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

259

diminish his reputation for a strict adherence to his faith
and morals, and the liberality for which he was deservedly
famed. “Your majesty,” continued the minister, “is well
acquainted with the story of the Chakravutty who cut off
his own flesh for the sake of the Supreme Being, and gave
it to the royal hawk to be devoured. King Shreeyal sacri-
ficed his own son to the god Shiva, for which he is still
held in great veneration by the world at large. King Bully
was also much famed for disinterestedness and generosity.
These are instances, among many others which we find
recorded by ancient authors in our sacred volumes, which
ought to stimulate us to similar acts of self-denial. Com-
pared to these, what you are now called upon to do seems
but a trifle,—it is but the giving away of a bird—a rare
bird though it be—to which you are fondly attached. It is
the bird’s rarity which would render the gift deserving of
public note. Let me entreat that your majesty will be
pleased to consider this point well.”
Meanwhile, the hermits and others there assembled
continued their offerings and religious austerities, to propi-
tiate the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, and, by a humble
acknowledgment of their dependence on Him, to secure to
themselves and to him on whose behalf they were called
upon to join in the ceremony of the great sacrifice offered
that day, the reward of all good things, both in this world
and the next. The minister, pointing to these religious
men, said, “You see that you are even yet engaged in
supplicating the divine favor through your majesty’s priests
and the devout men of other cities. Can you then hesitate
to do what perhaps has been commanded by God to try
you?” The king, thus pressed, had no alternative but to
comply, so he brought out the parrot and delivered him
to Bhutty and Somedut, who then retired, with many ex-
pressions of gratitude and a due acknowledgment of the
monarch’s truly liberal and charitable disposition.
The king rewarded, with presents in lands and money,
each and all of the brahmins and devout men assembled

260
there ; and on the princes and nobles he bestowed ornaments,
apparel, elephants, horses, and other costly articles; in a word,
he treated them with profuse liberality, and feasted them
with great magnificence. Before they parted, the religious
men bestowed their blessings on the king, and the princes
and nobles made professions of never-dying friendship and
gratitude. Thus ended the great sacrificial day.
Bhutty and Somedut no sooner became possessed of the
parrot than they commenced their homeward journey, and
did not slacken their pace until they reached Oojein, some
few days after. In the evening, after dark, Bhutty took the
parrot in his hand and went into the apartment of the
queen (Vickramadetea's wife) without the knowledge of the
wicked Koobjuck the usurper, and informed her in a few
words of his object in visiting her at such an unusual hour.
On hearing the welcome intelligence of the near presence
of her lord and master, she was transported with joy. She
requested him to acquaint her with the particulars of his
visit to the court of Gopichund, the renowned monarch. It
was indeed affecting to witness the eager inquiry which
marked every feature of the queen, and the intense interest
with which she listened to the minister; and how much the
more when she found that her lord, in the guise of the
parrot, still retained the use of his speech!—for he entered
into a relation of all that had happened to him since he
first set out from his palace. Great was the affection she
displayed towards the parrot,—her humble demeanour
towards him was exactly that of a loving wife to her husband.
At the end of the relation she addressed herself thus to the
bird:—"My lord and husband!—will you be pleased to
instruct me how I can help you to regain your own body?
The space of six months which I have demanded at the
hands of the wicked Koobjuck, before I admit him into my
apartment, will expire to-morrow, and he has promised to
show me then the miracle of transmigration. He has not,
since the day on which he vainly strove by every means at
his command to make me subservient to his pleasure, held

261
any conference with me. He has, I know, been counting
the days as they passed, and awaiting with much anxiety the
expiration of the time I fixed upon." "Very well," said
the parrot, "do not be alarmed, but take courage; I will
endeavour to extricate you from your perilous position. I
have discovered myself only to you, and you must be very
careful not to divulge the secret of my being here in my
present form to any one, for the least intimation on the sub-
ject to Koobjuck will involve me in some other misfortune,
and perhaps even cause my death." "Your majesty must
know," replied the queen, "that the moment I suspected
Koobjuck I prohibited him from entering my apartments.
Besides, I have expressly told him that unless he practises
before me the mysterious art of transmigration at the expira-
tion of six months, I will never even look him in the face."
The parrot then desired Bhutty to retire to his own home,
telling him that on the morrow they would set about devis-
ing means to effect their purpose. He said he trusted, by
the aid of Providence, to return speedily to his natural
form and condition, and to enter once again upon the
duties of his office. Bhutty made his obeisance, and
departed accordingly.
The queen held the parrot in her hand with much respect
and veneration; she tenderly embraced him, with tears
flowing fast down her cheeks, and said, "I have been
deceived indeed, but I have at last found him whom my
soul holds most dear on earth. My past sufferings and
heart-burnings are now more than recompensed: heaven
has favored me on this occasion in a most liberal manner,
for which I now offer up the outpourings of a soul full of
grateful emotions and sentiments far too profound for utter-
ance." She then placed the parrot in his cage, and the
whole of that night was spent in conjecturing the events
that the morrow would bring forth.
The next morning, by sunrise, the wicked Koobjuck sent
for Bhutty the minister, in whom he had great confidence,
and informed him that the period of six months assigned by

262
the queen would expire on that day, and that he was pre-
pared to impart to her the knowledge which she was so
anxious to become possessed of. He told him to go and
enquire of the queen if she was prepared to receive him.
The minister, in obedience to the order he had received,
went to the queen and made her acquainted with Koobjuck's
request. She replied that she was as anxious as ever to be
initiated into the mystery, and that after the king should
have satisfied her in that respect she would place herself
entirely at his disposal. The minister returned and com-
municated this to Koobjuck, who heard it with much plea-
sure, and ordered his attendants to procure for him the
dead body of some animal, no matter of what kind, or of any
species of bird. They accordingly went out in search of one.
The wicked Koobjuck, in the mean while, went into the
queen's apartment, accompanied by the minister, and after
the usual interchange of civilities they sat down. Koobjuck
was priding himself on the wit and discernment he displayed
in a flow of flattering encomiums he was bestowing on the
queen, when the attendants whom he had sent out returned
with a dead hare. Having taken the hare and placed it
beside him, he addressed the queen and said, "My chaste
wife! the idol of my heart!—I beg you will be pleased to
cast your eyes upon me, and I will show you in a few
minutes the most wonderful miracle ever witnessed." The
parrot was a silent listener to all that was being said, and
an observer likewise of all that was going forward,—he was
concealed under the folds of the queen's garment. Koob-
juck, having secured the attention of the queen, commenced
to work the charm, and in a short time he left the human
body, which was that of Vickramadetea, and entered the
body of the hare, which began to show signs of life, and at
last skipped about with all the sprightliness of life and
health. The parrot, observing this, instantly cast off his
body and entered that of Vickramadetea, and thus
regained his own form, which had been so long forcibly
kept from him by the wicked and ungrateful Koobjuck.

263
No sooner did Vickramadetea assume his natural body,
than he ordered the attendants to catch the hare. This
command, so terrible to the hare, resounded throughout
the palace, and was echoed from mouth to mouth,—in fact
they had all been in some degree prepared for it. The hare
instantly skipped off, and hid himself in the kitchen, but
his pursuers followed him there, with shouts and cries, and
so belaboured him with the sticks with which they had
provided themselves as speedily to put an end to his existence.
They then brought the body to Vickramadetea, who ordered
it to be thrown to the dogs and birds of prey. This was
nothing more than the inhuman Koobjuck richly deserved.
Such are the inscrutable but invariable decrees of Provi-
dence! Though the wicked and the profane may for a
time seem to triumph in their evil courses,-the punishment
from on high sooner or later overtakes them in the midst
of their career. There is a great moral to be learned from
this, and to those of a contemplative turn of mind it
will afford sufficient food for consideration during their
leisure hours.
King Vickramadetea was much pleased at the successful
manner in which he had executed his plans, and thanked
God for his mercy towards him. He embraced the queen
in the first transport of his joy, and he was also profuse in
his thanks to the minister for all he had done. He also
sent for Somedut the brahmin, and extolled him in very
high and flattering terms for the trouble he had been at in
wandering through wilds and forest glens in search of
him, regardless of his own comfort. The next day Vickra-
madetea appeared in public, and ascended his throne amid
the acclamations and joyful greetings of his courtiers and
the whole assembled populace.
The inhabitants of Oojein had been getting gradually
reconciled to the hardness of the lot they experienced under
the iron sway of Koobjuck; consequently any change for
the better in their condition was as far removed from their
minds as any event could well be. Since the time Koob-

264
juck usurped the throne, it was “as a roaring lion and a
raging bear” that this wicked ruler lorded it over the poor
people. Nothing but complaints of injustice and the most
iniquitous proceedings were to be heard on all sides; and
the distress of the people was heavy, increased as it was in
a great measure by the recollection of what they had been
accustomed to under the mild and just rule of the generous
Vickramadetea. But there was now to be an end of all
this: the tyrant had gone to his account, and the rightful
owner of the throne was once more amongst them!
One of the first acts of Vickramadetea, after he had
assumed the reins of government, was to reinstate all those
who had been unjustly ousted from their places, and to
restore the properties of all who had been deprived of them.
Vickramadetea was aware how his subjects had suffered
during his absence, and he hastened to do them the most
ample justice. He rewarded his tried friends and trusty
vassals in the most profuse manner, and his friend Somedut
came in for a handsome pension—handsomer far than his
most sanguine expectation could have pictured—after which
he retired, with the most profound feeling of gratitude, love,
and regard for the generous donor.

265
CHAPTER XVIII.
The inhabitants of Oojein once more enjoy the blessings of good govern-
ment under King Vickramadetea—The king's mind continuing dis-
turbed by reflections on the prediction that he should be killed by the
son of a virgin aged seven years, he sends emissaries into various
countries to make enquiries if any such were known—Soometra, the
youthful daughter of a brahmin, becomes pregnant by the king of the
serpents, and bears a son whom they name Shalivahan—He early
displays great martial talents, as well as extraordinary wisdom as a
councellor—In repelling an attack by Vickramadetea, Shalivahan,
provided with an army by his father, puts the enemy to rout and
slays the king—From this date the Shalivahan era begins to be
computed.
THE city of Oojein was now entirely relieved from the
yoke of oppression under which it but a short time before
had groaned, and the inhabitants were gradually regaining
their wonted cheerfulness and serenity. Some who had
fled from the place under the tyrant's repeated oppressions
and injustice on their persons and property, retraced their
steps, and were again located within their peaceful dwellings,
with their properties restored to them. Under Vickrama-
detea's blissful reign there was not the slightest inclination
in the people toward a profligate life or the indulgence of
any other wicked or improper desires. Their love for their
monarch, who was proverbially just and virtuous, regulated
their actions: they imitated his example, and were conse-
quently devout and sincere in their religious duties, taking
great delight in tending and succouring their poor and
distressed fellow-citizens.
Such was the condition of the country shortly after
Vickramadetea resumed the throne. During his reign there
was but one drawback to his complete earthly happiness:
it had been predicted, as has been before mentioned, that
he would die by the hand of the son of a virgin. To pre-
vent such a catastrophe, he sent his emissaries into many
II

266
different countries, as well as to the remotest corners of
his own dominions, to gain precise information, if possible,
as to the birth of such a person.
On the south of the river Godavery was situated the city
of Prathestan, where reigned a king named Somekaunt,
who to a handsome exterior added every virtue which can
adorn the human mind. He devoted as much of his time
as he could spare from the duties of his state to acts of
charity towards his poorer subjects. He was liberal and
kind, and studied all the varied wants of his people with
the object of relieving them; by which means he not only
helped to improve the condition of his people, and with it
to increase the prosperity of his country, but he also planted
in the hearts of his subjects a lasting sentiment of love and
gratitude towards himself, which was manifested by their
constant invocations and prayers that blessings might be
showered upon his head.
There was a poor brahmin, named Soolochun, in this
city, who had an only daughter, a most lovely child, called
Soometra. She had been deprived of her mother, by the
cruel hand of death, at the age of four years. The brah-
min felt this stroke of affliction to his heart's inmost core;
and having no other near relative who could undertake the
management of his unhappy child, and give her the nourish-
ment needed at her years, he was thrown into a most
uncontrollable fit of grief, from which he rose at times only
to fall into a more distressing one, by recalling to his mind
with renewed force the forlorn condition of his infant
daughter. He carried her in his arms whilst following
the usual avocations of his calling, and it was most pitiable
to behold the care-worn and haggard looks of the father,
and to hear the piercing cries of the infant for its usual
sustenance. Thus the father went on from day to day,
feeding his child as best he could, until it began to speak.
When she could express herself in an intelligible manner,
he was agreeably surprised to hear with what good sense
her observations were characterised.

267
The river Godda not being far from his house, the
brahmin made it a daily practice to perform his ablutions
in its stream, and to worship the titular image of Shashe,*
one of which he kept in his house. One day Soolochun
went as usual, accompanied by his daughter, to bathe.
The father left the child on the bank, and had no sooner
descended into the river than a most wonderful occurrence
took place. Soometra had scarcely seated herself, when a
young and handsome brahmin appeared before her. He
gazed on her silently at first, and then drew near and
addressed her in a respectful tone. "O charming and
celestial beauty!" said he, "permit me to fold your slender
and lovely form in my arms!" These were strange and
unintelligible words to her, and she seemed at a loss what
to reply, so she looked anxiously in the direction of her
father, and shrieked for help, as she thought the young
brahmin before her would ill-treat her. Her cries did not
reach her father, who had gone far into the water, so the
youth, perceiving her loneliness, approached nearer to her,
and placed his hand on her head, when she immediately
felt creeping over her the sensations of ripening love and
affection. He then desired her not to be afraid of him,
although he did not belong to this world, but to the lower
one. "Listen to me," continued he; "as you are igno-
rant of the reason why I assumed this form, I will tell you.
You will bear a son who will become a mighty and renowned
monarch: by his prowess and gallantry he will subdue a
mighty nation; his fame and merit will be spread far and
wide, and will endure as long as the sun and moon exist.
If at any time you should happen to fall into difficulties,
recal this my shape and appearance in your mind, and
mention aloud my name, when I will instantly appear to
you, and relieve you from any dangers with which you may

• The king of the serpents, a large snake with a thousand heads,
  who is at once the couch and canopy of Vishnoo, as well as the up-
  holder of the world, on which rests one of his heads.

268

be encompassed. But come, hasten to grant my request.
Do you fully comprehend the nature of my speech?"
Soometra, touched with his appearance and friendly disposi-
tion, smiled at the conclusion of his address, and did not
hesitate to allow him a chaste embrace, after which the
youth disappeared. The father, after bathing and perform-
ing his ablutions, returned to where he had left his daughter,
and was surprised at not finding her there, but perceived
her at a distance coming towards him. She appeared to
him, though retaining the same line of features, to have
suddenly advanced to womanhood; but on coming nearer,
he found that she was in her former condition of infancy.
The father asked her why she had left her place, and to
his horror and indignation she told him all that had occur-
red, without concealing a single circumstance. He became
very much dejected when he thought of the disgrace that
would probably fall on him; though he doubted whether
any injury had been inflicted upon his child, as she was
still an infant. Then again he recalled the circumstance
which he beheld as his daughter advanced to him from the
distance: she then appeared to have all at once grown into
a woman, and on nearing him had as suddenly resumed her
natural shape of a child. He was greatly puzzled at all
this. "God alone knows," said he, "what this illusion
means: my eyes could not have deceived me, and yet how
can I account for the strange phenomenon?" As he was
unable to solve the mystery he led his daughter home.
Four months after the occurrence above narrated, the
brahmin's daughter, suddenly and against all precedent in
the order of nature, shot up into a young woman, and at
the same time showed every sign of being with child.
When the neighbours came to know of her situation, it
created a deal of scandal, which was productive of great
pain to her father, for much stress was laid on her supposed
infamy and gross violation of virtue.
The unpleasant intelligence soon reached the ears of
king Somekaunt,---that a brahmin's daughter had become

269
pregnant without the knowledge of a husband. This so
exasperated the king that he summoned her father to his
court, and in a threatening manner bade him declare the
truth regarding his daughter's vile conduct, as he must be
fully aware of the strictness of the laws enacted against
such offenders. The brahmin was thrown into much agita-
tion, and finding it would be of no avail to conceal the truth,
represented to the king what he had learned from his
daughter, and that he himself had witnessed the transforma-
tion in her shape on returning from the river. He begged
his majesty to extend his royal clemency to him, as he was
innocent, and knew nothing more of the affair than what he
had already mentioned. King Somekaunt and his officers
would not believe a word of what the brahmin said, but told
him that they suspected him of being privy to the whole
affair, and sentenced him to be banished from the city
without loss of time. The poor brahmin, his heart torn
with grief and anguish on account of the disgrace brought
on him by his daughter's misconduct, which was now
aggravated by insult and unmerited punishment, returned
to his dwelling, and having packed up his goods and house-
hold materials, departed with his daughter from the city.
He took up his residence outside the fort walls, with some
potters, and spent his time in his usual occupation.
At the completion of nine months, Soometra was safely
delivered of a handsome male child, to the great joy of
herself and likewise of her father. On the twelfth day they
gave him the name of Shalivahan. As the child grew up,
he had no one of his own class to associate with, so was
compelled to choose his companions from among the potters
in the neighbourhood. His sole amusement during his
leisure hours was to form images and puppets of the clay
procured from his companions, and to place them in a row
like an army, with a sword in the hand of each and shields on
their backs. The officers were represented on the backs of
horses, and they carried an additional weapon of defence in
the shape of a long spear. Besides the foot soldiers and

270
their mounted officers, he formed a regiment of cavalry, who
carried more weapons than the former, among which were
bows and quivers full of arrows. The introduction of
elephants added to the wonder of this extraordinary speci-
men of infantile ingenuity. This was the work of several
weeks, each day witnessing the formation of a certain
number of brigades, and as each brigade was completed a
sufficient number of officers was apportioned to it. Thus
did this future hero, even in his tender years, accustom
himself to all the paraphernalia of war, and the missiles of
destruction then in use. Having completed the army,
Shalivahan repaired with his companions to the top of a
high mound of earth, and issued orders in a loud voice, as
if for a grand and imposing parade. The army, however,
as may well be imagined, remained stationary ; nevertheless,
numbers of people flocked round to witness the amusing
proceedings of the youngsters. Some were led to the spot
from mere idle curiosity ; others there were who stopped to
admire the precocious judgment and masterly manœuvres of
the little commander.
Shalivahan was rather tall in stature, and of a slender
make, with a long neck and arms; his limbs appeared
nevertheless to be well proportioned. He was very engag-
ing in his manners, of a brave disposition, and displayed a
vigour of body far surpassing all his companions of the
same age, and even those of the adjoining states, the young
princes included. He sometimes amused himself by gather-
ing together his companions in a certain spot, taking an
elevated seat among them, and calling himself their king.
He would then appoint his prime minister and the other
officials of a court, and set about dispensing justice to his
subjects. At this play he settled many knotty points and
important debates, to the admiration of many men of years
and discretion.
One day, while Shalivahan held his general council with
his companions, the ministers and other officials being
present, a Josey happened to pass by, whom Shalivahan

271
boldly and fearlessly addressed. “Well, Josey-bawa,”
said he, “be so kind as to inform me whether there is any
good conquest in store for our court for the present year.”
The Josey could not help smiling at the youth’s mode of
expression, and the subject of his address. He replied,
“I can tell you what you desire to know, but you must
first let me have some duxina.”* “You may depend on
me,” replied the child; “I will give it to you, and, what is
more, from this day forward you must not go from door to
door.” At this speech the Josey laughed heartily, and
said, “O prince of boys!—an opportunity of achieving
a great and splendid victory lies before you, and one which
only you are destined to obtain.” No sooner did these
words fall from the Josey’s lips than Shalivahan, much
pleased with it, presented him with an earthen pot. The
poor Josey accepted the proffered gift without any demur,
and took it to his lodgings, where, having placed the pot
on the ground, he was agreeably surprised to find it converted
into pure gold! This miraculous occurrence convinced him
that there was some unusual and important faculty attach-
ing to the boy who had presented him with it,—in short,
the Josey believed him to belong to a superior or divine
order of beings.
Shalivahan was not over fond of study, nor eager for
learning, but he was possessed of so excellent a memory
that anything he had once read he could repeat by heart.
He could also successfully perform what he had but once
before seen done. His grasp of memory and the quickness
of his apprehension were among his most remarkable
characteristics, and they secured for him the well-merited
praise of all who knew him.
In a distant country lived a wealthy merchant called
Dhunnanjye, who had three sons, all well educated and
great proficients in their business. This merchant was also
a man of great tact and experience, but he was so old and

• Money or presents.

272
infirm that he began to lay aside all thoughts of further
gain, and thought it advisable to settle his worldly affairs
by apportioning his property to his sons. Being wise and
discreet, he made his arrangements in a very judicious
manner: he buried, under one of the corner-posts of the
cot whereon he slept, a quantity of rice-husks, under the
second some clay, under the third a sheet of paper, and
under the fourth a quantity of coals. Some time after, as
he found his illness was fast gaining upon him, and that
he had but a short time to live, he called his three sons to
his bed-side, and said to them, "My dear children, I have
bequeathed my property to you in equal shares. I have
buried all that I die possessed of under the cot which now
supports me. The eldest is to receive what I have buried
under the two posts at the head of the cot, the next that
which is under the right-hand post at the foot, and the
youngest that which is under the left-hand post; but I hope
you will not, until after my decease, separate yourselves
from me, nor have any interest apart from mine. I trust
you will always endeavour to acquire a good reputation,
and take delight in assisting others. Those who derive
their enjoyments from such noble sources, deserve admira-
tion and applause, and will most assuredly secure them."
Soon after instructing them in this wise, the old man expired.
The three brothers, having with all due reverence and
respect performed the last sad rites for their father, lived
together in the greatest harmony and love. Some time
after, a slight altercation took place between them, and they
each and all determined to share their father's legacy,
which was buried under the corner-posts of the cot. With
this view they entered the chamber, and dug up the ground,
but what was their surprise when, instead of gold, as they
had all along expected, they found nothing but what has
been already mentioned! "Alas!" said they, "how
sanguine were we that our father had in store for us some
valuable treasure, such as gold, silver, and precious stones,
of which we knew him to be possessed, and here we have

273
nothing but mere dirt and paper!—for they are but little
better." They could not understand the meaning or inten-
tion of this act on the part of the aged merchant. "But,"
said they after awhile, "these articles are certainly com-
mon and without value to the eye; we must not, however,
treat them as such. Our father, depend upon it, meant
something which is at present beyond our comprehension,
or he would not have taken such pains to hide these things."
They thought and reflected very seriously on the subject,
but could arrive at no satisfactory solution of the apparent
mystery. They next referred the matter to their friends
and relations, but these only laughed at the strange and
pitiful legacy which had been left by the merchant to his
sons. Nevertheless, all three of them were so fully impressed
with the wisdom of their father, and the belief that he could
never have been guilty of such a foolish act or tricksy
conduct as their remaining relatives imputed to him in no
very pleasing terms, that they represented their case to the
Pateel* of the district, for his decision. He was equally
unable as the rest of them to pass a judgment on the
unusual proceeding of the deceased merchant, but he advised
the brothers to proceed to the king, and lay their case at
the foot of the throne.
The brothers accordingly set out, and having heard of
the fame of Vickramadetea, proceeded to his court. On
their arrival they represented to the king the object of their
journey, and after producing for his inspection the articles
which they had dug up, prayed that he would be pleased
to solve the mystery for them. The king was much
perplexed and astonished at what he heard, and although
he gave the case the most mature and deliberate considera-
tion, he could not by any means solve it. He took great
pains and evinced much zeal in behalf of the three brothers,
as well as for his own satisfaction; he also brought to bear

• The chief officer of the village, applied as a title of courtesy to
  Marathas or Shoodrus in general.
  JJ

274
upon it the united abilities of his councillors, but all to no
purpose. At last he informed them, with the utmost
concern, that he could not at all explain to them their father's
meaning, and advised them to seek elsewhere for the expla-
nation they sought. The brothers had entertained great
hopes that King Vickramadetea, whose fame for wisdom
and capacity was spread throughout the land, would have
set before them a clear exposition of their case, but they
were now compelled to go elsewhere, with, as they feared,
far less chance of success. Being, however, very desirous
to obtain an explanation, they left Oojein, and travelled to
another court, where they met with no better success.
They next visited the city of Prathestan, and represented
their case to King Somekaunt, who patiently heard their
representations, but with no less amazement than their other
hearers. He also exerted his utmost talent and judgment,
combined with that of his councillors, to arrive at a decision,
but they also signally failed. Meanwhile, one of the coun-
cillors desired the brothers to attend on the morrow, when
they would be informed of the result of their application.
A certain potter, who lived in the same neighbourhood
with Shalivahan, was in the daily practice of going into the
town to sell his wares, after which he usually amused him-
self by going into court to hear the cases tried before the
king. He happened to be present on this occasion, and
heard the case of the three brothers. When he returned
home he communicated the matter to Shalivahan, and added
that the king had not been able to come to a decision, but
was much perplexed. Shalivahan laughed heartily when
he heard it, and said to the potter, "My good neighbour,
I am surprised, not so much at the case as at the want of
perception on the part of the king and his officials. It is
not a case of such great difficulty as to cause the king to
be at a loss to decide it. But perhaps you are only jesting
with me: has not the king been always famed for his
learning, and deservedly too? Does he not retain in his
court the ablest of councillors? All this is against what

275
you are now pleased to assert." The potter replied, ’“If, as
you say, there is no difficulty in settling the case of the
three brothers, and you can do it, I will mention it to the
king, who, I am sure, will be glad to hear it.” “I do not
wish you to mention my name,” replied Shalivahan, “but
you may, if you please, mention that there is a person who
has expressed himself as I have done.” So saying, Shali-
vahan repaired to his usual sport.
Next day the potter went again into the town, but a
little earlier than usual, and called at the court to see how
the case then pending would terminate. He heard the
minister acquainting the brothers that no decision could by
any possibility be arrived at, it being one of much difficulty,
and shrouded in great mystery. The potter upon this
advanced, and thus addressed the king:—“O excellent
king!—I beg to state in all humility that there is a youth
who has expressed himself ready and able to decide this
case; I therefore pray your majesty will send for him. He
is wise, and endowed with many good qualities, although
he lives outside the town amongst the poor potters. I
mentioned to him yesterday the difficulty experienced by
the court in deciding this case, and he was very much
surprised there should be any difficulty found in it. He
is a youth possessing the judgment of riper years, and his
excellent carriage and demeanour mark him as an extra-
ordinary and rare being. Though born of humble parents
he shows great tact and learning, and will doubtless one
day rise to the eminence he is in every way fitted to adorn.”
The king, hearing this, was greatly pleased, though not a
little surprised, as was also his whole court even to a still
greater degree. He directed one of his attendants to set
off immediately in the direction pointed out by the potter,
and to summon to the palace the youth described by him.
This was done, but Shalivahan said to the king’s attendant,
“Go and inform your master that he has no control over
me; if, however, he is desirous of seeing me, he is at liberty
to come to my dwelling.” The attendant returned to the

276
court and delivered this message to the king, who was greatly
amazed at the youth's audacity, and so were all his courtiers.
They consulted for awhile, and then despatched a palanquin
and some officers, in order to show him some little attention,
with an urgent request for his immediate attendance. On
reaching Shalivahan's abode, the officers represented to him
that the king was anxious to see him, and begged therefore
that he would lose no time in preparing himself to accom-
pany them. "I wonder," said Shalivahan, "why the king
should be so desirous of seeing me!—I do not feel disposed
to believe all you say. Be good enough, however, to tell
him that I can have no business with him,—that is, if he
has sent you to me, as you maintain. If there is anything
on which he wishes to consult me, let him come here, and
I shall be glad to be of service to him." Not being
authorised to use compulsion, they returned to court and
acquainted the king with what Shalivahan had said. The
king could not but admire the daring boldness of the youth,
and thought he must be possessed of rare qualifications.
At length he directed some of his court furniture to be
carried to Shalivahan's dwelling, that he might hold his
court there, and then ordered his retinue to be got ready,
after which he set out with his officials and the three brothers,
accompanied by a large number of the most respectable
citizens. Curiosity had no little share in this proceeding
on the part of the king: he was naturally desirous of seeing
and hearing the knotty point gone into and finally decided.
It was therefore without any show of displeasure that the
king adjourned his court to Shalivahan's dwelling. Arrived
there, the king sent for the young arbitrator, and received
him with one of his patronising smiles. Shalivahan drew
near to the king, and, after respectfully saluting him, thus
addressed him:—"My lord, you need not have put your-
self to the trouble of assembling your court here, if, as I
suppose, you have come to hear my decision in the case of
the three brothers. Why did not your majesty send them
to me?—I should have been able, I think, to decide the

277
case to your majesty's satisfaction, without any of these
preparations, as it is a simple one, and does not call for any
particular or lengthy discussion." The king smiled at this
speech on the part of Shalivahan, who was dressed in the
simplest of garbs, without anything even approaching to
ornament; his countenance and bearing nevertheless were
lofty, and his personal appearance very prepossessing. He
was a singular being: in him were combined all the charms
of personal beauty and the highest qualities of the mind,
so that he was looked upon, notwithstanding his plain garb,
by the vast concourse there assembled, with admiring eyes
and the deference which is invariably paid to superior and
powerful intellect. The king commanded Shalivahan to
be seated, and beckoned to one of the brothers to come
forward and lay his case before him. The eldest of the
merchant's sons accordingly proceeded to relate his story,
and produced the husks and clay which had fallen to his
share. Shalivahan hereupon said, without hesitation, "The
deceased, by leaving you the husks and the clay, meant that
all the grain and other produce of the fields, meadows, .
orchards, gardens, &c. were to fall to your share, as well as
the ground and the implements and appliances pertaining
to agriculture, which is clearly indicated by the clay. In
this there is no mistake, and your brothers cannot lay the
slightest claim to any of it." The second brother then
presented himself, and, laying before Shalivahan the sheet
of white paper, said that that was what had fallen to his
share. "This paper," said Shalivahan, "represents the
bonds, deeds of mortgage, receipts, books, recoveries, and
the interest accruing therefrom, which are all assigned to
you, and of which your brothers cannot dispute the posses-
sion." The youngest and last son now came forward, and
said that his share consisted of a quantity of coals, which
he produced, at the same time giving vent to his feelings
as follows:—"O thou critical judge and impartial investi-
gator! I know not what fortune my late father intended to
leave me, but I cannot help considering myself the unluckiest

278
of men, for the greater part of the property is already gone
to my elder brothers, according to the judgment passed by
you, and there is but little left for me.” Shalivahan said,
“Be patient, and listen to my interpretation. The coals
no doubt appear repugnant to the sight, but they will
produce far more riches than have fallen to the lot of your
brothers. Know, then, that all the ready cash, gold, silver,
and jewels, except those ornaments in use in the families
of your two brothers, are designed for you, and none
can gainsay it.”
This interpretation gave much satisfaction to the king
and the whole court, as well as to the parties concerned.
They admired the great penetration and discernment of
Shalivahan, and every spectator present expressed his
astonishment and joy at the successful issue of the case.
Nor did they fail to heap encomiums on the happy Shaliva-
han for the talent and ability displayed in his decision.
Not one among those assembled there could have hit upon
the right signification of the several articles produced by
the brothers, nor did it once occur to them to interpret it in
the manner Shalivahan had done. It is therefore not to be
wondered at that he was looked upon as a youth of very
superior ability, of exalted powers of mind, and rare acquire-
ments. The brothers were profuse in their thanks and
expressions of gratitude and obligation to him, after which
they departed on their return home.
King Somekaunt then asked Shalivahan who he was, to
what tribe he belonged, and whether he had always been
an inhabitant of that locality. Shalivahan replied by
entering into an explanation of his circumstances and
antecedents, as well as of the aspersions cast upon his
mother and grandfather, touching also on the injustice they
had received at his (the king’s) hands. All this he delivered
in a most sarcastic manner, which touched the king to the
quick, as he and all who beheld him were fully persuaded
that Shalivahan was one day destined to become great, and
that he would rise to eminence by his own unaided efforts.