विक्रम चरित (उज्जैन सम्राट् विक्रमादित्य - पराक्रम, न्याय एवं ३२ पुतलियों की कथा सटीक)

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which I am far from thinking it can be. The public credit,
however, will be lost, whatever semblance of it may be
preserved in the presence of power and authority.' The
king was in a good humour, and she took advantage of it.
He smiled at her freedom of speech, and in the most
complacent manner replied, 'Do not be vexed; compose
yourself and go home. I will positively be with you this
night.' The actress retired, and as evening drew on, the
king again, after the labours of the day, bent his steps
towards the actress' house. On his way his mind was
occupied with nothing but the pleasurable moments he
should enjoy with the handsome creature he was about to
visit, whom he never for a moment suspected to be his
mother. As he was thus wending his way, regardless of
all external objects, he trod accidentally on the tail of a
calf that was lying in his way, who, on being hurt, set up a
roaring noise. The mother, who was hard by, was alarmed
at the cry, and said fiercely, in articulate sounds, 'Silence,
my child! the hurt you have now received proceeds from
the indifference produced by the intoxicating passion of
lust. The king, with blind fatality, and overcome by an
inhuman passion, is thus rushing on his own destruction:
he is now going to meet his own mother, with unworthy and
criminal intentions! Is it to be wondered at, then, that he
should in this mad adventure be regardless of those he may
injure in his wild precipitancy?' The king trembled like
an aspen on hearing these words proceed from a dumb
animal. He pondered long on their import. 'During the
last two days,' thought he 'I found the bird Pingla obstruct-
ing my way with its discordant chirpings, and to-day has
happened what is in itself a miracle—a dumb animal
speaking! Surely there must be some mystery involved
in all this!' He for a moment suspended, by an herculean
effort, all the workings of his passionate heart, and was
gradually led into thinking in the light of a mother of the
woman he was going to meet, as the cow had in a most
convincing manner pronounced her to be. He was deter-

92

mined now, more than ever, to go and see her, and inquire
into her history ; so he kept on his course until he arrived
at the house of the actress, who was in readiness to receive
him, and to conduct him to the room which had been
prepared expressly for his majesty. The princess, or, to be
more exact, the king's mother, from a conscious rectitude
of purpose, and from the previous argument she had entered
into with herself, neither dreaded the actress nor yet the
approaching meeting. She waited in an apartment ready
to receive the king, seated on a couch of downy softness,
and had her room-door bolted to prevent unauthorised
intrusion. As soon as the king entered the house, which
displayed all the riches of the actress, he was received with
every demonstration of joy and respect due to him ; but,
as may well be supposed, the serious turn the king's mind
had taken. prevented his bestowing anything like the appro-
bation the actress had been led to expect from his previous
conduct. He merely said to her, in rather a stern voice,
' Where is your beautiful and interesting attendant ?' upon
which she ushered him into the interior of the house, and
to the door of the princess' apartment, which they found
fastened. The prince, then, without a moment's hesita-
tion, cried out, ' Oh, mother—my dear and accomplished
mother !—open the door ; I am impatient to know and to
speak to you, and have come to ascertain your history. I
assure you I have not come, as you have been led to sup-
pose, with any unworthy intentions.' At these words, so
contrary to what she had expected, the actress was much
surprised, and a trembling suddenly came upon her, but
she dared not give way to her feelings in the presence of
the king. The princess, or attendant, as she was commonly
called, now giving thanks to God for the change in her
position, and for the proof, as it were, of the prediction of
the astrologer, rose from her seat and instantly opened the
door to admit her son,—for that the king was her son she
was now thoroughly convinced.
' The king, on entering, with great respect in his manner

93
seated himself beside the handsome attendant, and thus
began : ‘ Be so kind as to relate to me your history—who
you are, and your reasons for lodging in the house of this
disreputable person. Are you a princess ? Tell me, I
beseech you !’ She sighed, and for a time was bathed in
tears. When she had regained her speech, she addressed
the king as follows :—‘ Oh, king ! I will now lay my unfor-
tunate case before you. I am the daughter of a certain
king, and married the Prince Soorsain, son of King Bhu-
drasain, of the city of Bhadravutty. My husband one day,
being engaged in the pleasure of the chase in an adjoining
wood; became thirsty, and went to a certain lake in order to
quench his thirst : while engaged in drawing the water with
his hands, the water deities took hold of him by the hand
and carried him to their abode, and he is now with them.
While deploring the loss of my husband, I happened to
overhear a prediction by the famous astrologer Dhanoo,
whereupon I was on the point of cursing those who with-
held my husband from me, or who had slain him, not
knowing at the time his exact fate, or what had become of
him. On this the deities suddenly made their appearance
in my apartment, and desired me to stop my malediction,
saying they would restore my husband to me for that night,
under the strict injunction, in support of which they
extracted an oath from me, that I should send him back to
them the next morning. In the morning they appeared and
took him away in their train.’ She then related the
particulars of the treatment she had received from her
father-in-law, how she came into that city and became an
attendant on the actress, together with every subsequent
occurrence. Comparing this tale with what he had heard
from the cow on his way, the king was fully convinced that
the person before him was no other than his mother. He
became so affected at this that he mingled his tears with
those shed by the unfortunate princess. The king turned
to the actress, who was present all the time, and who stood
as one rooted to the spot, and inquired, ‘ Do you know

'94
where I was born?' She started, turned pale, and in an
incoherent manner replied, 'I know your ma—a—jes—ty
was born in the fa—mi—ly of the king whose crown you
now wear.' The king threatened that if she did not speak
the truth he would punish her in the way which he should
deem most advisable. She exhibited the utmost trepidation
at these words, and replied, 'Your majesty wishes to know
the truth;—indeed I am acquainted with nothing more
than what I have already said on the subject; but the
midwife who attended at your majesty's birth will doubtless
be able to supply you with further particulars.' The king
immediately sent for the midwife, and questioned her.
'Tell me,' said he, 'as you value your life, where was I
born? If you prevaricate, or tell any untruths, I will cut off
your nose and ears! Consider then well what you are about
to say.' The midwife, from her first entrance into the
presence of the young sovereign, trembled violently, and the
perspiration oozed out from every pore of her body to such
an extent as well nigh to render it impossible for her to
stand from sheer weakness. For a time she could not find
utterance; but when at length sufficiently recovered, she
said, 'I will obey your majesty's commands, by relating the
whole truth; but you must deign to pass your royal word
that no evil shall befal me if in the course of the relation I
should confess myself to have been guilty of gross miscon-
duct.' The king, in his anxiety to get at the truth, gave
the promise. The midwife then related the whole of the
transaction regarding the exchange of the children which we
have already recorded. Having done so, she prostrated
herself before the now enraged monarch, and notwithstand-
ing the promise of pardon that had been extended to her,
besought him for the love of heaven to forgive the part she
had taken in the dishonest act, being induced thereto, she
said, by the earnest entreaty of the queen. She implored
his clemency, not only for herself, but for all concerned in
the nefarious business. The princess, who had been all the
time an attentive listener to the tale that had been unfolded

95

by the midwife, now burst into tears, her supposed daughter
joining her, and the king himself was so moved as to catch
the infection. The young king and his mother could not
but trace the hand of Providence throughout the mazes of
the painful story thus unfolded before them, and they blessed
and thanked the Almighty for his goodness in enabling
them to elicit the truth. The princess, giving way to her
feelings, affectionately embraced the king, and kissed him
a thousand times, her demonstrations of affection being as
tenderly returned ; and though they were both bathed in
torrents of tears, yet were they tears of joy. After a short
stay in the house, which was spent in mutual inquiries and
explanations, and in the interchange of those expressions of
solicitude and love, the full depth of which those similarly
placed can alone be said to understand, the king ordered his
state palanquins to be brought for his mother and the
young princess who had so long supplied the place of a child
to her. When the princess, after years of misery and
privation, found herself with her son and helpmate, if we
may so call her adopted child, in the palace together, her
joy became boundless; words cannot do justice to that
which every look, every movement, and every attitude
displayed. She was happy—supremely happy !—the only
thing that helped, perhaps, to cast a cloud on the sunshine
that now shone over all, was the absence of her dear lord
and husband; and even in such moments she might be
said to find consolation, for she knew that he was well in
health, and in perfect safety.
" Next morning, the king called his minister, and without
at all acquainting him with his intentions, directed him to
assume the reins of government during an absence which
he contemplated. He said he trusted to his integrity and
ability, for which he was deservedly famed. In all his
decisions he directed him to be guided by the strictest
impartiality, equity, and justice. He was going, he said,
to settle an important affair, which would take at least a
month. He also ordered that whatever preparations might

96

be necessary for the journey should be made as speedily as
possible. When all was ready, he, with his mother and
sister, (for so we shall call them for brevity's sake,) and a
small retinue, set out for the plain where his father Soorsain
had been taken away by the water deities. When he came
to the lake he gave directions for encamping there, and his
pavilion and the tents of the retinue were immediately
pitched on the banks ; after which the king called together a
number of hermits, brahmins, and other devout persons, to
whom, when they had all assembled, he stated the whole
case, requesting at the same time their advice as to how he
was to get his father Soorsain back from the abode of the
water fairies. The brahmins proposed that certain offerings
should be made to fire, close to the lake, for which purpose
they caused a pit to be dug to hold the sacred embers.
They then entered upon a profound meditation, each person
being engaged in performing the respective part allotted to
him. This lasted for nine days. In order to propitiate the
deities, at the close of the sacrifice they set apart certain
pure trees and clarified butter, which they burnt in the
sacrificial fire ; but the deities not appearing particularly
favorable to Prince Bulsain, he took a knife in his hand,
and, after calling upon God, began to slice the flesh off his
arms, and to cast it into the burning flames. The deities
still seeming indifferent to his prayers, in a most humble
manner, and after deep meditation, he appealed to the
Almighty, and raised his hand to sever his head from his
body ; but lo ! the deities instantly appeared in the sky,
saying, ' Oh, prince ! ask what you will ; we can refuse you
nothing, for we are pleased with your generous exploit.'
The prince answered them, ' If you are pleased with me,
give me King Soorsain, my honored father !' They
immediately disappeared and released Soorsain, who coming
suddenly from the lake, first embraced Bulsain, his son,
and then prostrated himself at the feet of the pious men
there assembled. The princess now suddenly emerged
from among her attendants and waiting-women, and, after

97
embracing her husband, prostrated herself at his feet. The
rejoicings at their reunion were universal.
“After the sensation created by this event had some-
what subsided, King Bulsain, with unexampled liberality,
rewarded the devout persons there assembled with grants
in land and money; and, having been sumptuously
regaled, they set out to their respective abodes, after having
bestowed their prayers and benedictions on the kingly
donor. Shortly after, King Bulsain ordered the tents to be
struck, and preparations made to commence their journey
homeward. They began their march with every sign of
joy, and with great military display. When they approached
the city of Shewpoory, the minister, who had received notice
of the advance of his royal master, went with the principal
nobles of the court to receive him; and they entered the
city amid loud shouts of welcome. Prince Soorsain, owing to
the anxiety he had undergone, appeared but as the shadow
of his former self, so that it can scarcely be wondered at
that he showed the effects of it in his personal appearance.
On this account it was resolved that, until he should have
perfectly recovered his health and strength, he should take
up his residence with his son, King Bulsain.
“Some few months after, Prince Soorsain prepared to
return to the city of Bhadravutty, having made his son
acquainted with his intention. The latter immediately
ordered preparations to be made on an extensive scale; and,
when all was in readiness, Prince Soorsain set out with his
wife and son. When they drew nigh to the capital, the
officers of King Bhudrasain’s court became alarmed, and in
great terror informed the king that King Bulsain’s army
was approaching, apparently with hostile intent. ‘Knowing,’
said they, ‘that your majesty is not at the present time
possessed of a sufficient force to repel the invaders, and
that Prince Soorsain is deceased, King Bulsain has taken
advantage of it. Now, we would advise your majesty to
collect, with as little delay as possible, as many of your
subjects as you can, in order to meet this formidable army.’
N

98
King Bhudrasain was astounded at the announcement of an
invading army being in the outskirts of the town, and he
knew from experience that no hastily-concerted measures
could be of any use in repelling the attacks of a strong and
disciplined foe. However, the minister had in the mean
time collected a large number of men, and, with some few
of the regular troops to back them, he determined to proceed,
as he said, to meet the invading force, and ascertain the
cause of their wanton aggression. He therefore appeared
before the king, prostrated himself at the foot of the throne,
and obtained the royal authority to go on his mission.
" Prince Bulsain observing the army of his grandsire
approaching in warlike array towards him, was convinced
that the formidable appearance his men presented 'was the
cause of some alarm in the country. He therefore directed
a letter to be written, containing full particulars, and
despatched it by a trusty messenger, praying that his
majesty would recal his army, and be graciously pleased to
favor his son Soorsain and his grandson Bulsain with an
interview. The messenger to whom this letter was entrusted
gallopped away in advance, and came up to King Bhudra-
sain's minister, who was on his way with his force to meet
the supposed enemy. The messenger desired to be presented
without delay to the king his master, as he had a letter of
great importance to deliver to him personally ; he also
communicated to the minister verbally what the presence
of the great army outside meant. The minister of Bhudra-
sain was overjoyed, and he lost no time in directing an
officer to conduct the bearer of the letter into the presence
of the king, telling him not to lose a word of what his
majesty might say. The officer and the messenger then
proceeded together, and, after having traversed the city, they
arrived at the magnificent palace of King Bhudrasain. He
was seated in the council chamber, deeply engaged in
discussing with his courtiers the reason of the sudden
appearance of so formidable a force as he had been informed
of. The messenger was immediately ushered into the king's

99
presence, and received with due respect. He presented
the letter from King Bulsain, which King Bhudrasain
proceeded carefully to read. When he came to the conclud-
ing part, where his son's wife's sufferings were briefly related,
he shed tears of repentance; nevertheless, he rejoiced that
no serious injury had befallen her. He forgot all past grief
in his present joy; so, rising with a radiant face, his eyes
beaming with pleasure, he proceeded into the apartment of
the queen, his wife,—who had barely got over the double
grief, if we may so say, of the loss of her dear and only son
and the perfidy of his wife,—and acquainted her with the
joyful intelligence that had reached him. She was so much
affected with the alternation from extreme sorrow to equal
joy, that for a time she seemed stupified; at last she collected
her scattered thoughts, and was, in some degree capable of
appreciating the extent of her new-found happiness. The
king, after communicating the intelligence to the queen,
proceeded to meet his long-lost and providentially-restored
offspring. On his approach, King Bulsain, his grandson,
alighted to pay his devoirs to his grandsire, and they
embraced each other affectionately. Then Prince Soorsain
approached his father, and prostrated himself at the feet of
the aged Bhudrasain. This was indeed a moment of the
most exquisite pleasure to Bhudrasain;—to have for his
offspring two of the handsomest and most accomplished
princes that could be found in those days, caused him to
weep with extacy. They then mounted their horses and
returned to the city, where they were received with accla-
mation by the populace. The king led his children to the
palace, together with the princess his daughter-in-law and
her adopted child, whose age, it will be remembered,
corresponded with that of King Bulsain. The queen, now
quite recovered from the sudden indisposition caused by
the unexpected arrival of her children, made her appearance
also among them, and might be seen, equally with the king,
engaged in the mutual exchange of kind offices. Her
daughter-in-law prostrated herself at her feet, and looked

' 100
up to her as if calling on her to recal those terms of oppro-
brium she had cast upon this innocent victim of circumstantial
evidence. ‘My dear and affectionate child,’ said the aged
queen, ‘ I am sorry for what I in my passion, and under
the fullest impression of your infidelity, launched on your
innocent head. I am fully sensible of the wrong I have
done you, but let me hope that my future conduct towards
you will in some degree atone for it.’ ‘ Ah!’ said the
princess, ‘ do not say so; all that befals us is decreed by
an unerring Providence. Had you not caused me to be
expelled the palace, I might probably have never been
enabled to find means for the recovery of my lost husband :
it is to you that I am indebted for this happiness. Say
not, then, that you have wronged me. The happiness of
this moment more than atones for any amount of privation
I may have been put to, and the latter has been but very
slight indeed, comparatively.’ The king and queen were
highly pleased at this disposition on the part of the injured
princess to forget the past : if it were possible, it raised
her in their estimation in an unparalleled degree, and they
embraced her, with contrition and tears of joy streaming
down their furrowed cheeks. It was too great a happiness
for them to regain their son, whom they had never expected
to see again in this life, and at the same time to find his
wife, whom it was now evident they had unjustly expelled
the palace, placed beyond suspicion, with a fine young king
the fruit of their union. King Bhudrasain, after this,
ordered a banquet to be prepared in honour of the great
event we have recorded,—the meeting together of this
dispersed family,—and it was kept up with all the splendour
of royalty. In a short time he also caused his son, Prince
Soorsain, to be crowned in his stead, and invested with the
royal dignity.
“ The youthful Balsain, during this visit, became
smitten with the charms of a neighbouring princess, and
was soon after married. After some weeks spent in con-
viviality, he took leave of his father and grandsire, and

101
returned to his own territory, loaded with presents and
proofs of the estimation in which he was held by all. There,
surrounded by everything that could render a monarch
happy, and in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace, he
continued to reign for a series of years, until he had run
the course allotted to him here below.”
The parrot, having finished the tale, leaped into an
opening in the wall and disappeared, followed by the
wondering gaze of all those assembled in the room, who had
been, as may well be supposed, attentive listeners to the
whole story.
We must now refresh the memory of our readers, and
ask them to go back with us to where we left King Vickra-
madetea, in the guise of a brahmin, with the Princess
Pudmavuntty. King Vickramadetea, it will be remembered,
was engaged in negociating for the hand of Pudmavuntty
on behalf of Prince Duntsain, and had in some degree
succeeded. It only remained for him to get over the
condition attached by the princess of her acquiescence with
his project, which was to make her laugh and speak four
different times successively ; and it was to effect this that
Vickramadetea had called in the aid of the spirit Veytal,
who, under the assumed form of a parrot, entered upon the
tale just related. They were yet engaged in praising the
parrot, who had helped them to wile away the heavy hours
of night with his interesting story, and wondering at the
unlooked-for depth of understanding and grasp of thought
(if we may so say) displayed by this tiny creature, when a
Shaloonky,* represented in a painting on the wall of the
princess’ apartment, became animated, and took her seat
upon a chowrung before them. Who this Shaloonky was,
and the purport of her visit, shall form the subject of another
chapter.
* A bird, Gracula religiosa.
152486

102
CHAPTER VII.
Veytal reappears, in the form of a bird called Shaloonky, and com-
mences to relate the history of Queen Shoodhamutty, her son
Soomunt, and the Princess Malattee.
WHEN Veytal, as the parrot, had left the presence of
Vickramadetea and the princess, he transformed himself into
a Shaloonky, who, as we said at the conclusion of the last
chapter, took up her place, to the wonder of the gaping assem-
bly, on a chowrung. She remained there for some time,
shaking her wings and attracting attention in a most singular
manner. Vickramadetea observing this, and knowing well
that the Shaloonky was no other, as has been already said,
than the spirit Veytal, requested her to oblige the company
with one of those very interesting tales which abounded alike
in good sense and instruction. He said it would be very
acceptable, and would prevent them from falling asleep during
the remainder of the night. "The parrot has but just left us,"
said he, "after recounting one of those admirable stories,
which caused the time to pass agreeably away. I hope you
will not be less obliging." The Shaloonky replied, "Oh,
my good brahmin! your mode of address inclines me to
comply with your wish, but you must be aware that I cannot
do so without the sanction of my mistress. I am her slave,
and must receive my orders from her before I engage in
anything." The princess remained silent, as before, and
would not deign a reply. "Never mind the princess, your
mistress," said Vickramadetea; "be good enough to proceed
with your story; you will much oblige me by it." "I am
aware of your anxiety to hear me, and I am equally disposed
to gratify you, but you must excuse me if I refuse you the
gratification unless I am warranted by the bidding of your
hostess, my sovereign lady." The Shaloonky being appa-

103
rently determined not to proceed with her story without the
express command of the princess, and curiosity being at its
height among the attendants and slaves there assembled,
they ventured to address the princess. "May it please
you, good lady, to direct the Shaloonky to gratify our
eagerness to hear her story. It will, we feel assured, afford
us no small amount of pleasure and amusement, as we
doubt not it will be an excellent one,—as good as, if not
better than the one the parrot amused us with a while ago."
The princess was still silent, but the Veytal, by the peculiar
powers of which he was possessed, influenced her mind, when
she laughed involuntarily and bade the Shaloonky commence
her narrative. Whereupon, after having noticed that the
princess both laughed and spoke at the same time, she began
as follows :—
"In the city of Kawnty there lived a king named Kashei-
shwer, and his queen Shoodhamutty, with an only child
called Soomunt. According to the usual course of events,
after a long and peaceful reign, this king expired, full of
years and honour. Shortly after this sad occurrence, one
of the neighbouring princes, who had long had an eye upon
the kingdom of the deceased monarch, invaded it with a
powerful army. The queen fled with her infant, who was
but ten years old, without casting a thought behind.
Weighed down with grief for the loss of her husband, she
could ill take the active measures that were needed on such
an occasion : she left all in the hands of her subordinates.
She feared lest the fortunes of war should place her and
the heir to the throne in the hands of their enemy, who
might be induced to remove her dear child by some foul
means, thus to put an end to all future contentions. She
had not proceeded far when news reached her of the success
of the invasion, and she thanked heaven that she with her
child had escaped the unscrupulous enemy. Her patience
was sorely tried by the hardships and privations she had to
endure during her journey. Without any fixed placed to

104
go to, without the means of supplying herself and the infant
with nourishment, and, more than all, without any apparent
means of regaining her dominions and avenging the injury
offered to her, she was indeed wretched in the extreme.
Still, onward she went, remedying as much as in her lay
these great evils, though, indeed, such remedies cannot be
said to have by any means brought her the slightest relief.
For a time she subsisted by parting one by one with the
ornaments and jewels she had on when she fled from the
palace : when these were all gone, alas ! her condition was
miserable indeed. How many a day did, this fond mother
deprive herself of food, that a sufficiency might be afforded
her child ! But this could not last long ; nature would not
permit it. Without food she must sink. She was in the
very last stage of weakness : a feather's weight might have
sealed her fate. The cravings of hunger she tried to appease
by partaking of the wild fruits of the forest, and this but
added to her sufferings. In this state, between hope (faint
though it was) and despair, she thought of a brother she
had, also a king, who was immensely rich and very power-
ful. This idea, as it crossed her mind, cheered the dreari-
ness with which she was enveloped, and raised her sinking
heart. Towards him, therefore, she turned her steps. He
was reigning in a city far from where she then was ; and the
condition in which she arrived there may therefore be better
conceived than described. No sooner did she present
herself before the king her brother than he was struck dumb
with the woeful picture of want and misery his sister
presented. He received her with open arms, and soothed
her grief with many words of consolation and the promise
of seeing her righted, if possible. After hearing her rela-
tion of all the sufferings she had undergone, and the cruel
usage she had endured from the invader of her husband's
dominions, he addressed her thus : ' Let me entreat you,
dear sister, great as are the wrongs which have been heaped
upon you, not to give way. Be assured that the Almighty
never wills a thing without a good design. Though the

105
events that have happened to you may appear to the short-
sighted vision of man as cruel and unmerited in the extreme,
some good will most probably be the result. In the mean
while, you are welcome to my palace and to my arms. You
may for the future reside here with your child, whose
education I take upon myself. You will here meet with
every deference due to your exalted rank.’ This in a great
measure helped to assuage the grief of the widowed queen,
and she took up her abode, with her infant, under the
protection of her brother, with whom she lived in the greatest
comfort and harmony.
“The brother of the unfortunate Shoodhamutty had a
daughter about four years old, who was called Malattee.
Her virtues, modest deportment, and fascinating manners,
won the esteem and love of all who came in contact with her.
In beauty she rivalled Rutty.* One day this youthful
princess was engaged in the amusements to which children
are more or less addicted, when her father happened to pass
by. She looked so beautiful, with the flush on her cheek
called forth by the eagerness with which she pursued her
game, that the father stopped to admire her. After gazing
for awhile, unseen by her, he approached her, clasped her
to his affectionate bosom, and loaded her with kisses.
While so engaged he addressed her in the most affectionate
words. ‘Daughter,’ said he, ‘you have now arrived at an
age fitted to receive good and useful impressions; I there-
fore wish to send you to school. You must endeavour to
make yourself acquainted with everything fitted to adorn
your rank and position, and the station in life which you
will some day or other be called upon to fill.’ That same
day he ordered a clever Pundit to be brought to him, and
entrusted the child to his care, directing him to instruct
her in the first instance in the accomplishments suited to
her capacity, and by degrees to lead her mind to higher and
nobler acquisitions; in short, to pay every possible attention
to her improvement. The Pundit, in obedience to the

• The spouse of the God of Love.
  O

106
command of his sovereign, took the princess under-his care,
and at once began to impart to her the first lessons.
“ A few days after this occurrence, the widow of Kashei-
shwer, having discovered that her brother had sent his
daughter to school, requested that he would place her son
Soomunt also under the care of the Pundit, being of an age
when he should commence his studies. The king, her
brother, acceded to the request, and recommended the youth
to the Pundit, at the same time giving strict injunctions to
the pedagogue to take as much care of his nephew as he
bestowed upon the princess, and on no account to make the
slightest difference between them, as he cared equally. for
both. The Pundit did as he was directed, and took them
both under his tuition. From that day the Princess
Malattee and Prince Soomunt became fondly attached to
each other, and their love increased and gained strength
with their years.
“ One day, the princess, being in a cheerful humour. and
exuberant spirits, was engaged in discussing a variety of
subjects with the prince, and began playfully to tease him
while arguing with him. Prince Soomunt penetrated her
thoughts, and knowing the motives which prompted her,
felt much grieved, so he begged her to desist from such
proofs of her regard. He desired her, also, to converse with
him no longer in that strain. ‘ Princess,’ said he, ‘ why do
you thus tempt me? Is there any hope of your becoming
my wife?’ ‘ Ah, yes!’ said she, ‘ there can be no doubt
that I am destined to become your partner for life, and if
you do not object to it, I here promise to be constant to
you.’ ‘ My good princess,’ replied the youth, ‘ think well,
I entreat you, ere you pledge yourself to anything. How
can I place any reliance on what you may now feel disposed
to say? You are but a child yet, and do not know what
you promise. Consult your parents first, and take their
advice : ascertain whether they are favourable to our union.
You should be guided by them in all things, for it is your
duty so to be. They are older and wiser than yourself, and

107
therefore better able to enter into such momentous subjects.
They have, I doubt not, already formed a plan for your
disposal,—perhaps intending to wed you to some other
prince; and though my heart may break in such case, I
must submit to my fate. It would ill become me, a depen-
dant on your father’s bounty, to raise my voice against it.’
‘You may rely on what I now say,’ rejoined the princess;
‘I swear to you that with none other but yourself will I
ever marry. I have bestowed my maiden affections on you:
all others can be nothing more to me than what they are
now.’ The prince, observing the determined tone in which
the princess spoke, could not doubt her sincerity, and
therefore said, ‘My dear Malattee, I resign myself entirely
to you, and swear in my turn never to forsake you. No
other woman shall be allowed even for a moment to contend
for the place you must ever after this hold in my heart.’
Thus their first declaration of love ended in their swearing
mutual constancy, nor did it once pass beyond their own
bosoms. Their affection for each other daily increased, be-
ing strengthened indissolubly by their constant intercourse.
“The princess was now fast approaching the age at which
it was thought desirable, by the nobility and princes of
those days, that she should enter the hymeneal state. The
king, her father, therefore ordered his minister to make
overtures to a prince whom he thought fitted, both in
person and acquirements, to receive his daughter in mar-
riage. The minister told the king that ere he set about this
mission it would be nothing but right that they should
consult with a Josey* as to a good and auspicious hour at
which to determine the matter, which was accordingly done.
Having been directed by the Josey as to the precise time
of departure and so forth, the minister commenced his
journey, with a select band of retainers, and proceeded to
the city of Brumhapoory, towards the north. After a short
and prosperous journey he arrived at that city, and presented
himself with his credentials before the reigning sovereign.

• An astrologer.

108

The king was pleased to think that so powerful a monarch
as he whose minister was now at his court should seek his
alliance; and being convinced at a glance, as it were, of
the advantages to be derived from it, he proceeded, as a
preliminary of what was to follow, to receive the minister
with every demonstration of joy and respect. He said that
he had an only son, who was considered to be a youth of
no mean parts; it would be perhaps wrong in him to eulo-
gise his own child, but he would introduce him to the
minister, who would thus be able to judge for himself. For
his own part, he would be only too happy to meet the wishes
of the king who sought thus to strengthen their friendship.
If his son should be pleased with the description given of
the princess, and the minister satisfied with the prince,
nothing would remain but to fix a day on which to consum-
mate the union. The prince was soon after introduced to
the minister, who was struck at the very first with his
beauty and bearing: In conversation the young man dis-
played such wisdom and power of thought, that, so far as
he was able to form an opinion in so short a time, the
minister considered him to be a fit and acceptable partner
for the princess on whose behalf he had been sent. He
therefore expressed his satisfaction to the prince’s father, and
promised him, on the part of his king, that the prince
should be accepted as the future husband of the Princess
Malattee; requesting at the same time that all the necessary
preparations should be made for the marriage ceremony.
Shortly after this he took leave of the monarch, and returned
to his own city, where, with much joy, he communicated to
his sovereign the successful termination of his mission, and
the good fortune he had met with in securing a prince in
every respect worthy of the honor,—the son of the king of
Brumhapoory. He added that the king, accompanied by
the prince and his whole court, would in a short time come
to celebrate the marriage of the young couple. The king
was delighted to hear what the minister had to say in favor
of his future son-in-law, and of the success he had met

109
with, and gave immediate directions for everything necessary
and suitable to be prepared for the occasion.
"The news of the approaching nuptials of the Princess
Malattee with a foreign prince, spread like wildfire, and the
unfortunate Prince Soomunt heard it among the rest. He
instantly sought an interview with his cousin, and having
obtained it, said to her, 'My dear Malattee, can you explain
the meaning of so much bustle, confusion, and preparation,
as I observe throughout the palace?' The princess replied,
that she knew not what it meant, and asked in her turn if
the prince could enlighten her on the subject. Soomunt
looked searchingly at her for a moment, and then said,
'Princess, I need hardly say that it will now be impossible
for you to fulfil your engagement with me, and it would
perhaps be wrong in me to expect you to do so. The pre-
parations that you now see going forward are the prelude
to your marriage with a foreign prince, son of the king of
Brumhapoory, whom your father has accepted as your
future husband.' The prince's looks did not accord with his
apparent composure, and the princess perceiving it, replied,
'My dearest prince—my love!—do not allow yourself to
be thus disturbed. If my father has pledged his royal
word to unite me to the prince you have but just mentioned,
recollect that I have long, long before that, bestowed my
affections on you, and sealed the compact with a solemn
oath to become yours and none other's. I am solely yours,
and I call heaven to witness that I will never go back from
my word, and thus be guilty of perjury and ingratitude.
Depend on me. Compose yourself and be patient. Let
the bridegroom come!' So saying, the lovers separated.
"Every preparation being completed, the king sent for
the sovereign of Brumhapoory, and invited a large number
of friends on both sides to be present at the feast. He
erected a commodious and very richly-furnished building
for the reception of visitors, and for the celebration of the
marriage ceremony. The king of Brumhapoory soon after
arrived, and with him a numerous host of friends, relatives,

110
and retainers, as well as a number of elephants and horses,
and a large army, all richly and gracefully adorned, befitting
the grand and joyous occasion. The princess' father hearing
of it, went forth with a retinue to honor the king of Brum-
hapoory, and to lead him into the city, after the usual
simunt poojea.* Having performed all the ceremonies
usual on such occasions, they entered the city together,
amidst the joyful shouts of the people, and spent the day
in great festivity. On the following day they worshipped
the customary divinity, according to the established prac-
tice, and it was agreed that the marriage should take place
the same night at twelve o'clock. The king, Malattee's
father, conducted his guests, both nobles and princes, in
procession, to bring the bridegroom to his house ; the queen
also accompanied them, with the ladies of the court and the
wives of the nobles and citizens, to honour the bridegroom's
mother.
“It was now nearly eight o'clock, and the bride was
seated in the palace, near the Gowrihar.† The inmates of
the palace were all engaged in their respective employments,
and the attendants of the princess, overcome by sleep, had
extended themselves one after the other on the floor. The
princess, at intervals, anxiously looked around, to see if
Prince Soomunt were visible, but he was not to be found.
He had intended accompanying her father to escort the
bridegroom, but with much grief and suffering and many
inward pangs. He went a short distance, but he felt so
oppressed that he could go no further; he therefore returned
to the palace without the knowledge of any one, nor did
the king or anybody else notice the grief that was weighing
him down : they were too much elated with the joy they
felt at the approaching nuptials to perceive it. As soon as .
the prince reached the palace, he proceeded at once towards

• The honours and courtesies paid at the village boundary, or in
  the temple, to the bridegroom.
  † The name under which Shiva and Parvutty are worshipped at
  marriage ceremonies.