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

33
In the same city with Dushwant resided a dancing-girl,
named Kamsaina, who, having become acquainted with the
high reputation which the merchant had attained for pro-
fuseness and generosity, resolved upon calling daily at his
house to amuse him with her singing. One day it occurred
to her that she had dreamed over-night of Dushwant having
injured her chastity. Under this impression she proceeded
to the palace of the king, laid a formal complaint against the
merchant, and demanded justice. The king, upon the girl's
declaration, decided that Dushwant should pay the custom-
ary fine for such offences—1,25,000 rupees. After the
decision had been recorded, Dushwant was sent for to ap-
pear before the king and his council, there to be subjected
to interrogatories before the public assembly. As he was
ignorant of the cause which procured him the honor of the
king's summons, and being, as our readers will have per-
ceived, innocent of any guilt, he was naturally enough
thrown into a maze of perplexity ; and his astonishment may
be better imagined than described, when the king made
known to him the accusation that had been brought against
him. By dint of cross-questioning and much labour he
made the girl acknowledge, though not in direct terms, that
her charge was founded on a mere dream, which had become
so deeply rooted in her mind as to appear a reality.
Having gained this advantage over his opponent, the mer-
chant addressed the king in the following words :—" This
being only, as your majesty has seen, a charge founded on
a dream, or coined to extort money from me, I do not see
that I am liable to the fine your majesty has been pleased
to inflict upon me ; and I trust you will see the impropriety
of enforcing it in a case, like the present, of an imaginary
wrong said to have been done." The girl on this became
so exasperated as to indulge in the most abusive epithets
and unbecoming language towards Dushwant, notwithstand-
ing that she was in the presence of the king and his whole
court. This so affected poor Dushwant, that he agreed to
pay the fine, and thus put a stop to the volley of abusive
F
o

34

words that was directed against him; at the same time pro-
claiming his innocence with a loud voice, and protesting
against the whole proceeding as being illegal and informal,
as well as unjust and tyrannical. He then sent for his
cashier, and ordered the amount to be brought into court.
While, however, Dushwant was in the act of making over
the money, it occurred to him that he had not consulted
once, throughout the whole of this proceeding, his invaluable
and bosom friend, the parrot; he thought that by repre-
senting the injustice of the case to him, the good sense and
intelligence which the bird displayed on every occasion of
emergency might perchance enable him to devise some
means to extricate him from the dilemma in which he found
himself placed; so he solicited the king to allow him time
to send for the parrot, before paying down the money.
Having obtained the king's consent to this step, a messen-
ger was immediately despatched, and the bird brought into
the presence of the king and the assembled courtiers. He
was placed in an elevated position, and made acquainted
with all the details of the occurrence. The parrot seemed
much surprised at the revelations made to him, and still
more so at the daring act of injustice on the part of the
king, of whom he enquired, and of his councillors, how they
could possibly be so blind as not to see through the guile
of the girl, and the unworthy motives which led her into
such an act. He begged the king to countermand
the order for the fine, and then, in an address fraught
with much politeness and good sense, entreated that his
majesty would not permit himself to be thus hood-
winked by a mercenary woman. So saying, the parrot
desired that a large looking-glass, of which there were
many in the palace, might be brought to him; when
the domestic came forward with the glass, the parrot ordered
the amount of the fine levied by the king to be placed
in front of it, which having been done, he spoke in this
wise, addressing himself in the first instance to the com-
plainant in the case:—"Is it true, then, as you have

35

advanced before his majesty and the council, that last night
Dushwant appeared before you in a dream, and injured
your person?" "Yes," rejoined the dancing-girl, with
much impudence, "he positively did." "Very well, then,"
said the parrot, "you may take by way of compensation
the cash reflected in the glass, but do not dare to meddle
with the cash itself. The punishment will be of a like kind
with the injury alleged to have been inflicted : you dreamed
the injury done, and in like manner is the punishment
reflected. Justice is satisfied, and so must you be." At
these words the disappointed girl trembled violently, with a
sensation of mingled rage and conscious humiliation; dis-
appointed avarice no doubt contributed to the effect pro-
duced. To be baulked when about to receive the reward
(as she thought but a while ago) of her well-concerted and
well-directed plan, was too much,—to grasp now only the
shadow, while the substance which she had fully and confi-
dently calculated upon, had fled. There she stood, the
picture of despair and disappointment, eyeing alternately
the heap of gold and, as she thought, her inveterate enemy
the parrot, who had been the cause of so much mischief.
At length the parrot broke the silence by saying to the girl,
"As you cannot reach the money through the glass, no
more could Dushwant have injured you in your dream.
Begone, slut! and do not dare to present yourself again
before the king." She was then ignominiously expelled,
and all retired, well satisfied with the turn the affair had
taken. The merchant directed his man to take the money he
had brought, and returned home, accompanied by his now
more than ever esteemed friend the parrot, extremely happy
at the termination of so unpleasant an affair; while the king
and his courtiers were lost in amazement at the extraordinary
ingenuity and presence of mind of the handsome and clever
little bird.
The reputation of our feathery acquaintance spread with
such rapidity after the decision he had made in the above
case, as to become known throughout the length and breadth

36
of that populous town; and while all admired and praised
him, there was one who conceived against him the deadliest
hatred imaginable, and that person was the discomfited
actress or dancing-girl against whom he had given his deci-
sion. Nothing short of the life of the parrot would satisfy
her. Many were the designs she revolved in her mind to
effect this purpose, till at last, an opportunity offering itself,
she hit upon the following plan. It came to her knowledge
that Dushwant's wife was in bed sick, and she thought this
a fine chance to seek a reconciliation with Dushwant, and
then, by her wiles and deception, to gain a mastery over
him; this object once attained, every facility, she thought,
would be afforded her for executing her foul work. Accord-
ingly, one night, she decked herself out in her best clothes,
so as to set off her charms and symmetry of shape to the
best advantage, and went into Dushwant's house. She
entered his apartment by a secret door that was known to
her, and noiselessly approached the bed on which Dushwant
lay alone, and sat beside him. The unsuspecting Dush-
want was fast asleep, and had been so for some time, as
the night was far advanced when this temptress set out from
her dwelling. Seated beside Dushwant, she began to
bestow on him the softest caresses, and to call on him by
the most endearing and loving epithets. Dushwant here-
upon suddenly awoke, and was astonished to find a female
form near him of such exquisite beauty, which the rays of
the lamp that fell upon her displayed to great advantage,
the mellowness of the light, added to the sombre shade of
the room, rendering her smiling countenance and richly-
jewelled bust like those of a houri, come to keep watch over
the sleeping merchant in his now lonely bed-chamber. She
appeared, indeed, the height of female perfection, and the
softness of her manners and the ingratiating tone of her
speech might have gone far towards overcoming a person of
firmer principle than poor Dushwant. His first words were
expressive of surprise at the visionary being, as he thought,
before him. "Am I awake or asleep?" said he. After

37

gazing at her for awhile, and feeling his resolution of
having nothing to do with a strange woman fast failing him,
he drew the bed-clothes over his face, and composed him-
self to sleep, as if to shut out the temptress from his view.
But she proceeded to address him, lavishing on him at the
same time the most fond and melting caresses. “My
dear sir,” said she, “this is not a dream, as you imagine,
but a reality. The humblest of your slaves, and the most
devoted of your servants, is here to offer her love at your
feet.” The merchant rose in much anger at this announce-
ment, and asked her how she dared clandestinely to enter
his apartment at that unseasonable hour. “I have some
slight notion of the reason,” said he; “it is the hope of
securing the money you were prevented from extorting from
me at the court the other day that has brought you hither,
and you have some new design for effecting your purpose.
I set no value upon a few gold pieces; but leave me,—leave
me, I tell you, and never more approach me.” “I am in
possession of much wealth,” replied she, “through your bene-
volence and kind-heartedness. I no longer wish for more.
Another and far more devouring passion has brought me
here at the dead of the night;—I am dying of love for you!
—it is fast consuming me,—and unless you give me proofs
of its being reciprocated, alas! I feel I must inevitably
perish, either by my own hands or with the fire within me.
Say,” and she threw herself on her knees, “may I hope
that you will deign to pity me—to ease my poor heart
of the pain which is now fast rending it in pieces? Oh,
speak to me!—let me hear at least a few words of conso-
lation ere you doom me to death and to perdition!” and
she burst into tears. A woman in tears is a moving
and dangerous spectacle, which few can withstand; when to
this were added the position of this designing creature and
the beauty of her person—her eyes glistening with every
demonstration of love, and her bosom heaving in a whirl-
wind of passion, assumed though it was—we can well con-
ceive the peculiar workings of the heart in one whose weak-

38
ness prompted him to concede at once to the lovely creature
before him all she sued for; whilst a dread of the world, of
his own household, of his wife in particular, bade him put
an end to the meeting, and turn the frantic woman from his
presence and the privacy of his room: Thus placed, need
we wonder that a man of such weak parts as Dushwant was,
should feel his scruples gradually fade away one after the
other, until he was left wholly under the influence of a pretty
and attractive woman, bathed in tears, and supplicating
for his love in pathetic and forcible expressions? To cut
the matter short, he was completely overwhelmed by her
blandishments, and he fell into her embraces. Having
spent the remainder of the night together, as the rays of the
morn pierced through the flimsy curtains, Dushwant roused
the partner of his guilt from the deep sleep in which she
was plunged, and entreated her to be gone, lest the inmates
of the house should suspect the occurrence of the preceding
night, and thus render him not only the butt of all his
friends, but, that which he most dreaded, the object of the
just reproaches of an enraged wife. The actress slowly
opened her eyes, and finding the merchant in just such a
strait as she wished him to be in, asked for some token of
their sojourn together; but she said that she did not wish
for it then and there,—she only wanted him to pledge his
word of honor that he would satisfy her on that head when
she made the requisition; she said she was not sufficiently
collected then to mention what it was to be, but would
think over it, and name it on a future occasion. The
merchant, anxious to rid himself of her presence, took the
desired oath, and she went away chuckling inwardly at the
success she had met with.
She now repaired to her house in all haste, and having
bathed and changed her apparel, returned not long after to
Dushwant's house, to claim the fulfilment of the promise
he had made to her that morning. She said, “Sir, may I
request you will be pleased to ratify the promise you so
generously made to me last night? I have called expressly

39
for the purpose." The daring effrontery of the woman
utterly confounded and disgusted the merchant. He kept
his temper nevertheless, as he knew he was now in the
power of this unprincipled creature, so he asked her to
name what she wanted' and to go her way, and never more
to cross his threshold. With a smile of derision, and in
tones of cutting sarcasm, she replied that her greatest
ambition was to become the possessor of the parrot, owned
by the merchant, who had but a short time ago exposed
her to the ridicule of the whole court, and a very large
audience besides. This request afflicted the merchant
extremely, as the nature of his oath left him no way of
escape from the obligation he had so unwisely entered into.
Conscious of his error, he bitterly lamented the circum-
stances which had led him into it. 'Alas!' thought he,
'how injudiciously have I not behaved!—not only shall
I now be deprived of my best and wisest counsellor, but
oh! horror!—must I also endanger his life?' for he well
knew the object of the woman in desiring so anxiously to
become possessed of the bird. 'Ah me! what incalculable
injury have I brought on myself!—can no means be devised
whereby to preserve my beloved bird?' He tried to remon-
strate with the actress, but she was inexorable. In this
wretched state of mind he approached the tiny parrot,
ensconced in his pretty cage in a corner of the house, and
revealed to him the sad dilemma in which he was placed,
and which he said was all the more to be deplored as
it originated in his own inexcusable imprudence. "I am
certainly undone, as well as Dushruth and Rookmangud,
who ensnared themselves by their promise," said he, "and
have brought this dire misfortune on you." He spoke with
such vehemence, and was so truly affected, that he fell
down beside the parrot's cage in an agony of grief. When
he came to himself, the parrot, pitying his distress, told
him to deliver him up to the woman without hesitation, and
rather let him (the parrot) run the risk of losing his life
than that the merchant should violate his oath. "An

40

oath," said the parrot, "is sacred, and must therefore be
preserved inviolate. Do not break your promise on any
account. You no doubt recollect the account given of the
promises made by Shriyal and Chakravati—how faithfully
they observed them, even to the very death. Listen to
me," continued the parrot to Dushwant, "I will give you
a brief account of king Myrodhwaj, who had commenced
a certain sacrifice, when Kristna and Arjoon, assuming the
guise of brahmins—the former that of a Gooru, and the
latter as his disciple,—appeared before him. Myrodhwaj,
seeing them, received them with great respect, and besought
them with much entreaty to make known to him their wants.
Kristna said, 'I, with my son and pupil, were passing
through the wood, when a tiger pounced upon my son and
seized him. Seeing him in this awful position; I besought
the tiger with streaming eyes not to injure my son; I said
that he was an only child, the prop of my old age. The
fierce animal replied, that he had been without a morsel of
food for eight days successively, and that he would release
my son only on one condition,—that I should, in lieu of
my son, supply him with the flesh of another living person.
He awaits my return, with my son in his possession as a
hostage for the due fulfilment of the promise I was com-
pelled under the circumstances to give him. On my way I
heard that you were about to perform a sacrifice, and this
induced me to wait on you, and to seek your aid in releasing
my son from the tiger, and restore me to my wonted ease.'
The king hereupon ordered one of his attendants to get
some flesh to appease the hunger of the ferocious denizen
of the forest. The brahmin, hearing this mandate, cried
out to the king, that the tiger would accept of nothing else
than the flesh of a living being. There was a pause, and
the minister, who was present, suggested to the monarch
that one out of the many malefactors that were impri-
soned might be offered as food for the tiger. The brahmin
again raised his voice, and said that the tiger had some
knowledge of the sacrifice the king was about to perform,

41
and expressed a desire to partake of the king's flesh, and
said that his majesty would not hesitate to offer himself up
to save a fellow-being, and he a brahmin's son. 'I regret
very much,' said the wily brahmin, 'that it should be so,
but consider, your majesty, this is an only son of mine,
the sole object of my affection, and the support of my
declining years. My life must inevitably end with his, if
your majesty will not deign to stretch forth a helping hand
in this my greatest hour of need.' The king paused awhile,
as if in deep thought, and considering that if he declined
compliance with the brahmin's request he would lose an
opportunity of evincing his virtue of self-sacrifice, for which
he was far and deservedly famed, consented to immolate
himself for the brahmin's son. He ordered a saw to be
brought, and with his own hand he courageously set about
sawing himself asunder. When he had cleaved his head
in two, and had reached to his gullet, Kristna assumed his
usual form, and appeared before him in all the bright-
ness and dazzling splendour of an ethereal being, and, with
an approving smile, and with fondness depicted in every
lineament of his face, embraced the king. The severed
head became instantly healed, and, with many blessings
upon the head of this valorous and high-minded monarch,
Kristna disappeared. In like manner," continued the parrot,
"should you preserve your promise intact, and deliver me
up." The merchant could not possibly reconcile himself to
the idea of parting with his favorite companion, but under
the circumstances he had no alternative. So, after much
time spent in bewailing his misfortune, and with tears and
sighs, he made a desperate effort, and consigned the bird
to his future mistress—murderess would become her better.
No sooner did she receive the bird than she exultingly held
the cage up to her face, and took a long and revengeful look
at the author of her greatest humiliation, as she thought ;
and she smiled with great satisfaction as she pondered on
the revenge she had it now in her power to take upon this
helpless creature. The parrot knew well that all this boded
G

42
no good to him, and he employed his mind in endeavouring
to invent some scheme by which to thwart the woman's
unrelenting purpose. When she passed out of the presence
of the merchant, she spoke to the parrot, and said, “You
cannot now escape from my hands. Do you recollect how
shamefully you exposed me some time ago before the king
and his council? We shall soon see if you will now assume
the air and tone with which you addressed me on that
occasion.” Having reached her dwelling, she called for
her cook, and ordered her to kill the bird and have him
well dressed for her meal, against her return from her
accustomed visit to the king's palace. Saying this, and
transferring the poor parrot to the tender care of the matron,
she went away on her visit. The cruel cook, who took
after her mistress, plucked off the bird's feathers by way of
prelude to what was to follow, and left him in that state on
the ground while she went into the kitchen to procure a knife
with which to cut off his head. The cook did not readily
find the knife, and while engaged in searching for it the (to
all appearance) unfledged bird looked about him for some
means of escape, and happening fortunately just then to
think of the spirit Veytal, he offered up a prayer to him,
and conjured him up before him from the dark regions he
inhabited. In the twinkling of an eye he attended the
summons, and, at the request of the parrot, enabled him to
fly with the rapidity of lightning, and to disappear in a
drain far from the dwelling of the inhuman actress and her
still more merciless wretch of a cook. Shortly after this
occurrence the latter returned from the kitchen, brandishing
a large knife and seeking her victim, but he was gone, to
her great alarm and discomfiture. And what was worse,
she had no time to go to the bazar to purchase another bird
in lieu of the one she had lost by her carelessness, as she
expected every moment her mistress would return. She,
however, contrived to get one from a neighbour, though of a
different species, prepared the dish, and had it ready for her
mistress, who returned shortly after. The meal was imme-

43
diately ordered to be placed on the board, and the actress sat
down to it with much glee. The first dish that was served
up was the one containing the supposed parrot, which she
ate with much gusto and appetite, chewing every bone with
great vehemence, under the impression that they were those
of her bitterest enemy,—the one who had brought so much
ridicule upon her; and every time this conviction flashed
across her mind she renewed her attack on the savoury
dish, flavoured more pungently by her own spirit of hatred
and revenge, little thinking that the object of her attack
was far beyond her reach, and was perhaps even then
exulting at the trick he had played upon her, and of which
as yet the cook was alone cognisant. We will leave the
actress, however, to her meal, and return to the parrot.
He did not stop in his flight, which he had been enabled
to accomplish by the aid of Veytal, until he had reached a
haven of security. He thanked God for his mercy, and
for recalling to his mind the existence of Veytal at that
critical moment, whereby alone he had been enabled to
effect his escape from the perilous situation in which he had
so recently been placed. His denuded feathers had been
restored, and he reflected with gratification on the distance
he had placed between himself and the cruel wretch who
would have deprived him of his life. The place where he
had taken refuge was a temple, dedicated to the goddess
Kallika, a renowned and sacred place, the scenery around
which was most enchantingly beautiful. It was situated
out of the town, and a large smooth lake was hard by,
which reflected in a thousand fanciful shapes the clustering
trees of every size and description that grew on its banks,
loaded with the fruits of autumn.

44
CHAPTER IV.
The dancing-girl comes to the temple to perform her devotions—The
parrot (in the character of the goddess) addresses her, promising to
gratify her with anything she may desire—He then ridicules and
disgraces her, under the pretext of imposing ceremonies necessary
for the realisation of her wishes—Koobjuck the sentinel, who per-
sonated King Vickram, becomes tyrannical, and oppresses his subjects
—A brahmin threatens him with the vengeance of heaven, and sets
out in search of King Vickram—He arrives at a temple dedicated
to Shiva, where he meets a young prince named Duntsain, who
relates his sorrows—The brahmin proceeds towards the city of
Sendoornuggry, and halts at the temple of the goddess Kallika—The
parrot overhears the brahmin's lamentations and prayers, and
converses with him—He owns himself to be Vickram, and sets out for
Oujein, with the brahmin—On the way they meet Prince Duntsain
at the temple of Shiva, and engage in an attempt to gain the Princess
Pudmavutty as his wife—The princess imposes a difficult task upon
King Vickram, who has assumed the form of a brahmin, and the
brahmin that of a parrot—He calls upon Veytal, who appears, and
promises to assist him.
IN the verdant grove briefly sketched in the conclusion
of the last chapter, roamed the parrot after regaining his
liberty in so miraculous a manner. The first night was
spent on the boughs of one of the trees. On the morrow, he
directed his attention to the exploration of the beauties and
natural attractions the locality presented. The trees were
loaded with delicious fruit, tempting to the eye and inviting
to the palate. Here, then, might have been seen the little
parrot, luxuriating among the vegetation, and enjoying all
that nature in her mildest and most refreshing form presented
to the view, flying from tree to tree, tasting of one fruit and
then of another, and thus, by turns, of all the variety that
could there be found. In this peaceful occupation he was
startled by the sudden appearance of his dire enemy the
actress, and her slave, the tool of her follies and crimes.
They both emerged from under the clump of trees abutting

45

on the main road, and were proceeding apparently into the
temple for the purpose of paying their vows and adoration
to the goddess there. He watched them entering, and a
sudden thought of revenging the injury offered to his person,
and his intended murder, crossed his mind; so he preceded
them by a speedy flight, and sat behind the idol representing
the goddess, watching them as they came in, though he
himself could not be seen. It was customary for the actress
to pay her daily devotions at the shrine of Kallika. After
performing her ablutions, she approached the idol and bowed
before it; after remaining in that posture for some time, she
stood up in a reverential attitude, clasped her hands toge-
ther as if in supplication, and, with her eyes fixed on the
image, spoke as follows:—"Oh, goddess! may this my
invocation have its due effect. I adore thee! may this
my prayer be heard. Have mercy upon me! Pardon my
manifold sins, and preserve me from all future evils!"
She had scarcely ended when a voice issued forth, appa-
rently from the idol, saying, "Kamsaina, I am much
pleased with your devotion, and with the subject of your
prayer: ask of me what you may think will be of use to
you." — "I have all that I can wish for, through your kind
aid and beneficence; but I sincerely hope that the god
Indra* will send for me from the heavens, for my singing
and dancing." "You will most assuredly derive much
benefit in the court of Indra; but in the first place," replied
the pretended goddess,—for our readers will no doubt have
perceived that it was the parrot who was speaking, from the
position he had taken up but a short time before,—"in
the first place, there are one or two things to be most
strictly observed. Tomorrow morning, before the sun rises,
you must give in my name all your wealth, whatever you
may be possessed of, in charity, after which come immedi-
ately and meet me in this place; bring with you a barber,
purify yourself, shave your head, put ashes on your body,
and expose your naked person to my view: do not appear

• The chief of the angels, and god of the sky.

in company with any one, and let all this be accomplished .
by the middle of the day. The vemon* will then descend
from heaven, with instruments sounding to welcome your
arrival at the gates of Paradise, and the assembly of Indra
will bear you company. Return quickly home, and
perform all I have directed you to do." Upon hearing
these consoling words, and the promise of being taken up to
heaven, she retraced her steps with hope and great joy, after
having prostrated herself a second time before the idol, and
poured out a flood of enraptured thoughts, and expressions
of her willingness to act as she had been bidden. On her
arrival home she set about distributing her riches, which
consisted of money, jewels, horses, cattle, and all the other
paraphernalia of a prosperous household. She gave all
these to the beggars and brahmins who had crowded round
her residence when her resolution to give all she possessed
in charity had become known, and she was quite elated with
the idea that in return for all this sacrifice she was to be
translated to heaven. Those who profited by the benevo-
lence of the woman were one and all loud in their praise of
her person and her proficiency in singing, which had enabled
her to amass together so large a fortune as was then
displayed to their wondering eyes. She was quite gratified
at what she heard, and frequently said, by way of replying
to these encomiums, "If I merely bestow a small portion
of my wealth or goods in alms, I shall receive double for it
from Indra, when I shall have the opportunity, which I am
in a fair way of securing, of delighting him with my songs,"
little dreaming, poor deluded being, that the parrot had
even then commenced his revenge for what she had done
and had meditated doing. After having parted with all she
possessed, and the day also having drawn to a close, she
retired for the night, and prepared by sound and refreshing
sleep for the fatigues of the morrow. In the morning she
rose betimes, and, securing the attendance of a barber, as
she had been directed the previous day, set out to the temple,

• A celestial self-moving car.

47
her slave accompanying them. At the temple she directed
the barber to shave off her hair. He could not restrain
his laughter on hearing this strange bidding, and hesitated
to obey ; but being pressed by her, and fearing her rage,
he set about quietly removing this ornament of womanly
beauty. At the same time the poor barber feared that this
might be a whim of the moment on the part of the dame,
and that when it passed away he might be called upon to
account for the extraordinary deed ; so he proceeded to
acquit himself of the task with considerable hesitation. Be-
fore the barber placed his hand upon her clustering tresses,
she repeatedly desired him to make no one acquainted with
what he was then about to do : it was an affair of as much
secrecy, she said, as it was of great moment and urgency.
After having her head completely shaved, she undressed
herself, and delivered her clothes to the slave, directing her
to return with them in the evening. She then performed
her ablutions, bathed in the lake, threw ashes on her body,
and thus, in a complete state of nudity, prostrated herself
before the idol, and addressed herself to deep and solemn
meditation. She thought that she was about to receive the
reward of all the sacrifices and indignities to her person she
had borne for the last few days. She remained in that
attitude for some time, inwardly addressing herself to the
goddess, beseeching that all her failings and crimes might
be forgiven, and that she might, according to the promise
vouchsafed to her the previous evening, be received into the
heavens.. As the sun began to reach its meridian, the heat
grew oppressive in the temple ; and the deluded being, pros-
trated in all humility before the shrine of Kallika, found
it would be intolerable so to remain much longer. She
changed her posture, and happening at the same time to
look up to the sky through one of the openings for light in
the temple, she beheld the parrot perched on a tree oppo-
site, and exulting as it were over her misfortune: She
immediately recognised the bird, and seemed quite abashed
as well as surprised at seeing him alive, after she had, as

48
she thought, made a meal of him. She remained with her
gaze rivetted on the parrot, who addressed her from his lofty
seat—lofty in more senses than one. “ Wretch !” said he,
“ you made great attempts to deprive me of my poor life for
the imaginary wrong I had done you, but in what have
they resulted?—in heaping infamy and ridicule on yourself.
You were haughty and proud, and in your pride despised
me. You persuaded yourself that Indra would send for
you to hear you sing, as you are thought by men to be a
great proficient in that art; but such easy and happy con-
ditions are not to be attained by you, or such as you.
Now, deprived of your wealth, your revenge ungratified,
with shame and humiliation, you must retire. Go, then,
and never more appear in public; for the person who behaves
arrogantly deserves an equal infamy.” It was now evening,
and the confidential slave of the disappointed actress was
anxiously awaiting the return of her mistress, who, with
mingled emotions of rage and shame, hastily clothed herself,
wrapping her now bald head in a piece of black cloth, and
went home, swearing vengeance against the little bird, and
deploring the loss of her immense wealth and property,
which she had so inconsiderately, as she now thought, divided
amongst the beggars of the city. In such a state of
mind, and having fasted all the day, she was naturally
enough quite fatigued and hungry when she reached her
dwelling; she immediately repaired to her now deserted
and desolate room, to take her supper, after which, as she
could not bring herself to attend to anything further,
she retired early to bed, filled with deep and bitter anguish at
the sudden and unexpected change in her fortune. Before
retiring she left a message with her slave that if the usual
invitation should arrive for her to attend at the king’s palace,
to return for answer that she was indisposed, and could not
therefore present herself before his majesty. As may well
be imagined, the actress spent a restless night, what with
the contest within her between inveterate hatred of the
parrot, grief for the severe loss that his trick had entailed

49
upon her, and plans for her future conduct. We will leave
her for the present, and return to Koobjuck, the sentinel,
whom we left reigning in the place of his king and the
rightful owner of the throne.
This man exercised all the authority with which his new
position had invested him, with the iron hand of a despot.
His subjects were becoming discontented and insubordinate,
under the accumulation of the evils that had been heaped
upon them by the new monarch. They began even to
doubt the identity of the person now ruling with their old
and revered monarch Vickramadetea; and, as we said before,
the belief in transmigration being common in the city,
they were in a manner convinced that the new monarch be-
fore them was but an usurper, who by some unknown and
unaccountable means had contrived to assume the body of
Vickram. Nevertheless, they submitted to his oppressive
measures. The original gifts and grants in lands and
villages bestowed by Vickram were revoked and taken back,
as crown property, and from those who were allowed to retain
them, which in some few cases happened, he demanded a
moiety of the whole produce; from those who were in the
receipt of annual nemnooks* and pensions, he deducted a
third; many of the officers' salaries were reduced to the
smallest possible pittance; and his subjects were otherwise
subjected to great and glaring injustice, and were
consequently one and all much distressed.
It happened that about this time a brahmin named
Somedut arrived at Koobjuck's court, to receive his annual
gifts. He was a sage, a learned man, and an ornament to
his calling and society. Koobjuck enquired of his ministers
who this brahmin was. They replied, "Can your majesty be
ignorant of one who has for a long time enjoyed your
majesty's warmest friendship? He has been in the habit
of coming here regularly every year to receive his customary
allowances. His reputation for wisdom and learning is
well known to your majesty, as well as to all your subjects."

• Stipends.
  H

50
“ Well, then,” said the king, “ pay him a quarter of his
gift ; there is no necessity for giving him more : do as I
bid you.” The brahmin was astounded at this unusual
proceeding, and very injudiciously made the following
remark :—“ I cannot think you act as becomes your
exalted position. Vickramadetea always entertained me at
his court with every demonstration of respect and pleasure,
and not unfrequently sent me back loaded with presents in
addition to the regular allotment ; indeed he was in all
respects a most humane, just, and discerning prince. You
are placed in authority over this kingdom, and, to acquit
yourself well of the trust, should prove a father to the people
you rule. From what I now observe, and other circum-
stances that have come under my notice, you are unworthy
of your dignity. I feel assured that God will sooner or later
visit you with his severe judgment, on account of the course
you now pursue, and the outrages and cruel barbarities
you are inflicting upon your subjects.” Koobjuck, highly
indignant at the daring of the brahmin, directed an officer
in attendance to take him immediately from his sight, and
to turn him out of the city with ignominy. “ Tell him,”
said he, “ to go in search of his mighty Vickramadetea,
as he calls him, and if he succeeds in finding this
imaginary person, he may perhaps meet with satisfac-
tion.” “ Have a little patience,” said the brahmin, “ I will
endeavour to find him, and bring him here, depend upon
it. It would be in vain that my mother carried me for
nine months in her womb, if I fail in this. Allow me to
remind you that the Indra and Bhusmasoor were not
overlooked by Almighty God, but were punished for their
barbarity.” Saying this, and before the officer who had been
ordered to remove him could put his orders into execution,
the brahmin bounded past him, and was on his way to look
for the rightful king, as he had said. He travelled from one
city to another, through unknown and unexplored wilds,
over hills and dales, and into every place where he thought
there was any likelihood of meeting with or hearing of the

51
monarch he was in search of. Neither heat nor cold,
hunger or thirst, could damp the ardour with which he
prosecuted his pursuit. He anxiously enquired of those he
met with in his wanderings whether they could supply him
with any information regarding the person he sought, or
knew where he could be found or heard of. His food
during this long tour consisted of the wild fruits of the earth.
At night he sought repose under a tree, or in the shelter of
a rock, if he happened to be near one; or, if by chance he
was overtaken by the clouds of night near some habitable
locality, he found refuge in a temple or dhurumshala* from
the inclemencies of the night wind and sometimes of the
pelting rain. He never remained in one place longer than
was necessary to recruit his failing strength, and that never
beyond the hours of night : he was up again in the morning,
and on his search for the lost king. He had journeyed in
this manner for some time, when he came to a limpid lake,
and a temple dedicated to Shiva; into this he went, and thus
addressed the idol before him :—" Oh, lord Shiva! be
propitious to the undertaking in which I am now engaged,
and assist me in speedily obtaining a sight of my lost
friend." He then prostrated himself, and having remained
so for some time, seated himself on a sopat† ; whilst there,
engaged in revolving the past and concerting plans for his
future movements, he perceived a young and handsome
prince, very interesting in appearance, and richly attired,
performing his religious duties. When he had finished his
devotions, the brahmin approached him, and addressed him
in the following terms :—" Pray, on what account, if I may
be permitted to ask, are you engaged in these austerities and
pious practices, so uncommon in one of your youth and
apparent condition?" The prince replied, "Your question
only gives me pain : of what avail is it that I should disclose
my grief, which is gnawing my heart's core, to you? Can
* A caravanserai.
† A branch of the verandah.

52
you bring me relief?" Somedut replied, 'that as yet he did
not know whether or not he could afford the prince
any relief, " but," said he, " if you will deign to acquaint
me with the cause, it may not be out of my power to devise
some measures by which the wishes of your heart may be
accomplished. I must inform you that I do not request
your confidence from any motives of curiosity, .but only
because you seem troubled and ill at ease. The hand of death
is apparently on you, and unless some speedy remedy be
applied to check the tyrant in his course, I fear lest you may
succumb. Pray, therefore, unbosom yourself to me. I
may possibly possess the means of alleviating your sorrow,
if not of removing its cause." 'The prince then enquired of
the brahmin who he was, whence he had come, and where he
was travelling to. The brahmin having satisfied the prince
on these several points, the latter began as follows :—
" About two yojuns* from where we now stand, there is
a subterranean dwelling, with a gate leading to it, wherein
dwells with her father a princess named Pudmavuntty; it is
a stately palace which they inhabit. He who is to win the
hand of this princess, who is transcendantly beautiful,
must consent to a condition, one of the most difficult and
hazardous that can well be imagined. It is this : a vessel,
filled with oil and other inflammatory liquids in a boiling
state, is placed on a furnace, and the man, whoever he is,
must bathe himself in it by the aid of a sinkat† suspended
over the same. If he effects this without injury to himself,
the princess will accept him for her future lord and master.
She is without exception the most beautiful woman the
world ever produced. I have several times attempted to go
through the ordeal, but have not had sufficient courage to
proceed with it. On each occasion of my failure I have
returned to this place, and in silence poured out the inward
workings of my heart before the shrine of the god to whom
* A measure of length, equal to four coss, or eight English miles.
† A sling, the string or loop of which is attached to either end of
a pole or yoke, to receive the burden.