1</a> came, she ran out of the palace, +and out of the town, and then away as fast as her fat little legs would +carry her. At last she <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e995" href= +"#xd19e995" name="xd19e995">129</a>]</span>went and hid herself in the +woods. Now it so happened that that very day a band of +serpent-maidens<a class="noteref" id="n129.1src" href="#n129.1" name= +"n129.1src">2</a> had come up from Patala. After wandering through the +forest and bathing in the running streams, they had joined a bevy of +wood-nymphs and were coming in her direction. At first she was too +terrified to say a single word. But at last she asked, “Ladies, +ladies, where are you going?” “To the temple of +Shiva,” they replied, “to worship the god. For by doing +that, one wins the love of one’s husband, one obtains children, +and one comes by the wish of one’s heart.” When the ugly +daughter-in-law heard that by doing what the serpent-maidens and the +wood-nymphs were about to do she could win love for herself, she at +once thought that in this way she, too, might win the love of her +father-in-law. So she told the serpent-maidens of Patala and the +wood-nymphs that she would go with them. They went deeper and deeper +into the forest until at last they came to a temple of the god Shiva. +There the serpent-maidens <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1000" +href="#xd19e1000" name="xd19e1000">130</a>]</span>and the wood-nymphs +offered to the god rice, betel-nut, incense, flowers, and the leaves of +the bel tree. The ugly little daughter-in-law did just as they did. And +when she had finished she cried out, “O God Shiva, please, please +vouchsafe my prayer also, and make my father-in-law and my +mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much +as they now dislike me.” That evening she went home and fasted, +and all the scraps which they threw to her from the king’s table +she gave to her favourite cow. And then she sat by herself and prayed +to the god Shiva. The following Monday she once more ran out of the +palace and out of the town and into the woods as fast as her fat little +legs would carry her. There she met again the serpent-maidens of +Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs and went with them to the +temple of Shiva in the distant heart of the forest. The first time the +serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs had given her the incense and the +flowers, the rice and the betel-nut, and the leaves of the bel tree, +with which to perform her worship. But they had told her that the next +time she must bring <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1002" href= +"#xd19e1002" name="xd19e1002">131</a>]</span>them herself. So when she +ran away on the second Monday in Shravan she brought with her incense +and flowers, rice and betel-nut and bel-tree leaves, and after offering +them and some sesamums to the god she once more prayed, “O God +Shiva, please, please grant my prayer and make my father-in-law and my +mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much +as they now dislike me.” Then she went home and fasted, and +giving all her dinner to her favourite cow she sat by herself and +prayed to Shiva. That evening the king asked her who the god was whom +she was honouring, and where he lived. The ugly little daughter-in-law +replied, “Afar off my god lives, and the roads to him are hard, +and the paths to him are full of thorns. Where snakes abound and where +tigers lie in wait, there is his temple.” The third Monday in +Shravan, the ugly little daughter-in-law again started from the palace +with her flowers and incense, her betel-nut and bel leaves, her rice +and sesamum, in order to meet the serpent-maidens of Patâla and +the bevy of wood-nymphs, and with them to worship the god in the hidden +depths of the forest. This time the king and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1005" href="#xd19e1005" name= +"xd19e1005">132</a>]</span>her other male relatives followed her and +said to her, “Ugly little daughter-in-law, take us with you and +show us your god.” But the temple of Shiva was ever so far from +the king’s palace. The ugly daughter-in-law did not mind, for she +was used to cruel treatment. She had also walked to the temple twice +before, and her feet had got as hard as two little stones. But the king +and his relatives were tired to death; and their feet swelled up to the +size of an elephant’s, and they became as full of thorns as the +back of a porcupine. And they muttered to each other, “How on +earth does that ugly little daughter-in-law manage to walk as she does +through the heart of the forest?” The ugly daughter-in-law at +last felt sorry for them. She prayed to the god Shiva to build a temple +near at hand. The god consented, and, with the help of the +serpent-maidens of Patâla and of the wood-nymphs, he created +suddenly a beautiful temple all of pure, yellow gold. Its pillars were +studded with jewels, and the jars in it were all of crystal. In the +middle there rose from the ground an altar to the god Shiva. And last +of all the god revealed himself to the <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e1007" href="#xd19e1007" name="xd19e1007">133</a>]</span>king and +his companions in all his glory and splendour. For a moment only they +saw him; and then he vanished. The king and his companions stared, too +astonished to move or speak. But the ugly little daughter-in-law +prostrated herself and offered to the god flowers and incense. Then she +cried out, “O God Shiva, please, please vouchsafe my prayer and +make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my +sisters-in-law like me as much as they now dislike me.” When the +king heard her prayer his heart softened to her, and he spoke kindly to +her and gave her jewelry and trinkets. In a little while he took off +his turban and, placing it on a peg, walked out to look at a lovely +lake which, unnoticed by any one before, now stretched out close by the +temple. And behind him strolled out his companions. But when they had +gone out of sight, the beautiful golden temple by the lake vanished for +ever. After looking at the lake the king came back to fetch his turban +which he had left in the temple. But he could not find the beautiful +temple all of pure, yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its +crystal jars. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1009" href= +"#xd19e1009" name="xd19e1009">134</a>]</span>The king asked the little +daughter-in-law the cause. She said nothing, but straightway walked +deeper into the forest. And the king and his companions, although weary +to death, followed her. At last they came to the temple where she had +worshipped, together with the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +bevy of wood-nymphs. It was a tiny temple, and inside it there was a +rough altar. At the foot of the altar lay the flowers which the ugly +daughter-in-law had offered to the god, and close by on a peg hung the +turban left by the king. Again the king asked his daughter-in-law the +meaning of what had happened. She replied, “This temple that you +see is my own poor little temple. But, because of my prayers, the god +Shiva showed himself to you in the beautiful temple, all of pure, +yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its crystal +jars.” When the king heard her reply, he grew more pleased than +ever with the daughter-in-law whom formerly he had so disliked. And +because the god had revealed himself at her prayer, the king, to do her +honour, sent for his royal palanquin and had her carried home in state. +And the ugly little daughter-in-law <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e1011" href="#xd19e1011" name="xd19e1011">135</a>]</span>became +out of the four the king’s favourite. And he was so much nicer to +her than he was to his other three daughters-in-law that they became as +jealous as cats. But the king and the ugly little daughter-in-law did +not mind them the least little bit. And they both lived happily ever +afterwards.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e1014width" id="p132"><img src="images/p132.jpg" +alt= +"“The god revealed himself to the king and his companions in all his glory and splendour”" +width="503" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“The god revealed himself to the king and +his companions in all his glory and splendour”</p> +</div> +<p class="trailer xd19e1018"><i>The End</i></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e992" href="#xd19e992src" name="xd19e992">1</a></span> Shravan = +August.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id="n129.1" +href="#n129.1src" name="n129.1">2</a></span> Nag-kanya. These are the +maidens of the race of the Nagas, who are said to have sprung from +Kadru, wife of Kasyapa. One of them, Ulupi, married the hero Arjuna. +They live in Patâla, the lowest of the seven underground +regions.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="back"> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<p class="xd19e117"><i>Printed by</i> <span class="smallcaps">R. & +R. Clark, Limited,</span> <i>Edingburgh.</i></p> +<div class="transcribernote"> +<h2>Colophon</h2> +<h3>Availability</h3> +<p>U.S. Public Domain, since published in 1914.</p> +<p>Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreading Team +from page images provided by the Million Books Project.</p> +<p>Several scans of this work are available on-line in The Internet +Archive: <a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/deccannurserytal00kincrich">1</a> +<a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/deccannurserytal00kinc">2</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028147415">3</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/DeccanNurseryTales">4</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/deccannurserytal034941mbp">5</a>.</p> +<p>Project Gutenberg catalog page: <a class="pglink" href= +"http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11167">11167</a>.</p> +<h3>Encoding</h3> +<h3>Revision History</h3> +<ul> +<li>2004-02-19 Added TEI tagging.</li> +<li>2009-12-18 Revisited and added illustrations.</li> +</ul> +<h3>External References</h3> +<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. These +links may not work for you.</p> +<h3>Corrections</h3> +<p>The following corrections have been applied to the text:</p> +<table width="75%" summary= +"Overview of corrections applied to the text."> +<tr> +<th>Page</th> +<th>Source</th> +<th>Correction</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e178">ix</a></td> +<td class="width40">as</td> +<td class="width40">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e458">2</a></td> +<td class="width40">Mar’s</td> +<td class="width40">Mars’</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e660">50</a></td> +<td class="width40">skirit</td> +<td class="width40">skirt</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e915">110</a></td> +<td class="width40">Vashista</td> +<td class="width40">Vasishta</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11167 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/11167-h/images/book.png b/11167-h/images/book.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..963d165 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/book.png diff --git a/11167-h/images/external.png b/11167-h/images/external.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba4f205 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/external.png diff --git a/11167-h/images/front.jpg b/11167-h/images/front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d73db01 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/front.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p000.jpg b/11167-h/images/p000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..943f59d --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p000.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p022.jpg b/11167-h/images/p022.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..90ddfba --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p022.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p032.jpg b/11167-h/images/p032.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22227ca --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p032.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p039.jpg b/11167-h/images/p039.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22a4501 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p039.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p068.jpg b/11167-h/images/p068.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5610366 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p068.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p071.jpg b/11167-h/images/p071.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aab91ba --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p071.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p106.jpg b/11167-h/images/p106.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..246c6e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p106.jpg diff --git a/11167-h/images/p132.jpg b/11167-h/images/p132.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..335809a --- /dev/null +++ b/11167-h/images/p132.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1751bb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11167 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11167) diff --git a/old/11167-0.txt b/old/11167-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c42092 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2803 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Deccan Nursery Tales + or, Fairy Tales from the South + +Author: Charles Augustus Kincaid + +Illustrator: M. V. Dhurandhar + +Release Date: December 21, 2009 [EBook #11167] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + + + + + + Deccan Nursery Tales + or + Fairy Tales from the South + + + by + + C.A. Kincaid, C.V.O. + + + + 1914. + + + + + To my little son + + Dennis + + Whose interest in these stories + first induced me to offer them to the public + this little volume is affectionately inscribed + + + +PREFACE + +These stories first appeared in the Times of India newspaper, and my +acknowledgments are due to the editor for his courtesy in permitting +their publication. + +I have translated all of them as literally as possible from the +original Marathi. But, owing to the difference between Marathi and +English canons of taste, I have had in a very few places slightly +to change the sense. In some places, owing to the obscurity of the +original text, I have had to amplify the translation. In other places +I have had to cut short the descriptions of Hindu rites and ceremonies +so as to avoid wearying the English reader. + +It may not be out of place to say just a word about the Indian gods +mentioned in the stories. It must be remembered that the main Hindu +gods are three in number. They are all sprung from a common origin, +Brahma, but they are quite separate beings. They do not form a trinity, +i.e. three in one or one in three. And each of them has a wife and a +family. The following genealogical tree will, I hope, help the reader. + + + Brahma + Shiva = Parwati + Ganpati + = the daughters of Agni + Kartakswami [1] + Vishnu = Mahalaxmi + Brahmadev = Saraswati + + +Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati, +Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following +stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five +principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is +worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn +inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed to bring ill +fortune. Then again, besides the main gods, the world according +to Hindu belief, which in this respect closely resembles that of +the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras (demons), Devkanya +(wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of Patâla), and +Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of these find a +place in the ensuing fairy tales. + +The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu +the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In +practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the +Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as they feel +inclined, or as the particular sect to which they belong requires them. + +Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of +twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra, +corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other +in the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, +Ashwin, Kartih, Margshish, Paush, Mag, Phalgun, Each month begins on +the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. The first +half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. This is +the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the period +from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the +month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by +the interposition of an "adhik" or intercalary month every third year. + +C.A.K. + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. The Sunday Story + II. The Monday Story + III. The Tuesday Story + IV. The Wednesday and Thursday Story + V. The Friday Story + VI. The Saturday Story + VII. Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + VIII. The Island Palace + IX. Nagoba, the Snake-King + X. Parwati and the Beggar-Man + XL Parwati and the Brahman + XII. Soma, the Washerwoman + XIII. Vasishta and the Four Queens + XIV. The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + XV. Parwati and the Priest + XVI. The Rishi and the Brahman + XVII. The King and the Water-Goddesses + XVIII. The Lid of the Sacred Casket + XIX. The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + XX. The Golden Temple + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"Gave memorial honours to his dead father" +"It curled itself up inside the earthen jar" +"And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut" +"And stuck them into a corner of the eaves" +"They no longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law" +"They asked her what the reason was, and she told them" +"She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's house" +"The god revealed himself to the king and his companions in all his +glory and splendour" + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Sunday Story + +When Englishmen and Englishwomen are little boys and girls, they +listen with open ears to the tales of Golden-hair and the three Bears, +of Cinderella and the Prince, and of the Wolf and Little Red Riding +Hood. As the boys and girls grow up, the stories fade gradually from +their minds. But a time comes when they have children of their own. And +then, to amuse the children, they can find no tales more thrilling +than those which fascinated them in their own childhood. Thus the +old nursery tales are handed down for centuries from generation to +generation. Exactly the same process goes on in India, There, too, when +little Indian boys and girls grow up and have little boys and girls of +their own, they too tell to wide-eyed audiences the tales which they +themselves found so thrilling in their own childhood. Indian nursery +tales, it is true, have a more religious tinge than those of Europe, +but they are none the less appreciated on that account. The first six +stories in this little book purport to explain the connexion between +the heavenly bodies and the days of the week. So each day of the week +has its separate tale. And all through Shravan or August, probably +because it is the wettest month in the year, Deccan mothers tell afresh +every week-day that day's story. And little Deccan children listen +to the tales as they fall due with the same unvarying attention. For +in nurseries, Indian as well as English, tales are loved the better +when no longer new, and where the end is well known to, and therefore +the better understood by, the tiny round-eyed listeners. + +Now this is the tale which is told every Sunday [2] in Shravan: Once +upon a time there was a town called Atpat, and in it there lived a +poor Brahman. Every day he used to go into the woods to fetch sticks +and to cut grass. One day he met there some nymphs and wood-fairies, +who said that they were performing holy rites in honour of the sun. He +asked, "What are these rites?" They replied, "If we tell you, you will +become proud and vain and you will not perform them properly." But the +Brahman promised, "No, I shall not become proud or vain and I shall +observe the rites you tell me." They then told him that the month of +Shravan was coming, and that on the first Sunday of Shravan he was +to draw a picture of the sun with red sandal paste, that he was to +offer to the drawing flowers and fruit, and that he should continue +doing this for six months. Thereafter he should in various ways, +which they told him, entertain guests and give alms to the poor. + +The Brahman went home and performed the rites to the letter, so that +the sun-god was very pleased. Wealth came to the Brahman and he grew +richer and richer, and at last the queen of the land sent for him. The +poor Brahman began to tremble and shake all over, but the queen said, +"Do not shake or tremble, but give your daughters in marriage to our +house." The Brahman said, "My daughters are poor; you will make them +slaves or maid-servants." "No," said the queen, "I shall not make +them slaves or maid-servants; I shall marry one to a king, and one to +a minister." The Brahman agreed, and when the month of Margashish, +or December, came he gave his two daughters in marriage, one to the +king and one to the minister. Immediately after the marriage the +Brahman said good-bye to his daughters, and did not see them again +for twelve years. Then he visited the elder one, who had married the +king. She gave him a wooden stand on which to sit while eating, and +water in which to wash his feet, and then said, "Papa, papa, there +is pudding to eat, there is water to drink." But the Brahman said, +"Before I eat or drink, I must tell you my story." But his daughter +said, "Papa, I have no time to listen to your story; the king is +going a-hunting, and I must not keep him waiting for his dinner." The +Brahman thought this very disrespectful and went off in a great rage +to the house of his other daughter, who had married a minister. She +welcomed her father and gave him a wooden stand on which to eat, +and water to wash his feet, and said, "Papa, papa, here is pudding to +eat and here is water to drink." But the Brahman said, "Before I eat +or drink I must tell you my story." His daughter said, "Of course, +papa, tell it to me, and I shall listen as long as you like." Then +she went into an inner room and she fetched six pearls. She took three +herself and three she put in her father's hand. And he told her how he +had met the nymphs and wood-fairies, who had told him to worship the +sun-god, and she listened to it all without missing a syllable. Then +the Brahman ate and drank and went back to his own house. His wife +asked him about their two daughters. He told her everything and said, +"The elder one who would not listen to my story will come to grief." + +And so she did. For the king, her husband, took an army into a +far country and never came back. But the daughter who had listened +to the story lived well and happy. As time went on the undutiful +daughter became poorer and poorer, until one day she said to her +eldest son, "Go to your aunt's house and beg of her to give you a +present, and bring back whatever she gives you." Next Sunday the +boy started and went to the village where his aunt lived. Standing +by the village tank he called out, "O maids, O slave-girls, whose +maids and slave-girls are ye?" They answered, "We are the maids and +the slave-girls of the minister." The boy said, "Go and tell the +minister's wife that her sister's son is here. Tell her that he is +standing by the village tank, that his coat is tattered and that +his garments are torn, and ask her to let him come into her house +through the back door." The slave-girls took him in through the +back door. His aunt had him bathed, and gave him clothes to wear, +and food to eat, and drink, and a pumpkin hollowed out and filled +with gold coins. As he left, she called to him, "Do not drop it, do +not forget it, but take it carefully home." But as the boy went home, +the sun-god came disguised as a gardener and stole the pumpkin filled +with gold. When the boy reached his mother's house she asked, "Well, +my son, what did your aunt give you?" He said, "Fortune gave, but Karma +[3] took away; I lost everything my aunt bestowed on me." Next Sunday +the second son went and stood by the village tank and called out, +"O slave-girls and maid-servants, who is your master?" They said, +"Our master is the minister." "Then tell the minister's wife that +her nephew is here." He was taken in by the back door. He was bathed +and clothed and given food and drink. As he was going, his aunt gave +him a hollow stick full of gold coins and said, "Do not drop it, +do not forget it, mind it carefully and take it home." On the way +the sun-god came in the guise of a cowherd and stole the stick. When +the boy got home his mother asked him what he had brought. He said, +"Fortune gave, but Karma took away." On the third Sunday a third son +went and stood by the village tank. His aunt received him like the +others and had him bathed, clothed, and fed. As he was going away, +she gave him a hollow cocoa-nut stuffed with gold coins and said, +"Do not drop it, do not forget it, but mind it carefully and take it +home." On the way back he put down the cocoa-nut on the edge of a well, +and it toppled over and fell into the water with a great splash. When +he reached his mother's house she asked him what his aunt's present +was. He said, "I have lost everything which fortune brought me." On +the fourth Sunday the fourth son went. His aunt welcomed him like +the others, and had him bathed and fed. When he left she gave him an +earthen pot full of gold coins. But the sun-god came in the guise +of a kite and snatched the pot away. When the boy reached home his +mother asked him whether his aunt had given him anything. He said, +"I have lost everything which my aunt gave me." On the fifth Sunday +the mother herself got up and went to her sister's village and stood +by the tank. The minister's wife took her in through her back door +and had her clothed and fed. Then the minister's wife told her that +all her trouble had come through not listening to her father's story, +and the minister's wife repeated it to her. The king's wife listened +to it, and stayed with her sister until the following month of Shravan, +or August, when she did fitting worship to the sun. + +Instantly good fortune came to her. After years of weary fighting, her +husband, the king, at last overcame his enemies, and after taking great +wealth from them turned homewards with his army. As he went towards his +capital, he passed the village where the minister's wife lived. There he +learnt that his queen was with her sister, so he sent for her with a +befitting escort. "O auntie, auntie," cried all the queen's little +nephews and nieces, "umbrellas have come for you, and horse-tails and +guards and foot-soldiers." Every one rushed out to see, and the king and +queen greeted each other after years of separation. The sisters gave +each other gifts of clothes, and the king and his queen went away +together. At the first halting-place the servants cooked the food. The +queen filled the king's plate and then her own, and then she thought of +the story which her sister had told her. She ordered her servants to go +through the neighbouring village and bring in any one who was hungry and +too poor to buy food. They found none such in the village, but on the +way back they met a starving wood-cutter, and, bringing him to the +queen, told him to listen to the tale which she would tell him. The +queen brought six pearls. Three she gave to the wood-cutter, and three +she kept herself. Then she told him the story of her father and the +wood-fairies. The wood-cutter listened with all attention, and as he +listened his faggot of wood became all of gold. He went away delighted, +promising to worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had shown to +the Brahman. + +Next day the cavalcade reached the second halting-place. Food was +cooked; the queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate, and +again she told her, servants to bring from the neighbouring village any +one who was hungry and too poor to buy food. They came upon a petty +farmer, whose well had dried up and whose crops had withered. He was +sitting sadly by his field when they called him to go with them and +listen to the queen's tale. He went with them to the camp. There the +queen brought six pearls and gave three of them to the farmer and +kept three of them herself. Then she told the story of her father +and the wood-fairies. And as the farmer listened, all attention, +the water began to pour into the well, and the crop began to look +fresh and green. He went away delighted, and promised to worship the +sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. Next day the +cavalcade reached the third halting-place. Food was cooked, and the +queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate. Then she told +the servants to search in the neighbouring village for any one who +was hungry and too poor to buy food. They met an old woman. Her eldest +son had been lost in the forest. Her second son had been drowned in a +pond. Her third son had died of snake-bite. They told her to come and +listen to the queen's story. She went with them, and as she listened, +all attention, first the son who had been lost in the forest walked +into the camp, next the son who had been drowned in the pond, and +last of all the son who had died of a snake-bite. The old woman went +away crying with joy, and promising to worship the sun in the way +the wood-fairies had instructed the Brahman. Next day the cavalcade +reached the fourth halting-place. Food was cooked, and the queen first +filled the king's plate and then her own. After dinner she sent her +servants as before to bring in some poor and hungry man from the +neighbouring village. They found a man whose eyes were so crooked +that he could hardly see, who had no arms or legs, and who had not +even a name. For he was only known as "Lump of flesh." He was lying +on his face, but when they brought him into camp, the queen had him +placed on his back and had a jug of water poured over him. Then she +took six pearls. Three she kept herself, and three she placed on the +stomach of "Lump of flesh." Then she told him the tale of her father +and the wood-fairies. He listened, all attention, and as he listened +his arms and legs grew out of his body, and hands and feet appeared +at the ends of them. He too went away delighted, and he promised to +worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. + +At the end of the next day's march the king and queen reached their +home. Food was cooked, and as they sat down to dinner the sun-god +himself appeared and joined them at their meal. The king had all +the doors flung wide open, and ordered a fresh and far more splendid +dinner to be prepared, with any number of dishes, each dish having +six separate flavours. When it was served the sun-god and the king +began to eat, but in the first mouthful the sun-god found a hair. He +got very very angry, and called out, "To what sinful woman does this +hair belong?" Then the poor queen remembered that during her twelve +years of poverty she had always sat under the eaves combing her hair, +and knew that it must have been one of her hairs which had got into +the sun-god's food. She begged for mercy, but the sun-god would +not forgive her until she had clothed herself in a black blanket, +plucked a stick out of the eaves, and had gone outside the town and +there thrown the stick and the hair over her left shoulder. Then the +sun-god recovered his good-humour, and finished his dinner. And the +Brahman, the king and queen, and the wood-cutter and the farmer whose +well had dried up, and the old woman who had lost her children, and +"Lump of flesh" with the cross eyes, they all remained in the favour +of the sun-god and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Monday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +very saintly king. One day he formed the wish to fill the shrine of +Shiva, the moon-god, with milk up to the ceiling. He consulted his +chief minister, and the latter sent a crier through Atpat ordering, +under terrible penalties, all the townspeople to bring every Monday all +the milk in their houses and offer it to the god Shiva. The townspeople +were frightened at the threatened punishments, and the next Monday +they brought all the milk in Atpat to Shiva's shrine, not keeping a +drop for their calves or even for their children. But although all the +milk in Atpat was every Monday poured into Shiva's shrine, it yet did +not become full to the ceiling. But one day an old woman came to the +shrine. She had done all her housework. She had fed all the children +and had bathed all her little daughters-in-law. Then she took a few +drops of milk, a little sandal-wood paste, and a few flowers, and +half-a-dozen grains of rice and went to worship at Shiva's shrine. She +prayed to Shiva, "The little milk that I can offer is not likely to +fill your shrine, seeing that all the milk offered by the king could +not. Nevertheless I offer the milk with all my heart." She then got +up and went back to her house. Then a strange thing happened. Directly +the old woman turned her back, the shrine filled with milk right up to +the ceiling. The priests ran and told the king, but none of them could +say how it happened. The following Monday the king placed a soldier +by the door; and again the old woman came and worshipped, and again +the shrine filled with milk to the ceiling. The soldier ran and told +the king, but could not explain the cause. The third Monday the king +himself went and watched by the shrine. From his hiding-place he saw +the old woman come up and noticed that the shrine filled with milk +immediately after she had worshipped. He ran after her and caught +her. The old woman begged the king to spare her life, and this he +promised to do if she told the truth. She said, "O King! you ordered +all the milk in Atpat to be brought to Shiva's shrine. But what was +the result? All the calves began lowing and all the children began +crying, because they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people +were so worried by the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva +was displeased at this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This, +therefore, is what you should do. Let the children and the calves +have their milk. Then take whatever is over to the shrine, and it +will at once fill up to the ceiling." The king let the old woman go, +and had it proclaimed by beat of drum that the townspeople were to +bring to the shrine on the following Monday only the milk remaining +after the children and the calves had been fed. The townspeople were +delighted. The children stopped crying and the calves stopped lowing, +and all the milk left by them was brought to Shiva's shrine. The +king prayed long and earnestly, and when he looked up he saw that +the shrine was full right up to the ceiling. He gave the old woman +a handsome present. And she went back to her home, and she did her +housework, and then she bathed all her little daughters and all her +little daughters-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Tuesday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. [4] In it there lived +a bania who had no son. Every day a religious mendicant used to come +to his house and call out, "Alms! Alms! In the name of God, give me +alms." But when the bania's wife offered him alms he refused them, +because she had no children. She told her husband, who advised her +to play a trick on the mendicant. She hid behind her door, and as he +called out "Alms! alms!" she slipped a gold piece into his wallet. But +the mendicant caught her and became very angry. He cursed her and +told her that she would always remain without any children. She +was terrified and fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness. Then +he pitied her and said, "Tell your husband to put on blue clothes, +mount a blue horse, and ride into the jungle. He should ride on until +he meets a horse. He should then dismount and dig in the ground. He +will in the end come to a temple to Parwati. He must pray to her and +she will bestow a child on him." When her husband came back she told +him what had happened. So he at once put on blue clothes, mounted a +blue horse, and rode into the forest. He met the horse, dismounted, +and began digging. At last he discovered a temple to Parwati, all of +gold, with diamond pillars and a spire made of rubies. Inside was a +statue of the goddess, and to it he prayed, saying, "I have houses and +cottages, cattle and horses, money and goods of all kinds, but I am +very sad because I have no son." The goddess pitied him and asked, +"Which will you have, a son who will be good but will die young, +or a son who will live long but will be born blind?" The poor bania +became greatly perplexed, but at last said, "I choose a son who will be +good but will die young," The goddess said, "Very well. Step behind +me. There you will find an image of Ganpati. Behind it is a mango +tree. Climb upon Ganpati's stomach and pick one mango. Go home and give +it to your wife to eat, and your wish will be gratified." Parwati then +disappeared. The bania climbed upon Ganpati's stomach and ate as many +mangoes as he could. He next filled a large bundle full of mangoes +and stepped down. But when he reached the ground he found that there +was only one mango in the bundle. He climbed up again and refilled his +bundle, but when he stepped down he again found only one mango. This +happened three or four times. At last Ganpati got very sore and angry +with having his stomach trampled on. So he shouted out, "One mango is +all you'll get. So be off home!" The bania was frightened out of his +wits and galloped home with his one mango. His wife ate it, and in nine +months she presented her husband with a son. When the little boy was +eight years old his sacred thread was put on, and his mother said, +"It is time to think of his marriage." But the bania said, "I dare +not marry him unless he first makes a pilgrimage to Benares." His +maternal uncle agreed to take the little boy to Benares. + +So off they started together, and some days later the uncle and nephew +halted at a village where some little girls were playing. One of +the little girls said to the other, "You are nothing but a wretched +little widow." But the other little girl said, "Oh no! there are +never any widows in our family. Mother worships Parwati and so I +can never be a widow." The uncle heard this, and thought that if his +nephew could only marry a little girl who could not become a widow, +he would not die young. So he began to think how he could bring +about the marriage. Now it so happened that the little girl was +to be married that day. But in the morning the boy to whom she was +betrothed fell ill. Her parents were in great trouble, but at last +they thought that, rather than postpone the wedding and disappoint +all the guests, it would be better to marry their little daughter to +the first traveller who passed through the village. So they went to +the rest-house to inquire if any one was there. There they found the +uncle and nephew, and they married their little girl to the latter +that very evening when the cows were homing. They drew on the wall +a picture of Shiva and Parwati, and they put the children to bed +beneath it. Parwati appeared to the little girl in her sleep. The +goddess said, "My child, a snake will come to bite your husband: give +it milk to drink. Then put near it a new earthen jar. When the snake +has finished drinking, it will enter the earthen jar. Then at once +pull off your bodice and stuff it into the jar's mouth. Next morning +give the jar to your mother." Next evening everything happened as +Parwati had said. The snake came to bite her husband as he slept. But +the little girl offered it milk, which it drank. After drinking, +it curled itself up inside the earthen jar, and, the moment it did +so, the little girl slipped off her bodice and stuffed it into the +mouth of the jar. Next morning her husband gave her a ring, and she +in exchange gave him a sweet-dish, and he and his uncle continued +their journey to Benares. When they had gone, the little girl gave the +earthen jar with the snake inside it to her mother. The mother took +out the bodice, but instead of a snake a garland lay inside, and the +mother put it round her little daughter's neck. Some weeks passed, +but neither uncle nor nephew returned. So the little girl's parents +grew anxious. The sick boy who was to have been her husband recovered, +but she could no longer marry him, and the boy whom she had married +had gone away and might never return. In despair the parents built +a house, in which they entertained every traveller who passed by, +hoping that sooner or later one of the travellers would prove to be +their daughter's husband. To all of them the mother gave water; the +daughter washed their feet; her brother gave them sandal-wood paste; +and her father gave them betel-nut. But it was all in vain; none of +the travellers' fingers fitted the ring given to the little girl by +her husband, nor could any of them produce the sweet-dish which she +had given him in exchange. + +In the meantime the uncle and nephew had reached Benares and had +given large sums in charity, and had visited all the holy places +and had received the blessings of all the Brahmans. One day the +little boy, fainted. And in a dream he saw the messenger of Yama, +the god of death, come close to him as if to carry him off. Next he +saw the goddess Parwati come to his rescue and, after a struggle, +drive away Yama's messenger. When the boy woke up he told the dream to +his uncle. The latter was overjoyed because he felt certain that now +the boy would no longer die young. He told his nephew to get ready, +and next day they left Benares. On their way home they passed by +the village where the nephew had been married. As they were having +breakfast near the village tank, a maid-servant invited them to come +to the house which the girl's parents had built for the reception of +travellers. At first the uncle declined, but when a palki was sent +for them, he and his nephew entered it. When the little girl began to +wash her husband's feet, she recognised him. She tried on the ring, +which fitted his finger, and he in turn showed her the sweet-dish +which she had given him. The parents were as pleased as possible, and +they sent a messenger to invite the boy's parents. They came, and the +boy's mother threw herself at her daughter-in-law's feet and thanked +her for saving her son. Then there was a great feast and everybody +was very happy indeed, and at the end they all worshipped Parwati, +[5] so she became as pleased as everybody else. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Wednesday and Thursday Story + +There was once upon a time a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a prince who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Every day +there used to come to the prince's house two Brahmans, an uncle and a +nephew. But when they asked for alms the daughters-in-law sent word +that they were too busy to give them any. Some time afterwards the +prince lost all his riches and became very poor. The two Brahmans +again came to beg, but the elder daughter-in-law said to them, +"We are no longer busy, but we have nothing to give you. If we had, +we should give it to you." The youngest daughter-in-law, however, +was a clever little girl, and she thought to herself, "The Brahmans +will get very angry with us. When we had money, we gave them nothing; +and now we give them nothing because we have nothing to give." So she +fell at the elder Brahman's feet and said, "We have been very wicked +and have deserved to become poor. But please forgive us and tell me +how we may become rich as we were before." The elder Brahman said, +"Every Wednesday and every Thursday you must invite a Brahman to +dinner. And if you have no money to pay for the dinner, draw a pair +of cow's feet on your money-box. If you want grain for the dinner, +draw a pair of cow's feet on your corn-bin. Then worship the feet and +welcome the Brahmans. For you will find that you will have money in +your box and grain in your corn-bin. And in time you will all get as +rich as you were before." The little girl did what the Brahman told +her. And whenever she invited Brahmans to dinner, she drew the cow's +feet on the cash-box and on the corn-bin, and there was always money +and grain sufficient for the meal. + +But some days later she fell asleep and dreamt that Budh [6] and +Brahaspati came to her bedside and said, "Little girl, little girl, +your husband has been made king over a great country. Go to him, and, +when you have found him, do not forget to worship us and to give feast +to the Brahmans." Then the little girl woke up and she told the other +six daughters-in-law. But they were jealous of her, and they became +very angry; and they kicked her so often and boxed her ears so hard +that she forgot all about drawing the cow's feet on her money-box and +on the corn-bin. So she never found any money in the box or any corn +in the bin. And every day they became poorer and poorer. First all the +men servants ran away, then the male members of the family left, and +at last the seven daughters-in-law were left alone in the house. They +were starving, but they did not know how to get any food. One day +they heard that a king in a neighbouring country wished to construct +a tank and was calling for labourers. So they decided to go to the +tank and work there just like common coolie women. Now who do you +think the king was? He was the youngest son of the prince of Atpat +and the husband of the youngest daughter-in-law. When the prince had +lost all his money, his youngest son left the house and set off on +a journey. As he travelled he came to a city, the king of which had +just died without leaving any children or relatives. His subjects +did not know how to choose a successor. At last they gave a garland +of flowers to a she-elephant and turned it loose. The elephant walked +straight to the prince's son and put the garland round his neck. The +townspeople were very angry. They snatched away the garland and drove +away the prince's son. They again gave the garland to the elephant, +but the elephant again put the garland round the neck of the prince's +son. The townspeople again snatched away the garland. But when the +elephant put it round the young man's neck for the third time, they +lifted him high in the air and declared him to be their king. At first +he was so pleased at being king that he forgot all about his poor +little wife. But one night Budh and Brahaspati appeared to him in a +dream and reminded him of her and told him how poor she was. But he +could not leave his kingdom to go and look for her. So he thought that +he would dig a tank and call together labourers from every quarter. And +every day he used to go to the tank and search among the labourers to +see if his wife was there. One day he recognised his wife and called +her to him. Then they told each other how Budh and Brahaspati had +appeared to each of them in a dream. And the king was so delighted at +finding his wife that he at once proclaimed her queen of the country. + +So the little daughter-in-law was crowned queen, but she did not let +the other daughters-in-law who were also working at the tank know of +her good fortune. As queen, she gave a great feast to all the workers +on the tank. But in her own palace she took some wheat flour, and +she kneaded it into shapes resembling human feet and human fists. And +when the other daughters-in-law were with the crowd of workers eating +at the feast, she went up to them, and to each daughter-in-law who +had kicked her she gave a flour foot, and to each daughter-in-law +who had struck her with her hands she gave a flour fist. Then the +daughters-in-law recognised who the little queen was, and they fell at +her feet and begged for her forgiveness. So the little queen forgave +them and took them back with her into her husband's palace. And they +all lived together happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Friday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +miserably poor Brahman. He had a wife who was as poor as he was. One +day she felt her poverty so much that she went to a gossip of hers +who lived close by and told her all about her troubles. The neighbour +could suggest nothing better than that the poor woman should worship +the goddess Shukra or Venus. So she told the Brahman woman to fast +every Friday through the month of Shravan. Every Friday evening she +should invite a married lady friend to her house. She should bathe her +friend's feet. She should give her sweetened milk to drink and fill +her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should continue +to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, and in +the end the goddess would certainly do something for her. The Brahman +woman thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra +and had a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had +advised her. + +Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town, +who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same +time he invited all the townspeople with the single exception of +his sister. The poor lady thought that she must have been left out +by accident, and that there would be no harm in going, even although +uninvited. She put on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children +with her, went off to the dinner. She seated herself close to her +children, and was eating away when her brother came round serving +ghee. When he saw his sister he shouted at her, "You have neither nice +clothes nor nice jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming +as you have come. I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow." + +Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed +the previous day's feast, persuaded their mother to take them again +to her brother's house. Once more she went and sat down with her +children among the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before +when he came round serving the ghee. He shouted at her, "A beggar +woman must, I suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away +although told to. But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I'll have you +turned out." Next day, however, she again went with her children to +her brother's house. But near the entrance his servants caught her +and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad +and hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased +with her devotion and so took pity on her. She helped the poor +woman's husband so that he rapidly acquired great wealth. When her +husband had become very rich she asked her brother to dinner. But +the brother remembered how he had treated her and was ashamed to +accept. He pressed her to dine with him first, and begged so hard +that she at last consented. Next day she put on all her jewels and +her finest clothes. Her brother gave her a wooden platform to sit on +and plates made out of leaves from which to eat her dinner. Before +she sat down she took off her gold-embroidered shawl and put it +close to her plate. Her brother saw her, but thought she did it +because she felt the room hot. She then placed her jewelry on the +wooden platform. Her brother thought that she did it because she +felt the jewelry heavy. She took a portion of rice and placed it on +her necklace. She put a portion of vegetables on her pendant, and a +sweet ball she placed on her jewelled star. + +Her brother at last asked her, "What are you doing?" She said, +"I am giving to the guests whom you really invited." But he did +not understand, and asked, "Why do you not begin to eat?" She said, +"I have not been invited to this dinner. It was given in honour of +my finery and not of me. I had my dinner the day when you gave the +feast to the one thousand Brahmans." + +The brother felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He threw himself at +his sister's feet and begged for her forgiveness. So she forgave him +and sat down to dinner. And the brother in turn went to her house and +dined with her. And Shukra was pleased with both sister and brother, +and they all lived happily ever afterwards. May I and my readers do +the same. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Saturday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town-called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had three daughters-in-law. He rose early even during +the rainy season, and every day immediately after his morning meal he +used to go to his field with his children and his daughters-in-law. One +first Saturday in Shravan he got up as usual and said to the youngest +of his daughters-in-law, "To-day is Saturday; you had better stay +at home, and although there is very little in the house, you must +try to get some sort of a dinner ready. Go upstairs and scrape +together all the grain there is in the grain-jars and make bread +with it. For vegetables you had better gather grass and make some +chutney out of clover leaves." When the Brahman had left, his little +daughter-in-law followed his orders as best she could. There was in the +jar upstairs only grain for half an ordinary loaf. So she made tiny, +tiny loaves and prepared some vegetables out of grass and made some +clover chutney. Then she sat down to wait for the family's return +from the field. As she did so, Saturn came disguised as a beggar all +covered with sores, and cried, "O Lady! I am aching all over: give +me hot water to bathe in and oil to rub myself with, and then give me +something to eat." The little daughter-in-law felt very sorry for the +poor beggar. She went inside and got him a few drops of oil and warmed +some water for his bath, and then gave him one of the tiny loaves to +eat. The beggar ate it, and then gave her his blessing, saying, "You +will never want for anything." He then folded up the leaves from which +he had eaten, stuck them into a corner of the eaves, and disappeared. + +Shortly afterwards the family came home and found a splendid dinner +waiting for them. They said to themselves, "Where did this all come +from? There was practically nothing in the house." Next Saturday +another daughter-in-law stayed at home. Again Saturn in the guise +of a beggar covered with sores came to the house. He asked as +before for hot water, oil, and food. But his daughter-in-law said, +"I have nothing to give you." The god pressed her, saying, "Give me a +little of anything that you have." But the daughter-in-law repeated, +"I have nothing." The god replied, "Very well, you will lose that +little you have." With this threat he disappeared. But, when the +daughter-in-law went upstairs to fetch grain for dinner, she could +find nothing in any of the jars. Shortly afterwards the family came +home, but there was no dinner for them. So they all got angry with +the daughter-in-law, and, although she told them about the beggar, +they scolded her harder than ever. A third Saturday came round, and +a third daughter-in-law remained at home. Again Saturn came, and the +third daughter-in-law behaved just as the second had done. She gave +the god neither hot water, oil, nor food. And the god told her that +she should lose the little she had. When the family came home there +was no dinner for them, and they scolded the third daughter-in-law +just as hard as they had scolded the second one. + +The fourth Saturday it was once more the +turn of the youngest daughter-in-law. Again +Saturn came in the guise of a beggar covered +with sores and asked for hot water, oil, and +food. The little daughter-in-law gave them +as she had done before, and the god blessed +her, saying, "God will make you rich and +happy." Then he folded up the leaves from +which he had eaten and stuck them into a +corner of the eaves. When the little daughter-in-law +went upstairs, she saw any amount of +grain in the jars, and she prepared a splendid +dinner. So when the family came home they +were delighted. They could no longer restrain +their curiosity, and exclaimed, "Where did all +this food come from?" The little daughter-in-law +told them about the beggar covered with +sores and about his blessing. To test her +story, they looked for the folded leaves which +he had stuck into a corner of the roof. They +found them, but when they pulled them out +they were full of pearls and diamonds. Then +the old Brahman guessed that the beggar was +Saturn in disguise, and he also understood why, +when the other two daughters-in-law gave him +nothing and were cursed by him, there was +nothing for dinner. So they all knelt down +and prayed to Saturn, and the god forgave the +two-daughters-in-law who had given him +nothing. And he was more pleased than ever +with the little daughter-in-law who had befriended +him. And so they all lived happily +ever afterwards. And may Saturn be pleased +with us all as he was with the little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a king who had two queens. Of one of them he was very fond, but +the other one he did not care for. The name of the favoured one was +Patmadhavrani, and the name of the unloved one was Chimadevrani. Now +the king had an enemy called Nandanbaneshwar. Such a terrible enemy +he was too! He could jump into the clouds or dive into the bottom of +the ocean. At one moment he would shoot up into heaven. At another he +would sink down into hell, and through fear of his enemy, the king had +become as dry and as thin as an old bit of stick. One day the king, in +despair, assembled all his subjects and ordered them to seek out and +kill Nandanbaneshwar. All the subjects said, "Certainly, certainly, +O King," and began to search everywhere for Nandanbaneshwar. Now in +Atpat there lived a poor woman who had one son. On hearing the orders +of the king, he said to her, "Mother, Mother, give me some bread, +for I am going out to kill the king's enemy." The old woman said, +"Do not be silly; you are only a poor boy, and people will laugh +at you. Here, take this bit of bread and go and eat it behind a +tree." The boy said, "Very well," and took the bread. But, after +taking it, he joined the other villagers and went at their head to +seek out and kill Nandanbaneshwar. But when evening fell they had +not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home. And +when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved. But +the old woman's son stayed in a wood outside the village. And lo +and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from Patâla [7] +and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and began to worship +Mahalaxmi. The boy was at first terribly frightened, but at last he +plucked up courage enough to ask, "Ladies, ladies, what does one gain +by worshipping Mahalaxmi?" "Whatever you lose you will find," said the +serpent-maidens from Patala; "and whatever you want you will get." The +boy resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi. And he joined the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, and all night long +they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods +echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they made. [8] + +At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy included, +prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. She first +blessed the serpent--maidens from Patâla and then the wood-nymphs. And +then she blessed the poor old woman's son and said, "You will get half +the kingdom of Atpat and half the king's treasure. He will build you a +house as high as his own, and he will give you the name of 'Navalvat' +or 'Wonderways.' For this very morning the king's mighty enemy will +break his neck and be found lying dead in the king's courtyard," +With these words the goddess vanished and flew to Kolhapur, [9] and +the old woman's son went home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up +and went into the king's courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar +lying dead from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back +into the palace to tell the king. The king inquired who had killed +Nandanbaneshwar. Every one said that the old woman's son must have +killed him, because he stayed behind when the others went home. The +king sent for the old woman's son. He was very frightened, and when +he reached the royal hall he called out, "I have made no false charge +against any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King, +have you sent for me?" "Do not be afraid," said the king. "My enemy +Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is you who killed +him. Tell me if this is true." "No, O King," said the boy, "he was +killed by the arts of Mahalaxmi." "Where did you meet her?" asked the +king. The boy said, "I stayed when the other villagers returned home, +and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs. They taught me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning +she revealed herself and promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be +found lying dead, that you would give me half your kingdom and half +your treasure, that you would build me a palace as high as your own, +and that you would call me Navalvat or Wonderways." The king did as +the goddess had foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his +treasuries to Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof +was exactly on the same level as that of his own palace. + +When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for +Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told +her all that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patâla do, and +he also told her on the eighth day of the month of Ashwin [10] to +tie on her wrist a thread with sixteen strands in it, and to wear +it continually for the rest of the month. When the 8th of Ashwin +came, Queen Patmadhavrani dutifully tied round her wrist a thread of +sixteen strands, and resolved to wear it every day for the rest of the +month. But a day or two later the king came to Queen Patmadhavrani's +apartments and began to play saripat [11] with her. As they played +he noticed the thread on her wrist and asked what it was. She told +him how Wonderways had instructed her to tie it on. But the king got +very angry and roared out, "I have in my palace garlands and twine, +bracelets, and hobbling-ropes. So throw away that wretched piece of +thread. I will not let you wear it." The queen did as she was bid, and, +pulling off the thread bracelet, threw it on the floor. Next morning +the maids and the slave-girls began to sweep the palace, and among +the sweepings one of them noticed the queen's thread bracelet. She +picked it up and showed it to Wonderways, and he grew very wroth with +Queen Patmadhavrani. He took the thread and at once went with it to +the palace of the unloved Queen Chimadevrani. He told her what had +happened, and she begged him to give the thread to her and to tell +her how to worship Mahalaxmi. But he said, "You will grow vain and +get so conceited that you will not do what I tell you to do." But +she promised that she would obey him in everything. So just as he had +told the Queen Patmadhavrani, he told Queen Chimadevrani all the rites +which he had seen the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs +perform. Everything went on just the same for a whole year. But the +next year on the 8th of Ashwin a very strange thing happened. The +goddess Mahalaxmi disguised herself as an old beggar-woman and +came to Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen +Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour +to the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and +therefore specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out +at this, and when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, "Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house to-day?" The +queen replied, "I have nothing in my house to-day." The old woman +went on, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give +this beggar-woman a little water, you will acquire merit sufficient +for all your kingdom." But the queen replied, "Even if I were to +give you a copper cauldron of water it would not suffice for all my +kingdom." The old woman then said, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother +of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a little rice and curds, +you will gain enough merit for all your kingdom." The queen replied, +"Even if I were to give you a big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, +I should not gain enough merit for all my kingdom." Then the old woman +got very angry and cursed the queen, saying, "You will become half a +frog and half a human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife's +bath-room and croak like a frog." But the queen did not mind her the +least little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the +noise was like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a +great rage and entered Queen Chimadevrani's part of the palace. There +she saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful +image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, +"Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house +to-day?" "To-day," said the queen, "we are worshipping Mahalaxmi." Then +the old beggar-woman said, "I am Mahalaxmi." But the queen doubted and +asked her, "By what sign shall I know you?" The goddess replied, "In +the morning I shall take the shape of a little girl. In the afternoon +I shall take that of a young married woman. In the evening I shall +become an old hag." After the goddess had taken all three shapes, +Queen Chimadevrani called her into the palace and bathed and anointed +her. She gave her a silk skirt and a platform to sit upon. Then she +sent for Wonderways, and both of them worshipped the old beggar-woman +and blew on earthen pots in her honour. The king heard the blowing +on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why there was such a noise +in Queen Chimadevrani's quarters. The sepoy went there, and when he +saw what was happening joined also in the worship. After a little +while he went back and told the king. The king said that he would +go there too. He followed the sepoy, and Queen Chimadevrani came +to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where both played +at saripat until dawn. And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by and watched +them. At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her blessing. She +blessed the queen and said, "The king will take you back with him to +the palace, and your co-wife will become half frog, half human being, +and will have to croak outside your bath-room while you bathe." But +Queen Chimadevrani begged the goddess not to place such a terrible +curse on Patmadhavrani. The goddess relented a little, but said, +"The king will drive her into the jungle for twelve years." At these +words she vanished and flew to Kolhapur. When the sun rose the king +placed Queen Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own +part of the palace. He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani +asking her to join them. Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani +appeared, dressed all in rags with a skirt round her legs and her +hair all unfastened. On her head was a pot full of burning coal, +and she began to shout and scream at the top of her voice. The king +became very angry and roared out, "Who is this that is shouting +and screaming? Is it a ghost or a she-devil or what?" The sepoys +replied, "O King, it is neither a ghost nor a she-devil, it is your +Queen Patmadhavrani." "Take her into the jungle," roared the king, +"and kill her there." Then he went back into the palace and began +to live in great happiness with Queen Chimadevrani. But the sepoys +took Patmadhavrani into the jungle and told her that they had been +ordered to kill her. She began to weep. The sepoys were kind-hearted +men and they felt very sorry for her. They said, "Lady, lady, do not +weep. We have eaten bread and drunk water at your hands so we cannot +kill you. We will leave you here, but you must never come back into +the kingdom again." The sepoys left her and returned to Atpat. But +the poor queen wandered on until she came to a distant town, where +she entered a coppersmith's lane. Therein a coppersmith was making +bangles for a beautiful young princess who had just been crowned +queen of the city. But suddenly none of the bangles would join. He +began to search for the cause, and asked his workmen whether any +stranger had come near his house. The workmen looked about and found +Queen Patmadhavrani in hiding close by. They told the coppersmith, +and he and his men beat her soundly and drove her away. She ran +into the lane of some weavers who were weaving a sari for the new +queen. Suddenly none of the looms would work. They began looking +about to see if any stranger had come. After a little while they found +the queen. So they beat her soundly and drove her away. Then she ran +out of the town back into the jungle. There she wandered about until +she came to the cave of a rishi or sage. The rishi was sitting lost +in meditation. But she bided her time, and, when he went to bathe, +she slipped into the cave and swept it and neaped it and tidied up +all the utensils used by him for worship. Then she slipped out of +the cave and ran back into the jungle. This went on every day for +twelve years without the rishi showing that he was aware of what she +was doing. But in his heart he was really pleased with her. And one +day he called out in a loud voice, "Who is it who sweeps and neaps my +cave? Whoever she is, let her step forward." The queen stepped into +the presence of the rishi and threw herself at his feet and said, "If +you promise not to punish me, I shall tell you." The rishi promised, +and she told him her story. The rishi took out his magic books and, +consulting them, learned that Mahalaxmi had cursed her. So he taught +her how to worship Mahalaxmi, and all night long they blew on earthen +pots and performed rites in her honour. At dawn she revealed herself +and the queen asked her for her blessing. But the goddess was still +very angry with the queen. Then the rishi joined her in begging the +goddess's pardon, and at last she relented. She said to the queen, +"Put under that tree a foot-bath full of water, sandal-wood ointment, +plates full of fruit, a stick of camphor, fans made of odorous +grasses; and handle them all so that they retain the fragrance of +some scent which the king will remember you used. To-morrow the king +will come. He will be thirsty. He will send his sepoys to look for +water. They will see all your things ready. And when they go back and +tell him, he will come himself." Next morning, as the goddess had +foretold, the king came. He saw the cool shade of the tree. He was +tired with hunting, so he sat down and rested. He washed his feet +in the foot-bath. He ate up all the fruit, drank the cold water, +and sucked the stick of camphor. When he had rested to his heart's +content, he asked the sepoy, "How is it that in the water I drank, +in the fruit I took, in the camphor I ate, I noticed a scent which +Patmadhavrani always used?" The sepoys replied, "If the king promises +to pardon us, we will tell him." The king promised. The sepoys then +told him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten +bread and had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king +told them to look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched +and searched until they came to the rishi's cave. Then they ran back +and told the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to +the rishi. The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great +length. At last he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the +queen. The king obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to +his care and blessed both her and her husband. The king put her in +his chariot and took her to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped +his chariot and sent for Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed +and anointed herself, and put on all her silk clothes, her shawls, +her embroideries, and her jewels. In front of her she placed all the +horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went to meet the king they blew their +very loudest on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the +noise, and roared out, "Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is +it the serpent-maidens of Patâla or is it the wood-nymphs who live +in the heart of the forest?" The sepoys said, "O King, it is neither +the serpent-maidens of Patâla nor is it the wood-nymphs who live in +the heart of the forest. It is Queen Chimadevrani, who is coming to +meet you as you ordered." The king turned to Patmadhavrani and said, +"If you had come in this guise to meet me, instead of coming like a mad +woman, you would never have suffered as you did." Queen Patmadhavrani +said nothing, but sat still in the chariot, and the king lifted Queen +Chimadevrani into the chariot, and all three entered the city. And as +they entered, the horn-blowers blew so loud that every one was quite +deafened. And the king lived from that time forth in perfect happiness +with both his wives. And because of his happiness, he ruled so well +that his subjects thought that King Ramchandra of Ayodhya had come +back to rule over them. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Island Palace + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. He had a disciple who used every day to go to the village pond +and bathe and worship the god Shiva. On the way he had to walk through +the sandy island in the dry bed of the river. And, as he went home +across the island, he used to hear a voice cry, "Shall I come? Shall I +come? Shall I come?"; but when he looked round he could see no one. The +Brahman's disciple at last got so frightened that he withered up until +he became as dry and as thin as a bone. At last the Brahman said, +"You have no wish to eat or drink; yet you are so thin. What is the +reason?" The boy replied, "I neither wish to eat, nor want to eat, +nor crave to eat. But I am frightened out of my wits. For whenever +I come back from my bath I hear a voice behind me call out, 'Shall I +come? Shall I come? Shall I come?'; but when I look round there is no +one there." The Brahman said, "Do not be afraid, and when you next hear +the voice, do not look behind you, but call out as boldly as you can, +'Come along, come along, come along.'" Next day the disciple went as +usual to his bath in the village pond. He worshipped the god Shiva, +and as he came home he heard the cry behind him, "Shall I come? Shall +I come? Shall I come?" The boy was very frightened, but he did not +look behind him. In a short time he mastered his fears, and then in +a voice like a bull roaring he cried out, "Come along, come along, +come along." At last he reached home, calling all the time and without +once looking behind him. + +The Brahman looked up as the disciple came in, and he saw that just +behind was walking a young girl. He at once married the girl to his +disciple and gave them a house to live in close by his own. Now, on +the first Monday in the month of Shravan, or August, the disciple +got up and said to his wife, "I am going out to worship the god +Shiva. But do not wait for me. Just eat your breakfast directly you +feel hungry." He went out, and in a little time his wife began +to feel hungry. Nevertheless, she knew that, in spite of what +her husband had said, she ought not to eat anything while he was +worshipping Shiva. So she waited for a little time, but at last she +got so terribly hungry that she could not wait any more. So she sat +down and cooked her breakfast, and had just put one mouthful into +her mouth when her husband came to the outer door. "Wife, wife," he +called, "open the door!" Then the little wife got very frightened. She +pushed the uneaten breakfast under the bed, got up, washed her hands, +and opened the door. She then told her husband that she had waited +for him, and she cooked a fresh breakfast, which both ate one after +the other. Next Monday exactly the same thing happened. The little +wife cooked her breakfast and was just beginning it when her husband +came. She then hid her uneaten breakfast under her bed and pretended +that she had waited for his return. And on the two following Mondays +the naughty little wife deceived her husband in just the same way. + +Now on the last Sunday in Shravan, when husband and wife went to lie +down, the former noticed a light shining under the bed. He looked to +see what it was, and saw several platefuls of jewels. He asked his wife +whence they had come. Now they were really the uneaten breakfasts, +which the god Shiva had turned into gold and jewels. But the naughty +little wife got very frightened and told her husband a bigger story +than ever. "They are presents," she said, "from my mother and father +and their family." "But where is your father's house?" asked the +husband. "It is in the sandy island," said the little wife, "which +lies in the dry bed of the river." "You must take me there," said her +husband. Next morning they started off together. And the naughty little +wife could hardly walk, she was so frightened. For she knew quite well +that her father had no house in the sandy island. But on the way she +prayed to Shiva, "Please, please, god Shiva, create a house for my +father in the sandy island which lies in the dry bed of the river, +even if it be only for half an hour." + +At last the husband and wife came to the sandy island. And there, lo +and behold! they saw a great big palace, and a splendidly dressed young +man came forward and greeted the disciple as his brother-in-law. And +a handsome old knight came forward and greeted the disciple as his +son-in-law. And a beautiful young woman greeted the naughty little +wife as the sister of her husband. And a lovely little girl ran up and +embraced her and called her "sister." And slave girls and maid-servants +ran forward to offer her their service. A guard of soldiers kept +watch by the palace, and at the door there were sentries, who made +way for them as they passed. Inside the house the little wife and +her husband were given platforms to sit upon, and a splendid feast +was all ready prepared for them to eat. After they had feasted, they +got up and said good-bye to the little wife's father and mother, and +garlands of flowers were placed round their necks, and they started +for their home. When they had gone half-way, the naughty little wife +remembered that she had hung her garland on a peg and had forgotten +to bring it with her. So she and her husband went back to the sandy +island. But when they got there, there was no palace, there were no +soldiers to guard it, there were no sentries at the door, there were +no maid-servants nor slave girls. There was nothing there but just +a sandy island in the middle of a dry river-bed. And on the sand lay +the garland which the naughty little wife had forgotten. She took it +up and put it round her neck. + +But her husband asked her, "What has happened to your father's +house?" The naughty little wife replied, all in tears, "As it came, +so it went. But if you promise to forgive me, I shall tell you." The +husband promised. So she told him how every Monday she had felt so +hungry and how she had cooked her breakfast, and then, on hearing her +husband's voice, had pushed it under their bed. She also told him that +the god Shiva had turned the food into gold and jewels. "Then when you +asked me," she went on, "I felt so frightened that I said they were +presents from my father and mother and the rest of my family. And +when you made me take you to my father's house, I prayed the god +Shiva to create, if only for half an hour, a house for my father on +the sandy island in the dry river-bed. And he graciously granted my +request." Then the husband forgave the naughty little wife. And she +became quite good and never told him any more stories. And they both +went home and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Nagoba, the Snake-King + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a Brahman who had seven little daughters-in-law. In the fulness of +time the month of Shravan came and with it Nagpanchmi Day [12]. In +honour of the festival, one little daughter-in-law went to her +grandpapa's house, another went to her great grandpapa's house, +another went to her father's house, until at last only the youngest +daughter-in-law remained behind. Her father and mother were dead, +and she had no uncles and no aunts and no little brothers or +sisters. So the poor little daughter-in-law felt very sad and +sat down and cried in a corner. Then she remembered that it was +Nagpanchmi Day, and that it was a festival in honour of Nagoba, the +great snake-king. So she prayed under her breath, "Please, please, +snake-king, come and pretend that you have been sent to fetch me +to my father's house!" And the great snake-king heard the prayer +and felt quite sorry for the poor little daughter-in-law who was +crying in the corner. He assumed the guise of a Brahman and came to +the house where the little daughter-in-law was, and said that he had +been sent to fetch her to her father's house. Her father-in-law was +very much astonished. For he wondered why, if the new-comer really +was a relative of the little daughter-in-law, he had never paid him +a visit before. At last he asked the little daughter-in-law who the +new-comer was. She did not know in the least. But she was so overjoyed +that some one should have come for her that she at once answered, +"He is my mother's brother." Her father-in-law believed her and sent +her off in the care of Nagoba, the snake-king. Still disguised as a +Brahman, he took her to the entrance of his underground palace and +there he told her who he was. He then reassumed his true appearance, +and, expanding the mighty hood behind his head, he seated the little +girl on it and took her down to his splendid dwelling-house beneath +the earth. In the central hall he presented her to the snake-queen +and to all the snake-princes, and told them that in no circumstances +whatever were they to bite the little daughter-in-law. + +One day the snake-queen was about to be confined. So she asked +the little daughter-in-law to sit by her side with the lamp in +her hand. The little daughter-in-law did so, and a little time +afterwards the snake-queen gave birth to a fresh litter of little +snake-princes. When the little daughter-in-law saw them all wriggling +about, she was frightened out of her wits. She let the lamp slip +out of her hands. It fell on the ground and burnt all the little +snakes' tails off. The snake-queen did her best to comfort them, +but the stumps of the little princes' tails ached so dreadfully that +it was ever so long before the snake-queen could put them off to +sleep. When the snake-king came home that evening, she told him what +had happened. And she was so cross with the little daughter-in-law, +that the snake-king had to promise that she should go back to her +father-in-law's house. A few days later, the snake-king assumed once +again the guise of a Brahman, and, loading the little daughter-in-law +with presents, took her back to her husband's home. In the course of +time the little snake-princes grew up, but their tails never grew +again. So their father, the snake-king, called one little prince, +No-tail; and the second little prince, Cut-tail; and the third little +prince, Dock-tail. And one day they asked the snake-queen how it was +that their tails had been broken off. She told them how the little +daughter-in-law had burnt them off by dropping the lamp on them. + +The snake-princes, when they heard their mother's answer, were +terribly cross with the little daughter-in-law, and they vowed that +they would be revenged on her. So they found out where she lived, +and they sent a message to her house, saying that they were coming to +pay her a visit. But they really meant to bite her to death directly +they saw her. The little daughter-in-law was overjoyed when she heard +that the snake-princes were coming to visit her. For ever since the +snake-king had pretended to be her uncle, she always thought of little +No-tail and little Cut-tail and little Dock-tail as if they had been +her own cousins. Now it so happened that the very day on which they +were expected at the little daughter-in-law's house was Nagpanchmi +Day. The little daughter-in-law was sitting in the house all alone +waiting for little Prince No-tail, little Prince Cut-tail, and little +Prince Dock-tail. They were late in coming, so to pass the time she +drew pictures of Nagoba, the snake-king, on her dining-platform and on +the wall. When she had finished the pictures, she worshipped them and +offered them milk and food. Then she prayed to the great snake-king, +"Please please, King Nagoba, guard from all hurt, wherever they may +be, my little cousins No-tail and Cut-tail and Dock-tail." And last +of all she prostrated herself at full length before the pictures +which she had drawn on the wall and on her dining-platform. + +In the meantime little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and +little Prince Dock-tail had come up without the little daughter-in-law +noticing them. But when they saw the honour which she was paying +their father, King Nagoba, and heard the prayer which she had offered +on their behalf, they no longer wished to kill or bite the little +daughter-in-law. On the contrary, they made themselves known to +her and stayed all that day in the house and were as good and as +nice as possible. When night fell, they drank the milk which she +had offered to the snake-king. And in its place they put a necklace +with nine beautiful jewels in it. Before day broke they went away +quietly and returned to their father's palace under the ground. Next +morning when the little daughter-in-law woke up she saw the lovely +necklace lying where the milk had been. She gave a shout of delight, +and putting it round her neck, she ran all over the house showing it +to everybody. And every one was perfectly charmed with it. And the +snake-princes never again came to bite any one in that household. And +the little daughter-in-law and her husband and her father-in-law and +little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and little Prince +Dock-tail, they all lived happily for ever so long afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Parwati and the Beggar-Man + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In It there lived +a Brahman. He had seven daughters, and when they had reached a +marriageable age he asked them who would arrange their marriages +and bring them handsome husbands and make their fortunes. The six +eldest daughters said, "Papa, Papa, you of course. You will arrange +our marriages and bring us handsome husbands and make our fortunes +for us." But the youngest daughter was a naughty little girl. She +got into a temper all about nothing, and she stamped her foot, and +she turned her back on her father and said, "I will arrange my own +marriage, and I will get a handsome husband for myself, and I will +make my fortune myself." The Brahman was very angry with her, and so +how do you think he punished her? He first searched about and found +six rich and handsome boys. Then he married them with great pomp and +display to his six eldest daughters. But the youngest girl he gave in +marriage to a miserable beggar-man. You never saw such a beggar-man +as he was! There was not a spot on his skin that was not black with +leprosy, and his feet and hands had rotted right off. If you had seen +him you would have said, "If that beggar-man does not die to-day +he will certainly die to-morrow. For he cannot possibly live any +longer!" When the marriage was celebrated, the little girl's mother +filled her lap with pulse and then handed her over to the beggar-man +to see what sort of fortune would be hers. But in a few days the +beggar-man died. His corpse was taken to the burning-ground, and +his little widow followed it. But when his relatives wanted to burn +the body, she forbade them and told them to go away. For she said, +"My fortune is still to come, whatever it may be." They all got round +her and tried to persuade her that there was no use in her staying by +the corpse, but she would not mind what they said. At last they were +quite tired out and went home, leaving her in the burning-ground. When +they had gone she took her husband's corpse on to her lap. Then she +prayed to the god Shiva and said: + + + "My parents disown me. O why was I born + Both as orphan and widow to live all forlorn?" + + +As she prayed, she put the pulse which her mother had put into her +lap grain by grain in the dead man's mouth. Then she sat there crying +until midnight. Now it happened that on that very night Shiva and +Parwati were in their chariot driving through the air over that very +place. Parwati said suddenly to her husband, "I hear a woman crying, +let us go and see what it is." The god Shiva drove his chariot down to +earth. He and Parwati got out and saw the Brahman's youngest daughter +crying. They asked her what the reason was, and she told them. Then +Parwati pitied her and said, "Your aunt has acquired great merit by +her piety and devotions. You go to her and get her to give you all +her merit and so you will bring your husband back to life." The god +Shiva and Parwati then mounted on their chariot and disappeared. Next +morning the little widow left her husband's body, went to her aunt's +house and begged her to give her all the merit which she had acquired, +and told her the cause of the request. The aunt was very good and +gave her all her own merit. The little widow then went back to the +burning-ground and with its aid brought her husband back to life. But +this time he was no longer a beggar-man black with leprosy and with +feet and hands that had rotted away. He was a beautiful young man +with well-shaped feet and a beautiful fair skin, and the little widow +took her husband back to her father's house. "Papa, Papa," she said, +"you turned me out, but the gods have brought me back, and good fortune +came to me without your bringing it." The father was too frightened +of Parwati to say anything, so he held his peace. And the little girl +and her husband, the beggar-man, lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Parwati and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman. When the month of Bhadrapad came round, every household +bought little images of Parwati, and the women began to walk about +the streets and sound gongs. When the poor Brahman's children saw +this they went home and said to their mother, "Mummy, Mummy, please +buy us little images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls +have." But their mother said, "What is the use of my buying images +of Parwati? If I do we shall have to make offerings, and there is +absolutely nothing in the house. You run to papa and tell him to go +into the bazaar and buy grain. If he buys grain I'll buy you images of +Parwati." The children got up and ran to their father and cried out, +"Papa, Papa, Mama says that she will buy us images of Parwati if you +will go into the bazaar and get food to offer to them." Their father +at first searched all over the house but could find no grain. And +then he looked in his purse but he could find no money with which to +go to the bazaar and buy grain. But although he tried to explain this +to his children, they would not listen to him. They screamed at him +and shouted, "Papa, Papa, Mummy says that she will buy us images of +Parwati if you will get food to offer to them." "Papa, Papa, why should +we not have images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls." At +last they bothered the poor Brahman so much that he felt worried to +death. "I love," he said, "my children as if they were made of gold, +but they will not mind what I say. They will not understand that it +is nothing but poverty which prevents my buying food and offering it +to Parwati. I might go out and beg, but when I do, no one ever gives +me anything. Death is better than a life like this." With these words +he got up and walked to the edge of the village pond and determined +to drown himself. It was dark when he started, and half-way he met +an old woman. She heard him coming and asked him who he was. He told +her all his trouble, and said that he meant to jump into the pond to +escape from his children. The woman comforted him and prevailed on him +to turn home again. He took her home. His wife came to the door with +a lamp and asked who she was. The husband did not like to say that he +had only just met her on the road, so he said to his wife, "She is my +grandmother." The wife thereupon welcomed her and invited her to come +in and stay to supper. But her heart felt as heavy as lead, for she +knew that there was nothing to eat inside the house. When the old woman +had seated herself inside the house, the Brahman's wife got up and, in +despair, went to look inside the grain-pots. She knew they were empty, +but she thought that she would first look into them once again. But, +lo and behold! when she looked this time she found the grain-pots +brimming over with grain. She called her husband, and they were both +perfectly delighted. And the wife prepared bowls full of rice-gruel, +and every one, children and all, ate the rice-gruel till the skins +on their stomachs felt quite tight. And they went to bed as happy as +possible. Next morning the old woman called to the Brahman, "My son, +my son, get me water for my bath and cook me a nice hot dinner, and +please be quick about it, and do not start making objections." The +Brahman got up and called his wife, and they got water for the old +woman's bath, and then the Brahman went out to beg. When he had gone +out before, no one had ever given him anything. But to-day every one +ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper coins. Then he went +back home in splendid spirits. His wife prepared a glorious dinner, and +the children ate so much that the skin on their stomachs felt as tight +as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old woman said to the Brahman, +"To-morrow I want a milk-pudding for dinner." "But, Grandmamma," said +the Brahman, "where shall I get the milk from?" The old woman said, +"Don't worry about that. Just get up and hammer down as many pegs as +you can in your courtyard. Then this evening, when the cattle come +home, call to the village cows and buffaloes by name, and they will +come to you, and if you milk them you will get enough milk for my +pudding to-morrow." The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, +and that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by name to come +to his courtyard. And from every direction the cows and buffaloes came +running up. And behind them galloped all the little calves with their +heels in the air and their tails stuck out straight behind them. At +last the Brahman's courtyard was filled so full that no more cows or +buffaloes could enter. And he milked them all, and next day his wife +cooked a milk-pudding such as one would not see again if one lived a +thousand years. And the children ate until they were so tired of eating +that they just rolled over and went fast asleep. But that evening the +old woman said, "My son, my son, I want you to take me home." "But, +Grandmamma, Grandmamma," said the Brahman, "how can I take you home, +for I have had all this good luck only because of you. Directly you go +away my good luck will vanish." "Do not be afraid," said the old woman, +"for I am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will never +vanish. Therefore you must come with me and see me home." But the +Brahman said, "I do not want my good luck only to continue. I want +it to increase." The old woman said, "If you come with me I shall +give you some sand. When you go back home, scatter it all over the +house and over your jars and your pots, and put it inside your boxes +and your cupboards, and scatter it all over your courtyard too, and +you will find that your good luck will never be any less than it is +now." The Brahman was satisfied with this. He worshipped the old woman +and went with her towards the tank until she suddenly disappeared. He +returned home and scattered sand all over his house and over his +jars and his pots and inside his boxes and his cupboards, and from +that day on, his good luck never left him. And his wealth increased, +and his children increased. And they all lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Soma, the Washerwoman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He had also +one daughter called Gunvanti and a wife called Dhanvanti. Whenever +a mendicant Brahman came to this house, it was the custom of all +the ladies to give him alms and then prostrate themselves in front +of him. One day a Brahman came, tall as a tree and shining like the +sun. The seven daughters-in-law ran out as usual and gave him alms +and then threw themselves at full length at his feet. The Brahman +blessed them and said, "Increase of children be yours; increase of +wealth be yours; may your husbands cherish you all your lives." But +the Brahman's daughter Gunvanti was a lazy little girl, and when the +mendicant came she was still in bed. Her mother, Dhanvanti, rushed +into her room and cried, "Daughter, daughter, get up and give the +Brahman alms," The little girl jumped up in a fright and ran out and +put alms before him and prostrated herself at his feet. The mendicant +blessed her and said, "Observe the precepts of religion." + +The little girl ran back to her mother. "Mother, Mother," she cried, +"Bhatji [13] did not give me the same blessing as he gave to my +sisters-in-law," Her mother said, "Go back again and give him some +more alms and see what he does," The little girl ran back, put +some more alms before the mendicant, and again prostrating herself +asked for his blessing. Once more he said, "Observe the precepts +of religion," Then Dhanvanti asked him why he gave her daughter +such a strange blessing. The mendicant replied, "Because widowhood +will come upon her immediately after her marriage," Dhanvanti threw +herself before the Brahman and grasped his feet and cried, weeping, +"Tell me how I may escape this evil; what shall I do to save my one +little girl from becoming a widow?" The Brahman pitied her and said, +"Lady, lady, do not weep; I shall give you a remedy by which to cure +this evil. Across the seven seas there is an island. In it there lives +a washerwoman called Soma. If you can fetch her to your daughter's +wedding, she will escape the evil that threatens her. When the wedding +is over, you must send Soma back with all honour to her house." With +these words the mendicant took up his wallet and went to collect alms +elsewhere. When her husband returned home Dhanvanti told him what had +happened. "Some one," she added, "must go across the seven seas, to +fetch Soma, the washerwoman." The father and mother called up their +sons and said, "Those of you who honour your parents will take your +sister and cross the seven seas to bring Soma here." But all the +sons turned to their mother and said, "All you care about is your +daughter. You do not love us the least little bit. So we shall not +cross the seven seas and bring Soma here just on her account." The +mother began to cry, and the father got very cross. He turned to his +wife and said, "From henceforth you have no sons. To me our seven sons +are as if they had never been born. But do not get frightened about +our little girl I myself shall cross the seven seas and fetch Soma, the +washerwoman." Then the youngest of the seven sons said to his father, +"Daddy, Daddy, you must not say that you have no sons when here we are, +all seven of us. I shall take my sister Gunvanti with me, and we shall +go and fetch Soma, the washerwoman." A few days later the two children +prostrated themselves before their parents and began their voyage. + +In course of time they came to the seashore. But the wind was +blowing, the waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over +the rocks. The brother and sister could not imagine how they were to +continue their journey. There was no one near to give them food, there +was no one near to give them drink, and they could think of nothing +better than to lie down and die. But they first resolved to pray to +the god Shiva, "Please, please, God Shiva," prayed the two children, +"get us out of this terrible trouble." After praying they went and +sat under a banian tree, and all day long they had nothing to eat or +drink. Now on the very top of the banian tree was an eagle's nest, +and in it there were several little eagles. When evening came, father +eagle and mother eagle came home and began to feed their young. But +the little eagles would not eat anything at all. Mother eagle said, +"Children, children, what is the matter?" "O Mummy, Mummy," cried +the little eagles, "two strangers have come to our house, and they +are sitting under our tree, and they have had nothing to eat all +day!" Father eagle and mother eagle flew to the ground and began to +ask the boy what his trouble was. "Do not be frightened," said father +eagle; "whatever your business, I'll help you to get it done. Do not +go to bed without supper. I'll bring you some fruit. Eat some of it +yourself and give the rest to your little sister." + +The boy told father eagle what had happened, and how it was that they +had to cross the seven seas. Father eagle said, "I shall carry you +both across directly you wake up to-morrow, and I shall put you down +at Soma the washerwoman's door." Then the two children felt very happy +and thanked the god Shiva. And after eating father eagle's fruit, +they lay down under the tree and fell fast asleep in no time. Next +morning father eagle and mother eagle came down the tree, and father +eagle took the boy on his back, and mother eagle took the girl on +her back, and off they flew across the seven seas. The wind blew, +and the waves rolled mountains high, and the foam splashed over the +rocks. But father eagle and mother eagle flew straight on until they +came to the door of Soma, the washerwoman. There they left the boy and +girl and went back to the tree where the little eagles were waiting +for them. The boy and girl were too frightened to walk into Soma's +house, so they hid all that day, and next morning they got up at dawn +and they swept the courtyard and neaped the floor with cow-dung. And +then, before any one could see them, they ran away and hid. And this +they did every day for a whole year. + +At last Soma one day called all her children and all her little +daughters-in-law and said, "Who among you gets up so early? Who sweeps +my courtyard? Who clears my floor?" All the children and all the +little daughters-in-law said, "It is not I," "It is not I," "It is not +I." Then Soma became very curious to know who it was. So the following +night she did not go to bed. She sat up, but nothing happened until +just after dawn. Then she saw the little Brahman girl sweeping the +courtyard and her brother cleaning the floor. Soma got up and said, +"Children, who are you?" They replied, "We are Brahmans." "But I am +only a washerwoman," said Soma; "I am a low-caste woman, why do you +sweep my courtyard and neap my floor? It will be reckoned unto me +as a sin If I accept the service of Brahmans." The boy said, "This +is my sister, and a Brahman has told us that unless you come to her +wedding she will be widowed shortly after marriage. Our father and +mother told us to go and bring you back with us. So, in order to make +you pleased with us, we have been working as your servants." "Do not +work for me any more," said Soma, "I shall gladly go to your wedding," +She then called to her daughters-in-law and said, "I am going to this +child's wedding. But if any one of our relations dies when I am away, +do not burn his body until I come back." She went with the two Brahman +children to the seashore. The wind was blowing, and the great waves +were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the rocks. But Soma +took the boy under one arm and the girl under the other. She jumped +far up into the sky and right over the seven seas, and when she got +to the opposite shore she put the children down again. They led her to +their father's house. Their mother Dhanvanti welcomed the washerwoman +and fell at her feet to thank her for her coming. The youngest brother +then went to Ujjain, and after making inquiries brought back a boy of +suitable caste and age to be a husband for his sister. On an auspicious +day the wedding was celebrated. But as the bridegroom and bride were +throwing rice [14] over each other, the bridegroom fainted. He fell +on the ground and lay there motionless. The little bride did not know +what to do, she was so frightened. And all the grown-up people were +almost as frightened as she was. But Soma, the washerwoman, stepped +forward and said, "It is nothing, do not be afraid." She took some +water in her hand and sprinkled it over herself. Now the secret of +Soma's power was this:-- + +She had acquired great merit by observing every Monday the following +practices: She would get up early, bathe, dress in silence, make +various gifts to Brahmans, and then walk one hundred and eight times +round a peepul tree. But now by sprinkling water over herself she had +transferred the whole of her merit to Gunvanti. By this means the +little bride had been able to restore her husband to life, and the +wedding ceremony finished amidst the happiness of all. Soma then took +leave to go, and started on her homeward journey. When she reached the +seashore, the wind was blowing, and the great waves came rolling in, +and the spray was splashing over the rocks. But now that she had given +away all her merit to Gunvanti, she had none left by means of which she +could jump across the seven seas. She sat down forlorn by the bank of +a river. Then she got up, bathed in the water, and prayed to the god +Vishnu. Next she took one hundred and eight sand-grains in her hand, +and then walked one hundred and eight times round a peepul tree by +the river's edge. Instantly her powers returned to her, and going back +to the shore, she sprang into the heavens and over the seven seas and +alighted close to her own door. There all her little daughters-in-law +ran out to meet her and cried, "O Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, we +have been watching for you. For while you were away your sons, your +husband, and all your sons-in-law died. But just as you told us to do, +we did not burn their corpses, but kept them in the house. And now +they have all suddenly come back to life." Soma questioned the little +daughters-in-law and learnt that her sons and husband and sons-in-law +had all died at the very moment when she gave her merit to Gunvanti, +and that they had come back to life precisely when she finished her +one-hundred-and-eighth turn round the peepul tree. And they were all so +glad to have Soma back with them again, and for ever such a long time +afterwards she and her family lived happily together. And the Brahman +in his joy at his son-in-law's recovery forgave his disobedient sons, +and they too all lived happily together ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Vasishta and the Four Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled +a king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the +housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself +divided the work between them. To the first queen he gave all the +dairy work, to the second queen he gave all the cooking, to the +third he gave the nursery, and he ordered the fourth to look after +the royal wardrobe. At first all went well. But in a little while +the first queen said to the third queen, "Why should you have charge +of the nursery? Why should you not work in the dairy?" The second +queen said to the fourth queen, "Why should I have to do all the +cooking?" The third queen asked, "Why should I have always to look +after the children?" And the fourth queen stamped her foot and said, "I +won't look after the king's clothes." And all day long they quarrelled +and screamed at each other, and the poor king was more uncomfortable +than ever. His face grew sad and careworn, and, from the time he got +up to the time he went to bed, he could think of nothing but the way +that his four queens were squabbling with each other. + +One day the rishi, or sage, Vasishta [15] paid the king a visit. The +king prostrated himself before the great sage and gave him a throne +to sit upon. Vasishta looked at the king's face and saw how sad and +careworn it was. He asked the cause, and the king told him. Then +the rishi rose, and the king went with him to the palace of the +four queens. When they reached it, they called to the queens to come +out. The rishi then asked them why they quarrelled. The first queen +cried out, "Why should I have to do the dairy work?" And the second +queen cried out, "Why should I be only a cook-woman?" And the third +cried out, "Why should I have all the children to look after?" And the +fourth cried out, "Why should I have all the bother of sorting out all +the king's clothes?" The king said, "You must do these things because +I ordered you to." But the queens did not mind a word that he said, +and they all screamed together so loud that the king and the rishi +had to put their fingers in their ears to save themselves from being +deafened. For a while the rishi became absorbed in thought, and then +he turned to the first queen and said, "You have been placed in charge +of the dairy, have you not?" The first queen assented. "Then listen +to me," said Vasishta. "In a former life you were a cow, and near the +spot in the jungle where you used to graze was an altar to Shiva. And +every day at noon you used to come and stand near it and let milk +drop upon it. And, because in this way you honoured the god Shiva, you +have in this life become one of the queens of the king of Atpat. But +you did not in your former life attain to full merit. So the god +Shiva directed the king to place you in charge of his dairy, and the +king conveyed the god's directions to you. You should therefore obey +them, and you should honour the king as if he were Shiva himself. In +this way you will attain to full merit and ascend to Shiva's heaven, +Kailas." Vasishta then blessed the first queen. She prostrated herself +before him, and, giving up all thought of quarrelling, went away and +busied herself with her dairy work. + +Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She replied, "Why should I be just a +cook-woman?" The rishi thought for a while and said, "Lady, in a +former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and you used to beg +your food from door to door. But every Monday you used to fast, and +whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and offer to the +god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. Therefore in this +life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And because you cooked +for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you in charge of his +kitchen. Therefore, obey the god's directions and give a great feast +to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the favour of Shiva, and he +will take you with him to Kailas." Then he blessed the second queen, +and she prostrated herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the +king's dinner. + +The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, "What are you +quarrelling about?" The queen answered, "Why should I do nothing but +fiddle about the nursery?" Vasishta thought for a while and said, +"In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a jungle tribe. Every +Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the choicest fruits that +you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he has made you a +queen, and he has entrusted the king's children to you. Therefore +look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he will take you +to live with him in Kailas." The rishi then blessed the third queen, +and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran off, her face +all smiles, to play with the king's children. + +Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She answered, "Why should I do nothing but +look after the king's clothes?" The rishi said, "In a former life, +O Queen, you were a kite that flew high up in the heavens. Beneath +where you used to fly was an altar to Shiva, and every day at noon +you would spread your wings over it and shade it from the sun's +heat. So the god was pleased with you and in this life made you one +of the queens of Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva's altar, +so now a canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva, +now do service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain +full merit and in the end reach Kailas." Then the rishi blessed her, +and she went off quite gaily to attend to the king's clothes. + +And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily ever +afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story +should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured +them of their squabbling. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy +little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all +the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she +got very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she +had done, he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family +began asking where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had +eaten them. And then every one began abusing the mice, saying what +horrid little wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be +if the cat caught and ate them up. But, when the mice heard all this, +they were very angry with the little daughter-in-law for bringing a +false charge against them, and they all met together and vowed that +they would be revenged on her. Some days later the king invited a +guest to his house, and the same night the mice went into the little +daughter-in-law's room and dragged out one of her bodices and put +it across the guest's bed. Next morning the bodice was discovered +in the stranger's bed, and the little daughter-in-law was utterly +disgraced. Her father-in-law and all her brothers-in-law scolded her +dreadfully, and at last the king drove her out of the house. Now it +so happened that it had till then always been the work of the little +daughter-in-law to look after the lamps in the king's palace. Every +morning she used to rub them well and trim the wicks. She used to light +them herself and neap the burners with sugar-candy, and on Divali [16] +Day she used to worship them and make them suitable offerings. But, +directly the little daughter-in-law was driven away, none of the +lamps were any longer cared for. On the next Divali Day the king was +returning from a hunt, and he camped under a tree. Suddenly he saw all +the lamps in his town of Atpat come and settle on its branches. One +lamp after another told what was happening in its house--when there had +been a dinner party, what there had been to eat, who had been invited, +how they themselves had been cared for, and what honours they had +received on Divali Day. After all the other lamps had told their story, +the big lamp from the king's palace began, "Brother lamps, I do not +know how to tell you. For none among you is so wretched as I am. In +former years I was the most fortunate of all the lamps in Atpat. No +other lamp had such honours paid it as I had, and this year I have +to drag out my days In unspeakable misery." All the other lamps tried +to comfort it, and asked it how it was that ill-fortune had overtaken +it. "O brother lamps, how can I tell you?" repeated the big lamp. "I +am the chief among the lamps that shine In the palace of the King of +Atpat. One day the king's little daughter-in-law ate some sweetmeats +and to save herself blamed the mice. To revenge themselves, they in +turn brought a false charge against her by putting her bodice on the +bed of one of the king's guests. So she was disgraced and driven out +of the house. And after she left ill-fortune came upon me. For every +year it was she who worshipped me and paid me honour; and wherever she +is I wish her well, and I give her my blessing." The king listened +attentively to the talk between the lamps, and thus he learnt that +his daughter-in-law was innocent. He went home and asked whether +there was any other evidence against her besides her bodice. And +when he learnt that there was none, and that no one had seen anything +happen between her and the king's guest, he sent a messenger for her +and had her brought home. And he begged her pardon for the past, and +gave her full authority over all his household; and the king lived +and ruled ever afterwards as wisely and as well as King Ramchandra +of Ayodhya. And if any one brings a false charge against any of us, +may the lamps save us as they did the king's little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Parwati and the Priest + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there was a +temple to the god Shiva. One day when Shiva and his wife Parwati +were walking about they happened to come to this temple. They sat +down there and began to play saripat. [17] After some time Parwati +seeing a priest close by asked him who had won, she or Shiva. "Shiva," +the priest replied. Parwati became very angry and cursed him, so that +he became a leper, and the pains which overtook him were absolutely +unendurable. One day a band of Apsaras [18] came down from heaven to +the temple. They saw that the priest who lived in it was a leper, +and they asked him the reason. He told them how Parwati had cursed +him. They replied, "Do not be afraid; do as we tell you and you will +get rid of your leprosy. Fast all next Monday, bathe that evening, +worship the god Shiva, and then get half a pound of flour and mix +it with treacle and ghee and eat it for dinner. But whatever you do, +eat no salt all day. Do this for sixteen Mondays in succession, and +on the seventeenth Monday get five pounds of flour, mix with it ghee +and treacle, and offer it to Shiva inside this temple. Then divide it +into three parts; leave one for the god, distribute a second among +the Brahmans or give it to your cows, and take the third home to +be eaten by you and your family." The Apsaras disappeared, and the +priest followed their instructions and became quite well. Some time +afterwards Shiva and Parwati came again to the temple. Parwati saw +the priest cured of his leprosy and asked him how he had got rid of +it. He told her exactly what he had done. She was very much surprised, +and thought that if she did the same she might win back her son +Kartakswami, [19] who had quarrelled with her and had run off in a +rage. On the seventeenth Monday Kartakswami suddenly appeared, and +both of them were reconciled. Later on, Kartakswami asked Parwati how +she had brought him back, and Parwati told him. Now Kartakswami had a +Brahman friend who had gone into a far-off country, and Kartakswami +met him by accident shortly afterwards. He told the Brahman how the +priest had cured himself of leprosy, and how he and Parwati had become +reconciled. So the Brahman also practised the same rites for seventeen +Mondays. He then set out for a distant country. As he travelled he +came to a town. Now it happened that in that town arrangements were +being made for the marriage of the king's daughter. Several princes +had come from far-off countries to compete for her hand, and the king +had erected a splendid pavilion for the royal betrothal. But he would +not himself choose a prince to be his daughter's husband. He ordered +that a garland should be placed on a she-elephant's trunk, and that +the prince round whose neck the she-elephant threw the garland should +be chosen to marry the king's daughter. But the she-elephant passed +by all the princes in turn, until she came to where the Brahman +stood. For he had come with the crowds of people to see the royal +betrothal. Then the she-elephant stopped and put the garland round +the Brahman's neck. The king ordered the Brahman to step forward, and +he married him to his daughter. Some years later when the princess +grew up, and she and the Brahman began to live together, she asked +her husband by what merit he had succeeded in winning her for his +wife, and he told her. And she in turn practised the same rites for +seventeen Mondays. Nine months later a beautiful baby boy was born to +her; and when he in turn grew up she told him the rites which she had +practised to obtain him. And he in turn began to perform them. On the +sixteenth Monday he set out for a journey. As he travelled in a distant +country he came to a town over which ruled a king who had no son and +only one daughter. The king had for a long time past been searching +for a beautiful and virtuous young man, resolved when he found him to +hand over to him his kingdom and marry him to his daughter. As the +Brahman's son entered the town the king saw him and noticed on him +all the marks of royal origin. So he summoned him to his house and +married him to his daughter and seated him on his own throne. Now +the next Monday was the seventeenth Monday since the Brahman's son +had begun the rites which the Apsaras had told to the priest. That +morning he got up and went to the temple and sent a message home to +his wife that she should send him five sers of flour mixed with ghee +and treacle. But the queen was too proud to do this. For she feared +that the people in the street would laugh at her if she sent her +husband five sers of flour mixed with ghee and treacle. So instead +she sent him five hundred rupees in a plate. But because the flour +and ghee and treacle were not sent, the king was unable to complete +his ceremonial, and it was all spoilt. And the god Shiva instead of +being pleased became very angry indeed. And he told the king that, +if he kept the queen as his wife, he would lose his kingdom and die +a beggar. Next day the king sent for his chief minister and told him +what had happened. At first the minister said, "The kingdom belongs +to the queen's father. If you drive her out your subjects will hate +you." But the king replied, "Yes, but not to obey the god's command +is a worse thing still." At last the minister agreed with the king, +and the order went forth that the queen should be driven out of the +city. So the queen was driven out and became quite poor and wandered +along the road. At last she came to a distant town and lodged there +with an old woman, who gave her food and drink. One day the old woman +sent the queen out to sell fruit puddings. As she went into the bazaar +a great wind came and carried off the fruit puddings. When she returned +to the old woman's house, the queen told her what had happened, and +the old woman drove her out of the house. Then she went and lodged +with an oilman, who had great jars full of oil. But one day she went +and looked inside the jars, and all the oil disappeared. So the oilman +drove her off out of the house. The queen left the town and walked +along until she came to a river with abundant water in it. But directly +her eyes fell on the water, it all flowed away and left the water-bed +quite dry. She then journeyed on until she came to a beautiful lake, +but when her glance rested on the lake, it became full of worms, and +the water began to stink. And, when the cowherds came as usual to +water their cattle, the cattle would not drink the stinking water, +and they had to go home thirsty. By chance a Gosavi, or holy man, +came that way and saw the queen, and she told him her story. The +holy man took her to his house and treated her as his own daughter, +and she did her best to serve him faithfully. But, at whatever thing +she looked, it would either disappear or become full of worms and +maggots. At last the holy man searched for the cause of this by means +of his inner knowledge. And thus he learnt that she had incurred the +sin of spoiling the worship of Shiva, which the Apsaras had first +taught the priest. Unless that sin were atoned for, her evil glance +would never be purified. So the holy man prayed to the god Shiva, +and the god was pleased with him; and when the holy man interceded +with him on the queen's behalf, the god said that he would forgive her +if she began and completed properly the rites which she had spoiled +when her husband was performing them. The queen did so, and the god's +anger vanished. Suddenly there rose in the heart of her husband, the +king, a wish to see his queen, and he sent out messengers on every +side to look for her. At last one of the messengers saw the queen in +the holy man's hermitage and went back and told the king. The king +was overjoyed, and, taking his chief minister with him, he journeyed +to the hermitage. He threw himself at the holy man's feet and then +loaded him with presents. And the holy man was pleased and said, +"O King, I have treated your wife exactly as if she had been my own +daughter. She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's +house. Now take her with you back again and once more go through the +marriage ceremony with her." The king consented, and both he and the +queen prostrated themselves before the holy man, and then they both +returned to Atpat. And they celebrated their home-coming with the +greatest splendour. And the rest of the king's reign was as happy as +possible. And we shall be just as happy if we honour Shiva like the +King of Atpat did. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Rishi and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. For many years he lived happily and cultivated his fields of +rice and grain. But one day his wife gave up the observances imposed +on her, and, as a result, the whole house was stained by her conduct, +and pollution hung like a black cloud over it. Her husband should +have driven her out, but he had not the heart to do so. So he, too, +incurred the blame of his wife's sin. In course of time they died, +and, as a punishment for their wickedness, the husband became in his +next life a bullock, and the wife became a dog. But the gods so far +relented as to find them a home in the house of their only son. + +Now the son was a very pious man, who never failed in his religious +rites. He worshipped the gods, gave memorial honours to his dead +father, and welcomed to his house every Brahman who passed by. One +year, on the anniversary of his father's death, he told his wife +to prepare a milk-pudding in honour of the dead, and announced that +he would invite Brahmans to partake of it. The wife was as pious as +her husband and never failed to obey his commands. So she made a big +milk-pudding, and she boiled vegetables and stewed fruits. But just as +she had finished and was about to invite her husband and his Brahman +guests to begin their feast, the dog saw that a snake had entered the +grain-jar, which had not been properly shut, and that it had left its +poisonous trail all over the grain from which the milk-pudding had been +prepared. The dog at once realised that, if the Brahmans who had been +invited to the memorial feast ate the poisoned grain, they would die, +and that the sin of Brahman murder would be incurred by the host, +her son. So she suddenly rushed up and put her foot right into the +middle of the milk-pudding. The son's wife was very angry. She threw +a red-hot coal at the dog with such skill that it dropped on to the +middle of her back and burnt a big hole in it. Then the son's wife +cooked a fresh milk-pudding and fed the Brahmans. But she was so +cross with the dog that she would not give her the smallest possible +scrap. So the poor dog remained hungry all day. When night fell she +went to the bullock who had been her husband and began to howl as +loudly as she could. The bullock asked her what the matter was. She +told him how she had seen that a snake had poisoned the grain, and +how, to prevent the Brahmans dying and her son incurring the sin of +their death, she had put her paw into the middle of the milk-pudding; +how her daughter-in-law had been angry and had burnt a hole in her +back with a live coal, and how her back hurt so that she did not know +what to do. The bullock answered, "You are suffering for the pollution +with which you darkened our house in a former life, and, because I +let you remain in the house and touched you, I too am suffering, and +I have become a bullock. Only to-day my son fastened me to his plough, +tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too have, like you, had nothing to eat +all day. Thus all my son's memorial services are useless." Now the son +happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He +at once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he +brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at +heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until +at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself +before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman's son +said, "I am sad because my father has been born again as a bullock +and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their release," The +rishi said, "There is only one way to help them. You must worship the +seven sages who have their home in the Great Bear." [20] And he told +the Brahman's son the ceremonies which he should observe, and how he +should worship the seven sages continually every month of Bhadrapad, or +September, for seven years. The Brahman's son obeyed the rishi, and at +the end of the seven years a fiery chariot came down from heaven. The +bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome +woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off +to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The King and the Water-Goddesses + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled +a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a +village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it +filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him, +and the water-goddesses were pleased and said, "O King, O King, +sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the +tank will fill with water." The king heard it and went home very +troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved +the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of +many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last +he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, "Daughter-in-law, +it is a long time since you went to see your parents. You had better +go and pay them a visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look +after him here." The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her +parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable +day and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in +his honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took +him into the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and +told him not to stir. The water-goddesses were pleased, and a great +mass of water suddenly rushed into the tank, and it was filled right +up to the brink. After a time the daughter-in-law came back from her +father's house and brought her brother with her. They asked where her +son was, but they could get no information. Whenever they asked the +king, he did nothing but say how the water had come into the tank, +and what a beautiful tank it was, and how happy it would make all +the villagers. At last the daughter-in-law guessed what had happened, +and when the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shravan, +or August, came round, she and her brother went to the edge of the +tank and began to worship the water-goddesses. She took a cucumber +leaf, and on it she placed some curds and rice. Next she mixed +with them some butter and a farthing's worth of betel-nut. Then she +told her brother to pray, "O Goddess, Mother of All, if any one of +our family is drowned in the tank please give him back to us." He +did so and then threw the offering into the lake. Then they both +turned to go home. But as she was turning homewards, she felt some +one pull her by the legs. She looked down and saw that it was her +missing son. When she saw him she dragged him with all her might to +the bank, and then she and her brother walked home with him. When +the king heard that she was coming, together with her missing son, +he wondered greatly, and going to her he fell at her feet and said, +"O my daughter, I offered your son to the water-goddesses; how has +he come back again?" She said, "I worshipped the water-goddesses +and made offerings to them. Then my son came out of the water, and +I lifted him up and drew him to the shore." The king was overjoyed +and showed the greatest favour to his daughter-in-law. And she and +her little son lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Lid of the Sacred Casket + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had two twin sons. While they were still quite young, +the twins' parents died, and their relatives stole from them all +their property and then turned them out of the house. The twins +wandered along until they came to a town. It was then noon, and +the boys were weary with walking and were tortured with hunger and +thirst. As they entered the town, a Brahman came out of his door +to throw food to the crows. He saw the two boys and called them in, +fed them, and then made them tell him their story. When he heard it +he resolved to provide for them, and he lodged them in his house and +taught them to recite the Vedas. On Lalita Panchmi Day the Brahman +began to perform certain ceremonies. His pupils asked him why he did +so. The sage replied that by doing so one could attain to wealth, +knowledge, and to the wish of one's heart. The boys begged him to +instruct them, and they quickly learnt how to worship the goddess +Parwati. Not long afterwards the Brahman provided them with wives, +and they returned to their own city, acquired wealth, and were very +happy. A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a +wise boy and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita +Panchmi Day. So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the +younger was foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to +dislike him, and he lost all his money. And at last he became so poor +that he and his wife had to give up their house and go and live on +the charity of his elder brother. One day the elder brother's wife +spoke so crossly and said such nasty things to the younger twin, +that he felt that he could not stay in the house any longer. And he +remembered then that of recent years he had entirely forgotten to +worship Parwati. He felt very penitent, and he decided that somehow or +other he would win back the goddess's favour. Taking his wife with him, +he left his brother's house and journeyed to a distant country. At +last he came near a town, and, meeting a cowherd, the younger twin +asked him what its name was. The cowherd said, "The town is called +Upang." "Who is the king?" asked the younger twin. The cowherd replied, +"He also is called Upang." The wanderer then asked whether there was +any place where he and his wife could lodge. The cowherd told him +that in the town there was a temple of Parwati, and close to it +was a rest-house where the wanderer and his wife could lodge. The +cowherd directed them to the rest-house. And before lying down the +younger twin worshipped Parwati in the temple and begged her pardon +for his previous neglect. Parwati felt sorry for him, and that night +she appeared to him in a dream. She told him to go to King Upang's +palace and to beg from him the lid of the sacred casket in which +the accessories of worship were kept. He should, thereafter, always +pray to it, and in the end he would come by his heart's desire. The +younger twin woke up, and the same morning he went to King Upang's +palace and begged from him the lid of the sacred casket in which were +kept the accessories of worship. The king at first refused, but when +the younger twin told the king of his dream the king consented. The +Brahman took the lid home, worshipped it, and, just as the goddess +had foretold, he came by his heart's desire. Property and happiness +returned, and a year later his wife bore him a daughter. As the years +passed the little girl grew up. One day she took the lid of the sacred +casket and went with some playmates to play and bathe by the bank of +a river. Suddenly the corpse of a Brahman came floating by. Seeing +it, the little girl took the lid of the casket and for fun began to +splash water on it. Such was the power of the sacred lid, that the +corpse instantly became alive again and became a Brahman, tall as a +tree and beautiful as the sun. The little girl fell in love with him +on the spot and told him that he must become her husband. "But," said +the Brahman, "how shall I manage it?" The little girl said, "Come home +with me at dinner-time, take as usual water [21] in your hand, but do +not sip it. Then my daddy will ask you, 'Bhatji, Bhatji, why do you +not sip the water in your hand?' You must reply, 'I am ready to dine +if you marry me to your daughter. If you will not, I shall get up and +go away.' Then he will consent to our marriage." The Brahman agreed, +and he went home with the little girl, and everything happened as she +had planned. To prevent the Brahman from getting up without any food, +the little girl's father agreed to their marriage. When a favourable +day came they were married, and when she was old enough the little +girl went to her husband's house. As she went she carried off the +lid of the sacred casket of King Upang. But, because it had gone, +her father lost all his wealth and fell once more into the greatest +poverty. His wife went to her daughter's house and asked for it +back, but she refused to give it up. The wife was very angry and +every day began to hate her son-in-law more and more. But for him, +as she thought, the little girl would never have married and would +not have stolen the lid of the sacred casket. One day the wife met +her son-in-law on the road, and she gave him such a fearful slap in +the face that he instantly fell on the ground and became a corpse +again. His mother-in-law then-snatched from him the lid of the casket, +which he happened to have in his hand, and ran away home. There he +lay until the little girl, his wife, began to search for him. When +she found him she prayed to the goddess, and by her aid and by means +of the merit which she had acquired by worshipping the lid of the +casket while she had it, she restored her husband to life. But the +twin and his wife went on becoming poorer and poorer. And at last +they went back to his brother's house and asked him why it was that +the younger twin was always losing his wealth as fast as he gained +it. The elder brother listened to the whole story and then he said, +"I do not wonder at it. First you lost the lid of the casket, then, +in order to get it back, your wife killed a Brahman. Your only chance +now is to worship Parwati harder than ever, and perhaps in the end +you may recover your good estate." So the younger brother went home +and worshipped Parwati with greater vigour than ever. And at last +she relented and gave him her blessing. He recovered his wealth and +came by all that his heart desired. And he and his wife lived happily +ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who used always to perform Shradh or memorial ceremonies +to his father on the last day of the month of Shravan. When performing +these ceremonies he always invited other Brahmans to dine. But it so +happened that on every last day of the month of Shravan, [22] from the +day of his father's death onwards, his daughter-in-law gave birth to a +little boy. And just as the Brahmans had begun to enjoy their dinner, +the child would die. So all the Shradh ceremonies had to cease, +and the poor Brahmans had to be sent away feeling most dreadfully +hungry. This happened regularly for six years. But, when the seventh +little boy was born only to die just as his guests were beginning +to enjoy their dinner, the poor Brahman lost all patience. He took +the newly-born child and placed it in his daughter-in-law's lap and +then drove her out of the house and into the jungle. The poor woman +walked along until she came to a great, dark forest. In it she met the +wife of a hobgoblin, [23] who asked, "Lady, Lady, whose wife are you, +and why do you come here? Run away as quickly as you can. For, if my +husband the hobgoblin sees you, he will tear you to pieces and gobble +you up." The poor woman said she was the daughter-in-law of a Brahman, +and explained how every year she had given birth to a son on the last +day of Shravan, how it had died in the middle of the Shradh feast, +and how at last her father-in-law had put the child in her lap and +had driven her from home and into the forest. The hobgoblin's wife +repeated, "If you value your life at all, go away." The Brahman +woman began to cry, until at last the hobgoblin's wife had pity on +her and said, "Do not be afraid; walk a little way until you come to +an altar to the god Shiva, Close by is a bel [24] tree; climb into it +and hide among the branches. To-night the serpent-maidens from Patâla +and the wood-nymphs, together with a train of seven demon Asuras, +[25] will come and worship at the altar. After making their offerings +to the god, they will call out, 'Is there any uninvited guest present +to whom we can make a gift?' You must then call out in reply, 'Yes, +I am here.' They will see you and question you, and you must tell them +all your story." The poor Brahman woman agreed. She walked on until +she came to the god Shiva's altar. She climbed into the branches of +the bel tree. She remained there until midnight came. Suddenly the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, accompanied by a +train of seven demon Asuras, came and worshipped at the altar. After +making offerings to the god they called out, "Is there any uninvited +guest present to whom we can make a gift?" The Brahman woman at once +climbed down the bel tree and called out in answer, "Yes, I am here," +The serpent-maidens from Pâtala and the wood-nymphs, greatly surprised, +asked her who she was, and she told them all her story. Then the +serpent-maidens of Pâtala and the wood-nymphs ordered their train +of demon Asuras to go and search for the seven sons of the Brahman +woman. The seven demon Asuras spurred their horses and rode off in all +directions. In a little time the giant captain of the demon guards +rode up carrying in his arms the body of a little boy of six. Then +another rode up carrying the body of a little boy of five. And four +others rode up carrying a little boy of four, a little boy of three, +a little boy of two, and a little boy only one year old. Last of +all the seventh demon Asura rode up with a newly-born baby boy. The +demons placed the bodies in front of the serpent-maidens from Patâla +and of the wood-nymphs. And first of all the little boy of six came to +life and got up and ran to his mother. Next the little boy of five, +and then the little boy of four, and then the little boy of three +came to life and ran to their mother. Then the little boy of two +came to life and got up, but he could only walk to his mother. Next +the little one-year-old boy came to life, but he could not get up, +so he lay on his back and kicked up his legs. And last of all the +newly-born baby came to life, but he could not even kick up his +legs. And they were all delighted to see their mother, and she was +overjoyed to have all her sons again. But the serpent-maidens from +Patâla and the wood-nymphs warned her that she must pray to the +sixty-four Yoginis, the attendants who wait on Durga, the Goddess +of Death, or else her children would be snatched from her again. And +they told her to pray her hardest, for her prayer had to travel down +to the depths of Hell. So the Brahman woman prayed her hardest to +the sixty-four Yoginis, and then she prostrated herself before the +serpent-maidens from Patâla, and the wood-nymphs, and their train of +demon Asuras. And then she took the little one-year-old boy on her hip, +and the newly-born baby boy in her arms, and she walked with her other +five sons to the village. When the villagers saw her coming they ran +and said to the Brahman, "Bhatji, Bhatji, your daughter-in-law is +coming back home." And the Brahman became very angry and vowed that +he would drive her away again. So he watched for her coming. But +first of all he saw walking towards his house a little boy of six, +and then a little boy of five, and then a little boy of four, and +then two other little boys of three and two. Last of all he saw his +daughter-in-law with a one-year-old boy on her hip and a newly-born +baby in her arms. He rose and fetched a cauldron of water and two +handfuls of rice from his house. And he waved his hands filled with +rice round the heads of his daughter-in-law and of all her children, +and last of all he washed their feet. In this way he welcomed back to +his house his grandchildren and their mother. And he made her tell +him all her story; and she, and her children, and the Brahman spent +the rest of their lives in great peace and perfect happiness. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +The Golden Temple + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there reigned a +king who had four daughters-in-law. He loved three of them very dearly, +but the fourth, who was an ugly little girl, he did not like at all. To +the three daughters-in-law he gave nice food and fine clothes. But +to the ugly little daughter-in-law he gave nothing but scraps from +his table and thick, coarse clothes to wear. He would not even let her +sleep inside the house, but made her sleep in the stable and look after +the cows. The poor ugly daughter-in-law grew so unhappy that, when the +first Monday in Shravan [26] came, she ran out of the palace, and out +of the town, and then away as fast as her fat little legs would carry +her. At last she went and hid herself in the woods. Now it so happened +that that very day a band of serpent-maidens [27] had come up from +Patala. After wandering through the forest and bathing in the running +streams, they had joined a bevy of wood-nymphs and were coming in her +direction. At first she was too terrified to say a single word. But at +last she asked, "Ladies, ladies, where are you going?" "To the temple +of Shiva," they replied, "to worship the god. For by doing that, one +wins the love of one's husband, one obtains children, and one comes by +the wish of one's heart." When the ugly daughter-in-law heard that by +doing what the serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs were about to do +she could win love for herself, she at once thought that in this way +she, too, might win the love of her father-in-law. So she told the +serpent-maidens of Patala and the wood-nymphs that she would go with +them. They went deeper and deeper into the forest until at last they +came to a temple of the god Shiva. There the serpent-maidens and the +wood-nymphs offered to the god rice, betel-nut, incense, flowers, and +the leaves of the bel tree. The ugly little daughter-in-law did just +as they did. And when she had finished she cried out, "O God Shiva, +please, please vouchsafe my prayer also, and make my father-in-law +and my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like +me as much as they now dislike me." That evening she went home and +fasted, and all the scraps which they threw to her from the king's +table she gave to her favourite cow. And then she sat by herself and +prayed to the god Shiva. The following Monday she once more ran out of +the palace and out of the town and into the woods as fast as her fat +little legs would carry her. There she met again the serpent-maidens +of Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs and went with them to the +temple of Shiva in the distant heart of the forest. The first time the +serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs had given her the incense and the +flowers, the rice and the betel-nut, and the leaves of the bel tree, +with which to perform her worship. But they had told her that the +next time she must bring them herself. So when she ran away on the +second Monday in Shravan she brought with her incense and flowers, +rice and betel-nut and bel-tree leaves, and after offering them and +some sesamums to the god she once more prayed, "O God Shiva, please, +please grant my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." Then she went home and fasted, and giving all her dinner +to her favourite cow she sat by herself and prayed to Shiva. That +evening the king asked her who the god was whom she was honouring, +and where he lived. The ugly little daughter-in-law replied, "Afar +off my god lives, and the roads to him are hard, and the paths to him +are full of thorns. Where snakes abound and where tigers lie in wait, +there is his temple." The third Monday in Shravan, the ugly little +daughter-in-law again started from the palace with her flowers and +incense, her betel-nut and bel leaves, her rice and sesamum, in order +to meet the serpent-maidens of Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs, and +with them to worship the god in the hidden depths of the forest. This +time the king and her other male relatives followed her and said +to her, "Ugly little daughter-in-law, take us with you and show us +your god." But the temple of Shiva was ever so far from the king's +palace. The ugly daughter-in-law did not mind, for she was used to +cruel treatment. She had also walked to the temple twice before, and +her feet had got as hard as two little stones. But the king and his +relatives were tired to death; and their feet swelled up to the size +of an elephant's, and they became as full of thorns as the back of a +porcupine. And they muttered to each other, "How on earth does that +ugly little daughter-in-law manage to walk as she does through the +heart of the forest?" The ugly daughter-in-law at last felt sorry for +them. She prayed to the god Shiva to build a temple near at hand. The +god consented, and, with the help of the serpent-maidens of Patâla +and of the wood-nymphs, he created suddenly a beautiful temple all of +pure, yellow gold. Its pillars were studded with jewels, and the jars +in it were all of crystal. In the middle there rose from the ground +an altar to the god Shiva. And last of all the god revealed himself +to the king and his companions in all his glory and splendour. For +a moment only they saw him; and then he vanished. The king and his +companions stared, too astonished to move or speak. But the ugly +little daughter-in-law prostrated herself and offered to the god +flowers and incense. Then she cried out, "O God Shiva, please, please +vouchsafe my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." When the king heard her prayer his heart softened to her, +and he spoke kindly to her and gave her jewelry and trinkets. In a +little while he took off his turban and, placing it on a peg, walked +out to look at a lovely lake which, unnoticed by any one before, +now stretched out close by the temple. And behind him strolled out +his companions. But when they had gone out of sight, the beautiful +golden temple by the lake vanished for ever. After looking at the +lake the king came back to fetch his turban which he had left in +the temple. But he could not find the beautiful temple all of pure, +yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its crystal jars. The +king asked the little daughter-in-law the cause. She said nothing, +but straightway walked deeper into the forest. And the king and his +companions, although weary to death, followed her. At last they came to +the temple where she had worshipped, together with the serpent-maidens +from Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs. It was a tiny temple, +and inside it there was a rough altar. At the foot of the altar lay +the flowers which the ugly daughter-in-law had offered to the god, +and close by on a peg hung the turban left by the king. Again the +king asked his daughter-in-law the meaning of what had happened. She +replied, "This temple that you see is my own poor little temple. But, +because of my prayers, the god Shiva showed himself to you in the +beautiful temple, all of pure, yellow gold, with its jewel-studded +pillars and its crystal jars." When the king heard her reply, he grew +more pleased than ever with the daughter-in-law whom formerly he had +so disliked. And because the god had revealed himself at her prayer, +the king, to do her honour, sent for his royal palanquin and had her +carried home in state. And the ugly little daughter-in-law became out +of the four the king's favourite. And he was so much nicer to her than +he was to his other three daughters-in-law that they became as jealous +as cats. But the king and the ugly little daughter-in-law did not mind +them the least little bit. And they both lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +NOTES + +[1] For an account of the birth of Kartakswami see The Tale of the +Tulsi Plants p. 93. + +[2] In India days of the week have the same mysterious connexion +with the astral bodies that they have in Europe. Aditwar or Raviwar +is sun's day (Sunday); Somwar is moon's day (Monday); Mangalwar is +Mars' day (mardi); Budhwar is Mercury's day (mercredi); Brihaspatiwar +is the day of Diespiter or Jupiter (jeudi); Shukrawar is Venus' day +(vendredi); Shaniwar is Saturn's day (Saturday). + +[3] His bad actions in a former life. + +[4] All these stories take place in Atpat town. This literally means +"City Splendid." But in the tales it is simply a fabulous city. + +[5] Although Tuesday is really the day of Mars, Mangal, this tale +by a popular error connects the day with Mangalgauri or Parwati, +Shiva's wife. + +[6] Budh is Mercury; Brahaspati is Jupiter. + +[7] For serpent-maidens of Patâla see note to Story XX. + +[8] Mahalaxmi is always worshipped in this way. And it is a common +practice for anyone who wants anything to blow on a pot and then wish +for it. + +[9] Kolhapur is the chief seat of the worship of Mahalaxmi. + +[10] Ashwin corresponds approximately with October. + +[11] A kind of draughts. + +[12] Nagpanchmi Day falls on Shravan Sud 5, i.e. the 5th day of the +bright half of Shravan. + +[13] Bhatji is the name by which a mendicant Brahman is addressed. + +[14] This is called the akshataropan. + +[15] Vasishta was the family priest of King Dasaratha, father of +Ramchandra. After death he became one of the stars in the constellation +of the Great Bear. + +[16] Divali is the feast of lamps in the month of Kartih. + +[17] Saripat is a kind of draughts. + +[18] Apsaras are attendants on the gods. + +[19] Kartakswami was really Parwati's step-son (see Preface). + +[20] The Indians do not associate the Great Bear constellation with a +bear, but they believe it to be the habitation of seven rishis. The +seven rishis vary in different works. In the Mahabharat the names +given are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatya, and Vasishta. + +[21] Aposhani. This is the water which a Brahman sips from his hand +before and after his meal. + +[22] Shravan corresponds roughly with August. The death of the child +nullified all the virtue of the Shradh feast, which had at once to +be stopped. + +[23] Zhoting is really the unquiet ghost of a Musulman, but hobgoblin +is probably a sufficiently close translation. + +[24] A tree sacred to Shiva. + +[25] The Asuras, who are now reckoned petty demons, had once upon +a time a much higher position. They are the same as Ahura-Magda, +the Jupiter of the Iranians. The latter, curiously enough, +degraded the Devas or Hindu Gods to the subordinate place of +demons. (Cf. Rawlinson's Bactria, page 21.) + +[26] Shravan = August. + +[27] Nag-kanya. These are the maidens of the race of the Nagas, who +are said to have sprung from Kadru, wife of Kasyapa. One of them, +Ulupi, married the hero Arjuna. They live in Patâla, the lowest of +the seven underground regions. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 11167-0.txt or 11167-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/6/11167/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/old/11167-0.zip b/old/11167-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5dae9d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-0.zip diff --git a/old/11167-h.zip b/old/11167-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7dc7a82 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h.zip diff --git a/old/11167-h/11167-h.htm b/old/11167-h/11167-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4205537 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/11167-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3917 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> + +<html lang="en-uk"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> +<title>Deccan Nursery Tales; or, Fairy Tales from the South</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +body +{ +font: 100%/1.2em "Times New Roman", Times, serif; +margin: 1.58em 16%; +text-align: left; +} +/***** Titlepage *****/ +.titlePage +{ +border: #DDDDDD 2px solid; +margin: 3em 0% 7em 0%; +padding: 5em 10% 6em 10%; +} +h1.docTitle +{ +font-size:1.6em; +line-height:2em; +} +h2.byline +{ +font-size:1.1em; +font-weight:normal; +line-height:1.44em; +} +span.docAuthor +{ +font-size:1.2em; +font-weight:bold; +} +h2.docImprint +{ +font-size:1.2em; +font-weight:normal; +} +/***** End Titlepage *****/ +.transcribernote +{ +background-color:#DDE; +border:black 1px dotted; +color:#000; +font-family:sans-serif; +font-size:80%; +margin:2em 5%; +padding:1em; +} +.advertisment +{ +background-color:#FFFEE0; +border:black 1px dotted; +color:#000; +margin:2em 5%; +padding:1em; +} +.width20 +{ +width: 20%; +} +.width40 +{ +width: 40%; +} +.indextoc +{ +text-align: center; +} +.div0 +{ +padding-top: 5.6em; +} +.div1 +{ +padding-top: 4.8em; +} +.index +{ +font-size: 80%; +} +.div2 +{ +padding-top: 3.6em; +} +.div3, .div4, .div5 +{ +padding-top: 2.4em; +} +.footnotes .body, +.footnotes .div1 +{ +padding: 0; +} +.apparatusnote +{ +text-decoration: none; +} +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, pseudoh4 +{ +clear: both; +font-style: normal; +text-transform: none; +} +h3, .pseudoh3 +{ +font-size:1.2em; +line-height:1.2em; +} +h3.label +{ +font-size:1em; +line-height:1.2em; +margin-bottom:0; +} +h4, pseudoh4 +{ +font-size:1em; +line-height:1.2em; +} +.alignleft +{ +text-align:left; +} +.alignright +{ +text-align:right; +} +.alignblock +{ +text-align:justify; +} +p.tb, hr.tb +{ +margin-top: 1.6em; +margin-bottom: 1.6em; +margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; +text-align: center; +} +p.argument, p.note, p.tocArgument +{ +font-size:0.9em; +line-height:1.2em; +text-indent:0; +} +p.argument, p.tocArgument +{ +margin:1.58em 10%; +} +p.tocChapter +{ +margin:1.58em 0%; +} +p.tocSection +{ +margin:0.7em 5%; +} +.epigraph +{ +font-size:0.9em; +line-height:1.2em; +width: 60%; +margin-left: auto; +} +.epigraph span.bibl +{ +display: block; +text-align: right; +} +.trailer +{ +clear: both; +padding-top: 2.4em; +padding-bottom: 1.6em; +} +.figure +{ +margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; +} +.floatLeft +{ +float:left; +margin:10px 10px 10px 0; +} +.floatRight +{ +float:right; +margin:10px 0 10px 10px; +} +p.figureHead +{ +font-size:100%; +text-align:center; +} +.figAnnotation +{ +font-size:80%; +position:relative; +margin: 0 auto; /* center this */ +} +.figTopLeft, .figBottomLeft +{ +float: left; +} +.figTop, .figBottom +{ +} +.figTopRight, .figBottomRight +{ +float: right; +} +.figure p +{ +font-size:80%; +margin-top:0; +text-align:center; +} +img +{ +border-width:0; +} +p.smallprint,li.smallprint +{ +color:#666666; +font-size:80%; +} +span.parnum +{ +font-weight: bold; +} +.leftnote +{ +font-size:0.8em; +height:0; +left:1%; +line-height:1.2em; +position:absolute; +text-indent:0; +width:14%; +} +.pagenum +{ +display:inline; +font-size:70%; +font-style:normal; +margin:0; +padding:0; +position:absolute; +right:1%; +text-align:right; +} +a.noteref, a.pseudonoteref +{ +font-size: 80%; +text-decoration: none; +vertical-align: 0.25em; +} +.displayfootnote +{ +display: none; +} +div.footnotes +{ +margin-top: 1em; +padding: 0; +} +hr.fnsep +{ +margin-left: 0; +margin-right: 0; +text-align: left; +width: 25%; +} +p.footnote +{ +font-size: 80%; +margin-bottom: 0.5em; +margin-top: 0.5em; +} +p.footnote .label +{ +float:left; +width:2em; +height:12pt; +display:block; +} +.footnotes td, .footnotes th, .footnotes .tablecaption +{ +font-size: 80%; +} +/****** Tables ******/ +td.sum +{ +padding-top: 2px; border-top: solid black 1px; +} +/****** Poetry ******/ +.lgouter +{ +margin-left: auto; +margin-right: auto; +display:table; /* used to make the block shrink to the actual size */ +} +.lg +{ +text-align: left; +} +.lg h4, .lgouter h4 +{ +font-weight: normal; +} +.lg .linenum +{ +color:#777; +font-size:90%; +left:-2.5em; +margin:0; +position:absolute; +text-align:center; +text-indent:0; +top:auto; +width:1.75em; +} +p.line +{ +margin: 0 0% 0 0%; +} +span.hemistich /* invisible text to achieve visual effect of hemistich indentation. */ +{ +color: white; +} +.versenum +{ +font-weight:bold; +} +/***** Drama *****/ +.speaker +{ +font-weight: bold; +margin-bottom: 0.4em; +} +.sp .line +{ +margin: 0 10%; +text-align: left; +} +/***** End Drama *****/ +/* right aligned page number in table of contents */ +.tocPagenum, .flushright +{ +position: absolute; +right: 16%; +top: auto; +} +.footnotes .line +{ +font-size:80%; +} +span.corr +{ +border-bottom:1px dotted red; +} +span.abbr +{ +border-bottom:1px dotted gray; +} +span.measure +{ +border-bottom:1px dotted green; +} +/****** Font Styles and Colors *****/ +.letterspaced +{ +letter-spacing:0.2em; +} +.smallcaps +{ +font-variant:small-caps; +} +.caps +{ +text-transform:uppercase; +} +/* overline is actually a bit too high; overtilde is approximated with overline */ +.overline, .overtilde +{ +text-decoration: overline; +} +.rm +{ +font-style: normal; +} +.red +{ +color: red; +} +/***** End Font Styles and Colors *****/ +hr +{ +clear:both; +height:1px; +margin-left:auto; +margin-right:auto; +margin-top:1em; +text-align:center; +width:45%; +} +h2.docImprint,h1.docTitle,h2.byline,h2.docTitle,.aligncenter,div.figure +{ +text-align:center; +} +h1,h2 +{ +font-size:1.44em; +line-height:1.5em; +} +h1.label,h2.label +{ +font-size:1.2em; +line-height:1.2em; +margin-bottom:0; +} +h5,h6 +{ +font-size:1em; +font-style:italic; +line-height:1em; +} +p,p.initial +{ +text-indent:0; +} +p.firstlinecaps:first-line +{ +text-transform: uppercase; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter +{ +float: left; +clear: left; +margin: 0em 0.05em 0 0; +padding: 0px; +line-height: 0.8em; +font-size: 420%; +vertical-align:super; +} +.lg +{ +padding: .5em 0% .5em 0%; +} +p.quote,div.blockquote,div.argument +{ +font-size:0.9em; +line-height:1.2em; +margin:1.58em 5%; +} +.pagenum a, a.noteref:hover, a.hidden:hover, a.hidden +{ +text-decoration:none; +} +ul { list-style-type: none; } +.castlist, .castitem { list-style-type: none; } +/***** External Links *****/ +.pglink +{ +background: url(images/book.png) center right no-repeat; +padding-right: 18px; +} +.exlink +{ +background: url(images/external.png) center right no-repeat; +padding-right: 13px; +} +.pglink:hover +{ +background-color: #DCFFDC; +} +.catlink:hover +{ +background-color: #FFFFDC; +} +.exlink:hover +{ +background-color: #FFDCDC; +} +body +{ +background: #FFFFFF; +font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; +} +body, a.hidden +{ +color: black; +} +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, .pseudoh4 +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; +} +p.byline +{ +font-style: italic; +margin-bottom: 2em; +} +.figureHead, .noteref, .pseudonoteref, span.leftnote, p.legend, .versenum, .stage +{ +color: #001FA4; +} +.rightnote, .pagenum, .linenum, .pagenum a +{ +color: #AAAAAA; +} +a.hidden:hover, a.noteref:hover +{ +color: red; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-weight: bold; +} +sub, sup +{ +line-height: 0; +} +.pagenum, .linenum +{ +speak: none; +} +</style> + +<style type="text/css"> +.xd19e192 +{ +text-align:right; +} +.xd19e193 +{ +text-align:left; +} +.xd19e79width +{ +width:545px; +} +.xd19e85width +{ +width:506px; +} +.xd19e117 +{ +text-align:center; +} +.xd19e184 +{ +text-align:right; +} +.xd19e191 +{ +width:100%; +} +.xd19e524width +{ +width:504px; +} +.xd19e575width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e604width +{ +width:507px; +} +.xd19e724width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e748width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e895width +{ +width:501px; +} +.xd19e1014width +{ +width:503px; +} +.xd19e1018 +{ +text-align:center; +} +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Deccan Nursery Tales + or, Fairy Tales from the South + +Author: Charles Augustus Kincaid + +Illustrator: M. V. Dhurandhar + +Release Date: December 21, 2009 [EBook #11167] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="front"> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="figure xd19e79width"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt= +"Original Front Cover." width="545" height="720"></div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="figure xd19e85width" id="p000"><img src="images/p000.jpg" +alt="“Gave memorial honours to his dead father”" width= +"506" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“Gave memorial honours to his dead +father”</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="titlePage"> +<h1 class="docTitle">Deccan Nursery Tales</h1> +<h1 class="docTitle">or</h1> +<h1 class="docTitle">Fairy Tales from the South</h1> +<h2 class="byline">By<br> +<br> +<span class="docAuthor">C. A. Kincaid, C.V.O.</span><br> +<br> +Indian Civil Service<br> +<br> +Author of ‘The Outlaws of Kathiawar,’ ‘The Tale of +the Tulsi Plant’<br> +<br> +Illustrations by M. V. Dhurandhar</h2> +<h2 class="docImprint">1914.</h2> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e115" href="#xd19e115" name= +"xd19e115">vi</a>]</span></p> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<p class="xd19e117">To my little son</p> +<p class="xd19e117">Dennis</p> +<p class="xd19e117">Whose interest in these stories<br> +<br> +first induced me to offer them to the public<br> +<br> +this little volume is affectionately inscribed <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e127" href="#xd19e127" name= +"xd19e127">vii</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="pre" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Preface</h2> +<p>These stories first appeared in the <i>Times of India</i> newspaper, +and my acknowledgments are due to the editor for his courtesy in +permitting their publication.</p> +<p>I have translated all of them as literally as possible from the +original Marathi. But, owing to the difference between Marathi and +English canons of taste, I have had in a very few places slightly to +change the sense. In some places, owing to the obscurity of the +original text, I have had to amplify the translation. In other places I +have had to cut short the descriptions of Hindu rites and ceremonies so +as to avoid wearying the English reader.</p> +<p>It may not be out of place to say just a word about the Indian gods +mentioned in the stories. It must be remembered that the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e140" href="#xd19e140" name= +"xd19e140">viii</a>]</span>main Hindu gods are three in number. They +are all sprung from a common origin, Brahma, but they are quite +separate beings. They do not form a trinity, <i>i.e.</i> three in one +or one in three. And each of them has a wife and a family. The +following genealogical tree will, I hope, help the reader.</p> +<ul> +<li>Brahma +<ul> +<li>Shiva = Parwati +<ul> +<li>Ganpati</li> +</ul> +</li> +<li>= the daughters of Agni +<ul> +<li>Kartakswami<a class="noteref" id="xd19e160src" href="#xd19e160" +name="xd19e160src">1</a></li> +</ul> +</li> +<li>Vishnu = Mahalaxmi</li> +<li>Brahmadev = Saraswati</li> +</ul> +</li> +</ul> +<p>Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati, +Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following +stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five +principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is +worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn +inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e174" href="#xd19e174" name= +"xd19e174">ix</a>]</span>to bring ill fortune. Then again, besides the +main gods, the world according to Hindu belief, which in this respect +closely resembles that of the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras +(demons), Devkanya (wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of +Patâla), and Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of +these find a place in the ensuing fairy tales.</p> +<p>The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu +the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In +practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the +Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as <a id= +"xd19e178" name="xd19e178"></a> they feel inclined, or as the +particular sect to which they belong requires them.</p> +<p>Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of +twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra, +corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other in +the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin, +Kartih, Margshish, Paush, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e182" href= +"#xd19e182" name="xd19e182">x</a>]</span>Mag, Phalgun, Each month +begins on the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. +The first half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. +This is the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the +period from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the +month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by +the interposition of an “adhik” or intercalary month every +third year.</p> +<p class="xd19e184">C. A. K. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e186" +href="#xd19e186" name="xd19e186">xi</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e160" href="#xd19e160src" name="xd19e160">1</a></span> For an +account of the birth of Kartakswami see <i>The Tale of the Tulsi +Plants</i> p. 93.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="toc" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<div class="table xd19e191"> +<table width="100%"> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192"></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192"><span class= +"smallcaps">page</span></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">I.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch01">The Sunday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">1</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">II.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch02">The Monday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">14</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">III.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch03">The Tuesday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">18</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">IV.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch04">The Wednesday and +Thursday Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">26</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">V.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch05">The Friday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">32</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">VI.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch06">The Saturday +Story</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">36</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">VII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch07">Mahalaxmi and the Two +Queens</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">41</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">VIII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch08">The Island +Palace</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">56</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">IX.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch09">Nagoba, the +Snake-King</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">63</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">X.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch10">Parwati and the +Beggar-Man</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">69</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XL</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch11">Parwati and the +Brahman</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">73</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch12">Soma, the +Washerwoman</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">79</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XIII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch13">Vasishta and the Four +Queens</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">89</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XIV.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch14">The Lamps and the +King’s Daughter-in-Law</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">95</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XV.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch15">Parwati and the +Priest</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">99</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XVI.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch16">The Rishi and the +Brahman</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">107</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XVII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch17">The King and the +Water-Goddesses</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">112</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XVIII.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch18">The Lid of the Sacred +Casket</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">115</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XIX.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch19">The Brahman Wife and +Her Seven Sons</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">122</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">XX.</td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e193"><a href="#ch20">The Golden +Temple</a></td> +<td valign="top" class="xd19e192">128</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e386" href="#xd19e386" name= +"xd19e386">xiii</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Illustrations</h2> +<ul> +<li><a href="#p000">“Gave memorial honours to his dead +father”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum"><i>Frontispiece</i></span></li> +<li> <span class="tocPagenum"><span class="smallcaps">face +page</span></span></li> +<li><a href="#p022">“It curled itself up inside the earthen +jar”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">22</span></li> +<li><a href="#p032">“And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits +of cocoa-nut”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">32</span></li> +<li><a href="#p039">“And stuck them into a corner of the +eaves”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">39</span></li> +<li><a href="#p068">“They no longer wished to kill or bite the +little daughter-in-law”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum">68</span></li> +<li><a href="#p071">“They asked her what the reason was, and she +told them”</a> <span class="tocPagenum">71</span></li> +<li><a href="#p106">“She has lived here just as if she had been +in her father’s house”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum">106</span></li> +<li><a href="#p132">“The god revealed himself to the king and his +companions in all his glory and splendour”</a> <span class= +"tocPagenum">132</span></li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e445" href="#xd19e445" name= +"xd19e445">1</a>]</span> +<div class="body"> +<div id="ch01" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Sunday Story</h2> +<p>When Englishmen and Englishwomen are little boys and girls, they +listen with open ears to the tales of Golden-hair and the three Bears, +of Cinderella and the Prince, and of the Wolf and Little Red Riding +Hood. As the boys and girls grow up, the stories fade gradually from +their minds. But a time comes when they have children of their own. And +then, to amuse the children, they can find no tales more thrilling than +those which fascinated them in their own childhood. Thus the old +nursery tales are handed down for centuries from generation to +generation. Exactly the same process goes on in India, There, too, when +little Indian boys and girls grow up and have little boys and girls of +their own, they too tell to wide-eyed audiences the tales which they +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e452" href="#xd19e452" name= +"xd19e452">2</a>]</span>themselves found so thrilling in their own +childhood. Indian nursery tales, it is true, have a more religious +tinge than those of Europe, but they are none the less appreciated on +that account. The first six stories in this little book purport to +explain the connexion between the heavenly bodies and the days of the +week. So each day of the week has its separate tale. And all through +Shravan or August, probably because it is the wettest month in the +year, Deccan mothers tell afresh every week-day that day’s story. +And little Deccan children listen to the tales as they fall due with +the same unvarying attention. For in nurseries, Indian as well as +English, tales are loved the better when no longer new, and where the +end is well known to, and therefore the better understood by, the tiny +round-eyed listeners.</p> +<p>Now this is the tale which is told every Sunday<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e456src" href="#xd19e456" name="xd19e456src">1</a> in Shravan: +Once upon a time there <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e462" href= +"#xd19e462" name="xd19e462">3</a>]</span>was a town called Atpat, and +in it there lived a poor Brahman. Every day he used to go into the +woods to fetch sticks and to cut grass. One day he met there some +nymphs and wood-fairies, who said that they were performing holy rites +in honour of the sun. He asked, “What are these rites?” +They replied, “If we tell you, you will become proud and vain and +you will not perform them properly.” But the Brahman promised, +“No, I shall not become proud or vain and I shall observe the +rites you tell me.” They then told him that the month of Shravan +was coming, and that on the first Sunday of Shravan he was to draw a +picture of the sun with red sandal paste, that he was to offer to the +drawing flowers and fruit, and that he should continue doing this for +six months. Thereafter he should in various ways, which they told him, +entertain guests and give alms to the poor.</p> +<p>The Brahman went home and performed the rites to the letter, so that +the sun-god was very pleased. Wealth came to the Brahman and he grew +richer and richer, and at last the queen of the land sent for him. The +poor Brahman began to tremble and shake all over, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e466" href="#xd19e466" name= +"xd19e466">4</a>]</span>but the queen said, “Do not shake or +tremble, but give your daughters in marriage to our house.” The +Brahman said, “My daughters are poor; you will make them slaves +or maid-servants.” “No,” said the queen, “I +shall not make them slaves or maid-servants; I shall marry one to a +king, and one to a minister.” The Brahman agreed, and when the +month of Margashish, or December, came he gave his two daughters in +marriage, one to the king and one to the minister. Immediately after +the marriage the Brahman said good-bye to his daughters, and did not +see them again for twelve years. Then he visited the elder one, who had +married the king. She gave him a wooden stand on which to sit while +eating, and water in which to wash his feet, and then said, +“Papa, papa, there is pudding to eat, there is water to +drink.” But the Brahman said, “Before I eat or drink, I +must tell you my story.” But his daughter said, “Papa, I +have no time to listen to your story; the king is going a-hunting, and +I must not keep him waiting for his dinner.” The Brahman thought +this very disrespectful and went off in a great rage to <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e468" href="#xd19e468" name= +"xd19e468">5</a>]</span>the house of his other daughter, who had +married a minister. She welcomed her father and gave him a wooden stand +on which to eat, and water to wash his feet, and said, “Papa, +papa, here is pudding to eat and here is water to drink.” But the +Brahman said, “Before I eat or drink I must tell you my +story.” His daughter said, “Of course, papa, tell it to me, +and I shall listen as long as you like.” Then she went into an +inner room and she fetched six pearls. She took three herself and three +she put in her father’s hand. And he told her how he had met the +nymphs and wood-fairies, who had told him to worship the sun-god, and +she listened to it all without missing a syllable. Then the Brahman ate +and drank and went back to his own house. His wife asked him about +their two daughters. He told her everything and said, “The elder +one who would not listen to my story will come to grief.”</p> +<p>And so she did. For the king, her husband, took an army into a far +country and never came back. But the daughter who had listened to the +story lived well and happy. As time went on the undutiful daughter +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e472" href="#xd19e472" name= +"xd19e472">6</a>]</span>became poorer and poorer, until one day she +said to her eldest son, “Go to your aunt’s house and beg of +her to give you a present, and bring back whatever she gives +you.” Next Sunday the boy started and went to the village where +his aunt lived. Standing by the village tank he called out, “O +maids, O slave-girls, whose maids and slave-girls are ye?” They +answered, “We are the maids and the slave-girls of the +minister.” The boy said, “Go and tell the minister’s +wife that her sister’s son is here. Tell her that he is standing +by the village tank, that his coat is tattered and that his garments +are torn, and ask her to let him come into her house through the back +door.” The slave-girls took him in through the back door. His +aunt had him bathed, and gave him clothes to wear, and food to eat, and +drink, and a pumpkin hollowed out and filled with gold coins. As he +left, she called to him, “Do not drop it, do not forget it, but +take it carefully home.” But as the boy went home, the sun-god +came disguised as a gardener and stole the pumpkin filled with gold. +When the boy reached his mother’s house she asked, “Well, +my son, what did your aunt give you?” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e474" href="#xd19e474" name= +"xd19e474">7</a>]</span>He said, “Fortune gave, but +Karma<a class="noteref" id="xd19e476src" href="#xd19e476" name= +"xd19e476src">2</a> took away; I lost everything my aunt bestowed on +me.” Next Sunday the second son went and stood by the village +tank and called out, “O slave-girls and maid-servants, who is +your master?” They said, “Our master is the +minister.” “Then tell the minister’s wife that her +nephew is here.” He was taken in by the back door. He was bathed +and clothed and given food and drink. As he was going, his aunt gave +him a hollow stick full of gold coins and said, “Do not drop it, +do not forget it, mind it carefully and take it home.” On the way +the sun-god came in the guise of a cowherd and stole the stick. When +the boy got home his mother asked him what he had brought. He said, +“Fortune gave, but Karma took away.” On the third Sunday a +third son went and stood by the village tank. His aunt received him +like the others and had him bathed, clothed, and fed. As he was going +away, she gave him a hollow cocoa-nut stuffed with gold coins and said, +“Do not drop it, do not forget it, but mind it carefully and take +it home.” On the way back he put down the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e479" href="#xd19e479" name= +"xd19e479">8</a>]</span>cocoa-nut on the edge of a well, and it toppled +over and fell into the water with a great splash. When he reached his +mother’s house she asked him what his aunt’s present was. +He said, “I have lost everything which fortune brought me.” +On the fourth Sunday the fourth son went. His aunt welcomed him like +the others, and had him bathed and fed. When he left she gave him an +earthen pot full of gold coins. But the sun-god came in the guise of a +kite and snatched the pot away. When the boy reached home his mother +asked him whether his aunt had given him anything. He said, “I +have lost everything which my aunt gave me.” On the fifth Sunday +the mother herself got up and went to her sister’s village and +stood by the tank. The minister’s wife took her in through her +back door and had her clothed and fed. Then the minister’s wife +told her that all her trouble had come through not listening to her +father’s story, and the minister’s wife repeated it to her. +The king’s wife listened to it, and stayed with her sister until +the following month of Shravan, or August, when she did fitting worship +to the sun. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e481" href="#xd19e481" +name="xd19e481">9</a>]</span></p> +<p>Instantly good fortune came to her. After years of weary fighting, +her husband, the king, at last overcame his enemies, and after taking +great wealth from them turned homewards with his army. As he went +towards his capital, he passed the village where the minister’s +wife lived. There he learnt that his queen was with her sister, so he +sent for her with a befitting escort. “O auntie, auntie,” +cried all the queen’s little nephews and nieces, “umbrellas +have come for you, and horse-tails and guards and foot-soldiers.” +Every one rushed out to see, and the king and queen greeted each other +after years of separation. The sisters gave each other gifts of +clothes, and the king and his queen went away together. At the first +halting-place the servants cooked the food. The queen filled the +king’s plate and then her own, and then she thought of the story +which her sister had told her. She ordered her servants to go through +the neighbouring village and bring in any one who was hungry and too +poor to buy food. They found none such in the village, but on the way +back they met a starving wood-cutter, and, bringing him to the queen, +told him to <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e484" href="#xd19e484" +name="xd19e484">10</a>]</span>listen to the tale which she would tell +him. The queen brought six pearls. Three she gave to the wood-cutter, +and three she kept herself. Then she told him the story of her father +and the wood-fairies. The wood-cutter listened with all attention, and +as he listened his faggot of wood became all of gold. He went away +delighted, promising to worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had +shown to the Brahman.</p> +<p>Next day the cavalcade reached the second halting-place. Food was +cooked; the queen filled the king’s plate and then her own plate, +and again she told her, servants to bring from the neighbouring village +any one who was hungry and too poor to buy food. They came upon a petty +farmer, whose well had dried up and whose crops had withered. He was +sitting sadly by his field when they called him to go with them and +listen to the queen’s tale. He went with them to the camp. There +the queen brought six pearls and gave three of them to the farmer and +kept three of them herself. Then she told the story of her father and +the wood-fairies. And as the farmer listened, all attention, the water +began to pour <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e488" href="#xd19e488" +name="xd19e488">11</a>]</span>into the well, and the crop began to look +fresh and green. He went away delighted, and promised to worship the +sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. Next day the +cavalcade reached the third halting-place. Food was cooked, and the +queen filled the king’s plate and then her own plate. Then she +told the servants to search in the neighbouring village for any one who +was hungry and too poor to buy food. They met an old woman. Her eldest +son had been lost in the forest. Her second son had been drowned in a +pond. Her third son had died of snake-bite. They told her to come and +listen to the queen’s story. She went with them, and as she +listened, all attention, first the son who had been lost in the forest +walked into the camp, next the son who had been drowned in the pond, +and last of all the son who had died of a snake-bite. The old woman +went away crying with joy, and promising to worship the sun in the way +the wood-fairies had instructed the Brahman. Next day the cavalcade +reached the fourth halting-place. Food was cooked, and the queen first +filled the king’s plate and then her own. After dinner she sent +her <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e490" href="#xd19e490" name= +"xd19e490">12</a>]</span>servants as before to bring in some poor and +hungry man from the neighbouring village. They found a man whose eyes +were so crooked that he could hardly see, who had no arms or legs, and +who had not even a name. For he was only known as “Lump of +flesh.” He was lying on his face, but when they brought him into +camp, the queen had him placed on his back and had a jug of water +poured over him. Then she took six pearls. Three she kept herself, and +three she placed on the stomach of “Lump of flesh.” Then +she told him the tale of her father and the wood-fairies. He listened, +all attention, and as he listened his arms and legs grew out of his +body, and hands and feet appeared at the ends of them. He too went away +delighted, and he promised to worship the sun in the way the +wood-fairies had told the Brahman.</p> +<p>At the end of the next day’s march the king and queen reached +their home. Food was cooked, and as they sat down to dinner the sun-god +himself appeared and joined them at their meal. The king had all the +doors flung wide open, and ordered a fresh and far more splendid dinner +to be prepared, with any <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e494" href= +"#xd19e494" name="xd19e494">13</a>]</span>number of dishes, each dish +having six separate flavours. When it was served the sun-god and the +king began to eat, but in the first mouthful the sun-god found a hair. +He got very very angry, and called out, “To what sinful woman +does this hair belong?” Then the poor queen remembered that +during her twelve years of poverty she had always sat under the eaves +combing her hair, and knew that it must have been one of her hairs +which had got into the sun-god’s food. She begged for mercy, but +the sun-god would not forgive her until she had clothed herself in a +black blanket, plucked a stick out of the eaves, and had gone outside +the town and there thrown the stick and the hair over her left +shoulder. Then the sun-god recovered his good-humour, and finished his +dinner. And the Brahman, the king and queen, and the wood-cutter and +the farmer whose well had dried up, and the old woman who had lost her +children, and “Lump of flesh” with the cross eyes, they all +remained in the favour of the sun-god and lived happily ever +afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e496" href="#xd19e496" +name="xd19e496">14</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e456" href="#xd19e456src" name="xd19e456">1</a></span> In India +days of the week have the same mysterious connexion with the astral +bodies that they have in Europe. Aditwar or Raviwar is sun’s day +(Sunday); Somwar is moon’s day (Monday); Mangalwar is +<span class="corr" id="xd19e458" title= +"Source: Mar’s">Mars’</span> day (mardi); Budhwar is +Mercury’s day (mercredi); Brihaspatiwar is the day of Diespiter +or Jupiter (jeudi); Shukrawar is Venus’ day (vendredi); Shaniwar +is Saturn’s day (Saturday).</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e476" href="#xd19e476src" name="xd19e476">2</a></span> His bad +actions in a former life.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch02" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Monday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +very saintly king. One day he formed the wish to fill the shrine of +Shiva, the moon-god, with milk up to the ceiling. He consulted his +chief minister, and the latter sent a crier through Atpat ordering, +under terrible penalties, all the townspeople to bring every Monday all +the milk in their houses and offer it to the god Shiva. The townspeople +were frightened at the threatened punishments, and the next Monday they +brought all the milk in Atpat to Shiva’s shrine, not keeping a +drop for their calves or even for their children. But although all the +milk in Atpat was every Monday poured into Shiva’s shrine, it yet +did not become full to the ceiling. But one day an old woman came to +the shrine. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e502" href="#xd19e502" +name="xd19e502">15</a>]</span>She had done all her housework. She had +fed all the children and had bathed all her little daughters-in-law. +Then she took a few drops of milk, a little sandal-wood paste, and a +few flowers, and half-a-dozen grains of rice and went to worship at +Shiva’s shrine. She prayed to Shiva, “The little milk that +I can offer is not likely to fill your shrine, seeing that all the milk +offered by the king could not. Nevertheless I offer the milk with all +my heart.” She then got up and went back to her house. Then a +strange thing happened. Directly the old woman turned her back, the +shrine filled with milk right up to the ceiling. The priests ran and +told the king, but none of them could say how it happened. The +following Monday the king placed a soldier by the door; and again the +old woman came and worshipped, and again the shrine filled with milk to +the ceiling. The soldier ran and told the king, but could not explain +the cause. The third Monday the king himself went and watched by the +shrine. From his hiding-place he saw the old woman come up and noticed +that the shrine filled with milk immediately after she had worshipped. +He ran after her <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e504" href= +"#xd19e504" name="xd19e504">16</a>]</span>and caught her. The old woman +begged the king to spare her life, and this he promised to do if she +told the truth. She said, “O King! you ordered all the milk in +Atpat to be brought to Shiva’s shrine. But what was the result? +All the calves began lowing and all the children began crying, because +they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people were so worried by +the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva was displeased at +this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This, therefore, is what you +should do. Let the children and the calves have their milk. Then take +whatever is over to the shrine, and it will at once fill up to the +ceiling.” The king let the old woman go, and had it proclaimed by +beat of drum that the townspeople were to bring to the shrine on the +following Monday only the milk remaining after the children and the +calves had been fed. The townspeople were delighted. The children +stopped crying and the calves stopped lowing, and all the milk left by +them was brought to Shiva’s shrine. The king prayed long and +earnestly, and when he looked up he saw that the shrine was full right +up to the ceiling. He gave <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e506" +href="#xd19e506" name="xd19e506">17</a>]</span>the old woman a handsome +present. And she went back to her home, and she did her housework, and +then she bathed all her little daughters and all her little +daughters-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e508" href= +"#xd19e508" name="xd19e508">18</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch03" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Tuesday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat.<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e514src" href="#xd19e514" name="xd19e514src">1</a> In it there +lived a bania who had no son. Every day a religious mendicant used to +come to his house and call out, “Alms! Alms! In the name of God, +give me alms.” But when the bania’s wife offered him alms +he refused them, because she had no children. She told her husband, who +advised her to play a trick on the mendicant. She hid behind her door, +and as he called out “Alms! alms!” she slipped a gold piece +into his wallet. But the mendicant caught her and became very angry. He +cursed her and told her that she would always remain without any +children. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e517" href="#xd19e517" +name="xd19e517">19</a>]</span>She was terrified and fell at his feet +and begged for forgiveness. Then he pitied her and said, “Tell +your husband to put on blue clothes, mount a blue horse, and ride into +the jungle. He should ride on until he meets a horse. He should then +dismount and dig in the ground. He will in the end come to a temple to +Parwati. He must pray to her and she will bestow a child on him.” +When her husband came back she told him what had happened. So he at +once put on blue clothes, mounted a blue horse, and rode into the +forest. He met the horse, dismounted, and began digging. At last he +discovered a temple to Parwati, all of gold, with diamond pillars and a +spire made of rubies. Inside was a statue of the goddess, and to it he +prayed, saying, “I have houses and cottages, cattle and horses, +money and goods of all kinds, but I am very sad because I have no +son.” The goddess pitied him and asked, “Which will you +have, a son who will be good but will die young, or a son who will live +long but will be born blind?” The poor bania became greatly +perplexed, but at last said, “I choose a son who will be good but +will die young,” The goddess said, “Very well. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e519" href="#xd19e519" name= +"xd19e519">20</a>]</span>Step behind me. There you will find an image +of Ganpati. Behind it is a mango tree. Climb upon Ganpati’s +stomach and pick one mango. Go home and give it to your wife to eat, +and your wish will be gratified.” Parwati then disappeared. The +bania climbed upon Ganpati’s stomach and ate as many mangoes as +he could. He next filled a large bundle full of mangoes and stepped +down. But when he reached the ground he found that there was only one +mango in the bundle. He climbed up again and refilled his bundle, but +when he stepped down he again found only one mango. This happened three +or four times. At last Ganpati got very sore and angry with having his +stomach trampled on. So he shouted out, “One mango is all +you’ll get. So be off home!” The bania was frightened out +of his wits and galloped home with his one mango. His wife ate it, and +in nine months she presented her husband with a son. When the little +boy was eight years old his sacred thread was put on, and his mother +said, “It is time to think of his marriage.” But the bania +said, “I dare not marry him unless he first makes a pilgrimage to +Benares.” His <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e521" href= +"#xd19e521" name="xd19e521">21</a>]</span>maternal uncle agreed to take +the little boy to Benares.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e524width" id="p022"><img src="images/p022.jpg" +alt="“It curled itself up inside the earthen jar”" width= +"504" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“It curled itself up inside the earthen +jar”</p> +</div> +<p>So off they started together, and some days later the uncle and +nephew halted at a village where some little girls were playing. One of +the little girls said to the other, “You are nothing but a +wretched little widow.” But the other little girl said, “Oh +no! there are never any widows in our family. Mother worships Parwati +and so I can never be a widow.” The uncle heard this, and thought +that if his nephew could only marry a little girl who could not become +a widow, he would not die young. So he began to think how he could +bring about the marriage. Now it so happened that the little girl was +to be married that day. But in the morning the boy to whom she was +betrothed fell ill. Her parents were in great trouble, but at last they +thought that, rather than postpone the wedding and disappoint all the +guests, it would be better to marry their little daughter to the first +traveller who passed through the village. So they went to the +rest-house to inquire if any one was there. There they found the uncle +and nephew, and they married their <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e530" href="#xd19e530" name="xd19e530">22</a>]</span>little girl +to the latter that very evening when the cows were homing. They drew on +the wall a picture of Shiva and Parwati, and they put the children to +bed beneath it. Parwati appeared to the little girl in her sleep. The +goddess said, “My child, a snake will come to bite your husband: +give it milk to drink. Then put near it a new earthen jar. When the +snake has finished drinking, it will enter the earthen jar. Then at +once pull off your bodice and stuff it into the jar’s mouth. Next +morning give the jar to your mother.” Next evening everything +happened as Parwati had said. The snake came to bite her husband as he +slept. But the little girl offered it milk, which it drank. After +drinking, it curled itself up inside the earthen jar, and, the moment +it did so, the little girl slipped off her bodice and stuffed it into +the mouth of the jar. Next morning her husband gave her a ring, and she +in exchange gave him a sweet-dish, and he and his uncle continued their +journey to Benares. When they had gone, the little girl gave the +earthen jar with the snake inside it to her mother. The mother took out +the bodice, but instead of a snake a garland lay inside, and +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e532" href="#xd19e532" name= +"xd19e532">23</a>]</span>the mother put it round her little +daughter’s neck. Some weeks passed, but neither uncle nor nephew +returned. So the little girl’s parents grew anxious. The sick boy +who was to have been her husband recovered, but she could no longer +marry him, and the boy whom she had married had gone away and might +never return. In despair the parents built a house, in which they +entertained every traveller who passed by, hoping that sooner or later +one of the travellers would prove to be their daughter’s husband. +To all of them the mother gave water; the daughter washed their feet; +her brother gave them sandal-wood paste; and her father gave them +betel-nut. But it was all in vain; none of the travellers’ +fingers fitted the ring given to the little girl by her husband, nor +could any of them produce the sweet-dish which she had given him in +exchange.</p> +<p>In the meantime the uncle and nephew had reached Benares and had +given large sums in charity, and had visited all the holy places and +had received the blessings of all the Brahmans. One day the little boy, +fainted. And in a dream he saw the messenger of Yama, the god +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e536" href="#xd19e536" name= +"xd19e536">24</a>]</span>of death, come close to him as if to carry him +off. Next he saw the goddess Parwati come to his rescue and, after a +struggle, drive away Yama’s messenger. When the boy woke up he +told the dream to his uncle. The latter was overjoyed because he felt +certain that now the boy would no longer die young. He told his nephew +to get ready, and next day they left Benares. On their way home they +passed by the village where the nephew had been married. As they were +having breakfast near the village tank, a maid-servant invited them to +come to the house which the girl’s parents had built for the +reception of travellers. At first the uncle declined, but when a palki +was sent for them, he and his nephew entered it. When the little girl +began to wash her husband’s feet, she recognised him. She tried +on the ring, which fitted his finger, and he in turn showed her the +sweet-dish which she had given him. The parents were as pleased as +possible, and they sent a messenger to invite the boy’s parents. +They came, and the boy’s mother threw herself at her +daughter-in-law’s feet and thanked her for saving her son. Then +there was a great feast and everybody <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e538" href="#xd19e538" name="xd19e538">25</a>]</span>was very +happy indeed, and at the end they all worshipped Parwati,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e540src" href="#xd19e540" name="xd19e540src">2</a> so +she became as pleased as everybody else. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e543" href="#xd19e543" name="xd19e543">26</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e514" href="#xd19e514src" name="xd19e514">1</a></span> All these +stories take place in Atpat town. This literally means “City +Splendid.” But in the tales it is simply a fabulous city.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e540" href="#xd19e540src" name="xd19e540">2</a></span> Although +Tuesday is really the day of Mars, Mangal, this tale by a popular error +connects the day with Mangalgauri or Parwati, Shiva’s wife.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch04" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Wednesday and Thursday Story</h2> +<p>There was once upon a time a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +prince who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Every day there +used to come to the prince’s house two Brahmans, an uncle and a +nephew. But when they asked for alms the daughters-in-law sent word +that they were too busy to give them any. Some time afterwards the +prince lost all his riches and became very poor. The two Brahmans again +came to beg, but the elder daughter-in-law said to them, “We are +no longer busy, but we have nothing to give you. If we had, we should +give it to you.” The youngest daughter-in-law, however, was a +clever little girl, and she thought to herself, “The Brahmans +will get very angry with us. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e549" +href="#xd19e549" name="xd19e549">27</a>]</span>When we had money, we +gave them nothing; and now we give them nothing because we have nothing +to give.” So she fell at the elder Brahman’s feet and said, +“We have been very wicked and have deserved to become poor. But +please forgive us and tell me how we may become rich as we were +before.” The elder Brahman said, “Every Wednesday and every +Thursday you must invite a Brahman to dinner. And if you have no money +to pay for the dinner, draw a pair of cow’s feet on your +money-box. If you want grain for the dinner, draw a pair of cow’s +feet on your corn-bin. Then worship the feet and welcome the Brahmans. +For you will find that you will have money in your box and grain in +your corn-bin. And in time you will all get as rich as you were +before.” The little girl did what the Brahman told her. And +whenever she invited Brahmans to dinner, she drew the cow’s feet +on the cash-box and on the corn-bin, and there was always money and +grain sufficient for the meal.</p> +<p>But some days later she fell asleep and dreamt that Budh<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e553src" href="#xd19e553" name="xd19e553src">1</a> +and Brahaspati came to her <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e556" +href="#xd19e556" name="xd19e556">28</a>]</span>bedside and said, +“Little girl, little girl, your husband has been made king over a +great country. Go to him, and, when you have found him, do not forget +to worship us and to give feast to the Brahmans.” Then the little +girl woke up and she told the other six daughters-in-law. But they were +jealous of her, and they became very angry; and they kicked her so +often and boxed her ears so hard that she forgot all about drawing the +cow’s feet on her money-box and on the corn-bin. So she never +found any money in the box or any corn in the bin. And every day they +became poorer and poorer. First all the men servants ran away, then the +male members of the family left, and at last the seven daughters-in-law +were left alone in the house. They were starving, but they did not know +how to get any food. One day they heard that a king in a neighbouring +country wished to construct a tank and was calling for labourers. So +they decided to go to the tank and work there just like common coolie +women. Now who do you think the king was? He was the youngest son of +the prince of Atpat and the husband of the youngest daughter-in-law. +When the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e558" href="#xd19e558" name= +"xd19e558">29</a>]</span>prince had lost all his money, his youngest +son left the house and set off on a journey. As he travelled he came to +a city, the king of which had just died without leaving any children or +relatives. His subjects did not know how to choose a successor. At last +they gave a garland of flowers to a she-elephant and turned it loose. +The elephant walked straight to the prince’s son and put the +garland round his neck. The townspeople were very angry. They snatched +away the garland and drove away the prince’s son. They again gave +the garland to the elephant, but the elephant again put the garland +round the neck of the prince’s son. The townspeople again +snatched away the garland. But when the elephant put it round the young +man’s neck for the third time, they lifted him high in the air +and declared him to be their king. At first he was so pleased at being +king that he forgot all about his poor little wife. But one night Budh +and Brahaspati appeared to him in a dream and reminded him of her and +told him how poor she was. But he could not leave his kingdom to go and +look for her. So he thought that he would dig a tank and call +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e560" href="#xd19e560" name= +"xd19e560">30</a>]</span>together labourers from every quarter. And +every day he used to go to the tank and search among the labourers to +see if his wife was there. One day he recognised his wife and called +her to him. Then they told each other how Budh and Brahaspati had +appeared to each of them in a dream. And the king was so delighted at +finding his wife that he at once proclaimed her queen of the +country.</p> +<p>So the little daughter-in-law was crowned queen, but she did not let +the other daughters-in-law who were also working at the tank know of +her good fortune. As queen, she gave a great feast to all the workers +on the tank. But in her own palace she took some wheat flour, and she +kneaded it into shapes resembling human feet and human fists. And when +the other daughters-in-law were with the crowd of workers eating at the +feast, she went up to them, and to each daughter-in-law who had kicked +her she gave a flour foot, and to each daughter-in-law who had struck +her with her hands she gave a flour fist. Then the daughters-in-law +recognised who the little queen was, and they fell at her feet +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e564" href="#xd19e564" name= +"xd19e564">31</a>]</span>and begged for her forgiveness. So the little +queen forgave them and took them back with her into her husband’s +palace. And they all lived together happily ever afterwards. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e566" href="#xd19e566" name= +"xd19e566">32</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e553" href="#xd19e553src" name="xd19e553">1</a></span> Budh is +Mercury; Brahaspati is Jupiter.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch05" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Friday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +miserably poor Brahman. He had a wife who was as poor as he was. One +day she felt her poverty so much that she went to a gossip of hers who +lived close by and told her all about her troubles. The neighbour could +suggest nothing better than that the poor woman should worship the +goddess Shukra or Venus. So she told the Brahman woman to fast every +Friday through the month of Shravan. Every Friday evening she should +invite a married lady friend to her house. She should bathe her +friend’s feet. She should give her sweetened milk to drink and +fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should +continue to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, +and in the end the goddess would certainly <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e572" href="#xd19e572" name= +"xd19e572">33</a>]</span>do something for her. The Brahman woman +thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra and had +a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had advised +her.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e575width" id="p032"><img src="images/p032.jpg" +alt= +"“And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits +of cocoa-nut”</p> +</div> +<p>Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town, +who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same time he +invited all the townspeople with the single exception of his sister. +The poor lady thought that she must have been left out by accident, and +that there would be no harm in going, even although uninvited. She put +on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children with her, went off +to the dinner. She seated herself close to her children, and was eating +away when her brother came round serving ghee. When he saw his sister +he shouted at her, “You have neither nice clothes nor nice +jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming as you have come. +I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow.”</p> +<p>Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed +the previous day’s feast, persuaded their mother to take them +again to her brother’s house. Once more <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e583" href="#xd19e583" name= +"xd19e583">34</a>]</span>she went and sat down with her children among +the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before when he came round +serving the ghee. He shouted at her, “A beggar woman must, I +suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away although told to. +But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I’ll have you turned +out.” Next day, however, she again went with her children to her +brother’s house. But near the entrance his servants caught her +and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad and +hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased with her +devotion and so took pity on her. She helped the poor woman’s +husband so that he rapidly acquired great wealth. When her husband had +become very rich she asked her brother to dinner. But the brother +remembered how he had treated her and was ashamed to accept. He pressed +her to dine with him first, and begged so hard that she at last +consented. Next day she put on all her jewels and her finest clothes. +Her brother gave her a wooden platform to sit on and plates made out of +leaves from which to eat her dinner. Before she sat down she took off +her gold-embroidered <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e585" href= +"#xd19e585" name="xd19e585">35</a>]</span>shawl and put it close to her +plate. Her brother saw her, but thought she did it because she felt the +room hot. She then placed her jewelry on the wooden platform. Her +brother thought that she did it because she felt the jewelry heavy. She +took a portion of rice and placed it on her necklace. She put a portion +of vegetables on her pendant, and a sweet ball she placed on her +jewelled star.</p> +<p>Her brother at last asked her, “What are you doing?” She +said, “I am giving to the guests whom you really invited.” +But he did not understand, and asked, “Why do you not begin to +eat?” She said, “I have not been invited to this dinner. It +was given in honour of my finery and not of me. I had my dinner the day +when you gave the feast to the one thousand Brahmans.”</p> +<p>The brother felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He threw himself at +his sister’s feet and begged for her forgiveness. So she forgave +him and sat down to dinner. And the brother in turn went to her house +and dined with her. And Shukra was pleased with both sister and +brother, and they all lived happily ever afterwards. May I and my +readers do the same. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e591" href= +"#xd19e591" name="xd19e591">36</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch06" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Saturday Story</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town-called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had three daughters-in-law. He rose early even during +the rainy season, and every day immediately after his morning meal he +used to go to his field with his children and his daughters-in-law. One +first Saturday in Shravan he got up as usual and said to the youngest +of his daughters-in-law, “To-day is Saturday; you had better stay +at home, and although there is very little in the house, you must try +to get some sort of a dinner ready. Go upstairs and scrape together all +the grain there is in the grain-jars and make bread with it. For +vegetables you had better gather grass and make some chutney out of +clover leaves.” When the Brahman had left, his <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e597" href="#xd19e597" name= +"xd19e597">37</a>]</span>little daughter-in-law followed his orders as +best she could. There was in the jar upstairs only grain for half an +ordinary loaf. So she made tiny, tiny loaves and prepared some +vegetables out of grass and made some clover chutney. Then she sat down +to wait for the family’s return from the field. As she did so, +Saturn came disguised as a beggar all covered with sores, and cried, +“O Lady! I am aching all over: give me hot water to bathe in and +oil to rub myself with, and then give me something to eat.” The +little daughter-in-law felt very sorry for the poor beggar. She went +inside and got him a few drops of oil and warmed some water for his +bath, and then gave him one of the tiny loaves to eat. The beggar ate +it, and then gave her his blessing, saying, “You will never want +for anything.” He then folded up the leaves from which he had +eaten, stuck them into a corner of the eaves, and disappeared.</p> +<p>Shortly afterwards the family came home and found a splendid dinner +waiting for them. They said to themselves, “Where did this all +come from? There was practically nothing in the house.” Next +Saturday another daughter-in-law stayed at home. Again <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e601" href="#xd19e601" name= +"xd19e601">38</a>]</span>Saturn in the guise of a beggar covered with +sores came to the house. He asked as before for hot water, oil, and +food. But his daughter-in-law said, “I have nothing to give +you.” The god pressed her, saying, “Give me a little of +anything that you have.” But the daughter-in-law repeated, +“I have nothing.” The god replied, “Very well, you +will lose that little you have.” With this threat he disappeared. +But, when the daughter-in-law went upstairs to fetch grain for dinner, +she could find nothing in any of the jars. Shortly afterwards the +family came home, but there was no dinner for them. So they all got +angry with the daughter-in-law, and, although she told them about the +beggar, they scolded her harder than ever. A third Saturday came round, +and a third daughter-in-law remained at home. Again Saturn came, and +the third daughter-in-law behaved just as the second had done. She gave +the god neither hot water, oil, nor food. And the god told her that she +should lose the little she had. When the family came home there was no +dinner for them, and they scolded the third daughter-in-law just as +hard as they had scolded the second one.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e604width" id="p039"><img src="images/p039.jpg" +alt="“And stuck them into a corner of the eaves”" width= +"507" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“And stuck them into a corner of the +eaves”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e608" href="#xd19e608" name= +"xd19e608">39</a>]</span></p> +<p>The fourth Saturday it was once more the turn of the youngest +daughter-in-law. Again Saturn came in the guise of a beggar covered +with sores and asked for hot water, oil, and food. The little +daughter-in-law gave them as she had done before, and the god blessed +her, saying, “God will make you rich and happy.” Then he +folded up the leaves from which he had eaten and stuck them into a +corner of the eaves. When the little daughter-in-law went upstairs, she +saw any amount of grain in the jars, and she prepared a splendid +dinner. So when the family came home they were delighted. They could no +longer restrain their curiosity, and exclaimed, “Where did all +this food come from?” The little daughter-in-law told them about +the beggar covered with sores and about his blessing. To test her +story, they looked for the folded leaves which he had stuck into a +corner of the roof. They found them, but when they pulled them out they +were full of pearls and diamonds. Then the old Brahman guessed that the +beggar was Saturn in disguise, and he also understood why, when the +other two daughters-in-law gave him nothing and were cursed by him, +there was <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e611" href="#xd19e611" +name="xd19e611">40</a>]</span>nothing for dinner. So they all knelt +down and prayed to Saturn, and the god forgave the two-daughters-in-law +who had given him nothing. And he was more pleased than ever with the +little daughter-in-law who had befriended him. And so they all lived +happily ever afterwards. And may Saturn be pleased with us all as he +was with the little daughter-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e613" href="#xd19e613" name="xd19e613">41</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch07" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had two queens. Of one of them he was very fond, but the other +one he did not care for. The name of the favoured one was +Patmadhavrani, and the name of the unloved one was Chimadevrani. Now +the king had an enemy called Nandanbaneshwar. Such a terrible enemy he +was too! He could jump into the clouds or dive into the bottom of the +ocean. At one moment he would shoot up into heaven. At another he would +sink down into hell, and through fear of his enemy, the king had become +as dry and as thin as an old bit of stick. One day the king, in +despair, assembled all his subjects and ordered them to seek out and +kill Nandanbaneshwar. All the subjects said, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e619" href="#xd19e619" name= +"xd19e619">42</a>]</span>“Certainly, certainly, O King,” +and began to search everywhere for Nandanbaneshwar. Now in Atpat there +lived a poor woman who had one son. On hearing the orders of the king, +he said to her, “Mother, Mother, give me some bread, for I am +going out to kill the king’s enemy.” The old woman said, +“Do not be silly; you are only a poor boy, and people will laugh +at you. Here, take this bit of bread and go and eat it behind a +tree.” The boy said, “Very well,” and took the bread. +But, after taking it, he joined the other villagers and went at their +head to seek out and kill Nandanbaneshwar. But when evening fell they +had not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home. +And when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved. +But the old woman’s son stayed in a wood outside the village. And +lo and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from +Patâla<a class="noteref" id="xd19e621src" href="#xd19e621" name= +"xd19e621src">1</a> and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and +began to worship Mahalaxmi. The boy was at first terribly frightened, +but at last he plucked up courage enough to ask, “Ladies, ladies, +what <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e627" href="#xd19e627" name= +"xd19e627">43</a>]</span>does one gain by worshipping Mahalaxmi?” +“Whatever you lose you will find,” said the serpent-maidens +from Patala; “and whatever you want you will get.” The boy +resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi. And he joined the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, and all night +long they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods +echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they +made.<a class="noteref" id="xd19e629src" href="#xd19e629" name= +"xd19e629src">2</a></p> +<p>At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy +included, prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. +She first blessed the serpent--maidens from Patâla and then the +wood-nymphs. And then she blessed the poor old woman’s son and +said, “You will get half the kingdom of Atpat and half the +king’s treasure. He will build you a house as high as his own, +and he will give you the name of ‘Navalvat’ or +‘Wonderways.’ For this very morning the king’s mighty +enemy will break his neck and be found lying dead in the king’s +courtyard,” With these words <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e634" href="#xd19e634" name="xd19e634">44</a>]</span>the goddess +vanished and flew to Kolhapur,<a class="noteref" id="xd19e636src" href= +"#xd19e636" name="xd19e636src">3</a> and the old woman’s son went +home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up and went into the +king’s courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar lying dead +from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back into the palace to +tell the king. The king inquired who had killed Nandanbaneshwar. Every +one said that the old woman’s son must have killed him, because +he stayed behind when the others went home. The king sent for the old +woman’s son. He was very frightened, and when he reached the +royal hall he called out, “I have made no false charge against +any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King, have you +sent for me?” “Do not be afraid,” said the king. +“My enemy Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is +you who killed him. Tell me if this is true.” “No, O +King,” said the boy, “he was killed by the arts of +Mahalaxmi.” “Where did you meet her?” asked the king. +The boy said, “I stayed when the other villagers returned home, +and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e639" href="#xd19e639" name= +"xd19e639">45</a>]</span>Patâla and the wood-nymphs. They taught +me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning she revealed herself and +promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be found lying dead, that you +would give me half your kingdom and half your treasure, that you would +build me a palace as high as your own, and that you would call me +Navalvat or Wonderways.” The king did as the goddess had +foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his treasuries to +Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof was exactly on the +same level as that of his own palace.</p> +<p>When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for +Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told her all +that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patâla do, and he also +told her on the eighth day of the month of Ashwin<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e643src" href="#xd19e643" name="xd19e643src">4</a> to tie on her +wrist a thread with sixteen strands in it, and to wear it continually +for the rest of the month. When the 8th of Ashwin came, Queen +Patmadhavrani dutifully tied round her wrist a thread of sixteen +strands, and resolved to wear it every <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e646" href="#xd19e646" name="xd19e646">46</a>]</span>day for the +rest of the month. But a day or two later the king came to Queen +Patmadhavrani’s apartments and began to play saripat<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e648src" href="#xd19e648" name="xd19e648src">5</a> +with her. As they played he noticed the thread on her wrist and asked +what it was. She told him how Wonderways had instructed her to tie it +on. But the king got very angry and roared out, “I have in my +palace garlands and twine, bracelets, and hobbling-ropes. So throw away +that wretched piece of thread. I will not let you wear it.” The +queen did as she was bid, and, pulling off the thread bracelet, threw +it on the floor. Next morning the maids and the slave-girls began to +sweep the palace, and among the sweepings one of them noticed the +queen’s thread bracelet. She picked it up and showed it to +Wonderways, and he grew very wroth with Queen Patmadhavrani. He took +the thread and at once went with it to the palace of the unloved Queen +Chimadevrani. He told her what had happened, and she begged him to give +the thread to her and to tell her how to worship Mahalaxmi. But he +said, “You will grow vain and get so conceited that you will not +do what I tell you <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e651" href= +"#xd19e651" name="xd19e651">47</a>]</span>to do.” But she +promised that she would obey him in everything. So just as he had told +the Queen Patmadhavrani, he told Queen Chimadevrani all the rites which +he had seen the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs +perform. Everything went on just the same for a whole year. But the +next year on the 8th of Ashwin a very strange thing happened. The +goddess Mahalaxmi disguised herself as an old beggar-woman and came to +Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen +Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour to +the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and therefore +specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out at this, and +when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, “Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house +to-day?” The queen replied, “I have nothing in my house +to-day.” The old woman went on, “Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, +mother of sons, if you give this beggar-woman a little water, you will +acquire merit sufficient for all your kingdom.” But the queen +replied, “Even if I were to give you a copper cauldron +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e653" href="#xd19e653" name= +"xd19e653">48</a>]</span>of water it would not suffice for all my +kingdom.” The old woman then said, “Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a +little rice and curds, you will gain enough merit for all your +kingdom.” The queen replied, “Even if I were to give you a +big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, I should not gain enough +merit for all my kingdom.” Then the old woman got very angry and +cursed the queen, saying, “You will become half a frog and half a +human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife’s bath-room +and croak like a frog.” But the queen did not mind her the least +little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the noise was +like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a great rage +and entered Queen Chimadevrani’s part of the palace. There she +saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful +image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, +“Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your +house to-day?” “To-day,” said the queen, “we +are worshipping Mahalaxmi.” Then the old beggar-woman said, +“I am Mahalaxmi.” But <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e656" href="#xd19e656" name="xd19e656">49</a>]</span>the queen +doubted and asked her, “By what sign shall I know you?” The +goddess replied, “In the morning I shall take the shape of a +little girl. In the afternoon I shall take that of a young married +woman. In the evening I shall become an old hag.” After the +goddess had taken all three shapes, Queen Chimadevrani called her into +the palace and bathed and anointed her. She gave her a silk skirt and a +platform to sit upon. Then she sent for Wonderways, and both of them +worshipped the old beggar-woman and blew on earthen pots in her honour. +The king heard the blowing on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why +there was such a noise in Queen Chimadevrani’s quarters. The +sepoy went there, and when he saw what was happening joined also in the +worship. After a little while he went back and told the king. The king +said that he would go there too. He followed the sepoy, and Queen +Chimadevrani came to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where +both played at saripat until dawn. And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by +and watched them. At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her +blessing. She blessed the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e658" href= +"#xd19e658" name="xd19e658">50</a>]</span>queen and said, “The +king will take you back with him to the palace, and your co-wife will +become half frog, half human being, and will have to croak outside your +bath-room while you bathe.” But Queen Chimadevrani begged the +goddess not to place such a terrible curse on Patmadhavrani. The +goddess relented a little, but said, “The king will drive her +into the jungle for twelve years.” At these words she vanished +and flew to Kolhapur. When the sun rose the king placed Queen +Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own part of the +palace. He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani asking her to +join them. Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani appeared, dressed all +in rags with a <span class="corr" id="xd19e660" title= +"Source: skirit">skirt</span> round her legs and her hair all +unfastened. On her head was a pot full of burning coal, and she began +to shout and scream at the top of her voice. The king became very angry +and roared out, “Who is this that is shouting and screaming? Is +it a ghost or a she-devil or what?” The sepoys replied, “O +King, it is neither a ghost nor a she-devil, it is your Queen +Patmadhavrani.” “Take her into the jungle,” roared +the king, “and kill her there.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e663" href="#xd19e663" name= +"xd19e663">51</a>]</span>Then he went back into the palace and began to +live in great happiness with Queen Chimadevrani. But the sepoys took +Patmadhavrani into the jungle and told her that they had been ordered +to kill her. She began to weep. The sepoys were kind-hearted men and +they felt very sorry for her. They said, “Lady, lady, do not +weep. We have eaten bread and drunk water at your hands so we cannot +kill you. We will leave you here, but you must never come back into the +kingdom again.” The sepoys left her and returned to Atpat. But +the poor queen wandered on until she came to a distant town, where she +entered a coppersmith’s lane. Therein a coppersmith was making +bangles for a beautiful young princess who had just been crowned queen +of the city. But suddenly none of the bangles would join. He began to +search for the cause, and asked his workmen whether any stranger had +come near his house. The workmen looked about and found Queen +Patmadhavrani in hiding close by. They told the coppersmith, and he and +his men beat her soundly and drove her away. She ran into the lane of +some weavers who were weaving a sari for the new queen. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e665" href="#xd19e665" name= +"xd19e665">52</a>]</span>Suddenly none of the looms would work. They +began looking about to see if any stranger had come. After a little +while they found the queen. So they beat her soundly and drove her +away. Then she ran out of the town back into the jungle. There she +wandered about until she came to the cave of a rishi or sage. The rishi +was sitting lost in meditation. But she bided her time, and, when he +went to bathe, she slipped into the cave and swept it and neaped it and +tidied up all the utensils used by him for worship. Then she slipped +out of the cave and ran back into the jungle. This went on every day +for twelve years without the rishi showing that he was aware of what +she was doing. But in his heart he was really pleased with her. And one +day he called out in a loud voice, “Who is it who sweeps and +neaps my cave? Whoever she is, let her step forward.” The queen +stepped into the presence of the rishi and threw herself at his feet +and said, “If you promise not to punish me, I shall tell +you.” The rishi promised, and she told him her story. The rishi +took out his magic books and, consulting them, learned that Mahalaxmi +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e667" href="#xd19e667" name= +"xd19e667">53</a>]</span>had cursed her. So he taught her how to +worship Mahalaxmi, and all night long they blew on earthen pots and +performed rites in her honour. At dawn she revealed herself and the +queen asked her for her blessing. But the goddess was still very angry +with the queen. Then the rishi joined her in begging the +goddess’s pardon, and at last she relented. She said to the +queen, “Put under that tree a foot-bath full of water, +sandal-wood ointment, plates full of fruit, a stick of camphor, fans +made of odorous grasses; and handle them all so that they retain the +fragrance of some scent which the king will remember you used. +To-morrow the king will come. He will be thirsty. He will send his +sepoys to look for water. They will see all your things ready. And when +they go back and tell him, he will come himself.” Next morning, +as the goddess had foretold, the king came. He saw the cool shade of +the tree. He was tired with hunting, so he sat down and rested. He +washed his feet in the foot-bath. He ate up all the fruit, drank the +cold water, and sucked the stick of camphor. When he had rested to his +heart’s content, he asked the sepoy, “How is it that +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e670" href="#xd19e670" name= +"xd19e670">54</a>]</span>in the water I drank, in the fruit I took, in +the camphor I ate, I noticed a scent which Patmadhavrani always +used?” The sepoys replied, “If the king promises to pardon +us, we will tell him.” The king promised. The sepoys then told +him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten bread and +had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king told them to +look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched and searched +until they came to the rishi’s cave. Then they ran back and told +the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to the rishi. +The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great length. At last +he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the queen. The king +obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to his care and blessed +both her and her husband. The king put her in his chariot and took her +to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped his chariot and sent for +Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed and anointed herself, and put on +all her silk clothes, her shawls, her embroideries, and her jewels. In +front of her she placed all the horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e672" href="#xd19e672" name= +"xd19e672">55</a>]</span>to meet the king they blew their very loudest +on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the noise, and roared +out, “Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is it the +serpent-maidens of Patâla or is it the wood-nymphs who live in +the heart of the forest?” The sepoys said, “O King, it is +neither the serpent-maidens of Patâla nor is it the wood-nymphs +who live in the heart of the forest. It is Queen Chimadevrani, who is +coming to meet you as you ordered.” The king turned to +Patmadhavrani and said, “If you had come in this guise to meet +me, instead of coming like a mad woman, you would never have suffered +as you did.” Queen Patmadhavrani said nothing, but sat still in +the chariot, and the king lifted Queen Chimadevrani into the chariot, +and all three entered the city. And as they entered, the horn-blowers +blew so loud that every one was quite deafened. And the king lived from +that time forth in perfect happiness with both his wives. And because +of his happiness, he ruled so well that his subjects thought that King +Ramchandra of Ayodhya had come back to rule over them. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e674" href="#xd19e674" name= +"xd19e674">56</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e621" href="#xd19e621src" name="xd19e621">1</a></span> For +serpent-maidens of Patâla see <a href="#n129.1">note to Story +XX</a>.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e629" href="#xd19e629src" name="xd19e629">2</a></span> Mahalaxmi +is always worshipped in this way. And it is a common practice for +anyone who wants anything to blow on a pot and then wish for it.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e636" href="#xd19e636src" name="xd19e636">3</a></span> Kolhapur is +the chief seat of the worship of Mahalaxmi.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e643" href="#xd19e643src" name="xd19e643">4</a></span> Ashwin +corresponds approximately with October.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e648" href="#xd19e648src" name="xd19e648">5</a></span> A kind of +draughts.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch08" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Island Palace</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. He had a disciple who used every day to go to the village pond +and bathe and worship the god Shiva. On the way he had to walk through +the sandy island in the dry bed of the river. And, as he went home +across the island, he used to hear a voice cry, “Shall I come? +Shall I come? Shall I come?”; but when he looked round he could +see no one. The Brahman’s disciple at last got so frightened that +he withered up until he became as dry and as thin as a bone. At last +the Brahman said, “You have no wish to eat or drink; yet you are +so thin. What is the reason?” The boy replied, “I neither +wish to eat, nor want to eat, nor crave to eat. But I am frightened +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e680" href="#xd19e680" name= +"xd19e680">57</a>]</span>out of my wits. For whenever I come back from +my bath I hear a voice behind me call out, ‘Shall I come? Shall I +come? Shall I come?’; but when I look round there is no one +there.” The Brahman said, “Do not be afraid, and when you +next hear the voice, do not look behind you, but call out as boldly as +you can, ‘Come along, come along, come along.’” Next +day the disciple went as usual to his bath in the village pond. He +worshipped the god Shiva, and as he came home he heard the cry behind +him, “Shall I come? Shall I come? Shall I come?” The boy +was very frightened, but he did not look behind him. In a short time he +mastered his fears, and then in a voice like a bull roaring he cried +out, “Come along, come along, come along.” At last he +reached home, calling all the time and without once looking behind +him.</p> +<p>The Brahman looked up as the disciple came in, and he saw that just +behind was walking a young girl. He at once married the girl to his +disciple and gave them a house to live in close by his own. Now, on the +first Monday in the month of Shravan, or August, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e684" href="#xd19e684" name= +"xd19e684">58</a>]</span>the disciple got up and said to his wife, +“I am going out to worship the god Shiva. But do not wait for me. +Just eat your breakfast directly you feel hungry.” He went out, +and in a little time his wife began to feel hungry. Nevertheless, she +knew that, in spite of what her husband had said, she ought not to eat +anything while he was worshipping Shiva. So she waited for a little +time, but at last she got so terribly hungry that she could not wait +any more. So she sat down and cooked her breakfast, and had just put +one mouthful into her mouth when her husband came to the outer door. +“Wife, wife,” he called, “open the door!” Then +the little wife got very frightened. She pushed the uneaten breakfast +under the bed, got up, washed her hands, and opened the door. She then +told her husband that she had waited for him, and she cooked a fresh +breakfast, which both ate one after the other. Next Monday exactly the +same thing happened. The little wife cooked her breakfast and was just +beginning it when her husband came. She then hid her uneaten breakfast +under her bed and pretended that she had waited for his return. And on +the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e686" href="#xd19e686" name= +"xd19e686">59</a>]</span>two following Mondays the naughty little wife +deceived her husband in just the same way.</p> +<p>Now on the last Sunday in Shravan, when husband and wife went to lie +down, the former noticed a light shining under the bed. He looked to +see what it was, and saw several platefuls of jewels. He asked his wife +whence they had come. Now they were really the uneaten breakfasts, +which the god Shiva had turned into gold and jewels. But the naughty +little wife got very frightened and told her husband a bigger story +than ever. “They are presents,” she said, “from my +mother and father and their family.” “But where is your +father’s house?” asked the husband. “It is in the +sandy island,” said the little wife, “which lies in the dry +bed of the river.” “You must take me there,” said her +husband. Next morning they started off together. And the naughty little +wife could hardly walk, she was so frightened. For she knew quite well +that her father had no house in the sandy island. But on the way she +prayed to Shiva, “Please, please, god Shiva, create a house for +my father in the sandy island which lies in the dry bed of the river, +even if it be only for half an hour.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e690" href="#xd19e690" name= +"xd19e690">60</a>]</span></p> +<p>At last the husband and wife came to the sandy island. And there, lo +and behold! they saw a great big palace, and a splendidly dressed young +man came forward and greeted the disciple as his brother-in-law. And a +handsome old knight came forward and greeted the disciple as his +son-in-law. And a beautiful young woman greeted the naughty little wife +as the sister of her husband. And a lovely little girl ran up and +embraced her and called her “sister.” And slave girls and +maid-servants ran forward to offer her their service. A guard of +soldiers kept watch by the palace, and at the door there were sentries, +who made way for them as they passed. Inside the house the little wife +and her husband were given platforms to sit upon, and a splendid feast +was all ready prepared for them to eat. After they had feasted, they +got up and said good-bye to the little wife’s father and mother, +and garlands of flowers were placed round their necks, and they started +for their home. When they had gone half-way, the naughty little wife +remembered that she had hung her garland on a peg and had forgotten to +bring it with her. So she and her husband went back to the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e693" href="#xd19e693" name= +"xd19e693">61</a>]</span>sandy island. But when they got there, there +was no palace, there were no soldiers to guard it, there were no +sentries at the door, there were no maid-servants nor slave girls. +There was nothing there but just a sandy island in the middle of a dry +river-bed. And on the sand lay the garland which the naughty little +wife had forgotten. She took it up and put it round her neck.</p> +<p>But her husband asked her, “What has happened to your +father’s house?” The naughty little wife replied, all in +tears, “As it came, so it went. But if you promise to forgive me, +I shall tell you.” The husband promised. So she told him how +every Monday she had felt so hungry and how she had cooked her +breakfast, and then, on hearing her husband’s voice, had pushed +it under their bed. She also told him that the god Shiva had turned the +food into gold and jewels. “Then when you asked me,” she +went on, “I felt so frightened that I said they were presents +from my father and mother and the rest of my family. And when you made +me take you to my father’s house, I prayed the god Shiva to +create, if only for half an hour, a house for my <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e697" href="#xd19e697" name= +"xd19e697">62</a>]</span>father on the sandy island in the dry +river-bed. And he graciously granted my request.” Then the +husband forgave the naughty little wife. And she became quite good and +never told him any more stories. And they both went home and lived +happily ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e699" href= +"#xd19e699" name="xd19e699">63</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch09" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Nagoba, the Snake-King</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had seven little daughters-in-law. In the fulness of time +the month of Shravan came and with it Nagpanchmi Day<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e705src" href="#xd19e705" name="xd19e705src">1</a>. In honour +of the festival, one little daughter-in-law went to her +grandpapa’s house, another went to her great grandpapa’s +house, another went to her father’s house, until at last only the +youngest daughter-in-law remained behind. Her father and mother were +dead, and she had no uncles and no aunts and no little brothers or +sisters. So the poor little daughter-in-law felt very sad and sat down +and cried in a corner. Then she remembered that it was Nagpanchmi Day, +and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e711" href="#xd19e711" name= +"xd19e711">64</a>]</span>that it was a festival in honour of Nagoba, +the great snake-king. So she prayed under her breath, “Please, +please, snake-king, come and pretend that you have been sent to fetch +me to my father’s house!” And the great snake-king heard +the prayer and felt quite sorry for the poor little daughter-in-law who +was crying in the corner. He assumed the guise of a Brahman and came to +the house where the little daughter-in-law was, and said that he had +been sent to fetch her to her father’s house. Her father-in-law +was very much astonished. For he wondered why, if the new-comer really +was a relative of the little daughter-in-law, he had never paid him a +visit before. At last he asked the little daughter-in-law who the +new-comer was. She did not know in the least. But she was so overjoyed +that some one should have come for her that she at once answered, +“He is my mother’s brother.” Her father-in-law +believed her and sent her off in the care of Nagoba, the snake-king. +Still disguised as a Brahman, he took her to the entrance of his +underground palace and there he told her who he was. He then reassumed +his true appearance, and, expanding the mighty <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e713" href="#xd19e713" name= +"xd19e713">65</a>]</span>hood behind his head, he seated the little +girl on it and took her down to his splendid dwelling-house beneath the +earth. In the central hall he presented her to the snake-queen and to +all the snake-princes, and told them that in no circumstances whatever +were they to bite the little daughter-in-law.</p> +<p>One day the snake-queen was about to be confined. So she asked the +little daughter-in-law to sit by her side with the lamp in her hand. +The little daughter-in-law did so, and a little time afterwards the +snake-queen gave birth to a fresh litter of little snake-princes. When +the little daughter-in-law saw them all wriggling about, she was +frightened out of her wits. She let the lamp slip out of her hands. It +fell on the ground and burnt all the little snakes’ tails off. +The snake-queen did her best to comfort them, but the stumps of the +little princes’ tails ached so dreadfully that it was ever so +long before the snake-queen could put them off to sleep. When the +snake-king came home that evening, she told him what had happened. And +she was so cross with the little daughter-in-law, that the snake-king +had to promise that she should go back to her <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e717" href="#xd19e717" name= +"xd19e717">66</a>]</span>father-in-law’s house. A few days later, +the snake-king assumed once again the guise of a Brahman, and, loading +the little daughter-in-law with presents, took her back to her +husband’s home. In the course of time the little snake-princes +grew up, but their tails never grew again. So their father, the +snake-king, called one little prince, No-tail; and the second little +prince, Cut-tail; and the third little prince, Dock-tail. And one day +they asked the snake-queen how it was that their tails had been broken +off. She told them how the little daughter-in-law had burnt them off by +dropping the lamp on them.</p> +<p>The snake-princes, when they heard their mother’s answer, were +terribly cross with the little daughter-in-law, and they vowed that +they would be revenged on her. So they found out where she lived, and +they sent a message to her house, saying that they were coming to pay +her a visit. But they really meant to bite her to death directly they +saw her. The little daughter-in-law was overjoyed when she heard that +the snake-princes were coming to visit her. For ever since the +snake-king had pretended to be her uncle, she always thought +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e721" href="#xd19e721" name= +"xd19e721">67</a>]</span>of little No-tail and little Cut-tail and +little Dock-tail as if they had been her own cousins. Now it so +happened that the very day on which they were expected at the little +daughter-in-law’s house was Nagpanchmi Day. The little +daughter-in-law was sitting in the house all alone waiting for little +Prince No-tail, little Prince Cut-tail, and little Prince Dock-tail. +They were late in coming, so to pass the time she drew pictures of +Nagoba, the snake-king, on her dining-platform and on the wall. When +she had finished the pictures, she worshipped them and offered them +milk and food. Then she prayed to the great snake-king, “Please +please, King Nagoba, guard from all hurt, wherever they may be, my +little cousins No-tail and Cut-tail and Dock-tail.” And last of +all she prostrated herself at full length before the pictures which she +had drawn on the wall and on her dining-platform.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e724width" id="p068"><img src="images/p068.jpg" +alt= +"“They no longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“They no longer wished to kill or bite the +little daughter-in-law”</p> +</div> +<p>In the meantime little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and +little Prince Dock-tail had come up without the little daughter-in-law +noticing them. But when they saw the honour which she was paying their +father, King Nagoba, and heard the prayer which <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e730" href="#xd19e730" name= +"xd19e730">68</a>]</span>she had offered on their behalf, they no +longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law. On the +contrary, they made themselves known to her and stayed all that day in +the house and were as good and as nice as possible. When night fell, +they drank the milk which she had offered to the snake-king. And in its +place they put a necklace with nine beautiful jewels in it. Before day +broke they went away quietly and returned to their father’s +palace under the ground. Next morning when the little daughter-in-law +woke up she saw the lovely necklace lying where the milk had been. She +gave a shout of delight, and putting it round her neck, she ran all +over the house showing it to everybody. And every one was perfectly +charmed with it. And the snake-princes never again came to bite any one +in that household. And the little daughter-in-law and her husband and +her father-in-law and little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail +and little Prince Dock-tail, they all lived happily for ever so long +afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e732" href="#xd19e732" +name="xd19e732">69</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e705" href="#xd19e705src" name="xd19e705">1</a></span> Nagpanchmi +Day falls on Shravan Sud 5, <i>i.e.</i> the 5th day of the bright half +of Shravan.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch10" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Parwati and the Beggar-Man</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In It there lived a +Brahman. He had seven daughters, and when they had reached a +marriageable age he asked them who would arrange their marriages and +bring them handsome husbands and make their fortunes. The six eldest +daughters said, “Papa, Papa, you of course. You will arrange our +marriages and bring us handsome husbands and make our fortunes for +us.” But the youngest daughter was a naughty little girl. She got +into a temper all about nothing, and she stamped her foot, and she +turned her back on her father and said, “I will arrange my own +marriage, and I will get a handsome husband for myself, and I will make +my fortune myself.” The Brahman was very angry with her, and so +how do you <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e738" href="#xd19e738" +name="xd19e738">70</a>]</span>think he punished her? He first searched +about and found six rich and handsome boys. Then he married them with +great pomp and display to his six eldest daughters. But the youngest +girl he gave in marriage to a miserable beggar-man. You never saw such +a beggar-man as he was! There was not a spot on his skin that was not +black with leprosy, and his feet and hands had rotted right off. If you +had seen him you would have said, “If that beggar-man does not +die to-day he will certainly die to-morrow. For he cannot possibly live +any longer!” When the marriage was celebrated, the little +girl’s mother filled her lap with pulse and then handed her over +to the beggar-man to see what sort of fortune would be hers. But in a +few days the beggar-man died. His corpse was taken to the +burning-ground, and his little widow followed it. But when his +relatives wanted to burn the body, she forbade them and told them to go +away. For she said, “My fortune is still to come, whatever it may +be.” They all got round her and tried to persuade her that there +was no use in her staying by the corpse, but she would not mind what +they said. At last they were <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e740" +href="#xd19e740" name="xd19e740">71</a>]</span>quite tired out and went +home, leaving her in the burning-ground. When they had gone she took +her husband’s corpse on to her lap. Then she prayed to the god +Shiva and said:</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“My parents disown me. O why was I born</p> +<p class="line">Both as orphan and widow to live all +forlorn?”</p> +</div> +<div class="figure xd19e748width" id="p071"><img src="images/p071.jpg" +alt= +"“They asked her what the reason was, and she told them”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“They asked her what the reason was, and +she told them”</p> +</div> +<p>As she prayed, she put the pulse which her mother had put into her +lap grain by grain in the dead man’s mouth. Then she sat there +crying until midnight. Now it happened that on that very night Shiva +and Parwati were in their chariot driving through the air over that +very place. Parwati said suddenly to her husband, “I hear a woman +crying, let us go and see what it is.” The god Shiva drove his +chariot down to earth. He and Parwati got out and saw the +Brahman’s youngest daughter crying. They asked her what the +reason was, and she told them. Then Parwati pitied her and said, +“Your aunt has acquired great merit by her piety and devotions. +You go to her and get her to give you all her merit and so you will +bring your husband back to life.” The god Shiva and Parwati then +mounted on their <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e754" href= +"#xd19e754" name="xd19e754">72</a>]</span>chariot and disappeared. Next +morning the little widow left her husband’s body, went to her +aunt’s house and begged her to give her all the merit which she +had acquired, and told her the cause of the request. The aunt was very +good and gave her all her own merit. The little widow then went back to +the burning-ground and with its aid brought her husband back to life. +But this time he was no longer a beggar-man black with leprosy and with +feet and hands that had rotted away. He was a beautiful young man with +well-shaped feet and a beautiful fair skin, and the little widow took +her husband back to her father’s house. “Papa, Papa,” +she said, “you turned me out, but the gods have brought me back, +and good fortune came to me without your bringing it.” The father +was too frightened of Parwati to say anything, so he held his peace. +And the little girl and her husband, the beggar-man, lived happily ever +afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e756" href="#xd19e756" +name="xd19e756">73</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch11" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Parwati and the Brahman</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman. When the month of Bhadrapad came round, every household +bought little images of Parwati, and the women began to walk about the +streets and sound gongs. When the poor Brahman’s children saw +this they went home and said to their mother, “Mummy, Mummy, +please buy us little images of Parwati like the other little boys and +girls have.” But their mother said, “What is the use of my +buying images of Parwati? If I do we shall have to make offerings, and +there is absolutely nothing in the house. You run to papa and tell him +to go into the bazaar and buy grain. If he buys grain I’ll buy +you images of Parwati.” The children got up and ran to their +father and cried out, “Papa, Papa, <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e762" href="#xd19e762" name="xd19e762">74</a>]</span>Mama says +that she will buy us images of Parwati if you will go into the bazaar +and get food to offer to them.” Their father at first searched +all over the house but could find no grain. And then he looked in his +purse but he could find no money with which to go to the bazaar and buy +grain. But although he tried to explain this to his children, they +would not listen to him. They screamed at him and shouted, “Papa, +Papa, Mummy says that she will buy us images of Parwati if you will get +food to offer to them.” “Papa, Papa, why should we not have +images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls.” At last +they bothered the poor Brahman so much that he felt worried to death. +“I love,” he said, “my children as if they were made +of gold, but they will not mind what I say. They will not understand +that it is nothing but poverty which prevents my buying food and +offering it to Parwati. I might go out and beg, but when I do, no one +ever gives me anything. Death is better than a life like this.” +With these words he got up and walked to the edge of the village pond +and determined to drown himself. It was dark when he started, and +half-way <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e764" href="#xd19e764" name= +"xd19e764">75</a>]</span>he met an old woman. She heard him coming and +asked him who he was. He told her all his trouble, and said that he +meant to jump into the pond to escape from his children. The woman +comforted him and prevailed on him to turn home again. He took her +home. His wife came to the door with a lamp and asked who she was. The +husband did not like to say that he had only just met her on the road, +so he said to his wife, “She is my grandmother.” The wife +thereupon welcomed her and invited her to come in and stay to supper. +But her heart felt as heavy as lead, for she knew that there was +nothing to eat inside the house. When the old woman had seated herself +inside the house, the Brahman’s wife got up and, in despair, went +to look inside the grain-pots. She knew they were empty, but she +thought that she would first look into them once again. But, lo and +behold! when she looked this time she found the grain-pots brimming +over with grain. She called her husband, and they were both perfectly +delighted. And the wife prepared bowls full of rice-gruel, and every +one, children and all, ate the rice-gruel till the skins on their +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e766" href="#xd19e766" name= +"xd19e766">76</a>]</span>stomachs felt quite tight. And they went to +bed as happy as possible. Next morning the old woman called to the +Brahman, “My son, my son, get me water for my bath and cook me a +nice hot dinner, and please be quick about it, and do not start making +objections.” The Brahman got up and called his wife, and they got +water for the old woman’s bath, and then the Brahman went out to +beg. When he had gone out before, no one had ever given him anything. +But to-day every one ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper +coins. Then he went back home in splendid spirits. His wife prepared a +glorious dinner, and the children ate so much that the skin on their +stomachs felt as tight as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old woman +said to the Brahman, “To-morrow I want a milk-pudding for +dinner.” “But, Grandmamma,” said the Brahman, +“where shall I get the milk from?” The old woman said, +“Don’t worry about that. Just get up and hammer down as +many pegs as you can in your courtyard. Then this evening, when the +cattle come home, call to the village cows and buffaloes by name, and +they will come to you, and if you milk them <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e768" href="#xd19e768" name= +"xd19e768">77</a>]</span>you will get enough milk for my pudding +to-morrow.” The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, and +that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by name to come to his +courtyard. And from every direction the cows and buffaloes came running +up. And behind them galloped all the little calves with their heels in +the air and their tails stuck out straight behind them. At last the +Brahman’s courtyard was filled so full that no more cows or +buffaloes could enter. And he milked them all, and next day his wife +cooked a milk-pudding such as one would not see again if one lived a +thousand years. And the children ate until they were so tired of eating +that they just rolled over and went fast asleep. But that evening the +old woman said, “My son, my son, I want you to take me +home.” “But, Grandmamma, Grandmamma,” said the +Brahman, “how can I take you home, for I have had all this good +luck only because of you. Directly you go away my good luck will +vanish.” “Do not be afraid,” said the old woman, +“for I am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will never +vanish. Therefore you must come with me and see me home.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e770" href="#xd19e770" name= +"xd19e770">78</a>]</span>But the Brahman said, “I do not want my +good luck only to continue. I want it to increase.” The old woman +said, “If you come with me I shall give you some sand. When you +go back home, scatter it all over the house and over your jars and your +pots, and put it inside your boxes and your cupboards, and scatter it +all over your courtyard too, and you will find that your good luck will +never be any less than it is now.” The Brahman was satisfied with +this. He worshipped the old woman and went with her towards the tank +until she suddenly disappeared. He returned home and scattered sand all +over his house and over his jars and his pots and inside his boxes and +his cupboards, and from that day on, his good luck never left him. And +his wealth increased, and his children increased. And they all lived +happily ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e773" href= +"#xd19e773" name="xd19e773">79</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch12" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Soma, the Washerwoman</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He had also +one daughter called Gunvanti and a wife called Dhanvanti. Whenever a +mendicant Brahman came to this house, it was the custom of all the +ladies to give him alms and then prostrate themselves in front of him. +One day a Brahman came, tall as a tree and shining like the sun. The +seven daughters-in-law ran out as usual and gave him alms and then +threw themselves at full length at his feet. The Brahman blessed them +and said, “Increase of children be yours; increase of wealth be +yours; may your husbands cherish you all your lives.” But the +Brahman’s daughter Gunvanti was a lazy little girl, and +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e780" href="#xd19e780" name= +"xd19e780">80</a>]</span>when the mendicant came she was still in bed. +Her mother, Dhanvanti, rushed into her room and cried, “Daughter, +daughter, get up and give the Brahman alms,” The little girl +jumped up in a fright and ran out and put alms before him and +prostrated herself at his feet. The mendicant blessed her and said, +“Observe the precepts of religion.”</p> +<p>The little girl ran back to her mother. “Mother, +Mother,” she cried, “Bhatji<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e784src" href="#xd19e784" name="xd19e784src">1</a> did not give me +the same blessing as he gave to my sisters-in-law,” Her mother +said, “Go back again and give him some more alms and see what he +does,” The little girl ran back, put some more alms before the +mendicant, and again prostrating herself asked for his blessing. Once +more he said, “Observe the precepts of religion,” Then +Dhanvanti asked him why he gave her daughter such a strange blessing. +The mendicant replied, “Because widowhood will come upon her +immediately after her marriage,” Dhanvanti threw herself before +the Brahman and grasped his feet and cried, weeping, “Tell me how +I may escape this evil; what shall I do to save my one little +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e787" href="#xd19e787" name= +"xd19e787">81</a>]</span>girl from becoming a widow?” The Brahman +pitied her and said, “Lady, lady, do not weep; I shall give you a +remedy by which to cure this evil. Across the seven seas there is an +island. In it there lives a washerwoman called Soma. If you can fetch +her to your daughter’s wedding, she will escape the evil that +threatens her. When the wedding is over, you must send Soma back with +all honour to her house.” With these words the mendicant took up +his wallet and went to collect alms elsewhere. When her husband +returned home Dhanvanti told him what had happened. “Some +one,” she added, “must go across the seven seas, to fetch +Soma, the washerwoman.” The father and mother called up their +sons and said, “Those of you who honour your parents will take +your sister and cross the seven seas to bring Soma here.” But all +the sons turned to their mother and said, “All you care about is +your daughter. You do not love us the least little bit. So we shall not +cross the seven seas and bring Soma here just on her account.” +The mother began to cry, and the father got very cross. He turned to +his wife and said, “From henceforth you <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e789" href="#xd19e789" name= +"xd19e789">82</a>]</span>have no sons. To me our seven sons are as if +they had never been born. But do not get frightened about our little +girl I myself shall cross the seven seas and fetch Soma, the +washerwoman.” Then the youngest of the seven sons said to his +father, “Daddy, Daddy, you must not say that you have no sons +when here we are, all seven of us. I shall take my sister Gunvanti with +me, and we shall go and fetch Soma, the washerwoman.” A few days +later the two children prostrated themselves before their parents and +began their voyage.</p> +<p>In course of time they came to the seashore. But the wind was +blowing, the waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the +rocks. The brother and sister could not imagine how they were to +continue their journey. There was no one near to give them food, there +was no one near to give them drink, and they could think of nothing +better than to lie down and die. But they first resolved to pray to the +god Shiva, “Please, please, God Shiva,” prayed the two +children, “get us out of this terrible trouble.” After +praying they went and sat under a banian tree, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e793" href="#xd19e793" name= +"xd19e793">83</a>]</span>and all day long they had nothing to eat or +drink. Now on the very top of the banian tree was an eagle’s +nest, and in it there were several little eagles. When evening came, +father eagle and mother eagle came home and began to feed their young. +But the little eagles would not eat anything at all. Mother eagle said, +“Children, children, what is the matter?” “O Mummy, +Mummy,” cried the little eagles, “two strangers have come +to our house, and they are sitting under our tree, and they have had +nothing to eat all day!” Father eagle and mother eagle flew to +the ground and began to ask the boy what his trouble was. “Do not +be frightened,” said father eagle; “whatever your business, +I’ll help you to get it done. Do not go to bed without supper. +I’ll bring you some fruit. Eat some of it yourself and give the +rest to your little sister.”</p> +<p>The boy told father eagle what had happened, and how it was that +they had to cross the seven seas. Father eagle said, “I shall +carry you both across directly you wake up to-morrow, and I shall put +you down at Soma the washerwoman’s door.” Then the two +children felt very happy and thanked the god <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e797" href="#xd19e797" name= +"xd19e797">84</a>]</span>Shiva. And after eating father eagle’s +fruit, they lay down under the tree and fell fast asleep in no time. +Next morning father eagle and mother eagle came down the tree, and +father eagle took the boy on his back, and mother eagle took the girl +on her back, and off they flew across the seven seas. The wind blew, +and the waves rolled mountains high, and the foam splashed over the +rocks. But father eagle and mother eagle flew straight on until they +came to the door of Soma, the washerwoman. There they left the boy and +girl and went back to the tree where the little eagles were waiting for +them. The boy and girl were too frightened to walk into Soma’s +house, so they hid all that day, and next morning they got up at dawn +and they swept the courtyard and neaped the floor with cow-dung. And +then, before any one could see them, they ran away and hid. And this +they did every day for a whole year.</p> +<p>At last Soma one day called all her children and all her little +daughters-in-law and said, “Who among you gets up so early? Who +sweeps my courtyard? Who clears my floor?” All the children and +all the little <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e801" href="#xd19e801" +name="xd19e801">85</a>]</span>daughters-in-law said, “It is not +I,” “It is not I,” “It is not I.” Then +Soma became very curious to know who it was. So the following night she +did not go to bed. She sat up, but nothing happened until just after +dawn. Then she saw the little Brahman girl sweeping the courtyard and +her brother cleaning the floor. Soma got up and said, “Children, +who are you?” They replied, “We are Brahmans.” +“But I am only a washerwoman,” said Soma; “I am a +low-caste woman, why do you sweep my courtyard and neap my floor? It +will be reckoned unto me as a sin If I accept the service of +Brahmans.” The boy said, “This is my sister, and a Brahman +has told us that unless you come to her wedding she will be widowed +shortly after marriage. Our father and mother told us to go and bring +you back with us. So, in order to make you pleased with us, we have +been working as your servants.” “Do not work for me any +more,” said Soma, “I shall gladly go to your +wedding,” She then called to her daughters-in-law and said, +“I am going to this child’s wedding. But if any one of our +relations dies when I am away, do not burn his <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e803" href="#xd19e803" name= +"xd19e803">86</a>]</span>body until I come back.” She went with +the two Brahman children to the seashore. The wind was blowing, and the +great waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the rocks. +But Soma took the boy under one arm and the girl under the other. She +jumped far up into the sky and right over the seven seas, and when she +got to the opposite shore she put the children down again. They led her +to their father’s house. Their mother Dhanvanti welcomed the +washerwoman and fell at her feet to thank her for her coming. The +youngest brother then went to Ujjain, and after making inquiries +brought back a boy of suitable caste and age to be a husband for his +sister. On an auspicious day the wedding was celebrated. But as the +bridegroom and bride were throwing rice<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e805src" href="#xd19e805" name="xd19e805src">2</a> over each +other, the bridegroom fainted. He fell on the ground and lay there +motionless. The little bride did not know what to do, she was so +frightened. And all the grown-up people were almost as frightened as +she was. But Soma, the washerwoman, stepped forward and said, “It +is nothing, do not be afraid.” She took some <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e808" href="#xd19e808" name= +"xd19e808">87</a>]</span>water in her hand and sprinkled it over +herself. Now the secret of Soma’s power was this:--</p> +<p>She had acquired great merit by observing every Monday the following +practices: She would get up early, bathe, dress in silence, make +various gifts to Brahmans, and then walk one hundred and eight times +round a peepul tree. But now by sprinkling water over herself she had +transferred the whole of her merit to Gunvanti. By this means the +little bride had been able to restore her husband to life, and the +wedding ceremony finished amidst the happiness of all. Soma then took +leave to go, and started on her homeward journey. When she reached the +seashore, the wind was blowing, and the great waves came rolling in, +and the spray was splashing over the rocks. But now that she had given +away all her merit to Gunvanti, she had none left by means of which she +could jump across the seven seas. She sat down forlorn by the bank of a +river. Then she got up, bathed in the water, and prayed to the god +Vishnu. Next she took one hundred and eight sand-grains in her hand, +and then walked one hundred and eight times <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e812" href="#xd19e812" name= +"xd19e812">88</a>]</span>round a peepul tree by the river’s edge. +Instantly her powers returned to her, and going back to the shore, she +sprang into the heavens and over the seven seas and alighted close to +her own door. There all her little daughters-in-law ran out to meet her +and cried, “O Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, we have been watching +for you. For while you were away your sons, your husband, and all your +sons-in-law died. But just as you told us to do, we did not burn their +corpses, but kept them in the house. And now they have all suddenly +come back to life.” Soma questioned the little daughters-in-law +and learnt that her sons and husband and sons-in-law had all died at +the very moment when she gave her merit to Gunvanti, and that they had +come back to life precisely when she finished her +one-hundred-and-eighth turn round the peepul tree. And they were all so +glad to have Soma back with them again, and for ever such a long time +afterwards she and her family lived happily together. And the Brahman +in his joy at his son-in-law’s recovery forgave his disobedient +sons, and they too all lived happily together ever afterwards. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e814" href="#xd19e814" name= +"xd19e814">89</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e784" href="#xd19e784src" name="xd19e784">1</a></span> Bhatji is +the name by which a mendicant Brahman is addressed.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e805" href="#xd19e805src" name="xd19e805">2</a></span> This is +called the akshataropan.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch13" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Vasishta and the Four Queens</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled a +king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the +housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself +divided the work between them. To the first queen he gave all the dairy +work, to the second queen he gave all the cooking, to the third he gave +the nursery, and he ordered the fourth to look after the royal +wardrobe. At first all went well. But in a little while the first queen +said to the third queen, “Why should you have charge of the +nursery? Why should you not work in the dairy?” The second queen +said to the fourth queen, “Why should I have to do all the +cooking?” The third queen asked, “Why should I have always +to look after the children?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e820" href="#xd19e820" name="xd19e820">90</a>]</span>And the +fourth queen stamped her foot and said, “I <i>won’t</i> +look after the king’s clothes.” And all day long they +quarrelled and screamed at each other, and the poor king was more +uncomfortable than ever. His face grew sad and careworn, and, from the +time he got up to the time he went to bed, he could think of nothing +but the way that his four queens were squabbling with each other.</p> +<p>One day the rishi, or sage, Vasishta<a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e827src" href="#xd19e827" name="xd19e827src">1</a> paid the king a +visit. The king prostrated himself before the great sage and gave him a +throne to sit upon. Vasishta looked at the king’s face and saw +how sad and careworn it was. He asked the cause, and the king told him. +Then the rishi rose, and the king went with him to the palace of the +four queens. When they reached it, they called to the queens to come +out. The rishi then asked them why they quarrelled. The first queen +cried out, “Why should I have to do the dairy work?” And +the second queen cried out, “Why should I be only a +cook-woman?” And the third cried <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e830" href="#xd19e830" name="xd19e830">91</a>]</span>out, +“Why should I have all the children to look after?” And the +fourth cried out, “Why should I have all the bother of sorting +out all the king’s clothes?” The king said, “You must +do these things because I ordered you to.” But the queens did not +mind a word that he said, and they all screamed together so loud that +the king and the rishi had to put their fingers in their ears to save +themselves from being deafened. For a while the rishi became absorbed +in thought, and then he turned to the first queen and said, “You +have been placed in charge of the dairy, have you not?” The first +queen assented. “Then listen to me,” said Vasishta. +“In a former life you were a cow, and near the spot in the jungle +where you used to graze was an altar to Shiva. And every day at noon +you used to come and stand near it and let milk drop upon it. And, +because in this way you honoured the god Shiva, you have in this life +become one of the queens of the king of Atpat. But you did not in your +former life attain to full merit. So the god Shiva directed the king to +place you in charge of his dairy, and the king conveyed the god’s +directions to you. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e832" href= +"#xd19e832" name="xd19e832">92</a>]</span>You should therefore obey +them, and you should honour the king as if he were Shiva himself. In +this way you will attain to full merit and ascend to Shiva’s +heaven, Kailas.” Vasishta then blessed the first queen. She +prostrated herself before him, and, giving up all thought of +quarrelling, went away and busied herself with her dairy work.</p> +<p>Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, “What are +you quarrelling about?” She replied, “Why should I be just +a cook-woman?” The rishi thought for a while and said, +“Lady, in a former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and +you used to beg your food from door to door. But every Monday you used +to fast, and whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and +offer to the god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. +Therefore in this life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And +because you cooked for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you +in charge of his kitchen. Therefore, obey the god’s directions +and give a great feast to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the +favour of Shiva, and he will take you with him to Kailas.” Then +he blessed the second <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e836" href= +"#xd19e836" name="xd19e836">93</a>]</span>queen, and she prostrated +herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the king’s +dinner.</p> +<p>The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, “What are +you quarrelling about?” The queen answered, “Why should I +do nothing but fiddle about the nursery?” Vasishta thought for a +while and said, “In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a +jungle tribe. Every Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the +choicest fruits that you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he +has made you a queen, and he has entrusted the king’s children to +you. Therefore look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he +will take you to live with him in Kailas.” The rishi then blessed +the third queen, and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran +off, her face all smiles, to play with the king’s children.</p> +<p>Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, +“What are you quarrelling about?” She answered, “Why +should I do nothing but look after the king’s clothes?” The +rishi said, “In a former life, O Queen, you were a kite that flew +high up in the heavens. Beneath where you used to fly was an altar to +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e842" href="#xd19e842" name= +"xd19e842">94</a>]</span>Shiva, and every day at noon you would spread +your wings over it and shade it from the sun’s heat. So the god +was pleased with you and in this life made you one of the queens of +Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva’s altar, so now a +canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva, now do +service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain full merit +and in the end reach Kailas.” Then the rishi blessed her, and she +went off quite gaily to attend to the king’s clothes.</p> +<p>And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily +ever afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story +should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured +them of their squabbling. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e846" href= +"#xd19e846" name="xd19e846">95</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e827" href="#xd19e827src" name="xd19e827">1</a></span> Vasishta +was the family priest of King Dasaratha, father of Ramchandra. After +death he became one of the stars in the constellation of the Great +Bear.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch14" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Lamps and the King’s Daughter-in-Law</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy +little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all +the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she got +very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she had done, +he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family began asking +where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had eaten them. And +then every one began abusing the mice, saying what horrid little +wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be if the cat caught +and ate them up. But, when the mice heard all this, they were very +angry with the little daughter-in-law for <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e852" href="#xd19e852" name="xd19e852">96</a>]</span>bringing a +false charge against them, and they all met together and vowed that +they would be revenged on her. Some days later the king invited a guest +to his house, and the same night the mice went into the little +daughter-in-law’s room and dragged out one of her bodices and put +it across the guest’s bed. Next morning the bodice was discovered +in the stranger’s bed, and the little daughter-in-law was utterly +disgraced. Her father-in-law and all her brothers-in-law scolded her +dreadfully, and at last the king drove her out of the house. Now it so +happened that it had till then always been the work of the little +daughter-in-law to look after the lamps in the king’s palace. +Every morning she used to rub them well and trim the wicks. She used to +light them herself and neap the burners with sugar-candy, and on +Divali<a class="noteref" id="xd19e854src" href="#xd19e854" name= +"xd19e854src">1</a> Day she used to worship them and make them suitable +offerings. But, directly the little daughter-in-law was driven away, +none of the lamps were any longer cared for. On the next Divali Day the +king was returning from a hunt, and he camped under a tree. Suddenly he +saw all the lamps <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e857" href= +"#xd19e857" name="xd19e857">97</a>]</span>in his town of Atpat come and +settle on its branches. One lamp after another told what was happening +in its house--when there had been a dinner party, what there had been +to eat, who had been invited, how they themselves had been cared for, +and what honours they had received on Divali Day. After all the other +lamps had told their story, the big lamp from the king’s palace +began, “Brother lamps, I do not know how to tell you. For none +among you is so wretched as I am. In former years I was the most +fortunate of all the lamps in Atpat. No other lamp had such honours +paid it as I had, and this year I have to drag out my days In +unspeakable misery.” All the other lamps tried to comfort it, and +asked it how it was that ill-fortune had overtaken it. “O brother +lamps, how can I tell you?” repeated the big lamp. “I am +the chief among the lamps that shine In the palace of the King of +Atpat. One day the king’s little daughter-in-law ate some +sweetmeats and to save herself blamed the mice. To revenge themselves, +they in turn brought a false charge against her by putting her bodice +on the bed of one of the king’s guests. So she was disgraced and +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e859" href="#xd19e859" name= +"xd19e859">98</a>]</span>driven out of the house. And after she left +ill-fortune came upon me. For every year it was she who worshipped me +and paid me honour; and wherever she is I wish her well, and I give her +my blessing.” The king listened attentively to the talk between +the lamps, and thus he learnt that his daughter-in-law was innocent. He +went home and asked whether there was any other evidence against her +besides her bodice. And when he learnt that there was none, and that no +one had seen anything happen between her and the king’s guest, he +sent a messenger for her and had her brought home. And he begged her +pardon for the past, and gave her full authority over all his +household; and the king lived and ruled ever afterwards as wisely and +as well as King Ramchandra of Ayodhya. And if any one brings a false +charge against any of us, may the lamps save us as they did the +king’s little daughter-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e861" href="#xd19e861" name="xd19e861">99</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e854" href="#xd19e854src" name="xd19e854">1</a></span> Divali is +the feast of lamps in the month of Kartih.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch15" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Parwati and the Priest</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there was a +temple to the god Shiva. One day when Shiva and his wife Parwati were +walking about they happened to come to this temple. They sat down there +and began to play saripat.<a class="noteref" id="xd19e867src" href= +"#xd19e867" name="xd19e867src">1</a> After some time Parwati seeing a +priest close by asked him who had won, she or Shiva. +“Shiva,” the priest replied. Parwati became very angry and +cursed him, so that he became a leper, and the pains which overtook him +were absolutely unendurable. One day a band of Apsaras<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e870src" href="#xd19e870" name="xd19e870src">2</a> +came down from heaven to the temple. They saw that the priest who lived +in it was a leper, and they asked him the reason. He told them +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e873" href="#xd19e873" name= +"xd19e873">100</a>]</span>how Parwati had cursed him. They replied, +“Do not be afraid; do as we tell you and you will get rid of your +leprosy. Fast all next Monday, bathe that evening, worship the god +Shiva, and then get half a pound of flour and mix it with treacle and +ghee and eat it for dinner. But whatever you do, eat no salt all day. +Do this for sixteen Mondays in succession, and on the seventeenth +Monday get five pounds of flour, mix with it ghee and treacle, and +offer it to Shiva inside this temple. Then divide it into three parts; +leave one for the god, distribute a second among the Brahmans or give +it to your cows, and take the third home to be eaten by you and your +family.” The Apsaras disappeared, and the priest followed their +instructions and became quite well. Some time afterwards Shiva and +Parwati came again to the temple. Parwati saw the priest cured of his +leprosy and asked him how he had got rid of it. He told her exactly +what he had done. She was very much surprised, and thought that if she +did the same she might win back her son Kartakswami,<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e875src" href="#xd19e875" name="xd19e875src">3</a> who had +quarrelled with her and had run off in a rage. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e881" href="#xd19e881" name= +"xd19e881">101</a>]</span>On the seventeenth Monday Kartakswami +suddenly appeared, and both of them were reconciled. Later on, +Kartakswami asked Parwati how she had brought him back, and Parwati +told him. Now Kartakswami had a Brahman friend who had gone into a +far-off country, and Kartakswami met him by accident shortly +afterwards. He told the Brahman how the priest had cured himself of +leprosy, and how he and Parwati had become reconciled. So the Brahman +also practised the same rites for seventeen Mondays. He then set out +for a distant country. As he travelled he came to a town. Now it +happened that in that town arrangements were being made for the +marriage of the king’s daughter. Several princes had come from +far-off countries to compete for her hand, and the king had erected a +splendid pavilion for the royal betrothal. But he would not himself +choose a prince to be his daughter’s husband. He ordered that a +garland should be placed on a she-elephant’s trunk, and that the +prince round whose neck the she-elephant threw the garland should be +chosen to marry the king’s daughter. But the she-elephant passed +by all the princes in turn, until she came <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e884" href="#xd19e884" name= +"xd19e884">102</a>]</span>to where the Brahman stood. For he had come +with the crowds of people to see the royal betrothal. Then the +she-elephant stopped and put the garland round the Brahman’s +neck. The king ordered the Brahman to step forward, and he married him +to his daughter. Some years later when the princess grew up, and she +and the Brahman began to live together, she asked her husband by what +merit he had succeeded in winning her for his wife, and he told her. +And she in turn practised the same rites for seventeen Mondays. Nine +months later a beautiful baby boy was born to her; and when he in turn +grew up she told him the rites which she had practised to obtain him. +And he in turn began to perform them. On the sixteenth Monday he set +out for a journey. As he travelled in a distant country he came to a +town over which ruled a king who had no son and only one daughter. The +king had for a long time past been searching for a beautiful and +virtuous young man, resolved when he found him to hand over to him his +kingdom and marry him to his daughter. As the Brahman’s son +entered the town the king saw him and noticed on him <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e886" href="#xd19e886" name= +"xd19e886">103</a>]</span>all the marks of royal origin. So he summoned +him to his house and married him to his daughter and seated him on his +own throne. Now the next Monday was the seventeenth Monday since the +Brahman’s son had begun the rites which the Apsaras had told to +the priest. That morning he got up and went to the temple and sent a +message home to his wife that she should send him five sers of flour +mixed with ghee and treacle. But the queen was too proud to do this. +For she feared that the people in the street would laugh at her if she +sent her husband five sers of flour mixed with ghee and treacle. So +instead she sent him five hundred rupees in a plate. But because the +flour and ghee and treacle were not sent, the king was unable to +complete his ceremonial, and it was all spoilt. And the god Shiva +instead of being pleased became very angry indeed. And he told the king +that, if he kept the queen as his wife, he would lose his kingdom and +die a beggar. Next day the king sent for his chief minister and told +him what had happened. At first the minister said, “The kingdom +belongs to the queen’s father. If you drive her out your +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e888" href="#xd19e888" name= +"xd19e888">104</a>]</span>subjects will hate you.” But the king +replied, “Yes, but not to obey the god’s command is a worse +thing still.” At last the minister agreed with the king, and the +order went forth that the queen should be driven out of the city. So +the queen was driven out and became quite poor and wandered along the +road. At last she came to a distant town and lodged there with an old +woman, who gave her food and drink. One day the old woman sent the +queen out to sell fruit puddings. As she went into the bazaar a great +wind came and carried off the fruit puddings. When she returned to the +old woman’s house, the queen told her what had happened, and the +old woman drove her out of the house. Then she went and lodged with an +oilman, who had great jars full of oil. But one day she went and looked +inside the jars, and all the oil disappeared. So the oilman drove her +off out of the house. The queen left the town and walked along until +she came to a river with abundant water in it. But directly her eyes +fell on the water, it all flowed away and left the water-bed quite dry. +She then journeyed on until she came to a beautiful lake, but when her +glance rested <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e890" href="#xd19e890" +name="xd19e890">105</a>]</span>on the lake, it became full of worms, +and the water began to stink. And, when the cowherds came as usual to +water their cattle, the cattle would not drink the stinking water, and +they had to go home thirsty. By chance a Gosavi, or holy man, came that +way and saw the queen, and she told him her story. The holy man took +her to his house and treated her as his own daughter, and she did her +best to serve him faithfully. But, at whatever thing she looked, it +would either disappear or become full of worms and maggots. At last the +holy man searched for the cause of this by means of his inner +knowledge. And thus he learnt that she had incurred the sin of spoiling +the worship of Shiva, which the Apsaras had first taught the priest. +Unless that sin were atoned for, her evil glance would never be +purified. So the holy man prayed to the god Shiva, and the god was +pleased with him; and when the holy man interceded with him on the +queen’s behalf, the god said that he would forgive her if she +began and completed properly the rites which she had spoiled when her +husband was performing them. The queen did so, and the god’s +anger vanished. Suddenly there rose in <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e892" href="#xd19e892" name="xd19e892">106</a>]</span>the heart of +her husband, the king, a wish to see his queen, and he sent out +messengers on every side to look for her. At last one of the messengers +saw the queen in the holy man’s hermitage and went back and told +the king. The king was overjoyed, and, taking his chief minister with +him, he journeyed to the hermitage. He threw himself at the holy +man’s feet and then loaded him with presents. And the holy man +was pleased and said, “O King, I have treated your wife exactly +as if she had been my own daughter. She has lived here just as if she +had been in her father’s house. Now take her with you back again +and once more go through the marriage ceremony with her.” The +king consented, and both he and the queen prostrated themselves before +the holy man, and then they both returned to Atpat. And they celebrated +their home-coming with the greatest splendour. And the rest of the +king’s reign was as happy as possible. And we shall be just as +happy if we honour Shiva like the King of Atpat did.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e895width" id="p106"><img src="images/p106.jpg" +alt= +"“She has lived here just as if she had been in her father’s house”" +width="501" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“She has lived here just as if she had been +in her father’s house”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e899" href="#xd19e899" name= +"xd19e899">107</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e867" href="#xd19e867src" name="xd19e867">1</a></span> Saripat is +a kind of draughts.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e870" href="#xd19e870src" name="xd19e870">2</a></span> Apsaras are +attendants on the gods.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e875" href="#xd19e875src" name="xd19e875">3</a></span> Kartakswami +was really Parwati’s step-son (see <a href= +"#pre">Preface</a>).</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch16" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Rishi and the Brahman</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. For many years he lived happily and cultivated his fields of +rice and grain. But one day his wife gave up the observances imposed on +her, and, as a result, the whole house was stained by her conduct, and +pollution hung like a black cloud over it. Her husband should have +driven her out, but he had not the heart to do so. So he, too, incurred +the blame of his wife’s sin. In course of time they died, and, as +a punishment for their wickedness, the husband became in his next life +a bullock, and the wife became a dog. But the gods so far relented as +to find them a home in the house of their only son.</p> +<p>Now the son was a very pious man, who never failed in his religious +rites. He worshipped <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e907" href= +"#xd19e907" name="xd19e907">108</a>]</span>the gods, gave memorial +honours to his dead father, and welcomed to his house every Brahman who +passed by. One year, on the anniversary of his father’s death, he +told his wife to prepare a milk-pudding in honour of the dead, and +announced that he would invite Brahmans to partake of it. The wife was +as pious as her husband and never failed to obey his commands. So she +made a big milk-pudding, and she boiled vegetables and stewed fruits. +But just as she had finished and was about to invite her husband and +his Brahman guests to begin their feast, the dog saw that a snake had +entered the grain-jar, which had not been properly shut, and that it +had left its poisonous trail all over the grain from which the +milk-pudding had been prepared. The dog at once realised that, if the +Brahmans who had been invited to the memorial feast ate the poisoned +grain, they would die, and that the sin of Brahman murder would be +incurred by the host, her son. So she suddenly rushed up and put her +foot right into the middle of the milk-pudding. The son’s wife +was very angry. She threw a red-hot coal at the dog with such skill +that it dropped on to the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e909" href= +"#xd19e909" name="xd19e909">109</a>]</span>middle of her back and burnt +a big hole in it. Then the son’s wife cooked a fresh milk-pudding +and fed the Brahmans. But she was so cross with the dog that she would +not give her the smallest possible scrap. So the poor dog remained +hungry all day. When night fell she went to the bullock who had been +her husband and began to howl as loudly as she could. The bullock asked +her what the matter was. She told him how she had seen that a snake had +poisoned the grain, and how, to prevent the Brahmans dying and her son +incurring the sin of their death, she had put her paw into the middle +of the milk-pudding; how her daughter-in-law had been angry and had +burnt a hole in her back with a live coal, and how her back hurt so +that she did not know what to do. The bullock answered, “You are +suffering for the pollution with which you darkened our house in a +former life, and, because I let you remain in the house and touched +you, I too am suffering, and I have become a bullock. Only to-day my +son fastened me to his plough, tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too +have, like you, had nothing to eat all day. Thus all my son’s +memorial <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e911" href="#xd19e911" name= +"xd19e911">110</a>]</span>services are useless.” Now the son +happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He at +once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he +brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at +heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until +at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself +before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman’s +son said, “I am sad because my father has been born again as a +bullock and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their +release,” The rishi said, “There is only one way to help +them. You must worship the seven sages who have their home in the Great +Bear.”<a class="noteref" id="xd19e913src" href="#xd19e913" name= +"xd19e913src">1</a> And he told the Brahman’s son the ceremonies +which he should observe, and how he should worship the seven sages +continually every month of Bhadrapad, or September, for seven years. +The Brahman’s son obeyed the rishi, and at the end of the seven +years a fiery <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e919" href="#xd19e919" +name="xd19e919">111</a>]</span>chariot came down from heaven. The +bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome +woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off +to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e922" href="#xd19e922" name= +"xd19e922">112</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e913" href="#xd19e913src" name="xd19e913">1</a></span> The Indians +do not associate the Great Bear constellation with a bear, but they +believe it to be the habitation of seven rishis. The seven rishis vary +in different works. In the Mahabharat the names given are Marichi, +Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatya, and <span class="corr" id= +"xd19e915" title="Source: Vashista">Vasishta</span>.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch17" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The King and the Water-Goddesses</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled +a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a +village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it +filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him, and +the water-goddesses were pleased and said, “O King, O King, +sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the tank +will fill with water.” The king heard it and went home very +troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved +the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of +many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last +he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, +“Daughter-in-law, it is a long time since you went to see your +parents. You had <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e928" href= +"#xd19e928" name="xd19e928">113</a>]</span>better go and pay them a +visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look after him +here.” The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her +parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable day +and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in his +honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took him into +the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and told him not +to stir. The water-goddesses were pleased, and a great mass of water +suddenly rushed into the tank, and it was filled right up to the brink. +After a time the daughter-in-law came back from her father’s +house and brought her brother with her. They asked where her son was, +but they could get no information. Whenever they asked the king, he did +nothing but say how the water had come into the tank, and what a +beautiful tank it was, and how happy it would make all the villagers. +At last the daughter-in-law guessed what had happened, and when the +seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shravan, or August, came +round, she and her brother went to the edge of the tank and began to +worship the water-goddesses. She took a <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e930" href="#xd19e930" name="xd19e930">114</a>]</span>cucumber +leaf, and on it she placed some curds and rice. Next she mixed with +them some butter and a farthing’s worth of betel-nut. Then she +told her brother to pray, “O Goddess, Mother of All, if any one +of our family is drowned in the tank please give him back to us.” +He did so and then threw the offering into the lake. Then they both +turned to go home. But as she was turning homewards, she felt some one +pull her by the legs. She looked down and saw that it was her missing +son. When she saw him she dragged him with all her might to the bank, +and then she and her brother walked home with him. When the king heard +that she was coming, together with her missing son, he wondered +greatly, and going to her he fell at her feet and said, “O my +daughter, I offered your son to the water-goddesses; how has he come +back again?” She said, “I worshipped the water-goddesses +and made offerings to them. Then my son came out of the water, and I +lifted him up and drew him to the shore.” The king was overjoyed +and showed the greatest favour to his daughter-in-law. And she and her +little son lived happily ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e932" href="#xd19e932" name="xd19e932">115</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch18" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Lid of the Sacred Casket</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had two twin sons. While they were still quite young, the +twins’ parents died, and their relatives stole from them all +their property and then turned them out of the house. The twins +wandered along until they came to a town. It was then noon, and the +boys were weary with walking and were tortured with hunger and thirst. +As they entered the town, a Brahman came out of his door to throw food +to the crows. He saw the two boys and called them in, fed them, and +then made them tell him their story. When he heard it he resolved to +provide for them, and he lodged them in his house and taught them to +recite <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e938" href="#xd19e938" name= +"xd19e938">116</a>]</span>the Vedas. On Lalita Panchmi Day the Brahman +began to perform certain ceremonies. His pupils asked him why he did +so. The sage replied that by doing so one could attain to wealth, +knowledge, and to the wish of one’s heart. The boys begged him to +instruct them, and they quickly learnt how to worship the goddess +Parwati. Not long afterwards the Brahman provided them with wives, and +they returned to their own city, acquired wealth, and were very happy. +A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a wise boy +and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita Panchmi Day. +So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the younger was +foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to dislike him, +and he lost all his money. And at last he became so poor that he and +his wife had to give up their house and go and live on the charity of +his elder brother. One day the elder brother’s wife spoke so +crossly and said such nasty things to the younger twin, that he felt +that he could not stay in the house any longer. And he remembered then +that of recent years he had entirely forgotten to <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e940" href="#xd19e940" name= +"xd19e940">117</a>]</span>worship Parwati. He felt very penitent, and +he decided that somehow or other he would win back the goddess’s +favour. Taking his wife with him, he left his brother’s house and +journeyed to a distant country. At last he came near a town, and, +meeting a cowherd, the younger twin asked him what its name was. The +cowherd said, “The town is called Upang.” “Who is the +king?” asked the younger twin. The cowherd replied, “He +also is called Upang.” The wanderer then asked whether there was +any place where he and his wife could lodge. The cowherd told him that +in the town there was a temple of Parwati, and close to it was a +rest-house where the wanderer and his wife could lodge. The cowherd +directed them to the rest-house. And before lying down the younger twin +worshipped Parwati in the temple and begged her pardon for his previous +neglect. Parwati felt sorry for him, and that night she appeared to him +in a dream. She told him to go to King Upang’s palace and to beg +from him the lid of the sacred casket in which the accessories of +worship were kept. He should, thereafter, always pray to it, and in the +end he would come <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e942" href= +"#xd19e942" name="xd19e942">118</a>]</span>by his heart’s desire. +The younger twin woke up, and the same morning he went to King +Upang’s palace and begged from him the lid of the sacred casket +in which were kept the accessories of worship. The king at first +refused, but when the younger twin told the king of his dream the king +consented. The Brahman took the lid home, worshipped it, and, just as +the goddess had foretold, he came by his heart’s desire. Property +and happiness returned, and a year later his wife bore him a daughter. +As the years passed the little girl grew up. One day she took the lid +of the sacred casket and went with some playmates to play and bathe by +the bank of a river. Suddenly the corpse of a Brahman came floating by. +Seeing it, the little girl took the lid of the casket and for fun began +to splash water on it. Such was the power of the sacred lid, that the +corpse instantly became alive again and became a Brahman, tall as a +tree and beautiful as the sun. The little girl fell in love with him on +the spot and told him that he must become her husband. +“But,” said the Brahman, “how shall I manage +it?” The little girl said, “Come home with me at +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e944" href="#xd19e944" name= +"xd19e944">119</a>]</span>dinner-time, take as usual water<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e946src" href="#xd19e946" name="xd19e946src">1</a> in +your hand, but do not sip it. Then my daddy will ask you, +‘Bhatji, Bhatji, why do you not sip the water in your +hand?’ You must reply, ‘I am ready to dine if you marry me +to your daughter. If you will not, I shall get up and go away.’ +Then he will consent to our marriage.” The Brahman agreed, and he +went home with the little girl, and everything happened as she had +planned. To prevent the Brahman from getting up without any food, the +little girl’s father agreed to their marriage. When a favourable +day came they were married, and when she was old enough the little girl +went to her husband’s house. As she went she carried off the lid +of the sacred casket of King Upang. But, because it had gone, her +father lost all his wealth and fell once more into the greatest +poverty. His wife went to her daughter’s house and asked for it +back, but she refused to give it up. The wife was very angry and every +day began to hate her son-in-law more and more. But for him, as she +thought, the little girl would <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e950" +href="#xd19e950" name="xd19e950">120</a>]</span>never have married and +would not have stolen the lid of the sacred casket. One day the wife +met her son-in-law on the road, and she gave him such a fearful slap in +the face that he instantly fell on the ground and became a corpse +again. His mother-in-law then-snatched from him the lid of the casket, +which he happened to have in his hand, and ran away home. There he lay +until the little girl, his wife, began to search for him. When she +found him she prayed to the goddess, and by her aid and by means of the +merit which she had acquired by worshipping the lid of the casket while +she had it, she restored her husband to life. But the twin and his wife +went on becoming poorer and poorer. And at last they went back to his +brother’s house and asked him why it was that the younger twin +was always losing his wealth as fast as he gained it. The elder brother +listened to the whole story and then he said, “I do not wonder at +it. First you lost the lid of the casket, then, in order to get it +back, your wife killed a Brahman. Your only chance now is to worship +Parwati harder than ever, and perhaps in the end you may recover your +good estate.” So <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e952" href= +"#xd19e952" name="xd19e952">121</a>]</span>the younger brother went +home and worshipped Parwati with greater vigour than ever. And at last +she relented and gave him her blessing. He recovered his wealth and +came by all that his heart desired. And he and his wife lived happily +ever afterwards. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e954" href= +"#xd19e954" name="xd19e954">122</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e946" href="#xd19e946src" name="xd19e946">1</a></span> Aposhani. +This is the water which a Brahman sips from his hand before and after +his meal.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch19" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who used always to perform Shradh or memorial ceremonies +to his father on the last day of the month of Shravan. When performing +these ceremonies he always invited other Brahmans to dine. But it so +happened that on every last day of the month of Shravan,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e960src" href="#xd19e960" name="xd19e960src">1</a> +from the day of his father’s death onwards, his daughter-in-law +gave birth to a little boy. And just as the Brahmans had begun to enjoy +their dinner, the child would die. So all the Shradh ceremonies had to +cease, and the poor Brahmans <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e963" +href="#xd19e963" name="xd19e963">123</a>]</span>had to be sent away +feeling most dreadfully hungry. This happened regularly for six years. +But, when the seventh little boy was born only to die just as his +guests were beginning to enjoy their dinner, the poor Brahman lost all +patience. He took the newly-born child and placed it in his +daughter-in-law’s lap and then drove her out of the house and +into the jungle. The poor woman walked along until she came to a great, +dark forest. In it she met the wife of a hobgoblin,<a class="noteref" +id="xd19e965src" href="#xd19e965" name="xd19e965src">2</a> who asked, +“Lady, Lady, whose wife are you, and why do you come here? Run +away as quickly as you can. For, if my husband the hobgoblin sees you, +he will tear you to pieces and gobble you up.” The poor woman +said she was the daughter-in-law of a Brahman, and explained how every +year she had given birth to a son on the last day of Shravan, how it +had died in the middle of the Shradh feast, and how at last her +father-in-law had put the child in her lap and had driven her from home +and into the forest. The hobgoblin’s wife repeated, “If you +value your life at all, go away.” The <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e968" href="#xd19e968" name= +"xd19e968">124</a>]</span>Brahman woman began to cry, until at last the +hobgoblin’s wife had pity on her and said, “Do not be +afraid; walk a little way until you come to an altar to the god Shiva, +Close by is a bel<a class="noteref" id="xd19e970src" href="#xd19e970" +name="xd19e970src">3</a> tree; climb into it and hide among the +branches. To-night the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs, together with a train of seven demon Asuras,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd19e974src" href="#xd19e974" name="xd19e974src">4</a> +will come and worship at the altar. After making their offerings to the +god, they will call out, ‘Is there any uninvited guest present to +whom we can make a gift?’ You must then call out in reply, +‘Yes, I am here.’ They will see you and question you, and +you must tell them all your story.” The poor Brahman woman +agreed. She walked on until she came to the god Shiva’s altar. +She climbed into the branches of the bel tree. She remained there until +midnight came. Suddenly the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs, accompanied by a <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e980" +href="#xd19e980" name="xd19e980">125</a>]</span>train of seven demon +Asuras, came and worshipped at the altar. After making offerings to the +god they called out, “Is there any uninvited guest present to +whom we can make a gift?” The Brahman woman at once climbed down +the bel tree and called out in answer, “Yes, I am here,” +The serpent-maidens from Pâtala and the wood-nymphs, greatly +surprised, asked her who she was, and she told them all her story. Then +the serpent-maidens of Pâtala and the wood-nymphs ordered their +train of demon Asuras to go and search for the seven sons of the +Brahman woman. The seven demon Asuras spurred their horses and rode off +in all directions. In a little time the giant captain of the demon +guards rode up carrying in his arms the body of a little boy of six. +Then another rode up carrying the body of a little boy of five. And +four others rode up carrying a little boy of four, a little boy of +three, a little boy of two, and a little boy only one year old. Last of +all the seventh demon Asura rode up with a newly-born baby boy. The +demons placed the bodies in front of the serpent-maidens from +Patâla and of the wood-nymphs. And first of <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e982" href="#xd19e982" name= +"xd19e982">126</a>]</span>all the little boy of six came to life and +got up and ran to his mother. Next the little boy of five, and then the +little boy of four, and then the little boy of three came to life and +ran to their mother. Then the little boy of two came to life and got +up, but he could only walk to his mother. Next the little one-year-old +boy came to life, but he could not get up, so he lay on his back and +kicked up his legs. And last of all the newly-born baby came to life, +but he could not even kick up his legs. And they were all delighted to +see their mother, and she was overjoyed to have all her sons again. But +the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs warned her +that she must pray to the sixty-four Yoginis, the attendants who wait +on Durga, the Goddess of Death, or else her children would be snatched +from her again. And they told her to pray her hardest, for her prayer +had to travel down to the depths of Hell. So the Brahman woman prayed +her hardest to the sixty-four Yoginis, and then she prostrated herself +before the serpent-maidens from Patâla, and the wood-nymphs, and +their train of demon Asuras. And then she took the little one-year-old +boy <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e984" href="#xd19e984" name= +"xd19e984">127</a>]</span>on her hip, and the newly-born baby boy in +her arms, and she walked with her other five sons to the village. When +the villagers saw her coming they ran and said to the Brahman, +“Bhatji, Bhatji, your daughter-in-law is coming back home.” +And the Brahman became very angry and vowed that he would drive her +away again. So he watched for her coming. But first of all he saw +walking towards his house a little boy of six, and then a little boy of +five, and then a little boy of four, and then two other little boys of +three and two. Last of all he saw his daughter-in-law with a +one-year-old boy on her hip and a newly-born baby in her arms. He rose +and fetched a cauldron of water and two handfuls of rice from his +house. And he waved his hands filled with rice round the heads of his +daughter-in-law and of all her children, and last of all he washed +their feet. In this way he welcomed back to his house his grandchildren +and their mother. And he made her tell him all her story; and she, and +her children, and the Brahman spent the rest of their lives in great +peace and perfect happiness. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e986" +href="#xd19e986" name="xd19e986">128</a>]</span></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e960" href="#xd19e960src" name="xd19e960">1</a></span> Shravan +corresponds roughly with August. The death of the child nullified all +the virtue of the Shradh feast, which had at once to be stopped.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e965" href="#xd19e965src" name="xd19e965">2</a></span> Zhoting is +really the unquiet ghost of a Musulman, but hobgoblin is probably a +sufficiently close translation.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e970" href="#xd19e970src" name="xd19e970">3</a></span> A tree +sacred to Shiva.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e974" href="#xd19e974src" name="xd19e974">4</a></span> The Asuras, +who are now reckoned petty demons, had once upon a time a much higher +position. They are the same as Ahura-Magda, the Jupiter of the +Iranians. The latter, curiously enough, degraded the Devas or Hindu +Gods to the subordinate place of demons. (Cf. Rawlinson’s +<i>Bactria</i>, page 21.)</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch20" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Golden Temple</h2> +<p>Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there reigned +a king who had four daughters-in-law. He loved three of them very +dearly, but the fourth, who was an ugly little girl, he did not like at +all. To the three daughters-in-law he gave nice food and fine clothes. +But to the ugly little daughter-in-law he gave nothing but scraps from +his table and thick, coarse clothes to wear. He would not even let her +sleep inside the house, but made her sleep in the stable and look after +the cows. The poor ugly daughter-in-law grew so unhappy that, when the +first Monday in Shravan<a class="noteref" id="xd19e992src" href= +"#xd19e992" name="xd19e992src">1</a> came, she ran out of the palace, +and out of the town, and then away as fast as her fat little legs would +carry her. At last she <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e995" href= +"#xd19e995" name="xd19e995">129</a>]</span>went and hid herself in the +woods. Now it so happened that that very day a band of +serpent-maidens<a class="noteref" id="n129.1src" href="#n129.1" name= +"n129.1src">2</a> had come up from Patala. After wandering through the +forest and bathing in the running streams, they had joined a bevy of +wood-nymphs and were coming in her direction. At first she was too +terrified to say a single word. But at last she asked, “Ladies, +ladies, where are you going?” “To the temple of +Shiva,” they replied, “to worship the god. For by doing +that, one wins the love of one’s husband, one obtains children, +and one comes by the wish of one’s heart.” When the ugly +daughter-in-law heard that by doing what the serpent-maidens and the +wood-nymphs were about to do she could win love for herself, she at +once thought that in this way she, too, might win the love of her +father-in-law. So she told the serpent-maidens of Patala and the +wood-nymphs that she would go with them. They went deeper and deeper +into the forest until at last they came to a temple of the god Shiva. +There the serpent-maidens <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1000" +href="#xd19e1000" name="xd19e1000">130</a>]</span>and the wood-nymphs +offered to the god rice, betel-nut, incense, flowers, and the leaves of +the bel tree. The ugly little daughter-in-law did just as they did. And +when she had finished she cried out, “O God Shiva, please, please +vouchsafe my prayer also, and make my father-in-law and my +mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much +as they now dislike me.” That evening she went home and fasted, +and all the scraps which they threw to her from the king’s table +she gave to her favourite cow. And then she sat by herself and prayed +to the god Shiva. The following Monday she once more ran out of the +palace and out of the town and into the woods as fast as her fat little +legs would carry her. There she met again the serpent-maidens of +Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs and went with them to the +temple of Shiva in the distant heart of the forest. The first time the +serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs had given her the incense and the +flowers, the rice and the betel-nut, and the leaves of the bel tree, +with which to perform her worship. But they had told her that the next +time she must bring <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1002" href= +"#xd19e1002" name="xd19e1002">131</a>]</span>them herself. So when she +ran away on the second Monday in Shravan she brought with her incense +and flowers, rice and betel-nut and bel-tree leaves, and after offering +them and some sesamums to the god she once more prayed, “O God +Shiva, please, please grant my prayer and make my father-in-law and my +mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much +as they now dislike me.” Then she went home and fasted, and +giving all her dinner to her favourite cow she sat by herself and +prayed to Shiva. That evening the king asked her who the god was whom +she was honouring, and where he lived. The ugly little daughter-in-law +replied, “Afar off my god lives, and the roads to him are hard, +and the paths to him are full of thorns. Where snakes abound and where +tigers lie in wait, there is his temple.” The third Monday in +Shravan, the ugly little daughter-in-law again started from the palace +with her flowers and incense, her betel-nut and bel leaves, her rice +and sesamum, in order to meet the serpent-maidens of Patâla and +the bevy of wood-nymphs, and with them to worship the god in the hidden +depths of the forest. This time the king and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1005" href="#xd19e1005" name= +"xd19e1005">132</a>]</span>her other male relatives followed her and +said to her, “Ugly little daughter-in-law, take us with you and +show us your god.” But the temple of Shiva was ever so far from +the king’s palace. The ugly daughter-in-law did not mind, for she +was used to cruel treatment. She had also walked to the temple twice +before, and her feet had got as hard as two little stones. But the king +and his relatives were tired to death; and their feet swelled up to the +size of an elephant’s, and they became as full of thorns as the +back of a porcupine. And they muttered to each other, “How on +earth does that ugly little daughter-in-law manage to walk as she does +through the heart of the forest?” The ugly daughter-in-law at +last felt sorry for them. She prayed to the god Shiva to build a temple +near at hand. The god consented, and, with the help of the +serpent-maidens of Patâla and of the wood-nymphs, he created +suddenly a beautiful temple all of pure, yellow gold. Its pillars were +studded with jewels, and the jars in it were all of crystal. In the +middle there rose from the ground an altar to the god Shiva. And last +of all the god revealed himself to the <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e1007" href="#xd19e1007" name="xd19e1007">133</a>]</span>king and +his companions in all his glory and splendour. For a moment only they +saw him; and then he vanished. The king and his companions stared, too +astonished to move or speak. But the ugly little daughter-in-law +prostrated herself and offered to the god flowers and incense. Then she +cried out, “O God Shiva, please, please vouchsafe my prayer and +make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my +sisters-in-law like me as much as they now dislike me.” When the +king heard her prayer his heart softened to her, and he spoke kindly to +her and gave her jewelry and trinkets. In a little while he took off +his turban and, placing it on a peg, walked out to look at a lovely +lake which, unnoticed by any one before, now stretched out close by the +temple. And behind him strolled out his companions. But when they had +gone out of sight, the beautiful golden temple by the lake vanished for +ever. After looking at the lake the king came back to fetch his turban +which he had left in the temple. But he could not find the beautiful +temple all of pure, yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its +crystal jars. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd19e1009" href= +"#xd19e1009" name="xd19e1009">134</a>]</span>The king asked the little +daughter-in-law the cause. She said nothing, but straightway walked +deeper into the forest. And the king and his companions, although weary +to death, followed her. At last they came to the temple where she had +worshipped, together with the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +bevy of wood-nymphs. It was a tiny temple, and inside it there was a +rough altar. At the foot of the altar lay the flowers which the ugly +daughter-in-law had offered to the god, and close by on a peg hung the +turban left by the king. Again the king asked his daughter-in-law the +meaning of what had happened. She replied, “This temple that you +see is my own poor little temple. But, because of my prayers, the god +Shiva showed himself to you in the beautiful temple, all of pure, +yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its crystal +jars.” When the king heard her reply, he grew more pleased than +ever with the daughter-in-law whom formerly he had so disliked. And +because the god had revealed himself at her prayer, the king, to do her +honour, sent for his royal palanquin and had her carried home in state. +And the ugly little daughter-in-law <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd19e1011" href="#xd19e1011" name="xd19e1011">135</a>]</span>became +out of the four the king’s favourite. And he was so much nicer to +her than he was to his other three daughters-in-law that they became as +jealous as cats. But the king and the ugly little daughter-in-law did +not mind them the least little bit. And they both lived happily ever +afterwards.</p> +<div class="figure xd19e1014width" id="p132"><img src="images/p132.jpg" +alt= +"“The god revealed himself to the king and his companions in all his glory and splendour”" +width="503" height="720"> +<p class="figureHead">“The god revealed himself to the king and +his companions in all his glory and splendour”</p> +</div> +<p class="trailer xd19e1018"><i>The End</i></p> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd19e992" href="#xd19e992src" name="xd19e992">1</a></span> Shravan = +August.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id="n129.1" +href="#n129.1src" name="n129.1">2</a></span> Nag-kanya. These are the +maidens of the race of the Nagas, who are said to have sprung from +Kadru, wife of Kasyapa. One of them, Ulupi, married the hero Arjuna. +They live in Patâla, the lowest of the seven underground +regions.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="back"> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<p class="xd19e117"><i>Printed by</i> <span class="smallcaps">R. & +R. Clark, Limited,</span> <i>Edingburgh.</i></p> +<div class="transcribernote"> +<h2>Colophon</h2> +<h3>Availability</h3> +<p>U.S. Public Domain, since published in 1914.</p> +<p>Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreading Team +from page images provided by the Million Books Project.</p> +<p>Several scans of this work are available on-line in The Internet +Archive: <a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/deccannurserytal00kincrich">1</a> +<a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/deccannurserytal00kinc">2</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028147415">3</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/DeccanNurseryTales">4</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/deccannurserytal034941mbp">5</a>.</p> +<p>Project Gutenberg catalog page: <a class="pglink" href= +"http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11167">11167</a>.</p> +<h3>Encoding</h3> +<h3>Revision History</h3> +<ul> +<li>2004-02-19 Added TEI tagging.</li> +<li>2009-12-18 Revisited and added illustrations.</li> +</ul> +<h3>External References</h3> +<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. These +links may not work for you.</p> +<h3>Corrections</h3> +<p>The following corrections have been applied to the text:</p> +<table width="75%" summary= +"Overview of corrections applied to the text."> +<tr> +<th>Page</th> +<th>Source</th> +<th>Correction</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e178">ix</a></td> +<td class="width40">as</td> +<td class="width40">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e458">2</a></td> +<td class="width40">Mar’s</td> +<td class="width40">Mars’</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e660">50</a></td> +<td class="width40">skirit</td> +<td class="width40">skirt</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20"><a class="pageref" href="#xd19e915">110</a></td> +<td class="width40">Vashista</td> +<td class="width40">Vasishta</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 11167-h.htm or 11167-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/6/11167/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/book.png b/old/11167-h/images/book.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..963d165 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/book.png diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/external.png b/old/11167-h/images/external.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba4f205 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/external.png diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/front.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d73db01 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/front.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p000.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..943f59d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p000.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p022.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p022.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..90ddfba --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p022.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p032.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p032.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22227ca --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p032.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p039.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p039.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22a4501 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p039.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p068.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p068.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5610366 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p068.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p071.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p071.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aab91ba --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p071.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p106.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p106.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..246c6e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p106.jpg diff --git a/old/11167-h/images/p132.jpg b/old/11167-h/images/p132.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..335809a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11167-h/images/p132.jpg diff --git a/old/old/11167-8.txt b/old/old/11167-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f713f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/11167-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2803 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Deccan Nursery Tales + or, Fairy Tales from the South + +Author: Charles Augustus Kincaid + +Illustrator: M. V. Dhurandhar + +Release Date: December 21, 2009 [EBook #11167] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + + + + + + Deccan Nursery Tales + or + Fairy Tales from the South + + + by + + C.A. Kincaid, C.V.O. + + + + 1914. + + + + + To my little son + + Dennis + + Whose interest in these stories + first induced me to offer them to the public + this little volume is affectionately inscribed + + + +PREFACE + +These stories first appeared in the Times of India newspaper, and my +acknowledgments are due to the editor for his courtesy in permitting +their publication. + +I have translated all of them as literally as possible from the +original Marathi. But, owing to the difference between Marathi and +English canons of taste, I have had in a very few places slightly +to change the sense. In some places, owing to the obscurity of the +original text, I have had to amplify the translation. In other places +I have had to cut short the descriptions of Hindu rites and ceremonies +so as to avoid wearying the English reader. + +It may not be out of place to say just a word about the Indian gods +mentioned in the stories. It must be remembered that the main Hindu +gods are three in number. They are all sprung from a common origin, +Brahma, but they are quite separate beings. They do not form a trinity, +i.e. three in one or one in three. And each of them has a wife and a +family. The following genealogical tree will, I hope, help the reader. + + + Brahma + Shiva = Parwati + Ganpati + = the daughters of Agni + Kartakswami [1] + Vishnu = Mahalaxmi + Brahmadev = Saraswati + + +Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati, +Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following +stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five +principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is +worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn +inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed to bring ill +fortune. Then again, besides the main gods, the world according +to Hindu belief, which in this respect closely resembles that of +the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras (demons), Devkanya +(wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of Patâla), and +Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of these find a +place in the ensuing fairy tales. + +The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu +the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In +practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the +Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as they feel +inclined, or as the particular sect to which they belong requires them. + +Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of +twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra, +corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other +in the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, +Ashwin, Kartih, Margshish, Paush, Mag, Phalgun, Each month begins on +the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. The first +half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. This is +the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the period +from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the +month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by +the interposition of an "adhik" or intercalary month every third year. + +C.A.K. + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. The Sunday Story + II. The Monday Story + III. The Tuesday Story + IV. The Wednesday and Thursday Story + V. The Friday Story + VI. The Saturday Story + VII. Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + VIII. The Island Palace + IX. Nagoba, the Snake-King + X. Parwati and the Beggar-Man + XL Parwati and the Brahman + XII. Soma, the Washerwoman + XIII. Vasishta and the Four Queens + XIV. The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + XV. Parwati and the Priest + XVI. The Rishi and the Brahman + XVII. The King and the Water-Goddesses + XVIII. The Lid of the Sacred Casket + XIX. The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + XX. The Golden Temple + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"Gave memorial honours to his dead father" +"It curled itself up inside the earthen jar" +"And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut" +"And stuck them into a corner of the eaves" +"They no longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law" +"They asked her what the reason was, and she told them" +"She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's house" +"The god revealed himself to the king and his companions in all his +glory and splendour" + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Sunday Story + +When Englishmen and Englishwomen are little boys and girls, they +listen with open ears to the tales of Golden-hair and the three Bears, +of Cinderella and the Prince, and of the Wolf and Little Red Riding +Hood. As the boys and girls grow up, the stories fade gradually from +their minds. But a time comes when they have children of their own. And +then, to amuse the children, they can find no tales more thrilling +than those which fascinated them in their own childhood. Thus the +old nursery tales are handed down for centuries from generation to +generation. Exactly the same process goes on in India, There, too, when +little Indian boys and girls grow up and have little boys and girls of +their own, they too tell to wide-eyed audiences the tales which they +themselves found so thrilling in their own childhood. Indian nursery +tales, it is true, have a more religious tinge than those of Europe, +but they are none the less appreciated on that account. The first six +stories in this little book purport to explain the connexion between +the heavenly bodies and the days of the week. So each day of the week +has its separate tale. And all through Shravan or August, probably +because it is the wettest month in the year, Deccan mothers tell afresh +every week-day that day's story. And little Deccan children listen +to the tales as they fall due with the same unvarying attention. For +in nurseries, Indian as well as English, tales are loved the better +when no longer new, and where the end is well known to, and therefore +the better understood by, the tiny round-eyed listeners. + +Now this is the tale which is told every Sunday [2] in Shravan: Once +upon a time there was a town called Atpat, and in it there lived a +poor Brahman. Every day he used to go into the woods to fetch sticks +and to cut grass. One day he met there some nymphs and wood-fairies, +who said that they were performing holy rites in honour of the sun. He +asked, "What are these rites?" They replied, "If we tell you, you will +become proud and vain and you will not perform them properly." But the +Brahman promised, "No, I shall not become proud or vain and I shall +observe the rites you tell me." They then told him that the month of +Shravan was coming, and that on the first Sunday of Shravan he was +to draw a picture of the sun with red sandal paste, that he was to +offer to the drawing flowers and fruit, and that he should continue +doing this for six months. Thereafter he should in various ways, +which they told him, entertain guests and give alms to the poor. + +The Brahman went home and performed the rites to the letter, so that +the sun-god was very pleased. Wealth came to the Brahman and he grew +richer and richer, and at last the queen of the land sent for him. The +poor Brahman began to tremble and shake all over, but the queen said, +"Do not shake or tremble, but give your daughters in marriage to our +house." The Brahman said, "My daughters are poor; you will make them +slaves or maid-servants." "No," said the queen, "I shall not make +them slaves or maid-servants; I shall marry one to a king, and one to +a minister." The Brahman agreed, and when the month of Margashish, +or December, came he gave his two daughters in marriage, one to the +king and one to the minister. Immediately after the marriage the +Brahman said good-bye to his daughters, and did not see them again +for twelve years. Then he visited the elder one, who had married the +king. She gave him a wooden stand on which to sit while eating, and +water in which to wash his feet, and then said, "Papa, papa, there +is pudding to eat, there is water to drink." But the Brahman said, +"Before I eat or drink, I must tell you my story." But his daughter +said, "Papa, I have no time to listen to your story; the king is +going a-hunting, and I must not keep him waiting for his dinner." The +Brahman thought this very disrespectful and went off in a great rage +to the house of his other daughter, who had married a minister. She +welcomed her father and gave him a wooden stand on which to eat, +and water to wash his feet, and said, "Papa, papa, here is pudding to +eat and here is water to drink." But the Brahman said, "Before I eat +or drink I must tell you my story." His daughter said, "Of course, +papa, tell it to me, and I shall listen as long as you like." Then +she went into an inner room and she fetched six pearls. She took three +herself and three she put in her father's hand. And he told her how he +had met the nymphs and wood-fairies, who had told him to worship the +sun-god, and she listened to it all without missing a syllable. Then +the Brahman ate and drank and went back to his own house. His wife +asked him about their two daughters. He told her everything and said, +"The elder one who would not listen to my story will come to grief." + +And so she did. For the king, her husband, took an army into a +far country and never came back. But the daughter who had listened +to the story lived well and happy. As time went on the undutiful +daughter became poorer and poorer, until one day she said to her +eldest son, "Go to your aunt's house and beg of her to give you a +present, and bring back whatever she gives you." Next Sunday the +boy started and went to the village where his aunt lived. Standing +by the village tank he called out, "O maids, O slave-girls, whose +maids and slave-girls are ye?" They answered, "We are the maids and +the slave-girls of the minister." The boy said, "Go and tell the +minister's wife that her sister's son is here. Tell her that he is +standing by the village tank, that his coat is tattered and that +his garments are torn, and ask her to let him come into her house +through the back door." The slave-girls took him in through the +back door. His aunt had him bathed, and gave him clothes to wear, +and food to eat, and drink, and a pumpkin hollowed out and filled +with gold coins. As he left, she called to him, "Do not drop it, do +not forget it, but take it carefully home." But as the boy went home, +the sun-god came disguised as a gardener and stole the pumpkin filled +with gold. When the boy reached his mother's house she asked, "Well, +my son, what did your aunt give you?" He said, "Fortune gave, but Karma +[3] took away; I lost everything my aunt bestowed on me." Next Sunday +the second son went and stood by the village tank and called out, +"O slave-girls and maid-servants, who is your master?" They said, +"Our master is the minister." "Then tell the minister's wife that +her nephew is here." He was taken in by the back door. He was bathed +and clothed and given food and drink. As he was going, his aunt gave +him a hollow stick full of gold coins and said, "Do not drop it, +do not forget it, mind it carefully and take it home." On the way +the sun-god came in the guise of a cowherd and stole the stick. When +the boy got home his mother asked him what he had brought. He said, +"Fortune gave, but Karma took away." On the third Sunday a third son +went and stood by the village tank. His aunt received him like the +others and had him bathed, clothed, and fed. As he was going away, +she gave him a hollow cocoa-nut stuffed with gold coins and said, +"Do not drop it, do not forget it, but mind it carefully and take it +home." On the way back he put down the cocoa-nut on the edge of a well, +and it toppled over and fell into the water with a great splash. When +he reached his mother's house she asked him what his aunt's present +was. He said, "I have lost everything which fortune brought me." On +the fourth Sunday the fourth son went. His aunt welcomed him like +the others, and had him bathed and fed. When he left she gave him an +earthen pot full of gold coins. But the sun-god came in the guise +of a kite and snatched the pot away. When the boy reached home his +mother asked him whether his aunt had given him anything. He said, +"I have lost everything which my aunt gave me." On the fifth Sunday +the mother herself got up and went to her sister's village and stood +by the tank. The minister's wife took her in through her back door +and had her clothed and fed. Then the minister's wife told her that +all her trouble had come through not listening to her father's story, +and the minister's wife repeated it to her. The king's wife listened +to it, and stayed with her sister until the following month of Shravan, +or August, when she did fitting worship to the sun. + +Instantly good fortune came to her. After years of weary fighting, her +husband, the king, at last overcame his enemies, and after taking great +wealth from them turned homewards with his army. As he went towards his +capital, he passed the village where the minister's wife lived. There he +learnt that his queen was with her sister, so he sent for her with a +befitting escort. "O auntie, auntie," cried all the queen's little +nephews and nieces, "umbrellas have come for you, and horse-tails and +guards and foot-soldiers." Every one rushed out to see, and the king and +queen greeted each other after years of separation. The sisters gave +each other gifts of clothes, and the king and his queen went away +together. At the first halting-place the servants cooked the food. The +queen filled the king's plate and then her own, and then she thought of +the story which her sister had told her. She ordered her servants to go +through the neighbouring village and bring in any one who was hungry and +too poor to buy food. They found none such in the village, but on the +way back they met a starving wood-cutter, and, bringing him to the +queen, told him to listen to the tale which she would tell him. The +queen brought six pearls. Three she gave to the wood-cutter, and three +she kept herself. Then she told him the story of her father and the +wood-fairies. The wood-cutter listened with all attention, and as he +listened his faggot of wood became all of gold. He went away delighted, +promising to worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had shown to +the Brahman. + +Next day the cavalcade reached the second halting-place. Food was +cooked; the queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate, and +again she told her, servants to bring from the neighbouring village any +one who was hungry and too poor to buy food. They came upon a petty +farmer, whose well had dried up and whose crops had withered. He was +sitting sadly by his field when they called him to go with them and +listen to the queen's tale. He went with them to the camp. There the +queen brought six pearls and gave three of them to the farmer and +kept three of them herself. Then she told the story of her father +and the wood-fairies. And as the farmer listened, all attention, +the water began to pour into the well, and the crop began to look +fresh and green. He went away delighted, and promised to worship the +sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. Next day the +cavalcade reached the third halting-place. Food was cooked, and the +queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate. Then she told +the servants to search in the neighbouring village for any one who +was hungry and too poor to buy food. They met an old woman. Her eldest +son had been lost in the forest. Her second son had been drowned in a +pond. Her third son had died of snake-bite. They told her to come and +listen to the queen's story. She went with them, and as she listened, +all attention, first the son who had been lost in the forest walked +into the camp, next the son who had been drowned in the pond, and +last of all the son who had died of a snake-bite. The old woman went +away crying with joy, and promising to worship the sun in the way +the wood-fairies had instructed the Brahman. Next day the cavalcade +reached the fourth halting-place. Food was cooked, and the queen first +filled the king's plate and then her own. After dinner she sent her +servants as before to bring in some poor and hungry man from the +neighbouring village. They found a man whose eyes were so crooked +that he could hardly see, who had no arms or legs, and who had not +even a name. For he was only known as "Lump of flesh." He was lying +on his face, but when they brought him into camp, the queen had him +placed on his back and had a jug of water poured over him. Then she +took six pearls. Three she kept herself, and three she placed on the +stomach of "Lump of flesh." Then she told him the tale of her father +and the wood-fairies. He listened, all attention, and as he listened +his arms and legs grew out of his body, and hands and feet appeared +at the ends of them. He too went away delighted, and he promised to +worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. + +At the end of the next day's march the king and queen reached their +home. Food was cooked, and as they sat down to dinner the sun-god +himself appeared and joined them at their meal. The king had all +the doors flung wide open, and ordered a fresh and far more splendid +dinner to be prepared, with any number of dishes, each dish having +six separate flavours. When it was served the sun-god and the king +began to eat, but in the first mouthful the sun-god found a hair. He +got very very angry, and called out, "To what sinful woman does this +hair belong?" Then the poor queen remembered that during her twelve +years of poverty she had always sat under the eaves combing her hair, +and knew that it must have been one of her hairs which had got into +the sun-god's food. She begged for mercy, but the sun-god would +not forgive her until she had clothed herself in a black blanket, +plucked a stick out of the eaves, and had gone outside the town and +there thrown the stick and the hair over her left shoulder. Then the +sun-god recovered his good-humour, and finished his dinner. And the +Brahman, the king and queen, and the wood-cutter and the farmer whose +well had dried up, and the old woman who had lost her children, and +"Lump of flesh" with the cross eyes, they all remained in the favour +of the sun-god and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Monday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +very saintly king. One day he formed the wish to fill the shrine of +Shiva, the moon-god, with milk up to the ceiling. He consulted his +chief minister, and the latter sent a crier through Atpat ordering, +under terrible penalties, all the townspeople to bring every Monday all +the milk in their houses and offer it to the god Shiva. The townspeople +were frightened at the threatened punishments, and the next Monday +they brought all the milk in Atpat to Shiva's shrine, not keeping a +drop for their calves or even for their children. But although all the +milk in Atpat was every Monday poured into Shiva's shrine, it yet did +not become full to the ceiling. But one day an old woman came to the +shrine. She had done all her housework. She had fed all the children +and had bathed all her little daughters-in-law. Then she took a few +drops of milk, a little sandal-wood paste, and a few flowers, and +half-a-dozen grains of rice and went to worship at Shiva's shrine. She +prayed to Shiva, "The little milk that I can offer is not likely to +fill your shrine, seeing that all the milk offered by the king could +not. Nevertheless I offer the milk with all my heart." She then got +up and went back to her house. Then a strange thing happened. Directly +the old woman turned her back, the shrine filled with milk right up to +the ceiling. The priests ran and told the king, but none of them could +say how it happened. The following Monday the king placed a soldier +by the door; and again the old woman came and worshipped, and again +the shrine filled with milk to the ceiling. The soldier ran and told +the king, but could not explain the cause. The third Monday the king +himself went and watched by the shrine. From his hiding-place he saw +the old woman come up and noticed that the shrine filled with milk +immediately after she had worshipped. He ran after her and caught +her. The old woman begged the king to spare her life, and this he +promised to do if she told the truth. She said, "O King! you ordered +all the milk in Atpat to be brought to Shiva's shrine. But what was +the result? All the calves began lowing and all the children began +crying, because they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people +were so worried by the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva +was displeased at this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This, +therefore, is what you should do. Let the children and the calves +have their milk. Then take whatever is over to the shrine, and it +will at once fill up to the ceiling." The king let the old woman go, +and had it proclaimed by beat of drum that the townspeople were to +bring to the shrine on the following Monday only the milk remaining +after the children and the calves had been fed. The townspeople were +delighted. The children stopped crying and the calves stopped lowing, +and all the milk left by them was brought to Shiva's shrine. The +king prayed long and earnestly, and when he looked up he saw that +the shrine was full right up to the ceiling. He gave the old woman +a handsome present. And she went back to her home, and she did her +housework, and then she bathed all her little daughters and all her +little daughters-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Tuesday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. [4] In it there lived +a bania who had no son. Every day a religious mendicant used to come +to his house and call out, "Alms! Alms! In the name of God, give me +alms." But when the bania's wife offered him alms he refused them, +because she had no children. She told her husband, who advised her +to play a trick on the mendicant. She hid behind her door, and as he +called out "Alms! alms!" she slipped a gold piece into his wallet. But +the mendicant caught her and became very angry. He cursed her and +told her that she would always remain without any children. She +was terrified and fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness. Then +he pitied her and said, "Tell your husband to put on blue clothes, +mount a blue horse, and ride into the jungle. He should ride on until +he meets a horse. He should then dismount and dig in the ground. He +will in the end come to a temple to Parwati. He must pray to her and +she will bestow a child on him." When her husband came back she told +him what had happened. So he at once put on blue clothes, mounted a +blue horse, and rode into the forest. He met the horse, dismounted, +and began digging. At last he discovered a temple to Parwati, all of +gold, with diamond pillars and a spire made of rubies. Inside was a +statue of the goddess, and to it he prayed, saying, "I have houses and +cottages, cattle and horses, money and goods of all kinds, but I am +very sad because I have no son." The goddess pitied him and asked, +"Which will you have, a son who will be good but will die young, +or a son who will live long but will be born blind?" The poor bania +became greatly perplexed, but at last said, "I choose a son who will be +good but will die young," The goddess said, "Very well. Step behind +me. There you will find an image of Ganpati. Behind it is a mango +tree. Climb upon Ganpati's stomach and pick one mango. Go home and give +it to your wife to eat, and your wish will be gratified." Parwati then +disappeared. The bania climbed upon Ganpati's stomach and ate as many +mangoes as he could. He next filled a large bundle full of mangoes +and stepped down. But when he reached the ground he found that there +was only one mango in the bundle. He climbed up again and refilled his +bundle, but when he stepped down he again found only one mango. This +happened three or four times. At last Ganpati got very sore and angry +with having his stomach trampled on. So he shouted out, "One mango is +all you'll get. So be off home!" The bania was frightened out of his +wits and galloped home with his one mango. His wife ate it, and in nine +months she presented her husband with a son. When the little boy was +eight years old his sacred thread was put on, and his mother said, +"It is time to think of his marriage." But the bania said, "I dare +not marry him unless he first makes a pilgrimage to Benares." His +maternal uncle agreed to take the little boy to Benares. + +So off they started together, and some days later the uncle and nephew +halted at a village where some little girls were playing. One of +the little girls said to the other, "You are nothing but a wretched +little widow." But the other little girl said, "Oh no! there are +never any widows in our family. Mother worships Parwati and so I +can never be a widow." The uncle heard this, and thought that if his +nephew could only marry a little girl who could not become a widow, +he would not die young. So he began to think how he could bring +about the marriage. Now it so happened that the little girl was +to be married that day. But in the morning the boy to whom she was +betrothed fell ill. Her parents were in great trouble, but at last +they thought that, rather than postpone the wedding and disappoint +all the guests, it would be better to marry their little daughter to +the first traveller who passed through the village. So they went to +the rest-house to inquire if any one was there. There they found the +uncle and nephew, and they married their little girl to the latter +that very evening when the cows were homing. They drew on the wall +a picture of Shiva and Parwati, and they put the children to bed +beneath it. Parwati appeared to the little girl in her sleep. The +goddess said, "My child, a snake will come to bite your husband: give +it milk to drink. Then put near it a new earthen jar. When the snake +has finished drinking, it will enter the earthen jar. Then at once +pull off your bodice and stuff it into the jar's mouth. Next morning +give the jar to your mother." Next evening everything happened as +Parwati had said. The snake came to bite her husband as he slept. But +the little girl offered it milk, which it drank. After drinking, +it curled itself up inside the earthen jar, and, the moment it did +so, the little girl slipped off her bodice and stuffed it into the +mouth of the jar. Next morning her husband gave her a ring, and she +in exchange gave him a sweet-dish, and he and his uncle continued +their journey to Benares. When they had gone, the little girl gave the +earthen jar with the snake inside it to her mother. The mother took +out the bodice, but instead of a snake a garland lay inside, and the +mother put it round her little daughter's neck. Some weeks passed, +but neither uncle nor nephew returned. So the little girl's parents +grew anxious. The sick boy who was to have been her husband recovered, +but she could no longer marry him, and the boy whom she had married +had gone away and might never return. In despair the parents built +a house, in which they entertained every traveller who passed by, +hoping that sooner or later one of the travellers would prove to be +their daughter's husband. To all of them the mother gave water; the +daughter washed their feet; her brother gave them sandal-wood paste; +and her father gave them betel-nut. But it was all in vain; none of +the travellers' fingers fitted the ring given to the little girl by +her husband, nor could any of them produce the sweet-dish which she +had given him in exchange. + +In the meantime the uncle and nephew had reached Benares and had +given large sums in charity, and had visited all the holy places +and had received the blessings of all the Brahmans. One day the +little boy, fainted. And in a dream he saw the messenger of Yama, +the god of death, come close to him as if to carry him off. Next he +saw the goddess Parwati come to his rescue and, after a struggle, +drive away Yama's messenger. When the boy woke up he told the dream to +his uncle. The latter was overjoyed because he felt certain that now +the boy would no longer die young. He told his nephew to get ready, +and next day they left Benares. On their way home they passed by +the village where the nephew had been married. As they were having +breakfast near the village tank, a maid-servant invited them to come +to the house which the girl's parents had built for the reception of +travellers. At first the uncle declined, but when a palki was sent +for them, he and his nephew entered it. When the little girl began to +wash her husband's feet, she recognised him. She tried on the ring, +which fitted his finger, and he in turn showed her the sweet-dish +which she had given him. The parents were as pleased as possible, and +they sent a messenger to invite the boy's parents. They came, and the +boy's mother threw herself at her daughter-in-law's feet and thanked +her for saving her son. Then there was a great feast and everybody +was very happy indeed, and at the end they all worshipped Parwati, +[5] so she became as pleased as everybody else. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Wednesday and Thursday Story + +There was once upon a time a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a prince who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Every day +there used to come to the prince's house two Brahmans, an uncle and a +nephew. But when they asked for alms the daughters-in-law sent word +that they were too busy to give them any. Some time afterwards the +prince lost all his riches and became very poor. The two Brahmans +again came to beg, but the elder daughter-in-law said to them, +"We are no longer busy, but we have nothing to give you. If we had, +we should give it to you." The youngest daughter-in-law, however, +was a clever little girl, and she thought to herself, "The Brahmans +will get very angry with us. When we had money, we gave them nothing; +and now we give them nothing because we have nothing to give." So she +fell at the elder Brahman's feet and said, "We have been very wicked +and have deserved to become poor. But please forgive us and tell me +how we may become rich as we were before." The elder Brahman said, +"Every Wednesday and every Thursday you must invite a Brahman to +dinner. And if you have no money to pay for the dinner, draw a pair +of cow's feet on your money-box. If you want grain for the dinner, +draw a pair of cow's feet on your corn-bin. Then worship the feet and +welcome the Brahmans. For you will find that you will have money in +your box and grain in your corn-bin. And in time you will all get as +rich as you were before." The little girl did what the Brahman told +her. And whenever she invited Brahmans to dinner, she drew the cow's +feet on the cash-box and on the corn-bin, and there was always money +and grain sufficient for the meal. + +But some days later she fell asleep and dreamt that Budh [6] and +Brahaspati came to her bedside and said, "Little girl, little girl, +your husband has been made king over a great country. Go to him, and, +when you have found him, do not forget to worship us and to give feast +to the Brahmans." Then the little girl woke up and she told the other +six daughters-in-law. But they were jealous of her, and they became +very angry; and they kicked her so often and boxed her ears so hard +that she forgot all about drawing the cow's feet on her money-box and +on the corn-bin. So she never found any money in the box or any corn +in the bin. And every day they became poorer and poorer. First all the +men servants ran away, then the male members of the family left, and +at last the seven daughters-in-law were left alone in the house. They +were starving, but they did not know how to get any food. One day +they heard that a king in a neighbouring country wished to construct +a tank and was calling for labourers. So they decided to go to the +tank and work there just like common coolie women. Now who do you +think the king was? He was the youngest son of the prince of Atpat +and the husband of the youngest daughter-in-law. When the prince had +lost all his money, his youngest son left the house and set off on +a journey. As he travelled he came to a city, the king of which had +just died without leaving any children or relatives. His subjects +did not know how to choose a successor. At last they gave a garland +of flowers to a she-elephant and turned it loose. The elephant walked +straight to the prince's son and put the garland round his neck. The +townspeople were very angry. They snatched away the garland and drove +away the prince's son. They again gave the garland to the elephant, +but the elephant again put the garland round the neck of the prince's +son. The townspeople again snatched away the garland. But when the +elephant put it round the young man's neck for the third time, they +lifted him high in the air and declared him to be their king. At first +he was so pleased at being king that he forgot all about his poor +little wife. But one night Budh and Brahaspati appeared to him in a +dream and reminded him of her and told him how poor she was. But he +could not leave his kingdom to go and look for her. So he thought that +he would dig a tank and call together labourers from every quarter. And +every day he used to go to the tank and search among the labourers to +see if his wife was there. One day he recognised his wife and called +her to him. Then they told each other how Budh and Brahaspati had +appeared to each of them in a dream. And the king was so delighted at +finding his wife that he at once proclaimed her queen of the country. + +So the little daughter-in-law was crowned queen, but she did not let +the other daughters-in-law who were also working at the tank know of +her good fortune. As queen, she gave a great feast to all the workers +on the tank. But in her own palace she took some wheat flour, and +she kneaded it into shapes resembling human feet and human fists. And +when the other daughters-in-law were with the crowd of workers eating +at the feast, she went up to them, and to each daughter-in-law who +had kicked her she gave a flour foot, and to each daughter-in-law +who had struck her with her hands she gave a flour fist. Then the +daughters-in-law recognised who the little queen was, and they fell at +her feet and begged for her forgiveness. So the little queen forgave +them and took them back with her into her husband's palace. And they +all lived together happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Friday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +miserably poor Brahman. He had a wife who was as poor as he was. One +day she felt her poverty so much that she went to a gossip of hers +who lived close by and told her all about her troubles. The neighbour +could suggest nothing better than that the poor woman should worship +the goddess Shukra or Venus. So she told the Brahman woman to fast +every Friday through the month of Shravan. Every Friday evening she +should invite a married lady friend to her house. She should bathe her +friend's feet. She should give her sweetened milk to drink and fill +her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should continue +to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, and in +the end the goddess would certainly do something for her. The Brahman +woman thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra +and had a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had +advised her. + +Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town, +who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same +time he invited all the townspeople with the single exception of +his sister. The poor lady thought that she must have been left out +by accident, and that there would be no harm in going, even although +uninvited. She put on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children +with her, went off to the dinner. She seated herself close to her +children, and was eating away when her brother came round serving +ghee. When he saw his sister he shouted at her, "You have neither nice +clothes nor nice jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming +as you have come. I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow." + +Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed +the previous day's feast, persuaded their mother to take them again +to her brother's house. Once more she went and sat down with her +children among the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before +when he came round serving the ghee. He shouted at her, "A beggar +woman must, I suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away +although told to. But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I'll have you +turned out." Next day, however, she again went with her children to +her brother's house. But near the entrance his servants caught her +and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad +and hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased +with her devotion and so took pity on her. She helped the poor +woman's husband so that he rapidly acquired great wealth. When her +husband had become very rich she asked her brother to dinner. But +the brother remembered how he had treated her and was ashamed to +accept. He pressed her to dine with him first, and begged so hard +that she at last consented. Next day she put on all her jewels and +her finest clothes. Her brother gave her a wooden platform to sit on +and plates made out of leaves from which to eat her dinner. Before +she sat down she took off her gold-embroidered shawl and put it +close to her plate. Her brother saw her, but thought she did it +because she felt the room hot. She then placed her jewelry on the +wooden platform. Her brother thought that she did it because she +felt the jewelry heavy. She took a portion of rice and placed it on +her necklace. She put a portion of vegetables on her pendant, and a +sweet ball she placed on her jewelled star. + +Her brother at last asked her, "What are you doing?" She said, +"I am giving to the guests whom you really invited." But he did +not understand, and asked, "Why do you not begin to eat?" She said, +"I have not been invited to this dinner. It was given in honour of +my finery and not of me. I had my dinner the day when you gave the +feast to the one thousand Brahmans." + +The brother felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He threw himself at +his sister's feet and begged for her forgiveness. So she forgave him +and sat down to dinner. And the brother in turn went to her house and +dined with her. And Shukra was pleased with both sister and brother, +and they all lived happily ever afterwards. May I and my readers do +the same. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Saturday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town-called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had three daughters-in-law. He rose early even during +the rainy season, and every day immediately after his morning meal he +used to go to his field with his children and his daughters-in-law. One +first Saturday in Shravan he got up as usual and said to the youngest +of his daughters-in-law, "To-day is Saturday; you had better stay +at home, and although there is very little in the house, you must +try to get some sort of a dinner ready. Go upstairs and scrape +together all the grain there is in the grain-jars and make bread +with it. For vegetables you had better gather grass and make some +chutney out of clover leaves." When the Brahman had left, his little +daughter-in-law followed his orders as best she could. There was in the +jar upstairs only grain for half an ordinary loaf. So she made tiny, +tiny loaves and prepared some vegetables out of grass and made some +clover chutney. Then she sat down to wait for the family's return +from the field. As she did so, Saturn came disguised as a beggar all +covered with sores, and cried, "O Lady! I am aching all over: give +me hot water to bathe in and oil to rub myself with, and then give me +something to eat." The little daughter-in-law felt very sorry for the +poor beggar. She went inside and got him a few drops of oil and warmed +some water for his bath, and then gave him one of the tiny loaves to +eat. The beggar ate it, and then gave her his blessing, saying, "You +will never want for anything." He then folded up the leaves from which +he had eaten, stuck them into a corner of the eaves, and disappeared. + +Shortly afterwards the family came home and found a splendid dinner +waiting for them. They said to themselves, "Where did this all come +from? There was practically nothing in the house." Next Saturday +another daughter-in-law stayed at home. Again Saturn in the guise +of a beggar covered with sores came to the house. He asked as +before for hot water, oil, and food. But his daughter-in-law said, +"I have nothing to give you." The god pressed her, saying, "Give me a +little of anything that you have." But the daughter-in-law repeated, +"I have nothing." The god replied, "Very well, you will lose that +little you have." With this threat he disappeared. But, when the +daughter-in-law went upstairs to fetch grain for dinner, she could +find nothing in any of the jars. Shortly afterwards the family came +home, but there was no dinner for them. So they all got angry with +the daughter-in-law, and, although she told them about the beggar, +they scolded her harder than ever. A third Saturday came round, and +a third daughter-in-law remained at home. Again Saturn came, and the +third daughter-in-law behaved just as the second had done. She gave +the god neither hot water, oil, nor food. And the god told her that +she should lose the little she had. When the family came home there +was no dinner for them, and they scolded the third daughter-in-law +just as hard as they had scolded the second one. + +The fourth Saturday it was once more the +turn of the youngest daughter-in-law. Again +Saturn came in the guise of a beggar covered +with sores and asked for hot water, oil, and +food. The little daughter-in-law gave them +as she had done before, and the god blessed +her, saying, "God will make you rich and +happy." Then he folded up the leaves from +which he had eaten and stuck them into a +corner of the eaves. When the little daughter-in-law +went upstairs, she saw any amount of +grain in the jars, and she prepared a splendid +dinner. So when the family came home they +were delighted. They could no longer restrain +their curiosity, and exclaimed, "Where did all +this food come from?" The little daughter-in-law +told them about the beggar covered with +sores and about his blessing. To test her +story, they looked for the folded leaves which +he had stuck into a corner of the roof. They +found them, but when they pulled them out +they were full of pearls and diamonds. Then +the old Brahman guessed that the beggar was +Saturn in disguise, and he also understood why, +when the other two daughters-in-law gave him +nothing and were cursed by him, there was +nothing for dinner. So they all knelt down +and prayed to Saturn, and the god forgave the +two-daughters-in-law who had given him +nothing. And he was more pleased than ever +with the little daughter-in-law who had befriended +him. And so they all lived happily +ever afterwards. And may Saturn be pleased +with us all as he was with the little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a king who had two queens. Of one of them he was very fond, but +the other one he did not care for. The name of the favoured one was +Patmadhavrani, and the name of the unloved one was Chimadevrani. Now +the king had an enemy called Nandanbaneshwar. Such a terrible enemy +he was too! He could jump into the clouds or dive into the bottom of +the ocean. At one moment he would shoot up into heaven. At another he +would sink down into hell, and through fear of his enemy, the king had +become as dry and as thin as an old bit of stick. One day the king, in +despair, assembled all his subjects and ordered them to seek out and +kill Nandanbaneshwar. All the subjects said, "Certainly, certainly, +O King," and began to search everywhere for Nandanbaneshwar. Now in +Atpat there lived a poor woman who had one son. On hearing the orders +of the king, he said to her, "Mother, Mother, give me some bread, +for I am going out to kill the king's enemy." The old woman said, +"Do not be silly; you are only a poor boy, and people will laugh +at you. Here, take this bit of bread and go and eat it behind a +tree." The boy said, "Very well," and took the bread. But, after +taking it, he joined the other villagers and went at their head to +seek out and kill Nandanbaneshwar. But when evening fell they had +not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home. And +when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved. But +the old woman's son stayed in a wood outside the village. And lo +and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from Patâla [7] +and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and began to worship +Mahalaxmi. The boy was at first terribly frightened, but at last he +plucked up courage enough to ask, "Ladies, ladies, what does one gain +by worshipping Mahalaxmi?" "Whatever you lose you will find," said the +serpent-maidens from Patala; "and whatever you want you will get." The +boy resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi. And he joined the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, and all night long +they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods +echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they made. [8] + +At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy included, +prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. She first +blessed the serpent--maidens from Patâla and then the wood-nymphs. And +then she blessed the poor old woman's son and said, "You will get half +the kingdom of Atpat and half the king's treasure. He will build you a +house as high as his own, and he will give you the name of 'Navalvat' +or 'Wonderways.' For this very morning the king's mighty enemy will +break his neck and be found lying dead in the king's courtyard," +With these words the goddess vanished and flew to Kolhapur, [9] and +the old woman's son went home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up +and went into the king's courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar +lying dead from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back +into the palace to tell the king. The king inquired who had killed +Nandanbaneshwar. Every one said that the old woman's son must have +killed him, because he stayed behind when the others went home. The +king sent for the old woman's son. He was very frightened, and when +he reached the royal hall he called out, "I have made no false charge +against any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King, +have you sent for me?" "Do not be afraid," said the king. "My enemy +Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is you who killed +him. Tell me if this is true." "No, O King," said the boy, "he was +killed by the arts of Mahalaxmi." "Where did you meet her?" asked the +king. The boy said, "I stayed when the other villagers returned home, +and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from Patâla and the +wood-nymphs. They taught me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning +she revealed herself and promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be +found lying dead, that you would give me half your kingdom and half +your treasure, that you would build me a palace as high as your own, +and that you would call me Navalvat or Wonderways." The king did as +the goddess had foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his +treasuries to Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof +was exactly on the same level as that of his own palace. + +When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for +Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told +her all that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patâla do, and +he also told her on the eighth day of the month of Ashwin [10] to +tie on her wrist a thread with sixteen strands in it, and to wear +it continually for the rest of the month. When the 8th of Ashwin +came, Queen Patmadhavrani dutifully tied round her wrist a thread of +sixteen strands, and resolved to wear it every day for the rest of the +month. But a day or two later the king came to Queen Patmadhavrani's +apartments and began to play saripat [11] with her. As they played +he noticed the thread on her wrist and asked what it was. She told +him how Wonderways had instructed her to tie it on. But the king got +very angry and roared out, "I have in my palace garlands and twine, +bracelets, and hobbling-ropes. So throw away that wretched piece of +thread. I will not let you wear it." The queen did as she was bid, and, +pulling off the thread bracelet, threw it on the floor. Next morning +the maids and the slave-girls began to sweep the palace, and among +the sweepings one of them noticed the queen's thread bracelet. She +picked it up and showed it to Wonderways, and he grew very wroth with +Queen Patmadhavrani. He took the thread and at once went with it to +the palace of the unloved Queen Chimadevrani. He told her what had +happened, and she begged him to give the thread to her and to tell +her how to worship Mahalaxmi. But he said, "You will grow vain and +get so conceited that you will not do what I tell you to do." But +she promised that she would obey him in everything. So just as he had +told the Queen Patmadhavrani, he told Queen Chimadevrani all the rites +which he had seen the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs +perform. Everything went on just the same for a whole year. But the +next year on the 8th of Ashwin a very strange thing happened. The +goddess Mahalaxmi disguised herself as an old beggar-woman and +came to Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen +Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour +to the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and +therefore specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out +at this, and when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, "Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house to-day?" The +queen replied, "I have nothing in my house to-day." The old woman +went on, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give +this beggar-woman a little water, you will acquire merit sufficient +for all your kingdom." But the queen replied, "Even if I were to +give you a copper cauldron of water it would not suffice for all my +kingdom." The old woman then said, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother +of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a little rice and curds, +you will gain enough merit for all your kingdom." The queen replied, +"Even if I were to give you a big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, +I should not gain enough merit for all my kingdom." Then the old woman +got very angry and cursed the queen, saying, "You will become half a +frog and half a human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife's +bath-room and croak like a frog." But the queen did not mind her the +least little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the +noise was like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a +great rage and entered Queen Chimadevrani's part of the palace. There +she saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful +image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, +"Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house +to-day?" "To-day," said the queen, "we are worshipping Mahalaxmi." Then +the old beggar-woman said, "I am Mahalaxmi." But the queen doubted and +asked her, "By what sign shall I know you?" The goddess replied, "In +the morning I shall take the shape of a little girl. In the afternoon +I shall take that of a young married woman. In the evening I shall +become an old hag." After the goddess had taken all three shapes, +Queen Chimadevrani called her into the palace and bathed and anointed +her. She gave her a silk skirt and a platform to sit upon. Then she +sent for Wonderways, and both of them worshipped the old beggar-woman +and blew on earthen pots in her honour. The king heard the blowing +on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why there was such a noise +in Queen Chimadevrani's quarters. The sepoy went there, and when he +saw what was happening joined also in the worship. After a little +while he went back and told the king. The king said that he would +go there too. He followed the sepoy, and Queen Chimadevrani came +to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where both played +at saripat until dawn. And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by and watched +them. At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her blessing. She +blessed the queen and said, "The king will take you back with him to +the palace, and your co-wife will become half frog, half human being, +and will have to croak outside your bath-room while you bathe." But +Queen Chimadevrani begged the goddess not to place such a terrible +curse on Patmadhavrani. The goddess relented a little, but said, +"The king will drive her into the jungle for twelve years." At these +words she vanished and flew to Kolhapur. When the sun rose the king +placed Queen Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own +part of the palace. He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani +asking her to join them. Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani +appeared, dressed all in rags with a skirt round her legs and her +hair all unfastened. On her head was a pot full of burning coal, +and she began to shout and scream at the top of her voice. The king +became very angry and roared out, "Who is this that is shouting +and screaming? Is it a ghost or a she-devil or what?" The sepoys +replied, "O King, it is neither a ghost nor a she-devil, it is your +Queen Patmadhavrani." "Take her into the jungle," roared the king, +"and kill her there." Then he went back into the palace and began +to live in great happiness with Queen Chimadevrani. But the sepoys +took Patmadhavrani into the jungle and told her that they had been +ordered to kill her. She began to weep. The sepoys were kind-hearted +men and they felt very sorry for her. They said, "Lady, lady, do not +weep. We have eaten bread and drunk water at your hands so we cannot +kill you. We will leave you here, but you must never come back into +the kingdom again." The sepoys left her and returned to Atpat. But +the poor queen wandered on until she came to a distant town, where +she entered a coppersmith's lane. Therein a coppersmith was making +bangles for a beautiful young princess who had just been crowned +queen of the city. But suddenly none of the bangles would join. He +began to search for the cause, and asked his workmen whether any +stranger had come near his house. The workmen looked about and found +Queen Patmadhavrani in hiding close by. They told the coppersmith, +and he and his men beat her soundly and drove her away. She ran +into the lane of some weavers who were weaving a sari for the new +queen. Suddenly none of the looms would work. They began looking +about to see if any stranger had come. After a little while they found +the queen. So they beat her soundly and drove her away. Then she ran +out of the town back into the jungle. There she wandered about until +she came to the cave of a rishi or sage. The rishi was sitting lost +in meditation. But she bided her time, and, when he went to bathe, +she slipped into the cave and swept it and neaped it and tidied up +all the utensils used by him for worship. Then she slipped out of +the cave and ran back into the jungle. This went on every day for +twelve years without the rishi showing that he was aware of what she +was doing. But in his heart he was really pleased with her. And one +day he called out in a loud voice, "Who is it who sweeps and neaps my +cave? Whoever she is, let her step forward." The queen stepped into +the presence of the rishi and threw herself at his feet and said, "If +you promise not to punish me, I shall tell you." The rishi promised, +and she told him her story. The rishi took out his magic books and, +consulting them, learned that Mahalaxmi had cursed her. So he taught +her how to worship Mahalaxmi, and all night long they blew on earthen +pots and performed rites in her honour. At dawn she revealed herself +and the queen asked her for her blessing. But the goddess was still +very angry with the queen. Then the rishi joined her in begging the +goddess's pardon, and at last she relented. She said to the queen, +"Put under that tree a foot-bath full of water, sandal-wood ointment, +plates full of fruit, a stick of camphor, fans made of odorous +grasses; and handle them all so that they retain the fragrance of +some scent which the king will remember you used. To-morrow the king +will come. He will be thirsty. He will send his sepoys to look for +water. They will see all your things ready. And when they go back and +tell him, he will come himself." Next morning, as the goddess had +foretold, the king came. He saw the cool shade of the tree. He was +tired with hunting, so he sat down and rested. He washed his feet +in the foot-bath. He ate up all the fruit, drank the cold water, +and sucked the stick of camphor. When he had rested to his heart's +content, he asked the sepoy, "How is it that in the water I drank, +in the fruit I took, in the camphor I ate, I noticed a scent which +Patmadhavrani always used?" The sepoys replied, "If the king promises +to pardon us, we will tell him." The king promised. The sepoys then +told him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten +bread and had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king +told them to look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched +and searched until they came to the rishi's cave. Then they ran back +and told the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to +the rishi. The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great +length. At last he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the +queen. The king obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to +his care and blessed both her and her husband. The king put her in +his chariot and took her to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped +his chariot and sent for Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed +and anointed herself, and put on all her silk clothes, her shawls, +her embroideries, and her jewels. In front of her she placed all the +horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went to meet the king they blew their +very loudest on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the +noise, and roared out, "Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is +it the serpent-maidens of Patâla or is it the wood-nymphs who live +in the heart of the forest?" The sepoys said, "O King, it is neither +the serpent-maidens of Patâla nor is it the wood-nymphs who live in +the heart of the forest. It is Queen Chimadevrani, who is coming to +meet you as you ordered." The king turned to Patmadhavrani and said, +"If you had come in this guise to meet me, instead of coming like a mad +woman, you would never have suffered as you did." Queen Patmadhavrani +said nothing, but sat still in the chariot, and the king lifted Queen +Chimadevrani into the chariot, and all three entered the city. And as +they entered, the horn-blowers blew so loud that every one was quite +deafened. And the king lived from that time forth in perfect happiness +with both his wives. And because of his happiness, he ruled so well +that his subjects thought that King Ramchandra of Ayodhya had come +back to rule over them. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Island Palace + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. He had a disciple who used every day to go to the village pond +and bathe and worship the god Shiva. On the way he had to walk through +the sandy island in the dry bed of the river. And, as he went home +across the island, he used to hear a voice cry, "Shall I come? Shall I +come? Shall I come?"; but when he looked round he could see no one. The +Brahman's disciple at last got so frightened that he withered up until +he became as dry and as thin as a bone. At last the Brahman said, +"You have no wish to eat or drink; yet you are so thin. What is the +reason?" The boy replied, "I neither wish to eat, nor want to eat, +nor crave to eat. But I am frightened out of my wits. For whenever +I come back from my bath I hear a voice behind me call out, 'Shall I +come? Shall I come? Shall I come?'; but when I look round there is no +one there." The Brahman said, "Do not be afraid, and when you next hear +the voice, do not look behind you, but call out as boldly as you can, +'Come along, come along, come along.'" Next day the disciple went as +usual to his bath in the village pond. He worshipped the god Shiva, +and as he came home he heard the cry behind him, "Shall I come? Shall +I come? Shall I come?" The boy was very frightened, but he did not +look behind him. In a short time he mastered his fears, and then in +a voice like a bull roaring he cried out, "Come along, come along, +come along." At last he reached home, calling all the time and without +once looking behind him. + +The Brahman looked up as the disciple came in, and he saw that just +behind was walking a young girl. He at once married the girl to his +disciple and gave them a house to live in close by his own. Now, on +the first Monday in the month of Shravan, or August, the disciple +got up and said to his wife, "I am going out to worship the god +Shiva. But do not wait for me. Just eat your breakfast directly you +feel hungry." He went out, and in a little time his wife began +to feel hungry. Nevertheless, she knew that, in spite of what +her husband had said, she ought not to eat anything while he was +worshipping Shiva. So she waited for a little time, but at last she +got so terribly hungry that she could not wait any more. So she sat +down and cooked her breakfast, and had just put one mouthful into +her mouth when her husband came to the outer door. "Wife, wife," he +called, "open the door!" Then the little wife got very frightened. She +pushed the uneaten breakfast under the bed, got up, washed her hands, +and opened the door. She then told her husband that she had waited +for him, and she cooked a fresh breakfast, which both ate one after +the other. Next Monday exactly the same thing happened. The little +wife cooked her breakfast and was just beginning it when her husband +came. She then hid her uneaten breakfast under her bed and pretended +that she had waited for his return. And on the two following Mondays +the naughty little wife deceived her husband in just the same way. + +Now on the last Sunday in Shravan, when husband and wife went to lie +down, the former noticed a light shining under the bed. He looked to +see what it was, and saw several platefuls of jewels. He asked his wife +whence they had come. Now they were really the uneaten breakfasts, +which the god Shiva had turned into gold and jewels. But the naughty +little wife got very frightened and told her husband a bigger story +than ever. "They are presents," she said, "from my mother and father +and their family." "But where is your father's house?" asked the +husband. "It is in the sandy island," said the little wife, "which +lies in the dry bed of the river." "You must take me there," said her +husband. Next morning they started off together. And the naughty little +wife could hardly walk, she was so frightened. For she knew quite well +that her father had no house in the sandy island. But on the way she +prayed to Shiva, "Please, please, god Shiva, create a house for my +father in the sandy island which lies in the dry bed of the river, +even if it be only for half an hour." + +At last the husband and wife came to the sandy island. And there, lo +and behold! they saw a great big palace, and a splendidly dressed young +man came forward and greeted the disciple as his brother-in-law. And +a handsome old knight came forward and greeted the disciple as his +son-in-law. And a beautiful young woman greeted the naughty little +wife as the sister of her husband. And a lovely little girl ran up and +embraced her and called her "sister." And slave girls and maid-servants +ran forward to offer her their service. A guard of soldiers kept +watch by the palace, and at the door there were sentries, who made +way for them as they passed. Inside the house the little wife and +her husband were given platforms to sit upon, and a splendid feast +was all ready prepared for them to eat. After they had feasted, they +got up and said good-bye to the little wife's father and mother, and +garlands of flowers were placed round their necks, and they started +for their home. When they had gone half-way, the naughty little wife +remembered that she had hung her garland on a peg and had forgotten +to bring it with her. So she and her husband went back to the sandy +island. But when they got there, there was no palace, there were no +soldiers to guard it, there were no sentries at the door, there were +no maid-servants nor slave girls. There was nothing there but just +a sandy island in the middle of a dry river-bed. And on the sand lay +the garland which the naughty little wife had forgotten. She took it +up and put it round her neck. + +But her husband asked her, "What has happened to your father's +house?" The naughty little wife replied, all in tears, "As it came, +so it went. But if you promise to forgive me, I shall tell you." The +husband promised. So she told him how every Monday she had felt so +hungry and how she had cooked her breakfast, and then, on hearing her +husband's voice, had pushed it under their bed. She also told him that +the god Shiva had turned the food into gold and jewels. "Then when you +asked me," she went on, "I felt so frightened that I said they were +presents from my father and mother and the rest of my family. And +when you made me take you to my father's house, I prayed the god +Shiva to create, if only for half an hour, a house for my father on +the sandy island in the dry river-bed. And he graciously granted my +request." Then the husband forgave the naughty little wife. And she +became quite good and never told him any more stories. And they both +went home and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Nagoba, the Snake-King + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a Brahman who had seven little daughters-in-law. In the fulness of +time the month of Shravan came and with it Nagpanchmi Day [12]. In +honour of the festival, one little daughter-in-law went to her +grandpapa's house, another went to her great grandpapa's house, +another went to her father's house, until at last only the youngest +daughter-in-law remained behind. Her father and mother were dead, +and she had no uncles and no aunts and no little brothers or +sisters. So the poor little daughter-in-law felt very sad and +sat down and cried in a corner. Then she remembered that it was +Nagpanchmi Day, and that it was a festival in honour of Nagoba, the +great snake-king. So she prayed under her breath, "Please, please, +snake-king, come and pretend that you have been sent to fetch me +to my father's house!" And the great snake-king heard the prayer +and felt quite sorry for the poor little daughter-in-law who was +crying in the corner. He assumed the guise of a Brahman and came to +the house where the little daughter-in-law was, and said that he had +been sent to fetch her to her father's house. Her father-in-law was +very much astonished. For he wondered why, if the new-comer really +was a relative of the little daughter-in-law, he had never paid him +a visit before. At last he asked the little daughter-in-law who the +new-comer was. She did not know in the least. But she was so overjoyed +that some one should have come for her that she at once answered, +"He is my mother's brother." Her father-in-law believed her and sent +her off in the care of Nagoba, the snake-king. Still disguised as a +Brahman, he took her to the entrance of his underground palace and +there he told her who he was. He then reassumed his true appearance, +and, expanding the mighty hood behind his head, he seated the little +girl on it and took her down to his splendid dwelling-house beneath +the earth. In the central hall he presented her to the snake-queen +and to all the snake-princes, and told them that in no circumstances +whatever were they to bite the little daughter-in-law. + +One day the snake-queen was about to be confined. So she asked +the little daughter-in-law to sit by her side with the lamp in +her hand. The little daughter-in-law did so, and a little time +afterwards the snake-queen gave birth to a fresh litter of little +snake-princes. When the little daughter-in-law saw them all wriggling +about, she was frightened out of her wits. She let the lamp slip +out of her hands. It fell on the ground and burnt all the little +snakes' tails off. The snake-queen did her best to comfort them, +but the stumps of the little princes' tails ached so dreadfully that +it was ever so long before the snake-queen could put them off to +sleep. When the snake-king came home that evening, she told him what +had happened. And she was so cross with the little daughter-in-law, +that the snake-king had to promise that she should go back to her +father-in-law's house. A few days later, the snake-king assumed once +again the guise of a Brahman, and, loading the little daughter-in-law +with presents, took her back to her husband's home. In the course of +time the little snake-princes grew up, but their tails never grew +again. So their father, the snake-king, called one little prince, +No-tail; and the second little prince, Cut-tail; and the third little +prince, Dock-tail. And one day they asked the snake-queen how it was +that their tails had been broken off. She told them how the little +daughter-in-law had burnt them off by dropping the lamp on them. + +The snake-princes, when they heard their mother's answer, were +terribly cross with the little daughter-in-law, and they vowed that +they would be revenged on her. So they found out where she lived, +and they sent a message to her house, saying that they were coming to +pay her a visit. But they really meant to bite her to death directly +they saw her. The little daughter-in-law was overjoyed when she heard +that the snake-princes were coming to visit her. For ever since the +snake-king had pretended to be her uncle, she always thought of little +No-tail and little Cut-tail and little Dock-tail as if they had been +her own cousins. Now it so happened that the very day on which they +were expected at the little daughter-in-law's house was Nagpanchmi +Day. The little daughter-in-law was sitting in the house all alone +waiting for little Prince No-tail, little Prince Cut-tail, and little +Prince Dock-tail. They were late in coming, so to pass the time she +drew pictures of Nagoba, the snake-king, on her dining-platform and on +the wall. When she had finished the pictures, she worshipped them and +offered them milk and food. Then she prayed to the great snake-king, +"Please please, King Nagoba, guard from all hurt, wherever they may +be, my little cousins No-tail and Cut-tail and Dock-tail." And last +of all she prostrated herself at full length before the pictures +which she had drawn on the wall and on her dining-platform. + +In the meantime little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and +little Prince Dock-tail had come up without the little daughter-in-law +noticing them. But when they saw the honour which she was paying +their father, King Nagoba, and heard the prayer which she had offered +on their behalf, they no longer wished to kill or bite the little +daughter-in-law. On the contrary, they made themselves known to +her and stayed all that day in the house and were as good and as +nice as possible. When night fell, they drank the milk which she +had offered to the snake-king. And in its place they put a necklace +with nine beautiful jewels in it. Before day broke they went away +quietly and returned to their father's palace under the ground. Next +morning when the little daughter-in-law woke up she saw the lovely +necklace lying where the milk had been. She gave a shout of delight, +and putting it round her neck, she ran all over the house showing it +to everybody. And every one was perfectly charmed with it. And the +snake-princes never again came to bite any one in that household. And +the little daughter-in-law and her husband and her father-in-law and +little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and little Prince +Dock-tail, they all lived happily for ever so long afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Parwati and the Beggar-Man + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In It there lived +a Brahman. He had seven daughters, and when they had reached a +marriageable age he asked them who would arrange their marriages +and bring them handsome husbands and make their fortunes. The six +eldest daughters said, "Papa, Papa, you of course. You will arrange +our marriages and bring us handsome husbands and make our fortunes +for us." But the youngest daughter was a naughty little girl. She +got into a temper all about nothing, and she stamped her foot, and +she turned her back on her father and said, "I will arrange my own +marriage, and I will get a handsome husband for myself, and I will +make my fortune myself." The Brahman was very angry with her, and so +how do you think he punished her? He first searched about and found +six rich and handsome boys. Then he married them with great pomp and +display to his six eldest daughters. But the youngest girl he gave in +marriage to a miserable beggar-man. You never saw such a beggar-man +as he was! There was not a spot on his skin that was not black with +leprosy, and his feet and hands had rotted right off. If you had seen +him you would have said, "If that beggar-man does not die to-day +he will certainly die to-morrow. For he cannot possibly live any +longer!" When the marriage was celebrated, the little girl's mother +filled her lap with pulse and then handed her over to the beggar-man +to see what sort of fortune would be hers. But in a few days the +beggar-man died. His corpse was taken to the burning-ground, and +his little widow followed it. But when his relatives wanted to burn +the body, she forbade them and told them to go away. For she said, +"My fortune is still to come, whatever it may be." They all got round +her and tried to persuade her that there was no use in her staying by +the corpse, but she would not mind what they said. At last they were +quite tired out and went home, leaving her in the burning-ground. When +they had gone she took her husband's corpse on to her lap. Then she +prayed to the god Shiva and said: + + + "My parents disown me. O why was I born + Both as orphan and widow to live all forlorn?" + + +As she prayed, she put the pulse which her mother had put into her +lap grain by grain in the dead man's mouth. Then she sat there crying +until midnight. Now it happened that on that very night Shiva and +Parwati were in their chariot driving through the air over that very +place. Parwati said suddenly to her husband, "I hear a woman crying, +let us go and see what it is." The god Shiva drove his chariot down to +earth. He and Parwati got out and saw the Brahman's youngest daughter +crying. They asked her what the reason was, and she told them. Then +Parwati pitied her and said, "Your aunt has acquired great merit by +her piety and devotions. You go to her and get her to give you all +her merit and so you will bring your husband back to life." The god +Shiva and Parwati then mounted on their chariot and disappeared. Next +morning the little widow left her husband's body, went to her aunt's +house and begged her to give her all the merit which she had acquired, +and told her the cause of the request. The aunt was very good and +gave her all her own merit. The little widow then went back to the +burning-ground and with its aid brought her husband back to life. But +this time he was no longer a beggar-man black with leprosy and with +feet and hands that had rotted away. He was a beautiful young man +with well-shaped feet and a beautiful fair skin, and the little widow +took her husband back to her father's house. "Papa, Papa," she said, +"you turned me out, but the gods have brought me back, and good fortune +came to me without your bringing it." The father was too frightened +of Parwati to say anything, so he held his peace. And the little girl +and her husband, the beggar-man, lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Parwati and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman. When the month of Bhadrapad came round, every household +bought little images of Parwati, and the women began to walk about +the streets and sound gongs. When the poor Brahman's children saw +this they went home and said to their mother, "Mummy, Mummy, please +buy us little images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls +have." But their mother said, "What is the use of my buying images +of Parwati? If I do we shall have to make offerings, and there is +absolutely nothing in the house. You run to papa and tell him to go +into the bazaar and buy grain. If he buys grain I'll buy you images of +Parwati." The children got up and ran to their father and cried out, +"Papa, Papa, Mama says that she will buy us images of Parwati if you +will go into the bazaar and get food to offer to them." Their father +at first searched all over the house but could find no grain. And +then he looked in his purse but he could find no money with which to +go to the bazaar and buy grain. But although he tried to explain this +to his children, they would not listen to him. They screamed at him +and shouted, "Papa, Papa, Mummy says that she will buy us images of +Parwati if you will get food to offer to them." "Papa, Papa, why should +we not have images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls." At +last they bothered the poor Brahman so much that he felt worried to +death. "I love," he said, "my children as if they were made of gold, +but they will not mind what I say. They will not understand that it +is nothing but poverty which prevents my buying food and offering it +to Parwati. I might go out and beg, but when I do, no one ever gives +me anything. Death is better than a life like this." With these words +he got up and walked to the edge of the village pond and determined +to drown himself. It was dark when he started, and half-way he met +an old woman. She heard him coming and asked him who he was. He told +her all his trouble, and said that he meant to jump into the pond to +escape from his children. The woman comforted him and prevailed on him +to turn home again. He took her home. His wife came to the door with +a lamp and asked who she was. The husband did not like to say that he +had only just met her on the road, so he said to his wife, "She is my +grandmother." The wife thereupon welcomed her and invited her to come +in and stay to supper. But her heart felt as heavy as lead, for she +knew that there was nothing to eat inside the house. When the old woman +had seated herself inside the house, the Brahman's wife got up and, in +despair, went to look inside the grain-pots. She knew they were empty, +but she thought that she would first look into them once again. But, +lo and behold! when she looked this time she found the grain-pots +brimming over with grain. She called her husband, and they were both +perfectly delighted. And the wife prepared bowls full of rice-gruel, +and every one, children and all, ate the rice-gruel till the skins +on their stomachs felt quite tight. And they went to bed as happy as +possible. Next morning the old woman called to the Brahman, "My son, +my son, get me water for my bath and cook me a nice hot dinner, and +please be quick about it, and do not start making objections." The +Brahman got up and called his wife, and they got water for the old +woman's bath, and then the Brahman went out to beg. When he had gone +out before, no one had ever given him anything. But to-day every one +ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper coins. Then he went +back home in splendid spirits. His wife prepared a glorious dinner, and +the children ate so much that the skin on their stomachs felt as tight +as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old woman said to the Brahman, +"To-morrow I want a milk-pudding for dinner." "But, Grandmamma," said +the Brahman, "where shall I get the milk from?" The old woman said, +"Don't worry about that. Just get up and hammer down as many pegs as +you can in your courtyard. Then this evening, when the cattle come +home, call to the village cows and buffaloes by name, and they will +come to you, and if you milk them you will get enough milk for my +pudding to-morrow." The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, +and that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by name to come +to his courtyard. And from every direction the cows and buffaloes came +running up. And behind them galloped all the little calves with their +heels in the air and their tails stuck out straight behind them. At +last the Brahman's courtyard was filled so full that no more cows or +buffaloes could enter. And he milked them all, and next day his wife +cooked a milk-pudding such as one would not see again if one lived a +thousand years. And the children ate until they were so tired of eating +that they just rolled over and went fast asleep. But that evening the +old woman said, "My son, my son, I want you to take me home." "But, +Grandmamma, Grandmamma," said the Brahman, "how can I take you home, +for I have had all this good luck only because of you. Directly you go +away my good luck will vanish." "Do not be afraid," said the old woman, +"for I am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will never +vanish. Therefore you must come with me and see me home." But the +Brahman said, "I do not want my good luck only to continue. I want +it to increase." The old woman said, "If you come with me I shall +give you some sand. When you go back home, scatter it all over the +house and over your jars and your pots, and put it inside your boxes +and your cupboards, and scatter it all over your courtyard too, and +you will find that your good luck will never be any less than it is +now." The Brahman was satisfied with this. He worshipped the old woman +and went with her towards the tank until she suddenly disappeared. He +returned home and scattered sand all over his house and over his +jars and his pots and inside his boxes and his cupboards, and from +that day on, his good luck never left him. And his wealth increased, +and his children increased. And they all lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Soma, the Washerwoman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He had also +one daughter called Gunvanti and a wife called Dhanvanti. Whenever +a mendicant Brahman came to this house, it was the custom of all +the ladies to give him alms and then prostrate themselves in front +of him. One day a Brahman came, tall as a tree and shining like the +sun. The seven daughters-in-law ran out as usual and gave him alms +and then threw themselves at full length at his feet. The Brahman +blessed them and said, "Increase of children be yours; increase of +wealth be yours; may your husbands cherish you all your lives." But +the Brahman's daughter Gunvanti was a lazy little girl, and when the +mendicant came she was still in bed. Her mother, Dhanvanti, rushed +into her room and cried, "Daughter, daughter, get up and give the +Brahman alms," The little girl jumped up in a fright and ran out and +put alms before him and prostrated herself at his feet. The mendicant +blessed her and said, "Observe the precepts of religion." + +The little girl ran back to her mother. "Mother, Mother," she cried, +"Bhatji [13] did not give me the same blessing as he gave to my +sisters-in-law," Her mother said, "Go back again and give him some +more alms and see what he does," The little girl ran back, put +some more alms before the mendicant, and again prostrating herself +asked for his blessing. Once more he said, "Observe the precepts +of religion," Then Dhanvanti asked him why he gave her daughter +such a strange blessing. The mendicant replied, "Because widowhood +will come upon her immediately after her marriage," Dhanvanti threw +herself before the Brahman and grasped his feet and cried, weeping, +"Tell me how I may escape this evil; what shall I do to save my one +little girl from becoming a widow?" The Brahman pitied her and said, +"Lady, lady, do not weep; I shall give you a remedy by which to cure +this evil. Across the seven seas there is an island. In it there lives +a washerwoman called Soma. If you can fetch her to your daughter's +wedding, she will escape the evil that threatens her. When the wedding +is over, you must send Soma back with all honour to her house." With +these words the mendicant took up his wallet and went to collect alms +elsewhere. When her husband returned home Dhanvanti told him what had +happened. "Some one," she added, "must go across the seven seas, to +fetch Soma, the washerwoman." The father and mother called up their +sons and said, "Those of you who honour your parents will take your +sister and cross the seven seas to bring Soma here." But all the +sons turned to their mother and said, "All you care about is your +daughter. You do not love us the least little bit. So we shall not +cross the seven seas and bring Soma here just on her account." The +mother began to cry, and the father got very cross. He turned to his +wife and said, "From henceforth you have no sons. To me our seven sons +are as if they had never been born. But do not get frightened about +our little girl I myself shall cross the seven seas and fetch Soma, the +washerwoman." Then the youngest of the seven sons said to his father, +"Daddy, Daddy, you must not say that you have no sons when here we are, +all seven of us. I shall take my sister Gunvanti with me, and we shall +go and fetch Soma, the washerwoman." A few days later the two children +prostrated themselves before their parents and began their voyage. + +In course of time they came to the seashore. But the wind was +blowing, the waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over +the rocks. The brother and sister could not imagine how they were to +continue their journey. There was no one near to give them food, there +was no one near to give them drink, and they could think of nothing +better than to lie down and die. But they first resolved to pray to +the god Shiva, "Please, please, God Shiva," prayed the two children, +"get us out of this terrible trouble." After praying they went and +sat under a banian tree, and all day long they had nothing to eat or +drink. Now on the very top of the banian tree was an eagle's nest, +and in it there were several little eagles. When evening came, father +eagle and mother eagle came home and began to feed their young. But +the little eagles would not eat anything at all. Mother eagle said, +"Children, children, what is the matter?" "O Mummy, Mummy," cried +the little eagles, "two strangers have come to our house, and they +are sitting under our tree, and they have had nothing to eat all +day!" Father eagle and mother eagle flew to the ground and began to +ask the boy what his trouble was. "Do not be frightened," said father +eagle; "whatever your business, I'll help you to get it done. Do not +go to bed without supper. I'll bring you some fruit. Eat some of it +yourself and give the rest to your little sister." + +The boy told father eagle what had happened, and how it was that they +had to cross the seven seas. Father eagle said, "I shall carry you +both across directly you wake up to-morrow, and I shall put you down +at Soma the washerwoman's door." Then the two children felt very happy +and thanked the god Shiva. And after eating father eagle's fruit, +they lay down under the tree and fell fast asleep in no time. Next +morning father eagle and mother eagle came down the tree, and father +eagle took the boy on his back, and mother eagle took the girl on +her back, and off they flew across the seven seas. The wind blew, +and the waves rolled mountains high, and the foam splashed over the +rocks. But father eagle and mother eagle flew straight on until they +came to the door of Soma, the washerwoman. There they left the boy and +girl and went back to the tree where the little eagles were waiting +for them. The boy and girl were too frightened to walk into Soma's +house, so they hid all that day, and next morning they got up at dawn +and they swept the courtyard and neaped the floor with cow-dung. And +then, before any one could see them, they ran away and hid. And this +they did every day for a whole year. + +At last Soma one day called all her children and all her little +daughters-in-law and said, "Who among you gets up so early? Who sweeps +my courtyard? Who clears my floor?" All the children and all the +little daughters-in-law said, "It is not I," "It is not I," "It is not +I." Then Soma became very curious to know who it was. So the following +night she did not go to bed. She sat up, but nothing happened until +just after dawn. Then she saw the little Brahman girl sweeping the +courtyard and her brother cleaning the floor. Soma got up and said, +"Children, who are you?" They replied, "We are Brahmans." "But I am +only a washerwoman," said Soma; "I am a low-caste woman, why do you +sweep my courtyard and neap my floor? It will be reckoned unto me +as a sin If I accept the service of Brahmans." The boy said, "This +is my sister, and a Brahman has told us that unless you come to her +wedding she will be widowed shortly after marriage. Our father and +mother told us to go and bring you back with us. So, in order to make +you pleased with us, we have been working as your servants." "Do not +work for me any more," said Soma, "I shall gladly go to your wedding," +She then called to her daughters-in-law and said, "I am going to this +child's wedding. But if any one of our relations dies when I am away, +do not burn his body until I come back." She went with the two Brahman +children to the seashore. The wind was blowing, and the great waves +were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the rocks. But Soma +took the boy under one arm and the girl under the other. She jumped +far up into the sky and right over the seven seas, and when she got +to the opposite shore she put the children down again. They led her to +their father's house. Their mother Dhanvanti welcomed the washerwoman +and fell at her feet to thank her for her coming. The youngest brother +then went to Ujjain, and after making inquiries brought back a boy of +suitable caste and age to be a husband for his sister. On an auspicious +day the wedding was celebrated. But as the bridegroom and bride were +throwing rice [14] over each other, the bridegroom fainted. He fell +on the ground and lay there motionless. The little bride did not know +what to do, she was so frightened. And all the grown-up people were +almost as frightened as she was. But Soma, the washerwoman, stepped +forward and said, "It is nothing, do not be afraid." She took some +water in her hand and sprinkled it over herself. Now the secret of +Soma's power was this:-- + +She had acquired great merit by observing every Monday the following +practices: She would get up early, bathe, dress in silence, make +various gifts to Brahmans, and then walk one hundred and eight times +round a peepul tree. But now by sprinkling water over herself she had +transferred the whole of her merit to Gunvanti. By this means the +little bride had been able to restore her husband to life, and the +wedding ceremony finished amidst the happiness of all. Soma then took +leave to go, and started on her homeward journey. When she reached the +seashore, the wind was blowing, and the great waves came rolling in, +and the spray was splashing over the rocks. But now that she had given +away all her merit to Gunvanti, she had none left by means of which she +could jump across the seven seas. She sat down forlorn by the bank of +a river. Then she got up, bathed in the water, and prayed to the god +Vishnu. Next she took one hundred and eight sand-grains in her hand, +and then walked one hundred and eight times round a peepul tree by +the river's edge. Instantly her powers returned to her, and going back +to the shore, she sprang into the heavens and over the seven seas and +alighted close to her own door. There all her little daughters-in-law +ran out to meet her and cried, "O Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, we +have been watching for you. For while you were away your sons, your +husband, and all your sons-in-law died. But just as you told us to do, +we did not burn their corpses, but kept them in the house. And now +they have all suddenly come back to life." Soma questioned the little +daughters-in-law and learnt that her sons and husband and sons-in-law +had all died at the very moment when she gave her merit to Gunvanti, +and that they had come back to life precisely when she finished her +one-hundred-and-eighth turn round the peepul tree. And they were all so +glad to have Soma back with them again, and for ever such a long time +afterwards she and her family lived happily together. And the Brahman +in his joy at his son-in-law's recovery forgave his disobedient sons, +and they too all lived happily together ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Vasishta and the Four Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled +a king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the +housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself +divided the work between them. To the first queen he gave all the +dairy work, to the second queen he gave all the cooking, to the +third he gave the nursery, and he ordered the fourth to look after +the royal wardrobe. At first all went well. But in a little while +the first queen said to the third queen, "Why should you have charge +of the nursery? Why should you not work in the dairy?" The second +queen said to the fourth queen, "Why should I have to do all the +cooking?" The third queen asked, "Why should I have always to look +after the children?" And the fourth queen stamped her foot and said, "I +won't look after the king's clothes." And all day long they quarrelled +and screamed at each other, and the poor king was more uncomfortable +than ever. His face grew sad and careworn, and, from the time he got +up to the time he went to bed, he could think of nothing but the way +that his four queens were squabbling with each other. + +One day the rishi, or sage, Vasishta [15] paid the king a visit. The +king prostrated himself before the great sage and gave him a throne +to sit upon. Vasishta looked at the king's face and saw how sad and +careworn it was. He asked the cause, and the king told him. Then +the rishi rose, and the king went with him to the palace of the +four queens. When they reached it, they called to the queens to come +out. The rishi then asked them why they quarrelled. The first queen +cried out, "Why should I have to do the dairy work?" And the second +queen cried out, "Why should I be only a cook-woman?" And the third +cried out, "Why should I have all the children to look after?" And the +fourth cried out, "Why should I have all the bother of sorting out all +the king's clothes?" The king said, "You must do these things because +I ordered you to." But the queens did not mind a word that he said, +and they all screamed together so loud that the king and the rishi +had to put their fingers in their ears to save themselves from being +deafened. For a while the rishi became absorbed in thought, and then +he turned to the first queen and said, "You have been placed in charge +of the dairy, have you not?" The first queen assented. "Then listen +to me," said Vasishta. "In a former life you were a cow, and near the +spot in the jungle where you used to graze was an altar to Shiva. And +every day at noon you used to come and stand near it and let milk +drop upon it. And, because in this way you honoured the god Shiva, you +have in this life become one of the queens of the king of Atpat. But +you did not in your former life attain to full merit. So the god +Shiva directed the king to place you in charge of his dairy, and the +king conveyed the god's directions to you. You should therefore obey +them, and you should honour the king as if he were Shiva himself. In +this way you will attain to full merit and ascend to Shiva's heaven, +Kailas." Vasishta then blessed the first queen. She prostrated herself +before him, and, giving up all thought of quarrelling, went away and +busied herself with her dairy work. + +Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She replied, "Why should I be just a +cook-woman?" The rishi thought for a while and said, "Lady, in a +former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and you used to beg +your food from door to door. But every Monday you used to fast, and +whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and offer to the +god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. Therefore in this +life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And because you cooked +for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you in charge of his +kitchen. Therefore, obey the god's directions and give a great feast +to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the favour of Shiva, and he +will take you with him to Kailas." Then he blessed the second queen, +and she prostrated herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the +king's dinner. + +The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, "What are you +quarrelling about?" The queen answered, "Why should I do nothing but +fiddle about the nursery?" Vasishta thought for a while and said, +"In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a jungle tribe. Every +Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the choicest fruits that +you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he has made you a +queen, and he has entrusted the king's children to you. Therefore +look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he will take you +to live with him in Kailas." The rishi then blessed the third queen, +and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran off, her face +all smiles, to play with the king's children. + +Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She answered, "Why should I do nothing but +look after the king's clothes?" The rishi said, "In a former life, +O Queen, you were a kite that flew high up in the heavens. Beneath +where you used to fly was an altar to Shiva, and every day at noon +you would spread your wings over it and shade it from the sun's +heat. So the god was pleased with you and in this life made you one +of the queens of Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva's altar, +so now a canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva, +now do service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain +full merit and in the end reach Kailas." Then the rishi blessed her, +and she went off quite gaily to attend to the king's clothes. + +And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily ever +afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story +should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured +them of their squabbling. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy +little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all +the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she +got very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she +had done, he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family +began asking where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had +eaten them. And then every one began abusing the mice, saying what +horrid little wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be +if the cat caught and ate them up. But, when the mice heard all this, +they were very angry with the little daughter-in-law for bringing a +false charge against them, and they all met together and vowed that +they would be revenged on her. Some days later the king invited a +guest to his house, and the same night the mice went into the little +daughter-in-law's room and dragged out one of her bodices and put +it across the guest's bed. Next morning the bodice was discovered +in the stranger's bed, and the little daughter-in-law was utterly +disgraced. Her father-in-law and all her brothers-in-law scolded her +dreadfully, and at last the king drove her out of the house. Now it +so happened that it had till then always been the work of the little +daughter-in-law to look after the lamps in the king's palace. Every +morning she used to rub them well and trim the wicks. She used to light +them herself and neap the burners with sugar-candy, and on Divali [16] +Day she used to worship them and make them suitable offerings. But, +directly the little daughter-in-law was driven away, none of the +lamps were any longer cared for. On the next Divali Day the king was +returning from a hunt, and he camped under a tree. Suddenly he saw all +the lamps in his town of Atpat come and settle on its branches. One +lamp after another told what was happening in its house--when there had +been a dinner party, what there had been to eat, who had been invited, +how they themselves had been cared for, and what honours they had +received on Divali Day. After all the other lamps had told their story, +the big lamp from the king's palace began, "Brother lamps, I do not +know how to tell you. For none among you is so wretched as I am. In +former years I was the most fortunate of all the lamps in Atpat. No +other lamp had such honours paid it as I had, and this year I have +to drag out my days In unspeakable misery." All the other lamps tried +to comfort it, and asked it how it was that ill-fortune had overtaken +it. "O brother lamps, how can I tell you?" repeated the big lamp. "I +am the chief among the lamps that shine In the palace of the King of +Atpat. One day the king's little daughter-in-law ate some sweetmeats +and to save herself blamed the mice. To revenge themselves, they in +turn brought a false charge against her by putting her bodice on the +bed of one of the king's guests. So she was disgraced and driven out +of the house. And after she left ill-fortune came upon me. For every +year it was she who worshipped me and paid me honour; and wherever she +is I wish her well, and I give her my blessing." The king listened +attentively to the talk between the lamps, and thus he learnt that +his daughter-in-law was innocent. He went home and asked whether +there was any other evidence against her besides her bodice. And +when he learnt that there was none, and that no one had seen anything +happen between her and the king's guest, he sent a messenger for her +and had her brought home. And he begged her pardon for the past, and +gave her full authority over all his household; and the king lived +and ruled ever afterwards as wisely and as well as King Ramchandra +of Ayodhya. And if any one brings a false charge against any of us, +may the lamps save us as they did the king's little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Parwati and the Priest + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there was a +temple to the god Shiva. One day when Shiva and his wife Parwati +were walking about they happened to come to this temple. They sat +down there and began to play saripat. [17] After some time Parwati +seeing a priest close by asked him who had won, she or Shiva. "Shiva," +the priest replied. Parwati became very angry and cursed him, so that +he became a leper, and the pains which overtook him were absolutely +unendurable. One day a band of Apsaras [18] came down from heaven to +the temple. They saw that the priest who lived in it was a leper, +and they asked him the reason. He told them how Parwati had cursed +him. They replied, "Do not be afraid; do as we tell you and you will +get rid of your leprosy. Fast all next Monday, bathe that evening, +worship the god Shiva, and then get half a pound of flour and mix +it with treacle and ghee and eat it for dinner. But whatever you do, +eat no salt all day. Do this for sixteen Mondays in succession, and +on the seventeenth Monday get five pounds of flour, mix with it ghee +and treacle, and offer it to Shiva inside this temple. Then divide it +into three parts; leave one for the god, distribute a second among +the Brahmans or give it to your cows, and take the third home to +be eaten by you and your family." The Apsaras disappeared, and the +priest followed their instructions and became quite well. Some time +afterwards Shiva and Parwati came again to the temple. Parwati saw +the priest cured of his leprosy and asked him how he had got rid of +it. He told her exactly what he had done. She was very much surprised, +and thought that if she did the same she might win back her son +Kartakswami, [19] who had quarrelled with her and had run off in a +rage. On the seventeenth Monday Kartakswami suddenly appeared, and +both of them were reconciled. Later on, Kartakswami asked Parwati how +she had brought him back, and Parwati told him. Now Kartakswami had a +Brahman friend who had gone into a far-off country, and Kartakswami +met him by accident shortly afterwards. He told the Brahman how the +priest had cured himself of leprosy, and how he and Parwati had become +reconciled. So the Brahman also practised the same rites for seventeen +Mondays. He then set out for a distant country. As he travelled he +came to a town. Now it happened that in that town arrangements were +being made for the marriage of the king's daughter. Several princes +had come from far-off countries to compete for her hand, and the king +had erected a splendid pavilion for the royal betrothal. But he would +not himself choose a prince to be his daughter's husband. He ordered +that a garland should be placed on a she-elephant's trunk, and that +the prince round whose neck the she-elephant threw the garland should +be chosen to marry the king's daughter. But the she-elephant passed +by all the princes in turn, until she came to where the Brahman +stood. For he had come with the crowds of people to see the royal +betrothal. Then the she-elephant stopped and put the garland round +the Brahman's neck. The king ordered the Brahman to step forward, and +he married him to his daughter. Some years later when the princess +grew up, and she and the Brahman began to live together, she asked +her husband by what merit he had succeeded in winning her for his +wife, and he told her. And she in turn practised the same rites for +seventeen Mondays. Nine months later a beautiful baby boy was born to +her; and when he in turn grew up she told him the rites which she had +practised to obtain him. And he in turn began to perform them. On the +sixteenth Monday he set out for a journey. As he travelled in a distant +country he came to a town over which ruled a king who had no son and +only one daughter. The king had for a long time past been searching +for a beautiful and virtuous young man, resolved when he found him to +hand over to him his kingdom and marry him to his daughter. As the +Brahman's son entered the town the king saw him and noticed on him +all the marks of royal origin. So he summoned him to his house and +married him to his daughter and seated him on his own throne. Now +the next Monday was the seventeenth Monday since the Brahman's son +had begun the rites which the Apsaras had told to the priest. That +morning he got up and went to the temple and sent a message home to +his wife that she should send him five sers of flour mixed with ghee +and treacle. But the queen was too proud to do this. For she feared +that the people in the street would laugh at her if she sent her +husband five sers of flour mixed with ghee and treacle. So instead +she sent him five hundred rupees in a plate. But because the flour +and ghee and treacle were not sent, the king was unable to complete +his ceremonial, and it was all spoilt. And the god Shiva instead of +being pleased became very angry indeed. And he told the king that, +if he kept the queen as his wife, he would lose his kingdom and die +a beggar. Next day the king sent for his chief minister and told him +what had happened. At first the minister said, "The kingdom belongs +to the queen's father. If you drive her out your subjects will hate +you." But the king replied, "Yes, but not to obey the god's command +is a worse thing still." At last the minister agreed with the king, +and the order went forth that the queen should be driven out of the +city. So the queen was driven out and became quite poor and wandered +along the road. At last she came to a distant town and lodged there +with an old woman, who gave her food and drink. One day the old woman +sent the queen out to sell fruit puddings. As she went into the bazaar +a great wind came and carried off the fruit puddings. When she returned +to the old woman's house, the queen told her what had happened, and +the old woman drove her out of the house. Then she went and lodged +with an oilman, who had great jars full of oil. But one day she went +and looked inside the jars, and all the oil disappeared. So the oilman +drove her off out of the house. The queen left the town and walked +along until she came to a river with abundant water in it. But directly +her eyes fell on the water, it all flowed away and left the water-bed +quite dry. She then journeyed on until she came to a beautiful lake, +but when her glance rested on the lake, it became full of worms, and +the water began to stink. And, when the cowherds came as usual to +water their cattle, the cattle would not drink the stinking water, +and they had to go home thirsty. By chance a Gosavi, or holy man, +came that way and saw the queen, and she told him her story. The +holy man took her to his house and treated her as his own daughter, +and she did her best to serve him faithfully. But, at whatever thing +she looked, it would either disappear or become full of worms and +maggots. At last the holy man searched for the cause of this by means +of his inner knowledge. And thus he learnt that she had incurred the +sin of spoiling the worship of Shiva, which the Apsaras had first +taught the priest. Unless that sin were atoned for, her evil glance +would never be purified. So the holy man prayed to the god Shiva, +and the god was pleased with him; and when the holy man interceded +with him on the queen's behalf, the god said that he would forgive her +if she began and completed properly the rites which she had spoiled +when her husband was performing them. The queen did so, and the god's +anger vanished. Suddenly there rose in the heart of her husband, the +king, a wish to see his queen, and he sent out messengers on every +side to look for her. At last one of the messengers saw the queen in +the holy man's hermitage and went back and told the king. The king +was overjoyed, and, taking his chief minister with him, he journeyed +to the hermitage. He threw himself at the holy man's feet and then +loaded him with presents. And the holy man was pleased and said, +"O King, I have treated your wife exactly as if she had been my own +daughter. She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's +house. Now take her with you back again and once more go through the +marriage ceremony with her." The king consented, and both he and the +queen prostrated themselves before the holy man, and then they both +returned to Atpat. And they celebrated their home-coming with the +greatest splendour. And the rest of the king's reign was as happy as +possible. And we shall be just as happy if we honour Shiva like the +King of Atpat did. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Rishi and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. For many years he lived happily and cultivated his fields of +rice and grain. But one day his wife gave up the observances imposed +on her, and, as a result, the whole house was stained by her conduct, +and pollution hung like a black cloud over it. Her husband should +have driven her out, but he had not the heart to do so. So he, too, +incurred the blame of his wife's sin. In course of time they died, +and, as a punishment for their wickedness, the husband became in his +next life a bullock, and the wife became a dog. But the gods so far +relented as to find them a home in the house of their only son. + +Now the son was a very pious man, who never failed in his religious +rites. He worshipped the gods, gave memorial honours to his dead +father, and welcomed to his house every Brahman who passed by. One +year, on the anniversary of his father's death, he told his wife +to prepare a milk-pudding in honour of the dead, and announced that +he would invite Brahmans to partake of it. The wife was as pious as +her husband and never failed to obey his commands. So she made a big +milk-pudding, and she boiled vegetables and stewed fruits. But just as +she had finished and was about to invite her husband and his Brahman +guests to begin their feast, the dog saw that a snake had entered the +grain-jar, which had not been properly shut, and that it had left its +poisonous trail all over the grain from which the milk-pudding had been +prepared. The dog at once realised that, if the Brahmans who had been +invited to the memorial feast ate the poisoned grain, they would die, +and that the sin of Brahman murder would be incurred by the host, +her son. So she suddenly rushed up and put her foot right into the +middle of the milk-pudding. The son's wife was very angry. She threw +a red-hot coal at the dog with such skill that it dropped on to the +middle of her back and burnt a big hole in it. Then the son's wife +cooked a fresh milk-pudding and fed the Brahmans. But she was so +cross with the dog that she would not give her the smallest possible +scrap. So the poor dog remained hungry all day. When night fell she +went to the bullock who had been her husband and began to howl as +loudly as she could. The bullock asked her what the matter was. She +told him how she had seen that a snake had poisoned the grain, and +how, to prevent the Brahmans dying and her son incurring the sin of +their death, she had put her paw into the middle of the milk-pudding; +how her daughter-in-law had been angry and had burnt a hole in her +back with a live coal, and how her back hurt so that she did not know +what to do. The bullock answered, "You are suffering for the pollution +with which you darkened our house in a former life, and, because I +let you remain in the house and touched you, I too am suffering, and +I have become a bullock. Only to-day my son fastened me to his plough, +tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too have, like you, had nothing to eat +all day. Thus all my son's memorial services are useless." Now the son +happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He +at once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he +brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at +heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until +at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself +before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman's son +said, "I am sad because my father has been born again as a bullock +and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their release," The +rishi said, "There is only one way to help them. You must worship the +seven sages who have their home in the Great Bear." [20] And he told +the Brahman's son the ceremonies which he should observe, and how he +should worship the seven sages continually every month of Bhadrapad, or +September, for seven years. The Brahman's son obeyed the rishi, and at +the end of the seven years a fiery chariot came down from heaven. The +bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome +woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off +to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The King and the Water-Goddesses + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled +a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a +village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it +filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him, +and the water-goddesses were pleased and said, "O King, O King, +sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the +tank will fill with water." The king heard it and went home very +troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved +the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of +many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last +he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, "Daughter-in-law, +it is a long time since you went to see your parents. You had better +go and pay them a visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look +after him here." The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her +parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable +day and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in +his honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took +him into the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and +told him not to stir. The water-goddesses were pleased, and a great +mass of water suddenly rushed into the tank, and it was filled right +up to the brink. After a time the daughter-in-law came back from her +father's house and brought her brother with her. They asked where her +son was, but they could get no information. Whenever they asked the +king, he did nothing but say how the water had come into the tank, +and what a beautiful tank it was, and how happy it would make all +the villagers. At last the daughter-in-law guessed what had happened, +and when the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shravan, +or August, came round, she and her brother went to the edge of the +tank and began to worship the water-goddesses. She took a cucumber +leaf, and on it she placed some curds and rice. Next she mixed +with them some butter and a farthing's worth of betel-nut. Then she +told her brother to pray, "O Goddess, Mother of All, if any one of +our family is drowned in the tank please give him back to us." He +did so and then threw the offering into the lake. Then they both +turned to go home. But as she was turning homewards, she felt some +one pull her by the legs. She looked down and saw that it was her +missing son. When she saw him she dragged him with all her might to +the bank, and then she and her brother walked home with him. When +the king heard that she was coming, together with her missing son, +he wondered greatly, and going to her he fell at her feet and said, +"O my daughter, I offered your son to the water-goddesses; how has +he come back again?" She said, "I worshipped the water-goddesses +and made offerings to them. Then my son came out of the water, and +I lifted him up and drew him to the shore." The king was overjoyed +and showed the greatest favour to his daughter-in-law. And she and +her little son lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Lid of the Sacred Casket + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had two twin sons. While they were still quite young, +the twins' parents died, and their relatives stole from them all +their property and then turned them out of the house. The twins +wandered along until they came to a town. It was then noon, and +the boys were weary with walking and were tortured with hunger and +thirst. As they entered the town, a Brahman came out of his door +to throw food to the crows. He saw the two boys and called them in, +fed them, and then made them tell him their story. When he heard it +he resolved to provide for them, and he lodged them in his house and +taught them to recite the Vedas. On Lalita Panchmi Day the Brahman +began to perform certain ceremonies. His pupils asked him why he did +so. The sage replied that by doing so one could attain to wealth, +knowledge, and to the wish of one's heart. The boys begged him to +instruct them, and they quickly learnt how to worship the goddess +Parwati. Not long afterwards the Brahman provided them with wives, +and they returned to their own city, acquired wealth, and were very +happy. A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a +wise boy and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita +Panchmi Day. So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the +younger was foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to +dislike him, and he lost all his money. And at last he became so poor +that he and his wife had to give up their house and go and live on +the charity of his elder brother. One day the elder brother's wife +spoke so crossly and said such nasty things to the younger twin, +that he felt that he could not stay in the house any longer. And he +remembered then that of recent years he had entirely forgotten to +worship Parwati. He felt very penitent, and he decided that somehow or +other he would win back the goddess's favour. Taking his wife with him, +he left his brother's house and journeyed to a distant country. At +last he came near a town, and, meeting a cowherd, the younger twin +asked him what its name was. The cowherd said, "The town is called +Upang." "Who is the king?" asked the younger twin. The cowherd replied, +"He also is called Upang." The wanderer then asked whether there was +any place where he and his wife could lodge. The cowherd told him +that in the town there was a temple of Parwati, and close to it +was a rest-house where the wanderer and his wife could lodge. The +cowherd directed them to the rest-house. And before lying down the +younger twin worshipped Parwati in the temple and begged her pardon +for his previous neglect. Parwati felt sorry for him, and that night +she appeared to him in a dream. She told him to go to King Upang's +palace and to beg from him the lid of the sacred casket in which +the accessories of worship were kept. He should, thereafter, always +pray to it, and in the end he would come by his heart's desire. The +younger twin woke up, and the same morning he went to King Upang's +palace and begged from him the lid of the sacred casket in which were +kept the accessories of worship. The king at first refused, but when +the younger twin told the king of his dream the king consented. The +Brahman took the lid home, worshipped it, and, just as the goddess +had foretold, he came by his heart's desire. Property and happiness +returned, and a year later his wife bore him a daughter. As the years +passed the little girl grew up. One day she took the lid of the sacred +casket and went with some playmates to play and bathe by the bank of +a river. Suddenly the corpse of a Brahman came floating by. Seeing +it, the little girl took the lid of the casket and for fun began to +splash water on it. Such was the power of the sacred lid, that the +corpse instantly became alive again and became a Brahman, tall as a +tree and beautiful as the sun. The little girl fell in love with him +on the spot and told him that he must become her husband. "But," said +the Brahman, "how shall I manage it?" The little girl said, "Come home +with me at dinner-time, take as usual water [21] in your hand, but do +not sip it. Then my daddy will ask you, 'Bhatji, Bhatji, why do you +not sip the water in your hand?' You must reply, 'I am ready to dine +if you marry me to your daughter. If you will not, I shall get up and +go away.' Then he will consent to our marriage." The Brahman agreed, +and he went home with the little girl, and everything happened as she +had planned. To prevent the Brahman from getting up without any food, +the little girl's father agreed to their marriage. When a favourable +day came they were married, and when she was old enough the little +girl went to her husband's house. As she went she carried off the +lid of the sacred casket of King Upang. But, because it had gone, +her father lost all his wealth and fell once more into the greatest +poverty. His wife went to her daughter's house and asked for it +back, but she refused to give it up. The wife was very angry and +every day began to hate her son-in-law more and more. But for him, +as she thought, the little girl would never have married and would +not have stolen the lid of the sacred casket. One day the wife met +her son-in-law on the road, and she gave him such a fearful slap in +the face that he instantly fell on the ground and became a corpse +again. His mother-in-law then-snatched from him the lid of the casket, +which he happened to have in his hand, and ran away home. There he +lay until the little girl, his wife, began to search for him. When +she found him she prayed to the goddess, and by her aid and by means +of the merit which she had acquired by worshipping the lid of the +casket while she had it, she restored her husband to life. But the +twin and his wife went on becoming poorer and poorer. And at last +they went back to his brother's house and asked him why it was that +the younger twin was always losing his wealth as fast as he gained +it. The elder brother listened to the whole story and then he said, +"I do not wonder at it. First you lost the lid of the casket, then, +in order to get it back, your wife killed a Brahman. Your only chance +now is to worship Parwati harder than ever, and perhaps in the end +you may recover your good estate." So the younger brother went home +and worshipped Parwati with greater vigour than ever. And at last +she relented and gave him her blessing. He recovered his wealth and +came by all that his heart desired. And he and his wife lived happily +ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who used always to perform Shradh or memorial ceremonies +to his father on the last day of the month of Shravan. When performing +these ceremonies he always invited other Brahmans to dine. But it so +happened that on every last day of the month of Shravan, [22] from the +day of his father's death onwards, his daughter-in-law gave birth to a +little boy. And just as the Brahmans had begun to enjoy their dinner, +the child would die. So all the Shradh ceremonies had to cease, +and the poor Brahmans had to be sent away feeling most dreadfully +hungry. This happened regularly for six years. But, when the seventh +little boy was born only to die just as his guests were beginning +to enjoy their dinner, the poor Brahman lost all patience. He took +the newly-born child and placed it in his daughter-in-law's lap and +then drove her out of the house and into the jungle. The poor woman +walked along until she came to a great, dark forest. In it she met the +wife of a hobgoblin, [23] who asked, "Lady, Lady, whose wife are you, +and why do you come here? Run away as quickly as you can. For, if my +husband the hobgoblin sees you, he will tear you to pieces and gobble +you up." The poor woman said she was the daughter-in-law of a Brahman, +and explained how every year she had given birth to a son on the last +day of Shravan, how it had died in the middle of the Shradh feast, +and how at last her father-in-law had put the child in her lap and +had driven her from home and into the forest. The hobgoblin's wife +repeated, "If you value your life at all, go away." The Brahman +woman began to cry, until at last the hobgoblin's wife had pity on +her and said, "Do not be afraid; walk a little way until you come to +an altar to the god Shiva, Close by is a bel [24] tree; climb into it +and hide among the branches. To-night the serpent-maidens from Patâla +and the wood-nymphs, together with a train of seven demon Asuras, +[25] will come and worship at the altar. After making their offerings +to the god, they will call out, 'Is there any uninvited guest present +to whom we can make a gift?' You must then call out in reply, 'Yes, +I am here.' They will see you and question you, and you must tell them +all your story." The poor Brahman woman agreed. She walked on until +she came to the god Shiva's altar. She climbed into the branches of +the bel tree. She remained there until midnight came. Suddenly the +serpent-maidens from Patâla and the wood-nymphs, accompanied by a +train of seven demon Asuras, came and worshipped at the altar. After +making offerings to the god they called out, "Is there any uninvited +guest present to whom we can make a gift?" The Brahman woman at once +climbed down the bel tree and called out in answer, "Yes, I am here," +The serpent-maidens from Pâtala and the wood-nymphs, greatly surprised, +asked her who she was, and she told them all her story. Then the +serpent-maidens of Pâtala and the wood-nymphs ordered their train +of demon Asuras to go and search for the seven sons of the Brahman +woman. The seven demon Asuras spurred their horses and rode off in all +directions. In a little time the giant captain of the demon guards +rode up carrying in his arms the body of a little boy of six. Then +another rode up carrying the body of a little boy of five. And four +others rode up carrying a little boy of four, a little boy of three, +a little boy of two, and a little boy only one year old. Last of +all the seventh demon Asura rode up with a newly-born baby boy. The +demons placed the bodies in front of the serpent-maidens from Patâla +and of the wood-nymphs. And first of all the little boy of six came to +life and got up and ran to his mother. Next the little boy of five, +and then the little boy of four, and then the little boy of three +came to life and ran to their mother. Then the little boy of two +came to life and got up, but he could only walk to his mother. Next +the little one-year-old boy came to life, but he could not get up, +so he lay on his back and kicked up his legs. And last of all the +newly-born baby came to life, but he could not even kick up his +legs. And they were all delighted to see their mother, and she was +overjoyed to have all her sons again. But the serpent-maidens from +Patâla and the wood-nymphs warned her that she must pray to the +sixty-four Yoginis, the attendants who wait on Durga, the Goddess +of Death, or else her children would be snatched from her again. And +they told her to pray her hardest, for her prayer had to travel down +to the depths of Hell. So the Brahman woman prayed her hardest to +the sixty-four Yoginis, and then she prostrated herself before the +serpent-maidens from Patâla, and the wood-nymphs, and their train of +demon Asuras. And then she took the little one-year-old boy on her hip, +and the newly-born baby boy in her arms, and she walked with her other +five sons to the village. When the villagers saw her coming they ran +and said to the Brahman, "Bhatji, Bhatji, your daughter-in-law is +coming back home." And the Brahman became very angry and vowed that +he would drive her away again. So he watched for her coming. But +first of all he saw walking towards his house a little boy of six, +and then a little boy of five, and then a little boy of four, and +then two other little boys of three and two. Last of all he saw his +daughter-in-law with a one-year-old boy on her hip and a newly-born +baby in her arms. He rose and fetched a cauldron of water and two +handfuls of rice from his house. And he waved his hands filled with +rice round the heads of his daughter-in-law and of all her children, +and last of all he washed their feet. In this way he welcomed back to +his house his grandchildren and their mother. And he made her tell +him all her story; and she, and her children, and the Brahman spent +the rest of their lives in great peace and perfect happiness. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +The Golden Temple + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there reigned a +king who had four daughters-in-law. He loved three of them very dearly, +but the fourth, who was an ugly little girl, he did not like at all. To +the three daughters-in-law he gave nice food and fine clothes. But +to the ugly little daughter-in-law he gave nothing but scraps from +his table and thick, coarse clothes to wear. He would not even let her +sleep inside the house, but made her sleep in the stable and look after +the cows. The poor ugly daughter-in-law grew so unhappy that, when the +first Monday in Shravan [26] came, she ran out of the palace, and out +of the town, and then away as fast as her fat little legs would carry +her. At last she went and hid herself in the woods. Now it so happened +that that very day a band of serpent-maidens [27] had come up from +Patala. After wandering through the forest and bathing in the running +streams, they had joined a bevy of wood-nymphs and were coming in her +direction. At first she was too terrified to say a single word. But at +last she asked, "Ladies, ladies, where are you going?" "To the temple +of Shiva," they replied, "to worship the god. For by doing that, one +wins the love of one's husband, one obtains children, and one comes by +the wish of one's heart." When the ugly daughter-in-law heard that by +doing what the serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs were about to do +she could win love for herself, she at once thought that in this way +she, too, might win the love of her father-in-law. So she told the +serpent-maidens of Patala and the wood-nymphs that she would go with +them. They went deeper and deeper into the forest until at last they +came to a temple of the god Shiva. There the serpent-maidens and the +wood-nymphs offered to the god rice, betel-nut, incense, flowers, and +the leaves of the bel tree. The ugly little daughter-in-law did just +as they did. And when she had finished she cried out, "O God Shiva, +please, please vouchsafe my prayer also, and make my father-in-law +and my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like +me as much as they now dislike me." That evening she went home and +fasted, and all the scraps which they threw to her from the king's +table she gave to her favourite cow. And then she sat by herself and +prayed to the god Shiva. The following Monday she once more ran out of +the palace and out of the town and into the woods as fast as her fat +little legs would carry her. There she met again the serpent-maidens +of Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs and went with them to the +temple of Shiva in the distant heart of the forest. The first time the +serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs had given her the incense and the +flowers, the rice and the betel-nut, and the leaves of the bel tree, +with which to perform her worship. But they had told her that the +next time she must bring them herself. So when she ran away on the +second Monday in Shravan she brought with her incense and flowers, +rice and betel-nut and bel-tree leaves, and after offering them and +some sesamums to the god she once more prayed, "O God Shiva, please, +please grant my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." Then she went home and fasted, and giving all her dinner +to her favourite cow she sat by herself and prayed to Shiva. That +evening the king asked her who the god was whom she was honouring, +and where he lived. The ugly little daughter-in-law replied, "Afar +off my god lives, and the roads to him are hard, and the paths to him +are full of thorns. Where snakes abound and where tigers lie in wait, +there is his temple." The third Monday in Shravan, the ugly little +daughter-in-law again started from the palace with her flowers and +incense, her betel-nut and bel leaves, her rice and sesamum, in order +to meet the serpent-maidens of Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs, and +with them to worship the god in the hidden depths of the forest. This +time the king and her other male relatives followed her and said +to her, "Ugly little daughter-in-law, take us with you and show us +your god." But the temple of Shiva was ever so far from the king's +palace. The ugly daughter-in-law did not mind, for she was used to +cruel treatment. She had also walked to the temple twice before, and +her feet had got as hard as two little stones. But the king and his +relatives were tired to death; and their feet swelled up to the size +of an elephant's, and they became as full of thorns as the back of a +porcupine. And they muttered to each other, "How on earth does that +ugly little daughter-in-law manage to walk as she does through the +heart of the forest?" The ugly daughter-in-law at last felt sorry for +them. She prayed to the god Shiva to build a temple near at hand. The +god consented, and, with the help of the serpent-maidens of Patâla +and of the wood-nymphs, he created suddenly a beautiful temple all of +pure, yellow gold. Its pillars were studded with jewels, and the jars +in it were all of crystal. In the middle there rose from the ground +an altar to the god Shiva. And last of all the god revealed himself +to the king and his companions in all his glory and splendour. For +a moment only they saw him; and then he vanished. The king and his +companions stared, too astonished to move or speak. But the ugly +little daughter-in-law prostrated herself and offered to the god +flowers and incense. Then she cried out, "O God Shiva, please, please +vouchsafe my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." When the king heard her prayer his heart softened to her, +and he spoke kindly to her and gave her jewelry and trinkets. In a +little while he took off his turban and, placing it on a peg, walked +out to look at a lovely lake which, unnoticed by any one before, +now stretched out close by the temple. And behind him strolled out +his companions. But when they had gone out of sight, the beautiful +golden temple by the lake vanished for ever. After looking at the +lake the king came back to fetch his turban which he had left in +the temple. But he could not find the beautiful temple all of pure, +yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its crystal jars. The +king asked the little daughter-in-law the cause. She said nothing, +but straightway walked deeper into the forest. And the king and his +companions, although weary to death, followed her. At last they came to +the temple where she had worshipped, together with the serpent-maidens +from Patâla and the bevy of wood-nymphs. It was a tiny temple, +and inside it there was a rough altar. At the foot of the altar lay +the flowers which the ugly daughter-in-law had offered to the god, +and close by on a peg hung the turban left by the king. Again the +king asked his daughter-in-law the meaning of what had happened. She +replied, "This temple that you see is my own poor little temple. But, +because of my prayers, the god Shiva showed himself to you in the +beautiful temple, all of pure, yellow gold, with its jewel-studded +pillars and its crystal jars." When the king heard her reply, he grew +more pleased than ever with the daughter-in-law whom formerly he had +so disliked. And because the god had revealed himself at her prayer, +the king, to do her honour, sent for his royal palanquin and had her +carried home in state. And the ugly little daughter-in-law became out +of the four the king's favourite. And he was so much nicer to her than +he was to his other three daughters-in-law that they became as jealous +as cats. But the king and the ugly little daughter-in-law did not mind +them the least little bit. And they both lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +NOTES + +[1] For an account of the birth of Kartakswami see The Tale of the +Tulsi Plants p. 93. + +[2] In India days of the week have the same mysterious connexion +with the astral bodies that they have in Europe. Aditwar or Raviwar +is sun's day (Sunday); Somwar is moon's day (Monday); Mangalwar is +Mars' day (mardi); Budhwar is Mercury's day (mercredi); Brihaspatiwar +is the day of Diespiter or Jupiter (jeudi); Shukrawar is Venus' day +(vendredi); Shaniwar is Saturn's day (Saturday). + +[3] His bad actions in a former life. + +[4] All these stories take place in Atpat town. This literally means +"City Splendid." But in the tales it is simply a fabulous city. + +[5] Although Tuesday is really the day of Mars, Mangal, this tale +by a popular error connects the day with Mangalgauri or Parwati, +Shiva's wife. + +[6] Budh is Mercury; Brahaspati is Jupiter. + +[7] For serpent-maidens of Patâla see note to Story XX. + +[8] Mahalaxmi is always worshipped in this way. And it is a common +practice for anyone who wants anything to blow on a pot and then wish +for it. + +[9] Kolhapur is the chief seat of the worship of Mahalaxmi. + +[10] Ashwin corresponds approximately with October. + +[11] A kind of draughts. + +[12] Nagpanchmi Day falls on Shravan Sud 5, i.e. the 5th day of the +bright half of Shravan. + +[13] Bhatji is the name by which a mendicant Brahman is addressed. + +[14] This is called the akshataropan. + +[15] Vasishta was the family priest of King Dasaratha, father of +Ramchandra. After death he became one of the stars in the constellation +of the Great Bear. + +[16] Divali is the feast of lamps in the month of Kartih. + +[17] Saripat is a kind of draughts. + +[18] Apsaras are attendants on the gods. + +[19] Kartakswami was really Parwati's step-son (see Preface). + +[20] The Indians do not associate the Great Bear constellation with a +bear, but they believe it to be the habitation of seven rishis. The +seven rishis vary in different works. In the Mahabharat the names +given are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatya, and Vasishta. + +[21] Aposhani. This is the water which a Brahman sips from his hand +before and after his meal. + +[22] Shravan corresponds roughly with August. The death of the child +nullified all the virtue of the Shradh feast, which had at once to +be stopped. + +[23] Zhoting is really the unquiet ghost of a Musulman, but hobgoblin +is probably a sufficiently close translation. + +[24] A tree sacred to Shiva. + +[25] The Asuras, who are now reckoned petty demons, had once upon +a time a much higher position. They are the same as Ahura-Magda, +the Jupiter of the Iranians. The latter, curiously enough, +degraded the Devas or Hindu Gods to the subordinate place of +demons. (Cf. Rawlinson's Bactria, page 21.) + +[26] Shravan = August. + +[27] Nag-kanya. These are the maidens of the race of the Nagas, who +are said to have sprung from Kadru, wife of Kasyapa. One of them, +Ulupi, married the hero Arjuna. They live in Patâla, the lowest of +the seven underground regions. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 11167-8.txt or 11167-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/6/11167/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/old/11167-8.zip b/old/old/11167-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b338c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/11167-8.zip diff --git a/old/old/11167.txt b/old/old/11167.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b49c87 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/11167.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2803 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Deccan Nursery Tales + or, Fairy Tales from the South + +Author: Charles Augustus Kincaid + +Illustrator: M. V. Dhurandhar + +Release Date: December 21, 2009 [EBook #11167] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + + + + + + Deccan Nursery Tales + or + Fairy Tales from the South + + + by + + C.A. Kincaid, C.V.O. + + + + 1914. + + + + + To my little son + + Dennis + + Whose interest in these stories + first induced me to offer them to the public + this little volume is affectionately inscribed + + + +PREFACE + +These stories first appeared in the Times of India newspaper, and my +acknowledgments are due to the editor for his courtesy in permitting +their publication. + +I have translated all of them as literally as possible from the +original Marathi. But, owing to the difference between Marathi and +English canons of taste, I have had in a very few places slightly +to change the sense. In some places, owing to the obscurity of the +original text, I have had to amplify the translation. In other places +I have had to cut short the descriptions of Hindu rites and ceremonies +so as to avoid wearying the English reader. + +It may not be out of place to say just a word about the Indian gods +mentioned in the stories. It must be remembered that the main Hindu +gods are three in number. They are all sprung from a common origin, +Brahma, but they are quite separate beings. They do not form a trinity, +i.e. three in one or one in three. And each of them has a wife and a +family. The following genealogical tree will, I hope, help the reader. + + + Brahma + Shiva = Parwati + Ganpati + = the daughters of Agni + Kartakswami [1] + Vishnu = Mahalaxmi + Brahmadev = Saraswati + + +Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati, +Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following +stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five +principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is +worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn +inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed to bring ill +fortune. Then again, besides the main gods, the world according +to Hindu belief, which in this respect closely resembles that of +the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras (demons), Devkanya +(wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of Patala), and +Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of these find a +place in the ensuing fairy tales. + +The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu +the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In +practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the +Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as they feel +inclined, or as the particular sect to which they belong requires them. + +Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of +twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra, +corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other +in the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad, +Ashwin, Kartih, Margshish, Paush, Mag, Phalgun, Each month begins on +the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. The first +half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. This is +the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the period +from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the +month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by +the interposition of an "adhik" or intercalary month every third year. + +C.A.K. + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. The Sunday Story + II. The Monday Story + III. The Tuesday Story + IV. The Wednesday and Thursday Story + V. The Friday Story + VI. The Saturday Story + VII. Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + VIII. The Island Palace + IX. Nagoba, the Snake-King + X. Parwati and the Beggar-Man + XL Parwati and the Brahman + XII. Soma, the Washerwoman + XIII. Vasishta and the Four Queens + XIV. The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + XV. Parwati and the Priest + XVI. The Rishi and the Brahman + XVII. The King and the Water-Goddesses + XVIII. The Lid of the Sacred Casket + XIX. The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + XX. The Golden Temple + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"Gave memorial honours to his dead father" +"It curled itself up inside the earthen jar" +"And fill her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut" +"And stuck them into a corner of the eaves" +"They no longer wished to kill or bite the little daughter-in-law" +"They asked her what the reason was, and she told them" +"She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's house" +"The god revealed himself to the king and his companions in all his +glory and splendour" + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Sunday Story + +When Englishmen and Englishwomen are little boys and girls, they +listen with open ears to the tales of Golden-hair and the three Bears, +of Cinderella and the Prince, and of the Wolf and Little Red Riding +Hood. As the boys and girls grow up, the stories fade gradually from +their minds. But a time comes when they have children of their own. And +then, to amuse the children, they can find no tales more thrilling +than those which fascinated them in their own childhood. Thus the +old nursery tales are handed down for centuries from generation to +generation. Exactly the same process goes on in India, There, too, when +little Indian boys and girls grow up and have little boys and girls of +their own, they too tell to wide-eyed audiences the tales which they +themselves found so thrilling in their own childhood. Indian nursery +tales, it is true, have a more religious tinge than those of Europe, +but they are none the less appreciated on that account. The first six +stories in this little book purport to explain the connexion between +the heavenly bodies and the days of the week. So each day of the week +has its separate tale. And all through Shravan or August, probably +because it is the wettest month in the year, Deccan mothers tell afresh +every week-day that day's story. And little Deccan children listen +to the tales as they fall due with the same unvarying attention. For +in nurseries, Indian as well as English, tales are loved the better +when no longer new, and where the end is well known to, and therefore +the better understood by, the tiny round-eyed listeners. + +Now this is the tale which is told every Sunday [2] in Shravan: Once +upon a time there was a town called Atpat, and in it there lived a +poor Brahman. Every day he used to go into the woods to fetch sticks +and to cut grass. One day he met there some nymphs and wood-fairies, +who said that they were performing holy rites in honour of the sun. He +asked, "What are these rites?" They replied, "If we tell you, you will +become proud and vain and you will not perform them properly." But the +Brahman promised, "No, I shall not become proud or vain and I shall +observe the rites you tell me." They then told him that the month of +Shravan was coming, and that on the first Sunday of Shravan he was +to draw a picture of the sun with red sandal paste, that he was to +offer to the drawing flowers and fruit, and that he should continue +doing this for six months. Thereafter he should in various ways, +which they told him, entertain guests and give alms to the poor. + +The Brahman went home and performed the rites to the letter, so that +the sun-god was very pleased. Wealth came to the Brahman and he grew +richer and richer, and at last the queen of the land sent for him. The +poor Brahman began to tremble and shake all over, but the queen said, +"Do not shake or tremble, but give your daughters in marriage to our +house." The Brahman said, "My daughters are poor; you will make them +slaves or maid-servants." "No," said the queen, "I shall not make +them slaves or maid-servants; I shall marry one to a king, and one to +a minister." The Brahman agreed, and when the month of Margashish, +or December, came he gave his two daughters in marriage, one to the +king and one to the minister. Immediately after the marriage the +Brahman said good-bye to his daughters, and did not see them again +for twelve years. Then he visited the elder one, who had married the +king. She gave him a wooden stand on which to sit while eating, and +water in which to wash his feet, and then said, "Papa, papa, there +is pudding to eat, there is water to drink." But the Brahman said, +"Before I eat or drink, I must tell you my story." But his daughter +said, "Papa, I have no time to listen to your story; the king is +going a-hunting, and I must not keep him waiting for his dinner." The +Brahman thought this very disrespectful and went off in a great rage +to the house of his other daughter, who had married a minister. She +welcomed her father and gave him a wooden stand on which to eat, +and water to wash his feet, and said, "Papa, papa, here is pudding to +eat and here is water to drink." But the Brahman said, "Before I eat +or drink I must tell you my story." His daughter said, "Of course, +papa, tell it to me, and I shall listen as long as you like." Then +she went into an inner room and she fetched six pearls. She took three +herself and three she put in her father's hand. And he told her how he +had met the nymphs and wood-fairies, who had told him to worship the +sun-god, and she listened to it all without missing a syllable. Then +the Brahman ate and drank and went back to his own house. His wife +asked him about their two daughters. He told her everything and said, +"The elder one who would not listen to my story will come to grief." + +And so she did. For the king, her husband, took an army into a +far country and never came back. But the daughter who had listened +to the story lived well and happy. As time went on the undutiful +daughter became poorer and poorer, until one day she said to her +eldest son, "Go to your aunt's house and beg of her to give you a +present, and bring back whatever she gives you." Next Sunday the +boy started and went to the village where his aunt lived. Standing +by the village tank he called out, "O maids, O slave-girls, whose +maids and slave-girls are ye?" They answered, "We are the maids and +the slave-girls of the minister." The boy said, "Go and tell the +minister's wife that her sister's son is here. Tell her that he is +standing by the village tank, that his coat is tattered and that +his garments are torn, and ask her to let him come into her house +through the back door." The slave-girls took him in through the +back door. His aunt had him bathed, and gave him clothes to wear, +and food to eat, and drink, and a pumpkin hollowed out and filled +with gold coins. As he left, she called to him, "Do not drop it, do +not forget it, but take it carefully home." But as the boy went home, +the sun-god came disguised as a gardener and stole the pumpkin filled +with gold. When the boy reached his mother's house she asked, "Well, +my son, what did your aunt give you?" He said, "Fortune gave, but Karma +[3] took away; I lost everything my aunt bestowed on me." Next Sunday +the second son went and stood by the village tank and called out, +"O slave-girls and maid-servants, who is your master?" They said, +"Our master is the minister." "Then tell the minister's wife that +her nephew is here." He was taken in by the back door. He was bathed +and clothed and given food and drink. As he was going, his aunt gave +him a hollow stick full of gold coins and said, "Do not drop it, +do not forget it, mind it carefully and take it home." On the way +the sun-god came in the guise of a cowherd and stole the stick. When +the boy got home his mother asked him what he had brought. He said, +"Fortune gave, but Karma took away." On the third Sunday a third son +went and stood by the village tank. His aunt received him like the +others and had him bathed, clothed, and fed. As he was going away, +she gave him a hollow cocoa-nut stuffed with gold coins and said, +"Do not drop it, do not forget it, but mind it carefully and take it +home." On the way back he put down the cocoa-nut on the edge of a well, +and it toppled over and fell into the water with a great splash. When +he reached his mother's house she asked him what his aunt's present +was. He said, "I have lost everything which fortune brought me." On +the fourth Sunday the fourth son went. His aunt welcomed him like +the others, and had him bathed and fed. When he left she gave him an +earthen pot full of gold coins. But the sun-god came in the guise +of a kite and snatched the pot away. When the boy reached home his +mother asked him whether his aunt had given him anything. He said, +"I have lost everything which my aunt gave me." On the fifth Sunday +the mother herself got up and went to her sister's village and stood +by the tank. The minister's wife took her in through her back door +and had her clothed and fed. Then the minister's wife told her that +all her trouble had come through not listening to her father's story, +and the minister's wife repeated it to her. The king's wife listened +to it, and stayed with her sister until the following month of Shravan, +or August, when she did fitting worship to the sun. + +Instantly good fortune came to her. After years of weary fighting, her +husband, the king, at last overcame his enemies, and after taking great +wealth from them turned homewards with his army. As he went towards his +capital, he passed the village where the minister's wife lived. There he +learnt that his queen was with her sister, so he sent for her with a +befitting escort. "O auntie, auntie," cried all the queen's little +nephews and nieces, "umbrellas have come for you, and horse-tails and +guards and foot-soldiers." Every one rushed out to see, and the king and +queen greeted each other after years of separation. The sisters gave +each other gifts of clothes, and the king and his queen went away +together. At the first halting-place the servants cooked the food. The +queen filled the king's plate and then her own, and then she thought of +the story which her sister had told her. She ordered her servants to go +through the neighbouring village and bring in any one who was hungry and +too poor to buy food. They found none such in the village, but on the +way back they met a starving wood-cutter, and, bringing him to the +queen, told him to listen to the tale which she would tell him. The +queen brought six pearls. Three she gave to the wood-cutter, and three +she kept herself. Then she told him the story of her father and the +wood-fairies. The wood-cutter listened with all attention, and as he +listened his faggot of wood became all of gold. He went away delighted, +promising to worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had shown to +the Brahman. + +Next day the cavalcade reached the second halting-place. Food was +cooked; the queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate, and +again she told her, servants to bring from the neighbouring village any +one who was hungry and too poor to buy food. They came upon a petty +farmer, whose well had dried up and whose crops had withered. He was +sitting sadly by his field when they called him to go with them and +listen to the queen's tale. He went with them to the camp. There the +queen brought six pearls and gave three of them to the farmer and +kept three of them herself. Then she told the story of her father +and the wood-fairies. And as the farmer listened, all attention, +the water began to pour into the well, and the crop began to look +fresh and green. He went away delighted, and promised to worship the +sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. Next day the +cavalcade reached the third halting-place. Food was cooked, and the +queen filled the king's plate and then her own plate. Then she told +the servants to search in the neighbouring village for any one who +was hungry and too poor to buy food. They met an old woman. Her eldest +son had been lost in the forest. Her second son had been drowned in a +pond. Her third son had died of snake-bite. They told her to come and +listen to the queen's story. She went with them, and as she listened, +all attention, first the son who had been lost in the forest walked +into the camp, next the son who had been drowned in the pond, and +last of all the son who had died of a snake-bite. The old woman went +away crying with joy, and promising to worship the sun in the way +the wood-fairies had instructed the Brahman. Next day the cavalcade +reached the fourth halting-place. Food was cooked, and the queen first +filled the king's plate and then her own. After dinner she sent her +servants as before to bring in some poor and hungry man from the +neighbouring village. They found a man whose eyes were so crooked +that he could hardly see, who had no arms or legs, and who had not +even a name. For he was only known as "Lump of flesh." He was lying +on his face, but when they brought him into camp, the queen had him +placed on his back and had a jug of water poured over him. Then she +took six pearls. Three she kept herself, and three she placed on the +stomach of "Lump of flesh." Then she told him the tale of her father +and the wood-fairies. He listened, all attention, and as he listened +his arms and legs grew out of his body, and hands and feet appeared +at the ends of them. He too went away delighted, and he promised to +worship the sun in the way the wood-fairies had told the Brahman. + +At the end of the next day's march the king and queen reached their +home. Food was cooked, and as they sat down to dinner the sun-god +himself appeared and joined them at their meal. The king had all +the doors flung wide open, and ordered a fresh and far more splendid +dinner to be prepared, with any number of dishes, each dish having +six separate flavours. When it was served the sun-god and the king +began to eat, but in the first mouthful the sun-god found a hair. He +got very very angry, and called out, "To what sinful woman does this +hair belong?" Then the poor queen remembered that during her twelve +years of poverty she had always sat under the eaves combing her hair, +and knew that it must have been one of her hairs which had got into +the sun-god's food. She begged for mercy, but the sun-god would +not forgive her until she had clothed herself in a black blanket, +plucked a stick out of the eaves, and had gone outside the town and +there thrown the stick and the hair over her left shoulder. Then the +sun-god recovered his good-humour, and finished his dinner. And the +Brahman, the king and queen, and the wood-cutter and the farmer whose +well had dried up, and the old woman who had lost her children, and +"Lump of flesh" with the cross eyes, they all remained in the favour +of the sun-god and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Monday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +very saintly king. One day he formed the wish to fill the shrine of +Shiva, the moon-god, with milk up to the ceiling. He consulted his +chief minister, and the latter sent a crier through Atpat ordering, +under terrible penalties, all the townspeople to bring every Monday all +the milk in their houses and offer it to the god Shiva. The townspeople +were frightened at the threatened punishments, and the next Monday +they brought all the milk in Atpat to Shiva's shrine, not keeping a +drop for their calves or even for their children. But although all the +milk in Atpat was every Monday poured into Shiva's shrine, it yet did +not become full to the ceiling. But one day an old woman came to the +shrine. She had done all her housework. She had fed all the children +and had bathed all her little daughters-in-law. Then she took a few +drops of milk, a little sandal-wood paste, and a few flowers, and +half-a-dozen grains of rice and went to worship at Shiva's shrine. She +prayed to Shiva, "The little milk that I can offer is not likely to +fill your shrine, seeing that all the milk offered by the king could +not. Nevertheless I offer the milk with all my heart." She then got +up and went back to her house. Then a strange thing happened. Directly +the old woman turned her back, the shrine filled with milk right up to +the ceiling. The priests ran and told the king, but none of them could +say how it happened. The following Monday the king placed a soldier +by the door; and again the old woman came and worshipped, and again +the shrine filled with milk to the ceiling. The soldier ran and told +the king, but could not explain the cause. The third Monday the king +himself went and watched by the shrine. From his hiding-place he saw +the old woman come up and noticed that the shrine filled with milk +immediately after she had worshipped. He ran after her and caught +her. The old woman begged the king to spare her life, and this he +promised to do if she told the truth. She said, "O King! you ordered +all the milk in Atpat to be brought to Shiva's shrine. But what was +the result? All the calves began lowing and all the children began +crying, because they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people +were so worried by the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva +was displeased at this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This, +therefore, is what you should do. Let the children and the calves +have their milk. Then take whatever is over to the shrine, and it +will at once fill up to the ceiling." The king let the old woman go, +and had it proclaimed by beat of drum that the townspeople were to +bring to the shrine on the following Monday only the milk remaining +after the children and the calves had been fed. The townspeople were +delighted. The children stopped crying and the calves stopped lowing, +and all the milk left by them was brought to Shiva's shrine. The +king prayed long and earnestly, and when he looked up he saw that +the shrine was full right up to the ceiling. He gave the old woman +a handsome present. And she went back to her home, and she did her +housework, and then she bathed all her little daughters and all her +little daughters-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Tuesday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. [4] In it there lived +a bania who had no son. Every day a religious mendicant used to come +to his house and call out, "Alms! Alms! In the name of God, give me +alms." But when the bania's wife offered him alms he refused them, +because she had no children. She told her husband, who advised her +to play a trick on the mendicant. She hid behind her door, and as he +called out "Alms! alms!" she slipped a gold piece into his wallet. But +the mendicant caught her and became very angry. He cursed her and +told her that she would always remain without any children. She +was terrified and fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness. Then +he pitied her and said, "Tell your husband to put on blue clothes, +mount a blue horse, and ride into the jungle. He should ride on until +he meets a horse. He should then dismount and dig in the ground. He +will in the end come to a temple to Parwati. He must pray to her and +she will bestow a child on him." When her husband came back she told +him what had happened. So he at once put on blue clothes, mounted a +blue horse, and rode into the forest. He met the horse, dismounted, +and began digging. At last he discovered a temple to Parwati, all of +gold, with diamond pillars and a spire made of rubies. Inside was a +statue of the goddess, and to it he prayed, saying, "I have houses and +cottages, cattle and horses, money and goods of all kinds, but I am +very sad because I have no son." The goddess pitied him and asked, +"Which will you have, a son who will be good but will die young, +or a son who will live long but will be born blind?" The poor bania +became greatly perplexed, but at last said, "I choose a son who will be +good but will die young," The goddess said, "Very well. Step behind +me. There you will find an image of Ganpati. Behind it is a mango +tree. Climb upon Ganpati's stomach and pick one mango. Go home and give +it to your wife to eat, and your wish will be gratified." Parwati then +disappeared. The bania climbed upon Ganpati's stomach and ate as many +mangoes as he could. He next filled a large bundle full of mangoes +and stepped down. But when he reached the ground he found that there +was only one mango in the bundle. He climbed up again and refilled his +bundle, but when he stepped down he again found only one mango. This +happened three or four times. At last Ganpati got very sore and angry +with having his stomach trampled on. So he shouted out, "One mango is +all you'll get. So be off home!" The bania was frightened out of his +wits and galloped home with his one mango. His wife ate it, and in nine +months she presented her husband with a son. When the little boy was +eight years old his sacred thread was put on, and his mother said, +"It is time to think of his marriage." But the bania said, "I dare +not marry him unless he first makes a pilgrimage to Benares." His +maternal uncle agreed to take the little boy to Benares. + +So off they started together, and some days later the uncle and nephew +halted at a village where some little girls were playing. One of +the little girls said to the other, "You are nothing but a wretched +little widow." But the other little girl said, "Oh no! there are +never any widows in our family. Mother worships Parwati and so I +can never be a widow." The uncle heard this, and thought that if his +nephew could only marry a little girl who could not become a widow, +he would not die young. So he began to think how he could bring +about the marriage. Now it so happened that the little girl was +to be married that day. But in the morning the boy to whom she was +betrothed fell ill. Her parents were in great trouble, but at last +they thought that, rather than postpone the wedding and disappoint +all the guests, it would be better to marry their little daughter to +the first traveller who passed through the village. So they went to +the rest-house to inquire if any one was there. There they found the +uncle and nephew, and they married their little girl to the latter +that very evening when the cows were homing. They drew on the wall +a picture of Shiva and Parwati, and they put the children to bed +beneath it. Parwati appeared to the little girl in her sleep. The +goddess said, "My child, a snake will come to bite your husband: give +it milk to drink. Then put near it a new earthen jar. When the snake +has finished drinking, it will enter the earthen jar. Then at once +pull off your bodice and stuff it into the jar's mouth. Next morning +give the jar to your mother." Next evening everything happened as +Parwati had said. The snake came to bite her husband as he slept. But +the little girl offered it milk, which it drank. After drinking, +it curled itself up inside the earthen jar, and, the moment it did +so, the little girl slipped off her bodice and stuffed it into the +mouth of the jar. Next morning her husband gave her a ring, and she +in exchange gave him a sweet-dish, and he and his uncle continued +their journey to Benares. When they had gone, the little girl gave the +earthen jar with the snake inside it to her mother. The mother took +out the bodice, but instead of a snake a garland lay inside, and the +mother put it round her little daughter's neck. Some weeks passed, +but neither uncle nor nephew returned. So the little girl's parents +grew anxious. The sick boy who was to have been her husband recovered, +but she could no longer marry him, and the boy whom she had married +had gone away and might never return. In despair the parents built +a house, in which they entertained every traveller who passed by, +hoping that sooner or later one of the travellers would prove to be +their daughter's husband. To all of them the mother gave water; the +daughter washed their feet; her brother gave them sandal-wood paste; +and her father gave them betel-nut. But it was all in vain; none of +the travellers' fingers fitted the ring given to the little girl by +her husband, nor could any of them produce the sweet-dish which she +had given him in exchange. + +In the meantime the uncle and nephew had reached Benares and had +given large sums in charity, and had visited all the holy places +and had received the blessings of all the Brahmans. One day the +little boy, fainted. And in a dream he saw the messenger of Yama, +the god of death, come close to him as if to carry him off. Next he +saw the goddess Parwati come to his rescue and, after a struggle, +drive away Yama's messenger. When the boy woke up he told the dream to +his uncle. The latter was overjoyed because he felt certain that now +the boy would no longer die young. He told his nephew to get ready, +and next day they left Benares. On their way home they passed by +the village where the nephew had been married. As they were having +breakfast near the village tank, a maid-servant invited them to come +to the house which the girl's parents had built for the reception of +travellers. At first the uncle declined, but when a palki was sent +for them, he and his nephew entered it. When the little girl began to +wash her husband's feet, she recognised him. She tried on the ring, +which fitted his finger, and he in turn showed her the sweet-dish +which she had given him. The parents were as pleased as possible, and +they sent a messenger to invite the boy's parents. They came, and the +boy's mother threw herself at her daughter-in-law's feet and thanked +her for saving her son. Then there was a great feast and everybody +was very happy indeed, and at the end they all worshipped Parwati, +[5] so she became as pleased as everybody else. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Wednesday and Thursday Story + +There was once upon a time a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a prince who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Every day +there used to come to the prince's house two Brahmans, an uncle and a +nephew. But when they asked for alms the daughters-in-law sent word +that they were too busy to give them any. Some time afterwards the +prince lost all his riches and became very poor. The two Brahmans +again came to beg, but the elder daughter-in-law said to them, +"We are no longer busy, but we have nothing to give you. If we had, +we should give it to you." The youngest daughter-in-law, however, +was a clever little girl, and she thought to herself, "The Brahmans +will get very angry with us. When we had money, we gave them nothing; +and now we give them nothing because we have nothing to give." So she +fell at the elder Brahman's feet and said, "We have been very wicked +and have deserved to become poor. But please forgive us and tell me +how we may become rich as we were before." The elder Brahman said, +"Every Wednesday and every Thursday you must invite a Brahman to +dinner. And if you have no money to pay for the dinner, draw a pair +of cow's feet on your money-box. If you want grain for the dinner, +draw a pair of cow's feet on your corn-bin. Then worship the feet and +welcome the Brahmans. For you will find that you will have money in +your box and grain in your corn-bin. And in time you will all get as +rich as you were before." The little girl did what the Brahman told +her. And whenever she invited Brahmans to dinner, she drew the cow's +feet on the cash-box and on the corn-bin, and there was always money +and grain sufficient for the meal. + +But some days later she fell asleep and dreamt that Budh [6] and +Brahaspati came to her bedside and said, "Little girl, little girl, +your husband has been made king over a great country. Go to him, and, +when you have found him, do not forget to worship us and to give feast +to the Brahmans." Then the little girl woke up and she told the other +six daughters-in-law. But they were jealous of her, and they became +very angry; and they kicked her so often and boxed her ears so hard +that she forgot all about drawing the cow's feet on her money-box and +on the corn-bin. So she never found any money in the box or any corn +in the bin. And every day they became poorer and poorer. First all the +men servants ran away, then the male members of the family left, and +at last the seven daughters-in-law were left alone in the house. They +were starving, but they did not know how to get any food. One day +they heard that a king in a neighbouring country wished to construct +a tank and was calling for labourers. So they decided to go to the +tank and work there just like common coolie women. Now who do you +think the king was? He was the youngest son of the prince of Atpat +and the husband of the youngest daughter-in-law. When the prince had +lost all his money, his youngest son left the house and set off on +a journey. As he travelled he came to a city, the king of which had +just died without leaving any children or relatives. His subjects +did not know how to choose a successor. At last they gave a garland +of flowers to a she-elephant and turned it loose. The elephant walked +straight to the prince's son and put the garland round his neck. The +townspeople were very angry. They snatched away the garland and drove +away the prince's son. They again gave the garland to the elephant, +but the elephant again put the garland round the neck of the prince's +son. The townspeople again snatched away the garland. But when the +elephant put it round the young man's neck for the third time, they +lifted him high in the air and declared him to be their king. At first +he was so pleased at being king that he forgot all about his poor +little wife. But one night Budh and Brahaspati appeared to him in a +dream and reminded him of her and told him how poor she was. But he +could not leave his kingdom to go and look for her. So he thought that +he would dig a tank and call together labourers from every quarter. And +every day he used to go to the tank and search among the labourers to +see if his wife was there. One day he recognised his wife and called +her to him. Then they told each other how Budh and Brahaspati had +appeared to each of them in a dream. And the king was so delighted at +finding his wife that he at once proclaimed her queen of the country. + +So the little daughter-in-law was crowned queen, but she did not let +the other daughters-in-law who were also working at the tank know of +her good fortune. As queen, she gave a great feast to all the workers +on the tank. But in her own palace she took some wheat flour, and +she kneaded it into shapes resembling human feet and human fists. And +when the other daughters-in-law were with the crowd of workers eating +at the feast, she went up to them, and to each daughter-in-law who +had kicked her she gave a flour foot, and to each daughter-in-law +who had struck her with her hands she gave a flour fist. Then the +daughters-in-law recognised who the little queen was, and they fell at +her feet and begged for her forgiveness. So the little queen forgave +them and took them back with her into her husband's palace. And they +all lived together happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Friday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +miserably poor Brahman. He had a wife who was as poor as he was. One +day she felt her poverty so much that she went to a gossip of hers +who lived close by and told her all about her troubles. The neighbour +could suggest nothing better than that the poor woman should worship +the goddess Shukra or Venus. So she told the Brahman woman to fast +every Friday through the month of Shravan. Every Friday evening she +should invite a married lady friend to her house. She should bathe her +friend's feet. She should give her sweetened milk to drink and fill +her lap with wheat cakes and bits of cocoa-nut. She should continue +to worship Shukra in this way every Friday for a whole year, and in +the end the goddess would certainly do something for her. The Brahman +woman thought the advice good, and every Friday she worshipped Shukra +and had a married friend to dine with her just as her neighbour had +advised her. + +Now the Brahman woman had a rich brother living in the same town, +who one day invited one thousand Brahmans to dine. At the same +time he invited all the townspeople with the single exception of +his sister. The poor lady thought that she must have been left out +by accident, and that there would be no harm in going, even although +uninvited. She put on her silk dining-clothes, and, taking her children +with her, went off to the dinner. She seated herself close to her +children, and was eating away when her brother came round serving +ghee. When he saw his sister he shouted at her, "You have neither nice +clothes nor nice jewelry. You have made me a laughing-stock by coming +as you have come. I shall not turn you out, but do not come to-morrow." + +Next day she did not want to go, but her children, who had enjoyed +the previous day's feast, persuaded their mother to take them again +to her brother's house. Once more she went and sat down with her +children among the rows of feasters. Her brother saw her as before +when he came round serving the ghee. He shouted at her, "A beggar +woman must, I suppose, act like a village sow, and will not go away +although told to. But do not come to-morrow. If you do, I'll have you +turned out." Next day, however, she again went with her children to +her brother's house. But near the entrance his servants caught her +and turned her out before she could eat anything. She went home sad +and hungry and prayed to Shukra. Now the goddess had been pleased +with her devotion and so took pity on her. She helped the poor +woman's husband so that he rapidly acquired great wealth. When her +husband had become very rich she asked her brother to dinner. But +the brother remembered how he had treated her and was ashamed to +accept. He pressed her to dine with him first, and begged so hard +that she at last consented. Next day she put on all her jewels and +her finest clothes. Her brother gave her a wooden platform to sit on +and plates made out of leaves from which to eat her dinner. Before +she sat down she took off her gold-embroidered shawl and put it +close to her plate. Her brother saw her, but thought she did it +because she felt the room hot. She then placed her jewelry on the +wooden platform. Her brother thought that she did it because she +felt the jewelry heavy. She took a portion of rice and placed it on +her necklace. She put a portion of vegetables on her pendant, and a +sweet ball she placed on her jewelled star. + +Her brother at last asked her, "What are you doing?" She said, +"I am giving to the guests whom you really invited." But he did +not understand, and asked, "Why do you not begin to eat?" She said, +"I have not been invited to this dinner. It was given in honour of +my finery and not of me. I had my dinner the day when you gave the +feast to the one thousand Brahmans." + +The brother felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. He threw himself at +his sister's feet and begged for her forgiveness. So she forgave him +and sat down to dinner. And the brother in turn went to her house and +dined with her. And Shukra was pleased with both sister and brother, +and they all lived happily ever afterwards. May I and my readers do +the same. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Saturday Story + +Once upon a time there was a town-called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had three daughters-in-law. He rose early even during +the rainy season, and every day immediately after his morning meal he +used to go to his field with his children and his daughters-in-law. One +first Saturday in Shravan he got up as usual and said to the youngest +of his daughters-in-law, "To-day is Saturday; you had better stay +at home, and although there is very little in the house, you must +try to get some sort of a dinner ready. Go upstairs and scrape +together all the grain there is in the grain-jars and make bread +with it. For vegetables you had better gather grass and make some +chutney out of clover leaves." When the Brahman had left, his little +daughter-in-law followed his orders as best she could. There was in the +jar upstairs only grain for half an ordinary loaf. So she made tiny, +tiny loaves and prepared some vegetables out of grass and made some +clover chutney. Then she sat down to wait for the family's return +from the field. As she did so, Saturn came disguised as a beggar all +covered with sores, and cried, "O Lady! I am aching all over: give +me hot water to bathe in and oil to rub myself with, and then give me +something to eat." The little daughter-in-law felt very sorry for the +poor beggar. She went inside and got him a few drops of oil and warmed +some water for his bath, and then gave him one of the tiny loaves to +eat. The beggar ate it, and then gave her his blessing, saying, "You +will never want for anything." He then folded up the leaves from which +he had eaten, stuck them into a corner of the eaves, and disappeared. + +Shortly afterwards the family came home and found a splendid dinner +waiting for them. They said to themselves, "Where did this all come +from? There was practically nothing in the house." Next Saturday +another daughter-in-law stayed at home. Again Saturn in the guise +of a beggar covered with sores came to the house. He asked as +before for hot water, oil, and food. But his daughter-in-law said, +"I have nothing to give you." The god pressed her, saying, "Give me a +little of anything that you have." But the daughter-in-law repeated, +"I have nothing." The god replied, "Very well, you will lose that +little you have." With this threat he disappeared. But, when the +daughter-in-law went upstairs to fetch grain for dinner, she could +find nothing in any of the jars. Shortly afterwards the family came +home, but there was no dinner for them. So they all got angry with +the daughter-in-law, and, although she told them about the beggar, +they scolded her harder than ever. A third Saturday came round, and +a third daughter-in-law remained at home. Again Saturn came, and the +third daughter-in-law behaved just as the second had done. She gave +the god neither hot water, oil, nor food. And the god told her that +she should lose the little she had. When the family came home there +was no dinner for them, and they scolded the third daughter-in-law +just as hard as they had scolded the second one. + +The fourth Saturday it was once more the +turn of the youngest daughter-in-law. Again +Saturn came in the guise of a beggar covered +with sores and asked for hot water, oil, and +food. The little daughter-in-law gave them +as she had done before, and the god blessed +her, saying, "God will make you rich and +happy." Then he folded up the leaves from +which he had eaten and stuck them into a +corner of the eaves. When the little daughter-in-law +went upstairs, she saw any amount of +grain in the jars, and she prepared a splendid +dinner. So when the family came home they +were delighted. They could no longer restrain +their curiosity, and exclaimed, "Where did all +this food come from?" The little daughter-in-law +told them about the beggar covered with +sores and about his blessing. To test her +story, they looked for the folded leaves which +he had stuck into a corner of the roof. They +found them, but when they pulled them out +they were full of pearls and diamonds. Then +the old Brahman guessed that the beggar was +Saturn in disguise, and he also understood why, +when the other two daughters-in-law gave him +nothing and were cursed by him, there was +nothing for dinner. So they all knelt down +and prayed to Saturn, and the god forgave the +two-daughters-in-law who had given him +nothing. And he was more pleased than ever +with the little daughter-in-law who had befriended +him. And so they all lived happily +ever afterwards. And may Saturn be pleased +with us all as he was with the little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a king who had two queens. Of one of them he was very fond, but +the other one he did not care for. The name of the favoured one was +Patmadhavrani, and the name of the unloved one was Chimadevrani. Now +the king had an enemy called Nandanbaneshwar. Such a terrible enemy +he was too! He could jump into the clouds or dive into the bottom of +the ocean. At one moment he would shoot up into heaven. At another he +would sink down into hell, and through fear of his enemy, the king had +become as dry and as thin as an old bit of stick. One day the king, in +despair, assembled all his subjects and ordered them to seek out and +kill Nandanbaneshwar. All the subjects said, "Certainly, certainly, +O King," and began to search everywhere for Nandanbaneshwar. Now in +Atpat there lived a poor woman who had one son. On hearing the orders +of the king, he said to her, "Mother, Mother, give me some bread, +for I am going out to kill the king's enemy." The old woman said, +"Do not be silly; you are only a poor boy, and people will laugh +at you. Here, take this bit of bread and go and eat it behind a +tree." The boy said, "Very well," and took the bread. But, after +taking it, he joined the other villagers and went at their head to +seek out and kill Nandanbaneshwar. But when evening fell they had +not yet met Nandanbaneshwar, so all the villagers returned home. And +when the king heard of their ill-success he was greatly grieved. But +the old woman's son stayed in a wood outside the village. And lo +and behold! just about midnight the serpent-maidens from Patala [7] +and the wood-nymphs came close to where he was and began to worship +Mahalaxmi. The boy was at first terribly frightened, but at last he +plucked up courage enough to ask, "Ladies, ladies, what does one gain +by worshipping Mahalaxmi?" "Whatever you lose you will find," said the +serpent-maidens from Patala; "and whatever you want you will get." The +boy resolved that he too would worship Mahalaxmi. And he joined the +serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs, and all night long +they blew on earthen pots to do the goddess honour; and the woods +echoed and re-echoed with the deep-booming noise which they made. [8] + +At dawn Mahalaxmi revealed herself, and all of them, the boy included, +prostrated themselves before her and asked for her blessing. She first +blessed the serpent--maidens from Patala and then the wood-nymphs. And +then she blessed the poor old woman's son and said, "You will get half +the kingdom of Atpat and half the king's treasure. He will build you a +house as high as his own, and he will give you the name of 'Navalvat' +or 'Wonderways.' For this very morning the king's mighty enemy will +break his neck and be found lying dead in the king's courtyard," +With these words the goddess vanished and flew to Kolhapur, [9] and +the old woman's son went home. Now at dawn Queen Patmadhavrani got up +and went into the king's courtyard, and there she saw Nandanbaneshwar +lying dead from a broken neck. She was overjoyed, and ran back +into the palace to tell the king. The king inquired who had killed +Nandanbaneshwar. Every one said that the old woman's son must have +killed him, because he stayed behind when the others went home. The +king sent for the old woman's son. He was very frightened, and when +he reached the royal hall he called out, "I have made no false charge +against any one. I have done no one any harm. Why, therefore, O King, +have you sent for me?" "Do not be afraid," said the king. "My enemy +Nandanbaneshwar is dead, and every one says that it is you who killed +him. Tell me if this is true." "No, O King," said the boy, "he was +killed by the arts of Mahalaxmi." "Where did you meet her?" asked the +king. The boy said, "I stayed when the other villagers returned home, +and during the night there came the serpent-maidens from Patala and the +wood-nymphs. They taught me how to worship Mahalaxmi. In the morning +she revealed herself and promised me that Nandanbaneshwar would be +found lying dead, that you would give me half your kingdom and half +your treasure, that you would build me a palace as high as your own, +and that you would call me Navalvat or Wonderways." The king did as +the goddess had foretold. He handed half his provinces and half his +treasuries to Wonderways, and built him a palace of which the roof +was exactly on the same level as that of his own palace. + +When Queen Patmadhavrani heard what had happened, she sent for +Wonderways and asked him how to worship Mahalaxmi. And he told +her all that he had seen the serpent-maidens of Patala do, and +he also told her on the eighth day of the month of Ashwin [10] to +tie on her wrist a thread with sixteen strands in it, and to wear +it continually for the rest of the month. When the 8th of Ashwin +came, Queen Patmadhavrani dutifully tied round her wrist a thread of +sixteen strands, and resolved to wear it every day for the rest of the +month. But a day or two later the king came to Queen Patmadhavrani's +apartments and began to play saripat [11] with her. As they played +he noticed the thread on her wrist and asked what it was. She told +him how Wonderways had instructed her to tie it on. But the king got +very angry and roared out, "I have in my palace garlands and twine, +bracelets, and hobbling-ropes. So throw away that wretched piece of +thread. I will not let you wear it." The queen did as she was bid, and, +pulling off the thread bracelet, threw it on the floor. Next morning +the maids and the slave-girls began to sweep the palace, and among +the sweepings one of them noticed the queen's thread bracelet. She +picked it up and showed it to Wonderways, and he grew very wroth with +Queen Patmadhavrani. He took the thread and at once went with it to +the palace of the unloved Queen Chimadevrani. He told her what had +happened, and she begged him to give the thread to her and to tell +her how to worship Mahalaxmi. But he said, "You will grow vain and +get so conceited that you will not do what I tell you to do." But +she promised that she would obey him in everything. So just as he had +told the Queen Patmadhavrani, he told Queen Chimadevrani all the rites +which he had seen the serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs +perform. Everything went on just the same for a whole year. But the +next year on the 8th of Ashwin a very strange thing happened. The +goddess Mahalaxmi disguised herself as an old beggar-woman and +came to Atpat. First she went to the part of the palace where Queen +Patmadhavrani lived. But no one there was paying the least honour +to the goddess Mahalaxmi, although it was the 8th of Ashwin, and +therefore specially sacred to her. Mahalaxmi was dreadfully put out +at this, and when she saw Queen Patmadhavrani she said, "Lady, lady, +Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house to-day?" The +queen replied, "I have nothing in my house to-day." The old woman +went on, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother of sons, if you give +this beggar-woman a little water, you will acquire merit sufficient +for all your kingdom." But the queen replied, "Even if I were to +give you a copper cauldron of water it would not suffice for all my +kingdom." The old woman then said, "Lady, lady, Patmadhavrani, mother +of sons, if you give this old beggar-woman a little rice and curds, +you will gain enough merit for all your kingdom." The queen replied, +"Even if I were to give you a big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, +I should not gain enough merit for all my kingdom." Then the old woman +got very angry and cursed the queen, saying, "You will become half a +frog and half a human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife's +bath-room and croak like a frog." But the queen did not mind her the +least little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the +noise was like two chains rattling together. Mahalaxmi went off in a +great rage and entered Queen Chimadevrani's part of the palace. There +she saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful +image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, +"Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house +to-day?" "To-day," said the queen, "we are worshipping Mahalaxmi." Then +the old beggar-woman said, "I am Mahalaxmi." But the queen doubted and +asked her, "By what sign shall I know you?" The goddess replied, "In +the morning I shall take the shape of a little girl. In the afternoon +I shall take that of a young married woman. In the evening I shall +become an old hag." After the goddess had taken all three shapes, +Queen Chimadevrani called her into the palace and bathed and anointed +her. She gave her a silk skirt and a platform to sit upon. Then she +sent for Wonderways, and both of them worshipped the old beggar-woman +and blew on earthen pots in her honour. The king heard the blowing +on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why there was such a noise +in Queen Chimadevrani's quarters. The sepoy went there, and when he +saw what was happening joined also in the worship. After a little +while he went back and told the king. The king said that he would +go there too. He followed the sepoy, and Queen Chimadevrani came +to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where both played +at saripat until dawn. And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by and watched +them. At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her blessing. She +blessed the queen and said, "The king will take you back with him to +the palace, and your co-wife will become half frog, half human being, +and will have to croak outside your bath-room while you bathe." But +Queen Chimadevrani begged the goddess not to place such a terrible +curse on Patmadhavrani. The goddess relented a little, but said, +"The king will drive her into the jungle for twelve years." At these +words she vanished and flew to Kolhapur. When the sun rose the king +placed Queen Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own +part of the palace. He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani +asking her to join them. Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani +appeared, dressed all in rags with a skirt round her legs and her +hair all unfastened. On her head was a pot full of burning coal, +and she began to shout and scream at the top of her voice. The king +became very angry and roared out, "Who is this that is shouting +and screaming? Is it a ghost or a she-devil or what?" The sepoys +replied, "O King, it is neither a ghost nor a she-devil, it is your +Queen Patmadhavrani." "Take her into the jungle," roared the king, +"and kill her there." Then he went back into the palace and began +to live in great happiness with Queen Chimadevrani. But the sepoys +took Patmadhavrani into the jungle and told her that they had been +ordered to kill her. She began to weep. The sepoys were kind-hearted +men and they felt very sorry for her. They said, "Lady, lady, do not +weep. We have eaten bread and drunk water at your hands so we cannot +kill you. We will leave you here, but you must never come back into +the kingdom again." The sepoys left her and returned to Atpat. But +the poor queen wandered on until she came to a distant town, where +she entered a coppersmith's lane. Therein a coppersmith was making +bangles for a beautiful young princess who had just been crowned +queen of the city. But suddenly none of the bangles would join. He +began to search for the cause, and asked his workmen whether any +stranger had come near his house. The workmen looked about and found +Queen Patmadhavrani in hiding close by. They told the coppersmith, +and he and his men beat her soundly and drove her away. She ran +into the lane of some weavers who were weaving a sari for the new +queen. Suddenly none of the looms would work. They began looking +about to see if any stranger had come. After a little while they found +the queen. So they beat her soundly and drove her away. Then she ran +out of the town back into the jungle. There she wandered about until +she came to the cave of a rishi or sage. The rishi was sitting lost +in meditation. But she bided her time, and, when he went to bathe, +she slipped into the cave and swept it and neaped it and tidied up +all the utensils used by him for worship. Then she slipped out of +the cave and ran back into the jungle. This went on every day for +twelve years without the rishi showing that he was aware of what she +was doing. But in his heart he was really pleased with her. And one +day he called out in a loud voice, "Who is it who sweeps and neaps my +cave? Whoever she is, let her step forward." The queen stepped into +the presence of the rishi and threw herself at his feet and said, "If +you promise not to punish me, I shall tell you." The rishi promised, +and she told him her story. The rishi took out his magic books and, +consulting them, learned that Mahalaxmi had cursed her. So he taught +her how to worship Mahalaxmi, and all night long they blew on earthen +pots and performed rites in her honour. At dawn she revealed herself +and the queen asked her for her blessing. But the goddess was still +very angry with the queen. Then the rishi joined her in begging the +goddess's pardon, and at last she relented. She said to the queen, +"Put under that tree a foot-bath full of water, sandal-wood ointment, +plates full of fruit, a stick of camphor, fans made of odorous +grasses; and handle them all so that they retain the fragrance of +some scent which the king will remember you used. To-morrow the king +will come. He will be thirsty. He will send his sepoys to look for +water. They will see all your things ready. And when they go back and +tell him, he will come himself." Next morning, as the goddess had +foretold, the king came. He saw the cool shade of the tree. He was +tired with hunting, so he sat down and rested. He washed his feet +in the foot-bath. He ate up all the fruit, drank the cold water, +and sucked the stick of camphor. When he had rested to his heart's +content, he asked the sepoy, "How is it that in the water I drank, +in the fruit I took, in the camphor I ate, I noticed a scent which +Patmadhavrani always used?" The sepoys replied, "If the king promises +to pardon us, we will tell him." The king promised. The sepoys then +told him how they had not killed the queen, because they had eaten +bread and had drunk water at her hands, but had let her go. The king +told them to look and see if she was anywhere about. They searched +and searched until they came to the rishi's cave. Then they ran back +and told the king. The king rose, and going to the cave did homage to +the rishi. The rishi accepted the homage and lectured him at great +length. At last he ordered the king to prostrate himself before the +queen. The king obeyed, and the rishi handed Patmadhavrani back to +his care and blessed both her and her husband. The king put her in +his chariot and took her to Atpat. Outside the town the king stopped +his chariot and sent for Queen Chimadevrani Chimadevrani bathed +and anointed herself, and put on all her silk clothes, her shawls, +her embroideries, and her jewels. In front of her she placed all the +horn-blowers of Atpat. And as she went to meet the king they blew their +very loudest on their horns. The king was amazed when he heard the +noise, and roared out, "Who is coming with such pomp and splendour? Is +it the serpent-maidens of Patala or is it the wood-nymphs who live +in the heart of the forest?" The sepoys said, "O King, it is neither +the serpent-maidens of Patala nor is it the wood-nymphs who live in +the heart of the forest. It is Queen Chimadevrani, who is coming to +meet you as you ordered." The king turned to Patmadhavrani and said, +"If you had come in this guise to meet me, instead of coming like a mad +woman, you would never have suffered as you did." Queen Patmadhavrani +said nothing, but sat still in the chariot, and the king lifted Queen +Chimadevrani into the chariot, and all three entered the city. And as +they entered, the horn-blowers blew so loud that every one was quite +deafened. And the king lived from that time forth in perfect happiness +with both his wives. And because of his happiness, he ruled so well +that his subjects thought that King Ramchandra of Ayodhya had come +back to rule over them. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Island Palace + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. He had a disciple who used every day to go to the village pond +and bathe and worship the god Shiva. On the way he had to walk through +the sandy island in the dry bed of the river. And, as he went home +across the island, he used to hear a voice cry, "Shall I come? Shall I +come? Shall I come?"; but when he looked round he could see no one. The +Brahman's disciple at last got so frightened that he withered up until +he became as dry and as thin as a bone. At last the Brahman said, +"You have no wish to eat or drink; yet you are so thin. What is the +reason?" The boy replied, "I neither wish to eat, nor want to eat, +nor crave to eat. But I am frightened out of my wits. For whenever +I come back from my bath I hear a voice behind me call out, 'Shall I +come? Shall I come? Shall I come?'; but when I look round there is no +one there." The Brahman said, "Do not be afraid, and when you next hear +the voice, do not look behind you, but call out as boldly as you can, +'Come along, come along, come along.'" Next day the disciple went as +usual to his bath in the village pond. He worshipped the god Shiva, +and as he came home he heard the cry behind him, "Shall I come? Shall +I come? Shall I come?" The boy was very frightened, but he did not +look behind him. In a short time he mastered his fears, and then in +a voice like a bull roaring he cried out, "Come along, come along, +come along." At last he reached home, calling all the time and without +once looking behind him. + +The Brahman looked up as the disciple came in, and he saw that just +behind was walking a young girl. He at once married the girl to his +disciple and gave them a house to live in close by his own. Now, on +the first Monday in the month of Shravan, or August, the disciple +got up and said to his wife, "I am going out to worship the god +Shiva. But do not wait for me. Just eat your breakfast directly you +feel hungry." He went out, and in a little time his wife began +to feel hungry. Nevertheless, she knew that, in spite of what +her husband had said, she ought not to eat anything while he was +worshipping Shiva. So she waited for a little time, but at last she +got so terribly hungry that she could not wait any more. So she sat +down and cooked her breakfast, and had just put one mouthful into +her mouth when her husband came to the outer door. "Wife, wife," he +called, "open the door!" Then the little wife got very frightened. She +pushed the uneaten breakfast under the bed, got up, washed her hands, +and opened the door. She then told her husband that she had waited +for him, and she cooked a fresh breakfast, which both ate one after +the other. Next Monday exactly the same thing happened. The little +wife cooked her breakfast and was just beginning it when her husband +came. She then hid her uneaten breakfast under her bed and pretended +that she had waited for his return. And on the two following Mondays +the naughty little wife deceived her husband in just the same way. + +Now on the last Sunday in Shravan, when husband and wife went to lie +down, the former noticed a light shining under the bed. He looked to +see what it was, and saw several platefuls of jewels. He asked his wife +whence they had come. Now they were really the uneaten breakfasts, +which the god Shiva had turned into gold and jewels. But the naughty +little wife got very frightened and told her husband a bigger story +than ever. "They are presents," she said, "from my mother and father +and their family." "But where is your father's house?" asked the +husband. "It is in the sandy island," said the little wife, "which +lies in the dry bed of the river." "You must take me there," said her +husband. Next morning they started off together. And the naughty little +wife could hardly walk, she was so frightened. For she knew quite well +that her father had no house in the sandy island. But on the way she +prayed to Shiva, "Please, please, god Shiva, create a house for my +father in the sandy island which lies in the dry bed of the river, +even if it be only for half an hour." + +At last the husband and wife came to the sandy island. And there, lo +and behold! they saw a great big palace, and a splendidly dressed young +man came forward and greeted the disciple as his brother-in-law. And +a handsome old knight came forward and greeted the disciple as his +son-in-law. And a beautiful young woman greeted the naughty little +wife as the sister of her husband. And a lovely little girl ran up and +embraced her and called her "sister." And slave girls and maid-servants +ran forward to offer her their service. A guard of soldiers kept +watch by the palace, and at the door there were sentries, who made +way for them as they passed. Inside the house the little wife and +her husband were given platforms to sit upon, and a splendid feast +was all ready prepared for them to eat. After they had feasted, they +got up and said good-bye to the little wife's father and mother, and +garlands of flowers were placed round their necks, and they started +for their home. When they had gone half-way, the naughty little wife +remembered that she had hung her garland on a peg and had forgotten +to bring it with her. So she and her husband went back to the sandy +island. But when they got there, there was no palace, there were no +soldiers to guard it, there were no sentries at the door, there were +no maid-servants nor slave girls. There was nothing there but just +a sandy island in the middle of a dry river-bed. And on the sand lay +the garland which the naughty little wife had forgotten. She took it +up and put it round her neck. + +But her husband asked her, "What has happened to your father's +house?" The naughty little wife replied, all in tears, "As it came, +so it went. But if you promise to forgive me, I shall tell you." The +husband promised. So she told him how every Monday she had felt so +hungry and how she had cooked her breakfast, and then, on hearing her +husband's voice, had pushed it under their bed. She also told him that +the god Shiva had turned the food into gold and jewels. "Then when you +asked me," she went on, "I felt so frightened that I said they were +presents from my father and mother and the rest of my family. And +when you made me take you to my father's house, I prayed the god +Shiva to create, if only for half an hour, a house for my father on +the sandy island in the dry river-bed. And he graciously granted my +request." Then the husband forgave the naughty little wife. And she +became quite good and never told him any more stories. And they both +went home and lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Nagoba, the Snake-King + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived +a Brahman who had seven little daughters-in-law. In the fulness of +time the month of Shravan came and with it Nagpanchmi Day [12]. In +honour of the festival, one little daughter-in-law went to her +grandpapa's house, another went to her great grandpapa's house, +another went to her father's house, until at last only the youngest +daughter-in-law remained behind. Her father and mother were dead, +and she had no uncles and no aunts and no little brothers or +sisters. So the poor little daughter-in-law felt very sad and +sat down and cried in a corner. Then she remembered that it was +Nagpanchmi Day, and that it was a festival in honour of Nagoba, the +great snake-king. So she prayed under her breath, "Please, please, +snake-king, come and pretend that you have been sent to fetch me +to my father's house!" And the great snake-king heard the prayer +and felt quite sorry for the poor little daughter-in-law who was +crying in the corner. He assumed the guise of a Brahman and came to +the house where the little daughter-in-law was, and said that he had +been sent to fetch her to her father's house. Her father-in-law was +very much astonished. For he wondered why, if the new-comer really +was a relative of the little daughter-in-law, he had never paid him +a visit before. At last he asked the little daughter-in-law who the +new-comer was. She did not know in the least. But she was so overjoyed +that some one should have come for her that she at once answered, +"He is my mother's brother." Her father-in-law believed her and sent +her off in the care of Nagoba, the snake-king. Still disguised as a +Brahman, he took her to the entrance of his underground palace and +there he told her who he was. He then reassumed his true appearance, +and, expanding the mighty hood behind his head, he seated the little +girl on it and took her down to his splendid dwelling-house beneath +the earth. In the central hall he presented her to the snake-queen +and to all the snake-princes, and told them that in no circumstances +whatever were they to bite the little daughter-in-law. + +One day the snake-queen was about to be confined. So she asked +the little daughter-in-law to sit by her side with the lamp in +her hand. The little daughter-in-law did so, and a little time +afterwards the snake-queen gave birth to a fresh litter of little +snake-princes. When the little daughter-in-law saw them all wriggling +about, she was frightened out of her wits. She let the lamp slip +out of her hands. It fell on the ground and burnt all the little +snakes' tails off. The snake-queen did her best to comfort them, +but the stumps of the little princes' tails ached so dreadfully that +it was ever so long before the snake-queen could put them off to +sleep. When the snake-king came home that evening, she told him what +had happened. And she was so cross with the little daughter-in-law, +that the snake-king had to promise that she should go back to her +father-in-law's house. A few days later, the snake-king assumed once +again the guise of a Brahman, and, loading the little daughter-in-law +with presents, took her back to her husband's home. In the course of +time the little snake-princes grew up, but their tails never grew +again. So their father, the snake-king, called one little prince, +No-tail; and the second little prince, Cut-tail; and the third little +prince, Dock-tail. And one day they asked the snake-queen how it was +that their tails had been broken off. She told them how the little +daughter-in-law had burnt them off by dropping the lamp on them. + +The snake-princes, when they heard their mother's answer, were +terribly cross with the little daughter-in-law, and they vowed that +they would be revenged on her. So they found out where she lived, +and they sent a message to her house, saying that they were coming to +pay her a visit. But they really meant to bite her to death directly +they saw her. The little daughter-in-law was overjoyed when she heard +that the snake-princes were coming to visit her. For ever since the +snake-king had pretended to be her uncle, she always thought of little +No-tail and little Cut-tail and little Dock-tail as if they had been +her own cousins. Now it so happened that the very day on which they +were expected at the little daughter-in-law's house was Nagpanchmi +Day. The little daughter-in-law was sitting in the house all alone +waiting for little Prince No-tail, little Prince Cut-tail, and little +Prince Dock-tail. They were late in coming, so to pass the time she +drew pictures of Nagoba, the snake-king, on her dining-platform and on +the wall. When she had finished the pictures, she worshipped them and +offered them milk and food. Then she prayed to the great snake-king, +"Please please, King Nagoba, guard from all hurt, wherever they may +be, my little cousins No-tail and Cut-tail and Dock-tail." And last +of all she prostrated herself at full length before the pictures +which she had drawn on the wall and on her dining-platform. + +In the meantime little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and +little Prince Dock-tail had come up without the little daughter-in-law +noticing them. But when they saw the honour which she was paying +their father, King Nagoba, and heard the prayer which she had offered +on their behalf, they no longer wished to kill or bite the little +daughter-in-law. On the contrary, they made themselves known to +her and stayed all that day in the house and were as good and as +nice as possible. When night fell, they drank the milk which she +had offered to the snake-king. And in its place they put a necklace +with nine beautiful jewels in it. Before day broke they went away +quietly and returned to their father's palace under the ground. Next +morning when the little daughter-in-law woke up she saw the lovely +necklace lying where the milk had been. She gave a shout of delight, +and putting it round her neck, she ran all over the house showing it +to everybody. And every one was perfectly charmed with it. And the +snake-princes never again came to bite any one in that household. And +the little daughter-in-law and her husband and her father-in-law and +little Prince No-tail and little Prince Cut-tail and little Prince +Dock-tail, they all lived happily for ever so long afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Parwati and the Beggar-Man + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In It there lived +a Brahman. He had seven daughters, and when they had reached a +marriageable age he asked them who would arrange their marriages +and bring them handsome husbands and make their fortunes. The six +eldest daughters said, "Papa, Papa, you of course. You will arrange +our marriages and bring us handsome husbands and make our fortunes +for us." But the youngest daughter was a naughty little girl. She +got into a temper all about nothing, and she stamped her foot, and +she turned her back on her father and said, "I will arrange my own +marriage, and I will get a handsome husband for myself, and I will +make my fortune myself." The Brahman was very angry with her, and so +how do you think he punished her? He first searched about and found +six rich and handsome boys. Then he married them with great pomp and +display to his six eldest daughters. But the youngest girl he gave in +marriage to a miserable beggar-man. You never saw such a beggar-man +as he was! There was not a spot on his skin that was not black with +leprosy, and his feet and hands had rotted right off. If you had seen +him you would have said, "If that beggar-man does not die to-day +he will certainly die to-morrow. For he cannot possibly live any +longer!" When the marriage was celebrated, the little girl's mother +filled her lap with pulse and then handed her over to the beggar-man +to see what sort of fortune would be hers. But in a few days the +beggar-man died. His corpse was taken to the burning-ground, and +his little widow followed it. But when his relatives wanted to burn +the body, she forbade them and told them to go away. For she said, +"My fortune is still to come, whatever it may be." They all got round +her and tried to persuade her that there was no use in her staying by +the corpse, but she would not mind what they said. At last they were +quite tired out and went home, leaving her in the burning-ground. When +they had gone she took her husband's corpse on to her lap. Then she +prayed to the god Shiva and said: + + + "My parents disown me. O why was I born + Both as orphan and widow to live all forlorn?" + + +As she prayed, she put the pulse which her mother had put into her +lap grain by grain in the dead man's mouth. Then she sat there crying +until midnight. Now it happened that on that very night Shiva and +Parwati were in their chariot driving through the air over that very +place. Parwati said suddenly to her husband, "I hear a woman crying, +let us go and see what it is." The god Shiva drove his chariot down to +earth. He and Parwati got out and saw the Brahman's youngest daughter +crying. They asked her what the reason was, and she told them. Then +Parwati pitied her and said, "Your aunt has acquired great merit by +her piety and devotions. You go to her and get her to give you all +her merit and so you will bring your husband back to life." The god +Shiva and Parwati then mounted on their chariot and disappeared. Next +morning the little widow left her husband's body, went to her aunt's +house and begged her to give her all the merit which she had acquired, +and told her the cause of the request. The aunt was very good and +gave her all her own merit. The little widow then went back to the +burning-ground and with its aid brought her husband back to life. But +this time he was no longer a beggar-man black with leprosy and with +feet and hands that had rotted away. He was a beautiful young man +with well-shaped feet and a beautiful fair skin, and the little widow +took her husband back to her father's house. "Papa, Papa," she said, +"you turned me out, but the gods have brought me back, and good fortune +came to me without your bringing it." The father was too frightened +of Parwati to say anything, so he held his peace. And the little girl +and her husband, the beggar-man, lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Parwati and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman. When the month of Bhadrapad came round, every household +bought little images of Parwati, and the women began to walk about +the streets and sound gongs. When the poor Brahman's children saw +this they went home and said to their mother, "Mummy, Mummy, please +buy us little images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls +have." But their mother said, "What is the use of my buying images +of Parwati? If I do we shall have to make offerings, and there is +absolutely nothing in the house. You run to papa and tell him to go +into the bazaar and buy grain. If he buys grain I'll buy you images of +Parwati." The children got up and ran to their father and cried out, +"Papa, Papa, Mama says that she will buy us images of Parwati if you +will go into the bazaar and get food to offer to them." Their father +at first searched all over the house but could find no grain. And +then he looked in his purse but he could find no money with which to +go to the bazaar and buy grain. But although he tried to explain this +to his children, they would not listen to him. They screamed at him +and shouted, "Papa, Papa, Mummy says that she will buy us images of +Parwati if you will get food to offer to them." "Papa, Papa, why should +we not have images of Parwati like the other little boys and girls." At +last they bothered the poor Brahman so much that he felt worried to +death. "I love," he said, "my children as if they were made of gold, +but they will not mind what I say. They will not understand that it +is nothing but poverty which prevents my buying food and offering it +to Parwati. I might go out and beg, but when I do, no one ever gives +me anything. Death is better than a life like this." With these words +he got up and walked to the edge of the village pond and determined +to drown himself. It was dark when he started, and half-way he met +an old woman. She heard him coming and asked him who he was. He told +her all his trouble, and said that he meant to jump into the pond to +escape from his children. The woman comforted him and prevailed on him +to turn home again. He took her home. His wife came to the door with +a lamp and asked who she was. The husband did not like to say that he +had only just met her on the road, so he said to his wife, "She is my +grandmother." The wife thereupon welcomed her and invited her to come +in and stay to supper. But her heart felt as heavy as lead, for she +knew that there was nothing to eat inside the house. When the old woman +had seated herself inside the house, the Brahman's wife got up and, in +despair, went to look inside the grain-pots. She knew they were empty, +but she thought that she would first look into them once again. But, +lo and behold! when she looked this time she found the grain-pots +brimming over with grain. She called her husband, and they were both +perfectly delighted. And the wife prepared bowls full of rice-gruel, +and every one, children and all, ate the rice-gruel till the skins +on their stomachs felt quite tight. And they went to bed as happy as +possible. Next morning the old woman called to the Brahman, "My son, +my son, get me water for my bath and cook me a nice hot dinner, and +please be quick about it, and do not start making objections." The +Brahman got up and called his wife, and they got water for the old +woman's bath, and then the Brahman went out to beg. When he had gone +out before, no one had ever given him anything. But to-day every one +ran out and gave him food and molasses and copper coins. Then he went +back home in splendid spirits. His wife prepared a glorious dinner, and +the children ate so much that the skin on their stomachs felt as tight +as a kettle-drum. After breakfast the old woman said to the Brahman, +"To-morrow I want a milk-pudding for dinner." "But, Grandmamma," said +the Brahman, "where shall I get the milk from?" The old woman said, +"Don't worry about that. Just get up and hammer down as many pegs as +you can in your courtyard. Then this evening, when the cattle come +home, call to the village cows and buffaloes by name, and they will +come to you, and if you milk them you will get enough milk for my +pudding to-morrow." The Brahman did as the old woman ordered him, +and that evening he called to the cows and buffaloes by name to come +to his courtyard. And from every direction the cows and buffaloes came +running up. And behind them galloped all the little calves with their +heels in the air and their tails stuck out straight behind them. At +last the Brahman's courtyard was filled so full that no more cows or +buffaloes could enter. And he milked them all, and next day his wife +cooked a milk-pudding such as one would not see again if one lived a +thousand years. And the children ate until they were so tired of eating +that they just rolled over and went fast asleep. But that evening the +old woman said, "My son, my son, I want you to take me home." "But, +Grandmamma, Grandmamma," said the Brahman, "how can I take you home, +for I have had all this good luck only because of you. Directly you go +away my good luck will vanish." "Do not be afraid," said the old woman, +"for I am Parwati. If I bless you your good luck will never +vanish. Therefore you must come with me and see me home." But the +Brahman said, "I do not want my good luck only to continue. I want +it to increase." The old woman said, "If you come with me I shall +give you some sand. When you go back home, scatter it all over the +house and over your jars and your pots, and put it inside your boxes +and your cupboards, and scatter it all over your courtyard too, and +you will find that your good luck will never be any less than it is +now." The Brahman was satisfied with this. He worshipped the old woman +and went with her towards the tank until she suddenly disappeared. He +returned home and scattered sand all over his house and over his +jars and his pots and inside his boxes and his cupboards, and from +that day on, his good luck never left him. And his wealth increased, +and his children increased. And they all lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Soma, the Washerwoman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He had also +one daughter called Gunvanti and a wife called Dhanvanti. Whenever +a mendicant Brahman came to this house, it was the custom of all +the ladies to give him alms and then prostrate themselves in front +of him. One day a Brahman came, tall as a tree and shining like the +sun. The seven daughters-in-law ran out as usual and gave him alms +and then threw themselves at full length at his feet. The Brahman +blessed them and said, "Increase of children be yours; increase of +wealth be yours; may your husbands cherish you all your lives." But +the Brahman's daughter Gunvanti was a lazy little girl, and when the +mendicant came she was still in bed. Her mother, Dhanvanti, rushed +into her room and cried, "Daughter, daughter, get up and give the +Brahman alms," The little girl jumped up in a fright and ran out and +put alms before him and prostrated herself at his feet. The mendicant +blessed her and said, "Observe the precepts of religion." + +The little girl ran back to her mother. "Mother, Mother," she cried, +"Bhatji [13] did not give me the same blessing as he gave to my +sisters-in-law," Her mother said, "Go back again and give him some +more alms and see what he does," The little girl ran back, put +some more alms before the mendicant, and again prostrating herself +asked for his blessing. Once more he said, "Observe the precepts +of religion," Then Dhanvanti asked him why he gave her daughter +such a strange blessing. The mendicant replied, "Because widowhood +will come upon her immediately after her marriage," Dhanvanti threw +herself before the Brahman and grasped his feet and cried, weeping, +"Tell me how I may escape this evil; what shall I do to save my one +little girl from becoming a widow?" The Brahman pitied her and said, +"Lady, lady, do not weep; I shall give you a remedy by which to cure +this evil. Across the seven seas there is an island. In it there lives +a washerwoman called Soma. If you can fetch her to your daughter's +wedding, she will escape the evil that threatens her. When the wedding +is over, you must send Soma back with all honour to her house." With +these words the mendicant took up his wallet and went to collect alms +elsewhere. When her husband returned home Dhanvanti told him what had +happened. "Some one," she added, "must go across the seven seas, to +fetch Soma, the washerwoman." The father and mother called up their +sons and said, "Those of you who honour your parents will take your +sister and cross the seven seas to bring Soma here." But all the +sons turned to their mother and said, "All you care about is your +daughter. You do not love us the least little bit. So we shall not +cross the seven seas and bring Soma here just on her account." The +mother began to cry, and the father got very cross. He turned to his +wife and said, "From henceforth you have no sons. To me our seven sons +are as if they had never been born. But do not get frightened about +our little girl I myself shall cross the seven seas and fetch Soma, the +washerwoman." Then the youngest of the seven sons said to his father, +"Daddy, Daddy, you must not say that you have no sons when here we are, +all seven of us. I shall take my sister Gunvanti with me, and we shall +go and fetch Soma, the washerwoman." A few days later the two children +prostrated themselves before their parents and began their voyage. + +In course of time they came to the seashore. But the wind was +blowing, the waves were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over +the rocks. The brother and sister could not imagine how they were to +continue their journey. There was no one near to give them food, there +was no one near to give them drink, and they could think of nothing +better than to lie down and die. But they first resolved to pray to +the god Shiva, "Please, please, God Shiva," prayed the two children, +"get us out of this terrible trouble." After praying they went and +sat under a banian tree, and all day long they had nothing to eat or +drink. Now on the very top of the banian tree was an eagle's nest, +and in it there were several little eagles. When evening came, father +eagle and mother eagle came home and began to feed their young. But +the little eagles would not eat anything at all. Mother eagle said, +"Children, children, what is the matter?" "O Mummy, Mummy," cried +the little eagles, "two strangers have come to our house, and they +are sitting under our tree, and they have had nothing to eat all +day!" Father eagle and mother eagle flew to the ground and began to +ask the boy what his trouble was. "Do not be frightened," said father +eagle; "whatever your business, I'll help you to get it done. Do not +go to bed without supper. I'll bring you some fruit. Eat some of it +yourself and give the rest to your little sister." + +The boy told father eagle what had happened, and how it was that they +had to cross the seven seas. Father eagle said, "I shall carry you +both across directly you wake up to-morrow, and I shall put you down +at Soma the washerwoman's door." Then the two children felt very happy +and thanked the god Shiva. And after eating father eagle's fruit, +they lay down under the tree and fell fast asleep in no time. Next +morning father eagle and mother eagle came down the tree, and father +eagle took the boy on his back, and mother eagle took the girl on +her back, and off they flew across the seven seas. The wind blew, +and the waves rolled mountains high, and the foam splashed over the +rocks. But father eagle and mother eagle flew straight on until they +came to the door of Soma, the washerwoman. There they left the boy and +girl and went back to the tree where the little eagles were waiting +for them. The boy and girl were too frightened to walk into Soma's +house, so they hid all that day, and next morning they got up at dawn +and they swept the courtyard and neaped the floor with cow-dung. And +then, before any one could see them, they ran away and hid. And this +they did every day for a whole year. + +At last Soma one day called all her children and all her little +daughters-in-law and said, "Who among you gets up so early? Who sweeps +my courtyard? Who clears my floor?" All the children and all the +little daughters-in-law said, "It is not I," "It is not I," "It is not +I." Then Soma became very curious to know who it was. So the following +night she did not go to bed. She sat up, but nothing happened until +just after dawn. Then she saw the little Brahman girl sweeping the +courtyard and her brother cleaning the floor. Soma got up and said, +"Children, who are you?" They replied, "We are Brahmans." "But I am +only a washerwoman," said Soma; "I am a low-caste woman, why do you +sweep my courtyard and neap my floor? It will be reckoned unto me +as a sin If I accept the service of Brahmans." The boy said, "This +is my sister, and a Brahman has told us that unless you come to her +wedding she will be widowed shortly after marriage. Our father and +mother told us to go and bring you back with us. So, in order to make +you pleased with us, we have been working as your servants." "Do not +work for me any more," said Soma, "I shall gladly go to your wedding," +She then called to her daughters-in-law and said, "I am going to this +child's wedding. But if any one of our relations dies when I am away, +do not burn his body until I come back." She went with the two Brahman +children to the seashore. The wind was blowing, and the great waves +were rolling in, and the foam was splashing over the rocks. But Soma +took the boy under one arm and the girl under the other. She jumped +far up into the sky and right over the seven seas, and when she got +to the opposite shore she put the children down again. They led her to +their father's house. Their mother Dhanvanti welcomed the washerwoman +and fell at her feet to thank her for her coming. The youngest brother +then went to Ujjain, and after making inquiries brought back a boy of +suitable caste and age to be a husband for his sister. On an auspicious +day the wedding was celebrated. But as the bridegroom and bride were +throwing rice [14] over each other, the bridegroom fainted. He fell +on the ground and lay there motionless. The little bride did not know +what to do, she was so frightened. And all the grown-up people were +almost as frightened as she was. But Soma, the washerwoman, stepped +forward and said, "It is nothing, do not be afraid." She took some +water in her hand and sprinkled it over herself. Now the secret of +Soma's power was this:-- + +She had acquired great merit by observing every Monday the following +practices: She would get up early, bathe, dress in silence, make +various gifts to Brahmans, and then walk one hundred and eight times +round a peepul tree. But now by sprinkling water over herself she had +transferred the whole of her merit to Gunvanti. By this means the +little bride had been able to restore her husband to life, and the +wedding ceremony finished amidst the happiness of all. Soma then took +leave to go, and started on her homeward journey. When she reached the +seashore, the wind was blowing, and the great waves came rolling in, +and the spray was splashing over the rocks. But now that she had given +away all her merit to Gunvanti, she had none left by means of which she +could jump across the seven seas. She sat down forlorn by the bank of +a river. Then she got up, bathed in the water, and prayed to the god +Vishnu. Next she took one hundred and eight sand-grains in her hand, +and then walked one hundred and eight times round a peepul tree by +the river's edge. Instantly her powers returned to her, and going back +to the shore, she sprang into the heavens and over the seven seas and +alighted close to her own door. There all her little daughters-in-law +ran out to meet her and cried, "O Mother-in-law, Mother-in-law, we +have been watching for you. For while you were away your sons, your +husband, and all your sons-in-law died. But just as you told us to do, +we did not burn their corpses, but kept them in the house. And now +they have all suddenly come back to life." Soma questioned the little +daughters-in-law and learnt that her sons and husband and sons-in-law +had all died at the very moment when she gave her merit to Gunvanti, +and that they had come back to life precisely when she finished her +one-hundred-and-eighth turn round the peepul tree. And they were all so +glad to have Soma back with them again, and for ever such a long time +afterwards she and her family lived happily together. And the Brahman +in his joy at his son-in-law's recovery forgave his disobedient sons, +and they too all lived happily together ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Vasishta and the Four Queens + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there ruled +a king who had four wives. They were always quarrelling over the +housework; so, in order to get some peace at home, the king himself +divided the work between them. To the first queen he gave all the +dairy work, to the second queen he gave all the cooking, to the +third he gave the nursery, and he ordered the fourth to look after +the royal wardrobe. At first all went well. But in a little while +the first queen said to the third queen, "Why should you have charge +of the nursery? Why should you not work in the dairy?" The second +queen said to the fourth queen, "Why should I have to do all the +cooking?" The third queen asked, "Why should I have always to look +after the children?" And the fourth queen stamped her foot and said, "I +won't look after the king's clothes." And all day long they quarrelled +and screamed at each other, and the poor king was more uncomfortable +than ever. His face grew sad and careworn, and, from the time he got +up to the time he went to bed, he could think of nothing but the way +that his four queens were squabbling with each other. + +One day the rishi, or sage, Vasishta [15] paid the king a visit. The +king prostrated himself before the great sage and gave him a throne +to sit upon. Vasishta looked at the king's face and saw how sad and +careworn it was. He asked the cause, and the king told him. Then +the rishi rose, and the king went with him to the palace of the +four queens. When they reached it, they called to the queens to come +out. The rishi then asked them why they quarrelled. The first queen +cried out, "Why should I have to do the dairy work?" And the second +queen cried out, "Why should I be only a cook-woman?" And the third +cried out, "Why should I have all the children to look after?" And the +fourth cried out, "Why should I have all the bother of sorting out all +the king's clothes?" The king said, "You must do these things because +I ordered you to." But the queens did not mind a word that he said, +and they all screamed together so loud that the king and the rishi +had to put their fingers in their ears to save themselves from being +deafened. For a while the rishi became absorbed in thought, and then +he turned to the first queen and said, "You have been placed in charge +of the dairy, have you not?" The first queen assented. "Then listen +to me," said Vasishta. "In a former life you were a cow, and near the +spot in the jungle where you used to graze was an altar to Shiva. And +every day at noon you used to come and stand near it and let milk +drop upon it. And, because in this way you honoured the god Shiva, you +have in this life become one of the queens of the king of Atpat. But +you did not in your former life attain to full merit. So the god +Shiva directed the king to place you in charge of his dairy, and the +king conveyed the god's directions to you. You should therefore obey +them, and you should honour the king as if he were Shiva himself. In +this way you will attain to full merit and ascend to Shiva's heaven, +Kailas." Vasishta then blessed the first queen. She prostrated herself +before him, and, giving up all thought of quarrelling, went away and +busied herself with her dairy work. + +Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She replied, "Why should I be just a +cook-woman?" The rishi thought for a while and said, "Lady, in a +former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and you used to beg +your food from door to door. But every Monday you used to fast, and +whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and offer to the +god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. Therefore in this +life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And because you cooked +for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you in charge of his +kitchen. Therefore, obey the god's directions and give a great feast +to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the favour of Shiva, and he +will take you with him to Kailas." Then he blessed the second queen, +and she prostrated herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the +king's dinner. + +The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, "What are you +quarrelling about?" The queen answered, "Why should I do nothing but +fiddle about the nursery?" Vasishta thought for a while and said, +"In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a jungle tribe. Every +Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the choicest fruits that +you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he has made you a +queen, and he has entrusted the king's children to you. Therefore +look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he will take you +to live with him in Kailas." The rishi then blessed the third queen, +and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran off, her face +all smiles, to play with the king's children. + +Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, "What are +you quarrelling about?" She answered, "Why should I do nothing but +look after the king's clothes?" The rishi said, "In a former life, +O Queen, you were a kite that flew high up in the heavens. Beneath +where you used to fly was an altar to Shiva, and every day at noon +you would spread your wings over it and shade it from the sun's +heat. So the god was pleased with you and in this life made you one +of the queens of Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva's altar, +so now a canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva, +now do service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain +full merit and in the end reach Kailas." Then the rishi blessed her, +and she went off quite gaily to attend to the king's clothes. + +And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily ever +afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story +should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured +them of their squabbling. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy +little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all +the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she +got very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she +had done, he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family +began asking where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had +eaten them. And then every one began abusing the mice, saying what +horrid little wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be +if the cat caught and ate them up. But, when the mice heard all this, +they were very angry with the little daughter-in-law for bringing a +false charge against them, and they all met together and vowed that +they would be revenged on her. Some days later the king invited a +guest to his house, and the same night the mice went into the little +daughter-in-law's room and dragged out one of her bodices and put +it across the guest's bed. Next morning the bodice was discovered +in the stranger's bed, and the little daughter-in-law was utterly +disgraced. Her father-in-law and all her brothers-in-law scolded her +dreadfully, and at last the king drove her out of the house. Now it +so happened that it had till then always been the work of the little +daughter-in-law to look after the lamps in the king's palace. Every +morning she used to rub them well and trim the wicks. She used to light +them herself and neap the burners with sugar-candy, and on Divali [16] +Day she used to worship them and make them suitable offerings. But, +directly the little daughter-in-law was driven away, none of the +lamps were any longer cared for. On the next Divali Day the king was +returning from a hunt, and he camped under a tree. Suddenly he saw all +the lamps in his town of Atpat come and settle on its branches. One +lamp after another told what was happening in its house--when there had +been a dinner party, what there had been to eat, who had been invited, +how they themselves had been cared for, and what honours they had +received on Divali Day. After all the other lamps had told their story, +the big lamp from the king's palace began, "Brother lamps, I do not +know how to tell you. For none among you is so wretched as I am. In +former years I was the most fortunate of all the lamps in Atpat. No +other lamp had such honours paid it as I had, and this year I have +to drag out my days In unspeakable misery." All the other lamps tried +to comfort it, and asked it how it was that ill-fortune had overtaken +it. "O brother lamps, how can I tell you?" repeated the big lamp. "I +am the chief among the lamps that shine In the palace of the King of +Atpat. One day the king's little daughter-in-law ate some sweetmeats +and to save herself blamed the mice. To revenge themselves, they in +turn brought a false charge against her by putting her bodice on the +bed of one of the king's guests. So she was disgraced and driven out +of the house. And after she left ill-fortune came upon me. For every +year it was she who worshipped me and paid me honour; and wherever she +is I wish her well, and I give her my blessing." The king listened +attentively to the talk between the lamps, and thus he learnt that +his daughter-in-law was innocent. He went home and asked whether +there was any other evidence against her besides her bodice. And +when he learnt that there was none, and that no one had seen anything +happen between her and the king's guest, he sent a messenger for her +and had her brought home. And he begged her pardon for the past, and +gave her full authority over all his household; and the king lived +and ruled ever afterwards as wisely and as well as King Ramchandra +of Ayodhya. And if any one brings a false charge against any of us, +may the lamps save us as they did the king's little daughter-in-law. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Parwati and the Priest + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there was a +temple to the god Shiva. One day when Shiva and his wife Parwati +were walking about they happened to come to this temple. They sat +down there and began to play saripat. [17] After some time Parwati +seeing a priest close by asked him who had won, she or Shiva. "Shiva," +the priest replied. Parwati became very angry and cursed him, so that +he became a leper, and the pains which overtook him were absolutely +unendurable. One day a band of Apsaras [18] came down from heaven to +the temple. They saw that the priest who lived in it was a leper, +and they asked him the reason. He told them how Parwati had cursed +him. They replied, "Do not be afraid; do as we tell you and you will +get rid of your leprosy. Fast all next Monday, bathe that evening, +worship the god Shiva, and then get half a pound of flour and mix +it with treacle and ghee and eat it for dinner. But whatever you do, +eat no salt all day. Do this for sixteen Mondays in succession, and +on the seventeenth Monday get five pounds of flour, mix with it ghee +and treacle, and offer it to Shiva inside this temple. Then divide it +into three parts; leave one for the god, distribute a second among +the Brahmans or give it to your cows, and take the third home to +be eaten by you and your family." The Apsaras disappeared, and the +priest followed their instructions and became quite well. Some time +afterwards Shiva and Parwati came again to the temple. Parwati saw +the priest cured of his leprosy and asked him how he had got rid of +it. He told her exactly what he had done. She was very much surprised, +and thought that if she did the same she might win back her son +Kartakswami, [19] who had quarrelled with her and had run off in a +rage. On the seventeenth Monday Kartakswami suddenly appeared, and +both of them were reconciled. Later on, Kartakswami asked Parwati how +she had brought him back, and Parwati told him. Now Kartakswami had a +Brahman friend who had gone into a far-off country, and Kartakswami +met him by accident shortly afterwards. He told the Brahman how the +priest had cured himself of leprosy, and how he and Parwati had become +reconciled. So the Brahman also practised the same rites for seventeen +Mondays. He then set out for a distant country. As he travelled he +came to a town. Now it happened that in that town arrangements were +being made for the marriage of the king's daughter. Several princes +had come from far-off countries to compete for her hand, and the king +had erected a splendid pavilion for the royal betrothal. But he would +not himself choose a prince to be his daughter's husband. He ordered +that a garland should be placed on a she-elephant's trunk, and that +the prince round whose neck the she-elephant threw the garland should +be chosen to marry the king's daughter. But the she-elephant passed +by all the princes in turn, until she came to where the Brahman +stood. For he had come with the crowds of people to see the royal +betrothal. Then the she-elephant stopped and put the garland round +the Brahman's neck. The king ordered the Brahman to step forward, and +he married him to his daughter. Some years later when the princess +grew up, and she and the Brahman began to live together, she asked +her husband by what merit he had succeeded in winning her for his +wife, and he told her. And she in turn practised the same rites for +seventeen Mondays. Nine months later a beautiful baby boy was born to +her; and when he in turn grew up she told him the rites which she had +practised to obtain him. And he in turn began to perform them. On the +sixteenth Monday he set out for a journey. As he travelled in a distant +country he came to a town over which ruled a king who had no son and +only one daughter. The king had for a long time past been searching +for a beautiful and virtuous young man, resolved when he found him to +hand over to him his kingdom and marry him to his daughter. As the +Brahman's son entered the town the king saw him and noticed on him +all the marks of royal origin. So he summoned him to his house and +married him to his daughter and seated him on his own throne. Now +the next Monday was the seventeenth Monday since the Brahman's son +had begun the rites which the Apsaras had told to the priest. That +morning he got up and went to the temple and sent a message home to +his wife that she should send him five sers of flour mixed with ghee +and treacle. But the queen was too proud to do this. For she feared +that the people in the street would laugh at her if she sent her +husband five sers of flour mixed with ghee and treacle. So instead +she sent him five hundred rupees in a plate. But because the flour +and ghee and treacle were not sent, the king was unable to complete +his ceremonial, and it was all spoilt. And the god Shiva instead of +being pleased became very angry indeed. And he told the king that, +if he kept the queen as his wife, he would lose his kingdom and die +a beggar. Next day the king sent for his chief minister and told him +what had happened. At first the minister said, "The kingdom belongs +to the queen's father. If you drive her out your subjects will hate +you." But the king replied, "Yes, but not to obey the god's command +is a worse thing still." At last the minister agreed with the king, +and the order went forth that the queen should be driven out of the +city. So the queen was driven out and became quite poor and wandered +along the road. At last she came to a distant town and lodged there +with an old woman, who gave her food and drink. One day the old woman +sent the queen out to sell fruit puddings. As she went into the bazaar +a great wind came and carried off the fruit puddings. When she returned +to the old woman's house, the queen told her what had happened, and +the old woman drove her out of the house. Then she went and lodged +with an oilman, who had great jars full of oil. But one day she went +and looked inside the jars, and all the oil disappeared. So the oilman +drove her off out of the house. The queen left the town and walked +along until she came to a river with abundant water in it. But directly +her eyes fell on the water, it all flowed away and left the water-bed +quite dry. She then journeyed on until she came to a beautiful lake, +but when her glance rested on the lake, it became full of worms, and +the water began to stink. And, when the cowherds came as usual to +water their cattle, the cattle would not drink the stinking water, +and they had to go home thirsty. By chance a Gosavi, or holy man, +came that way and saw the queen, and she told him her story. The +holy man took her to his house and treated her as his own daughter, +and she did her best to serve him faithfully. But, at whatever thing +she looked, it would either disappear or become full of worms and +maggots. At last the holy man searched for the cause of this by means +of his inner knowledge. And thus he learnt that she had incurred the +sin of spoiling the worship of Shiva, which the Apsaras had first +taught the priest. Unless that sin were atoned for, her evil glance +would never be purified. So the holy man prayed to the god Shiva, +and the god was pleased with him; and when the holy man interceded +with him on the queen's behalf, the god said that he would forgive her +if she began and completed properly the rites which she had spoiled +when her husband was performing them. The queen did so, and the god's +anger vanished. Suddenly there rose in the heart of her husband, the +king, a wish to see his queen, and he sent out messengers on every +side to look for her. At last one of the messengers saw the queen in +the holy man's hermitage and went back and told the king. The king +was overjoyed, and, taking his chief minister with him, he journeyed +to the hermitage. He threw himself at the holy man's feet and then +loaded him with presents. And the holy man was pleased and said, +"O King, I have treated your wife exactly as if she had been my own +daughter. She has lived here just as if she had been in her father's +house. Now take her with you back again and once more go through the +marriage ceremony with her." The king consented, and both he and the +queen prostrated themselves before the holy man, and then they both +returned to Atpat. And they celebrated their home-coming with the +greatest splendour. And the rest of the king's reign was as happy as +possible. And we shall be just as happy if we honour Shiva like the +King of Atpat did. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Rishi and the Brahman + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman. For many years he lived happily and cultivated his fields of +rice and grain. But one day his wife gave up the observances imposed +on her, and, as a result, the whole house was stained by her conduct, +and pollution hung like a black cloud over it. Her husband should +have driven her out, but he had not the heart to do so. So he, too, +incurred the blame of his wife's sin. In course of time they died, +and, as a punishment for their wickedness, the husband became in his +next life a bullock, and the wife became a dog. But the gods so far +relented as to find them a home in the house of their only son. + +Now the son was a very pious man, who never failed in his religious +rites. He worshipped the gods, gave memorial honours to his dead +father, and welcomed to his house every Brahman who passed by. One +year, on the anniversary of his father's death, he told his wife +to prepare a milk-pudding in honour of the dead, and announced that +he would invite Brahmans to partake of it. The wife was as pious as +her husband and never failed to obey his commands. So she made a big +milk-pudding, and she boiled vegetables and stewed fruits. But just as +she had finished and was about to invite her husband and his Brahman +guests to begin their feast, the dog saw that a snake had entered the +grain-jar, which had not been properly shut, and that it had left its +poisonous trail all over the grain from which the milk-pudding had been +prepared. The dog at once realised that, if the Brahmans who had been +invited to the memorial feast ate the poisoned grain, they would die, +and that the sin of Brahman murder would be incurred by the host, +her son. So she suddenly rushed up and put her foot right into the +middle of the milk-pudding. The son's wife was very angry. She threw +a red-hot coal at the dog with such skill that it dropped on to the +middle of her back and burnt a big hole in it. Then the son's wife +cooked a fresh milk-pudding and fed the Brahmans. But she was so +cross with the dog that she would not give her the smallest possible +scrap. So the poor dog remained hungry all day. When night fell she +went to the bullock who had been her husband and began to howl as +loudly as she could. The bullock asked her what the matter was. She +told him how she had seen that a snake had poisoned the grain, and +how, to prevent the Brahmans dying and her son incurring the sin of +their death, she had put her paw into the middle of the milk-pudding; +how her daughter-in-law had been angry and had burnt a hole in her +back with a live coal, and how her back hurt so that she did not know +what to do. The bullock answered, "You are suffering for the pollution +with which you darkened our house in a former life, and, because I +let you remain in the house and touched you, I too am suffering, and +I have become a bullock. Only to-day my son fastened me to his plough, +tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too have, like you, had nothing to eat +all day. Thus all my son's memorial services are useless." Now the son +happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He +at once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he +brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at +heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until +at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself +before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman's son +said, "I am sad because my father has been born again as a bullock +and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their release," The +rishi said, "There is only one way to help them. You must worship the +seven sages who have their home in the Great Bear." [20] And he told +the Brahman's son the ceremonies which he should observe, and how he +should worship the seven sages continually every month of Bhadrapad, or +September, for seven years. The Brahman's son obeyed the rishi, and at +the end of the seven years a fiery chariot came down from heaven. The +bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome +woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off +to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The King and the Water-Goddesses + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled +a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a +village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it +filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him, +and the water-goddesses were pleased and said, "O King, O King, +sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the +tank will fill with water." The king heard it and went home very +troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved +the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of +many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last +he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, "Daughter-in-law, +it is a long time since you went to see your parents. You had better +go and pay them a visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look +after him here." The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her +parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable +day and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in +his honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took +him into the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and +told him not to stir. The water-goddesses were pleased, and a great +mass of water suddenly rushed into the tank, and it was filled right +up to the brink. After a time the daughter-in-law came back from her +father's house and brought her brother with her. They asked where her +son was, but they could get no information. Whenever they asked the +king, he did nothing but say how the water had come into the tank, +and what a beautiful tank it was, and how happy it would make all +the villagers. At last the daughter-in-law guessed what had happened, +and when the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Shravan, +or August, came round, she and her brother went to the edge of the +tank and began to worship the water-goddesses. She took a cucumber +leaf, and on it she placed some curds and rice. Next she mixed +with them some butter and a farthing's worth of betel-nut. Then she +told her brother to pray, "O Goddess, Mother of All, if any one of +our family is drowned in the tank please give him back to us." He +did so and then threw the offering into the lake. Then they both +turned to go home. But as she was turning homewards, she felt some +one pull her by the legs. She looked down and saw that it was her +missing son. When she saw him she dragged him with all her might to +the bank, and then she and her brother walked home with him. When +the king heard that she was coming, together with her missing son, +he wondered greatly, and going to her he fell at her feet and said, +"O my daughter, I offered your son to the water-goddesses; how has +he come back again?" She said, "I worshipped the water-goddesses +and made offerings to them. Then my son came out of the water, and +I lifted him up and drew him to the shore." The king was overjoyed +and showed the greatest favour to his daughter-in-law. And she and +her little son lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Lid of the Sacred Casket + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +Brahman who had two twin sons. While they were still quite young, +the twins' parents died, and their relatives stole from them all +their property and then turned them out of the house. The twins +wandered along until they came to a town. It was then noon, and +the boys were weary with walking and were tortured with hunger and +thirst. As they entered the town, a Brahman came out of his door +to throw food to the crows. He saw the two boys and called them in, +fed them, and then made them tell him their story. When he heard it +he resolved to provide for them, and he lodged them in his house and +taught them to recite the Vedas. On Lalita Panchmi Day the Brahman +began to perform certain ceremonies. His pupils asked him why he did +so. The sage replied that by doing so one could attain to wealth, +knowledge, and to the wish of one's heart. The boys begged him to +instruct them, and they quickly learnt how to worship the goddess +Parwati. Not long afterwards the Brahman provided them with wives, +and they returned to their own city, acquired wealth, and were very +happy. A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a +wise boy and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita +Panchmi Day. So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the +younger was foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to +dislike him, and he lost all his money. And at last he became so poor +that he and his wife had to give up their house and go and live on +the charity of his elder brother. One day the elder brother's wife +spoke so crossly and said such nasty things to the younger twin, +that he felt that he could not stay in the house any longer. And he +remembered then that of recent years he had entirely forgotten to +worship Parwati. He felt very penitent, and he decided that somehow or +other he would win back the goddess's favour. Taking his wife with him, +he left his brother's house and journeyed to a distant country. At +last he came near a town, and, meeting a cowherd, the younger twin +asked him what its name was. The cowherd said, "The town is called +Upang." "Who is the king?" asked the younger twin. The cowherd replied, +"He also is called Upang." The wanderer then asked whether there was +any place where he and his wife could lodge. The cowherd told him +that in the town there was a temple of Parwati, and close to it +was a rest-house where the wanderer and his wife could lodge. The +cowherd directed them to the rest-house. And before lying down the +younger twin worshipped Parwati in the temple and begged her pardon +for his previous neglect. Parwati felt sorry for him, and that night +she appeared to him in a dream. She told him to go to King Upang's +palace and to beg from him the lid of the sacred casket in which +the accessories of worship were kept. He should, thereafter, always +pray to it, and in the end he would come by his heart's desire. The +younger twin woke up, and the same morning he went to King Upang's +palace and begged from him the lid of the sacred casket in which were +kept the accessories of worship. The king at first refused, but when +the younger twin told the king of his dream the king consented. The +Brahman took the lid home, worshipped it, and, just as the goddess +had foretold, he came by his heart's desire. Property and happiness +returned, and a year later his wife bore him a daughter. As the years +passed the little girl grew up. One day she took the lid of the sacred +casket and went with some playmates to play and bathe by the bank of +a river. Suddenly the corpse of a Brahman came floating by. Seeing +it, the little girl took the lid of the casket and for fun began to +splash water on it. Such was the power of the sacred lid, that the +corpse instantly became alive again and became a Brahman, tall as a +tree and beautiful as the sun. The little girl fell in love with him +on the spot and told him that he must become her husband. "But," said +the Brahman, "how shall I manage it?" The little girl said, "Come home +with me at dinner-time, take as usual water [21] in your hand, but do +not sip it. Then my daddy will ask you, 'Bhatji, Bhatji, why do you +not sip the water in your hand?' You must reply, 'I am ready to dine +if you marry me to your daughter. If you will not, I shall get up and +go away.' Then he will consent to our marriage." The Brahman agreed, +and he went home with the little girl, and everything happened as she +had planned. To prevent the Brahman from getting up without any food, +the little girl's father agreed to their marriage. When a favourable +day came they were married, and when she was old enough the little +girl went to her husband's house. As she went she carried off the +lid of the sacred casket of King Upang. But, because it had gone, +her father lost all his wealth and fell once more into the greatest +poverty. His wife went to her daughter's house and asked for it +back, but she refused to give it up. The wife was very angry and +every day began to hate her son-in-law more and more. But for him, +as she thought, the little girl would never have married and would +not have stolen the lid of the sacred casket. One day the wife met +her son-in-law on the road, and she gave him such a fearful slap in +the face that he instantly fell on the ground and became a corpse +again. His mother-in-law then-snatched from him the lid of the casket, +which he happened to have in his hand, and ran away home. There he +lay until the little girl, his wife, began to search for him. When +she found him she prayed to the goddess, and by her aid and by means +of the merit which she had acquired by worshipping the lid of the +casket while she had it, she restored her husband to life. But the +twin and his wife went on becoming poorer and poorer. And at last +they went back to his brother's house and asked him why it was that +the younger twin was always losing his wealth as fast as he gained +it. The elder brother listened to the whole story and then he said, +"I do not wonder at it. First you lost the lid of the casket, then, +in order to get it back, your wife killed a Brahman. Your only chance +now is to worship Parwati harder than ever, and perhaps in the end +you may recover your good estate." So the younger brother went home +and worshipped Parwati with greater vigour than ever. And at last +she relented and gave him her blessing. He recovered his wealth and +came by all that his heart desired. And he and his wife lived happily +ever afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Brahman Wife and Her Seven Sons + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a +poor Brahman who used always to perform Shradh or memorial ceremonies +to his father on the last day of the month of Shravan. When performing +these ceremonies he always invited other Brahmans to dine. But it so +happened that on every last day of the month of Shravan, [22] from the +day of his father's death onwards, his daughter-in-law gave birth to a +little boy. And just as the Brahmans had begun to enjoy their dinner, +the child would die. So all the Shradh ceremonies had to cease, +and the poor Brahmans had to be sent away feeling most dreadfully +hungry. This happened regularly for six years. But, when the seventh +little boy was born only to die just as his guests were beginning +to enjoy their dinner, the poor Brahman lost all patience. He took +the newly-born child and placed it in his daughter-in-law's lap and +then drove her out of the house and into the jungle. The poor woman +walked along until she came to a great, dark forest. In it she met the +wife of a hobgoblin, [23] who asked, "Lady, Lady, whose wife are you, +and why do you come here? Run away as quickly as you can. For, if my +husband the hobgoblin sees you, he will tear you to pieces and gobble +you up." The poor woman said she was the daughter-in-law of a Brahman, +and explained how every year she had given birth to a son on the last +day of Shravan, how it had died in the middle of the Shradh feast, +and how at last her father-in-law had put the child in her lap and +had driven her from home and into the forest. The hobgoblin's wife +repeated, "If you value your life at all, go away." The Brahman +woman began to cry, until at last the hobgoblin's wife had pity on +her and said, "Do not be afraid; walk a little way until you come to +an altar to the god Shiva, Close by is a bel [24] tree; climb into it +and hide among the branches. To-night the serpent-maidens from Patala +and the wood-nymphs, together with a train of seven demon Asuras, +[25] will come and worship at the altar. After making their offerings +to the god, they will call out, 'Is there any uninvited guest present +to whom we can make a gift?' You must then call out in reply, 'Yes, +I am here.' They will see you and question you, and you must tell them +all your story." The poor Brahman woman agreed. She walked on until +she came to the god Shiva's altar. She climbed into the branches of +the bel tree. She remained there until midnight came. Suddenly the +serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs, accompanied by a +train of seven demon Asuras, came and worshipped at the altar. After +making offerings to the god they called out, "Is there any uninvited +guest present to whom we can make a gift?" The Brahman woman at once +climbed down the bel tree and called out in answer, "Yes, I am here," +The serpent-maidens from Patala and the wood-nymphs, greatly surprised, +asked her who she was, and she told them all her story. Then the +serpent-maidens of Patala and the wood-nymphs ordered their train +of demon Asuras to go and search for the seven sons of the Brahman +woman. The seven demon Asuras spurred their horses and rode off in all +directions. In a little time the giant captain of the demon guards +rode up carrying in his arms the body of a little boy of six. Then +another rode up carrying the body of a little boy of five. And four +others rode up carrying a little boy of four, a little boy of three, +a little boy of two, and a little boy only one year old. Last of +all the seventh demon Asura rode up with a newly-born baby boy. The +demons placed the bodies in front of the serpent-maidens from Patala +and of the wood-nymphs. And first of all the little boy of six came to +life and got up and ran to his mother. Next the little boy of five, +and then the little boy of four, and then the little boy of three +came to life and ran to their mother. Then the little boy of two +came to life and got up, but he could only walk to his mother. Next +the little one-year-old boy came to life, but he could not get up, +so he lay on his back and kicked up his legs. And last of all the +newly-born baby came to life, but he could not even kick up his +legs. And they were all delighted to see their mother, and she was +overjoyed to have all her sons again. But the serpent-maidens from +Patala and the wood-nymphs warned her that she must pray to the +sixty-four Yoginis, the attendants who wait on Durga, the Goddess +of Death, or else her children would be snatched from her again. And +they told her to pray her hardest, for her prayer had to travel down +to the depths of Hell. So the Brahman woman prayed her hardest to +the sixty-four Yoginis, and then she prostrated herself before the +serpent-maidens from Patala, and the wood-nymphs, and their train of +demon Asuras. And then she took the little one-year-old boy on her hip, +and the newly-born baby boy in her arms, and she walked with her other +five sons to the village. When the villagers saw her coming they ran +and said to the Brahman, "Bhatji, Bhatji, your daughter-in-law is +coming back home." And the Brahman became very angry and vowed that +he would drive her away again. So he watched for her coming. But +first of all he saw walking towards his house a little boy of six, +and then a little boy of five, and then a little boy of four, and +then two other little boys of three and two. Last of all he saw his +daughter-in-law with a one-year-old boy on her hip and a newly-born +baby in her arms. He rose and fetched a cauldron of water and two +handfuls of rice from his house. And he waved his hands filled with +rice round the heads of his daughter-in-law and of all her children, +and last of all he washed their feet. In this way he welcomed back to +his house his grandchildren and their mother. And he made her tell +him all her story; and she, and her children, and the Brahman spent +the rest of their lives in great peace and perfect happiness. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +The Golden Temple + +Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there reigned a +king who had four daughters-in-law. He loved three of them very dearly, +but the fourth, who was an ugly little girl, he did not like at all. To +the three daughters-in-law he gave nice food and fine clothes. But +to the ugly little daughter-in-law he gave nothing but scraps from +his table and thick, coarse clothes to wear. He would not even let her +sleep inside the house, but made her sleep in the stable and look after +the cows. The poor ugly daughter-in-law grew so unhappy that, when the +first Monday in Shravan [26] came, she ran out of the palace, and out +of the town, and then away as fast as her fat little legs would carry +her. At last she went and hid herself in the woods. Now it so happened +that that very day a band of serpent-maidens [27] had come up from +Patala. After wandering through the forest and bathing in the running +streams, they had joined a bevy of wood-nymphs and were coming in her +direction. At first she was too terrified to say a single word. But at +last she asked, "Ladies, ladies, where are you going?" "To the temple +of Shiva," they replied, "to worship the god. For by doing that, one +wins the love of one's husband, one obtains children, and one comes by +the wish of one's heart." When the ugly daughter-in-law heard that by +doing what the serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs were about to do +she could win love for herself, she at once thought that in this way +she, too, might win the love of her father-in-law. So she told the +serpent-maidens of Patala and the wood-nymphs that she would go with +them. They went deeper and deeper into the forest until at last they +came to a temple of the god Shiva. There the serpent-maidens and the +wood-nymphs offered to the god rice, betel-nut, incense, flowers, and +the leaves of the bel tree. The ugly little daughter-in-law did just +as they did. And when she had finished she cried out, "O God Shiva, +please, please vouchsafe my prayer also, and make my father-in-law +and my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like +me as much as they now dislike me." That evening she went home and +fasted, and all the scraps which they threw to her from the king's +table she gave to her favourite cow. And then she sat by herself and +prayed to the god Shiva. The following Monday she once more ran out of +the palace and out of the town and into the woods as fast as her fat +little legs would carry her. There she met again the serpent-maidens +of Patala and the bevy of wood-nymphs and went with them to the +temple of Shiva in the distant heart of the forest. The first time the +serpent-maidens and the wood-nymphs had given her the incense and the +flowers, the rice and the betel-nut, and the leaves of the bel tree, +with which to perform her worship. But they had told her that the +next time she must bring them herself. So when she ran away on the +second Monday in Shravan she brought with her incense and flowers, +rice and betel-nut and bel-tree leaves, and after offering them and +some sesamums to the god she once more prayed, "O God Shiva, please, +please grant my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." Then she went home and fasted, and giving all her dinner +to her favourite cow she sat by herself and prayed to Shiva. That +evening the king asked her who the god was whom she was honouring, +and where he lived. The ugly little daughter-in-law replied, "Afar +off my god lives, and the roads to him are hard, and the paths to him +are full of thorns. Where snakes abound and where tigers lie in wait, +there is his temple." The third Monday in Shravan, the ugly little +daughter-in-law again started from the palace with her flowers and +incense, her betel-nut and bel leaves, her rice and sesamum, in order +to meet the serpent-maidens of Patala and the bevy of wood-nymphs, and +with them to worship the god in the hidden depths of the forest. This +time the king and her other male relatives followed her and said +to her, "Ugly little daughter-in-law, take us with you and show us +your god." But the temple of Shiva was ever so far from the king's +palace. The ugly daughter-in-law did not mind, for she was used to +cruel treatment. She had also walked to the temple twice before, and +her feet had got as hard as two little stones. But the king and his +relatives were tired to death; and their feet swelled up to the size +of an elephant's, and they became as full of thorns as the back of a +porcupine. And they muttered to each other, "How on earth does that +ugly little daughter-in-law manage to walk as she does through the +heart of the forest?" The ugly daughter-in-law at last felt sorry for +them. She prayed to the god Shiva to build a temple near at hand. The +god consented, and, with the help of the serpent-maidens of Patala +and of the wood-nymphs, he created suddenly a beautiful temple all of +pure, yellow gold. Its pillars were studded with jewels, and the jars +in it were all of crystal. In the middle there rose from the ground +an altar to the god Shiva. And last of all the god revealed himself +to the king and his companions in all his glory and splendour. For +a moment only they saw him; and then he vanished. The king and his +companions stared, too astonished to move or speak. But the ugly +little daughter-in-law prostrated herself and offered to the god +flowers and incense. Then she cried out, "O God Shiva, please, please +vouchsafe my prayer and make my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, +my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law like me as much as they now +dislike me." When the king heard her prayer his heart softened to her, +and he spoke kindly to her and gave her jewelry and trinkets. In a +little while he took off his turban and, placing it on a peg, walked +out to look at a lovely lake which, unnoticed by any one before, +now stretched out close by the temple. And behind him strolled out +his companions. But when they had gone out of sight, the beautiful +golden temple by the lake vanished for ever. After looking at the +lake the king came back to fetch his turban which he had left in +the temple. But he could not find the beautiful temple all of pure, +yellow gold, with its jewel-studded pillars and its crystal jars. The +king asked the little daughter-in-law the cause. She said nothing, +but straightway walked deeper into the forest. And the king and his +companions, although weary to death, followed her. At last they came to +the temple where she had worshipped, together with the serpent-maidens +from Patala and the bevy of wood-nymphs. It was a tiny temple, +and inside it there was a rough altar. At the foot of the altar lay +the flowers which the ugly daughter-in-law had offered to the god, +and close by on a peg hung the turban left by the king. Again the +king asked his daughter-in-law the meaning of what had happened. She +replied, "This temple that you see is my own poor little temple. But, +because of my prayers, the god Shiva showed himself to you in the +beautiful temple, all of pure, yellow gold, with its jewel-studded +pillars and its crystal jars." When the king heard her reply, he grew +more pleased than ever with the daughter-in-law whom formerly he had +so disliked. And because the god had revealed himself at her prayer, +the king, to do her honour, sent for his royal palanquin and had her +carried home in state. And the ugly little daughter-in-law became out +of the four the king's favourite. And he was so much nicer to her than +he was to his other three daughters-in-law that they became as jealous +as cats. But the king and the ugly little daughter-in-law did not mind +them the least little bit. And they both lived happily ever afterwards. + + + +NOTES + +[1] For an account of the birth of Kartakswami see The Tale of the +Tulsi Plants p. 93. + +[2] In India days of the week have the same mysterious connexion +with the astral bodies that they have in Europe. Aditwar or Raviwar +is sun's day (Sunday); Somwar is moon's day (Monday); Mangalwar is +Mars' day (mardi); Budhwar is Mercury's day (mercredi); Brihaspatiwar +is the day of Diespiter or Jupiter (jeudi); Shukrawar is Venus' day +(vendredi); Shaniwar is Saturn's day (Saturday). + +[3] His bad actions in a former life. + +[4] All these stories take place in Atpat town. This literally means +"City Splendid." But in the tales it is simply a fabulous city. + +[5] Although Tuesday is really the day of Mars, Mangal, this tale +by a popular error connects the day with Mangalgauri or Parwati, +Shiva's wife. + +[6] Budh is Mercury; Brahaspati is Jupiter. + +[7] For serpent-maidens of Patala see note to Story XX. + +[8] Mahalaxmi is always worshipped in this way. And it is a common +practice for anyone who wants anything to blow on a pot and then wish +for it. + +[9] Kolhapur is the chief seat of the worship of Mahalaxmi. + +[10] Ashwin corresponds approximately with October. + +[11] A kind of draughts. + +[12] Nagpanchmi Day falls on Shravan Sud 5, i.e. the 5th day of the +bright half of Shravan. + +[13] Bhatji is the name by which a mendicant Brahman is addressed. + +[14] This is called the akshataropan. + +[15] Vasishta was the family priest of King Dasaratha, father of +Ramchandra. After death he became one of the stars in the constellation +of the Great Bear. + +[16] Divali is the feast of lamps in the month of Kartih. + +[17] Saripat is a kind of draughts. + +[18] Apsaras are attendants on the gods. + +[19] Kartakswami was really Parwati's step-son (see Preface). + +[20] The Indians do not associate the Great Bear constellation with a +bear, but they believe it to be the habitation of seven rishis. The +seven rishis vary in different works. In the Mahabharat the names +given are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatya, and Vasishta. + +[21] Aposhani. This is the water which a Brahman sips from his hand +before and after his meal. + +[22] Shravan corresponds roughly with August. The death of the child +nullified all the virtue of the Shradh feast, which had at once to +be stopped. + +[23] Zhoting is really the unquiet ghost of a Musulman, but hobgoblin +is probably a sufficiently close translation. + +[24] A tree sacred to Shiva. + +[25] The Asuras, who are now reckoned petty demons, had once upon +a time a much higher position. They are the same as Ahura-Magda, +the Jupiter of the Iranians. The latter, curiously enough, +degraded the Devas or Hindu Gods to the subordinate place of +demons. (Cf. Rawlinson's Bactria, page 21.) + +[26] Shravan = August. + +[27] Nag-kanya. These are the maidens of the race of the Nagas, who +are said to have sprung from Kadru, wife of Kasyapa. One of them, +Ulupi, married the hero Arjuna. They live in Patala, the lowest of +the seven underground regions. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Deccan Nursery Tales, by Charles Augustus Kincaid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DECCAN NURSERY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 11167.txt or 11167.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/6/11167/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed +Proofreaders Team from scans of the Million Books Project. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/old/11167.zip b/old/old/11167.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a103647 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/11167.zip |
