The Katha Sarit Sagara or Ocean of the Streams of Story Part 66

The moment I saw that gazelle-eyed maid, she pierced my heart, like a crescent-headed javelin of Mara, bewildering the three worlds. And the moment she saw me, she was overcome by Cupid, and her hands were rendered nerveless and listless by love, and she desisted from her amus.e.m.e.nt of gathering flowers. She seemed, with the flas.h.i.+ngs of the ruby in the midst of her moving flexible chain, [510] to be displaying the flames of affection that had broken forth from her heart in which they could not be contained; and turning round, she looked at me again and again with an eye that seemed to be rendered more charming by the pupil coming down to rest in its corner.

While we stood for a while looking at one another, there arose there a great noise of people flying in terror. And there came that way an infuriated elephant driven mad by the smell of the wild elephants; it had broken its chain, and thrown its rider, and the elephant-hook was swinging to and fro at the end of its ear. The moment I saw the animal, I rushed forward, and taking up in my arms my beloved, who was terrified, and whose attendants had run away, I carried her into the middle of the crowd. Then she began to recover her composure, and her attendants came up; but just at that moment the elephant, attracted by the noise of the people, charged in our direction. The crowd dispersed in terror at the monster's approach, and she disappeared among them, having been carried off by her attendants in one direction, while I went in another.

At last the alarm caused by the elephant came to an end, and then I searched in every direction for that slender-waisted maid, but I could not find her, as I did not know her name, her family, or her dwelling-place; and so roaming about, with a void in my heart, like a Vidyadhara that has lost his magic power, I with difficulty tottered into my teacher's house. There I remained like one in a faint or asleep, remembering the joy of embracing my beloved, and anxious lest her love might fail. [511] And in course of time reflection lulled me in her lap, as if affected with the compa.s.sion natural to n.o.ble women, and shewed me a glimpse of hope, and soul-paining ignorance hugged my heart, and an exceedingly severe headache took possession of my brain. [512] In the meanwhile the day slipped away and my self-command with it, and the lotus-thicket folded its cups and my face was contracted with them, and the couples of Brahmany ducks were dispersed with my hopes, the sun having gone to rest.

Then the moon, the chief friend of Love, that gladdens the eyes of the happy, rose up, adorning the face of the east; its rays, though ambrosial, seemed to me like fiery fingers, and though it lit up the quarters of the sky, it closed in me all hope of life. Then one of my fellow-students, seeing that in my misery I had flung my body into moonlight as into a fire, and was longing for death, said to me, "Why are you in this evil case? You do not appear to have any disease; but, if you have mental affliction caused by longing for wealth or by love, I will tell you the truth about those objects; listen to me. The wealth, which through over-covetousness men desire to gain by cheating their neighbours, or by robbing them, does not remain. The poison-trees [513] of wealth, which are rooted in wickedness and bring forth an abundant crop of wickedness, are soon broken by the weight of their own fruit. All that is gained by that wealth in this world, is the toil of acquiring it and other annoyances, and in the next world great suffering in h.e.l.l, a suffering that shall continue as long as the moon and stars endure. As for love, that love which fails of attaining its object brings disappointment that puts an end to life, and unlawful love, though pleasing in the mouth, is simply the forerunner of the fire of h.e.l.l, [514] but a man's mind is sound owing to good actions in a former life, and a hero, who possesses self-command and energy, obtains wealth, and the object of his desires, not a spiritless coward like you. So, my good fellow, have recourse to self-command, and strive for the attainment of your ends."

When that friend said this to me I returned him a careless and random answer. However, I concealed my real thoughts, spent the night in a calm and composed manner, and in course of time came here, to see if by any chance she lived in this town. When I arrived here, I saw you with your neck in a noose, and after you were cut down, I heard from you your sorrow, and I have now told you my own.

So I have made efforts to obtain that fair one whose name and dwelling-place I know not, and have thus exerted myself to gain what no heroism could procure; but why do you, when Madiravati is within your grasp, play the faint-heart, instead of manfully striving to win her? Have you not heard the legend of old days with regard to Rukmini? Was she not carried off by Vishnu after she had been given to the king of Chedi?

While that friend of mine was thus concluding his tale, Madiravati came there with her followers, preceded by the usual auspicious band of music, in order to wors.h.i.+p the G.o.d of Love in this temple of the Mothers. And I said to my friend, "I knew all along that maidens on the day of their marriage come here to wors.h.i.+p the G.o.d of Love, this is why I tried to hang myself on the banyan-tree in front of this temple, in order that when Madiravati came here, she might see that I had died for her sake." When that resolute Brahman friend heard that, he said, "Then let us quickly slip into this temple and remain hidden behind the images of the Mothers, and see whether any expedient will then present itself to us or not." When my friend made this proposal, I consented, and went with him into that temple, and remained there concealed.

And Madiravati came there slowly, escorted by the auspicious wedding music, and entered that temple. And she left at the door all her female friends and male attendants, saying to them, "I wish in private to crave from the awful G.o.d of Love a certain boon [515] that is in my mind, so remain all of you outside the building." Then she came in and addressed the following prayer to Kamadeva after she had wors.h.i.+pped him, "O G.o.d, since thou art named 'the mind-born,' how was it that thou didst not discern the beloved that was in my mind? Why hast thou disappointed and slain me? If thou hast not been able to grant me my boon in this birth, at any rate have mercy upon me in my next birth, O husband of Rati. Shew me so much favour as to ensure that handsome young Brahman's being my husband in my next birth."

When the girl had said this in our hearing and before our eyes, she made a noose by fastening her upper garment to a peg, and put it round her neck. And my friend said to me, "Go and shew yourself to her, and take the noose from her neck;" so I immediately went towards her. And I said to her with a voice faltering from excess of joy, "Do not act rashly, my beloved; see, here is your slave in front of you, bought by you with the risk of your life, in whom affection has been produced by your utterance in the moment of your grief;" and with these words I removed the noose from the neck of that fair one.

She immediately looked at me, and remained for a moment divided between joy and terror, and then my friend said quickly to me, "As this is a dimly lighted hour owing to the waning of the day, I will go out dressed in Madiravati's garments with her attendants. And do you go out by the second door, taking with you this bride wrapped up in our upper garments. And make for whatever foreign country you please, during the night, when you will be able to avoid detection. And do not be anxious about me. Fate will bestow on me prosperity." When my friend had said this, he put on Madiravati's dress, and went out, and left that temple in the darkness, surrounded by her attendants.

And I slipped out by another door with Madiravati, who wore a necklace of priceless jewels, and went three yojanas in the night. In the morning I took food, and slowly travelling on, I reached in the course of some days, with my beloved, a city named Achalapura. There a certain Brahman shewed himself my friend, and gave me a house, and there I quickly married Madiravati.

So I have been living there in happiness, having obtained my desire, and my only anxiety has been as to what could have become of my friend. And in course of time I came here to bathe in the Ganges, on this day which is the festival of the summer solstice, and lo! I found here this man who without cause shewed himself my friend. And full of embarra.s.sment I folded him in a long embrace, and at last made him sit down and asked him to tell me his adventures, and at that moment your Highness came up. Know, son of the king of Vatsa, that this other Brahman at my side is my true friend in calamity, to whom I owe my life and my wife.

When one Brahman had told his story in these words, Naravahanadatta said to the other Brahman, "I am much pleased; now tell me, how did you escape from so great a danger? For men like yourself, who disregard their lives for the sake of their friends, are hard to find." When the second Brahman heard this speech of the son of the king of Vatsa, he also began to tell his adventures.

Subsequent adventures of the second Brahman.

When I went out that night from the temple in Madiravati's dress, her attendants surrounded me under the impression that I was their mistress. And being bewildered with dancing, singing and intoxication, they put me in a palanquin [516] and took me to the house of Somadatta, which was in festal array. In one part it was full of splendid raiment, in another of piled up ornaments; here you might see cooked food provided, there an altar-platform made ready; one corner was full of singing female slaves, another of professional mimes; and a third was occupied by Brahmans waiting for the auspicious moment.

Into one room of this house I was ushered in the darkness, veiled, by the servants, who were beside themselves with drink and took me for the bride. And when I sat down there, the females surrounded me, full of joy at the wedding festival, busied with a thousand affairs.

Immediately the sound of bracelets and anklets was heard near the door, and a maiden entered the room surrounded by her attendants. Like a female snake, her head was adorned with flas.h.i.+ng jewels, and she had a white skin-like boddice; like a wave of the sea, she was full of beauty, [517] and covered with strings of pearls. She had a garland of beautiful flowers, arms shapely as the stalk of the creeper, and bright bud-like fingers; and so she looked like the G.o.ddess of the garden moving among men. And she came and sat down by my side, thinking I was her beloved confidante. When I looked at her, I perceived that that thief of my heart had come to me, the maiden that I saw at the Sankha lake whither she had come to bathe; whom I saved from the elephant, and who, almost as soon as seen, disappeared from my sight among the crowd. I was overpowered with excess of joy, and I said to myself, "Can this be mere chance, or is it a dream, or sober waking reality?"

Immediately those attendants of Madiravati said to the visitor, "Why do you seem so disturbed in mind, n.o.ble lady?" When she heard that, she said, concealing her real feelings, [518] "What! are you not aware what a dear friend of mine Madiravati is. And she, as soon as she is married, will go off to her father-in-law's house, and I shall not be able to live without her; this is why I am afflicted. So leave the room quickly, in order that I may have the pleasure of a little confidential chat with Madiravati."

With these words she put them all out, and fastened the door herself, and then sat down, and under the impression that I was her confidante, began to speak to me as follows; "Madiravati, no affliction can be greater than this affliction of yours, in that you are in love with one man, and you are given by your father in marriage to another; still you may possibly have a meeting or be united with your beloved, whom you know by having been in his society. But for me a hopeless affliction has arisen, and I will tell you what it is; for you are the only repository of my secrets, as I am of yours.

"I had gone to bathe on a festival in the lake named the lake of Sankha, [519] in order to divert my mind which was oppressed with approaching separation from you. While thus engaged, I saw in the garden near that lake a beautiful blooming young Brahman, whose budding beard seemed like a swarm of bees come to feed on the lotus of his face; he himself looked like the moon come down from heaven in the day, like the golden binding-post of the elephant of beauty. I said to myself, 'Those hermits' daughters who have not seen this youth, have only endured to no purpose hards.h.i.+p in the woods; what fruit have they of their asceticism?' And even as I thought this in my heart, the G.o.d of Love pierced it so completely with his shafts, that shame and fear at once left it together.

"Then, while I looked with sidelong looks at him, whose eyes were fixed on me, there suddenly came that way a furious elephant that had escaped from its binding-post. That scared away my attendants and terrified myself; and the young man, perceiving this, ran, and taking me up in his arms, carried me along way into the midst of the crowd. While in his arms, I a.s.sure you, my friend, I was rendered dead to all beside by the joy of his ambrosial touch, and I knew not the elephant, nor fear, nor who I was, nor where I was. In the meanwhile my attendants came up, and thereupon the elephant rushed down on us like Separation incarnate in bodily form, and my servants, alarmed at it, took me up and carried me home; and in the melee my beloved disappeared, whither I know not. Ever since that time I do nothing but think on him, who saved my life, but whose name and dwelling I know not, who was s.n.a.t.c.hed from me as one might s.n.a.t.c.h away from my grasp a treasure that I had found; and I weep all night with the female chakravakas, longing for sleep, that takes away all grief, in order that I may behold him in a dream.

"In this hopeless affliction my only consolation, my friend, is the sight of yourself, and that is now being far removed from me. Accordingly, Madiravati, the hour of my death draws nigh, and that is why I am now enjoying the pleasure of beholding your face."

When she had uttered this speech, which was like a shower of nectar in my ears, staining all the while the moon of her face with tear-drops mixed with the black pigment of her eyes, she lifted up the veil from my face, and beheld and recognized me, and then she was filled with joy, wonder, and fear. Then I said, "Fair one, what is your cause of alarm? Here I am at your service. For Fate, when propitious, brings about unexpected results. I too have endured for your sake intolerable sorrow; the fact is, Fate produces a strange variety of effects in this phenomenal universe. Hereafter I will tell you my story at full length; this is not the time for conversation; now devise, if you can, my beloved, some artifice for escaping from this place." When I said this to the girl, she made the following proposal, which was just what the occasion demanded; "Let us slip out quietly from this house by the back-door; the garden belonging to the house of my father, a n.o.ble Kshatriya, is just outside: let us pa.s.s through it and go where chance may take us." When she had said this, she hid her ornaments, and I left the house with her by the way which she recommended.

So in that night I went a long distance with her, for we feared detection, and in the morning we reached together a great forest. And as we were going along through that savage wilderness, with no comfort but our mutual conversation, noon gradually came on. The sun, like a wicked king, afflicted with his rays the earth that furnished no asylum for travellers, and no shelter. [520] By that time my beloved was exhausted with fatigue and tortured with thirst, so I slowly carried her into the shade of a tree, which it cost me a great effort to reach.

There I tried to restore her by fanning her with my garment, and while I was thus engaged, a buffalo that had escaped with a wound, came towards us. And there followed in eager pursuit of it a man on horseback armed with a bow, whose very appearance proclaimed him to be a n.o.ble-minded hero. He slew that great buffalo with a second wound from a crescent-headed arrow; striking him down as Indra strikes down a mountain with the dint of a thunder-bolt. When he saw us, he advanced towards us, and said kindly to me, "Who are you, my good sir; and who is this lady; and why have you come here?"

Then I shewed my Brahmanical thread, and gave him an answer which was half truth and half falsehood; "I am a Brahman, this is my wife: business led us to a foreign land, and on the way our caravan was destroyed by bandits, and we, separating from it, lost our way, and so came to enter this forest; here we have met you, and all our fears are at an end." When I said this, he was moved by compa.s.sion for my Brahmanical character, and said "I am a chief of the foresters, come here to hunt; and you way-worn travellers have arrived here as my guests; so now come to my house, which is at no great distance, to rest."

When he had said this, he made my wearied darling got up on his horse, and himself walked, and so he led us to his dwelling. There he provided us with food and other requisites, as if he had been a relation. [521]

Even in bad districts some few n.o.ble-hearted men spring up here and there. Then he gave me attendants, who enabled me to get out of that wood, and I reached a royal grant to Brahmans, where I married that lady. Then I wandered about from country to country, and meeting with a caravan, I have to-day come here with her to bathe in the water of the Ganges. And here I have found this man whom I selected for myself as a friend; and I have seen your Highness; this, prince, is my story."

When he had said this, he ceased, and the prince of Vatsa loudly praised that Brahman, who had obtained the prize he desired, the fitting reward of his genuine goodness; and in the meanwhile the prince's ministers, Gomukha and the others, who had long been roaming about looking for him, came up and found him. And they fell at the feet of Naravahanadatta, and tears of joy poured down their faces; while he welcomed them all with due and fitting respect. Then the prince, accompanied by Lalitalochana, returned with those ministers to his city, taking with him those two young Brahmans, whom he valued on account of the tact and skill they had displayed in attaining worthy objects.

BOOK XIV.

CHAPTER CV.

May Siva, the granter of boons, who, when pleased, bestowed on Uma half his own body, grant you your desire!

May the vermilion-stained trunk which Ganesa at night throws up in the dance, and so seems to furnish the moon-umbrella with a coral handle, protect you!

Then Naravahanadatta, son of the king of Vatsa, possessing as his wives those various ladies, the most beautiful in the three worlds, and Madanamanchuka as his head-queen, dwelt with Gomukha and his other ministers in Kausambi, having his every want supplied by his father's magnificent resources. His days pa.s.sed pleasantly in dancing, singing, and conversation, and were enlivened by the exquisite enjoyment of the society of the ladies whom he loved.

Then it happened one day that he could not find his princ.i.p.al charmer Madanamanchuka anywhere in the female apartments, nor could her attendants find her either. [522] When he could not see his beloved, he became pale from grief, as the moon loses its beauty in the morning, by being separated from the night. And he was distracted by an innumerable host of doubts, saying to himself, "I wonder whether my beloved has hidden herself somewhere to ascertain my sentiments towards her; or is she indignant with me for some trifling fault or other; or is she concealed by magic, or has she been carried off by some one?" When he had searched for her, and could not find her anywhere, he was consumed by violent grief for his separation from her, which raged in his bosom like a forest conflagration. His father, the king of Vatsa, who came to visit him, as soon as he knew the state of affairs, and his mothers, ministers, and servants were all beside themselves. The pearl necklace, sandal-wood ointment, the rays of the moon, lotus-fibres and lotus-leaves did not alleviate his torture, but rather increased it. As for Kalingasena, when she was suddenly deprived of that daughter, she was confounded like a Vidyadhari, who has lost her magic power.

Then an aged female guardian of the women's apartments said in the presence of Naravahanadatta, so that all there heard, "Long ago, that young Vidyadhara, named Manasavega, having beheld Madanamanchuka, when she was a maiden, on the top of the palace, suddenly descended from heaven, and approaching Kalingasena, told her his name, and asked her to give him her daughter. When Kalingasena refused, he went as he came; but why should he not have now come secretly and carried her off by his magic power? It is of course true that heavenly beings do not carry off the wives of others; on the other hand, who, that is blinded by pa.s.sion, troubles himself about the right or wrong of an action?" When Naravahanadatta heard this, his heart was overwhelmed with anger, impatience, and the sorrow of bereavement, and became like a lotus in the waves.

Then Rumanvat said, "This palace is guarded all round, and it is impossible to enter or go out from it, except through the air. Moreover, by the favour of Siva no misfortune can befall her; so we may be certain that she has hidden herself somewhere, because her affection has been wounded. Listen to a story which will make this clear."

Story of Savitri and Angiras.

Once on a time a hermit, named Angiras, asked Ashtavakra for the hand of his daughter Savitri. But Ashtavakra would not give him his daughter Savitri, though he was an excellent match, because she was already betrothed to some one else. Then Angiras married Asruta his brother's daughter, and lived a long time with her as his wife in great happiness; but she was well aware that he had previously been in love with Savitri.

One day that hermit Angiras remained muttering for a long time in an inaudible voice. Then his wife Asruta asked him again and again lovingly, "Tell me, my husband, why do you remain so long fixed in thought?" He said, "My dear, I am meditating on the Savitri;"

and she, thinking that he meant Savitri, the hermit's daughter, was vexed in soul. She said to herself, "He is miserable," so she went off to the forest determined to abandon the body; and after she had prayed that good fortune might attend her husband, she fastened a rope round her neck. And at that moment Gayatri appeared with rosary of aksha-beads and ascetic's pitcher, and said to her, "Daughter, do not act rashly! Your husband was not thinking of any woman; he was meditating on me, the holy Savitri;" and with these words she freed her neck from the noose; and the G.o.ddess, merciful to her votaries, having thus consoled her, disappeared. Then her husband Angiras, searching for her, found her in the wood, and brought her home. So you see that women in this world cannot endure the wounding of their affections.

"So you may be certain that this wife of the prince is angry on account of some trifling injury, and is hidden somewhere in this place; for she is under the protection of Siva; and we must again search for her."

When Rumanvat said this, the sovereign of Vatsa said, "It must be so: for no misfortune can befall her, inasmuch as a heavenly voice said 'This Madanamanchuka is an incarnation of Rati, appointed by the G.o.d to be the wife of Naravahanadatta, who is an emanation of the G.o.d of Love, and he shall rule the Vidyadharas with her as his consort for a kalpa of the G.o.ds,' and this utterance cannot be falsified by the event. So let her be carefully looked for." When the king himself said this, Naravahanadatta went out, though he was in such a miserable state.

But, however much he searched for her, he could not find her, so he wandered about in various parts of the grounds, like one distracted; when he went to her dwelling, the rooms with closed doors seemed as if they had shut their eyes in despair at beholding his grief; and when he went about in the groves asking for her, the trees, agitating their shoots like hands seemed to say, "We have not seen your beloved." When he searched in the gardens, the sarasa-birds, flying up to the sky, seemed to tell him that she had not gone that way. And his ministers Marubhuti, Harisikha, Gomukha, and Vasantaka wandered about in every direction to find her.