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

194
before him, in case he succeeded, encouraged him greatly.
He went to the palace, near which the pillar was erected,
and enquired of the head guardsman whether what he had
heard as having been proclaimed regarding the princess was
true ; and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, Charoo
first examined the pillar very narrowly, and then briskly
climbed to the top of it. It was not without difficulty,
however, and that of no ordinary kind, that he effected this
feat. Having got up, he proceeded slowly to untie the
silken knots which enclosed the rubies, and having secured
them all, he descended with far greater ease than he
mounted. He gave the rubies to his creditor, who, being
now perfectly satisfied, went his way.
“The guardsman in charge of the pillar never for a
moment expected that Charoo was capable of displaying so
much perseverance and presence of mind as was required
for so hazardous an undertaking, and he was therefore much
astonished when he saw it performed so readily. The
agility and strength of Charoo soon became the theme of
conversation throughout the city ; and the report of the
performance of the arduous feat was immediately conveyed
to the king, who was greatly delighted to hear of the youth’s
prowess. He directed Charoo to be introduced into the
palace without the loss of a moment, and all eyes were
directed to where the hero of the day was to make his
appearance. Charoo was accordingly brought in, and the
king advanced to meet him, and to give him a cordial wel-
come, extolling his courage and perseverance in terms of
high praise ; after which he was conducted into the presence
of the princess.
“The fair Chitrangee, seeing a young man of prepossess-
ing appearance and great physical powers, felt a sudden love
for him in the private recesses of her heart. She was grati-
fied, too, that he had ventured forth to win her at so great
a risk of humiliation and mortifying ridicule, to which he
would most certainly have been exposed had he failed in
his attempt. It now only remained for him to give a

195
description of the Chitrakoot mountain, which the princess,
after the usual exchange of civilities, requested him to do.
Charoo told her in reply, that if he had known it was
absolutely necessary to relate the tale of Chitrakoot, he
would have procured the necessary information. 'Some
time ago,' continued he, 'I called at Indra's palace, on
particular business, and on my way I saw from a great
distance the mountain in question, but as I then had no
interest in learning anything about it, and being quite taken
up with my business, I thought it would be losing time to
visit it. If, however, you are anxious to know the particu-
lars respecting that place, I must solicit from you sufficient
time to travel there, which I will undertake to do solely on
your account, and hasten back with the desired information.
Please God I shall soon return.' The king and the
princess were equally pleased with the eloquence and sound
sense with which Charoo spoke. The remainder of that
day was spent in feasting and other enjoyments, and on the
following morning Charoo expressed his willingness to
depart for the mountain of Chitrakoot. The king and the
princess having consented, he set out, followed by their
earnest prayers that God would be pleased to preserve him
from all dangers; that blessings might attend him in all
he undertook; and that he might return safely home.
Charoo thanked them in all sincerity for their kind and
affectionate wishes on his behalf, and commenced his
journey with a stout heart.

196
CHAPTER XIII.
Veytal proceeds with his tale.
“ KING CHAKRADUNT himself accompanied Charoo
beyond the city gate, and at parting addressed him thus :—
‘ My dear Charoo, you will, I doubt not, by God’s blessing
succeed in your enterprise. Lose no time, therefore, in
returning to us. You will gladden us by your early
re-appearance.’ Charoo renewed his thanks to the king,
and went his way. He travelled northward, and in due
course of time arrived at the capital city of Badrikadar,
which was not only famed for its wealth and situation, but
was also much esteemed and held in high repute by Hindus
as a place especially devoted to worship and for pilgrimage.
In this city there was a temple dedicated to Shree Narayen,
to which Charoo immediately repaired, and made his invo-
cation in the manner prescribed by Hindu law. On his
way to the famed mount it was his good fortune to meet
with an aged and venerable hermit, whose solemn counte-
nance and devout appearance caused Charoo to throw himself
humbly at his feet. The hermit desired him to rise, and
bestowed upon him his benediction. He was pleased to see
a youth of such a comely and handsome bearing as Charoo,
who, although he had then attained only his seventeenth
year, yet exhibited the proportions of a full-grown man.
The hermit, addressing him, said, ‘Young man, where are
you going, and what is your name? Are you married?
Are your parents still living, and what calling do your family
pursue? Do not dissemble, but speak the truth.’ Charoo
sighed, and then faithfully informed him of every particular
respecting himself and the mission on which he was engaged.
The hermit recommended him to accompany him to his abode,
and on their arrival there Charoo earnestly solicited the

197
hermit to guide and advise him, in order that he might
succeed in obtaining the information he sought. The
hermit smiled, but looked thoughtful. 'What is your idea,
Charoo,' said he, 'of this mission? Do you think it
possible that you will succeed? You are indeed lucky in
having met with me, because you would otherwise never
have found out where the Chitrakoot mountain is situated,
even if you wandered over half the world. In all proba-
bility no human being has ever gained admittance there;
how, then, can you by any possibility expect to succeed in
your mission? However, listen attentively to what I am
about to say, for it is of the utmost importance to you.
There is on the mountain of Himonchul* a most beautiful
Vur tree: it has a large trunk and seven branches. It
rises to a great height, and the branches extend a hundred
and twenty yojuns in circumference. On one of these
branches there live a family of royal geese, consisting of a
gander, a goose, and three goslings. These birds possess
the remarkable power of entering into the three worlds,—
namely, heaven, the earth we inhabit, and the infernal
regions. They possess as much sense and discernment as
any of the human kind, and they live chiefly upon celestial
fruits. One of the birds goes daily to the heavenly regions
for the purpose of procuring sufficient fruit to last for
the day; this they do by turns. When the fruit is brought,
it is immediately divided into seven shares, one of which is
offered to God, and set apart for that purpose; a second is
reserved for any guest who may happen to visit them; and
the remaining five are distributed amongst them—one to
each. Before they sit down to their meal, the bird who
has brought the food that day calls out in a human voice
for a guest, three times successively; if one chances to be
near he is at once invited to partake of the share allotted
to him, but if no guest appear they commence their repast,
at the conclusion of which the two unconsumed shares are

• One of the Himalaya mountains.

198
thrown into the water. This is their daily practice ; you
must therefore proceed thither as a guest, taking care to be
within hearing when the bird utters the usual call. When
you present yourself they will invite you very civilly to join
them, and will place a portion of the fruit before you with a
request that you will partake of it. But do not touch it at
first ; and when they ask you the reason you must unfold
your mission to them, and beseech their aid. Being very
charitably disposed, they will doubtless agree to help you ;
and after they have promised their assistance you may eat
the fruit laid before you.’ After this advice the hermit
presented Charoo with a fine fruit, and desired him to eat
it, telling him that it possessed the rare virtue of preserving
a person from every harm—from the attacks of wild beasts,
snakes, or human beings, as well as from the pangs of
hunger. Charoo received it with much gratitude, and
eagerly devoured it ; he then prostrated himself at the
hermit’s feet, thanking him for all he had done for him ;
and after receiving his blessing a second time, he started
anew on his journey, in the direction pointed out by the
holy man who had so materially befriended him.
“ On his way towards Himonchul, Charoo encountered a
great many hardships, all of which he successfully
surmounted. At last he arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Its immense height filled him with astonishment—its top
seemed to pierce the skies. He could not then discern the
tree the hermit had told him of, in consequence of the
prevailing mist ; he therefore remained where he was for
that day, and anxiously awaited the coming morrow, when,
with renewed strength and vigour he resolved to commence
the perilous ascent. He was engaged for several days in
this discouraging task, until at last, after much toil and
fatigue, he gained the lofty summit, where he had the
satisfaction of seeing the gigantic tree, with its seven large
branches and its profuse and tender foliage ; it also appeared
loaded with fruit in uncommon abundance. Being scarcely
able to distinguish objects in the dusk, he did not look for

the birds, but lay himself down to recruit his wearied frame.
He spent the night in reflecting on the past and in devising
plans for the future, and at early dawn he rose to look
about for the birds. As noon approached, the heat became
intense, and he sat down under the tree to refresh himself.
While seated there, happening to cast his eyes upward, he
saw one of the feathery tribe descending from a great height,
and at length it alighted upon the very bough under which
he was seated, but still at a great distance from him.
Charoo arose and approached nearer, regretting much that
he could not converse with the bird. He was still proceed-
ing towards it, when he heard a loud voice, resembling that
of a human being, enquiring if there was any guest to join
them in their mid-day meal. Our traveller answered
immediately. 'Yes,' said he, 'I am here, a stranger in
this place.' The old goose, hearing this reply, immediately
sent off one of her goslings, who flew towards Charoo and
invited him to honour their dwelling with his presence.
Charoo consented at once, whereupon the gosling raised him
from the ground and took him up to one of the furthermost
boughs of the Vur tree. The other birds seemed exceedingly
pleased, and received Charoo very courteously. The old
bird addressed him, saying; 'We are to day highly favored
by the Almighty in providing us with a guest.' The whole
of them then entered into familiar discourse, soon after
which the birds set before Charoo his share of the celestial
fruit, being the sixth portion. They desired him to eat
without ceremony, telling him they had not the power to
procure for him any other dainty. Charoo, as he had been
instructed by the hermit, showed no inclination to eat, and
the birds, perceiving it, said, 'We beg you will be kind
enough to honor us by partaking of our food. We have
offered you all we possess.' Charoo was moved by their
affectionate solicitude, and could no longer remain silent,
so, addressing himself to them, he said, 'It has pleased
God to bring me here in the character of a guest. I am a
stranger, and feel grateful for the kindness you have shown

200
me. Your condescension emboldens me to prefer a request
which I would otherwise have never ventured to do. I will
explain to you first why I have travelled so far, and then
tell you what it is I desire of you.' He then told them in
detail every circumstance with which it was necessary for
him to acquaint them, and concluded by requesting that
they would be kind enough to take him to the Chitrakoot
mountain and afterwards bring him back to their abode.
The birds readily consented to do so, and assured Charoo
that they would do all in their power to promote his designs,
what he had already asked them being a mere trifle. After
this, Charoo desired them to proceed with their meal, and
he himself fell to heartily. On the following day the royal
bird directed the one whose duty it was to go that day for
their daily allowance of fruit, to take up Charoo to the
mountain of Chitrakoot, and to bring him back again, if he
wished to return that day, or whenever he liked. The bird
accordingly, with Charoo sitting on his back, flew away with
incredible speed, and soon conveyed him to the top of the
mountain. At parting, the bird told him he would return
that way with the fruits at noon, and that until then he
might walk into the town and inspect the novelties there to
be seen. 'You must return to this place by that time,'
continued the bird, 'and if I am not here, wait awhile for
me, as this is the spot we daily frequent.' Charoo thanked
the bird, and then directed his steps towards the gate
of the city, on entering which he observed a great many
men in various attitudes,—some were seated, others lying,
and some standing on their feet, but all appeared to have
lost the power of motion. He approached several, and
found them all inanimate,—they could neither move nor utter
a word. Charoo passed through several of the streets, and
saw that in the shops, which were open, men were apparently
busily engaged in counting money, and filling up bags with
it, while others were in the act of locking up chests, but all
in the same fixed attitude, without a single sign of life or
motion. Charoo then amused himself by changing the

201
drapers' goods from one shop to another, after which he
spilled some ghee which he found in one, and broke a large
jar of oil in another, but the owners only eyed him fiercely,
without being able to utter a syllable, still less to prevent him
from committing his depredations. Charoo next went into
one of the largest buildings in the city, where he found
men and women engaged in different domestic occupations,
and every one of them in a similar paralysed state. He
could not comprehend what this phenomenon meant—that
they should one and all be thus deprived of the power of
speech and locomotion. At last he came to a very extensive
square, in the centre of which a large mansion was situated.
He entered it, in the hope of gaining some information
relative to the extraordinary state of affairs in the place.
The building was magnificently furnished, and the windows
and doors were set in gold. He entered the inner hall,
where lay a quantity of costly articles, as well as rich
utensils of pure gold and silver. Next to this was a cham-
ber, which appeared to Charoo to belong to a princess or a
queen, and in the centre of it a handsome alcove, lighted by
four lamps of solid gold. A slave stood at each corner of this
alcove,—the two at the head holding fans in their hands,
as though to keep the flies from disturbing their mistress,
who lay within, and the two at the foot having their hands
raised, in the act of presenting virahs to her : they too were
all as motionless and insensible as the dead. He approached
the alcove, and lifted the curtain which surrounded it,
that he might see the lady who lay therein, and he was
much struck with her exquisite beauty and loveliness. He
fell passionately in love with her on the instant, so fascina-
ting were her celestial charms. ‘ It is impossible,’ he
mentally said, ‘to behold so much loveliness without paying
the homage due to it.’ He replaced the curtain as he found
it, however, and left the place without exploring any further,
nor did he even cast one stray look behind until he was
fairly out of its neighbourhood. He felt very much dejected,
nevertheless, as he retraced his steps to the place of
AA

202
rendezvous, and awaited the coming of the bird. While
there, as he cast his eyes around, he could not help admiring
the beauty and grandeur of the scenery in and around that
noble city, and it sent a pang of sorrow though his heart
to think that so many of the good things of this world
should lie in such profusion without a single creature being
permitted to partake of the enjoyments which they afforded.
"The royal bird arrived at the appointed time, and having
rested a short space, he bade Charoo prepare for his journey.
In a few minutes he had transported him to the top of the
mountain from whence they had set out. The other birds
expressed much joy at his return, and, as usual, appor-
tioned the fruit into seven shares, one of which they again
offered to Charoo, and desired him to partake of it. They
waited until he had commenced, and then they all followed
his example. It was really a source of much pleasure to
Charoo to reside with these intelligent birds, who showed
such love and esteem for him, and he passed that day very
pleasantly in their society. The old bird enquired of Charoo
whether he had completed his mission, to which the latter
replied very cheerfully that he had, and thanked them again
for their aid. The birds then informed him of the advan-
tages he would derive from having partaken of celestial fruit,
—that it had the property of preventing sickness of every
description, so that he would never more fall sick or suffer
even the slightest indisposition,—nor could any beast,
reptile, bird, or any of the creatures that injure man, have
power to hurt him,—in short, that he had been inmortalised
by eating of the fruit. Charoo rejoiced at having fallen
into the company of these celestial birds, and he was
strangely delighted to hear that he would never die. He
was profuse in his thanks, and having made as suitable a
return in words as he could for the invaluable boon and
kind favors granted to him, he requested permission to
depart. The old bird was greatly averse to parting with
his guest so soon, and regretted it exceedingly; he therefore
begged of him to stay a little longer, and to partake of a

203
last grand entertainment, which hospitality Charoo could
not well refuse, so he consented. Next day the birds
regaled him on the choicest and most delicate fruits, and in
the evening he took his leave and set out on his return.
The birds accompanied him a great distance, and expressed
much sorrow and many good wishes at parting.
“Charoo travelled with all haste to the city of Badrika-
dar: on approaching the cottage of the hermit he went in,
and communicated to him his success, at the same time
returning him sincere and heartfelt thanks for the valuable
information he had given him; and on the following day,
having received the hermit’s blessing, he renewed his jour-
ney. In a few days he arrived safely at the court of the king
of Kanchunpoory, who instantly recognised him, and received
him with every demonstration of pleasure and a right
hearty welcome. He led him to the apartment of the
princess, who expressed as much joy at his return as if he
were already her lawful husband. ‘Dear Charoo,’ said she,
‘I do not know how I shall be able to prove to you my
gratitude for so great a regard as you have shown for me in
the hazardous task you have performed. I see from your
face that you have succeeded. Please, then, disclose to me
all you know. I am so impatient to hear it that I have
not known a moment's rest since you left us, and I have
been continually watching for your return. Let me now
have the pleasure of listening to your adventures, in which
there must be a great deal of the wonderful.’ Charoo,
being thus pressed, after acknowledging her love and
sympathy, began his narrative. He had related about two-
thirds, when the princess desired him to stop, saying she
was perfectly satisfied, and declaring to the king her inten-
tion of receiving Charoo for her husband forthwith.
Preparations were accordingly made, in a style befitting the
occasion, for the celebration of the marriage.
“Had the Princess Chitrangee heard the whole relation
of Charoo’s adventures, she could not have fulfilled her
promise of marrying him, as she would on the instant have

204
been removed from this world to the heavens, according to
the words of Indra, who had said that so soon as she could
gain a perfect account of the mountain of Chitrakoot, she
would be restored to her former position. But this would
have caused her to be faithless to her love; and she there-
fore cut him short when he had proceeded with but two-
thirds of the narrative, intending to reserve the conclusion
until she should feel disposed to put an end to her
earthly career.
"The king caused great preparations to be made, and
the whole city was soon in a tumult of joy at the news of
the approaching nuptials. The day fixed for the union
having at length arrived, it was solemnised with much pomp
and splendour, and to the perfect satisfaction of all parties.
The king presented his son-in-law on the occasion with
half of his dominions, as a marriage portion, so great was
his joy at the happy termination of his daughter's settle-
ment in life. Charoo remained at the court of his father-
in-law, and gained the affection and regard of the whole
community by his complacency and affability.
"The newly-married couple lived comfortably together
for some time. One day, however, Chitrangee's reflections
turned on her former happy condition—the felicity she had
enjoyed at Chitrakoot—and how she had always had the
honor of being summoned to Indra's palace, where, in the
society of angels and celestial beings, she had no wish left
unaccomplished. Compared to that, her present life was a
mere blank. She therefore resolved on returning thither and
resuming her former state, and with that view she requested
Charoo, who happened to be in the room with her, to relate
to her the whole of his adventures at the Chitrakoot moun-
tain, as she had a great desire to hear them. Poor Charoo,
unsuspicious of the consequences, proceeded at once to
satisfy her; he loved her so fondly, so passionately, that
even had he divined the effect of his recital, it is more than
doubtful whether he could have withstood her entreaties:
He had barely finished the narrative of his adventures

205
when his wife fell as it were into a swoon, and immediately
expired in his arms. Charoo thought she had merely fainted,
so he endeavoured by every means in his power to restore
her to animation, but to no purpose—she was past all
remedy. He cried loudly for help, and the attendants
poured in forthwith from every side, some of them
hastening to acquaint the king with the sad disaster.
The king and queen soon burst into the room together,
wild with frenzy and grief. Charoo communicated the
circumstances attending the demise, or swoon as he all
along took it to be, of the princess. A physician was
instantly sent for, who arrived in all haste, but in vain was
everything done that art and experience, combined with
great professional skill, could suggest. The whole place, as
may be supposed, was plunged into inconsolable grief by
this sad occurrence. The cries of Charoo rent the air, and
the king and queen were loud in their lamentations. As
soon as the news got abroad, the king's relatives, courtiers,
and officials all flocked round the corpse of the beautiful
princess, and not a dry eye was visible amongst the vast
number of men and women there assembled. After their
grief had a little subsided, preparations were made for the
funeral, at which Charoo himself performed the ceremony
of applying fire to the pile. The other obsequies, as usual
on such an occasion, were continued for twelve days, accord-
ing to the prescribed form.
"When Chitrangee's soul had re-entered her celestial
frame on the Chitrakoot mountain, she awoke as though
from a sound sleep, so sudden was the transition; and she
began at once to enjoy, as she had done before, more
perfect happiness than is ever known in the world, save in
imagination. The people of the place were also freed from
the temporary trance in which Charoo had found them when
he visited the city; and they resumed their business exactly
at the point at which it was discontinued when their anima-
tion had been suspended. Charoo's disarrangement of the
shopkeepers' goods caused now a disagreement between the

206

respective owners, and they complained to Chitrangee.
They had seen who did the mischief, though powerless to
prevent it; they accordingly told Chitrangee that a certain
young man had been there who had confused and mixed
their goods, and had even wantonly destroyed some
property, and they appealed to her for justice. She smiled,
and advised them to divide their goods equally, instead of
disputing or quarrelling about them, and thus she brought
the matter to an amicable settlement. Chitrangee knew
very well that it was Charoo who had done it, as he was the
only one who had visited her dominions during her absence.
“When the funeral obsequies of Chitrangee were over,
Charoo gave himself up to uncontrollable grief. Every
object in his apartment reminded him of her whom he
adored. He sighed as often as he beheld them, and amid
a flood of tears gave vent to his feelings in the following
and similar words, uttered in a thrilling and heartrending
tone:—‘Oh my beloved princess! my charming angel!
my ever dear and chaste wife!—why leave me thus lonely
and desolate in the midst of wealth and splendour? How
unaccountable to me is your sudden transition! I am left
to deplore your loss, without a single source of consolation
—without one ray of hope!’ He frequently fell into long
swoons, and on recovering from one of these, for about the
twentieth time, he thought within himself how useless and
even painful it would be for him to remain there any longer,
now that he was bereft of his greatest stay in life—his
beloved and unequalled consort. He showed daily the most
unequivocal signs of a broken and bleeding heart, and at
last he determined to visit the friendly hermit, and to
acquaint him with the affliction with which he had been
visited. He accordingly applied to the king his father-in-
law for permission to depart, who was struck with the worn-
out and dismal aspect he presented. ‘Alas, dear Charoo!’
said the afflicted monarch, ‘I am sorry to learn your deter-
mination to leave me in my affliction. From the moment
I first beheld you I was disposed to esteem and respect

207

you, for your looks and dignified demeanour won my affec-
tion. Being now old and -infirm, and without an heir to
succeed me, I feel great pleasure and gratification in offering
you the crown. I have now only one daughter left to be
the solace of my declining years: her beauty and accom-
plishments are like those of her departed sister, and worthy
of a prince or of a person of your exalted qualifications and
worth. Instead of leaving me, then, stay and receive her
hand and the crown which I now offer to you. It is time
for me to rest from the labour of ruling these dominions.
I have borne it long enough; and nothing could give me
greater satisfaction, under the circumstances, than to
entrust the well-being of my people to your hands, and to
see you ruling in my stead, for I am satisfied that you are
worthy in every respect of so responsible a trust. If you
refuse, dear Charoo, to comply with my request, it will
grieve me nearly as much as did the loss of my beloved
daughter Chitrangee, and I cannot but sink under the
double stroke, if I may so call it. Decide at once,—
whether you will doom me to death, or, by your aid and
solace, in some degree assuage the violence of my grief.'
Charoo felt much afflicted at the sad situation of the aged
monarch, but he had at the same time fully made up his
mind to visit the hermit, and, by unbosoming his sorrows
to him, seek consolation from his learned counsel. He felt
as though nothing short of the advice of such a man could
tranquillise his mind; he patiently listened, however, to all
the king had to say, and then addressed him in these
words:—'Sire, in the first place I am under a deep debt of
gratitude to you for all you have done—for the immense
favors and honors you have conferred on me. I thank you
most sincerely and from the depth of my heart, and will not
fail to implore heaven to return to you a thousand-fold the
wealth and honor you have lavished on me,—that every
species of blessing may attend you throughout life,—that
your enemies may be confounded,—and that a long and
prosperous life may be allotted to you. I am too deeply

208
wounded in this heart of mine by the death of my adored
wife, to find any relief by entering into the government of
these vast dominions,—in fact, just at present I feel myself
quite incapable of undertaking so great and responsible a
task. You will therefore, I trust, excuse me. It pains me
much, after what you have said, to add to your griefs by
my refusal of the proffered crown, but I do not feel myself
justified in accepting it while aware of the impossibility of
my being able to acquit myself in a manner worthy of your-
self, the enlightened people of the land, and of my own
personal dignity. I beg your majesty will not importune
me any further on this subject, as I have now assigned my
reasons for setting my heart against it. My resolution has
been taken,—I must set out; and your permission to do so
is all I now seek.’ The king at last, though much against
his will, agreed to let Charoo have his own way. Their
parting was very affecting, and tasked the firmness of both.
At length, with mutual expressions of consolation, and with
many fond embraces, they parted, Charoo directing his steps
towards the hermit’s lonely dwelling.

CHAPTER XIV.
Continuation of the tale—Being interrupted by the Princess Pudma-
vutty, Veytal relates the story of the Angel of the Sea and the
Two Birds.
“IT would be difficult to conceive the extent of the grief
which weighed down Charoo at being compelled to refuse
the generous and disinterested offer his father-in-law had
made him—that of the crown and the hand of his youngest
daughter Soondra.* As he wended his lonely way in pro-
secution of his journey, he scarcely noticed external objects,
so fully absorbed was he in contemplation of past events,
and of the bereavement under which he was then suffering.
His days were spent in tears and lamentations, and his
nights in restless inquietude. The image of his wife was
ever before his eyes; and he travelled along for a time
without any settled purpose, and without knowing whither
he went. At length he collected his scattered thoughts,
and directed his steps towards the city of Badrikadar.
Having arrived there, he hastened to the hermit’s cell,
there to unburden himself of his load of grief, in the hope of
finding relief. He prostrated himself, as was customary,
at the hermit’s feet, and then at once entered into a relation
of his distressing case, at the conclusion of which he
besought the venerable man’s advice. The hermit, after a
long silence, during which he carefully weighed in his mind
the circumstances related, directed Charoo to visit once
more the friendly geese, and by their aid make another
journey to the Chitrakoot mountain, where he would
doubtlessly discover a solution of the mystery in which the
sudden death of the princess his wife was shrouded, and

• Signifying, Handsome.
  BB

210
perhaps gain some information which would enable him to
find her. Charoo sincerely thanked the hermit, and after-
receiving his blessing, set out again towards Himonchul.
When he arrived at the summit of the hill, he did not
pause until he had reached the Vur tree occupied by the
royal birds. He was again received by them as before,
with welcome and kind regard ; they addressed him as an
old friend and acquaintance. The disconsolate Charoo,
after the usual salutations and a due acknowledgment of
their invaluable aid and kind solicitude, informed them of
all that had occurred to him since he had been last with
them, and dwelt long on the painful loss of his beautiful
and much-loved wife. The birds deeply sympathised with
him, and desired him to moderate his grief, offering at the
same time every assistance in their power to lessen the
weight of his affliction. They voluntarily offered to
transport him to the Chitrakoot mountain, and said that
they would wait his convenience and pleasure in bringing
him back. Charoo was highly pleased, and in some degree
restored to composure by so much civility and kindness,
and he unfeignedly thanked them, in suitable terms.
“ The following day, one of the birds went as usual for
their food, taking with him the widowed Charoo, whom he
conveyed safely to Chitrakoot, and before leaving him asked
him whether he wished to return that day, or to remain on
the mountain, so that he might call for him on his way
home if necessary. Charoo replied that he did not know
when he would be ready to return. ‘I fear, however,’
said he, ‘that when I wish to do so I shall be unable to
find you.’ The bird told him not to be apprehensive on
that account, for that they called there about noon every
day, on their way to and from the celestial regions, and that
when he felt inclined to return he need only come and wait
there, and he would surely meet with one or other of them.
Charoo thanked the friendly bird, and after having taken
leave of him, proceeded to the town. He went into the
same street in which he had exchanged the merchants'

211
goods, and was agreeably surprised to find the inhabitants
once more in motion and engaged in their respective
callings. Some of them, who recognised Charoo as the
former offender, seized him, and a few even ill-treated him.
At length they took him before their sovereign, who was no
other than the beautiful Chitrangee, and addressed her in
the following words :—‘ Good sovereign, we have this day
seized the mischievous fellow who destroyed and commingled
our property on a former occasion, and who is doubtless
come again with the same evil intention. We appeal to
you for justice, and trust you will punish him as he
deserves.’ Chitrangee looked at their prisoner, and at once
recognised in him her husband Charoo. She was so over-
joyed that she could hardly contain herself, so she desired
the people to leave him there, promising them that she
would see justice done. The prisoner was thereupon taken
charge of by her attendants, and by her orders conducted
to her private apartment. Charoo could not repress his
surprise at the wonderful change he beheld in everything
from what he saw on his former visit, and while he was
revolving this in his mind, and trying to assign some cause
for it, he was led away, not to prison, but to a richly-furnished
apartment. He imagined that the sovereign who now treated
him so kindly and the lady he saw on his last visit lying in the
alcove asleep, and whose beauty made such a deep impres-
sion on him, were one and the same person. He was, how-
ever, soon after visited by the queen, attended by two slaves.
Chitrangee could not help smiling when she saw Charoo
gazing on her in evident confusion, as though he had been
struck at first sight by her beauty. She on her part felt
the deepest emotion, and, approaching her husband with
tearful eyes, prostrated herself before him, saying, ‘ Dear
Charoo!—I am agitated to tears with the unspeakable joy
I experience at seeing you! Your presence in this place is
more acceptable to me than heaps of wealth or any amount
of splendour. You have dispelled the darkness of my soul,—
all is now light and blithesome within me! You prove, by

212
thus coming to my place of residence, the force of your
affection for me, and believe me, mine is not less !' ' I
believe you,' replied Charoo, ' else why those tears—those
tears of joy, and this eagerness and fond solicitude ? I
cannot doubt that you are my own Chitrangee, in a far
more perfect form. But yet how cruelly have you not
behaved to me, in pretending to expire ! I have not had a
moment's peace since our separation. Still, great as have
been my sufferings, I have borne all with fortitude, for
something within me whispered that we should some day
meet again, though I never once expected it would be so
soon. My tears hinder my saying more !' Charoo here
wept copiously, and he felt refreshed thereby. Chitrangee
asked pardon for the deception she had been guilty of, and
informed Charoo of all the particulars regarding herself—how
she had been condemned by Indra to live in the world, and
by what means she had regained her former position. She
was delighted indeed to see Charoo there, though she
grieved to see the havoc which her separation from him had
caused : he was but the shadow of his former self, owing to
the uneasiness of mind he had suffered and the fatigues of
his journey. Chitrangee lost no time, after full explanations
had been given and received, in ordering a splendid bath
to be prepared, where Charoo indulged in a luxury to which
he had been for some time a stranger, after which she
perfumed his person, and, having arrayed him in a complete
suit of the richest materials, ornamented with the finest
pearls and diamonds, conveyed him to a large hall, where
they sat down together on a sandal-wood zopala,* Charoo
feeling greatly improved, both in person and spirits, and the
pleasure he experienced beaming from his sparkling eyes.
The slaves were left standing at a distance from the happy
couple, in order that they might converse more freely.
When dinner was ready, they adjourned to another room,
and there partook of it together, after which they sat

• A swinging cot.

213
conversing until a late hour in the evening, when they
retired to rest.
“Four months soon slipped by, and still Charoo remained
at Chitrakoot, in the enjoyment of every pleasure in its
highest perfection. One day, while seated with his beloved
Chitrangee, he observed that the palace in which they lived
had seven stories. He had not noticed this before; he
therefore desired Chitrangee to show them to him. She
accordingly took him to the first of the upper stories, which
was decorated with costly materials and splendid furniture
of the greatest rarity. She then led him into another, and
so on to the last. In each he found much to admire and a
great deal to enquire about. When they came to the
seventh story, Charoo saw a large bherry* lying in a corner,
and he asked Chitrangee to allow him to play on it. She,
however, begged of him not to do so, saying that if the
sound reached Indra's court, his majesty would instantly
send for her. Charoo, regardless of this advice, took the
sticks and began to play. Immediately after the sound
had died away, a messenger arrived from the Amravutty,†
intimating to Chitrangee that his majesty remembered her,
and commanded her to attend forthwith at his royal
mansion. She had no alternative but to obey; so she at
once ordered her trumpeters and attendants to get ready.
She then proceeded to her own apartment, and, having
arrayed herself in her finest apparel, informed Charoo that
she was going to Indra's palace, he having sent for her,
owing to the sounding of the drum. ‘I know,’ said she,
‘that he has sent for me to sing and dance before him, so I
must go without demur. You will remain here until I
return. I shall soon be back.’ Charoo disliked being left
alone, and expressed a desire to accompany her, but
Chitrangee advised him not to present himself at the court
of Indra, as she feared something might happen to cause
* A kettle-drum.
† The paradise of Indra.