The Katha Sarit Sagara or Ocean of the Streams of Story Part 83

When Kesata heard this, he said, "Agreed," and so the old Brahman took Kesata with him, and they crossed the Narmada in boats and landed on the opposite bank. And so he reached the city, and rested outside it with his followers, and at that time the sun also, the traveller of the sky, went to his rest on the mountain of setting. Then the darkness began to diffuse itself abroad, and Kesata, having gone to rinse his mouth, saw a terrible Rakshasa rise up near the water; and the Rakshasa said, "Where will you go from me, [807] Kesata? I am about to devour you." Thereupon Kesata said to the Rakshasa, "Do not devour me now; I will certainly come back to you presently, when I have done the Brahman the service I promised." When the Rakshasa heard this, he made Kesata take an oath to this effect, and then let him go; and he returned to the company of the bridegroom's friends.

Then the old Brahman brought Kesata adorned with the ornaments of a bridegroom, and entered that city with all the bridegroom's party. And then he made him enter the house of Ratnadatta, in which an altar-platform was ready prepared, and which was made to resound with the music of various instruments. And Kesata married there with all due ceremonies that fair-faced maiden Rupavati, to whom her father gave great wealth. And the women there rejoiced, seeing that the bride and bridegroom were well-matched; and not only Rupavati, when she saw that such a bridegroom had arrived, but her friends also, fell in love with him. But Kesata at that time was overpowered with despondency and astonishment.

And at night Rupavati seeing that her husband, as he lay on the bed, was plunged in thought, and kept his head turned away, pretended to be asleep. And in the dead of night Kesata, thinking that she was asleep, went out to that Rakshasa to keep his promise. And that faithful wife Rupavati also gently rose up un.o.bserved, and followed her husband, full of curiosity. And when Kesata arrived where the Rakshasa was, the latter said to him, "Bravo! you have kept your promise faithfully, Kesata; you are a man of n.o.ble character. You sanctify your city of Pataliputra and your father Desata by your virtue, so approach, that I may devour you." When Rupavati heard that, she came up quickly and said, "Eat me, for, if my husband is eaten, what will become of me?" The Rakshasa said, "You can live on alms." She replied, "Who, n.o.ble sir, will give alms to me who am a woman?" The Rakshasa said, "If any one refuses to give you alms, when asked to do so, his head shall split in a hundred pieces." [808] Then she said, "This being so, give me my husband by way of alms." And, as the Rakshasa would not give him, his head at once split asunder, and he died. Then Rupavati returned to her bridal-chamber, with her husband, who was exceedingly astonished at her virtue, and at that moment the night came to an end.

And the next morning the bridegroom's friends took food and set out from that city, and reached the bank of the Narmada with the newly married pair. Then the old Brahman, who was their leader, put the wife Rupavati with her attendants on board one boat, and went on board a second himself, and cunningly made Kesata embark on a third, having previously made an agreement with the boatmen; and before he went on board took from him all the ornaments he had lent him. Then the Brahman was ferried across with the wife and the bridegroom's party, but Kesata was kept out in the middle of the stream by the boatmen, and carried to a great distance. Then those boatmen pushed the boat and Kesata into a place where the current ran full and strong, and swam ash.o.r.e themselves, having been bribed by the old Brahman.

But Kesata was carried with the boat, by the river which was lashed into waves by the wind, into the sea, and at last a wave flung him up on the coast. There he recovered strength and spirits, as he was not doomed to die just yet, and he said to himself, "Well, that Brahman has made me a fine recompense. But was not the fact that he married his son by means of a subst.i.tute, in itself sufficient proof that he was a fool and a scoundrel?"

While he remained there, buried in such thoughts, the night came on him, when the companies of air-flying witches begin to roam about. He remained sleepless through it, and in the fourth watch he heard a noise in the sky, and saw a handsome [809] man fall from heaven in front of him. Kesata was terrified at first, but after some time he saw that he had nothing uncanny about him, so he said to him, "Who are you, Sir?" Then the man said, "First tell me who you are; and then I will tell you who I am." Hearing that, Kesata told him his history. Then the man said, "My friend, you are exactly in the same predicament as myself, so I will now tell you my history, listen.

"There is on the bank of the river Vena a city named Ratnapura; I am a Brahman householder in that city, the son of a rich man, and my name is Kandarpa. One evening I went down to the river Vena to draw water, and I slipped and fell into it, and was carried away by the current. The current carried me a long way during that night, and when the morning came, as I was not doomed to die yet, it brought me to the foot of a tree that grew on the bank. I climbed up the bank by the help of the tree, and when I had recovered breath, I saw in front of me a great empty temple dedicated to the Mothers. I entered it, and when I saw before me the Mothers flas.h.i.+ng, as it were, with brightness and power, my fear was allayed, and I bowed before them, and praised them and addressed this prayer to them, 'Venerable ones, deliver me a miserable man; for I have to-day come here as a suppliant for your protection.' When I had uttered this prayer, being exhausted with my struggles in the current of the river, I rested, my friend, till my fatigue gradually disappeared, and the day disappeared also. And then there appeared the horrible female ascetic called night, furnished with many stars by way of a bone-necklace, white with moonlight instead of ashes, and carrying the moon for a gleaming seull.

"And then, I remember, a band of witches came out from the company of the Mothers, and they said to one another, 'To night we must go to the general a.s.sembly of the witches in Chakrapura, [810] and how can this Brahman be kept safe in this place which is full of wild beasts? So let us take him to some place where he will be happy: and afterwards we will bring him back again; he has fled to us for protection.' When they had said this, they adorned me, and carrying me through the air, placed me in the house of a rich Brahman in a certain city, and went away.

"And when I looked about me there, lo! the altar was prepared for a marriage, and the auspicious hour had arrived, but the procession of bridegroom's friends was nowhere to be seen. And all the people, seeing me in front of the door arrayed in bridegroom's garments of heavenly splendour, said, 'Here is the bridegroom at any rate arrived.' Then the Brahman of the house took me to the altar, and led his daughter there adorned, and gave her to me with the usual ceremonies. And the women said to one another, 'Fortunate is it that the beauty of Sumanas has borne fruit by winning her a bridegroom like herself!' Then, having married Sumanas, I slept with her in a palace, gratified by having every want supplied in the most magnificent style.

"Then those witches came back from their a.s.sembly in this last watch of the night, and by their supernatural power carried me off, and flew up into the air with me. And while they were flying through the air, they had a fight with another set of witches, who came, wis.h.i.+ng to carry me off, and they let me go and I fell down here. And I do not know the city where I married that Sumanas; and I cannot tell what will become of her now. This succession of misfortunes, which Destiny has brought upon me, has now ended in happiness by my meeting with you."

When Kandarpa had given this account of his adventure, Kesata said to him, "Do not be afraid, my friend; the witches will have no power over you henceforth; since I possess a certain irresistible charm, which will keep them at a distance: now let us roam about together: Destiny will bestow on us good fortune." And while they were engaged in this conversation, the night came to an end.

In the morning Kesata and Kandarpa set out from that place together, and crossing the sea, reached in due course a city named Bhimapura near the river called Ratnanadi. There they heard a great noise on the bank of that river, and when they went to the place whence it came, they saw a fish that filled the channel of the stream from bank to bank. It had been thrown up by the tide of the sea, and got fast in the river owing to the vastness of its bulk, and men with various weapons in their hands were cutting it up to procure flesh. And while they were cutting it open, there came out of its belly a woman, and being beheld by the people with astonishment, she came terrified to the bank.

Then Kandarpa looked at her, and said exultingly to Kesata, "My friend, here is that very Sumanas, whom I married. But I do not know how she came to be living in the belly of a fish. So let us remain here in silence, until the whole matter is cleared up." Kesata consented, and they remained there. And the people said to Sumanas, "Who are you, and what is the meaning of this?" Then she said very reluctantly,

"I am the daughter of a crest-jewel of Brahmans, named Jayadatta, who lived in the city of Ratnakara. My name is Sumanas, and one night I was married to a certain handsome young Brahman, who was a suitable match for me. That very night, my husband went away somewhere, while I was asleep; and though my father made diligent search for him, he could not find him anywhere. Then I threw myself into the river to cool the fire of grief at separation from him, and I was swallowed by this fish; and now Destiny has brought me here."

While she was saying this, a Brahman named Yajnasvamin rushed out of the crowd, and embraced her and said this to her, "Come, come with me, niece; you are the daughter of my sister; for I am Yajnasvamin, your mother's own brother." When Sumanas heard that, she uncovered her face and looked at him, and recognising her uncle, she embraced his feet weeping. But after a moment she ceased weeping, and said to him, "Do you give me fuel, for, as I am separated from my husband, I have no other refuge but the fire."

Her uncle did all he could to dissuade her, but she would not abandon her intention; and then Kandarpa, having thus seen her real feelings tested, came up to her. When the wise Sumanas saw him near her, she recognised him, and fell weeping at his feet. And when the discreet woman was questioned by the people, and by that uncle of hers, she answered, "He is my husband." Then all were delighted, and Yajnasvamin took her husband Kandarpa to his house, together with Kesata. There they told their adventures, and Yajnasvamin and his family lovingly waited on them with many hospitable attentions.

After some days had pa.s.sed, Kesata said to Kandarpa, "You have gained all you want by recovering your longed-for wife; so now go with her to Ratnapura your own city; but, as I have not attained the object of my desire, I will not return to my own country: I, my friend, will make a pilgrimage to all the holy bathing-places and so destroy my body." When Yajnasvamin, in Bhimapura, heard this, he said to Kesata, "Why do you utter this despondent speech? As long as people are alive, there is nothing they cannot get: in proof of this hear the story of Kusumayudha, which I am about to tell you."

Story of Kusumayudha and Kamalalochana.

There was in a town named Chandrapura a Brahman named Devasvamin: he had a very beautiful daughter named Kamalalochana. And he had a young Brahman pupil named Kusumayudha; and that pupil and his daughter loved one another well.

One day her father made up his mind to give her to another suitor, and at once that maiden sent by her confidante the following message to Kusumayudha, "Though I have long ago fixed my heart on you for a husband, my father has promised to give me to another, so devise a scheme for carrying me off hence." So Kusumayudha made an arrangement to carry her off, and he placed outside her house at night a servant with a mule for that purpose. So she quietly went out and mounted the mule, but that servant did not take her to his master; he took her somewhere else, to make her his own.

And during the night he took Kamalalochana a long distance, and they reached a certain city by the morning, when that chaste woman said to the servant, "Where is my husband your master? Why do you not take me to him?" When the cunning rogue heard this, he said to her who was alone in a foreign country, "I am going to marry you myself: never mind about him; how can you get to him now?" When the discreet woman heard this, she said, "Indeed I love you very much." [811] Then the rascal left her in the garden of the city, and went to the market to buy the things required for a wedding. In the meanwhile that maiden fled, with the mule, and entered the house of a certain old man who made garlands. She told him her history, and he made her welcome, so she remained there. And the wicked servant, not finding her in the garden, went away from it disappointed, and returned to his master Kusumayudha. And when his master questioned him, he said, "The fact is, you are an upright man yourself, and you do not understand the ways of deceitful women. No sooner did she come out and was seen, than I was seized there by those other men, and the mule was taken away from me. By good luck I managed to escape and have come here." When Kusumayudha heard this, he remained silent, and plunged in thought.

One day his father sent him to be married, and as he was going along, he reached the city, where Kamalalochana was. There he made the bridegroom's followers encamp in a neighbouring garden, and while he was roaming about alone, Kamalalochana saw him, and told the garland-maker in whose house she was living. He went and told her intended husband what had taken place, and brought him to her. Then the garland-maker collected the necessary things, and the long-desired marriage between the youth and the maiden was immediately celebrated. Then Kusumayudha punished that wicked servant, and married in addition that second maiden, who was the cause of his finding Kamalalochana, and in order to marry whom he had started from home, and he returned rejoicing to his own country with those two wives.

"Thus the fortunate are reunited in the most unexpected manner, and so you may be certain, Kesata, of regaining your beloved soon in the same way." When Yajnasvamin had said this, Kandarpa, Sumanas and Kesata, remained for some days in his house, and then they set out for their own country. But on the way they reached a great forest, and they were separated from one another in the confusion produced by a charge of wild elephants. Of the party Kesata went on alone and grieved, and in course of time reached the city of Kasi and found his friend Kandarpa there. And he went with him to his own city Pataliputra, and he remained there some time welcomed by his father. And there he told his parents all his adventures, beginning with his marrying Rupavati, and ending with the story of Kandarpa.

In the meanwhile Sumanas fled, terrified at the elephants, and entered a thicket, and while she was there, the sun set for her. And when night came on, she cried out in her woe, "Alas, my husband! Alas, my father! Alas, my mother!" and resolved to fling herself into a forest fire. And in the meanwhile that company of witches, that were so full of pity for Kandarpa, having conquered the other witches, reached their own temple. There they remembered Kandarpa, and finding out by their supernatural knowledge that his wife had lost her way in a wood, they deliberated as follows, "Kandarpa, being a resolute man, will unaided obtain his desire; but his wife, being a young girl, and having lost her way in the forest, will a.s.suredly die. So let us take her and put her down in Ratnapura, in order that she may live there in the house of Kandarpa's father with his other wife." When the witches had come to this conclusion, they went to that forest and comforted Sumanas there, and took her and left her in Ratnapura.

When the night had pa.s.sed, Sumanas, wandering about in that city, heard the following cry in the mouths of the people who were running hither and thither, "Lo! the virtuous Anangavati, the wife of the Brahman Kandarpa, who, after her husband had gone somewhere or other, lived a long time in hope of reunion with him, not having recovered him, has now gone out in despair to enter the fire, followed by her weeping father-in-law and mother-in-law." When Sumanas heard that, she went quickly to the place where the pyre had been made, and going up to Anangavati, said to her, in order to dissuade her, "n.o.ble lady, do not act rashly, for that husband of yours is alive." Having said this, she told the whole story from the beginning. And she shewed the jewelled ring that Kandarpa gave her. Then all welcomed her, perceiving that her account was true. Then Kandarpa's father honoured that bride Sumanas and gladly lodged her in his house with the delighted Anangavati.

Then Kandarpa left Pataliputra [812] without telling Kesata, as he knew he would not like it, in order to roam about in search of Sumanas. And after he had gone, Kesata, feeling unhappy without Rupavati, left his house without his parents' knowledge, and went to roam about hither and thither. And Kandarpa, in the course of his wanderings, happened to visit that very city, where Kesata, married Rupavati. And hearing a great noise of people, he asked what it meant, and a certain man said to him, "Here is Rupavati preparing to die, as she cannot find her husband Kesata,; the tumult is on that account; listen to the story connected with her." Then that man related the strange story of Rupavati's marriage with Kesata and of her adventure with the Rakshasa, and then continued as follows:

"Then that old Brahman, having tricked Kesata, went on his way, taking with him Rupavati for his son: but n.o.body knew where Kesata had gone after marrying her. And Rupavati, not seeing Kesata on the journey, said, 'Why do I not see my husband here, though all the rest of the party are travelling along with me?' When the old Brahman heard that, he shewed her that son of his, and said to her, 'My daughter, this son of mine is your husband; behold him.' Then Rupavati said in a rage to the old man there, 'I will not have this ugly fellow for a husband; I will certainly die, if I cannot get that husband, who married me yesterday.'

"Saying this, she at once stopped eating and drinking; and the old Brahman, through fear of the king, had her taken back to her father's house. There she told the trick that the old Brahman had played her, and her father, in great grief, said to her, 'How are we to discover, my daughter, who the man that married you, is?' Then Rupavati said, 'My husband's name is Kesata, and he is the son of a Brahman named Desata in Pataliputra; for so much I heard from the mouth of a Rakshasa.' When she had said this, she told her father the whole story of her husband and the Rakshasa. Then her father went and saw the Rakshasa lying dead, and so he believed his daughter's story, and was pleased with the virtue of that couple.

"He consoled his daughter with hopes of reunion with her husband, and sent his son to Kesata's father in Pataliputra, to search for him. And after some time they came back and said, 'We saw the householder Desata in Pataliputra. But when we asked him where his son Kesata was, he answered us with tears, "My son Kesata is not here; he did return here, and a friend of his named Kandarpa came with him; but he went away from here without telling me, pining for Rupavati"--When we heard this speech of his, we came back here in due course.'

"When those sent to search had brought back this report, Rupavati said to her father, 'I shall never recover my husband, so I will enter the fire; how long, father, can I live here without my husband?' She went on saying this, and as her father has not been able to dissuade her, she has come out to-day to perish in the fire. And two maidens, friends of hers, have come out to die in the same way; one is called Sringaravati and the other Anuragavati. For long ago, at the marriage of Rupavati, they saw Kesata and made up their minds that they would have him for a husband, as their hearts were captivated by his beauty. This is the meaning of the noise which the people here are making."

When Kandarpa heard this from that man, he went to the pyre which had been heaped up for those ladies. He made a sign to the people from a distance to cease their tumult, and going up quickly, he said to Rupavati, who was wors.h.i.+pping the fire; "n.o.ble lady; desist from this rashness; that husband of yours Kesata is alive; he is my friend; know that I am Kandarpa." When he had said this, he told her all Kesata's adventures, beginning with the circ.u.mstance of the old Brahman's treacherously making him embark on the boat. Then Rupavati believed him, as his story tallied so completely with what she knew, and she joyfully entered her father's house with those two friends. And her father kindly welcomed Kandarpa and took good care of him; and so he remained there, to please him.

In the meanwhile it happened that, as Kesata was roaming about, he reached Ratnapura and found there the house of Kandarpa, in which his two wives were. And as he was wandering about near the house, Sumanas, the wife of Kandarpa, saw him from the top of the house and said delighted to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and the other people in the house, "Here now is Kesata my husband's friend arrived; we may hear news of my husband from him; quickly invite him in." Then they went and on some pretext or other brought in Kesata as she advised, and when he saw Sumanas come towards him, he was delighted. And after he had rested she questioned him, and he immediately told her his own and Kandarpa's adventures, after the scare produced by the wild elephants.

He remained there some days, hospitably entertained, and then a messenger came from Kandarpa with a letter. The messenger said, "Kandarpa and Rupavati are in the town where Kandarpa's friend Kesata married Rupavati;" and the contents of the letter were to the same effect; and Kesata communicated the tidings with tears to the father of Kandarpa.

And the next day Kandarpa's father sent in high glee a messenger to bring his son, and dismissed Kesata, that he might join his beloved. And Kesata went with that messenger, who brought the letter, to that country where Rupavati was living in her father's house. There, after a long absence, he greeted and refreshed the delighted Rupavati, as the cloud does the chataki. He met Kandarpa once more, and he married at the instance of Rupavati her two before-mentioned friends, Anuragavati and Sringaravati. And then Kesata went with Rupavati and them to his own land, after taking leave of Kandarpa. And Kandarpa returned to Ratnapura with the messenger, and was once more united to Sumanas and Anangavati and his relations. So Kandarpa regained his beloved Sumanas, and Kesata his beloved Rupavati, and they lived enjoying the good things of this life, each in his own country.

Thus men of firm resolution, though separated by adverse destiny, are reunited with their dear ones, despising even terrible sufferings, and taking no account of their interminable duration. So rise up quickly my friend, let us go; you also will find your wife, if you search for her; who knows the way of Destiny? I myself regained my wife alive after she had died.

"Telling me this tale my friend encouraged me; and himself accompanied me; and so roaming about with him, I reached this land, and here I saw a mighty elephant and a wild boar. And, (wonderful to say!) I saw that elephant bring my helpless wife out of his mouth, and swallow her again; and I followed that elephant, which appeared for a moment and then disappeared for a long time, and in my search for it I have now, thanks to my merits, beheld your Majesty here."

When the young merchant had said this, Vikramaditya sent for his wife, whom he had rescued by killing the elephant, and handed her over to him. And then the couple, delighted at their marvellous reunion, recounted their adventures to one another, and their mouths were loud in praise of the glorious king Vishamasila.

CHAPTER CXXIV.

Then King Vikramaditya put this question to the friend of the young merchant, who came with him, "You said that you recovered your wife alive after she was dead; how could that be? Tell us, good sir, the whole story at length." When the king said this to the friend of the young merchant, the latter answered, "Listen, king, if you have any curiosity about it; I proceed to tell the story."

Story of Chandrasvamin who recovered his wife alive after her death.

I am a young Brahman of the name of Chandrasvamin, living on that magnificent grant to Brahmans, called Brahmasthala, and I have a beautiful wife in my house. One day I had gone to the village for some object, by my father's orders, and a kapalika, who had come to beg, cast eyes on that wife of mine. She caught a fever from the moment he looked at her, and in the evening she died. Then my relations took her, and put her on the pyre during the night. And when the pyre was in full blaze, I returned there from the village; and I heard what had happened from my family who wept before me.

Then I went near the pyre, and the kapalika came there with the magic staff dancing [813] on his shoulder, and the booming drum in his hand. He quenched the flume of the pyre, king, by throwing ashes on it, [814] and then my wife rose up from the midst of it uninjured. The kapalika took with him my wife who followed him, drawn by his magic power, and ran off quickly, and I followed him with my bow and arrows.

And when he reached a cave on the bank of the Ganges, he put the magic staff down on the ground, and said exultingly to two maidens who were in it, "She, without whom I could not marry you, though I had obtained you, has come into my possession; and so my vow has been successfully accomplished," [815] Saying this he shewed them my wife, and at that moment I flung his magic staff into the Ganges; and when he had lost his magic power by the loss of the staff, I reproached him, exclaiming, "Kapalika, as you wish to rob me of my wife, you shall live no longer." Then the scoundrel, not seeing his magic staff, tried to run away; but I drew my bow and killed him with a poisoned arrow. Thus do heretics, who feign the vows of Siva only for the pleasure of accomplis.h.i.+ng nefarious ends, fall, though their sin has already sunk them deep enough.

Then I took my wife, and those other two maidens, and I returned home, exciting the astonishment of my relations. Then I asked those two maidens to tell me their history, and they gave me this answer, "We are the daughters respectively of a king and a chief merchant in Benares, and the kapalika carried us off by the same magic process by which he carried off your wife, and thanks to you we have been delivered from the villain without suffering insult." This was their tale; and the next day I took them to Benares, and handed them over to their relations, after telling what had befallen them. [816]

And as I was returning thence, I saw this young merchant, who had lost his wife, and I came here with him. Moreover, I anointed my body with an ointment that I found in the cave of the kapalika; and, observe, perfume still exhales from it, even though it has been washed.