THE LIBRARY

OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

GIFT OF

HORACE W. CARPENTIER

GLEANINGS FROM INDIAN CLASSICS.

Printed and Published

BY

(itRtSH

Chandra Chackravarti,
Deva Press,
6jl2 Beadon Streety

CALCUTTA,

" What mortal now can harnif

Or foemen
Through

vex us more

thee,

beyond alarm

Immortal God, we soar J'

^7/

GLEANINGS
FROM

INDIAN CLASSICS.
y^v^

EDITED BY

MANMATHA NATH ^UTT,

M,

A.,

Rector Keshub Academy,

i

Editor of the English Translation of the Ramayana,

Srimadbhagabatam and Vishniipuranain,

CALCUTTA
AT THE DEVA PRESS.

1893.

A II

rights Reserved.

OABP&KTifii^

INTRODUCTION.
The Hindus and
misunderstood thing

are the mst

Religion

their

modern world.
The
civilized people of the Western World labour under
the notion that the Hindus are a people a little
in

the

better than the aborigines of Africa

no better

is

The

fault

than

does not

by nature very

if

his

all

autonomy

the

know

upon

way

are in every

he passes

of

and

grossest

different
life

in

idolatry.

are

never

they

especially to nations

from them.

India,

a Hindu-home

will

foreigner,

never

know

will

never

he

domestic arrana-ements,

their

of

The Hindus

and modest

others,

their Religion

sort

with them.

lie

retiring

thrust themselves

who

the

he

will

never

understand what sort of being a Hindu really

for

a Hindu

himself by

explaining his

from their books, for they are written

difficult to

master.

easily

in

a language

World is, that the Hindus

who worship woods and stones.

But a few

of the great

America have a
has

been

done

known

Thus the popular notion

the Western
aborigines,

and morals or

religion

They cannot be

manners and customs.

very

is

too bashful and too modest to defend

is

scholars

of

Europe and

different notion of the Hindus.

by

their

study

QO

ivi80878;

of

of

are semi-

the

This

Sanskrit

They have found

language.

they

have found a

in

it

a mine

wealth,

of

adorned with the best

literature,

grace and diction, with the highest poetry and rhetoric,

a philosophy with thoughts too high and

beautiful
a

prehensive to grasp,
tion,

grand

But

alas,

is

religion

perception and sublime in

in

concep-

execution.

they are too few to remove the notion that

when two branches

held by Eufope from the day

of the

its

too comin

same Aryan stock met

in the plains of India

platforms,

they have

have written

the

in

after years of separation

They have spoken on

lectured
papers,

public

class-rooms, they

in

they have

published

books and translated Sanskrit works, but their works

are too

high

popular mind

for the

the learned and

have found that Hindus and their

only

the scholars

Religion are not what they were led to believe.

This book

work
and

is

an attempt to popularize the noble

is

begun by

being carried on by Monier Williams, Max-

muller and

host of other great men.

live in their religion

day

life

William Jones and Colebrooke,

Sir

which

is

there

is

nothing

The Hindus
in

his

not co-mixed with his religion

cannot study them

without

philosophy and religion.

But

every
;

one

studying his literature,

these are locked up

all

n a language difficult to master and hence the works

published by

the

great

orientalists

have failed to

influence the popular mind.

The Hindu Philosophy

an

ordinary

intellect

to

is

too high a subject for

get at

the

Hindu

religioa

is

based on a Theology too complicated to be easily

grasped

but

still

mind,

the popular

the religion has a great hold over

and has extended

every stratum of the societ}, which

where

influence to

its

we do

not hnd any

else.

The only means, by which

present false

the

notion regarding the Hindus and their Religion can be

removed,

to popularize their Literature, Philosophy

is

and Religion amongst the Western

great

Hindu Rishis

extend the
larized

way

adopted

influence

as to send

it

nations.

to the

The

means

very

of their religion

to

they popu-

and Philosophy

Religion

their

this

in

such

innermost recess of a Hindu

They did it by writing innumerable Purdnas.

Now these Purdnas are religious books, in which

home.

Philosophy and Theology have been told

which religion has been

tales, in

in interesting

preached through

legends and histories,

popular annals,

in

which the

the crudest metaphysical points have been explained

in

plain,

sweet and popular verses.

These

tales,

these annals, legends and histories, these sweet and

and popular verses were read by thousands, were

heard by millions when sung by village

and were
all

told

Thus they became, and with them the

children.

Hindu

Philosophy

and

property

woman
standard

or

ministrels,

by every old matron and heard by

child.

of

and

heritage

They

civilization

Religion,
of

raised

the

every

them

householel

Hindu,

man,

to a very high

civilization

which two

IV

thousand years' continual foreign

sort,

moral,

physical,

could not

destroy.

struggles of every

social, political

They

and

religious,

instilled into their society

moral virtues which nowhere are to be found

made

the

they

Hindu homes the sweetest and the happiest

in all the world.

We

do not exaggerate

the notion that

is

in

just

Hindu

over the Western

none to agree with us

now

Literature,

amongst the Western

This work

said.

This

in that direction.

to popularize the
religion

all

shall find

we have

saying what

an attempt

we cannot remove

so long

predominant

World, we know we

is

is

an attempt

Philosophy and

nations.

treading the footsteps of the great Rishts.

following the examples and

who made

those srreat men,

easy English,

methods.

India what

Religion are so

be mastered
little
it

will

work

in

is

modern

in

Religion.

popular and

and Western

tastes

extensive

that

it

is

a day or explained in

the

first

and

not expected to

a book.

This

step to give an idea of them,

be followed by a series of works,

Hindu

We shall

Literature, History, Philosophy

every one of which attempts will be

larize

it is.

legends and histories,

and sweeter poems

suiting

Hindu

are

are

adopting the means of

give their tales, their annals,

their sweet verses

We
We

Literature,

History

in

made

each and
to

popu-

Philosophy and

TALES OF IND.

fo

ir ^ccracarala
/inic^^l

omman6cr

(^rbev of

ti)c

^urma

of tl^

most gmincnf

^xxbian gmpirc,

"Jsila^araja of oc^in.

5ll)is

Xittk 5<^ok

as a

is "JlcspcctfuUp

gi;okctt of

Pc6icatc5

^i*atitu6c bp t^e

6itor.

CONTENTS,
PAGE
Battle of

Gods and Demons

.....

i.

Shiva and Sati

ig.

Srlkrishna

30.

The Monkey War

57.

The

79.

Battle of Kurukshetra

Nala and DamayantI

105

Sribatsa and Chinta

115

Prahlada

126

The Lost Ring

135

The Boy Devotee

150

Sabitrl

and Satyavan

156

Debjani

165

Bilwamangala

176

Harlshchandra

183

Parasurama

196

Bishaya

201

The Danava King

209

TALES OF IND.
BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

[1]

fHE great Trinity manifested

namely,
Preserver,

and Shiva, the Destroyer.

was created by the

forces

and was

the preserving and

class

the other

first

filled

three forms,

Vishnu, the

The

universe

with innumerable

but they were of two classes,-^positive and

negative,

One

itself in

Brahni^^ the Creator,

was engaged

was always

ing forces,

air,

fire,

The

water,

preserv-

were the

was good,

the others were

The former were

called the Devas.

of all

quite the reverse.

the destroying forces.

preserving the universe,

for its destruction.

such as the

embodiments

in

that

TALES OF IND.

or the Gods, the latter

Demons.

were called the Danavas or the

Vishnu was the Great Protector of the gods,

and Shiva was that of the demons. The former had

his seat in Baikunthdy and his almighty power (omni-^
potence) was his wife, and she was called Lakshmi.

Shiva lived

Kaildsh, and his wife was Durgdf^

in

Readers are to understand that the names Vishnu and Shiva

are the mere

Durgd
forces,

are

names

and are not

mere names

distinct beings.

The

elements.

created

of the two great Spirits

the

also

God. Lakshmi and

of

His preserving and destroying

of

The gods and

tale of the battle of

the

demons

are the

gods and demons

aa

is

allegorical account of the ever-lasting struggle of the elements, the

struggle

of

servation
that

be found

God

;.

and Death, the struggle

continuing from the beginning

is

in

The

ways.

Life

the books of

every

is All-evil.

He

required

Hindu
and

in

spiritual, are

said

live

that

in

evil,,

is

to-

various

being from

All-good diud

\s

He

i.e.

preserved by

the evil

and act as human beings,

know

should

readers

of

Him

In this tale all these forces

the good elements,,

immortal and none

whereas the demons,

spiritual

to

The

an allegory.

Rishis had

distinct

Vishmc

loved and

as brothers in relation.

have been personified and made

as

as

tale

has created the gods as well as the demons,

and they are both protected,

and they stand

but told

religion,

He

The

of time.

have Satan, a quite

Christians

but the Hindus say that

as Shiva

the forces of pre-

of

and destruction, the battle of the good and the

that the

both material

them could ever be destroyed

elements,, are both material

and

but though they are never exterminated,, yet some of them,

are always destroyed.

the greatest

They should

favourites

troyed them by

of

God

also

mark

as Shiva

that the

but

His destructive and omnipotetit

been named Durgd, His

wife,

when required

to

He

demons were
Himself des-

force,

which had

keep equillibrium iD

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

Vishnu wanted to make

his favourItes,namely the

immortal and powerful.

gods,

being the

Vishnu,

naturally wants to preserve the gods

Preserver,

He asked

preserve means to bestow immortality.

to
the

gods to churn^ the great ocean, f so that ambrosia might

be produced. The demons offered their services

to the

gods, which they could not decline. Thus both the gods
and the demons laboured incessantly for years, till the

ocean gave forth the wonderful

liquid. J

Then

there arose

a great disagreement between the gods and the

both

parties

wanting

to take possession of

demons

it.

Vishnu

appeared before them as a most beautiful damsel and

and

offered to divide

They were

and the demons.

the universe.

end

the

out

of this

sublimity and laws has

Thus Brahitid

of time.

from which elements have evolved

this

charmed with her

to submit to her will.

But both the gods and the demons exist and

till

destroys them

amongst the gods

and they agreed

exquisite beauty

supremacy

it

all

distribute

is

fight

for

the infinite base

Vishnu preserves them, Shiva

grand struggle Nature with her beauty,

been formed.

This

tale tries

to

explain

grand philosophy

of the

The churning

of the

ocean means the actions of the contrary

the effect

which

is this

forces,

of

Hindus.

well aware that the effects of the so

tation are the orders

and

beautiful universe.

many

regularities in the starry universe.

Evidently the ocean means the original

universe.

Milton's sea

of

chaotic state of the

Chaos.

This ambrosia

is

This damsel

Nature

is

Readers are

contrary forces of gravi-

the immortality of Nature.

;

she always rules over the elements.

TALES OF IND.

them that as the gods were the elder

brothers of the demons, they should be served first.
The demons acquiesced and she began to distribute

She

told

Soon she
gave away almost the whole of the quantity, and herThe demons were exasperated
self drank the rest.

the immortalising liquid amongst the gods.

they rushed upon her in

cam.e to her help.

fury, but the

all

There were great

gods soon

fightings,

but

as the gods had become immortal and powerful by

drinking the ambrosial wine, the demons were soon

defeated and routed.

Their Protector and God, the terrible Sktva, came

to their assistance.

But

again.

alas,

He asked them
instead

of

to churn the ocean

ambrosia

the

ocean

vomltted forth deadly poison."^

The

quarrel that

was bred on the shores

churned ocean continued

battle that

nued

for

of the

thousands of years; the

began between gods and demons conti-

to eternity.

The demons were very powerful and some

them became

invincible

of

and unconquerable by the

Though they could not

grace of their god Shiva.

exterminate the gods, yet often they defeated them,

drove them from heaven and took possession of the

celestial regions.
This poison means Death
Bhivsi the

God can

i. e.

the force of destruction.

give only destruction and death.

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

There

were

and

wars

great

terrible

battles

Sometimes the

between the gods and the demons.

former were defeated, sometimes the

latter.

We

shall

narrate only the greatest of these wars and battles."^

[2]
There were supposed
of gods

and goddesses,

and Lord.

to be thirty three mJUions

but

Indra was

After the defeat of the

their

King

Danavas on the

shore of the churned ocean, the gods lived in peace

and happiness

Danava was
of

many long years, till a great

who was known by the name

for

born,

demons

Under him the

Bitrcisura.

gradually

gained strength, for he was a great warrior

a great general.

He

round him

collected

demons who had been

scattered

into

a great army,

filled

all

the

over the universe

after their defeat at the battle for ambrosia

them

and

he formed

them with hopes

of

success and promised them victory with the possession

of

heaven and
*

its

happiness.

There are a good many

born as

human beings;

humanity.

The gods had

tales, in

which we find the demons

they bred sin and vice and oppressed

to

come down and assume human

The Rdmdyana is an instance.

shapes to check and destroy them.

Rdvana and his Rdkshasas were the demons, and Rdma was Vishmc
and the monkeys were the gods. But in this tale we shall narrate
only three wars,
as

human

in

beings.

which they fought

in their

own shapes and not

TALES OF IND.

Under him they

rose in rebelHon and declared

war with the gods under him they marched and

encamped at the gates of heaven. They could never
;

forgive the gods

mined

to gain

their

eternal enemies

heaven or to die

The war went on

in the field of battle.

for years

could

not

for advice

of frying

innumerable

but

and crippled by continual

heart and thought

heaven.

wounded,

and

them from heaven.

drive

weakened
lost

killed

"My

help.

from their happy

them

would not be able

to kill

Brahma

Ask

for his

without

for

bones

make

thunder ye

Bih-a and to drive away

demonaic hordes from the

The king of

to

dear son/' said the Creator,

*'Go to the great Dadhichif^

a thunder out of

gods

the

They grew
They
wars.

Indra became anxious and went

and

many

there were

sanguinary battles and hot skirmishes

demons were

they deter-

sfates of

his

heaven."

the gods hastened to the great Rishi

Dadhichi, and narrated to him

all

the evil deeds of

the wicked demons, their attacks on heaven and their

oppressions

all

over the universe.

prayed the heavenly king,

with us the universe,

''If

we have no

*'My dear son," said Dadhichi,

for thee."

Indra told him

by the great Creator.

*

He

He was

all

other hope of safety."

"Tell

that

told

''Venerable father,"

thou dost not save us and

me what

can do

had been said to him

him that he had come to

a great Ridii.

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

him

to pray for his bones.

"I shall gladly give

He

my

''Is

life

then renounced his

this all

for the
life

?''

said Dadhichi,

good

of the world."

and Indra hastened

to heaven with his bones.

There was great joy
amongst the gods and they cheered again and again,

back

when

their king

appeared amongst them with the much-

desired bones.

Soon the dreadful thunder was created and every

arrangement was made to attack the demons. A

was fought

great battle

in the fields of

heaven

there

was hard fighting on both sides, till the terrible thunder

was let loose. It soon crushed the demon-king into
atoms and hurled his vast army down from the ethereal
height.

They

fell

from the height of heaven to the very

depths of the infernal regions, there to

for

many

lie

insensible

a long year."^

[3]
After

the

fall

of the

height, the gods lived for

in peace,

demons from

many

the heaven's

years very happily and

the ilemtns never venturing to attack them.

Their power had been thoroughly broken down and

they had neither the heart nor the courage to venture
out of the infernal regions and to call the gds to battle.
*

Readers should notice the similarity of

of Satan
of the

with

this battle with that

the gods in the fields of heaven.

Evidently either

two must have been borrowed from the other.

TALES OF IND.

But they were not

forth

beauty and happiness

would pass into the

steal the

many

to

kingdom.

down

steal

the

celestial

tell his less

bold

courage and

damsels and carry them

to the infernal regions

heavenly

He would

These wicked and bold demons would

adventure.
often

on

he would disturb the peace

wonderful deeds of

his

stealthily

wistfully

the boldest of them only

celestial

wealth of heaven

issued'

the gods in

look

heavenly homes and return to

compeers of

them

of

disturb

and

heaven

near the gates of

of

tried

Sometimes they would come

various ways.

its

at rest

and

disguise

in

children

they would often steal

make them

and

their

eternal

slaves.

Thus many years

disturbedjdid not think

with the demons

stole

the

on

rolled

the gods, though

proper to declare another war

it

but at last a Ddnava,

beautiful

wife

Preceptor of the gods.

her to the path of sin

of

named Shoma,

Brihashpatiy the great

The wicked Ddnava tempted

she fell and she was enticed

away to the kingdom of darkness.
The old Preceptor grew wild with grief and

anger

he hastened to Indra and appealed to him

to rescue his beloved wife from the clutches of the

demons.
all

felt

His words were mandates to the gods

they

injured and insulted by the gross injury done

to their great leader.

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

So the order was passed

king Indra called his

generals to arms and his gods to rally round him, for

another mortal struggle with their eternal enemies.

Every arrangement was made and they marched out

from heaven to chastise the demons and rescue the
stolen goddess.

The demons

resolved to stand firm

they determined

to have another great struggle with the gods, whatever

might be the

final

They

result.

Ddnava, named Tdrakd, as

they made every preparation

elected

a great

and leader

their king

to give their

enemies a

hot reception.

Their choice of a leader was the best possible. The

Tdrakdsura, was really invincible

great Ddnava,

arms and unequalled

in

For many a long

in statecraft.

year he had been praying to the God, Shiva, and had at

last

got his blessings, thereby becoming invincible to

thunder and to

all

The gods and

period,

like

the

demons met,

two wild whirlpools

war continued

was

demons could
let loose,

broken down and the

They

after a long

in a great storm.

The

fled

Again and again

;

The

crods
in

fight.

but to no purpose the demons

gradually gained ground.

routed.

met

for years, both parties fighting, as only

the gods and the

the thunder

heavenly weapons.

army was

daily

at last defeated

and

celestial

were

hot haste

towards

pursued by the successful and elated demons.

heaven,

TALES OF IND.

lO

They
shut up

its

but alas, fortune was against them

The demons stormed

them out
of the

their

heavenly

The gods

fled in all

At

and were scattered over the universe.

heaven was

drove

citadel,

homes, and took possession

of their celestial

much-desired kingdom.

directions
last

kingdom and

fled precipitously Into their

gates

lost.

Indra, king of the gods, having been defeated

and driven out

kingdom, went

of his

advice and help.

"My

disheartened

is

is

immersed

and

such

as to

in

to

do

to

Indra went
for help.

He

In

"I

preserve and

all

that

and prayed

fallen.

''My beloved son,"

have preserved you from

the

Lord

and the
said the

have no power to destroy

daughter of king Himalaya.

with

to Its

plight into which the gods

demons except Shiva.

married

thee

had happened and told

bestowing upon you immortality.

the

advise

will

order to regain thy Paradise."

narrated

goddesses had

God,

Vishnu and he

to Baikiintha

him the miserable

great

Shiva

of his wife ;t

reason of the demons becoming uncon-

Go

what

''Do not be

said he,

son,"

the will of Providence.

great Yoga^ on the death

this is the

querable.

to the Creator for

can

death by

None can destroy

His wife

Go and

Great Destroyer.

is

born

as

try to get her

The son

that

Read

the particulars of Yoga in the Appendix.

Read

the particulars of the death in the Tale Shiva and Sati.

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

would be born

of this marriage,

II

would regain heaven

for you."

The king

gods returned to his hiding-place.

There held he a confidential council with his ministers

and generals

of the

was

it

settled to despatch

Ndrada"^ to

king Himalaya with the proposal of the marriage.

But the

to rouse

king," suggested one,

is

none

was not there

the gods knew not
up Shiva from his y^^^-sleep. "Oh,

difficulty

what to do

in the

"Take Madan\ with you. There

universe

who can withstand

the arrows

Surely Shiva's Yoga would be broken and

of Love.

Ndrada would be able to propose to him the marriage."

The suggestion was adopted and every arrangement was made. The chief gods went towards Kaildsa,
and Ndrada promised to join them there, after securing the consent of king Himdlaya.

On
his

the heights of the hoary Kaildsa sat Shiva in

great

y^^^^-sleep.

the

place,

and wide.

sway

of

Calmness reigned
solitude

having

Not a sound, not the

all

over the

extended far

least

noise, could

venture to disturb the peace of the awful place

wind had ceased

to breathe

the

where the great Destroyer

sat in his majesty.

The gods silently and slowly assembled at the foot

snowy heights. Madan was put forward. He

of the

This was also a very celebrated Rishi.

Madan

is

the

god

of

Love.

TALES OF IND.

12

advanced trembling from head

to foot.

But he gathered

bow and sent up an arrow. It

he
Great Unknown was moved
eyes and looked around. He saw

courage, took up his

did

its

action

the

slowly opened his

the

god

of

slinking

love,

Uncontrolable anger rose up

away from

god

of love

Oh, how piteously he cried

to the

fire.

was overwhelmed with

its

for help

sight.

bosom, and his

in his

forehead emitted forth destructive

his

Soon the poor

deadly flames.

how he appealed

gods to save him from Shiva's anger

But

God was destroyed. He

rose from his seat and moved towards his home.
At this opportune moment, when the wound made
by Love was fresh in his heart, Ndrada greeted him
and proposed the marriage. He told the great God
how badly the universe was faring by his inactivity
and his Yoga how it had become urgently necessary
for him to marry and settle down how his wife had
the K<?^^-sleep of the great

again taken birth as a daughter of king Himalaya.

Shiva gave his consent and

the gods to impart to

them the welcome news.

was great joy amongst

they

all

hastened from

wedding.

It

Ndrada hastened

the gods

all

to

There

and the goddesses

quarters to be present at the

was solemnized

in

due form, the Creator

himself acting as the high priest.

son was born of this marriage

named Kartikeya.

When

and he was

he grew up, he was elected

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

Under him the

gods received back their old courage and energy and
under his flag they rallied round, and hoped to regain

as the general of the heavenly hosts.

their lost heaVen.

Kdrttkeya led the gods

challenged the

demons

to the gates of

to battle.

broke out and lasted for years,

till

heaven and

Another great war

at

last

the great

killed and the demons were hopelessly

They were driven out of the celestial
kingdom and heaven was regained."^

T^raka was
defeated.

[4]
Time went on and
heaven.
cease

But the

there

struororle

of

was no disturbance

in

elements could never

the deadly feud between the

gods and the

demons could never end in peace and amity. A decade

passed when two very powerful demon were born,
who gathered round them all the demon chiefs and
began to disturb the peace of heaven. King Sanibhu
and his brother Nisa?7ibhu gradually grew very
powerful and extended their sway far and wide over
*

Again there

is

a great similarity of this tale with the tale of

the Bible. Shotna's enticement of the heavenly goddess and the con-

sequent loss of heaven looks almost like Satan's enticement of Eve

and the

loss

of

Paradise.

Again here

regained by the birth of a son of

by the birth of Christ.

God

in this tale the

Shiva,

just

heaven v/as

as in the Bible,

TALES OF IND.

14

They attacked more than once the

them In battle and made

the universe.

gods, defeated and routed

most uncomfortable and untenable

their position

They were

heaven.

Tdrakd

far

Destroyer honoured them by

in fact the great

bestowing upon them his great

sarily

and

made them, on

irresistible

great

which neces-

They possessed a General as

Ddnava Raktabija^ having

evil.

themselves

as

Spirit,

hand thoroughly invincible

the one

and on the other the very incarnation

and

of destruction

in

more powerful than Bitra or

the

secured from Shiva the boon of having a Raktabija

Thus he was more than an

at each drop of his blood.

immortal

the gods are not killed, but the General of

king Shambhuy

if

wounded, would produce a host

RaktabijaSy as powerful

gods

heart

lost

heaven.

the original

as

and gradually began

Indra hastened

to

to

gods

the

from

Nishambhu.
have
*

of heaven,

the

if

He

hastened

^^Indra^^

The Hindu

Rishis

He

said

way

wanted

to

his

throne

did not protect him and

oppressions

pointed to you the

from

said that

Vishnu and asked permission to resign

and sceptre

fly

of

The

Brahma^ but he

he really did not know what to advise.

to

one."^

the

of

Shambhu and

Preserver, "Twice

to defeat the

show

Ddnavas.

that the negative forces

and elements grew more and more powerful as they are beaten

down by

the positive forces

and elements. Shambhu and Nishambhu

were greater heroes than Biira and Tdrakd.

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

I5

I do not know what to say now.

As far as I
and
Sambhu
Nisambhu
cannot
killed,
unless
see,
be
the great Destroyer does it himself.
None can help

But

really

you

at this

crisis

except the Lord or the Lady of

Kailas h.''"^

Who

go to the God

could dare

of Destruction

Indra appeared suppliant before Durga, the Lady

of

She was moved by the piteous appeals

of

Kaildsh.

Finding no other way to

the gods and the goddesses.

oppressing and destroying power of the

check

the

demon

kins^s she asrreed to

"My

dear children,"

heaven

go and

shall

said

remain at ease

kill

as a

pleasure-garden of the

fisfht

with them,

''Go back

good

demon

demon

your

to

of the

world

kings."

most beautiful damsel

was more than

beauty

and

she,

for the

these two

She appeared

otq

the

in

Her exceptional

king.

what could be described;

her voluptuous grace and her youthful loveliness

filled

the place with a sort of majesty and grandeur.

The
king.

report of her arrival soon reached the

Great

Shambhu grew mad

immediately sent

messengers

throne and kingdom.

to

demon-

to possess her
her,

offering

he
the

But she was not what they took

her to be,
*

The

tale

shows that the negative forces were always very

powerful and often they grew supreme over

to interfere to check tbenfi to keep

up the

all

others

God had

equillibriuna in Nature,

TALES OF

l6

IND.

graced our royal gardens

great goddess smiled and

"Come

messenger,

He

him.

replied,

"Then,

admires and adores me."

to our king.

am

"I

ever defeats

When

me

am

?"

his

Oh Lady,"
I

The
who

said the

have been sent by

"Go and tell

Who-

asks you to be his queen."

him," said she, "I

"Who

messenger,

^'Oh, beautiful lady," said the

art thou that hast

only to be had by force.

me

possesses

in battle,

in

peace. ""^

her bold words were reported to the king

he smiled and took

humour

her,

to her

and escort her

But

joke.

for

it

he ordered one of

in

to the royal palace.

challenged him to battle

and was
King S/iambku was

order to

his great generals to

the poor general

go

But she

was forced

killed.

to fight

his general

had been

to be trifled with
his generals to

really astonished to learn that

by a woman.

killed

He was

not

he immediately ordered another of

go with

army and bring the damsel

battle, and

his

But there was a great

to the royal court.

the general perished with

The king was

all his

really

army.

alarmed

he sent for his

Commander-in-Chief, Raktabija and asked him to see

what the matter was.

with

all

his

sitting) after
*

soldiers

The

demon army.

our readers to

the lips of the Goddess.

Danava went

out

and found the Goddess quietly

destroying the

We would ask

great

What

mark the words

He
that

tried to
fell

could be truer and grander?

from

BATTLE OF GODS AND DEMONS.

induce her to come with him without further ado

"Shame
with a woman."

but she declined and challenged him to battle.

on me," said Raktabija,

"But"

replied she,

"If

fight

"Try the game.

am more

than a

woman."
At last Raktabija was forced to fight and a terriThe Great
ble battle raged from morning to night.
Goddess fought as the great
But, alas,

possibly fight.

for she could not kill

Spirit of Destruction could

all

her efforts were

Raktabija

fruitless,

her efforts to

in

kill

him, she created innumerable Rahtabijas to fight with

her.

She

at

last

appeared

she divided herself

in

her great Kdli-iorm,^

into innumerable Kalis

and

all

those Kalis began to fight in the greatest fury, some

demons and some drinking up their blood.

Thus no more blood was dropped and no more RaktaBy the evening the whole demon
bija was created.
army with their great General had perished and the
killing the

Goddess having withdrawn her forces,had herself turned

again into a beautiful damsel.

We

need not

say, the

demon king was much

armed and much grieved by the sad

General.
He gathered round him the

army and
*

sallied forth to fight

Kali

is

with the

rest of his great

fell

woman, who

the form of tht Great Spiiit of Destruction.

al-

fate of his great

TALES OF IND.

had suddenly appeared

in

his

not try to describe this battle,

We need

kingdom.

battle

the equal of

which had never occurred and which the greatest poet

had

failed to adequately describe. Suffice

when

Shambhu saw

the great

his

it

to say that

beloved brother

fall^

he became ten times more furious and caught hold of

the flowing black hair of the Great Goddess in the heat
of the action

he raised her up and whirled her round

She was defeated, she was mercilessly

by the head.

whirled and she hardly had time to breathe or to cry

for help.

Then

she silently prayed for protection

and

who soon came to

her rescue. He immediately withdrew from the demon
king the Spirit with which he blessed him. The great
demon suddenly found him as weak as a child and
help of his great husband Shiva,

was soon killed.

There was great joy amongst the gods and they
lived happily

There

in.

are

heaven."^

many more wars and

battles,

but the

marrated above are sufficient to give an idea of the whole thing.

three

SHIVA AND SATI.

[1]
qTORTH

of the Hijnalayas^ in the

land of beauty

and sublimity, there was a charming

^'X

the Kaildsh.

nan's

;^

It

was the land

was the land

it

of

hill,

oalled

of

Apsaris and Kin-

many

colored flowers and

makino-,

was a lovely bower of Nature's own

where she had consfres^ated all that was

beautiful

and

folliage

animal or

it

all

in the

that

was

In this land of love, beauty

and

his

and charming

lovely

in the

botanic kingdom.

and pleasure Shiva

beloved wife Sati had their happy home.t

Apsaris and Kinnaris are beautiful races of songstresses

and dancingt

girls.

There

is

apparently some difference

Destroyer as described

be described

in

in

between Shiva the

the preceding tale and the one that will

the following.

Readers

should

know

that the

TALES OF IND.

20

It

was but a cottage on the top

of

a snowy range

It

was a hut, a poor hut covered with twining creepers.

There was not to be seen the least artificial effort to
secure any of the worldly comforts
but Nature was
;

an obedient maid,

She gathered round the hut

home.
meals
with

sweet

the

all

for their frugal

the world

of

fruits

came

she

her flowers to decorate their nuptial bed,

all

she placed
of

poor but the most happy

this

in

bower

in their lovely

all

the singing birds

to pour into their ears the sweetest

the sky

music

of the world.

But Shiva had Intentionally given up

worldly.

Well, he was the richest

he was

the wisest of

all

mighty

But he had

left all this far

Hindu

life.

intended to place before

is

rible Destroyer,

asceticism he

the world aa the best models which

and

intellect in

is fully

man
By

him.

of his

an ideal

in

this

in

life

man
and

not the

is

ter-

with the highest perfection

the highest developement of

happy and beyond

find quite a different sort of

is

Here Shiva

one of these two.

with the Supreme Being in the next.

man

of.

Shiva and Sati and their

next.

but a great Yogee, a

and by the highest developement

behind him and had made

to get eternal salvation in the life

of asceticism

was

world

and the mightiest

can imitate and adopt, inorder to be fully happy

Kailash-home

that

have left behind them two very grand ideals

They have painted two great figures, which they

Rishis

of hun:ian

all

of the

he had no wants to complain

of all the

the wise

man

all

misery

in

this vrorld

mind he has become one

In the next tale, readers will

the

life

of Srikrishna

happy and saved by perfect worldliness and

love.

there

SHIVA AND SATI.

abode

his

21

the solitude of Kaildsh,

In

away from

all

worldly wealth and cares.

He wore

piece of tiger's

that of a lovely deer

lands of bones

and serpents.
door to door.^
a maniac.

like

round

skin

he

on

sat

neck hung the gar-

his

he was entwined with deadly snakes

He rode an old bull and begged from
He took strong narcotics and looked
To him all the horrors of the world

were welcome.
But he was a mighty man
Matter and controlled the

developement

of

Intellect

he ruled over the

He was

Spirit.

always

the perfect

deeply engaged

own thoughts, he cared nought for the world

he
around.
He forgot that there existed a universe
was intoxicated with the wine of his own thoughts
and that thought consisted of meditating upon his own
dear wife Sati. He forgot that he or any other being
In his

did exist,

he

One was
*

This

felt

that only

ONE

existed

and that

his lovely wife SATl.f

is

In fact the

but an imperfect description

Hindu Rishis

tried

to

of

the form of Shiva.

Nature and the

paint great

greater Source of that Nature in the forms of Bhiva and Sati.

t

This

is

but a faint description of one of the grandest philo-

sophical truths of the Hindus.

aims

at.

readers,

This

The Veddnta philosophy

who might be curious to

Veddnta philosophic*.

is

what the Yoga philosophy-

says the same.

learn

more

of

We
it,

should ask our

to read

Yoga and
.

TALES OF IND.

22

He had two
Bhringi
and

spirits

he was sorrounded with innumerble ghosts

;

he was feared and respected

But look to the side

world.

figure

fearful

named Nandi and

faithful attendants,

of

this

all

over the

and

horrible

there you will find seated smiling

and

happily a goddess, quite the reverse of this terrible

one.

was

It

of

Sati, the daughter of king

language which can adequately

wonderful beauty.

Daksha, one

There

mightiest rulers of the earth.

the

describe

no

is

her most

But no jewellery adorned her hair

Her black long

no ornaments her body.

down her back and

breast

in

hair flowed

beautiful ringlets

round her neck there were some garlands of beads

and round her

loins

and body was a piece

She had given up

she

her paternal royal luxuries,

had become a poor beggar and a great ascetic

like her

her

all

husband dear.

She

lived with

him happy and

home in Kailash was the happiest in

They had risen above the broils of
had

they

of rag.

Mysery.

gone beyond

the

They soared high

in

the world.
the world

all-grasping hand

of

a place where nothing

They
home was

worldly, material or gross could reach them.

were necessarily the happiest and

pervaded through with perfect

They had no wants,

wants

they lived

in

their

bliss.

for they

had destroyed

all

the world, but had destroyed

SHIVA AND SATI.

idea

the

of

existence

its

23

They

minds.

their

in

achieved that grand knowledge which told them that

of its

was only a mental dream

Supreme Being, having had no real existence
own. They felt the grand truth which told

them

that they

perceptible universe

this

of the

were not separate beings

were that Great

does

One who

is

real

but they

and who only

exist.

Necessarily

home

lovely

all

worldly matters fled from their

necessarily

material world

could

Katldsh. They

lived very

and

only

in the

nothing savouring of the

approach

dare

happy valley

happy

in the

of salvation

grand

their

Land

and

of intellect

bliss.

Thus lived Shiva and Sati for many years

on the snowy heights of their happy Kaildsh^ till an
unhappy incident occurred. Once on a time Shiva
happened to attend a great Yagma^ where his fatherin-law, king Daksha, was
present.
He was a
man having his mind somewhere engaged. He did
observe the approach of his father-in-law and

not

forgot to
*
fire

show him the proper

Yagma was a

which was called

great

ceremony

religious

Homa was

the

gods.

of which

There were various

animals

expensive affairs

Amongst

the

were

and

some

in

which a great

sorts of

hymns were
god

particular

Yagmas,

in

or

the course

Yagmas were very

sacrificed.

Those

great

kings could

only

kindled and Vedic

chanted to propitiate and to praise

all

The proud

respect.

solemnise

modern Hindus Yagmas have almost died

out.

them.

TALES OF IND.

24

king took offence

whom

he took to be a great Yo^ee and to

most beloved daughter

in

marriage, had

worse than a beggar, he gave up

He was

with him.
ing terms

not with

mad

he gave his

made

his

Sati

communication

all

him even on speak-

he studiously used to avoid him and told

But when he saw

people that his daughter was dead.

his

mad
whom

he was never pleased with his

Learning that the horrible man,

son-in-law.

sOn-in-law openly insulting him by not accord-

ing to him the ordinary courtesy of the society, he

resolved to teach him a lesson.

He

held a

Yagma,

in

which he invited

world except Shiva, and necessarily

Sati.

his

the

poor

There were great preparations and grand amuse-

'ments

it

was one

of the greatest festivities ever held

people of

was a festivity in which

the world were specially invited

except the

mad man

in

all

wife

world

this

and friends

it

of the Kailash.

of the great

king came

all

the

to join,

All the relatives

all

the princesses

of the royal household arrived from their husbands*

homes, except poor Sati, who was not even informed

of the

great

festivity that

her beloved

father

was

holding.

But Narada went to Kailash and informed her

what was going on

eager to go,
for

many

at her father's palace.

Sati grew

she had not seen her mother and

years past

she

felt

sisters

that her absence in this

SHIVA AND SATI.

great festivity would be deeply

2$

by her dear mother,

felt

not by any one else.

If

She went

to her

husband and

had heard from NCxrada.

her to go and see her parents.

said Shiva,
vite us.

to

heap

honours.

and be insulted before

"My

him

all

"My

that she
to allow

poor darling/'

"Your father has purposely forgotten

He wants

insults are

told

She entreated him

insults over Shiva, to

to in-

whom

But Sati, why should you go

all

your relatives and friends

?"

dear husband/' replied she "Should a daughter

very much mind, whether her father invites her or

not
for

Is

there any necessity for a daughter to seek

an invitation when she goes to see her parents ?"

Shiva smiled and

said, "I

from going to your parents.

you are going

to

come back

Nandi and
he,

to a great trial.

shall

not prevent you

But Sati, remember that

Be very careful and try

Then he turned to

as soon as possible."

ordered him to go with her. ^^Nandi,^^ said

"Take care

to control

find all that wealth

your temper. There you

will

and worldly vanity can produce-

You and your Sati will appear in that grandeur and

pomp like two of the poorest beggars of the world.
People may naturally
redicule
you,
nay
they
may slight you or perhaps insult you. Do not mind
all this
come back with Sati as soon as possible."
They left Kailash, Sati on the back of the old

Bull, A^^fl^/ leading

him

to the palace of

king Daksha.

26

TALES OF IND.

Beyond and above

very grand

of the world had

the

with

great

is

come

one another, where

and potentates had come together
showy costumes and invaluable jewellery,
to vie with

chiefs

their

all

the world this asceticism

but in a place where the wealth and riches

Sati's appearance looked like something very

Especially to king Daksha^

insulting to

find

grand assembly

in

his

it

was

hateful.

really painful,

own daughter

nay

present in that

a plight worse than that of a beggar.

They entered the great palace, now alive with men

and women. They passed through the crowd in silence,
alas,

none welcoming them

were apparent on
themselves and

made a

all

sides;

Their slight and neglect

many whispered amongst

many began

to

abuse Shiva,

who had

royal princess a beggar.

She went

welcome
children.

her,

to her mother,

who

came running

she being the most beloved of

all

to

her

But she was horrified to see the beggarly

state of her daughter

she stood a few seconds wildly

Then arose wild

weepings all over the palace Satt had come unasked
and uninvited, but she had come as a beggar.
staring at her and then she fainted.
;

[3]
Queen

Pr^^z/// asked her daughter to give up her

beggarly costume. She brought for her beautiful jewellery

and gold-embroidered

clothes,

she

brought for

SHIVA AND SATI.

27

her various delicacies, those that were her favourites

when she was a

child.

all.

"Dear

father

and ask

But Sati declined

mother," said she, "I must

see

first

him why he has not invited us

my

?"

She heard no refusal

she went to the grand
where
king
assembly
Daksha was engaged In the
;

great Yagma.

Oh,

What

a contrast

stood side by side.

Asceticism and worldllness

The worldly pomp and grandeur

stood face to face with solitude and calmness of Retire-

ment.

Poverty was placed by the side

Sati appeared
in respect.

In that

Wealth.

o'f

grand assembly and

But king Daksha

lost

all

rose

"Oh,

his temper.

me !" Cried he, ''Why did I not die

before seeing my own daughter reduced to such an
ignoble state
Who asked you to come here, Oh
you wicked girl, to me you are dead."
Then he
shame, shame to

"Look

turned towards the assembly and roared.

the doings of that

Mad wicked

ruffian

scoundrel,

who

calls himself

always

piteously dirty, look^ gentlemen,

beastly drunk

how he

at

Yogee.

and

has reduced

a Princess of the royal house of great Daksha to the

lowest stratum of poverty

!"

me if you
You yourself

appealed Sati, "Abuse

abuse

my

husband.

early days that to a wife her

he might be,

Is

her

"Father, dear father,"

like

taught

but do not

me

In

my

husband, however bad

God and Preceptor."

TALES OF IND.

28

But king Daksha

on

fired

he did not care for

'

the feelings of his poor daughter. She again and again

j

tried to stop him,

but

finally

seeing that

it

was
|

impossible to stop her enraged father from showering

abuses over his dear husband's head,

to give up her

such abuses of one

She stood
could

stand

husband

who was

in that great

she bade

assembly as only a goddess

meditated upon

him farewell

towards the assembly and

fell

ran to see Sati from

Prasuti came weeping with

her

she then turned

all

all

over the palace

queen

her daughters.

The

grief.

Shiva heard

He

in silence of the

rose

Soon
assembly

the
in

to Kailash.

all

his

Ghosts and Spirits.

mad hordes appeared before the

minute the Yagma was destroyed, and

the assembled guests were mercilessly beaten.

Daksha was attacked

the head of a goat

fell

?-t

It

is

said that

he

King

was soon beheaded and

was placed upon

when king Daksha was

the feet of her son-in-law

'

death of his most beloved

and madly rushed towards the kingdom

king Daksha followed by

meanwhile Nandi hastened

In the

of

directions,

all

joy and merriments were soon turned into sorrow and

wife.

dead.

There were loud lamentations

people

to hearing

her husband.

mentally

she

she determined

Death she preferred

life.

shoulder.^

his

killed,

'.

queen Prasuti

and wept piteously.

Shiva was

SHIVA AND SATI,

Shiva took up the corpse

of his dear wife, placed

on his shoulder and began to dance

He

left

2g

the palace of king

like a

it

maniac.

Daksha with the dead

for many long years

body and roamed over the world

till it

gradually

He

fell

then silently retired to his mountain

and there

sat

he

grand sleep

that

piece by piece from his shoulder."^

Yoga.

in his great

He

home

entered into

peace which lasted for

of eternal

hundreds of years.

We

have already told

was born as

how

UmO^.^ the

how Satt

she was again married to her

mad

husband. J

They

and

in

asceticism

lived happily for years

;

and happiness.

moved he ordered Nandi to

But Nandi did not give him his
;

his

the strictest

but that asceticism was mixed with the best

possible domestic love

from

another tale

in

daughter of king Hrmcilaya and

body,-=for he

put

did not

uttered abuses of g:reat Shiua.

into l<in^ Daksha's body.

life

original head,

This

is

which was severed

see the face again which

to

like

the origin of the king's

head becoming that of a goat.

was said that Vishnu cut

the body from his shoulder.

It

Read the preceding tale.

Read the tale, named the Battle

off

of

Gods and Demons.

SRIKRISHNA.
1

fUTTRA
the
capital

of

Dynasty

one of the most important

Is

Western Provinces.

North
the

kingdom

of

when

the

at the time

were reigning

the

the bank of the beautiful river

down by

side,

its

and prosperity
up the

all

river there

It

is

Yadu
Pandus

the

situated

health,

through the kingdom.

was a splendid Tamdla

in

was the

It

Yamuna which

giving beauty and

roamed

beautiful deer

in

celebrated

Kurus and

Hastin^pur."^

in

cities

on

rolls

plenty

few miles

forest,

where

green pastures and rainbow-

See the Battle

of Kurukshetra.

SRIKRISHNA.

31

coloured peacocks danced under the shade o? flowery

trees.

It

Muttra

was the pleasant haunt of the people of

was the place for holding picnics for the

it

young and the Pujahs and Yagmas

for the old.

It

Yadu maids came

it was the place where the Muttra
to dance and play
matrons came to while away their spare moments.
was the place where the

beautiful

In

fact,

this

beautiful

Brindahana^ situated as

on the bank of the rippling

it

was

Yammia^ gardened by

Tamala, Bakiil and Kadamba

trees,

and interpersed

with green pastures and shady streamlets, was the

pleasure ground of the rich and the poor of the great
city of

Muttra.

On
down

the

opposite

of

river a

the

few miles

the city there stood a very prosperous village;

called Gakula.
of

side

It

was inhabited by milkmen,

a class

people always famous for their physical strength

and worldly wealth.

cows,

many

and

bullocks

They possessed innumerable

buffaloes,

and

lands

covering

miles on the bank of

their possession
their cattle.

The Gakula milkmen were

ous and honest

was very

the Yainuyia were

and were used as pasture-grounds

rich.

none of them was

They had their own

they lived independent and happy.

were beautiful and

lovely,

bold and forward

demeanour.

in

in

for

simple, virtu-

but

none

society, in

which

poor,

Their

women

honest and simple,

but

Health, plenty and

TALES OF

32

beauty reigned

Gakula

in

IND.

surely

gods might fancy to come and

At the time
was the head

and none was so

good

live.

None was

Dairy clan.

fit

Nanda

by

qualities

so good

to be the patriarch of this wild

but simple people as he

all his

was a place where

which we are speaking,

of

of this

it

and he was truly matched in

They were

his wife Yasoda>

loved and respected, nay feared and obeyed, by

And

the people of Gakula.

his influence

all

was so great

commanded respect even from the members of

King Kansa
royal family, who ruled in Muttra.

that he

the

was then the reigning sovereign, a

subjects and feared by his enemies.

and heartless tyrant

and demon
his

a base

The people groaned under

tyranny and oppression

and none there was

He was

he was a monster of iniquity

cruelty.

of

ruler hated of his

in the

but he was very powerful,

kingdom who dared breathe
;

a word against him.

[2]
As

in

case of every tyrant, king

the

always afraid and suspicious of

whom
lest

he had to

live

all

and move.

He always

he might be killed by his enemies

special

care to

Kansa was

the people amongst

know from every

possible

feared,

he took
quarter

whether he had any fear from any man and

whom

to fear

if

so,

so that he might take previous precau-

SRIKRISHNA.

tion to

ward them

his sister

He was

off.

33

by astrologers that

told

Debaki^s eighth son would

had none

to fear.^

else

As soon

him

kill

imprisoned his sister and her husband,

intending to

it,

he

Baszideva,

them, so that no son might be born to

kill

But they

them.

and he

as he learnt

fell

and craved

at his feet

for

mercy

they promised on solemn oath that they would deliver

to

him

all

the children born to them, and they would

not complain,

if

he would

The

were born.

them as soon

kill

cruel king

as they

was moved and he agreed

them prisoners

to the stipulation, t but kept

in his

own

palace, well guarded, so that they might not secretly

remove

their children.

One

after another

seven children were born and

duly delivered to the cruel tyrant,

safety doubly sure

killed

them

parents determined to save the

There are some other versions

many

it

years before

The

might
it

be,

to

make

to

his

But the poor

all.

eighth

the consequence they determined

whatever source

who

whatever be

make an

of this foretelling

effort

but from

king Kayisa came to know

his

fate

did occur.

eighth son

of

Basudeva and Debaki

is

Srikrishna, a

personage worshipped and adored by the Hindus as an incarnation

of God.
birth

and

We
life.

need not say that there are various versions of his

We

need not also

more than one miracle mentioned

life.

in

We

shall avoid

the body of this

all

tell

our readers that there are

through the narrative of his

mentioning for obvious reasons the miracles

tale,

but would mention them

in short notes.

TALES OF

34

to save

at

one

least

IND.

of their beloved children

and

the wrath of their cruel relative

from

When

king.

at

the dead of night their eighth child, v^hich was a verybeautiful boy,

Vasudeva wrapped

was born,

took

clothes,

under

it

out of the prison-house.^

was

the blue sky

was

mad

fury.

It

month

was the eighth day

of Bhadra,-\ the very

The Yamuna had

season.

flooded her banks.

was dancing
under

Gakula,

It is

in

the

lightning

the rain

and

sleep

It is

and

moon

full

and she had almost

In this fearful night

hastened

came

when Nature

to

towards

the bank

the
of

village

the

of

rushing,

river.f

Somehow he managed

said that both Vasudeva

and Debaki heard the voice

foaming

God who asked them

it.

risen,

of the

middle of the rainy

her wild fury, Vasudeva with his child

arms

his

roaring and

do

was an awful night

black clouds

in

came

falling like torrents, and the wind was blowing

in the

of

full of

It

up

it

stealthily

and the thunder was roaring

flashing

was
in

arms and

his

to

further said that

how

save the child and told them

He made

the guards

opened the door Himself.

There

to

fall

into a deep

are

some more

which we need not

miracles narrated in connection with this birth,

mention.

Corresponding to August.

It is

said that

when Vasudeva was meditating how

walking across

He

to cross

followed the

the river he saw

animal's example and found to his joy that the water of the river
was very shallow. It was also said that a big snake walked all the

a jackal

way with him

it.

protecting the child from rain by

its

big fangs.

SRIKRISHNA.

to cross

It

35

he ran towards the house of Nanda^ whose

wife Yashoda had given birth to a daughter that very

None was

night.
in

astir,

in her lying-in

Vasudeva

side.

and placed

none could possibly be

astir

Yashoda was in deep sleep

room, her new-born child lying by her

that dreadful night

stealthily

own boy by

his

entered
her side

into

room

that

he took up the

daughter of the milkman and hastened back home.*

None knew what was done

would

that

child

Kansa found

in the

to his sister.

He

at the

dead

the cruel king

kill

of

The

night.

was thus saved.

morning that a daughter was born

brought

it

out and ordered

be

to

it

killed.t

[3.]

The

son of Vasudeva and Devaki was tenderly

by

nursed

up as one
*

It is

of Gakula

of

prince of the royal house of

the

this

into a deep sleep.

It is

We

Krishna

them

We

all

He

the people

need not say that

was previously directed by the voice

it

of

is

also

God

to

exchange of children.
said that

is

when

the people dashed the child on a piece

and rose up into the sky.

must here remind our readers that the character of

of stone to kill
X

Yadu grew

milkman's boys of Gakula.X

mentioned that God made Yashoda and

fall

told that Vasudeva

make

and carefully brought up by

Yashoda.

The

Nanda.

it, it

flew from their hands

an ideal

life

placed before humanity.

to our notes in the tale,

named Shiva and

Sati.

We
As

shall refer

they have

TALES OF IND.

36

was the joy

of all the village

and the milkmen and the

milkmaids gave him various names,

He was

mention only two.

of

which we

shall

Kdnai by

called

mother and he was known by the name

his

of

Krishna

of

all

through his clan.

What

possible education the son

could reasonably get

line

children

their

deep labyrinths

had no idea

pasture, as soon as he

in

their

of entering into the

of Science, Philosophy, or

Krishna was sent out

milkman

Learning was not

Literature.

to take care of the cattle in the

grew up

and he daily went out with

to the age of doing

It

But although he learnt nothing, he learnt

village.

was

the other boys of the

all

on the

the

at

least

one thing

that

maddened

life

turning into a conch^ sent inspiration Into the

it

to play

the maids of

flute

Gakula and which

flute

In after-

hearts of heroes on bloody fields of battle.

Yamuna

Well, the beautiful

giving

and plenty

health

It

Krishna a streamlet
milkmen's
found

in that tale

find

will

village

in

of

giving

Love
it

flowed by Gakula

but with the birth of

flowed
untold

an ideal character of asceticism

this

a quite

opposite character,

character of worldliness in perfection.

through
pleasure
in perfection,

namely an

find

Jirst

great

love

and

then in

that

great

here they
love great

7vorldli7tess.

Conch served

they
ideal

There they have found _^rs^

asceticism and then in that great asceticism great love

will

the

and

the purpose of a bugle in ancient warfare.

SRIKRISHNA.

eternal

The
all

The baby Krishna was

bliss.

mother and the

his

of

women and

the

joy

was

Krishyia

child

37

of

the darling

the

all

villagers.

caressing

the

was

boy Krishna

the

not

knew
a way
account for. They

The men and women of Gakula

why they began to love Krishna in

the reason of which they could not

own

loved their

but

children,

more than what could be found

naughty he was

make havock on

on milk and

butter,

the

silence,

never
his

of

amongst
*

We

took place
sent by

complaining

wicked

to kill

mischief

in

the

least

Once a

Icilled

So great was
In

his

misdeeds

or

But

his

two

On

her.

utensils

suffered

of

sorceress,

him by allowing him

but the child

to tie his

was

eatables,

to

the

pranks

Though

ceased.

soon

neighbours

childhood.

for

pranks."^

must here narrate at

in his

Kansa

breasts,

wanted

his

It

And how

break household

and do a thousand other mischiefs.

that they
their love towards him
any

nay
;

neighbours' houses,
specially

usual,

Nature.

He was not a good boy neither he

mild.
He would enter Into his

nor

gentle,

in

towards

love

their

Krishna was something more than

was

the

of all the

most beloved companion and play-mate

boys.

of

idol

miracles

named

Ptttana,

that

was

suck her poisonous

another occasion Yashoda

hands with a rope, so that he might not do any

neighbours' houses

but

all

the ropes of the house

were brought, (and a milkman's supply of rope must be considerable)

but was found not enough to bind up his two hands.

TALES OF IND.

Yashoda was not

at

all

willing,

yet

Krishna was

forced to go out Into the field to look after his father's

cattle.

How

reluctance

how much
How many times she

and

unwillingly

she sent him out

with

imploringly asked him not to go very

far,

not to go

near the dangerous water of the Yamuna, not to go

across the river,

for she

was

afraid of king

Kansa,

not to roam under the hot sun and not to do a thousand

other things

knew her

She gave him

darling

eatables, those that

Krishna was fond

of

she

how many

times she tenderly requested him to eat them when

he would

feel

hungry

She would stand

at the gate

as only a loving mother looks her

play-mates,

as he sped along with

departing boy,

and look

at him,

at

his

driving the cattle before him.

The boys grew mad

for

him

they would not go

Kdnat no play
could be played without him, no game was managed
without his presence. He was their leader, he was
their friend,
nay he was their all. He led them to
many plays, he Invented many games he enchanted
them with his love, he amused them with his sweet
to the pasture without their beloved

',

flute.-^

There are many anecdotes told regarding this period of his

Some of them are possible facts, but many of them are
He showed at this early period of his life superhuman
miracles.
He killed
physical strength and sometimes mysterious powers.
*

life.

SRIKRISHNA.

39

[4]
Thus Krishna

and

slowly

gradually spread

around him a halo of love and created a new world

Thus when he entered into his teens, he
of bliss.

drew

all

the

maids

above

all this, his

His

Gakula towards him.

of

beauty, his grace, his amiability and

over and

love,

sweet and enchanting music on his

flute, made them unconsciously love him.

They met him on their way to the river, in the
morning when they went to bathe and in the evening
when they went to fetch water In their pitchers.
They began to converse with him, they began to

magic

with him,

loiter

nay

they sometimes passed some

hours with him in merry-making.

love with him,

One

all fell in

all.

Krishna and the lovely maids

slowly carried

many demons,

in

Gakula were

demonaic snake Kalia who used to

a certain place in the Yamuna.

Many

Gakula died by drinking the poisonous water of

Krishna one day jumped into

this

This love

this place.

poisonous pool, dived down and

has been variously described, sometimes

affair

with questionable taste and purity

Srimat Bhdgabata, one

of the

authority on the

Srikrishna.

in fact there

live

of the

snake-demon.

killed the fearful

*

of

into the blissful whirlpool of love."^

specially the

under the water

cattle of

away

another

after

and Krishna loved them

they

life of

was not the

but readers should

best Sanskrit Works,

We

love in

know

that

the chief

find nothing objectionable,

least trace of carnality

as described in this book,

is

in this

grand love

which not one but

all

the

TALES OF IND.

40

day Krishna was surrounded by

the

In

and

mates,

maids had also their household

the

They could only

duties to perform.

way

which did not

and

night,

specially

cravings

their

satisfy

They began

sweet company.

green

the

moon-lit

at

There

pasture.

meet

to

surrounding gardens and orchards,

on

see him on their

and pass a few minutes with

to the Yaniuncb

him,

his play-

for

his

him

at

night,

and

they

in

the

sometimes

played

and

amused themselves with their lover in various ways.

His flute was the signal for a general rush towards
the beautiful groves, where there was nothing but
love and pleasure.

and

picnics

amusements

in

in

of

season

plays,

groves

games

for the

he did for the boys on

Of these various games and

grounds.

merry-makings, only two we

rainy

and

gardens

of the maids, as

pasture

the

Krishna organised

the

shall

mention.

In the

he organised a grand swing-play, and

spring a great red powder contest, in both

the

which

all

maids of Gakula heartily

the boys and

joined."^

women

living

on both the banks of

In fact Srikrishna was almost a boy

affair is said to

Both

the

Yamuna

the

time when this love

pereipitated.

have taken place.

of these

two occasions are observed by the Hindus as

great religious festivals

or Dola.

at

one

is

called

JhiUana and the other Hori

SRIKRISHNA.

His

and

plays

universal love,

games,

his

From

to

came

Muttra

flocking to him,

enjoy the

distributing to

own

of maids, not

clan, but

from far

the villages on both the banks of

the river, nay from the

girls

sweet music, his

drew round him hundreds

only of Gakula, not only of his

and wide.

41

heavenly

city itself,

to love him,

bliss

boys and

to adore him,

which he was freely

all.

Then he organised a grand moon-light

ball,"^

not in the orchards and gardens of Gakula, but in

the magnificent parks of

Brindabana

recreation and amusements,

itself,

the place of

the pleasure gardens,

The day fixed was the full moon of

autumn, t when the moon shines in all her glory; the

of the great city.

time the moon-lit night,

the place the Brindabana,

watered by the silvery

Ya?nund, and beautified by

flowery plants and many-coloured

folllage.

In this

ever charming place the grand RashaX was held;

the lovely

maidens

best attire and

every

This

of

bedecked with

occasion

is

all

the

also observed as a great

Brindabana

year.

is

all

the neighbourhood, in their

held

to

be a

flowers and

religious festival

celebrated

place

of

pilgrimage on account of Krishna's holding his celebrated dance at

this place.

t
the

It is

month
X

the

full

moon day

of

Agrahdun and generally

of October.

Rdsha

leterally

means

a dance.

falls

in

TALES OF IND.

42

perfumes, came and joined In this grand dance.

Poets have failed adequately to describe

ficent affair,

it is

Great

magni-

this

better for us not to attempt a thing,

undone by greater personages.^

left

[5]
Krishna's kingdom

milkmen
and

and

boys

only

great

and woman.

All

the

nay the people

of all castes

sacrificed themselves at the

altar of his

of his

creeds,

did not consist of

of love

child

girls,

own

In

love.

clan,

fact

surrender to him

in

they
all

made an unconditional

matters;

love

rose

above

the ties of relation, above the rules of social etiquette,

and above every other worldly consideration. The old

and the young, nay even the venerable Patriarchs,

bowed
as

at his feet

thier

We

Bhdgabata,

Rddhd

they honoured and respected him

leader and

chief.

must mention here that

it

is

all

the maidens one

loved him most and Krishna too loved

of

Krishna's love spreading to

all

Rddhd

is

suffice

many Purdnas,

in

mentioned that out of

Bhdgabata no mention

in

would

It

made

if

except

named

her the best.

;

in fact there

equally and impartially,

we

we

But
find

he having

not the least preference for any special girl or woman.

It is

said

Rddhd was his maternal aunt and the wife of one Aydna.
There are many anecdotes in connection with Rddhd's love for
Krishna. At the present time Krishna is worshipped along with
that

Rddhdy and she

is

to

be found by his side

in

every temple.

SRIKRISHNA.

mention only one event

it

his influence over the people

He

preached

43

prove the extent of

will

whom

amongst

thoroughly

new

he

lived.

religion,

thoroughly novel and thoroughly subversive

religion

of all their cherished beliefs

against

the

and

time-honoured

He preached

faiths.

ancient

But so great was their

advocated Nature-worship.

love for him,that they submitted to him, though a

boy, even

and

religion

for the future welfare

of their

souls;

mere

they

trampled down their old religion and followed him

to

They accompanied

do things, novel and new.

him

Gobardhana, there

to the hill

We
house

need not say that such doings do not remain

The name

hidden.

to worship Nature."^

of

Krishna passed from house

to

deeds became the general topics of

his great

spread all over the kingdom

King Kansa was alarmed though he
kill Krishna more than once, and sent

conversation; his fame

of

Muttra.

attempted to

emissaries for the purpose yet he

did

when Krishna with

said that

It is

both male and female went to worship

not take him

But now he grew

to be a very dangerous personage.

his clan

and

Gobardhana,

his followers

God Indra

took offence; for the Gakula people openly gave up the worship of

gods and godesses.

for

this deluge
finger.

Hill

He

ordered raining, and

seven nights and seven days.

by raising up the

All

the people rested

it

rained in torrents

Krishna saved

hill

which

under

it

his people

he kept on

his

from
little

and were thus saved.

Gobardhana stands about 30 miles from Muttra.

TALES OF IND.

44

and

alarmed;

really

his

alarm was

hundred-fold

son of

when he heard that Krishna was not the

Nanda, but that of Vasudeva, the very boy

to kill

whom

increased

he had killed innumerable children.

anger knew no bounds

His

but he controlled himself, for

he knew that Krish^ia had become an idol of worship

to

all

An open

the people of Muttra.

kill

him now meant a general revolt

He

also feared that his soldiers

would not

Krishna, but would go over to

determined to
great

kill

Krishna

loved

King Kansa
him

with

many
''

called

all

my

and

him

to

honour

and

whom
his

court

am

therefore

him with

He

received

upon

bestowed

should at once
of

my

great

him

is

him

he,

the son of
to

remain

come and

live

house should

Krishna loves you much and

have resolved to send you to him to bring

all

told that

honour to

might henceforth assume

Akrur went
there

he

loved.

and virtuous Akrur^^ said

Muttra, as a prince

live.

this

Muttra

in

Krishna

should no longer allow

as a milkman's boy.
in

named Akrur

presents. ''Good

sister.

So he

Any how

have been informed that Krishna

with

fight

side.

of removing.

There was a man

who

his

him treacherously.

enemy he thought

attempt to

of all his subjects.

to

my
his

royal court, so that he

own

exalted position."

Gakula with the royal message

was joy and lamentation

all

over the beautiful

SRIKRISHNA.

45

village,joy for Krishna's elevation and lamentation

his

for

But he consoled them

departure.

gave

all,

them hopes that he would soon return and went to

Muttra in Akrur's chariot."^

The

king

received

in all

for various

One

of

these

he

pomp and grandeur he made

welcomed him
arrangements
tion.

him most graciously

;

amusements

was a

for his recep-

pugilistic fight, in

which

Krishna was asked to join. The king privately gave

instruction to kill him on the spot, but Krishna soon
learnt his

nefarious intention,

the assembled people

understood the king's evil intention and rose in

also

a body.

Krishna

easily killed the

murderous

pugilists

and

then he attacked the wicked king and killed him on

the spot.

There were great uproars and confusions

and amidst the general acclamation he was placed

on the throne of Muttra with the unanimous consent
of the people.

[6]

We
He

now come

has forgotten

to the second period of his life.f

all his

early boyish pranks

turned a grave statesman

*

This occasion

The

full of

first

is

also observed as a religious festival,

period of Krishna's

worldliness.

and has

he has become a powerful

life

is full

of love, the

second

TALES OF IND.

46

and able
mates,

nay even

When

his

told his

all

has forgotten his loving play-

maidens,

lovely

they

back to

He

ruler.

his

his

obedient

mother Yashoda and father Nanda.

came

to his royal palace

his old haunts,

Presume not that

'

of

love-making were gone

the

days

merry-making and amusing were over

Krishna had much to do in the field

whole of India had been torn by
rulers

Harrv

am the thing was,

my former-self."

have turned away

The days
of playing,

take him

to

he told them as prince

boon companions.

sions

adorers,

tyrants

had become

all

of politics.

internal

dissen-

powerful and merciful

The people had

had disappeared.

The

fled into the

deepest forest to save themselvs from the oppressions

of

he

When Krishna

wicked men.

the throne

thought

of

he

found himself on

Muttra he saw all

could do much

this in a

to

oppressed and bestow peace and happiness

India.

He had become

all

under

the

standard

all

all

a ruler of a province,

he could be the ruler of

his

glance

India too

He

why,

contending factions

if

over

could bring

could chastise the tyrants and help the good.

he found he had enough works to do,

the

protect

he

Indeed

he wanted to

extend and spread a kingdom of love and happiness

all

over the country.

was not a Gakula

to

The
do

vast continent of India

in this vast

empire what he

SRIKRISHNA,

own country

did in his

state-craft,

47

required unknowable

village,

and unsurpassing Intelligence

in short

he

required a great head and a broad heart.

Both those things he possessed.

character was so sudden that

aback.

When

his

was no longer

his life at

Gakula had ended,

and

their loving play-mate

He asked them

and sovereign.

leader, but their king

to

His change of

the people were taken

play-mates came to his royal court,

he told them gravely that

that he

all

go back and try to amuse the Gakula maidens by

doing what he used to do.

hearted maidens

them

told

him and

to
try

came

When

go back

most seriously

he requested them to forget

be happy without him.

to

bereaved mother Yashoda with

appeared

weeping the broken-

to his door, he

at his court,

Nanda and

and

their present

as

clan

of

king,

the

great

sovereign

chief.

There were lamentations

there

the

his

his

he asked them to consider him

no longer their son, but as a prince

Yadu dynasty and

When

was joy

all

all

over Gakula^

over the kingdom of Muttra.

but
Both

lamentation and the joy arose out of the great

love that the people

The people

bore for him.

Gakula could not bear

his

absence

Muttra

rejoiced,

had

last

at

because

become

their

would they be

able to live without seeing him often

of

The people

of

Krishna

their

beloved

ruler

and king.

The

TALES OF

48

and hard-hearted tyrant Kansa was

cruel

the

IND.

great

sovereign

killed

and

and the good Krishna had become

their

what could be

more welcome than

We

now

this

there in

him consolidating

find

wide world

the

order to secure powerful

allies,

his

kingdom.

In

he had married more

than one royal princess. First he married Kubjd, then

Rukmini^ then Shatyahhamd and

He had

royal parents.

others,

all

born of

increased his army and raised

up a great and most powerful contingent out of the

He had made
strong and brave milkmen of Cakula.
invincibh-

and secure.

qualified to interfere
in

the limit of his

own

In order to

and meddle

make

himself more

w^ith foreign politics,

extend his power and influence beyond

order to

for its

without which no ruler could be

happy,

subjects

his

own kingdom, without being anxious

safety

and

security, he

to Divdrakd, a city in Gujrat,

removed

his capital

situated on the

shore

of the blue ocean.

[7.

A FEW

years after

above the heads

managed
find

him

of

all.

we

find

We

need not mention how he

his

figure

tow^ering

to raise himself up to this lofty height.

at this period a

to be desired,

whose favours were

whose smiles were

to

We

man, whose friendship was

to

be prayed for

be looked after and whose

SRIKRISHNA.

frowns were to be feared.

49

Great potentates and

do him

powerful chiefs vied with one another to

man
we speak of other chiefs and
great Kurus and Pdndus, who

Unquestionably he had become the

honour.

Why

of India.

potentates

should

Even

the

first

were the most powerful, nay the de facto Imperial

Dynasty of India, had fully submitted to his leader-

They considered themselves honoured

ship.

friendship

his

and favour.

of this great dynasty, the

and statesman
be

to

an

to the island

Bhtshma, the Patriarch

acknowledged

of the period,

first

warrior

had acknowledged him

God and adored and

From the hoary Himalaya
from Dwdrakd to KdmdkshaX he

incarnation

worshipped him as

get

to

of

such."^

city ;t

had become the Ruler

of all

hand both the keys

of

rulers.

He

held

his

in

Indian politics and religion.

His great intelligence was admired and submitted to

his great love

The

internal dissensions, that

country from

one corner

settled

up by him

forced

to

be

were rending the

to the other,

had been

the tyrants had been chastised

merciful

Read the
It

This city

misery

Battle of Kurukshetra.

refers to

Lanka, the ancient capital of Ceylon.

Monkey War.
X

all

and

peace and prosperity had

appeared where there were bloodshed and

was adored and worshipped.

still

exists

it is

near Gowhatti

in

Assana.

Read

TALES OF IND.

50

And

this

all

he

did,

not

by any physical

force,

not by issuing forth with arms and ammunitions, with

infantry and cavalry, with horses

fought a battle

he managed

and elephants, but

Hardly ever he himself

by simple statesmanship.

all

this

through his

great intelligence and magnificent state-craft.

The people
vicious

of India

had become very wicked and

they had been spoiled without any hope of

redemption or reformation.

good had
in

misery and woe.

these

men from

The

virtuous and the

into the jungle or

retired

had been living

Krishna resolved

to exterminate

the face of the earth and thus to save

India from future miseries and oppressions.

Amongst
there

these, there

was none

so

were two, equal

These were the

bad or wicked.

kings Jarasandha and Shishupala.

whom

to

He

himself killed

the latter

and the former was killed by the

Pandu

Princes.

Thus

wicked

tyrants

one

after

another

all

with their bad followers and subjects were

exterminated from the face of the earth.

the

works

of

Krishna had not been

But

finished.

still

There

were two most wicked and vicious clans still left to

be exterminated. But both of them were very dear

and near to him. One was the great Kuru Dynasty

with its most powerful and extensive retinue, and
the other

was

his

own Yadu dynasty

children and grand children.

with his

own

SRIKRISHNA.

51

The powerful Kurus were exterminated

great battle of Kurukshetra."^

present with

his great

help the poor Pandus^

them

for

It

victorious

the

In

Krishna were not

In the

state-craft,

battle

to

would have been impossible

He

to gain the victory.

Arjuna

friend

If

not only

made

his

by helping him with

his

advice and maklnor

o him do thinors
o which he would
never have done, but he preached to him a religion
in

support of those most unscrupulous advices, based

on very peculiar morals.t

Pdndus

he asked them to

In fact

down every

to trample

brothers, cousins, males, females

To do

and children.

he advised them to adopt every sort of treachery

this

and

to take recourse to every sort of subterfuges

His

falsehood.

life,

that his sole

It

was evident

aim and only aim was to exterminate

from the earth

*

and

from the day he ascended the

throne of Muttra, was a moral mystery.

we

moral virtues;

preceptors, brahmins

parents,

kill

Krishna asked the

sort of

As we have

shall not repeat

the

all

vicious and the wicked.

It

written the history of this battle in another tale,

it

here.

We

refer our readers for the particulars

to that tale.

We

should ask our readers to

seeing the battle

have to

kill

preceptor,
friend

his

field,

declined to fight

uncle,

read

as

Gita,.

who was more than

who was a Brahynin and

his dear

When Arjuna

he thought

he would

a father to him, his

and near

relative

Krishna gave him some instructions and preached

some moral

doctrines.

The

Gitd contains these instructions.

to

and

him

TALES OF

.52

was

clearly

apparent from

IfND.

every work of his

that his sole

aim was to create a new world,

world of

happiness and

love,

life

But he himself

bliss.

appeared to be a man without a heart and without any

feelings

ness

a man who was an incarnation

man

any and every

contradiction

worldlt-

of

who, to serve his purpose, could do

moral

faculties,

He was

thing.

sort of diabolical

of

nay,

he

was a

great mystery.
If

he had disappeared from the world without

explaining his religion and morals, he would have been

taken for one of the worst

men

the field of the great battle

of

his friend

Arjuna

ever born.

But

in

Kurukshetra, when

absolutely declined to

follow

his

peculiar morals, he was forced to explain and support

his novel doctrines with arguments.

so convincing,

And

they were

they were so true and grand, that

thenceforth he was universally adored and worshipped

as the great incarnation of the
religion

in

great book

Gita,

was the grandest book

it

His

now

in

translated into almost

all

European

Scholars and philosophers have unanimously said that

of the world.

our readers to read this book.

of

Being."^

Krishna's philosophy and doctrines were, as we said, explained

the

languages.
it

became

Supreme

the religion of the humanity.

the Appendix.

We

We

should earnestly ask

can give only a brief

summary

SRIKRISHN'A.

53

we have never

In the range of history or fiction

come

He was

and

grand

such a

across

a lover, a thorough w^orldly

Being a milkman's boy he rose

of

India,

the Prophet of

he

man, a great

But

self-agrandisement,

he became

if

of

all rulers,

Philosopher of
all

this

for

these were the results of his

if

ambition,

supernatural

be the greatest

to

became the Ruler

prophets and the

all

philosophers.

all

character.

and statesman, a philosopher and a prophet.

politician

man

great

have commanded very

then

course he would

of

respect from good and

little

sensible men.

But, no,
least

self

selfishness

was not

in

his

him

actions.

happiness and

To

bliss.

had to do many things and had

characters

meant
If

he

there

was not the

As we have

aim was to create a new world

his sole

peace,

in

to

create a

of

said,

love

accomplish this he
to

assume many

world of happiness and

bliss

the extermination of the wicked and the vicious.

spared

of purpose.

relatives,
his own children and
we would have questioned his honesty

his

grand-children,

But,

no,

himself.

He

relatives

and friends

he did spare none, not even

exterminated the Kurus, his very near

great clan with his

he then exterminated his own

own dear

sons and grandsons.

TALES OF IND.

54

He

took them

to

all

the

great pilgrimage

Pravdsha. There was great joy and mirth

The Pravdsha was a

in

of

Dwdrakd.

place most holy, most beautiful

Every one

and most enjoyable.

of the clan, every

son and grand-son of Krishna, every prince of the

royal

Yadu

Many

Pravdsha.

made

house,

eatables were taken,

casks of liquor followed

to

himself ready to go to the

innumerable

nothing was there wanting

make the pilgrimage most enjoyable and pleasant.

They all came and encamped in the holy place
performed

they

the

began to percipitate
they drank,

Then they

and fed the Brahmins.

distributed alms

in

they

ceremonies,

religious

merry-making

they played, they danced.

they

ate,

They got

themselves so very drunk that soon they quarrelled

One abused

amongst themselves.
retorted

rose

they fought and one was

rushed to

friends

confusions,

Yadii

to

there

princes

stop

the

own

sons

was

all

all

sides as so

appealed

in the fray

there

When

There

to,

were

he

his

great

around

many

the

leaves of

was asked

fued and the bloody carnage.

and grandsons.

exterminated

Krishna.

on

family

But he too joined

rescue.

his

was bloodshed

fell

Krishna

trees.

His friends

body and attacked the murderer,

in

another, the other

killed.

was

there

and began to

kill

his

Soon the whole clan was

none

left

was none

to

alive
kill,

except

Krishna,

SRIKRISHNA.

coolly took a view of the

55

bloody

and moved

field

away."^

Then

asked

he

had happened.

charioteer

his

Hastindpura and inform

his

him,"

'Tell

said

go

to

to

Arjuna what

friend

"that

he,

the

all

Ask him in my name to hasten to

the widowed Yadu princesses are
left
unprotected.
Tell him to
take
them to
Hastindpura and give them protection."
It was evident that he had no mind to return
Yadus

are dead.

Dwdraka, where

to

his

Perhaps he thought

capital.

was gone

He

slowly

that

was dear and near

There

his occupation

perhaps he thought his work was done.

moved away and

is

an anecdote

to

in

left

him

the place where

all

fell.

connection with this extermination

Yadu Dynasty. The Yadus grew so very wicked and vicious, that
once when they saw a great Rishi^ they determined to cut jokes at
him. One of them assumed the garb of a female and the wicked
of

Yadu boys took

him
took

to

the disguised prince to the

say what child

offence

their

for

wicked boys, there

the

will

be

girl

would give

out

The

Rishi

and

said,

"Oh

one an iron rod,

of this

The Yadus were

which would be the death of your vicious clan."

alarmed, they went to Krishna and asked

his

them

it

to

gradually
do.

take the iron rod to Pravdsha, rub

annihilate

But out

Pravdsha.

of the

When

it.

They

did

broken pieces of

as

the Yadus were fighting

advice.

He

told

on a stone and thus

they

this rod

They asked

birth.

behaviour

irreligious

born

Rishi.

were asked to

grew long grasses

in

amongst themselves,

TALES OF

56

He came
asleep ;^

to

sat

tree,

soon there

IND.

under

It

and

fell

appeared a hunter, who saw

his reclining figure

from a distance through the thick

leaves of the tree.

He

aim and

There

deep forest under the green leaves

in the

man

of the tree the greatest

wounded
uncared
to

The man, whose

for.

signal for

of the

he breathed his

there

the

all

mistook him for a game, took

shot.

age was mortally

unknown and
was sun-shine

last

smile

good and whose frowns were the death-

Mathurd, not

of

not of Dwdraka,

wicked,

the

all

Hastindpura, but

one corner to the other,

died

of

in the

all

not of

India from

same obscurity

from which he rose.

Krishna suggested to them

became thunder
*

state

It is

in

said

that

It is

annihilation

this

of

They

use this grass as weapons.

sleep

of

all

his

Krishna was Fo^a-sleep

his soul, joins

impossible for a

said to have fallen asleep.

mystery.

to

hands and destroyed the whole clan.

which a man, or rather

Great Sotd.
total

in their

man

to fall asleep just after the

sons and grandsons

Every part

and mixes with the

of

his

but Krishna

wonderful

life is

is

THE MONKEY iR.

[1]

YN
Jt

the

modern province

of

Oudh

there

was

in

ancient time a powerful kingdom, called ^jj'^^^/a.

was beautiful and fertile, watered by many rivers

and rivulets Its people were happy and rich, ruled
It

by the benign Solar Princes.

Of

all

the kings of the great Solar Dynasty, Raja

Dagaratha was the mightiest and the

Invincible

in

arms and unequalled

best.
in

people of Ayodhya wxre very happy to

kind sw-ay

He was

alms.

live

The

under his

but the king himself was not happy.

He

had three good wives, named Kaugalyd, Kaikeyi and

Sumitrdj but none of them gave birth to a prince,

TALES OF IND.

58

who
and

could ascend the throne of the great kingdom

rule the people, as only the

how

knew

Solar princes

The people prayed and

to do.

the king offered

time wore on and no prince

sacrifices to the gods, but

was born

Once on a time king Dagaratha went out ahe saw a stag, put spurs to his horse and
pursued him. Soon his escorts were left behind and

hunting

he

disappeared

the

into

deep

He

forest.

found himself unattended and alone, the

He advanced and

disappeared from his view.

a beautiful rivulet gliding fast

the stag

am

voice of a boy
;

killed
;

!"

found

he thought he saw

was uttered by the

the king

faltering

was surprised and bewilder-

he ran to the place from which the piteous cry

What was

arose.

deadly arrow had

boy

last

he aimed and shot.

''Oh,

ed

at

stao; havins:

He

his horror

pierced

when he found

the

heart

that his

a beautiful

of

took up the boy on his lap

he tried to

bind up the wound, from which hot blood was flowing

like

water

boy, but

all

he tried a hundred means to save the

was

The boy

to

no

effect.

slowly raised up his head and said,

parents are blind and

old.

They

yesterday and they are thirsty.

this pitcher of

water to them and

beloved Sindhu

is

no more."

are

Oh
tell

fasting

Sir,

"My
from

kindly take

them that

their

THE MONKEY WAR.

the corpse of the poor boy

The king took up

he took the pitcher

Rishis
were

59

water and went to the old

of

His heart was palpitating and his steps

hut.

faltering,

but

what was

his

agony when he

heard the blind parents talking of their absent

boy

said the poor mother,

'Where is my Sindhu
"He never loiters anywhere." The old and blind
?"

father raised

my

up

voice and

his feeble

^^SindJm,

said,

come quick I am very thirsty."

The king gathered strength and approached

darling boy,

He

bereaved parents.

was

to explain that

it

man,"

the

cried

bereavement

broke the sad news and tried

all

an accident.
Rishi,

old

your son

of

the

"Die,

''Oh,

die

wicked

and know what

They both died and went

to the place

the

for

Is."

it

where

their

beloved Sindhu had preceded them.

The king returned home, not very much worse

for

the sad

mourn.

occurrence, for he had no son to lose or

few months

enemy and was

was carried

to

mortally
his

after,

wounded

palace

nursed by his second

he went out to fight an

wife

in the

He

battle.

and was most tenderly

Kaikeyt.

He was

so

pleased with her that he pressed her to ask for two

favours,

which he promised to grant

lord," said she, "I

anything
promise."

in

future,

shall

"No,

her.

have no wants now.

remind you

If

of

my

want

your kind

TALES OF

6o

IND,

None gave any importance to these two

incidents when they occured, but they produced
and memorable events many years after,

[2
Soon
all

all

great

after the king's recovery

over the kingdom that

little

was rumoured

it

the three queens were in

Some months passed and Kaugalya

gave birth to a boy who was named Rama. Then
Kaikeyi gave birth to a son who was named Bharata.

the family-way.

The youngest queen gave birth to a twin and the boys

were named Lakshmana and Satriighna.
As the boys grew up, Lakshmana was greatly
attached to Rama, and Satrughna to Bharata.

They were brought up

befitting their

in

all

rank and station

the

accomplishments

in life.

When Rama

was about sixteen years of age,

great Rishi Vigwamitra came to Ayodhya and asked
the king to allow him to take

Now

Rakshasas.

Ravana was

Rama

to fight with the

Rdkshasas were

their great king.

wild

race

His seat was at Lanka

Ceylon, but he was a most powerful king with

immense wealth and innumerable soldiers. In fact
in

he subdued
far as

and

the

his

all

the kings and potentates of India as

Himalayas.

His power was

oppressions were unbearable

irresistible

he placed his

THE MONKEY WAR.

6l

relatives all over the country with instructions to rob

and

the people

The

the Brahmins.

kill

uncle

king Rava7ia named Ka'nemi,

of

with his wild Sister Tdrakd, was placed near the holy

where Rishi Vi^waniitra had

place

Their

his seat.

oppressions becoming unbearable, the venerable Rishi

repaired

Rama was
father

his

Ayodhyd

to

and

asked

only sixteen years of age, but he entreated

allow him to go with the Rishi, so that

to

he might protect the Brahmins

Dagaratha

gave

Rama

Ayodhyd

left

protection.

for

permission

from trouble.
with

reluctance

accompanied by

King
and

beloved

his

brother Lakshfnana.

They came
furious

and

a great forest, where the most

to

terrible

Tdrakd used

as the Prince challenged the

rushed forward to

kill

him

to

live.

Rdkshashee

but

Rama

As soon

to fight, she

soon killed the

demoness and her brother fled away for his life.

The Rishis gathered round the scions of the Solar
Dynasty and blessed them for their great deeds.
Thence they repaired to a place called Mithild,
the kingdom of king Janalza.
He had made a vow

fell

that

whoever would be able

to

by ParasiD'dma,^ would marry

*

break the bow,

left

his beautiful daughter,

Parasiirama was the great Brahmin who became a very

powerful

warrior.

When

the

Brahmin Parasurdma took arms

Kshatryas

became

to chastise them.

very vicious,
It

is

said that

TALES OF IND.

62

named

Sitd.

breaking
hero

Many

it.

came

princes

but none could

damsel,

the

raise

secure

to

bow,

Rishi Vigwdmitra was proud

what

of his

the
of

young

he took him to the palace of the king and

asked him to secure the Princess.

bow amidst

the

acclamations of

Rama

broke the

the

people of

all

Mithild.

King Janaka received the princes in all honour

he sent ambassadors to Ayodhyd to apprize the old
king of his son's glorious feat and to invite him to
come to Mithild to celebrate the nuptials. King
Dagaratha came with

his generals

all

and

and

Rdma

There were great

festivities

his three brothers

marrying the three

ministers.

married Sitd,
sisters

of the

young Princess.

[3]
As Rdma grew up
govern

the

people,

the

king allowed him to

so that he might gradually learn

the art of Government.

all

the

His rule was so benign that

people grew enamoured of him

give their lives

for

him,

if

he

so

they could

willed.

King

he exterminated the Kshatryas twenty-one times from the face of

the earth.

He was

a terror to

be an incarnation of Shiva.

all

Kshatryas and was supposed to

THE MONKEY WAR,

Dagaratha was much pleased

had thus acquired

son

63

fame his

the

see

to

he ordered

it

to be declared

that Rama would be made

Jubardj^ and the king would retire, leaving the
Government in his hand. Oh, the joy of Ayodhyd
There were festivities in every town, illuminations

over

all

kingdom

the

every village and bonfires on every house top.

in

There were music and songs there were distributions

;

alms and celebrations of pujdhs.

of

and one ways the people expressed

thousand

In

their joy

the

for

happy news.
But alas

there

was a very wicked maid-servant,

named hunch-back Manthard, attached

hold of queen Kaikeyi.

She went

house

to the

and

to her mistress

plied her with evil advices. ''Oh queen," said she,

Rama

becomes

Bharata^s fate

Who could
will
If

king,
?

No

what

will

better than that of beggars

ever love the son of a step-mother

imprison him, banish him or perhaps

you now

weep

till

lose

**If

be your and your

Rama
him

kill

the opportunity, you shall have to

Kaikeyi was moved, she began to

death."

be convinced of the truth of her words

agreed to accept her

asked the queen,

evil advices.

"to

she finally

'What can

avert this great evil ?"

do,"

"Do

you not remember," replied the wicked woman, "the

*

yw^crdy

is

the heir- apparent.

64

TALES OF IND.

king promised to grant you two favours

Ask by

one to place Bharata on the throne and by another

Rama for fourteen years."

When the old king came to see

to banish

found her weeping and lying on the

her up

at

the cause

The

gave vent to her pent-up feelings.

last

poor old king heard

in silence the cold

words

his

queen

of the

swam.

he

raised

Being repeatedly pressed by the king,

of her grief.

she

He

know

he consoled her and tried to

queen,

his

floor.

''Oh Rdma^^

and piercing

head reeled and

he cried and

fell

eyes

his

on the

flat

ground.

Soon the sad news got wind

house to house

till

poorest peasant.

it

All

it

spread from

reached the cottage of the

were stopped

festivities

the

know the final

Rama came to learn

people silently and eagerly tried to

As soon

orders of the king.

cause

the

of

his

demand, he went
lea.ve

Ayodhya.

cannot

worth
it

as

fulfill

for

much

his

as

father's grief

to

and

him and asked

his step-mother's

"Father," said the Prince,

father's

promise,

what

utter

at

as

your

a word.

make your

"if

a son

his

is

life

Let Bharata have the throne, he deserves

I.

shall

pass

fourteen

asceticism at the expiration of which

and bow

permission to

his

feet."

"My

father

The poor

years

shall

in

return

old king could not

dear boy," said Kaikeyiy "Don't

false to his

words.

Go,

leave

THE MONKEY WAR.

AyodhydP

''My mother," replied Rama^

Bless me, so that

fulfill

my

might have strength enough

out and told his

companion, Lakshmana^

Lakshmana^^

all

to

had happened.

that

my

rushed out of his eyes,

countenance.

brother Bharata take

Rama

smiled

mother

is

him and make you

and

Remain

here,

be

Lakshmana

fell

to

take

him as

"Do

not leave

was moved, he agreed

mother
as

to

you

wept

companion.

his

me

behind."

allow the young

accompany him.

prince to

his

to

at his brother's feet,

he,

me

our father's

them

love

"Dear brother," said

We

Bharata's

fulfill

and entreated him

Rdmd

If

part,

on the throne."

obedient
;

we

as beloved to

must leave Ayodhya to

Kaikeyi and brother Bharata

love me."

Is

on his

Injustice

^^Lakshmana,

Bharata

our mother.
I

promise.

said,

sit

tears

should

wicked mother's

his

Itself

"Why

do such an

allow a step-mother to

fight with

his feelings

cried he,

in

But the

poor mother."

anger displayed

"Brother,"

''My

"Remain

prince,

young prince could not suppress

as you.

to

beloved brother and

the

said

Ayodhya and be a son

shall

must go.

*'I

father's promise."

He came
dear

65

need not describe the meeting

poor mother.

Oh,

how happy had

now

minute before and how miserable

her adieu

In

tears

of

amidst

the

loud

Rama

with

she been
!

He bade

lamentations

66

TALES OF

women

of all the

of

the

IND.

He

palace..

in

no shadow of sorrow floating over her

her eyes,

"My

beautiful countenance'.

ready

wife

is

"My

darling,"

born

in

to

me

you

Remain

said',

"You

paramouTit

duty

is

How

could

that

wife's

She was determined

to

woe.

in

to

wo'nt hear any refusal."

her

follow

would not mind any obstruction.

to

and

cannot,, stand

Sita stopped him' and

you say otherwise now

and

go."

an ascetic.

of

follow her husband in weal or

yield

would
are bred

you

Rama, "You

comforts and luxuries

Ayodhya!^

taught

Lord," said she, "Your

wherever

go

replied

the fatigues and difficulties

in

proceeded

then

There were no tears

to bid farewell to his dear wife.

husband and

So Mama had

to

promise to allow her to follow him.

They took

off their royal

the garb of ascetics.

costumes,

and put on

Thousands and thousands

people had assembled at

the

palace-gate

to

of

see

them, to weep for them and to prevent them from

going,

if

possible.

them, bade them

Rama
all

comforted them, assuaged

loving and endearing farewells.

He came

out with his beloved brother and

and the

city

ascetic garb.

and entered

dear wife

Ayodhya wept aloud to see them in

They passed through the weeping mass
of

into the nearest jungle.

THE MONKEY WAR,

67

[4]
The
shock

poor king Dagaratha could not survive the

he died as he fainted, never again uttering a

Bharata was not

word.

Ayodhya when
As soon as he

at

sad occurrences happened.

news,

the sad

news

learnt of

father's death

of his

banishment,

brother's

his

of

the

these

all

he

and

hastened to the

capital.

He

did not

hesitate

speak to

his

mother

express his strong

to

He

wicked behaviour.

the

to

for her

displeasure

performed

ceremony and repaired

he did not

his father's funeral

jungle in search of

his brothers.

They met
his brother's

Ayodhya.
go,

they met

feet

to

''Dear brother,'^ said he,

Rama,

not be

"If

go back, our

fulfilled

and govern Ayodhya

after

you are bound

to

my

to

name.

shall

my

Give

return

You know,

advice.

"I

am

won't

sit

obey your elder brother."

obey you," said Bharata, "but

on the throne.

Go back

this ?

and assume the Government.

follow

to

promise

father's

could we do

in

fourteen years

entreat you

bound

to

you do not

''If

Lakshmana or send Satrughita^ allow

accompany you."
"My beloved brother,"

to

replied
will

at

fell

come back

send

me

Bharata

in tears.

and entreated him

me

your shoes

shall place

TALES OF IND.

68

them there and they would be your emblem and

be your representative."

shall

So
left

was done.

this

returned to
wife

Ayodhya

Bharata and

Ra?ita with

the forest and proceeded

many

holy places.

great

Rishts

They came

and by

Satriighna
brother and

his

southward visiting

to the seats of

request drove

their

many

away the

Rdkshasas from various places.

They

at last

came

to a forest, called Panchabati,

Goddvan\
it was
was enchanted with its silvan scenery
Nature's
in
this
sometime
pass
to
arranged
panorama of rivers and trees, foliage and flowers.

a beautiful place watered by the river

St'td

Huts were made on the bank

They

of a flowery grove.

of the river

by the side

lived very

happily for

months amongst singing birds and loving beasts.

Here In this forest Surpanakhd, the sister
king Rdvana used to

named Khara and Dushana.

to see

Rdnia

offered
insolent,
off

to

she at once

marry him.

when

of

with two great Rdkshasas,

live

She one day happened

fell

in love

with him

She gradually

at his brother's

order

and

grew very

Lakshmana

cut

her nose and sent her reeling and bleeding to her

Her piteous cries filled the forest with

melancholy echo
then came Khara and Dushana

wild abode.

in

wild

fury

to

punish the princes for the great

indignity done to the

sister

of

the

Rdkshasa

king.

THE MONKEY WAR.

Edma
were

went out and gare them

killed

and Surpanakhd

69

battle.

Soon they
island

the

to

fled

city.

There she narrated before her great brother

had

that

wept

She

happened.

and

Rdvana had heard from

vengeance.

all

prayed for

various

sources

the deeds of Rd?na and the defeats and retreats of the

Rdkshasas

but he did not

think the

matter so

He

important as to require his personal interference.

heard much of Sitd's beauty

should

thought, he

Ayodhyd were.

princes of

and

He

what

see

He

he was tempted,

of

sort

he

beings these

held a private council

decided to bring Sitd to his golden

finally

city.

took with him his uncle Mdricha and started for

the beautiful forest of Panchabati.

The Rdkshasas were great adepts in magic they

do many wonderful things and assume every
possible shape at their will. Mdricha took the shape of
;

could

a golden deer and went frolicking before the cottage

of the

Royal

catch

it

Sitd asked her husband to

and Rdnia took up

He came

to the deer, but he

his

it

from place to place,

far off his cottage.

he aimed and shot

Rdkshasa

fell

He
at

dead crying,

arrows.

till

when

it,

he
in

it

came very

pursuing
the

He

from him.

fled

got tired
it,

bow and

could not catch

and played and then

frolicked

pursued

ascetics.

it

disguised

^'Oh Laksh7nana,

come

TALES OF IND.

yo

and

re-echoed

The

The

me."

help

filled

till it

piercing

the whole forest.

plaintive cry reached Sild's ear

and asked Lakshmana

move.

for

him

to

''My Lady," said he,

he

Rdkshasas.

she started
to the help

It is all

"Do

not be anxious

This forest

invincible.

is

go immedltately

But the young prince refused

husband.

of her dear

to

and

echoed

cry

their doing.

of

full

is

cannot leave you

alone."

Sitd

lost

her good sense in the apprehension for

dear husband

lier

"You intend

she,

and wife

me

she got angry and began to abuse

"Oh you wicked youngman,"

poor Lakshmana.

to rob your brother of his

He

protect you."

alone.

remain quietly
took up his

No
disguise

false

in

the

to

hut

of

God

not to blame.

come out
till

of

but to

it,

they would return.

bow and arrows and hastened away.

sooner he was gone,

and asked
little,

am

then drew a circle round the hut

and requested her not

He

kingdom

"Mother," replied the prince, "You force

!"

leave you

to

cried

than Rdva?ta

an ascetic came to

for alms.

Si'td

requested him

saying that her husband was

to

wait a

But the

for the slight

and
sin

an ascetic to go away from

to a

Hindu than

his

door disappointed and

to allow

out.

There was no greater

Rishi appeared to be angry

threatened to go away.

the

in

the door of the hut

displeased.

Sitd

came

THE MONKEY WAR.

out and went to the jR is ki to give him alms.

Oh how

she wept

much

she

blamed

cruel king to
iiis

feet

Oh

her go

let

and asked

struggled

";

mercy, but

for

how

away Lakshmana

all in

vain.

deep depth of the

the

in

she

how much she entreated the

how many times she fell at

Here

how

herself for driving

from the cottage.

But she

and dragged away.

was immediately seized

Rdma

forest

grew very anxious when he heard the dying cry

His heart told him that

the disguised Rdkshasa.

foreboded some great

evil

apprehended that

young brother might come

his

his help, leaving Sitd

all

to

alone.

He

hastened towards the cottage.

met

his

brother

in the

way.

no time, but

dear brother,"

''Oh,

Ramay

can

do," replied he, '^She forced

to

But as he feared, he

cried

''You have left

lost

it

He

dear wife.

his

of

Siid

alone ?"

me

to

''What

come

to

your

help."

They then
as

ran

Rama came

they could.

and

cried, "Siid,

me

from

my

quiet and

still.

was no Sitd

towards

cottage,

panting

to

come out and

None answered,

They rushed
be found.

into

as

the

dear Slid,

anxiety."

to

the

fast

door

relieve
all

was

the hut, but there

They hastened

to

the

TALES OF IND.

72

bank

of the

river

they ran to the flowery grove

they searched every creek and corner,

was no Sita

to be found.

the

All

but

there

was

filled

forest

with the heart-rending lamentations of the bereaved

husband.
Sitd threw her ornaments

they would

been

tell

and went

They saw

search

in

her

of

way, hoping

the

the direction she had

her husband

away.

carried

all

and on they

They

went and no Sitd could be found.

came

an

to

I
I
I

am

who

a friend of your father

at last

mortally

he could

if

"You do

dying hero,

the

been

had

Sita had gone away.

their

replied

hero,

They asked him

wounded."^

where

old

ornaments

these

but on

tell

"My

dear boys,"

not

know me,

my name

Is

Jatdyu.

saw the wicked Havana taking away your

fought

defeated

but

them

wife.

am now old. He has

me and gone away." He died, the princes
with him,

placed him

southward

on
in

the

pyre

funeral

search

of

the

and

great

proceeded

city

of

the

Mdkskasas.

They

at

last

came

to a

hill,

where they saw

five

big monkeyst of the species that inhabited the great

*

Vishnu
t

Jatayu was a very big

bird,

brother of

Gamra, whom

rides.

In the

Ramayana

these

monkeys are described as human

beings except that they were monkeys in shape.

THE MONKEY WAR.

73

They were all rational

kingdom of Kishkindhd.
human beings and perhaps more powerful than men.
Rama came to them and asked them "Can you tell me
who has taken away my wife ?" ''Yes/' said one of
them, "We have seen the wicked king of Lanka
she might be your wife.
taking away a beautiful girl
But who are you ? From which place are you
;

coming

?"

Lakshmana
sad

fate.

Sugrtva,

miserable

as

brother

the

My name

Kishkindhd.

you

of
is

are.

Vdli,

all

about their

and

unhappy"

There

sits

Hanumd^t,

in regaining the

king

the great king of

I

am one

King Vdli has banished us

his attendants.

you help us
in

are

the monkey," as

replied

you

monkey -hero

told the

"We

all.

of
If

kingdom, we can help

regaining the Princess."

There on the top

friendship

was taken.

of the

Rdma

hill

pledge

the

promised to

and place Sugriva on the throne

of

kill

of

Vdli

Kishkindhd-

Sugriva promised to march out with

his monkeyarmy and recover Sitd from the city of Lankd.

Poor Vdli was soon killed and Sugriva ascended

the throne.
quarters

of

He
the

sent

his

Sitd had been kept hidden.

the

four

Hanurndn went to the

jumped across the sea and entered the golden
of Lankd.
He found the city unequalled in

south,
city

emissaries to

globe to find out the place where

TALES OF IND.

74

beauty,

magnificence and

in

and

Rakshasa-dirmy

great

and hundreds

countless chariots,
disguise

in

when

struck

him,

free

with the

He began

was soon

caucrht

When
hide the

am

''I

facts.

who he

order to

help

He

is

Rama^ who

was,

he did not
said

is

coming

sort of a city

that king Sugriva might teach

Rdvana

got very angry

execution

of

to

Lanka

never to be

monkey

killed.

to

it,

in

have

you possess, so

you a lesson."
he would have ordered
but

Hanui7idn,

prevented him from doing

the

he,

the most powerful king

Ayodhyci and whose wnfe you have stolen.

been sent to see what

the

rather

so he

kincr.

wicked king,"

^'Oh

the

an ambassador from the court of the great

king of Kishkindha.

of

himself

Rakshasas

of the

and brought before the

he was asked

real

Agoka.

their city with his

make

to

of

inform

he should

that

properties

garden

back to Kishkindhd,

Rdkshasas that he had honoured

august presence.

He

of elephants.

in the

at the point of returning

it

horses,

over the city and found the

all

weeping Sita kept as prisoner

He was

the

wonderful array of

its

He saw innumerable

arms and ammunitions.

roamed

He saw

in wealth.

for

his

ministers

an ambassador was

But the king ordered the face

of

be burnt and thus disfigured he was to

be sent back to his impudent king.

Hanumdn managed

to

burn half

In the attempt,

of the

golden city

THE MONKEY WAR.

75

he then jumped back to the mainland

thence he

repaired to Kishkindha and told the king the history

of his mission.

[6]
A FEW

days

after,

king Sugn'va marched out

with his monkey-army and came as far as the sea.

They saw

the golden city of

ocean

blue

Lanka

on the

floating

They

a magnificent piece of gem.

like

encamped and king Sugriva ordered his army to

make a bridge over the mighty sea.
Thousands and thousands of monkeys went up
the

hills

and penetrated into the forest

stones and trees, and threw

down
By months'
remnant
the

of

Incessant labour a bridge

which

Is stili

to

them

they brought
into the

sea.

was made, the

be seen and

known

is

as

Adam's Bridge.

The

whole

monkey-army

crossed

encam^ped before the city and beselzed

sides.

Every

precaution

was

taken

the
It

to

sea,

from

all

prevent

the place from being surprized and stormed.

had
King
Ravana
two
Kuinbhakarna and Bibhishana,

brothers,

the

named

former was a

and a monster, the latter was virtuous and

good. He had a son, named Indrajit, who was

giant

unequalled

In

arms and invincible

in

wars.

He had

Innumerable cousins, countless sons, powerful relatives

TALES OF IND.

j6

and able

generals

was none
ness and

his

in

except Bibhishana there

but

Lanka who was not an adept

wicked-

in

sin.

Good and virtuous Bibhishana tried to induce

brother Ravana to give up Sttd and make up the

but he was deaf to all reasons.

In open
when he entreated the king to give her up,
Ravana lost all control over his wild temper he
difference

court

him

and

drove

Bibhishana went

to the

kicked

him

out

town.

the

of

enemy's camp and we need

not say, he was received with open arms.

The great War began

One after another
years.

generals and heroes of the

give

none

but

battle,

Kumbhakarna came,
the

field

of

battle.

was

lasted

great

for

sons

long

ten

and cousins,

king came out to

returned

At

alive.

last

but he too did not return from

golden city of the sea

There

it

the

Sad

fatality

only one

whom

had overtaken the

invincible

and

all-con-

monkey-army could not

Prince Indrajit came out more than once,
defeat.
attacked Rama and his army, defeated him hopeSo long he
lessly and routed his monkey hordes.
was alive, Lanka was safe and the recovery of
quering

hero,

the

Sita was a hopeless task.

friend Bibhishana to

Rama

save him and

appealed to his
his

army from

the deadly attacks of his invincible nephew.

"Dear

THE MONKEY WAR,

said Bibhishana,

friend",
if

he be

in

arms,

77

'-None can

especially

Indrajit

kill

he comes out to battle,

if

performing his Pujd. However, I am at your service

and can do every thing for you. Allow Lakshmana

accompany me;

to

shall

him

take

where Lakshmana would be able

to

place

the

to kill him."

Next day Lakshmana and Bibhishana entered

the

They passed by gate

unrecognised.

city

gate and finally went into the palace of the

They passedjstealthily
engaged
of

in prayer.

He was

Ayodhyd.

enraged
of

the

knew

lion,

city

armless, but he fought like an

They came out

they went

as

disguise,

in

soon attacked by the Prince

he was cut down.

till

prince.

room where the hero was

into the

He was

after

and none

in,

the foul deed they had committed.

great rejoicings

in the

were loud lamentations

The

There were
monkey-camp, but soon there

all

over the beseized

bereaved and enraged

father,

city.

the

great

king of the Rdkshasas, Rdvana came out to exterminate

the

Rama and

earth

or to

his

die

too proud to pray for

There was
evening,

terrible

when

monkeys from the

in the field of battle.

mercy or

of

He was

to negotiate a treaty.

carnage on both sides

the great king

face

fell

till

the

and the Rdkshasas

fled precepitously into their ruined city.

Bibhishana was placed on the throne and Sitd

was brought back

in

pomp.

Sugriva went away to

TALES OF

78

Kishkindhd, but

IND.

Hanuman went

Rama

with

as far

as Ayodhyd.
^

-^f

She lived some

when Rama banished her into a

Poor Sitd was never happy.

years in Ayodhyd,

because his subjects questioned her chastity

jungle,

they thought Sitd must have

been leading a

when she was

Rama

infamy,

Lankd^

at

please his people asked

Lakshmana

in

life

of

order to

away

to take her

from the royal palace and to leave her into a

forest.

This most unjust and cruel step was taken and Sitd

was banished for ever.

When Lakshmayta
was some months with
seat

of

left

child

her in the jungle, she

and there

at

holy

the

Rishi Vdlmiki, she gave birth to a twin,

who were named Lava and Kusha.

They were

brought up by the great Rishi and were given the

education befitting their royal rank.

few years

came out

to

after,

conquer

when Rdma with

all

the chiefs

two young princes met them

the

defeated them and

made them

Rishi came and interfered

and Sitd

with

happiness and
*

This

Ra7nayana,

her

sons

his brothers

and potentates,
in

battle

prisoners.

they

The

old

there was a reconciliation

returned

home

full

of

bliss."^

tale is the briefest

ar rative of the great Sanskrit epic

THE BATTLE OF KUKUKSHETRA,'

[11

YN
X

the

modem

ancient

The

Lunar

sovereignty.

province of Delhi there was in

time a kingdom,
E>ynasty

held

At the time

of

called

sway

this

He

married

marriage was a son

fruit of this

vast

which we are speaking,,

king Sd?ita?tu was the ruling sovereign.

Ganga, and the

Hastinapiir.

over

who

was named Vishma.

One

*
is

poem
from
is

of the biggest sanakrit

works

one of the eighteen great Puranas

at the

it

same time a great

a very clear history of

the briefest

based.

history.
tire

is
;

it

We

the Mahdbhirata.

can very well glean

people of that period.

narrativ^e of the great battle

It

can be called an Epie

This

tale

on which the poem

is

8o

TALES OF IND.

Once
and

in

at a time

his

excursions met a very beautiful daughter

of a fisherman,
in love

king Santanu went out hunting

who was

He

called Satyabatt.

with her and offered to marry her,

fell

but the

fisherman did not agree to the Rajah's proposal,

he could promise to bestow the kingdom upon

till

King Sdntanu had already

son of his daughter.

the

a son,

whom

rights.

He, therefore, returned home, but

he

could by no means deprive of his

the

felt

disappointment very keenly.

His son

mood

mental

father's

his

Vishma marked

his father's

melancholy

he enquired and learnt of the secret cause of

He determined

sufferings.

make him happy and went

to see the fisherman.

promised

all

to

relinquish

kingdom and not

be born to him.

home and

marry,

to

He

his

so

claims

over

the

no son could

that

secured Satyabati, brought her

offered her to his father.

Satyabatt had a son before her marriage,

Byasa and now she gave

One

to

He

died

early,

birth

other

the

was

to

named

two more sons.

married

to

daughter of Kashi. But he too died, leaving no

the

heirs.

As Vishma had taken the vow of celibacy, the great

Lunar Dynasty was at the point of becoming extinct
Therefore
Satyabatt's
*

according

to

illegitimate

the

son

custom

of

Bydsa^ was

the

age,

Invited to

This Byasa was the celebrated Rishi who compiled the

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

live

with the widowed

Princess

her husband.^

as

She gave birth to two sons. The elder became blind

and was named Dhritarashtra ; the other was called
Pandu. Another son was begot by Bydsa on a maid
of the Princess

and he was called Vz'dura.f

Vtsh?na gave his

brothers the

As Dhritarashtra was

education.

be

declared to

the

and

Princess

first

to the

and then

Works

When

his children.

to

they

Gandhari,

Gandhar and Pandu was married

of

adopted daughter of king Kunta of Bhoja

to

Madri, the Princess

of

Madra.

Vedas and wrote eighteen great Puranas.

four

is

but

grew up Dhritarashtra was married

the

possible

Pandu was

Vishma
the blind Prince and

Heir-Apparent

promised to take special care of

never to desert him

highest
blind,

In fact all great

are supposed to have beeo written and compiled by him.

He

one of the most celebrated Rishis of ancient India.

*

All

marriage

through this tale readers would find laxity of the

system and want of

female chastity.

It is

evident, in

those days the morals in India were quite different from those that
of the

modern world.
It is

said that

she found him

so

when the widowed princess went

very fearful that she shut her eyes.

son that was born to her became blind.

courage and kept her eyes open,

son that was born
third
all,

but

to

Byasa

Thus the

Next time she gathered

turned very pale,

became Pandu which means

pale.

so her
On

the

time when she was asked to go to Vyisa^ she did not go at

but sent one of her maids.

TALES OF IND.

82

Kunti before her marriage with Pandu

gave birth to a son,, who was named Kama. In
course of time another son was born to her and he
was named Yiidhisthira. Then Gandhari gave
birth to one hundred sons"^ successively and Kunti
Princess

two more. Madri gave birth to a twin and king

Pandu died. The other two sons of Kunti wgvq
named Bhima and Arjuna^ and the twins were called
Nakula and Sahadeva. The eldest son of Gandhari

Duryyodhana and another out

was named Duswashana. They were
was

called

under the tuition

Drona,.

of the

rest

placed

all

a very learned Brahmin, called

of

who had a son named Aswathdma.

[21
was very

and gentle,,
Arjuna grew up as
the best warrior, Duryyodhana was as strong as
Bhima, but he grew up very vicious and wicked,
Yudhisthira

Bhima was

There

hundred sons

is

an anecdote

of Gandhcbri.

Kunti had given birth

her son

to

in

It is

she

;,

connection with the birth of the

said that

when she was

a son, she was mortally

would never be a king.

tried to destroy the

finally

virtuous

physically a giant

embryo and cut

She forced
it

into a

repented and wept for her

RishVs assistance was sought for and he put

pieces,

making one a son.

ani

life

because

abortion and

hundred

mad

told that

sorry^.

pieces.

But

eonduct.

great

into these

hundred

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

imitated him in

his brothers

All

8o

wicked ways

his

and grew up as bad as he was. Aswathama and

were also brought up with these Princes, the

Kama

former became fond of luxuries, the latter however

became a great

warrior.

Kama

and Duryyodliana

gradually became fast friends.

Yudhisthira was the eldest son of the

Pandu

he was also the eldest of

The sons

the Heir-apparent.

all

king

the brothers

he was declared to be

time

therefore in course of

late

of

Dhritarashtra were

known as Kurus and those of Pandu as Pandavas.

The Pandavas were good and gentle and they were
very much liked by the people. The Kurus were
bad and wicked and the people were

The people

of

afraid

of

Hastindpura were happy

them.

to learn

good and virtuous Yudhisthira would be their

future king.
But wicked Duryyodhana could not

that

He began

bear the sight of his brother's glory.

device

plans

backed by

all

his

and

brothers

Sakuni plied him with

evil

arranged to murder the

five

They were tempted

to

Pandavas ; he was

to humiliate the

his

maternal uncle

advices.

It

was

finally

Pandavas.

to

go

to

a place called

Varanabata, where Duryyodhana caused a house to

be

built.

easily

It

ignite.

Pandavas

in

was made
It

was

this

of

materials

which

could

secretly arranged to burn the

infernal

house.

They

knew

TALES OF IND.

84

nothing of the evil intentions of their cousins

came

to live in this

they

house with their mother.

But

loved them more than his

Vidura

them

privately informed

The Pdndavas then

said

brothers/'

Hastinapura, Duryyodhana

are

in

his hands,

on his

all

We

us.

side.

shall

the

If

"Dear

will

The army and the treasury

chief men of the Durbar are

we go

back, surely he will attack

My

advice

over the country incognito and

friends

from this house.

Let
try

killed.

us travel
to

make

When we

with other kings and princes.

shall feel ourselves strong to fight

with the Kurus^

come back and demand our kingdom."

shall

other

brothers

the

he

we go back to
know that we have

be easily defeated and perhaps

to fly

"if

all

is

children

held a consultation.

Yudhisthira,

learnt his evil designs.

own

of the nature of their danger.

words

of

the

eldest

we
To

were

commands they agreed to go wherever he went.

One day at the dead of night they set fire to
;

house and fled from the place.

the

People thought that

they must have been burnt to death.

[3.]
The Pdndavas assumed
roamed about

for

months.

the garb of ascetics

Bhima

met

and

with

an

son

aboriginal girl in the jungle and married her.

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

was

born

and

marriage

this

to

85

named

was

Ghatotkacha.

They

at

last

country called
king

jungle

the

left

PanchaL

and came

to

There they learnt that the

Drupada had taken a vow of giving away his

who would be able to shoot

daughter to the warrior

he had constructed.

which

target

the

piece

placed on

a very high pole and a golden

placed behind

fish

was

There was only a very small bore

it.

The warrior would have

could be seen.

fish

was

target

through which one of the eyes of the

in the target,

golden

of

was a

It

The

mechanism.

wonderful

to hit the fish seeing

its

which had

reflection In water,

been kept underneath the target.

Many

princes

many

from

arms.

of

and

all

the

other

Hastinapura had

One

after

Drona,

Vishma,

another the

show

Kama,

princes

come

also

had come to

places

secure the beautiful damsel and to

and

their

warriors

Vishma.

''I

princes

have taken,"

celibacy and therefore

If

however

will

tried

have the

He

girl."

before him Shikhandi,

who was an eunuch.

win

to

Then
"A vow of
Princess.

Diiryyodhana

took up the bow, but saw

the

To

my nephew

the

fish.

said he,

cannot marry the

be successful,

of

to this great tournament.

damsel, but none could hit the eye of the

rose

feats

Diiryyodhana

son

of

king Drupada,

see an eunuch was

an

evil

86

TALES OF IND.

omen and Vishma never used

an

He

omen.

evil

back to

silently

bow and came

''Of

whatever caste

cried,

one might be,

or creed
hit the fish

*'I

arms on seeing

the

his seat.

Then king Drupada

Then

to take

left

shall give

rose

Drona.

away my daughter

"If

my

shall give her to

whoever would be able to

him."

to

win the Princess," said he,

pupil,

He

Duryyodhana!'

took up the bow, aimed and sent up the arrow, but

failed

to

hit

golden

the

fish.

Then

amidst the cheerings of the Kurus.

Kama

rose

"If

can

hit

the

"The Princess would go to my friend

DiiryyodhanaP He tried but he too failed.^
The Princes of Pdndu went to the assembly in

fish" said

he,

the garb of Brahmins

they were sitting amongst the

mendicants who had come

grew impatient

to rise

and

for alms.

But Arjuna

he

was eagerly

shoot,

looking at his brother to get his permission.

Again and again cried king Drupada, "Kings or

beggars. Brahmins or Sudras^ whoever he might be,
*

said that

It is

when

Kama

and Drona shot at the

fish

Krishna who was present and who knew that the Pdndu Princess
were present

Chakra

is

Krishna
Preserver.

Arjuna.

the

put his Sudarsana Chakra over the

in disguise

and thus prevented

their

weapon

arrows from going up to the

of

Vishnu.

All

fish,

target

Sudarsana

through the Mahdbhdrata

had been represented as the incarnation

of

the great

Krishna wanted the princess to be won by his friend

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

87

him come and try to shoot at the fish. My

Draupadi viould surely go to the successful man."
Finding that every one had failed and Arjuna
let

was eager

to

accomplish this wonderful feat of arms,

Yudhisthira at

gave him permission to go and

He

chance.

his

try

last

rose

amidst the titterings

to be the poorest

went

silently

to

first

Drona,

like

for

they

knew Arjiuia
saw the

a flash of lighting and

to

his tutor

hit the fish

that

However it was finally decided

won the Princess.

of
It

the

went

amidst the

The Princes could

such wonderful

a poor Brahmin and they

Then

be dead.

reflection

loud cheerings of the Brahmins.

not believe

and

Both of them
Brahmin bowing

to find a beggarly

on the water and sent up the arrow.

fish

of

slowly

Vishnta, his grandfather.

to

he took up the bow,

up

but he

poor,

He bowed

were astonished
to them,

the

the target and looked towards the

to

great assembly.

and then

of

of

He appeared

the Brahmins and hisses of the Princes.

was possible

feat

made a
that

great noise.

he had really

[4]
The Pdndavas
home
the

"My

with beautiful

in the evening.

door,

Draupadi returned
Bhima from

''Mother," cried

''We have got something grand to-day."

sons,"

replied

she,

"Partake

of

it

all

88

TALES OF IND.

To obey

brothers."

their mother's

married the Princess and

future disagreement,

would be with
or

the

to

her,

that when one

banishment

this rule,

fire

and

be.

it

If

any

of

them

to learn that the five

Princes of

five

He brought them home

the

brothers

for certain years.

King Drupada soon came

pomp

of the

all

avoid

he would be bound to go to

poor Brahmins were the

disguise.

they

to

no other brother would go to her

room where she would

would violate

command

was arranged,

it

news flew from place

in all

to place

Pandu

in

honour and
like

wild-

soon reached Hastindpura.

King Dhritarashtra under advice from Vishma

They

sent Vidiira to bring them back to the capital.

came

all

back

and

lived

in

new

called

city,

Indraprastha, separate from Duryyodhana and his

brothers.

One

There they lived happily

day

and piteously appealed

from
the

To

to

him

robbers. Unfortunately

months.
to

Arjuna

to rescue his property

Arjuna's arms were

room where Yudhisthira was with

in

Draupadi.

save the poor man's property he faced the dread

penalty of banishment.

up

for

Brahmin came

poor

his

He went

arms and hastened

After chastising the

brothers

and

banishment.

asked

into the room, took

to help the poor

man.

robbers he returned to his

their

permission

With very sorrowful

to

go

to

heart the brothers

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

bade him farewell and Arjuna

89

Indraprastha and

left

went out on pilgrimage.

He
came

king of

He

travelled

to

over the country and at

all

last

His dearest friend K7'ishna, the

Pravasha.

Mathurd and Dwdrakd, went

brought him to

his

capital

to

meet him.

and gave

his sister

Subhadrd in marriage with him. Here he passed

many a happy day with his friend and wife.
We need not say that he met with many
adventures

in

travels

his

It

superfluous

is

to

mention that he showed many wonderful feats of

arms

in

helping the needy and punishing the wicked.

After the completion

banishment,
joined

his

and they

the

of

he came back to

They

brothers.
tried

their

best

all

to

specified

time for

Indraprastha and
very happily,

lived

please

the

Kurus by

every possible means.

Duryyodhana married Princess Bhdnumati and

several children were born to

her.

Their daughter

Lahshmand fell in love with the son

The young couple were married in
both

branches

prominent parts

of
in

the

great

of

Krishna.

great pomp,

Lunar House taking

celebrating the nuptials.

[5]
Bhima, Arjiina, Nakula and Sahadeva went
out according to the

custom

of the

age to conquer

TALES OF

90

the

adjacent

IND.

They

kingdoms.

subjugated

many-

kings and exacted tributes from various princIpaHties.

They returned home with hoard

of wealth and Raja

Yudhisthira celebrated the victory by holding the

Rajsiiya Yagma.
Durbar,
to

It was a grand and magnificent

which numerous kings and princes came

in

pay homage

and

to the great

merriment

Pandavas.

was

everyone

Duryyodhana and

his

worm-wood

happy,

except

the glory and the

Pandu were

Princes of

They returned

to them.

was joy

They could not

brothers.

bear the success of the Pandavas

happiness of the

All

to

gall

and

Hastiiiapura

resolving upon taking vengence.

They held a secret

Sakuni advlced them to

"A

council,
Invite

which

In

uncle

Yudhisthira to play.

Kshatrya,^^ said he, ''Can never refuse to accept

when asked

a challenge

play

wealth.

Let us

to fiorht or to oramble.

and win

with him

dice

all

his

them before

disgrace

shall

property and

whole

the

world."

The

wicked

advice

was

Invited

Yudhisthira
unfortunate

match,

game was begun.

the Pandavas

Kurus on
Durbar

was

the

hall

Hastindpura.

other.

and

the

play

to
It

accepted
;

king

and the most

was a great gambling

were on one side and the

The

place

audience

was
was

the

the

great

whole

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

Pdndu

Fortune was against the Prince of

began
he

lost

gradually lost

He was up

elephants.

brother and

else
lost.

brothers.

to

in the

bet,

head,

play

he

finding

betted

his

that he

younger

He then one after another

He then betted himself and lost

There was nothing more

his

he

wealth,

his

all

possessions, his palaces, horses and

his

all

had nothing

all his

He

to lose.

to

lose

he

looked round that great

lost

too.

up

raised

assembly and

wiped away the hot drops that had gathered over

forehead.
this

^'Yudhtsthira,^^

sneered

You

time Draupadi, your wife.

for she is a lucky

and betted

his

woman." He

dear wife

Sakuni,

his

"Bet

are sure to win,

silently

began

to play

but fortune was terribly

against him, he lost again.

There was great glee on the

side of the

Kurus

they again and again cheered for their victory.

Wicked Duryyodhana was mad with joy. ''Oh

!" exclaimed he, "These Pandavas are now our
servants. Let them sit with the menials." Bhima could
hardly control his anger,
Arjuna was trying to calm
him. Young Nakula and Sahadeva were piteously lookfriends

ing at their eldest brother, enquiring what they were

to do.

But Yudhisthira calmly rose from

his throne,

majestically walked towards the servants and sat with

them.

His obedient and loving brothers

with him and went to

sit

all

rose up

with him amons^st the menials.

TALES OF IND.

92

Duryyodhana was not satified with thus

own cousins. He ordered his brother

humiliating his

Duswdshana

to

go and bring Draupadi and make

The daughter of a king and the

queen of the great Pdndavas was dragged out of her
appartments and brought before the Durbar. The
her a maid-servant.

whole

""Shame.

stood before

She appealed

this disgrace

the

and the people cried

^^

Draupadi
aloud.

wept

Hastindpura

the

people

and wept
from

to all present to save her

but none came to her rescue.

At

last

youngest brother of Duryyodhana^ feeling pity

for her, rose

and

said,

^^

Draupadi cannot be made

a maid-servant, for cousin Yudhisthira lost him

and then
replied

have

he

betted

"When

her."

Duryyodhana, "Lost

lost his

wife with

all his

property, he must

Let him say, that

it.

first

Yudhisthira!^

it is

not

we shall give up our claim over DraupadiP

Bhima could not control himself any longer he

so and

snatched himself away from the grasp of Arjuna and

"You scoundrels," roared

rose.

he,

thrashed you out of your existence,but

for the

sake

Yudhisthira

of
is

whole

Drqupadi

would have

control myself

our most beloved brother.

the

Lord of

victory the whole world

the

"I

world

is

is

all

the world.

conquered and

lost

or of a dozen of us

what
!"

you

in

Raja
In his

his loss

speak

of

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA,

93

[6]
At
He

good Vidura

this point

Vishma and then

to

first

told the blind

done.

He

wrath

of the

Interfered

monarch what

his

he went

wicked sons had

entreated him to save the

Pandavas and

king Dhritarashtra,

to

Kurus from

the

Lunar

to protect the great

Dynasty from the self-dlssenslon and

self-destruction.

The king brought

him and freed

them from

the

go and to begin

to

life

not

it

disappointed.

He

command and

could

was

Pandavas

to

would be very easy

kingdoms and
his

anew.

much

not prevent the

that

uncle

to

Sakuni

go away.

But he knew

them

conquer fresh

for

secure wealth

them again/'

to

He

untold.

called

him what to do and how

to advice

to destroy these thorns in his

"Invite

to

They were allowed

disobey his father's

Duryyodhana
could

Pandavas

their eternal slavery.

path to glory.

said Sakimi,

ask them to bet in this wise.

If

''To play

they lose, they will

have to go to the jungle for twelve years, the

year of which they
If

shall

have to pass

and

years

and so on.

rest assured they

back."

We
will

last

mcogmto.

they are found out, they will have to go again

12

and

for

are sure to find them out

never be able to come

"Dear uncle," replied Duryyodhana, ^'svl^-\^osq

Yiidhisthira declines to play or to go to

the

jungle

TALES OF IND.

94

at

Sakimt smiled and

all !"

''My dear nephew

said,

you do not know Yudhisthira\

Next morning Yudhisthira was again challenged

His brothers entreatingly asked him not to

to play.

accept the challenge, but Yudhisthira replied, ''Dear

you advice me to neglect the holy duties

of a Kshatriya !
God has destined us for misery
brothers, do

let

us calmly submit to His

The

will''.

was again begun, and

again Yudhisthira lost the game. They sacrificed
themselves for virtue and truth and silently left
Hastinapura to pass 12 years in banishment. Their
faithful

unfortunate

play

and dear wife Draupadi followed them

be

to

the partner of her husbands' miseries, and amidst the

wails of the people they entered into a deep forest.

There they
at last the time
It

was a very

that the

them

Kurus would move heaven and

One

night

to the

became
;

the

giving
Raja's

yir;"?^;?^

left

of

knew

earth to find

jungle-abode and

their

Birat

himself

in

There

disguise.

out as a dice-player,

companion.

assumed the garb

calling himself an
It is

they

kingdom

Yudhisthira

task to them, for they

difficult

to live incognito.

out.

went

cook

lived like ascetics for eleven years

came when they had

Bhima became
of

his

a female and

eunuch^ became the dancing and

said that ArjuVia

when

in

banishment went

to

heaven

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

95

music master of the princess Uttard, the daughter of

the

Nakula became

king.

Draupadi entered

Poor

Shahadeb the shepherd.

and

the horse-keeper

the service of the queen as one of her n^aids.

There

they Hved very quietly and happily for a year and

Kurus, notwithstanding

the

know

failed

efforts,

all

to

their whereabouts.

A year

passed.

Duryyodhana

depredatory

in his

excursions came into the Birat country.

King Birat

went out

Kurus by a
kine.
The

give

to

him

battle

but the

manuoever eluded him and looted

queen asked

his son

he was a boasting coward.

I

his

Uttara to go and save them, but

had a good charioteer,

^^Mama!' said

taught a lesson to the thieving Kurus."

maid

of the

princess

The Pseudo-

queen said that the music master

was a very

good

surely go with the prince,

if

he, "If

would have gone and

charioteer

and

of the

would

asked by the queen.

She

immediately ordered him to come to her and when he

came, she requested him to go with her son.

Arjuna took the prince in his chariot before the

Kuru army. The timid young man attempted to
to learn

the art of arms.

Indra

songstress Tilotyama to him, but

She took

offence

for a year.

in his

honour sent the heavenly

Arjuna declined

to

accept her.

and cursed him, saying that he would be an eunuch

Thus when Arjuna became the music master

young princess

of Birata,

be was really an eunuch.

of the

TALES OF

fly

IND.

from the chariot, when he found that to fight with

Kurus was

the

not a child's play.

him from leaving the

and promised to rescue

Arjuna prevented
his real name

gave him

field,

his kine.

He

went to

then

a tree where he had kept his arms hidden.

He

took

them down, armed himself and hastened to attack

the enemy.
The Kurus were soon routed and they
fled in hot haste

and

towards their own capital.

King Birat found

out the disguise of Yudhisthira

He

placed him on his throne and

his brothers.

gave the Pandavas

Uttara

was

Arjuna,

his

all

married

to

The news
of

the

Abhimanyu,

the

son of

mother being Subhadrd.

The

Kurus.

His daughter

possible honour.

8]

very soon reached the capital

blind king Dhritardshtra,

Lunar House,

of the

Nestor

the

Vishma, the great preceptor,

Drona, the good and honest

Vidura,

all

tried

to

induce Duryyodhana to make an amicable settlement

with

the

Pandavas, but he

at

the

advice

of

his

evil-making uncle Shakuni and his ambitious friend

Kama

put a

deaf ear to

all

their

good advices.

Krishna, the friend and relative of both the parties

came

to

"Give the

mediate.
five

^^

Duryyodhana^^

entreated

he,

brothers only five villages of your vast

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

They would be

domain.
that

you

will offer

satisfied with

them."

''No, not

97

the smallest,

an inch of land",

replied he, ''Without a mortal struggle".

So

battle

was determined upon on both

sides.

allied kings

Both parties sent out invitations to the

Great preparations were made for the

and princes.

coming struggle and

were collected from

soldiers

every part of the Empire.

Krishna was the greatest man of the age."^

Both the contending parties were eager to secure him,
but to him both parties were equally dear and near.

When

appealed

to,

arms against any

he said that he could not take

of them,

but he would be present

who would come to him first.

Duryyodhana hastened to Dwaraka and went to
in

the battle with him

There was a

meet him, but he found him

asleep.

golden throne near the head

Krishna

it

and patiently waited

till

of

he would

he sat on

rise.

minutes after Arjujia came and sat at his

few
feet.

Krishna opening his eyes saw Arjiina and asked

him what he could do for him.
"I
have come,
said

he,

can

"Oh

give

"You know

friend,

that

to

my
am

you
I

pray for a

friend ?"

always

Krishna.

your

service."

at

"Give me," said Arjuna^ "Your goodself.

nothing else."

Krishna
*

"What

gift."

replied

smiled and replied,

Read Srikrishna.

want

"My

TALES OF

gS

you

dear friend,

IND.

must have

heard

that

resolved not to take arms in this battle.

it

would be to you

Ajy'una,

know

'*I

not be happy
of

my

if

my

to get
shall

me

?"

What

help

''Dear friend/' said

win the

battle,

but

shall

be not a partner

dearest friend

glory and happiness."

"I shall

have

''Very well," said he,

be your charioteer.""^

He

and saw Duryyodhana.

"You have heard what I had
However, I am bound to serve you.
told Arjuna.
Would you like to have me or my invincible army ?'"
turned his head

"Dear brother,"

said he,

Duryyodliana thought

it

Krishna who would not

would be useless to take

As

fight.

for council

he

would get better from his dear uncle Shakufii. ft

was surely something to get Krish?ia's great army.

He

said,

"I

shall

thank you.

me your

Oh

brother,

if

you

will

Krishna agreed and

Duryyodhana returned to Hastinapura with the
invincible army.
Then Arjuna left Dwdraka and
Krishna accompanied him.

kindly give

When

all

army."

preparations were

complete

Yudhis-

encamped on
Duryyodhana with his

thira marched out with his army and

the field of

We

Kurukshetra ,^

need not say that

all

this

was pre-arranged by Sri-

krishna and was a ruse to king Duryyodhana.

t

The

field of

Kurukshetra

is

considered to be one of Ihe

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

Stupendous army came out

him

of

99

Hastinapura

give

to

battle.

[9.]
There were
the

millions of soldiers^ on both sides

and

generals

greatest

potentates had

come

to

meet

most

the

mortal struggle.

in

powerful
It

was a battle between brothers and brothers and friends

and friends. On one side there were the greatest
of the great Vislnna, the ablest of the able Drona,
the bravest of the brave Kama. There were hundred
numerous grandsons

sons and

other there were the five

sons

their

AbJvhnanyu

blind

the

of

backed by the most powerful chiefs

Princes of

and

king,

On the
Pandu with

of India.

Ghatotkacha.

There

were king Drupada and king Birata and some other

kings and princes, connected with them either by

blood or by marriage.

Krishna who was

Vishma

And

to

crown

their guide, friend

had

promised

to

desert

never

With

and regret he consented

command

Hindu pilgrimages.
from

Dellii

It

It

is

situated

in

there

leader.

children of the blind king.

to

all

and

was
the

the greatest sorrow

the Kiiru-2ivmy

the Punjab,

some

miles off

by Delhi-Kalka Railway.
is

said

that there were altogether

soldiers on both sides.

An Akshauhini

is

18 Akshauhinis of

equal to ten millions.

TALES OF IND.

100

for ten days.

war

was

It

arms,

of

feats

useless to try to describe his

was none

for there

He

or in council.

so great, either in
half of the

killed almost the

Pandava-2si^y

The Pandavas
Krishna,

said

held a council of war.

''None

Vishma, so long he
advice,
this

world,

dream
to

there

is

for

the

in

be

will

'^Friends/'

world

can

arms.

Accept

in

defeat

my

nothing bad or nothing good

this

world

is

Do your

of the Soul."^

mere
duty

in

an erroneous

your

duty

is

win the battle and don't mind the means. Arjuna,

Vishma

do thou take Shikhandi with you to-morrow.

will surely leave off

opportunity,

arms

defeat

if

he sees him.

him,

necessary and save the

That

overpower him,

is

kill,

the
if

Pandava army."

Next day Krishna's advice was adopted. Vishma

saw Shikhandi on Arjuna's chariot. He smiled and
left

arms.

Immediately Arjuna mortally wounded

him and great

leaders

of

Patriarch.

Vhisma

fell

both parties hastened

Both the

them

his

The
wounded

chariot.

to

Kuru and Pandu

bitterly for him, for surely

to

frcm

the

princes wept

he was more than a

father

all.

The next day the Kurus came out to give battle

under the command of Drona. He arranged his
*

Read Gitd

in the

appendix.

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

army

found that
or

line,

The Pandavas

most wonderful array.

in

was impossible

it

penetrate

to

But young Abhimanyu by

to

the

into

loi

break the enemy's

formed.

semi-circle

most daring charge

his

many thousands of
hemmed in by the

broke into the circle and killed

But he was soon

the enemy.

Seven great warriors such as Drona and

rushed upon him in wild fury. The poor

Kurus.

Kama
boy

was

young

overpowered

soon

rushed to his

he

hero,

Bhima became
and vengeance. He killed
felled a

On
and

Bhima

killed.

wounded

mortally

fell

ten

chariot.

and

and

but before he could reach the

rescue,

times

thirty of his

from

furious

by

his

grief

wicked cousins,

thousand of the enemy.

the other part of the field

Kama

killed Ghatotkacha.

Raja Driipada fell

Every where the

Pandavas were defeated and routed. Arjuna when

fighting with Drona was mortally wounded and he
fainted on his chariot.
Then Krishna cried ''Oh
Drona, your son

named
Krishna

gave

Drona, was

out

killed.

with grief on

he did

killed."

not and

that

was
that

The

old

Really an

killed

elephant

by Bhima

my

could

but

Aswathdmd, the son of

warrior was overwhelmed

hearing his beloved son's death.

could be killed.
believe

is

Aswathama

not believe that

''Oh Krishna,'' said

most beloved son

he,
is

But

Aswathama
"I

cannot

dead.

Let

TALES OF IND.

02

Yudhisthira say that

my

son

Is

no more and

It,

for

shall

know he cannot tell a He."

Krishna managed to bring Yudhisthira

believe

to the

great warrior; he asked him to say that Aszuathama

was dead, but Yudhisthira positively refused to tell
such a falsehood. But Krishna was up to anything
he finally Induced him to say
^^Aswathdma Is
;

the elephant."

dead,

elephant," Krishna

When

blew

Yudhisthira said ''The

his

great conch and the

Drona's GdiVS. When he was told

was dead, he fainted and immediately
one of the warriors on the Pdndava side jumped upon
his chariot and cut off his head.

Avords did not reach

that his son

[10]
The
command
fight

next day,
of

Kurus came

Kama.

There

from morning to evening.

water and reddened the

field of

Duswdshana and

killed

cousins,

the

was

out

under

hand

to

the

hand

Blood flowed like

Kurukshetra. Bhima
rest

of

his

wicked

but he had to retreat having been defeated

Kama. Many fell on both sides, and the

Pdndava army was gradually driven back and finally
routed. Arjuna soon came to rally round his army,

by

and stood face

great

in

arms

to face with
;

Kama.

they faught like

Both were equally

lions

for

hours

THE BATTLE OF KURUKSHETRA.

together
lustily

Kama

till

The Pandavas cheered

fell.

and the Kurus

retired to their

camp.

Pandavas attacked the

Early next morning the

Raja Birata

Kiirus with renewed vigour.

ing, but the

103

most wicked Sakuni was

fell fight-

The

killed.

Kiu^u army was disorganised and by evening

whole

they w^ere hopelessly defeated and routed, and the

Pandavas were
It

had

hot pursuit.

in

was soon rumoured

from the

fled

The Pandavas immediately

field.

pursued and found him hidden

When

a place of safety.

in

he saw that there w^as no escape, he came

Bhima

out and challenged

f

Raja Duryyodhana

that

aught like two

mad

They
Duryyodhana

to single combat.

elephants,but king

at last fell mortally wounded."^

The Pandava-3xmy
were

all

tired

retired

victory sure they

fell

Aswathama came

to the

him

to

bring the

He

stealthily

Every part

of

their

and

camp.

They

knowing

their

At the dead

asleep.

of night

wounded king and promised

heads

Pandu Princes.
Pandava camp he

the

of

entered the

No weapon

iron.

part of his body.

Bhima

Duryyodhana on

in the

his

could have any effect on any

heat of the fight forgot that he was

thigh

but Krishna was there.

encouraging Bhima, he repeatedly clapped on his own thigh.

hint

was soon

wounded.

king Duryyodhana' s body except the thigh

was as hard as
to hit

to

and exhausted

As

if

The

understood and king Duryyodhana was mortally

TALES OF IND.

104

went

into

the

tent,

which Draupadi was asleep

in

He gagged

with her five young sons.

them one

killed

after another

them,

and hastened with

he

their

heads to the dying king. But Duryyodhajia perceived

the mistake committed by the
friend," faultered hC;

Lunar House."

of the

son

of Dro7ia.

"My

"You have killed the last scions

With these words on his lips

the poor king breathed his

last.

The Pandavas came

victory.

But

blood of

all

was

joy

no

to Hastinapura after the

was a victory saturated with the

it

was dear and near to them.

there was no merriment.

that
;

There
Their

entrance to the capital of their forefathers was not

ushered
of

in

by the sounds

and

Slowly

fire-works.

of

drums or the boomings

silently

they entered

the palace, but there were heart-rending lamentations

all

around.
H-

The
and

-sf

five

Pdndu

Princes of

at last they retired into the

remainder of their

-se

-je-

lived for

some years

jungle to

lives in prayers

pass the

and meditations.

Princess Uttard, the wife of poor Ahlmnanyu,

was with
battle.

child,

when her husband

She gave

birth

to

a son,

fell

on the

field of

who was named

Parikshit.

When

Prince

Parikshit grew up, he became

the king of Hastinapura.

NALA AND DAMAYANTL

[1]
^Jv,

MONGST

^'^

to king N'ala of
in

all

the great and

Naisadha.

philanthrophy, he

treated
of his

his

subjects

The

gods

which

Her mind was

He

own children, the poor

members of his own royal
were

be seen everywhere

sovereignty.

all.

and

in

and

worshipped
every house

all

the

over his

Happiness, comfort and ease were

vast dominion.

land over

In greatness, in piety

his

kingdom were the

household.

that

none was equal

stood towering over

as

Brahmins were honoured

to

good monarchs

flourished in ancient India,

benign

misery had fled from the

king Nala had his kind

His wife Damayanti was equally good.

full of

human kindness

in

her mind

Io6

was

TALES OF IND,

that

all

mother

of the people of

But
but

was holy and

all

nay she was the

world where nothing

in this

transitory

is

celestial

Naisadha,

and

fleeting,

queen Damayantis happiness did

Kali

God

the

long time,

of sin"^

but so

not last

virtuous were

king and the

the

queen that he did not get an opportunity

last

long.

had an eye over them from a

vengeance upon the happy

At

permanent,

is

king Nala's and

wreck

his

engaged

in

to

pair.

one day he

found Nala

worship not with the prescribed ablution

he forth-

with got possession of his mind and led him to evil

ways.

He became

very

much fond

dice

of

he threw

himself madly into the whirlpool of gambling

began

neglect

to

drifted

the

into

his

wide

royal

duties,

gulf

of

he

vice

possessions

follows

its

ingly the
*

gods.

home and his smiling

Damayanti followed him

substance
royal

capital.

as a

He
his

His

shadow

queen walked by the side

have given two tales

in

to

which

be two very
it

of

her

powerful

has been shown that

these gods of evils shower on the head of an unhappy

of miseries.

all

uncomplainingly and ungrudg-

Shani and Kali are supposed

We

sin.

lost

Kali made him a beggar and drove him

out of his happy

loving wife

he

was slowly

and

gambled with a cousin and gradually

man

all sorts

NALA AND DAMAYANTI.

husband and

left

behind her

They had no

near to her.

I07

was dear and

that

all

other possessions but the

two pieces of clothes that they had on

and they were shunned by all that used

their person

them

to love

before.

Driven by the

evil

God they

they entered into a deep forest.

fied

There they

thoroughly exhausted and broken

back and starvation

was not

at all sorry for his

was strong enough

to

could he bear the

great

change

of fortune,

it

but alas

that

sufferings

beloved wife had to undergo

rested,

They had
hunger was at
Good kinor Nala

in front.

endure

for

most

his

though she was very happy

husband's
yet to king Nala was
side,

it

wormwood.
They rested underneath a tree,

till

by

her

gull

and

king Nala saw

The

a golden bird merrily dancing near at hand.

some money,

if

The money might keep them up

at

he

how

Though she was

smiling,

bird might fetch

till

down.

not touched food since three days,

their

on and on,

sold
for

In

the

sometime.

market.

Nala

it by throwing
was the God of
took up the cloth and flew away-

once stood up and tried to catch

over

it

evil

in disguise.

his cloth,

living the

but
It

poor king

alas, the bird

in

not satisfied the wicked

to a state of

a state

nudity.

of

God by reducing

most deplorable misery

It

had

a great king

still

he was at

TALES OF IND.

I0&

back

his

his

still

wrecked upon the king

fully

vengeance had not been

fearful
;

still

he wanted to make

them more and more miserable.

[2]
When
round their

night came,
loins only

between them,

ed,

she soon

one cloth that they possessed

pass the night in the forest as

tried to

best as they could.

fell

Nala and Damayanti, putting

Damayanti was
into a

deep

tired

and exhaust-

sleep.

But the poor and the unhappy king could not

thought after thought, most painful, rushed

sleep
into

his

mind and made

miserable.

He was

his

wakeful

not sorry for himself

nio-ht
;

he

most
could

bear no longer the sufferings of his beloved wife.

Kali entered

into

ear, ''Leave her,

why

his

mind and whispered

why make her miserable

should she be

made miserable

She was the queen

his

Indeed,

for his misfortune

she was the

Why

should she be

a partner of his misery

allowed to accompany him,

her father's

into

of a vast province,

daughter of a most powerful king.

made

?"

If

she had not been

she would have

kingdom and there

gone

lived happily

till

to

he

could join her.

But how
it

to part

would be impossible

for

She loved him so much that

him

to

snatch away from

NALA AND DAMAYANTI.

She was asleep

her loving grasp.

but

well fly from her,

loins

in

state

wicked God who took possession

plied

and

him with

half

he silently rose

Damayanti
at

forest

advices

evil

he could very
was round her

half of the cloth

he could not go

lOQ

he

nudity.

of

of his

cut

the

The

mind again
cloth

from her side and

left

half

poor

alone and unprotected there in that great

He

the dead of night.

fled

he

fled like

mad man far far away from his most beloved wife.
Damayanti awoke and did not find her husband

by her side
wild beasts,

nothing

she found herself alone in the midst of

as

but

far as her

deep

fantastic creepers.

forest

cried

of

trees

entwined with

her loud lamentations

sorrow, she again and again

She wept,

the place with

filled

eyes could see she found

come
who would hear
Nala had fled, fled many miles

her husband and appealed to him to

for

and save her from danger,

her lamentations

but

from his loving wife.

We

shall not

attempt to describe the pain and

misery of unhappy Damayanti.

insult, misery, starvation at

to

the

kingdom

of

She had

every step

till

The mother

Chedi.

to

meet

she

came

of the

king

saw her pass by the street

she took compassion
upon her seeing the most miserable plight in which
;

she was, she at once despatched a maid to bring her

into the palace.

no

TALES OF IND.

There Damayanti lived as a companion

princess

royal

if

account of her husband's

not be on

was beyond the

Chedi

lived in

to the

she could
absence, she

she was not happy,

of

insults

for years,

She

the vicious world.

but heard

no news

of her

absent husband.

[3]
When

king of Bidharva, the

father

of

queen

Damayanti, learnt of the state of affairs at his sonBut

in-law's kingdom he hastened to Naisadha.
that
left
told
they
had
was
not
he
them
found
he
;

their

kingdom and had entered

made

a searching enquiry

all

into the jungle.

He

over the kingdom,

but could get no trace of his unhappy daughter.

returned to his capital and sent emissaries

all

He

over the

country to search for his daughter and for the good

and the great king Nala. His men journeyed some

they went to all the
in disguise and some in state
;

surrounding kingdoms and searched every creek and

corner,

but

attempts.

almost

all

No news was

came back

baffled

in their

received of the unhappy king

and the queen.

At

came

to

last

one of the emissaries named Siideva

Chedi and lived there

Damayanti

in the

in

disguise.

He met

palace and although she was living

NALA AND DAMAYANTI.

like

Ill

an ordinary maid he at once recognised her to be

He appeared

their missing princess.

in the royal court

and told the king that the maid was no other than

Damayanti^ the queen

their beautiful

and the Princess

Chedi was the

was beside

whom

Bidharva.

of

Naisadha

of

the queen

Damayanti's mother

of

sister

Now

herself with joy

to

of

she

that the maid,

learn

she loved, was no other than her

own

sister's

daughter.

Damayanti passed some days with her royal

in great joy
then she asked them to allow
her to go to her father's kingdom where her children
relatives

whom

she had

The king and

with Sudeva in a

We
she

way

living.

Damayanti

befitting her high rank.

need not say that she was received with

open arms by

of

were

mother,

her

sent to

the queen of Chedi sent

There

her parents.

looking for the return

lived for years, wistfully

her beloved husband

influences of

knew

she

for

Kali could not

Bidharva

in

last for

the

evil

more than some

years.

But she did not

rest quiet

send again emissaries

of her

husband.

every

village

question.

She

and

"What

all

told

ask

she made her father

over the country in search

them
every

justification

to enquire for

man

the

was there

him

at

following

for

man

to leave his wife behind clad in half of the cloth ?*

112

All

TALES OF IND.

returned

any

without

information,

came back with a reply.

He had
kingdom of the king Rituparna and

He

named Bahuka.

charioteer,

but

gone

one
the

met

his

there

to

put the question to

him as ordered by the princess and the following

was the answer given by the charioteer. "If one's
husband does an act most condemnable, the wife
should hide

instead of giving

it

Dainayanti suspected
husband

in disguise.

out to the Avorld."

it

this

charioteer to be her

He asked

Siideva to go at once

and inform him that

be married. Sudeva was to

to the capital of king Ritupaj'na

she was again going to

bring the king and his charioteer by any means to

the

capital

of

Sudeva started

Bidharva.

and

Clever

for the court of king

intelligent

Rituparna and

soon reached his kingdom.

[4]

We

must

unhappy king

He
did

come and

But on

follow him.

and

his

to

be

at

what

happened

He

forest, lest his wife

ran at his utmost speed

a snake

it

up and

tried

her.

and found

His kindness rose above

he took

the

to

dear wife.

a great distance from

way he met

distress.

feelings

say

hastened away from the

to quit her

great

now

after parting with his

to

all

save

it

in

other
it,

but

NALA AND DAMAYANTI.

the ungrateful reptile bit

II3

and he was

him,

once

at

disfigured.

To him the evil turned to be a good for now

none could recognise him as the king, he was so
;

much disfigured that perhaps his own dear

Damayanti would not have been able to recognize

very

him.

He

passed through many countries, unknown and

uncared of

he at

king Rituparna
he

a charioteer
services

last

Here

of

for

for the

of the

post.

none there was so

in the service of

he lived for some years

court

kingdom

to the

offered himself

were accepted,

in driving as he.

came

and learning that the king wanted

His

efficient

king Rituparna

Sudeva appeared in the

the king and announced the marriage of
till

Princess Damayanti.

King Rituparna, learning

Sayambara,^ grew eager
Bidharva,

that

so

he

to

might

that there

go
be

the

to

would be a
capital

present

in

of

the

assembly from which the beautiful princess would

make her

choice.

He

ordered his charioteer

Bdhuka

to get his royal chariot ready as soon as possible,

for

he would at once start for the kingdom of Bidharva.

So he
charioteer

started

who

Sayambara

is

for

the

Sayajnbara with

was no other than king

Nala

an assembly in which a princess makes her

choice of a bridegroom from the assembled people.

his

himself

own

TALES OF IND.

114

They reached

in disguise.
in

the

kingdom

Bidharva

of

due time and king B.itiiparna was received by the

king

in all

for

was mere a

it

husband

honour.

trick

of

Damayanti

to bring her

to her father's capital.

As soon
of her

But there was no Sayambara,

as the king arrived,

maids to the king

Damayanti

sent one

We

need not

in disguise.

say that very soon the mystery was

Nala was

He was

recognized.

king

taken to the royal

court and a most cordial reception

him by the king and

divulged

was accorded to

his subjects.

The wicked god

of

evil,

Kali, finding that his

time had expired, fled from the body of the king.

Damayanti and her husband came

kingdom the king of Bidharva came
;

their

own

to place

them

to

on the throne with a powerful army

at his back.

The usurper fled in dismay and king Nala and queen

Damayanti were again very happy
."^

Kali

full of vice

fact the period of

sin.

The

namely &atya,

parts

Kali

is in

and

is

the

god

of Sin

entire

Time

Space

Treta, Dvapara,

and

vice.

of

that

is

supposed to be

Time

is

divided into four

and Kali.

The moral

Here

of the tale

in this tale
is

apparent

the virtuous and the good, as soon as they are touched by Kali,

by vice and
Nala.

sin,

lose all

and become most miserable

like

i. e.

king

SRIBATSA AND CHINTA.

[1]
j^K^HERE once

X
is

arose a great dispute between the

goddess Lakshmi and the god Shani. Lakshini

the goddess of wealth

he,

on

whom

she casts her

benign eyes, becomes the richest of the rich

treasury

is

with

filled

all

the wealth of the world

But

luxury and plenty rolls over his vast mansion.

Shani

whom

is

the

god

this fearful

of

poverty and misery

god throws the

fiery

glare

his
;

he,

of

on
his

scorching eyeS)-becomes the poorest of the poor

his

home

turns to be a desert where misery and

want

take pleasure to dance and play.

Both were powerful

in

their

own way,

but

proud 5^?/ sneered at the beautiful goddess and

TALES OF IND.

Il6

vaunted that he was the greatest

his

power was

wealth

nay he could ruin a man on

would shower her favours.

the

goddess, ''What

We both

good

rule over the destiny of

ask one

of

whom

them whether you

replied

mere vaunting.
men. Let us go and

or

of

am

considered to

Shani consented and

the most powerful, the richest and the

be the greatest of the gods."

Sn'batsa,

then

noblest of the kings

them

as

Lakshini

"Brother Shani,

the

is

gods

of all the

than that of the goddess of

far greater

the

man

fittest

was selected by
go and put the

living,

to

whom

to

question.

They both appeared

in his royal court

and were

"Oh king" said

Lakshmi or I am
the fearful god, "Tell us whether
Good king Sribatsa knew
the greater of the two."
surely who is there in this world
not what to say
who does not know Lakshmi to be the greatest and
Who does not know
the best of all the goddesses ?
received by the king

Shani

that

was

honour.

the

is

in all

most hated

afraid to offend the

angry god.

But king S7'ibatsa

He most humbly

prayed to them to allow him time to answer their

question.

He most

again next day,

He
silver

them

to

come

reply to their query.

placed a golden throne on his right and a

one on his

appeared

respectfully asked

when he would

in

his

left.

When

court

the god and the goddess

he stood up and requested

SRIBATSA AND CHINTA.

II7

them to take their seats. Shani walked up and sat

on the silver throne, Laksh7ni in her own majesty
sat on the golden one.
Then the king sat upon his
throne and addressing the fearful god thus said, ''Oh

now judge yourself who is the greater

You have sat on the silver throne which
on my left. You know that a golden throne

god, you can

of the two.
is

placed

placed on the right

is

more honourable than the throne

on which you have thought

The

fit

to take

your seat."

anger knew no bounds

fearful god's

he

the court of king Sribatsa resolving upon taking

left

He vowed

vengeance.

power

to

show something

he determined to see

how

the

of his great

goddess of

wealth could save him from his terrible anger.

[2]
Poor
Lakshmi
vengeance

king Sribatsa
could
of the

not

save

god

of evil.

of his destiny and drove

from

his door.

"My

with king Sribatsa,

you,

but

be able to

shall

and the benign goddess

him from the fearful

fell,

away

Shani took possession

the goddess of wealth

dear son," said she when parting

"I

have been forced to leave

be always by you.

rule over

Shani

your destiny very long.

will
I

not

shall

soon come back again and make you happy and

prosperous."

"Mother," replied the king, "let the

evil

TALES OF IND.

Il8

god

me,

ruin

and the best

By

but

still

with plague,

the

down

were taken possession

Fields

around
of

repairs,

by the wild beasts

and wells were dried up, and towns became

What had been once

high mounds of ruins.

prosperous

a.nd

of

all

want

for

prosperous

was run over

strifes.

and jungle grew up

crumbled

houses

rivers

Sha?ii the

of king Sribatsa

famine and internal

left untilled

villages

consider you the greatest

the evil influences of

and happy kingdom

were

of all the gods."

became

kingdom,

a happy

and

barren

depopulated desert.

King Sribatsa asked his wife Chintd to fly from

the palace and to go to her father's kingdom^
but
she refused to leave her husband. She resolved to

follow him in weal or in woe.

Finding her resolute,

king Sribatsa asked her to take

all

her jewels In a

bundle and to follow him, for he had determined to

leave

his

night they

plague-stricken kingdom.
left their capital

which had been taken

Sliaiii,

fast

as

the god of

all

and

for

evils.

fled

At the dead

of

from the land

own by the fearful

They fled and ran as
his

they could, to leave a place where death and

misery were dancing in their demonaic merriments.

They came
found an old

man

to the
sitting

side

of

a great river and

on a broken boat. There was

no other boat to take them

across

the

river

so

SRIBATSA AND CHINTA.

determined

they

boat and to
said

*'Yes,"

he,

side of the river,

the

can

^'I

dilapidated

that

in

services

the

of

one man. You better wait, give

shall reach

It first,

and

The king consented

all

then

shall

man

the

old

boat,

put

but as soon as

man,

the

to

soon

know, that
the

left

it

was the work

place

it

which

was placed on
the

boat,

The king and

vanished from their sight.

came

one by

of the river."

bundle

the

me

the earthly wealth of theirs on the broken

boat of the old

the

man*

not stand more

will

one take you two on the other bank

contained

old

you on the other

take

but my boat

than the v^eight of

the bundle

cross

to

utilize

II9

hoping

of

rid

all

the queen

Shani,

get

to

river,

so they

of the evil

influences of the god.

They had not any food for two days, so the

who used to distribute alms freely, had to
beg for his food and ask for alms of some fishermen,
who were fishing in a small streamlet. They gave
great king,

him a
cook
fire

and as they had nothing

fish
it,

the

fish.

But

it

grew

so

queen knew not how to place

husband.

She thought

streamlet to have

she placed

hand,

dress

and

queen Chintd collected some woods, made a

and burnt the

that

else to

it

dived

it

to clean

washed.

into the water,

It

it

it

blackened
before her

and went

But
flew

down and disappeared

alas, as

to

the

soon as

away from her

into the water.

TALES OF IND.

120

The poor queen could not control her feelings and

The king hastened to his beloved
wife and when he learnt of what had happened, he

burst out into tears.

asked the queen to leave the place at once,

evil

god was

for the

there.

[3]
They came
wood-cutters
place very

one

of

and

honest

rolled

all

that

Brahmin

he

It

women
of

and

love

the

village as

at

appeared

'There

all

the

before

good

''Oh
is

last

one day,

boat along the river

of the

wood-

and notwithand

merchant

the

was

astrologer.

god,

the ground

struck

efforts of

did not move.

guised

in

by the side of the village

The boat

cutters.

standing

evil

the

them.

Thus they passed many days

of

all

wood-cutters,

a rich merchant passed in

that

place

men,

Thus they became the objects

simple but

the

the

just

friends with the poor

king with his beloved queen, lived

it

not in

if

queen by her loving conduct drew

the

towards her.

by

luxury

live happily,

The king made

affluence.

village, inhabited

to a

last

king and the queen found the

and comfortable,

quiet

where they could

of

at

the

his

men

doing of the god

the

merchant as a

Sir,"

woman

said the dis-

called

Chinta

SRIBATSA AND CHINTA.

in

village,

this

touches your boat,

she

if

Nothing

move.

The

else

be able

will

merchant hastened to the hut

unhappy queen used

was

Chinta

absent,

also

merchant

man

the

by

her.

the

for her

kindness.

the

go

But

the

appeal

piteous

the

king
to

they pressed her to go and help

his

in

On

it."

w^hich

husband.

women were much moved by

the

move

in

unwilling

permision of her

without the

to

wood-cutting,

in

will

it

appealed to her

He prayed

come to her rescue.

The men were out
was

He

to live.

to

of

121

difficulty

if

that

was

possible

the importunities

account of

of

her

neighbours, she at last agreed to go and accompanied

As soon as she got on

moved and floated down the

the merchant to his boat.

board the boat,

The

river.

ungrateful merchant

the queen to

were

it

accompany him

Thus Chinta was not allowed

forcibly carried

When
wife

last

you are

my

to

if

she

come down, but was

king returned home, he learnt that

god

''Oh

victorious.

of

evil," cried he,

You have

stolen

goddess of happiness and

the village and

He

he thought

away.

was gone.

his

side

the

for

would be no future danger.

there

in his boat,

determined to force

went

travelled

nowhere any trace

in

bliss."

from

He

"At

my
left

search of his missing wife.

all

over the country, but he found

of

his

beloved queen.

He was

TALES OF IND.

122

that

told
wife,

a merchant in a boat had taken away his

he went

down

He

the bank.

the

river,

walking

all

along

every boat that passed,

scrutinized

but found not his darling wife.

At

he came to the kingdom of Bahuy a

last

chieftain of great

power and wealth.

charming daughter named, Bhodra,

He had a most
for whom the

king had declared a Shayambara and had sent invitations to

all

the chiefs

King Sribatsa,

and potentates.

although he was living as a poor wood-cutter, thought

of attending the great

princess would

He was

assembly

not allowed a seat,

assembly underneath a

the

which the beautiful

in

make her choice

of a husband.

but

he stood near

The

tree.

and stood before the great assembly,

princes

their

in

jewelled garb and in their

she scrutinized each

them, but she passed them
array

and

all

to

the

place where

round her neck and placed

came
royal

every one of

and came

the disguised

She took the garland

standing.

princess

she saw the

straight

wood-cutter was

of flowers

which was

round that of king

it

Sribatsa.

There
the

humiliated

from

were

assembly
;

titterings

king

Baku

but he could

and hissings
felt

himself

all

over

terribly

not prevent his daughter

making her own choice

of

a husband.

He

ordered his ministers to provide the princess and

SRIBATSA AND CHINTA.

her husband with

all

the necessaries of

would never be allowed

12[

life,

but they

to enter the palace again.

[4]
The

princess

left

her father's

and went

palace

away with the wood-cutter, whom she had thought

They lived in a house in
fit to make her husband.
suburb of the city and were provided with

the
that

they w^anted to

all

make them comfortable and

happy.

He

But king Sribatsa was not happy.

be possibly happy without

by

He knew

his side.

his

the

that

could not

beloved wife Chinta

Goddess

wealth

of

was always taking care of him and providing him

with happiness and comfort, he knew that the fearful God Shani would have to leave him soon; he

knew, he would get back

his

loving wife and his

\

happy kingdom;

knowing

full

well

all

that

would

happen, he could not be happy without his beloved

He

Chinta.

sent

men

to

watch every

and to

river

over the

country with the promise of handsome rewards; he

search every boat; he sent emissaries

himself often rode out to see

At

last

prevented

his

if

men caught

the merchant

all

he could find her out.

hold

to proceed

of

a boat and

further.

King

Sribatsa was informed and he hastened to the boat.

TALES OF

124

Yes,

was the very merchant who

it

away

the poor queen,

The king

The man

queen.

protection

the

order to

carried

in

which

confiscated

man and ordered

the property of the wicked

search the boat in

forcibly

was the very boat

it

she was kept a prisoner.

to

IND.

find

his

men

his

beloved

Baku and prayed

ran to king

all

for

king called for his son-in-law and

when he appeared

he asked for an

in his royal court,

explanation.

King Sribatsa then

history;

away

he

his

told

told

him

all

about his sad

him how the wicked man carried

queen and how he had kept her prisoner

in his boat.

King Bahuy with

all

his retinue

accompanied by

king Sribatsa, went to the merchant's boat.

There

they found the unhappy queen pale and haggard in

the hold of the boat, hand and foot bound in chains.

The queen was soon made

the

palace

merriment

in

all

great

free

pomp.

over the city

and was taken to

There were joy and

king Baku made every

possible arrangement to give the king and the queen

a grand reception, befiitting their high rank.

King Sribatsa passed a few days in the capital

Bdhu and then he proceeded to his own
kingdom accompanied by his two loving wives.

of king

The God

of

evil,

Shaniy

left

them and

their

kingdom; there were again prosperity and happiness

SRIBATSA AND CHINTA.

domain over which the good king

in the vast

to

the

by

and graced

land
reign,

God
*

The moral
wealth

it is

man

of jthis tale

to

is

used

The preceding
the

lowest

Both happiness and

apparent.

and poverty, with

equal power

tale

who

equally powerful

has

made

rule

shows that

depth of misery,

but

vice
in

over the

and
this

sin
tale

man

often suffers the

of poverty out of the

unknowable laws

shov/n that even very good and virtuous

pangs of misery and wants

of Providence

she

quarrelled with

and vindictive temper^"

destiny of man.

bring a

when she

misery and was driven out of the land

his fearful

misery,

place where

the

the fatal day,

till

of

ruled.

goddess of wealth, again smiled over

Lakshini, the
the

125

the gods of prosperity and poverty

and strong, with the

both to rule over the destiny of man.

full

and equal authority on

PRAHLADA.

[1]

fHERE were in ancient

time two great tyrants

named Hiranyakshya and Hiranyakashyap

who conquered almost whole of India. They trampled
down all the established institutions and sneered at
the name of religion. Vice and sin were their
favourites

pastimes

debauchery and carnality were their fond

men were

the objects of their cruelty and

the gods were those of their hatred.

The

bitterest

hatred and the deadliest enmity

they bore for the great Preserver,

Vishnu.

would always wage war against him

wreck

their severest

They

they would

vengeance upon those who were

PRAHLADA.

worshippers

his
off

and

the temples of Vishnu were blown

were desecrated by the Chandalas!^

his idols

Yagma and pujah,

Religion and society,

under

destroyed

I2J

regime

the

of

were

all

two wicked

the

brothers.

But unknowable are the ways of Providence.

Hiranyahshya was killed when he went to fight with

germ of the poison which would kill

Hiranyakashyapu grew in the birth of his own son.

the gods and the

This boy was named Prahlada,

He was

as he.
in

creation

were

the incarnation of

kindness,

his ruling feelings

of his great but

He was
teach him

good.

wicked

None was so good

all that was good

benevolence, affection, love

he was a thorough contrast

father.

placed under a tutor with instructions to

hatred towards

He was

all

that

to learn all sorts of

to be taught all the intricate

ways

was virtuous and

he was

wickedness

and

of vice

should bear the bitterest hatred towards the

God

Preservation and the deadliest enmity towards

worshippers.
different

But

metal.

alas,

He

but that which was

declared his

love

the

Vishnu and

He not only refused to be

mend his evil ways and
*

all

of
his

of a

refused to learn anything else

good and virtuous

for

made

boy was

He

sin.

he openly

his worshippers.

bad, but asked his tutor to

taught his play-mates to be

Chandalas are the lowest and the most degraded caste.

128

TALES OF

good and kind and

IND.

God who was the

good and who so kindly ruled

to love the great

fountain-spring of

all

and preserved the great universe.

him,

The

tutor

but

to

upbarided him,

no

The

effect.

chastised

him,

bat

days of wickedness

were gone and the goodness flourished everywhere.

Vice and Sin

The

fled,

giving place to virtue and

was alarmed

tutor

he knew not what to do

was

king would be awfully offended and he

aware that
of

his

head would be severed

young

the

the

fully

for the obstinacy

no other means

Finding

prince.

love.

of

saving himself from the wrath of the great king, the

poor tutor went to the king,

told
all

him

the

had happened.

that

all

fell

court trembled

upon

his

knees and

The king frowned,

the tutor fainted out of fear.

and ordered a man

But the king pardoned him

to

bring the prince to his royal presence.

[2]
Prahlada came
frowns of

and

He

evil ?

great

his

and does ever goodness

sublime

countenance

appearance drew reverence from

present.

prince

The

great

majestically

royal throne.

fear the

stood calm and majestic, proud

king's

all

heart

and

lovely

those that were

shook as

the

walked up and stood before his

PRAHLADA.

I29

''Prahldda/' heg3.n the king,

you disobey your tutor

You

love Vishnu and worship him

who

Is

Vishnu with

people hate

my

and

behave properly

never

"Father," said the young prince,

Vishnu.'^

the source of

all

good

Hari"^

is all

my

name

the

utter

greatest

and

Go, boy,

their heart.

all

that

told

his lessons.

Perhaps you do not know that

enemy.

is

am

"I

you mind not

''

of

Vishnu

How

love.

The king was terribly provoked

none ever dared utter the name of Vishnu before
His own son not only utters but praises his
him.
His face
greatest enemy before his very face
can

him

forget

?"

became

a burning furnace

like

fire-balls,

his hairs stood

eyes

his

on their end.

rolled

like

"Ungrateful

boy," roared he, "I pardon you for your impudence,

because you are

my

but

son,

beware

mend your ways.

you have uttered the name of
Be
I

careful to

If

that

my

of

anger.

again hear that

god

for

whom

bear the bitterest hatred, you will not escape,

your

life will

The Prince
king went

no,

not be worth a feather."

retired, the court

great

In

dissolved

and the

anger to complain to his queen

outrageous conduct of his wicked son.

against the

She brought the

carressed him

before

him,

kissed

him,

and then entreated him to give up

F/^/z;z-worship.
*

prince

Hari

"My
is

darling boy," said the queen,

another name of Vishnu.

TALES OF IND.

Ija

"Do

He

He

not offend your father.

do

can

everything,

he

if

very choleric.

is

loses

temper.''

his

"Dear mother," replied the boy, "how can you ask

me

to do

the

god

his tiny

be wicked and vicious

of love

words

my

of

my

He

father.

god

sold his soul to the

love

prince

mdnd the wicked

has gone astray

of

Mother,

evil.

he has

hear me,,

loving Hari, he will give you eternal bliss."

he

kissed her dear

son,,

"Dear Prahlada, you do not know your

said,

father

The young

not

The mother again and again

and

Is-

hands round his mother's neck and

"Mother, mother dear, do

said,

he not the source of

Is

all bliss ?"

happiness,

all good,, all

threw

Should

it ?

Hari

not

is

Be

a fearful man.

careful not to utter

these words before him."

Prince had tasted the ambrosia that

But the

makes man imortal

bliss of

universe

How

he had tasted the unknowable

heavenly love that

;

he

is

the living source of the

had tasted that which

could he control himself

his feelings

were uncontrollable,

deep the spring

of

he not

eternal love,

distribute heavenly bliss to all that

sang the sweet name of

name

of his

God

of love.

Hari

with the song of

seat of his worship

is

heavenly.

His heart was

only drank

but he

came

full,

began to

to him.

He

Hari and he danced

at the

was

filled

Soon the

every

every man

city

house became the

and woman threw

PRAHLADA.

himself at the

feet

of

the

131

God Vishnu

great

for

salvation and for eternal bliss.

The

great king's

anger knew no bounds

he

ordered the guards to hasten and to bring the prince

before

him

killed,

in

irons.

and

ministers
for

told

He

held

council

them that the boy

he be allowed to grow up,

if

of

his

must be
would be

it

impossible to stop him from spreading mischief through

They agreed and

out the kingdom.

were called

the executioners

in.

The Prince was brought and placed

"Foolish and arrogant boy," roared the

royal throne.
king,

"Did

pernicious

on

his

love.

before the

not order you to desist from uttering the

name

of

Vishnu

.^"

knees and

said, "Father,

Pray

his

for

eternal

The young prince fell

Hari is the God of

love

and you

will

be

The king rose up in an indomitable

rage," Take away the boy," roared he, "Kill him this
instant."
The prince was dragged away.

blessed."

[3]
A
the

GREAT

fire

was made and

good prince was thrown

the

virtuous

and

into that all-devouring

Prahlada clasped his tiny hands and

prayed, "Oh my loving Hari^
He stood
save me."
element.

into the blazing

scorched.

fire,

but not a hair of his

head was

TALES OF IND.

32

The executioners took him on

mountain and

nearest

bound

foot

of Hari and leaped Into the yawning

He came down upon the earth, but not a

name

uttered the
gulf below.

scratch

top of the

The young prince

deepest abyss.

the

Into

the

threw him hand and

was made upon

body.

his

He was then dragged away to a place where

there were many wild and mad elephants. He was
thrown before these

huge

their

fearful beasts to

But,

feet.

lo

they

be trodden under

came fawning

him, played and danced round him

of

them raised him up with

on

its

its

and

at

at

one

last

trunk and placed him

back.

The executioners took him away and threw him

where snakes

into the cage

kept,

but even they,

kingdom,

of

that they

the

king.

had

failed

They
In

They sharpened

behead

him,
to

kill

they
the

death,

they were

him

executing the condemned

swords and tried to

their

prince, but

saved by

smallest thing of the

universe.
of

love

all in

Him who

him whom the God

?

but

did not dare inform

adopted a thousand and one

young

Prince had been

breast

were

servilest of the poisonous

his

of

prince.

means

of the deadliest type

^the

did not touch him.

They despaired
afraid

Who
takes

vain.

The

preserves the

could destroy

on His

loving

PRAHLADA.

The king was

tonished

He

do.

at

ordered the

finally

He was

informed.

last

he was bewildered

133

as-

he knew not what to

prince

be brought

to

before him.

Prahlada came and stood before

king stared at him,

He

his fiery eyes.

men

staggered

time

in

He

fear.
tell

his

god

the

he

The king

of evil.

majesty of demeanour

life

for the first

mind the shiverings

come near him and

felt in his

asked the prince to

him who had protected him from death.

father,^' said the prince, ''the

Preserver of
all Life,

all

The

good and virtuous

stood, as only

could stand before

at his

his father.

but the prince shivered not before

preserved,

of

to

''Dear

gods, the
God
the fountain Spring
of

all

of

the good and the loving Vishnu,

and worship,has protected me."

whom

love

"Is he so powerful,"

asked the king, "that he can protect you from

my

"Oh father," replied Prahlada,

^'Why do you ask me of his power ? He, who rules
over the universe, who is the Cause of all that we see

fearful

?"

wrath

and perceive,

is

Almighty and Omnipotent."

"Where does he live ?"

"He is every where He
;

is

Omniscient

and

Omnipresent."

The king could

he stood up

not control himself any longer

in wild rage,

and striking the

stood by his throne roared. "Tell

me,

Oh

pillar that

arrogant

TALES OF IND.

134

Hari

boy, does your

heaven and

loving eyes towards the

said, ''Yes father, when

he must be here

He

is

every where,

in this pillar too."

The king immediately took up

and struck the

The boy

exist in this pillar ?"

knelt down, raised up his

pillar

with

all

a heavy club

the strength

of a giant.

The pillar trembled from top to bottom and then fell

down in a heap. There issued from the pillar a fearful
monster,

his

body being

that of a llon.-^

It

that of a

man and

took him up on his lap, as

if

fearful

all in

it

The monster

vain.

The

rolled

thrust

in
its

He was

into parts.

off

sin all

over the land.

Prahlada prayed on
his loving

torn into pieces and

the throne, from which he spread vice and

flung

the

he

claws into the stomach of the wicked tyrant

and rent

of

head

he were a child.

king struggled, he roard, he foamed,

mortal pain, but

his

advanced towards the king and

God had

at last

and

wicked

his knees;

he knew that

appeared to

vicious.

rid

the world

The God smiled and

disappeared.
*

This appearance

Vishnu

incarnations.
Turttle,

Boar,

is

of

Vishnu

is

considered to be one of

his

said to have ten incarnations, namely Fish,

Human, Lion

(the

one

in

this

tale).

Dwarf,

ParasurAm, (who exterminated the vicious Khastryas 24 times),

Rama,

Sreekrishna,

taken birth.

He

will

and clear the world

Budha and Kalki. The last has not as yet

come as a warrior on the back of a fiery steed

of all the

wicked and vicious.

THE LOST RIN&.

[1]

MING

Dushmanta was one

rulers

of

ancient

standard was honoured

under

his

in

of

India.

the

celebrated

His

victorious

every part of the country

benign sway the people were very happy

and prosperous.

Once on a time he went out hunting and

himself in the deep

forest.

He

left

his

retinue

lost

far

behind and came alone and unattended to the holy

seat of Rishi
it

Kama.

It

was an

was a most charming garden

oasis in a desert,

in that great forest.

Beautiful flowers were spreading their sweet fragrance

all

over the place

and gliding creepers with

their

TALES OF IND.

136

many

coloured flowers were shedding their lusture on

this Nature's

Panorama. All was beauty and sublimity.

The king was charmed

advanced

to enjoy

Were

creatures of the earth

He saw
flowery

three

plants

beautiful

But what did he

it.

real or visionary ?

was

it

damsels watering the

beautiful

one

the

of

see,

they angels of heaven or

them

of

her beauty was

imagination

and he

place

the

see

to

was

exquisitely

not of this world

greatest

and

poet

the

the

finest

painter could not reach her charms.

Her companions

were addressing her by the name

Shakuntaldf^

of

She was the adopted daughter of Rishi Kama ;t

she was a wild flower budded and blossomed in
the solitude of forest and asceticism.
She had not
seen this world of care and struggle

seen the

is

the best in the Sanskrit language

of the best

dramas

of the world.

great poet Kalidcisa wrote his

drama has been now

It is

Rishi

she

heaven.

When

told Rishi

Kama

bring her up.

her

of the

above

supposed to be one

original tale from which the

is in

is

the Mahdbharata.

This

the daughter of the celebrated

Manokd

human being
all

it is

mother being Manokd, a songstress

she was born,

could not take a

translated into all European Languages.

said that Shakuntala

Viswdmiira,

The

drama

had not

sin fight with virtue

Perhaps we need not say that the drama

name

where vice and

field

left

of

her in the forest, for she

into the celestial region.

about the history of the

girl

But she

and asked him to

THE LOST RING.

and goodness

supremacy

for

137

she was

all

simplicity

and innocence.

She was

young and

of

full

grace which was beyond the power of

Her

beauty and

that

description.

all

rising breasts, her flashing cheeks, her rosy lips,

her healthy look reflected the blossoming mind and

heart, that

birds

were incased

The

Beauty.

charming temple of

in that

flowery plants were her children,

and beasts were her companions

Nature and Nature lived

The king found her watering

was imprinted on

his

end

the lovely plants

in all his life

of his

life,

his

to see her

thirst

her beauty

loving heart and her charms

He

through his every nerve.

and continued

tree

in her."^

he never saw such beauty

thrilled

the

she lived in

for

if

stood behind a

he saw her

till

the

seeing her would not

have been satiated.

A
sit

buzzing beef came flying at her and tried to

upon her most charming

face.

Perhaps the poor

innocent thing took that face for a smiling

tried

to

drive

and attempted

it

away, but

to sit again.

it

lily.

She, having been

troubled and bothered, entreated her friends to

to her rescue.
*

The

But they were enjoying

readers

should mark

the

at her

similarity

of

The

exact insect was Bhramara, which

is

much
come

embarKalidasa^s

Shakuntala with Shakespear's Miranda (Tempest).

t

She

flew round and round

not a bee.

TALES OF

338

IND.

rassment. "Dear Shakuntalciy^ said one/'How can

help you out of your difficulty

domain

The

ruler of all this

Pray to him to come

king Dushmanta.

is

we

and grant you protection."

The king found

and excuse
to

to

Shakuntald and

me

am

He came up

ladies.

''Who asked protection from

said,

The

here present."

their friend

at

be a very good opportunity

this to

appear before the

ladles

were joking

they never expected to see the real

They were taken aback, they were ashamed,

they knew not what to do and say. But the king
king.

by

and courtesy revived

his graclousness

confidence and courage

as

If

they were soon

into
all

them

talking,

they were old friends.

[2]
It

was no wonder

with

love

beautiful

human

so bold

and proud

Kama

that

Dushmanta.
shape,
;

her

Shakuntald would

She

so
lot

saw

never

so

graceful,

was

majestic,

with his wrinkled face, his cumbrous hair, his

just
*

very

in

to see her old father

hoarse voice and grave countenance.^

was

fall

such a

blossoming

Here again the

much

apparent.

similarity of

Shakun tald and Miranda

Miranda saw only her old

so did Shakuntald her father

wtr mind

she was just at that period of

Kama.

father Prospero,

is

THE LOST RING

life

when

grow keen,

the feelings

all

after enfolding some

hankers

She

bossom.

when the mind

one into

with the king,

love

fell in

139

loving

its

and knew

not why.

The king was already

When

loving Shakuntala ?

who

eagerly desire to unite,

Who

in love.

could help

two such loving hearts

could prevent them from

They were married

Gandharva"^

doing

it.

way.

Their love was the love of Nature and their

marriage was also

were

no

no

observed

They

and

folliage

sanof

he had come to
relatives in the

bliss

in

husband and

rather

King
and

he forgot that he had a

left

What

outside.

he forgot that

was there

fault

sorts of marriage systems, chiefly

The marriage

in

and

friends

his

eight,

which no formal ceremony

exchange garlands

wife, is called

the

of flowers

and

Gandharva.

modern Hindus such marriages are not recognised.

is

which two lovers privately or before only a few of

their selected friends

selves

responsibilities

camp

There are various

held and

flowers

and birds

Nature herself blessed their

hunt and had

amongst the Hindus.

is

grove,
altar

lost himself in the whirlpool of love

kingdom with heavy

There

formalities

Oh, how happy were they

couch.

concomitant

its

sylvan

adorned their marriage

Dushmanta

no

rites,

were present and no friends

in

the bridal music

nuptial

no

relatives

met

the

marriage of Nature.

the

ceremonies,

invited.

in

condemned

as immoral.

call

them-

Amongst

the

Such conduct

TALES OF IND.

140

then of poor Shakuntald

She was the Impersonation

and Innocence

of simplicity

never

she

happy

before,

tasted

the

romance surely she was

but she never knew what pleasures

intoxicating liquor of love and

really meant. She was unconsciously carried away,

where she did not know. Her father was absent
from home
her companions, Instead of putting
;

obstruction

helped

her pleasures,

to

her

She drank deep the eternal spring

matter.

In

the

of love.

They passed a few days in their own sweet

company
day and night they were both together
;

like

of a

two loving doves cooing

bushy

that he

had to

would he bid

To Shakuntald

parting meant.
world,

she

world

never

there was no outside

there

that

felt

that the pleasures, in

deeply drowned, would

it

deepest recess

was an external

except her dear lover and her sweet

She thought
But

in the

Then king Dushmanta remembered

go back to his kingdom. But how
adieu to one who never knew what

tree.

alas,

Dushmanta' s

was not

all

So

till the end of her life.

was not a poetic romance,

last

life

Imagination

hard and painful

self.

which she had been

there

realities In his

were

care-worn

realities,
life.

Dushfnanta had to part with his

beloved Shakuntala he tried to make the moment
king

as

less

painful

removed one

as

of his

lay

best

In

rings

his

power.

He

form his finger and

THE LOST RING.

put

on that

it

" as soon as
to take

of

thing that

"My

Shakuntalcl.

my

shall reach

you there. You

capital,

be

will

14I

my

darling," said he

that he said

all

every

much

but this

men

send

Shakuntald did

posses will be yours."

not understand

shall

chief queen

she

understood that her lover would leave her for some

time and she must allow him to go, notwithstanding
pain that she

the great

knew

that

doing

much

She never

it.

She

pain.

fel^

days of happiness were over and the days

that her
of tears

felt in

love produces so

had come,

[3]
What

King Dushmanta was gone.

had come over her
of,

Her

a change

birds were not taken care

her flowers were neglected; the creepers were not

cared

for,

the plants were not watered.

had been changed

in

Every thing

that lovely bower;

its

life

had

been snatched away.

Shakuntald
she

away

was

always

brooding

absent.

that distant city,

to

repaired.
girlish

was

appeared.

whereto

Elasticity of her character

sprightllness

She had

her rising

of
lost

followed the path of the

something

over

Her mind
her

had

had

lover

was gone
youth had

flown

the
dis-

her heart and her mind had

man who made

her so happy.

TALES OF

142

IND.

One day she was sitting at the door of her father's

when the fearful Rishi Durbdsha^ came

cottage,
to

her and

her

told

Again

her guest.

Intended

he

that

and

again

but his words did not reach her ears.

her,

so absent In

mind

telling

be

called

She was

not hear what the

that she could

Rishi was

great

to

Rishi

the

He

her.

took offence.

''Arrogant girl," said he, ''You dare niglect Durbashci

in the

thought of others

whom you

The angry words

thunder

He,

of

the

they reached the

They came and

fell

at

whom you

think and for

and neglect you."

pine, shall forget

fearful

Rishi

fell

like

ears of her companions.

his

feet

they wept, they

prayed,they entreated him to forgive poor Shakiintald.

She

had

too

position
ness.

she

The

"Well,"

fell

become

ill-tempered

said

fully

conscious

he,

Risht was at

"My words

her

moved.

will

be able

Shakuntald had the ring

to recognise you."

king on her linger

last

cannot be retracted.

However, show him some token and he

no cause

of

on her knees and prayed for forgive-

there

of the

was a token, so there was

for anxelty.

But days passed, and none came from the king

to take

her away.

She pined and pined and

Diirbasha was a great

angry temper.

Rishi,

notorious for his

like a

hot and

THE LOST

no consolation

Her

she

was so miserable

on returning from pilgrimage was

father

what had happened

told

145

Her broken-heart knew

away.

flower faded

torn

RING.

He

his absence.

in

was-

not sorry to learn that his beloved Shakuntald had

been married

to

He

king.

great

the

thought

it

proper however to send her to her royal husband

without any further delay, for he
of

He was

kings.

afraid

the king might forget the poor

He
were

despatched

her

escort

to

What

y^

ways

the

girl of the forest.

and two

sent her to the king

Hastinapura

knew

by long separation

lest

of

to

pupils

his

the

city

of

pleasure did she feel in

silent

the deep depth of her loving heart,when she started to

meet her lover

but how sorry was she to part

her beloved companions, with

near to her
to cut

What

herself

that

a great struggle

from

off

all

She bade farewell to

most beloved father

all

it

w^hat

and

beasts

capital

her

all

her early associations.

left

the holy seat of her

Her

tears.

in

companions
her favourite

had happened.

Life
*

to

looked wildly at her, not knowing

Yes, she was gone.

the

was

and

kissed her and wept upon her breasts

birds

with

was dear and

of

the forest

The

King Dushmanta belonged

was Hastinapura.

beauty, the

was gone.
to

the

See the Battle

Majesty^

The wild

forest-

Solar Dynasty, whose

of Kiirukshetra.

TALES OF IND.

144

flower had been despatched to the city in order to be

The

transplanted in the royal garden.

simplicity

and

innocence of Nature had been sent to be mixed

up with the vice and sin of the world.

the

They

and Shakuntala went

to a river

Fortune was against her

to bathe.

have

came

all

her loving husband, slipped

lost

the

in

water.

palpitating heart

she

How

as ill-luck

who

loved her with

and with what

tell

the

all

young

she fondly hoped that

could by no

heart,

his

all

but alas,

it,

She did not

Rishis what had happened

would

her by

her finger and was

off

eagerly

searched for

her efforts were in vain

he,

the ring, that had been presented to

it,

means forget her.

They came to the city of Hastinapura. The
young Rishis took her to the royal court and
presented her to the great king.

never saw such royal grandeur

before so
like

many noblemen and

an Aspen

Poor Shakuntala
she never appeared

warriors

''Oh great king,"

said

the

young

have brought with us Shakuntala,

kind to marry when

She

is

she trembled

leaf.

you

Rishis,

whom you were

graced

our

holy

the adopted daughter of our preceptor,

celebrated

Rishi

Kama.

Do

'We

kindly

receive

so

seat.

the

your

wife and permit us to go back to our forest-home."

The king was

astonished,

the

courtiers

looked at

THE LOST RING.

145

one another, the assembled people eagerly tried to

The king
see the daughter of the great Rishi.

knew

not what to say

offended,

but

he frowned, he

by no means he could utter angry

words to those who wore the holy garb

^'Reverend
to hear

replied he

sir,"

that

is

my

call

the

first

wife,

time

of asceticism.

really astonished
to say.

do not

am
whom you have been pleased

was never addressed by me.

see her in

my

This

Perhaps some-

life.

wrong with her brains." The young Rishis

themselves very much insulted they prevented

thing
felt

am

ever married any body lately.

sorry to say that the lady,

to

"I

what you have been pleased

remember

himself

felt

is

and

the king from proceeding

further

know

false-hood.

that

we never speak

better than a knave

advantage

of her

to entice a poor girl

down.

''Brothers" said she to the

''Let us leave this place

reprove the king.

"King,
are

and

to take

no

inocence and simplicity."

Poor Shakuntald with superhuman

feelings

said,

You

effort

kept her

young

Rishis,

and go back. You need not

know

it is all

my

destiny."

"We

have suffered enough insult," said one in anger, "For

your foolishness and stupidty." "Come" said the other,
"to remain any longer in this place

the royal court and went back

*

We

is

sin."

need not say that the strange conduct

the result of Eishi Durbasha's curse.

10

They

left

to their forest home."^

oi the

king was

TALES OF IND.

146

Shakuntala went back broken-hearted.

hopes disappeared^

the days

All her

happiness were

of her

over.

She gave

to

birth

named Damanaka.
her

of

life

and he was
joy in

misery and despair.

None was

Damanaka

so

would run

and

spirited

bold

every inch of him

When

birth.

a lovely boy,

The boy was her only

was

he

only

years

six

of

and

cubs of tigers

the

after

young

as

indicated his royal

age he

lions

and

bring them to play with.

He was
beauty of

the joy of
the

all

all

Rishis

the

a great prince

education befitting

he was the

The Rishis gave him

forest.

the

he grew up to

be a great scholar, a great statesman and a great

warrior.

But many years rolled away and king DusJunanta

never enquired

away
her

She pined

poor Shakuntala.

of

in the solitude of wilderness,

in

brooding over

own misery and disappointment.

At

ring

was found.

last the ring

when

it

Shakuntala.

who found

it

But

it

in its

piece of jewellery

fisherman

devoured the

was soon caught by

a fisherman

was a very valuable

stomach.

It

ring which could adorn

it

was a

only the fingers of royal potentates.

poor

fish

from the finger of the unhappy

fell

went

to

Thus when the

a jeweller to

sell

it,

he

THE LOST RING.

Was handed over

to officials

He was

thief.

147

and was arrested as a

brought before the royal

he was placed before the great

sentence

king

court

how he had

he was asked to explain

receive

to

got

the ring.

The king saw

his

No

the ring.

glance on that

fatal ring,

sooner he had cast

than he grew pale and

The sad tale of Shakuiztala flashed into

mind he remembered everything, he remember-

stunned.
his

ed poor Shaku7ztald with

remembered
that he

that he had married her, he

had driven her away from

remembered

his royal presence.

into his

his great love for her returned with

hundred-

of poisonous darts

vehemence

fold

he

went piercing

Hundreds
heart

her great love,

all

remorse

stang him to the very

quick.

He

he

ordered the fisherman to be at once released,

dissolved

royal

his

court,

he

ordered

immediate preparation should be made

to the holy seat of

Rtshi

He encamped
alone
the

in

the

want

of

the

The
of

him

to

outside the forest and

went

He came

near

great Rishi

there had been

flowery plants had grown wild

loving care

of

Shakuntala

beauty and grace, that he saw when he met her

this lovely

go

Kama.

search of his missing love.

holy-seat

much change.
for

just

for

that

bower, were

all

gone.

the
in

TALES OF

I4S

IND.

But he saw something strange. He found a

boy playing near the Rishi's cottage and dragging
mercilessly a

He

young

one corner to the other.

tiger from

never saw such a lovely and spirited boy

him upon

heart longed to take

lap and

his

his

caress

him.

He advanced and came

finding

'What
you

is

call

name.

your name

Who

He

*'

boy,

tiger

said

and

the king,

man whom
Ddmanaka!^

the happy
is

not know my
man and does not

do

a wicked

is

Is

*'My name

your father ?"

the

replied

up the

*'My lovely boy,"

looked at him.

The boy

him.

to

stranger near gave

father's

love

my

mother."

The

king's

heart

palpitated

quicker and his voice faltered

is

your mother,

my

child ?"

his

when he
'There

blood ran

'Who
my mother

asked,
is

coming," said the boy and ran towards the door of

the cottage from which issued a lady.

Shakuntala saw the king and stood

like

a statue.

She could not advance a step, she could not utter a

word. He came near her and asked forgiveness
for

his

past

conduct.

He went on

reason of his strange conduct,

to explain the

but poor

Shakuntala

fainted.

We

need not add that king Dushmanta took

wife with him to his capital.

his

There were joy and

THE LOST RING.

merriment

all

over the kingdom.

149

She was given a

reception befitting the queen of Hastinapura.

Her son was named Bharata, and was recogand honoured as the crown-prince"^ of the

nized

royal house
*

the

It is

name

and Shakunfala was very very happy.

said that from the

of Bhiratabarsha.

name

of this

prince

India

derived

THE BOY DEVOTEE.

[1]

MING

Uttyanapada

had two

Suruchi and Suniti.

most

favourite

wife

of

the

wives,

namely

The former was

the

king and the latter

much neglected by him.

named Uttyama and Suniti
Dhruvaf^
One day the king was
son of his favourite
boy when

was consequently

very

Suruchi had a son,

a

son

called

caressing

the

Dhi'uva was standing by.

*

boy

in

In a previous tale

whom

themselves

He was

named Prahldda,

devotion and love of

God

about

years

readers have found

intuitively manifested

but in this tale they would find a boy

by incessant meditation and fervent prayers.

five

who

gets

them

THE BOY DEVOTEE.

He grew

anxious

151

get on

to

his father's

of

age.

lap

and to be caressed by him as he was doing his

But his step-mother was present

brother Uttyama.

the

king, though willing, dared not caress the son

He

of his other wife.

asked him not to come to him,

but to go to his mother.

''Boy," said the favourite

queen, ''Do not aspire to

on the royal throne or

sit

you are not born

to go to your royal father, because

Know

of me.

Your mother

your position and behave accordingly.

no better than a beggarly

is

you are a beggar's brat."

boy, but he

felt

to his mother,

DhriLva,

the insult keenly

Who

bring tears

into

was mere a

he went straight

"My

on her breast and wept.

fell

darling dear," said SunitZy

you weep.

woman and

"Tell

me

your eyes

Dhruva

?"

made

w^ho has

has become so hard-hearted

in

as

to

broken

voice and half-suppressed sobs told his mother what

had happened and what her step-mother had

"My

"I

will give

you a position higher than that

the kings of the world."

all

God and

poor boy," replied his mother, "Pray to

and he

must get at

me how
"What can I

Tell

said.

by

this high position

to get

it."

advice you

"Well
?

of

"Mother," said the boy,

my

my own

exertion.

boy," said Suniti,

and

Pray to Hari^

He

can make you the Lord of the Creation."

*

Hari

Vishnu.

is

one of the names of God

generally

it

means

TALES OF

152

IND.

The boy left her mother and went out. He

became pensive and roamed about the town. He met
Narada on the way and asked him where he could
go and get Hari. The great Rishi was astonished
to

the

find

Soul

most

in the lips of

important

a boy,

five

question

years old.

about

He

the

questioned

him and

learnt all that had happened in the palace,

and the great determination that the boy had formed
in his

mind.

want

to

*'My dear boy," said the Rishiy

see Hari,

sure

to

come, for

His devotees and

come

to you.

Hari cannot remain

He

aloof from

lovers.''

Dhruva came back home and

that

you

go into the deepest forest and

there in fervent prayers ask him to

is

''If

told

mother

his

he had resolved to leave the palace and enter

into the forest, so that he

might

solitude

pray to

Hari\jo come to him. Suniti, finding the boy

resolute,

One day

accompanied him.
left

the city and

the royal queen

went out

went

in

at the

into a very

made a hut

dead of night they

deep

There

foxest.

out of leaves and

Dhruva

to pray.

[2]
It
plants,

mingled

was a
creepers

with

deep

and

hardly

in

Branches

bushes.

branches

entwining creepers

abounding

forest,

creepers
the

rays

trees.,

had co-

had
of

the

been

sun

THE BOY DEVOTEE.

could penetrate

into that Nature's Botanical

Beautiful

rama.

153

heaven and wild beasts were roaring

Not a human

of the sky.

where,

not

Pano-

were singing the music of

birds

was

soul

to

like

thunders

be seen any

a trace of any habitation, where

man

could get protection or shelter.

amongst wild beasts and

In this fearful forest,

poisonous

reptiles,

underneath a

were

tree.

Dhruva

boy

stood

kneeling

His hands were clasped, his eyes

mind was bent on fervent prayers,

great Hari to come to him and to bless

shut, his

prayers to

him with

his loving grace.

Days passed and he prayed and prayed, clasping

his tiny hands and raising up his tearful eyes towards
the blue expanse over his head.
Day and night,
continually for days together he prayed and prayed,

but

none came

alas,

respond to his heart-felt

to

and round him, wagging

prayers. Lions walked round

and licking

their tales

and stared

at

him,

their tongues

but dared

deadly snakes slided past

round him,

but there the

unconscious of
cried the boy,

come and

How

let

all

that

"Oh my

me

not

fearful

tigers crouched

come near him,

reptiles

rolled

boy stood, unmoved and

lay

around him.

lotus-eyed

^^Hari,''^

beautiful

Hart,

see you."

long could the great

the call of such a loving boy

God

of

How

Love withstand
long

He

could

TALES OF

154

remain

IND.

Heaven without coming

in

to such a

devotee?

He came and manifested himself before Dhruva.'^

He blessed him and asked him why he was
praying to him and what he wanted. *'0h my Hart''
replied the boy, ''Make me something which is far
higher than the kings and sovereigns of this

"Well,

my

darling boy,"

you want

'Is that all

Your prayer

Narada came

Rishi
told

him

the

king that

all

that his

exemplary

him with

said the

God had appeared

his celestial

king," said the Rishi,

by the

granted."

Uttyanapada and
son Dhruva had done. He told

devotion

glorified

Heavenly Voice.
is

king

to

and

love

grace

him

to

He had

He

being far more higher than any

and

world."

for

his

blessed

had made him a

man

"Oh

living."

"Your house has been honoured

birth of

Dhruva.

The world

the forest and honour him.

Go, hasten to
blessed

is

by

the birth of such a devotee."

The king and

came

the

to

begged
;

the queen

his

pardon

bless

us,

all

the

court

livino- in

her

the boy, they repeatedly

for their previous ill-treatment to

they kissed him and

"Do thou

with

where Suniti was

They embraced

poor hut.

him

forest

fell

at his feet

and

cried,

thy blessings are the same as

those of loving Hari, for thou art his most beloved."

*

It is

mentioned that God appeared before Dhruva

Vishnu form.

in

his

THE BOY DEVOTEE.

They

all

came

to the capital.

155

The king placed

Dhriiva on the throne and retired into a jungle

with his two dear wives.
years
bliss.

and made

his

Dliruva ruled

kingdom a land

for

many

of happiness

and

SABITRI AND SATYAVAN.

[1]

X SWAPATI
v^X

was the king

ruler beloved

of

Abani

of all his people.

He was

None was

so

good, just and generous as he.

He had a most beautiful and charming daughter,

named Sdbitri. Poets say that she was as beautiful
as Lakshmi and as accomplished as Saraswati.^ Her
heart and
ance.

mind were

as grand as her external appear-

She was the gem that adorned the royal court

oi Abani.

Lakshmi

is

the Goddess of Wealth and supposed to be

impersonation of Beauty,

and supposed

Saraswati

is

the

the Goddess of Fine Arts

to be the embodinnent of all accomplishments.

SABITRI

AND SATVAVAN.

157

She often went out with her maid, and travelled

many

over

parts of her father's kingdom.

came

to the holy-seat of Rishis

with

named

young man,

much impressed with

Satyavdn.

his beauty, grace

She talked with him and she soon

She despatched one

him.

who

the

her

youngman was

heart

Once, she

and there she met

fell

and
in

She

was

amiability.

love

with

her maids to enquire

of

she returned

home

leaving

which was too beautiful to be

behind

lost.

The maid came and told her that the name of

youngman was Satyavdn he was the son of
king Dumetsena of Abanti^ who had been driven out
of his kingdom and who had been living in this

the

holy-seat as

some years
learn

that

and son

an anchorite with his wife

Sdbitri was very

past.

much pleased

her lover was of royal parentage

his present poverty

it

did not

to

as for

matter much, for she

was the heir-apparent of her father's kingdom.

She went

to

had made a choice

her mother and told her that she

of a

living in the hermitage."^

husband

it

The queen

was Satyaz'dn
told her

husband what she had heard from her

The king wanted

*

to

of

women-.

daughter.

consult with his ministers and

Readers must have marked that

no seclusion

royal

ift

ancient India there was

They were not married

a free hand in making choice of their husbands.

early and they

had

TALES OF

15^

IND.

Narada ;^' for personally he

away his charming daughter

especially with the Rishi

was not

willing to give

to an anchorite boy.

Fortunately one day

court and the king

him

out,

was spared the trouble

the

for

Narada appeared

happened and the resolve

made

to

marry the boy

Narada^

told

him

that

his

of the forest.

up the idea

''Give

his

in

hunting

great Rishi used to be always on

King Aswapati

the move.

of

of

had

that

all

daughter had
''Oh king/' said

You
The

marriage.

this

cannot marry your daughter to SatyavanP

grew

king

you,

he

anxious

and

the

Rishi,

said

''Satyavdn,^^

beautiful
fatality,

and

the

reason.
as

w^ell-born

the

fittest

fatality,

match

daughter,

hangs

in

for

your

but

alas,

He

over his head.

a year after from this date."

will die just

Who

is

accomplished

a sad

as

well-educated as any other prince

as

is

Surely he

India.

asked
"is

could possibly marry his beloved

daughter

to a

man who

the

king and the queen tried their utmost to induce

is

destined to die within a year

Sdbitri to give up the idea of this marriage,

was

resolute.

Love rose above

She determined
well that she
*

In fact

to

all

^but

she

other considerations.

marry Satyavan,

was running a great

risk

Narada was a match-making

he was also a quarrel-breeding Rishi,

Both

knowing
by doing

Rishi.

It is

full

it.

said that

AND SATYAVAN.

SABITRI

Her parents had

solemnized and she

to

left

with her husband in

away

Princess went

yield.

159

Her marriage was

the capital and

went

to

The

forest-abode.

his

live

royal

become a holy Sanyasini."^

to

[2]
There
happy

and mother-in-law

father

did

miserable hut she lived the most

in that

She nursed her old and broken down

life.

all

the works of that

year past and at

knew nothing

she cooked their meals, she

happy household. Thus a

day came.

last the fatal

of

it,

dreadful words that

but

Sdbitri

her dear husband's side at the fatal

Satyavan was hastening out

fire-woods and fruits

and came

father-in-law

entreated

never forgot the

from the great Rishi.

fell

she,

me

"Allow

forest

his

to

side.

"My

accompany you

"Well," replied Satyavan smiling

whim

Could you walk into a forest

she

shall

would have no

asked him

and
go,

said,
I

am

to

be back

in

refusal.

no time."

will

It

to the

"What a
of thorns

But,

no,

Satyavan smiled
never again wish to

sure."
*

full

Lord,"

She most entreatingly

allow her to go.

"Come then you

to

Sdbztri glided past her

to

by

moment.
into the

forest."

and weeds

She

the day to a minute and resolved to be

calculated

collect

Safyavan

means a female anchorite.

TALES OF

l6o

They clasped each

IND.

other's

hands, and merrily

they went and disappeared into the wilderness of the

great forest.

They gathered

various

and Sabitri's basket grew more than

sorts

plucked various sorts of wild flowers

decorated the husband and the

Oh how happy

were they

how and

sun rolled

the

evening,

and the wife

husband the

''it

wife.

has already

us hasten home.

let

fruits

Time flew they knew not

down the western horizon.

^'My sweet darling," said Satyavaii,

become

of

They then

full.

But look,

have fors^otten to collect the fire-woods altos^ether."

He

at

once got upon a tree and began to gather

dried twigs.
dear,

not

But he soon

suddenly

know what

cried,

is

Oh,

will

make you all right."

He came down and

his

head on her

fell

lay

but

lap,

am dying

silently

The messengers

of

his

beloved wife and

all sorts of

Yama

is

wild

husband

began to envelope the world

all

was darkness.

Yama"^ came to take away the

dead Satayvan, but they found the

*

do

"Come

on the grass resting

beasts, Sabitri sat with the corpse of her

with her sable cloth

!"

he soon became very

he rose up and kissed

soul of the

wife

difficulty, ''A little rest

dead. In the deep forest, amongst

Night slowly and

my

have got severe head-ache.

it

down," replied Sabitri with

restless

^^Sdbitri^

the

Hindu

Pluto.

body

AND SATYAVAN.

SABITRI

enveloped

celestial

in

fire.

l6l

lady was sitting on

whose laps the head of the dead man rested. The

fire was issuing forth from the wonderful being,
and none could dare approach her."^ The messengers
of

Death

dismay and reported

fled in

that they

had seen

to their king all

the forest.

in

Yama himself went to see what the matter was.

He saw Sdbitri sitting with the head of her dead
husband on her

The

lap.

king of Death found

terrible

He

aloof

and

"Good and great Sdbitrt,^^ said

"Your husband is dead. None lives for ever in

this

it

go

to

difficult

near

her.

stood

addressed her.

world.

Give up your husband, so that

What

him to the other world.

who

ing with one

is

might take

the good of remain-

is

no more

he,

?"

Sdbitri

silently

rose and left the corpse.

Yama

Instantly took the soul out of the

the dead Satyavdn and hastened' away. But

body

of

when he

had gone some distance, he heard foot-steps behind

he looked back and found Sdbitri following hlm.f

"My good

girl," said

going with

Oh God,"
*

wife

is

me

said Sdbitri,

Evidently
a goddess

The

Yama

all

this

whom

"Where are you

man goes there." "But

the Black King,t

No

living

"A

wife

means that a

to follow her

chaste, faithful

and loving

appears to be allegorical.

supposed to be very dark.

II

bound

even Pluto dares not touch.

latter portion of this tale

is

is

TALES OF IND.

[62

husband wherever he

"But/'

goes/''

and you are

my good

girl,

thing you

living

ask,

are so pleased,

no sons."

allow

me

grant a son to

"Yes,

it

dead

to

go with the Life

replied she, "If

my

granted,"

is

No,

you any

shall grant

"Oh kind God,"

your husband.''

is

you cannot follow him.

go back home.

but

Yama,

said

Your husband

''This is quite a different case.

father,

of

you

who had

Yama and

cried

hastened away.

But he soon found that Sabitri was following

him as

"Again are you coming

before.

?" said

he,

"Ask from me any thing you like, except the life of

SatyavcM, and allow me to go away." "If you are

my

so pleaseed" said she, "Grant sight to

law who

"Granted"

blind."

is

father-in-

Yama and

cried

walked hastily away.

But

still

darkness

Sabitri was at his back.

became

"My good
husband any

girl,"

really

said

further.

"You cannot follow your

entreat you to

your husband."

life

of

she,

"Grant

home,

it is

my

"If

up

a shadow.

to

me

to

except the

you so please," replied

Yama and

to get rid of the tenacious girl that

like

allow
like

father-in-law his lost kingdom."

granted," said

of

bewildered and confused.

he,

Ask from me any thing you

go.

The king

But Sabitri ran too

"Go

he began to run

was following him

;

she soon came

him and followed him as a shadow follows a man.

AND SATYAVAN.

SABITRl

The king was

to

really bewildered.

my own

go to

"Grant

Ask anything you

city.

still

you so please," replied

sons from Satyavan!^

Yama

at his back.

back and addressed Sabitri

are

do what

trying to

husband

is

like

life." "If

"Granted," bawled out the king and ran.

was

ready

but allow

me one hundred

except your husband's

she,

am

''I

you/' said he "Whatever you ask,

to give

me

163

last

is

turned

halted,

"My

dear

impossible.

is

dead and there

at
thus,

But Sabitri

say,

you

girl,

your

chance of

not the least

your getting him back or following him where he

going."

"Oh

mind

go with you

to

prayer that

Satyavcin.
false

but

great God," replied

but

hundred

my

from

sons

know your words would never be

do not understand how I shall get sons

from Satyavan

whom you

are taking

The king of darkness

was much pleased with the
of Sabitri.

have no

"I

you have granted

one

get

shall

she,

is

"Most excellent

away with you."

stared in dismay

and

intelligence
sfirl,"

but he
fidelity

"You are

said he,

Your love and faith towards your

husband is more than exemplary. As a reward to your
great character, I shall for once do an act which was
really

a goddess.

never done before.

5f

Go
-K-

back,

your husband
^

Sabitri hastened back to the forest

the

head of her husband and placed

is

saved."

^
;

it

she took up

on her

lap.

TALES OF IND.

164

Satyavan soon opened

all

around.

fell

asleep

were

tired

Is

and

it

night ?"

did not

and saw darkness

his eyes

''Sabitri;' said

''How

he,

is

it

that

''Yes," replied she,

think

"You

proper to disturb

it

you."

They soon

when they saw

home

joy

where

started for home,

were very much anxious

for

their

them.

their parents

What was

their

son with his wife safe at

We

need not mention that

all

by king Yama was duly received.

was granted
King Aswapati

that

got a son, the old king of ^3<2;2^/ got back his sight

and

his lost

sons.

kingdom, and Sabitrz her one hundred

DEBJANI.
1

)0|f^HE great Rishi Sukra was the Preceptor of the

Danavas.

He had

named Debjani. She was

the fairies

as learned

as

most charming daughter,

as fair as the fairest

her great

father

accomplished as the beautiful Goddess

She

of Learning.

lived in the forest-home of her father

blossomed

in

the

wilderness

of

Nature

of

and as

as
;

lily,

she cast a

halo of joy wherever she went.

She loved Kacha, one

he did not

love her in the

of her father's pupils

way

she did.

He had

but
the

highest admiration, the greatest respect and a brother's

affection

for

her,

but

nothing more.

Now Kacha

l66

TALES OF IND.

was the son

Binhaspati, the great Preceptor of

of

He was

the gods.

sent

in

disguise

to

from

learn

Preceptor of the Danavas what he had to teach

the

and what he taught the demons. He went and

became a pupil of great Siikra and learnt from him
had

that he

all

the

Thus years passed

to teach.

Danavas came

to learn that the

They

than the son of Bj'ihaspati.

to

on,

till

boy was no other

at

once resolved

murder him.

When

one day Kacha went to the pasture with

tutor's cows, the

Danauas

set

upon him and

his

killed

and

Kacha did not return

home. One by one all the cows came back to the
Asrama^"^ but there was no Kacha with them.
Debjani grew very much anxious for him, more
him.

Night drew on,

than ten thousand times, she eagerly went out of her

cottage to

father's
ni2:ht

Kacha

rolled

on,

see

if

soon

it

Kacha was returning but

became mid-nis^ht, still

did not return home.

She went

to her

father

and burst into tears. ''My dear girl," asked the

"Has any body offended you ? Why are
you weeping ?" She told him what had happened.
jRishiy

'Well,"

said

him.

he

If

is

He immersed

Sukra^
dead,

"You need not be anxious

still I

can give him

life

for

again."

himself for a while in Yoga and then

An Asrama means

the holy seat of a Rishi.

DEBJANL

called out thrice the

boy appeared

name

167

Kacha instantly
Asrama.

of

the

at the gate of the

The Danavas were disappointed they dared

not openly kill Kacha, for they knew he was the
most favourite pupil of the great Rishi. They knew
;

that

also

Debj(\>7ii

Rishis love
resolved

to

madly loved the boy, and the old

murder the boy secretely and

something which would

giving him

life

again.

prevent

by the Danavas and

it

to

Rishi

do

from
out to

he was again set upon

They dressed

killed.

his flesh

they invited the

Preceptor to the

The

Rishi, being drunk

and gave him drink.

feast

the

When Kacha went

gather flowers for Debjdni,

and cooked

They

knew no bounds.

for his daughter,

and not knowing what he was

possible dinner on the flesh

eating,

made

of

most favourite

his

the best

pupil.

Kacha did not return home Debjani went to

when he returned from the demon-feast
and told him that Kacha had not come back.
''Father," said she sobbing, "The wicked Danavas
;

her father

must have again

back,

killed him.

shall kill myself,

for

If

you do not bring him

without Kacha

cannot

live."

The
his

great Rishi was horrified

Fic^o-^ -insight^
*

Read a

brief

that

to

learn

through

he himself had eaten up his

account of Yoga

in the

Appendix.

TALES OF IND.

l68

However, he gave

favourite boy."^

in

stomach and taught him the great Mantrap of

his

reviving

^^Kacha,''

life.

Come
MantraP

stomach.

help of the

tutor's

uttering the

Mantra.

Kacha thought
to

that

it

He

heaven.

''I

have

now render open

me life by the
was done. Kacha came
shall

out and

So

Rtshi,

it

give

stomach and gave

out of his

return

the

said

taught you the great secret

my

Kacha

to

life

to

him by

for

him to

life

was high time

from

permission

got

his

Preceptor to go and went to Debjani to bid her

She would not allow him

farewell.

offered

hand

her

a sister to

are

^^Debjani^^ said Kacha, ''You

my

It

is

said

Preceptor and therefore you

me.

a sensible and learned

that

cannot marry you.

girl, J

after

edict prohibiting drinking

this

It

is

said

there

it

a great

letters

the

Hindu

in

women of ancient India

Khand and Lildhati

were great mathemeticians and astronomers.

of

uttered,

results.

Readers must have marked that the

greatest

then

in India.

and words

used to get education of a very high order.

the

Since

sin.

are various sorts of Mantras to

produce various wonderful and miraculous

X

are

sad occurrence Sukra issued an

and calling

Mantras are some peculiar

You

you must excuse me."

drinking has become a religious sin and a moral vice

peculiar way.

all

expressed the great love

she

that she bore for him.

are the daughter of

She

go.

she gave vent to

him,

to

her pent up feelings,

to

Reformers

When

Sankardchdrya,

went

to

the

great

169

DEBJANI.

Debjani took offence. When a woman's pride and

wounded, she becomes furious as ten
furies she cursed her lover and left him in great

vanity are
;

[2]
Ddnava king
who ruled over the demon-sovereignty when great
Sukra was stopping in their kingdom. The king
had a most beautiful daughter, named Sharmistha ;^
Brishaparba was the name

She was

beautiful,

way-ward

Debjani and

it

the

greatest

Manduk Missra

Philosopher

found

accomplished, but

and

dutiful

Sharmistha were friends

expressed

they

but proud

but she was very

of the

easy to defeat him,

to

religious.

outwardly

friendship

defeat

but not

him

for

each

Philosophy, he

in

She was so learned

his wife.

that Shankardcharya took six month's time to prepare himself to

debate with her.

We

we should mention here that in this tale the

some difference in the demon-character from that

think

readers will find

which they have found

in the first tale in this

Book,

Originally the

bad Elements were allegorically called the Dinavas.or the demons

but

is

it

and began
people,

from

evident
to use

whom

it

this tale that

tribe.

later

writers

forgot

its

with regard to aboriginal tribes,

they christened as Ddnavas.

not allegorical

ar^an

that the

It

original

i. e.

use

non-aryan

would be apparent

king Brishaparba and Princess Sharmistha are

characters,

but a king and a princess of the non

70

other

was

TALES OF IND.

Inwardly they

but

jealous

of

The Princess was

position.

daughter

her wealth

for

jealous of the

and

ascetic's

her great learning and high social

for

However, they were too sensible

honour.

Debjdni

never agreed.

Sharmistha

and passed the time

Once they

all

In

to quarrel

amity and friendship.

went

to bathe In a

beautiful

lake.

Sliarmistha went with her innumerable maids and she

daughter to accompany her.

invited her Preceptor's

They

all

went and amused themselves

water of the beautiful Sarobara."^

merry pastime

disturbed in their
to the

bank where they

dressed themselves.
Princess put

the

left their

;t

they

clothes

In the confusion

she took terrible offence.

and hurriedly

that

followed,

Sliarmistha was a Sudra

a lady of her caste

;J

could reasonably take offence for the

Ddnava

hastened

on the cloth of Dehjani, for which

and Dehjani was a Brahmin

the

in the crystal

But they were

princess.

''Oh proud

act

done by

and arrogant

girl,"

Barobara means a beautiful lake.

It is

said that the cause of

the

ladies'

clothes was the approach of Shiva,

their

hastening towards

who was passing by

the

lake.

We

into

four

believe readers are aware that the

principal

and Sudra.

The

recruited from

castes,

last

is

Hindus are divided

namely, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Baishya

the

servant caste and was

the non-aryan ttibes.

We

originally

need not say that they

were the most hated, specially by the Brahmins,

DEBJANI.

cried Debjcuii,

"How

dare you wear

you not know whose daughter

retorted

am."

my

cloth

The

Do

Princess

and there was a great quarrel between the

At

two.

171

last the

Princess with the help of her maids

threw Debjani into an well and there they

left

her to

The

great

die a most painful death.

^vX Debjani

\\'2lS

not to

die

then.

king Yayati"^ came to hunt and went to the well for

water, in which poor

her and

immediately tried to

painful situation.

"You have

lift

She caught hold

hand and came out

she,

Debjani was

of

the

accepted

lying.

He saw

her up from her

of his out-streached

well.

''My

my

hands,

Lord,"

you

said

have

become my husband. I cannot take any

The king was much pleased with
other husband."
therefore

her exquisite beauty and great learning

to

marry

the

her,

he agreed

and married her then and there

in

Gandharva way. "My sweet darling," said the

"As soon as I shall return to my capital, I shall

king;

men

send

that

to fetch you."

Debjani returned home and told her father all

had happened and all that wicked and proud

Shar^nistlia had done.

consoled.

much

When

to say

"Father,

her fond father pressed her very

what she wanted, she sobbed and

nothing but
*

She wept and would not be

He was

Sharmistha's becoming

a king of the Lunar Dynasty.

said,

my

TALES OF IND.

172

me

maid-servant, would satisfy

the

for

gross

insult

she had done me."

The Preceptor

He

king.

his

told

He

had done.

him

called for the

great anger what his daughter

threatened to curse the king with

all

people and then to leave the kingdom for good.

Brishaparba apologised
daughter

he

pardon him.

any

Ddnavas

the

of
in

fell

of his

except

to

be

"King," said the Rishi,

with

inflicted

him and

leaving

his

"Give

me

his

your

I
shall make her my Debjanis maid."
make her do It," said the king and hastened

daughter
"I shall

misconduct

for the

knees and entreated him to

his

He humbly prayed

punishment

kingdom.

on

to the palace to bring her to the Rishi's cottage.

When
you and

daughter what the great

the king told his

Rishi wanted

of

she gently said, "Father, for

her,

for the sake of

my

race,

the maid-servant of Dehjani.

satisfy her old grudge,

let

her do

to suffer every indignity for the

She went

to

know

glady become

shall

it.

good

she wants to
I

of

am prepared

my

parents."

Rishi' s cottage and thenceforth

the

remained as the obedient and humble servant

of the

daughter of great Sukra.

few days

the Rishi s
left

her

after,

Asrama

king Yaydti sent his

to take

forest-home

for

away
the

his bride.

royal

men

Debjani

palace

Hastinapura, and Sharmisthd accompanied

to

her.

at

DEBJANI.

173

[3]
Both king Vayah' and
when they

met,

fell in

princess

$)harmistha-

love with each other

king was afraid of his wife

However, they secretely met and

an iron hand.

passed their time most happily for years,

two princes and they

all

till

three

Debjani gave

birth

lived happily for

many

sons were born to Sharniistha.

to

but the

Debjani ruled him with

years.

One

Debjani

day

went

see

to

her

maid

own quarters
she saw the
youngest of her sons, who was named Piirit playing
w^ith some boys. Debjani never knew that Sharmisthd
had a son, how could she get a son when she had
Shar?7tisthd

in

her

no husband
of

the

boy

?
;

But she was struck with the appearance

she wxnt to

name of his
"You know him not

father.
!

countenance flashed

him and asked him the

"My
He is

king YaydtiJ' Debjani s

fire,

but she

father

!"

said

the child,

suppressed her

"My sweet child, w^ho is

whom you call your mother ?"
child, "Queen Sharmisthd is my

indignant feelings and said,

the

happy woman

"Why,"
mother

cried the

We

!"

no bounds

weeping

need not say, Debjdni's anger knew

she at once

left

to her great father.

the

Soon

palace
the

and went

news reached

TALES OF IND.

174

king

the

he hastened

in

pursuit of her, so that he

might appease her great anger.

Sukra and

the great

afraid of

He was

his curses

terribly

he was

perfectly aware that as soon as the great Rishi

would

hear the complaints of his daughter he would be sure

to

shower upon him the bitterest curses.

As he

when

apprehended,

Rishi

great

the

heard from his weeping daughter that the king had

behaved most
his eyes rolled

faithlessly

and

his

and had neglected her

hairs

upon

stood

"You have become

out of anger.

end

their

to

faithless

my

daughter," said the Rishi *^on account of the cravings

which you perhaps take pride.

of your youth of

dotage of
there

nothing to be proud

is

What
Is

of

it

king

to

most

fell

done.

en

craved

for

she

when she saw

felt

faculties could defacto

in

to

the

for

The
;

he

expressed

he

what he had

see the humiliation

greatest

his beautiful figure

Even now the Hindus are

Perhaps

old age

prime

his

in

is

in

pardon

and repented

regret

Dehjdni was moved

Brahmins.

who

knees and prayed for mercy

his

her husband

pain

of.""^

severer punishment than this

suddenly find himself

humbly

his great

of

could be

not more than death to one

life

Let

the old age overtake you and teach you

terribly afraid

times gone by the Rishis

perform what they said.

possible

and graceful
of the curses of

by their Yoga

DEBJAXi.

175

old

youth turn into the decrepit

loved him,

she

repented

Really she

age.

and

rashness

her

for

''My

entreated her father to save her dear husband.

said the Rishi,

dear daughter/'

However,

if

any

get back his youth and enjoy

The king returned

sons

five

to

He

Sharmistha.

any

him,

now

too late.

upon

it

as long as he wishes."

and called his

Dehjdni and three of

to his capital,

two

of

asked them one after another,

them was willing

of

is

has overtaken him, he can

old age that

himself the

"It

children wilfully take

of his

to take

if

upon himself the old

age that had suddenly overtaken him. Each and every

one

of

them refused

to suffer for their

Puru, the youngest son

said he, "I

am bound

from you and what

for

life

to

of

father,

Shars?nistha.

obey you.

except

"Father,"

have got

my

life

more glorious than to give that

is

your benefit. Give

me

your old age and

shall

be very happy to see you again as you were before."

So

man

it

in his

Puru became

was done.

a decrepit old

worst dotage and the king enjoyed his

youth in luxury and pleasure.

But soon Yajati repented

It

possible pains for

old age from
his

for his love of pleasure.

pained him to see his dear son suffer the worst

Puru

his
;

cupidity.

He

took back the

he placed him on

the throne as

successor and then he finally retired

forest with his

two wives

to meditate

into

and to pray.

the

BILWAMANGALA.

[1]
)(^HERE

was

was brought up
and

in

ancient time a very rich young-

He

man, whose name was Bilwaman^ala.

in

indulgence.

and

companions

luxury and

He

was

afluence,

surrounded

women

bad

his

flattery

in

by

life

low

was

continual stream of debauchery and carnality.

At

last

he

young

fell

in

love

She was

Chintamani.

with a woman,

beautiful,

she was intelligent,

named

accomplished and

clever and

sharp

she

understood human nature thoroughly well and knew

how

to

mould and control

a wonderful

it.

She gradually spread

influence over the

him with an

iron hand.

enticements

he forgot

He

youngman and

lost himself in her

himself with

ruled

magic

her satanic

BILVVAMANGALA.

Wiles

he put himself

177

her hand to be

In

played like

doll.

Money went away

water

like

costly things

valuable jewellery were heaped at her feet

Bilwantangala

left

men

bring him home,

to

wept)

till

became

she

his

did not and could

some

where

and

finally

his old

almost blind

not

leave

unknowable

father sent

poor mother wept and

entreated and his relatives prayed,

He

home and remained day and

his

Again and again

night with herv

his

but

the

friends

all in

vain.

Syren's house

infatuation

kept

him

chained.

At

last his old father died,

and died

of a

broken

Men were

heart for the misconduct of his wild son.

Bilwantangala home to perform

sent to bring

father's last rites,

but he did not come. Without him

the SrLlddha ceremony^ could not be performed

so his relatives

his

went

to

Chintamani

3.nd

appealed to

her to allow him to go at least for a day to save the

spirit of

the

dead man from the eternal

Chiittdmani was moved

and when he refused

she

pressed

to go, she positively

hell-fire.

him to go

drove him

out of her house.

*

It is

a ceremony performed on the roth day after death for

Brahmins and a month

departed
is

spirit.

It is

after

for

other castes in honour of the

further said that unless this <3raddha

performed by the son, the soul of the parents cannot

world and go to heaven.

12

ceremony
leave

this

TALES OF IND.

178

Being forced to leave her

went home with a sorrowful

possible he went through the

for a

few hours, he

As quick

heart.

second moment he tried to

Chintamanis house.

ceremony
out

sh'p

every

and

But notwithstanding

it

to

fly

all efforts

he could not leave his house before evening.

he

as

When

house and hastened towards his lady-love

left his

was already

night.

[2]
the sky was full of
was a dreadful night
from one corner
flashing
was
lightning
black clouds,
fearful thunder was
of the horizon to the other,
It

roaring, shaking the earth

was

torents,

like

falling

storm had burst

all

to

its

very centre

atoms

into

hundreds.

No

rain

great and tremendous

over the

and

beasts

living creature

storm that was raging outside.

Trees were

earth.

uprooted and houses were shattered

crushed

was

birds

were

were

killed

in

safe in the furious

Mad Bilwamangala

rushed out of his house to hasten to his love and was

knocked about
river side,

In

the storm, as he ran towards the

across which lay the house

He was mad he forgot In

bore for the woman that the
;

in

a mortal

fight.

of

Chintamani.

the fervor of love that he

elements were engaged

More than hundred times he

BILWAMANGALA.

lost his footing

by the force

severe bruises

all

the river, v^hich

wind and got

the

of

over the body.

prevent him from proceeding

179

But nothing could

he came at

was roaring and foaming

to

last

in

mad

fury.

How
in

to cross

He saw something

it ?

the river, he thought

jumped

it

to be a peice of

into the river to catch

successful,

away by

he

floated resting on

strong current,

the

hold of
it

it.

floating

wood and
He was

and was carried

where he knew

not.

However, luck was not against him, somehow or

other he reached the opposite shore and ran towards

woman who had made him mad.

Her house was surrounded by a high wall her
door was locked from inside, he again and again
but his voice was drowned in the
called her out,

the house of the

tremendous roars of the

tried to scale the wall,

house to find

At

last

out,

if

furious

storm.

then

there were any

means

to

do

he saw something hanging from the wall

he

Oh, he was so happy,

thought

it

rope and immediately caught hold of

himself by

its

jumped down
house.

He

and ran round and round the

to be a piece of
it.

He dragged

help up on the top of the wall

into

the yard

it.
;

and rushed

then he
into

the

TALES OF IND.

iSo

[3]
Chintamani was astonished
at

that

come

How

was

that
insr

dreadful

to find

How

hour*

BUwaman^ata

could he manao-e ta

could he venture out in the great storm

What

fearfully raising' outside ?

stink that

Chintatnani!^

a nausiat-

was comingf out of him

"Beloved
said the youngman, *'I have come.'^
\

*'Who told you to come/' replied she, *'Who

feafful
to risk your life in this
storm
Chintamani!^ exclaimed

much

love you."

cross the

river,"

Bilwamangala

he,

told yoii

"Oh
"You do not know how
?"

"But how could you manage to

asked she, "And scale the wall ?"

told her

what he had done and how

he had been able to come

to her.

By the time the storm much abated Chintamam

knew that there Was no rope any where hanging from
she was very much curious to learn how
her wall
he had managed to scale it. She came out with a
;

light

and accompanied by Bilwamangala she went to

of the wall where he said the rope was

that portion

hanging.
the

said

snake

But what was her horror when she found

rope to be nothing else but a most deadly

She wildly stared

could not utter a word.

river

at

Then

youngman and

the

she

ran

towards the

which passed by just below her house to see

what other horrible thing he got hold

of to

cross the

BILWAMANGALA

Oh

river.

wood

it

was not a piece of

was a dead body, a rotten and putrid
horror of horrors

it

corpse which the

mad young man caught

the

When

cross

furious river.

into tears.

know

^^

Bilwamangala!^

if

how good

it

you had dedicated your

God

she burst

it,

exclaimed she,

that you really love me, but

of your great love. Oh,

hold of to

she saw

am

now

"I

worthy

not

would have been

unknowable love to

this

!"

The word went

youngman's heart
astonishment

into

very depth of the

the

he stood a few seconds

mute

in

then he said, *^Yes, Chintamani^ you

are right."

He immedcately

left

the place, and though she

ran after him and tried to prevent him

from

going,

yet he went away and never returned to see her, for

whom he was once mad.

He went away and became
rolled

a hermit

Btlwamangala became one

on and

years
of

the

greatest devotees."^

the

There

is

incidents

another tale which

were not the same.

most charming woman

wife finding him
of his
if

misery.

for

is

almost akin to
leper

v/hom he grew mad.

he did not get her.

last

tell

her the cause

he told her that he would commit suicide

The

became her maid-servant

though

His most loving

melancholy pressed him to

At

it,

Brahmin once saw a

loving wife
to

make

went

ber

to

the

woman and

husband happy.

Soon

TALES OF IND.

152

she

made

her

so

much

pleased with

what favour she wanted from

you are so very kind, allow

She

day."

heard from the poor wife

and agreed
best

dinner and placed two glasses by

Bramhin

in

is

"You

see,

said she,
crystal

his

water.

the water of the holy Ganges.

"You

mudy water

other glass

the
it

that

is

?"'

"Why

instead

full

The

of

leper

neglect the holy water at

She meant by

"Why then

home and come

water

to

Sir,'

drink

the holy water his wife and

crystal water herself.

Her words went deep

heart

he at once rose and

left

a most loving husband.

asked the

crystal

"Well," replied the poor Bramhin.

the water of the holy Ganges,"

water here ?"

Sir,"

of the

by the
;

him a

for

one

side,

the time of drinking, drank from the glass, in which

at

woman, "You drink

that

had happened

prepared

and other with mudy Ganges

crystal water

there was

that

all

He

allow him to come.

to

her

she asked

her that

"Oh Lady," said she, "If

my husband to come to you one
her.

into the

her house and thenceforth

man's

became

harishchandra.

[1]

MING

Harishchandra

was

one

of

most

the

He

celebrated rulers of the Solar Dynasty.

was as powerful as mighty, as virtuous as good

none there was so charitable and such a supporter of
;

learning

and

religion

as

But

he.

with

all

his

goodness and love of religion he incurred the anger

of

one

of the

most powerful and

terrible Rishis.

Vtswdmitra was a great Rishi

not a Brahmin.
those

study

he was originally

Perhaps we need not say that

in

ancient days Brahmins only were allowed to

religion

and

philosophy,

they

permitted to be Rishts and ascetics,

but

only

were

Viswamitra

TALES OF

184

broke through the rule

Yo^a and

practised

position higher than

was

and

Vedas

he studied

himself up to a

raised

finally

all

He

the Rishis of the period.

and hot tempered as

as high-spirited

learned

IND.

he was

he was as mighty as he was religious

people were afraid of him

great

the

and

chiefs

potentates feared his frowns.

He
all

lived

a great

in

but

habitations,

beautiful place,

forest,

away from
was a very

far far

hermitage

his

surrounded by charming gardens and

enchanting groves.

Fragrant flowers smiled at every

step and many-coloured creepers playfully entwined

his simple

He

hut.

meditations,

blossomed round

and

lived in solitude

adoring

gods

the

with

in his

flowers

own
that

his cottage.

His holy-seat was so charming that some

fairies

took pleasure to come to his gardens and play there

with his beautiful flowers.

went

in

Whenever

the great Rishi

the morning to gather flowers to worship his

gods, he found that merciless havock had been

in

his

knew

garden over
not

who

his

could

destroy the beauty

of

most favourite flowers.

dare
his

possible way.

his

Every day he
that

some body

garden and topsy-turvied

To

He

pluck his flowers and

garden.

wondered and every day he found

had come to

made

it

in

every

find out the mischief-makers he so

arranged that next time^ whoever they might be,

if

HARISHCHANDRA.

they at

all

would come, they would be caught

net of creepers that were

The

came

dead

the

at

play

in

their old haunts.

immediately caught

in

the

to

in the

around the garden.

all

fairies as usual

and went

185

net and

of

night

They were

although they

struggled much, they could not get out of the mess of

how

Oh,

creepers.
other,

how

assunder the dreadful

all

away from
were

efforts

its

in

most
vain.

how

fearful

fearful

master,

When

much

burst

all

women

into

but

all

their

they found they had

Alas,

tears.

they

garden and to be

been imprisoned and there was no hope

they

each

their strength to break

creepers,

wished to get out of the

far

looked at

piteously they

they exerted

escape,

of

they were but

they were terribly afraid of incurring the

anger of Rishi Vtswdmitra.

Their lamentations and piteous cry reached the
ear

of

king

hunting.

Harishchandra^

Fearing

that

some

who came
mishap

out

had

for

fallen

on some helpless women, he hastened to their help.

He

found that some

the

the cause of

over

all

his

weapon and
from

fairies

net of creepers,

the

their

he

in

imprisonment, his galantry rose

feelings,

liberated

depth

had been imprisoned

never paused to think of

of

he
them
their

immediately took out his

all.

heart

They thanked him

and

mountain-homes, resolving never to

fled

to

their

set foot again in

TALES OF IND.

l86

the garden of the fearful Rishi.

King Harischandra,

never dreaming that this small incident would be the

cause of his future ruin and misery,

returned to his

capital after his hunting excursion all over the forest.

[2]
The
morning
set

by

great
to

see

lizshi

who had been caught

in

in

the

the

net

but to his great disappointment and

him,

displeasure he found that

some body had

cut assunder

creepers and set free those that were caught

all his

in

went

Viswamitra

the

bounds,

net.

The

fire

great

flashed

Rtshi^s

knew no

anger

from his eyes.

*'Who

is

the

arrogant man," exclaimed he, "that dares interfere

with the works of Viswamitra."

He
came

soon found that the great king Harishchandra

to his holy seat

and

set free

the

fairies

whom

he had a mind to punish for their impudent interfer-

ence with his garden.

"Well,"

said

the

Rishi^

"It

seems that the man has become very arrogant and

proud
learn

of his wealth

what

it is

He will soon
Viswamitra^ He resolved

and high

to offend

upon taking vengeance,

position.

he determined to

proud king a severe lesson who had

teach the

unwittingly

incurred his displeasure.

He

left his

holy seat and appeared in the

of the great king.

He was

received with

all

court

the honour

HARISHCHANDRA.

due to

his

exalted

position

187

king remained

the

standing before the Rishi and asked him with folded

hands what he could do to serve the great man.

"Well, king Harishchandra,^^ said the Rishi,

want

me

to serve

man and have

you be able to
Sir,"

replied

possessions,

They say you

the highest respect for us.

satisfy

the

me

consider

all

But

will

"Great and reverend

?"

"My

king,

"You

are a very religious

my

life,

this

wealth,

my

nothing before the

men like you." "Well," said Viswdmitra,

"Promise me then that whatever I shall ask, you will
at once grant me."
The king folded his hands and
most humbly said, "I promise. Oh Sir, to grant you
whatever you would want." The Rishi smiled and
pleasure of

then turning round to the assembly said,

"Gentle-

men, you have heard the promise solemnly made by

this

Then he faced

king."

me your kingdom

with

all

the king

that

and

said,

"Give

you possess."

The assembled people stared at one another,

became grave and the commanders shook
for the king was the most beloved of
their arms,
ministers

all.

But king Harishchandra

his

left

throne and

came near the Rishi; he again folded his hands and

said, "Oh great Rishi, my people are happy to get
you as their king and ruler. From to-day this
kingdom is yours with all its regalia; every thing that

is in

the

palace, every thing that

possess,

hence-

TALES OF IND.

l88

Bless me,

forth all belongs to you.

retire

jungle."

''Yes," said the great Rishi, "I praise

nobleness,

the

into

admire your charitable feelings.

your

You

can go."

King Harishchandra with

and

their son

live far

Rohitashwa

away from

holy pilgrimage

heartless

capital

and went to

they went to the

Benares and there they lived as

of

best they could in

the

their

good wife Saibya

his

the palace

left

their

self-imposed

Rishi was not

poverty.

But

by making the

satisfied

good king a poor man.

He

appeared before him.

''Harishchandra,^ said he,

^'I

forgot

me

to

tell

soon followed him and

when

you

you

your kingdom, that no Ddna"^

Where

without the Dakshind.-^

Give

it

what

to

me."

to

do

required

acceptable

is

my Dakshina

Poor Harishchandra

he had

He asked

Rishi.

is

nobly gave

so

sum and

nothing to give to the great

a week's
to

pay

time

it

to

to him.

procure the

"Well," said

Viswamitra,

"I allow you the time, but take care

pay me on the promised day."

Dana means

Dakshina, means the coin,

things bestowed),

things bestowed

which

any thing on a Brahmin.

knew not

one

is

to

upon a Brahmin.

{i. e.

something cash besides the

bound

to give

when he bestows

HARISHCHANDRA.

jSf)

[3]
A WEEK

was a very

sum

required

the last day came, but

had been procured.

"We became
against us

by him

^^Saiby^l'

things upon

a great virtue indeed,

alas, luck is

a Rishi asked

but without the

Dakshin^ the bestower secures nothing.

we

did

was done

for nothing."

the good queen, "I

"My

So

all

that

Lord," replied

belong to you.

still

no money

still

exclaimed the king,

poor to earn virtue, but

To bestow

is

time to procure the

short

me

Sell

to

some one and get money to pay the DakshindP Oh,

it was the crudest cut of all
The king turned away
his face and supressed the tears that were rushing
!

into his eyes.

But the

terrible

Rishi was at their door

no mercy, no heart, no feeling.

Dakshinci

?"

not wait."

cried

he,

"Come, look sharp,

The king grew

he came

wife and child

"I

am

out with

to

procure the sum.

I

say

"Oh

for

that

great

you."

Rishi, "I shall wait."

my
can-

sell

my

desperate,
;

RishiJ^

he prayed
said

he,

have not been able to

However, kindly wait

have determined to

money

his

an hour's time.
sorry

is
I

might curse, he might do a

Well, he

thousand other mischiefs.

for half

he had

"Where

half an hour.

dear wife and get the

"Very well," replied the cruel

TALES OF IND.

igo

King Harishchandra took his wife to the marketplace and the great queen of a Royal house was placed

He

before the public gaze.

again and again called

out for a customer, but none appeared to purchase

an old Brahmin came to

the poor queen.

At

him and wanted

to inspect the

put to

sale.

The king pointed

beloved wife,
to cut

last

whom

yokes at

woman whom

out to him

man began

the

an outrageous

in

to

king with a super-human

effort controlled

with

settled

price

the

him.

his

stare

manner.

and

We

he had

his

most

and

The
temper

need not

attempt to describe the feelings of poor Saibya,

well, she

was a woman with unmatched patience and

fortitude, or else

who

she had to undergo

could stand the sufferings that

''My dear husband," sobbed the queen, "Take

away my Rohitashwa^ he is mere a child. From
to-day you become his mother and father both."
'Well," said the old Brahmin, "I never knew that a
man when he purchases a cow, does not purchase

the calf with

it.

have purchased the

paying ready-money.
out of the boy."

He

am

woman by

not going to be cheated

ordered the poor queen to

follow him with her son and then majestically walked

away from the market-place.

The sale of the queen did not fetch much money;
it was far below the amount that would be required

HARISHCHANDRA.

How

great Rishi.

to be given to the

raise

to

the

The king determined to sell

ready
be made an ever-lasting
he
was
to
himself
slave provided the money for the Dakshina was

balance of the

money

IQI

He

forthcoming.
for

sale,

but

was no customer.

there

Chandalay who was

came

to

You

dead bodies.

me

well."

man

for helping

am now

me

in

*'Yes,"

burning

He

settled,

went with

and the
it

to the

him that he had brought the

great Rishi and told

for the

and hearty and may

was soon

king was paid the money.

sum

last

to purchase him.

look hale

price

At

charge of the burning ghaf'

in

him and agreed

said he, "I require a

suit

and again offered himself

again

'Well said Viswdmitra,

Dakshind.

He

well-satisfied."

then

left

the

*'I

king to

and went away. The king accompanied the

Chanddla and became the help-mate of the man who

his fate

was the custodian

remains of men,

of

the

women and

place,

where

the

last

children were burnt to

ashes.
*

It

means

the place

These places are always

in

where

the

dead

bodies are burnt.

the charge of Chandalas, which

is

These

the

most degraded and hated

men

help the friends of the deacesed to burn the body for a small

consideration.

caste

amongst the Hindus.

TALES OF IND.

192

[4]
The

old Brahmin,

who purchased

was a miserly demon and a

a man without any feelings

the poor queen,

heartless ruffian.

He was

any man or woman of

He loved money and money was the god

the world.

He

of his adoration.

paying money

for

purchased the poor queen by

her to labour like

he, therefore, forced

a beast of burden and treated her most cruelly.

life

at his

But Saibya suffered

persecution.

starved

herself

in

her kingdom,

forts,

She

lost

her dear husband, she had

she had lost

her earthly com-

all

she had become the slave of a very cruel and

heartless

man, but there was her lovely Rohitdshwa

by her side

to comfort

only light in her

But

alas.

the

a deadly

mates,

life of

boy went out

snake

home and soon became

spread

all

with

prayed

and console her

him

bit

he was the

her
;

he came crying

Oh,

how

dying son on

her

how

deadly poison

the poor mother

lap,-how

she piteously wept,

none came to her rescue

None

to play with his

for the

pale,

over his body.

for help

misery and pain.

Misery had taken her for her own

One day when

cried

silence.

all in

order to feed her most beloved

She had

Rohitashiva.
lost

Her

house was an unbroken chain of misery and

pitied

she

but alas,

her and

HARISHCHANDRA.

193

none said a word of sympathy for her great affliction.

But the cruel' Brahmin upbraided her for her loud
lamentations and drove her out of his house.

Rohit^shwa breathed

weeping mother
tempestuous
Nature was

was

his

very dark and very

human being could stir out,

her furious mood. The corpse that

In

was

be burnt

to

was the joy and object

that

on the lap of his

last

night,

not a

lay on her lap,

to

it

^the

sweet thing

and

of love

caress,

was

be placed on the funeral pyre to be burnt to

ashes

no

amount

would help her

weeping

of

weepings and lamentations

She took up the boy and went

to the burning Ghat,

But) alas, even the poorest of the

money to burn or bury the

poor requires

remains of those that

last

once were dear and near to them. The thought never

occurred to her
that

she

in

her great bereavement she forgot

would require money

to

She came

semblance of her dearest boy.

Glikt^

It

sitting

was dreary and dark

on the bank

of

destroy the last

to

the

a solitary Chandal was

the river, immersed in his

own thoughts. Even the most degraded of the

human beings had his thoughts to dwell upon
He
!

rose up

when he heard wailings behind

sorrow no longer arose

In

his

and most painful bereavements

breast
of

for

others

men, women and children he had burnt,

13

Pity and

him.

the

so

so

sad

many
many

TALES OF IND.

194

bereaved parents, relatives and friends he had seen,

no longer any emotion

that

He came
spare

When

stirred into his

damanded

where would she get

Alas,
to

near Saibyd and

it,

mind.

the usual fee.

she had not a pice

money was demanded, she

the

wept the more.

When

Chandal came with

the

dead body,

the

The

mother.

fell

it

recognition

his

light

to

see

on the face of the bereaved

was instantaneous. Saibya

on the breast of her husband and sobbed out,

fell

my Rohitashwa

"'Oh, look at

need not describe the scene,

When

the

he
it

no more."

is

We

was heart-rending.

bereaved parents, when

the

most

king and his most unhappy queen, were

unfortunate

bewailing over the corpse of their most beloved son,

Ris/ii

said he,
is

Viswdmitra appeared on the scene. ''King,"

"\ou grew very proud and arrogant, and that

reason

the

why

made you come

you have suffered unbearable woes.

come

out

of

the

trial victorious.

so low and

why

But you have

You have by your

most noble deed secured a name which will give

Bring the child to
lusture to generations to come.
me,

it is

shall revive

it.

Go back

to your kingdom,

yours."

The Rishi gave

life to the corpse of the dead

Next day the king and the queen with their
son started for their capital. There was joy and

prince.

HARISHCHANDRA.

merriment

all

over

the

kingdom

195

and they were

very very happy.

for

King Harishchandra and queen Saibya lived

their kingdom

the

Royal palace and point out

many years. None there was in

who had any wants. Poor men had
religious

and

all

men had
their

only to send

demands were

only to

words to

supplied.

the people that lived under the benign

Harishchandra,

come

at

their grievances
his

court

Happy were
rule

of

king

PARASURAMA.

[1]

X GREAT hero
J^X

and

rose from

seven

thrice

the

times

rank c

he

Brahmins

defeated

and

conquered the Kshatryas, who were the most powerful

warrior-caste

of

the ancient Hindus.

from the noisy world the old Risht lived

forest,

in

the

adoring the unknowable

One and

meditating upon His wonderful Creation,

Thus years after years rolled away In studying the
Vedas^ and practising the Voga. At last the Rishi
*

The

This hero

was Parasurama^ the son of Jdmadagn?) one of

the most celebrated Rishis of ancient India.
Away
solitude of a great

Vedas are the most holy and ancient boolcs of the

j

Hindus, and are considered to be the words of God.

Rik^

Yayu,

PARASURAMA.

came

out of his

over the country,

Raja Prasanajit,

solitary

197

abode and travelled

all

till
he came to the kingdom of
The king had a most charming

named Renuka^ whom the Rishi saw and

thought of marrying. The mighty Ruler dared not
refuse him he gave away his daughter to the ascetic
Brahmin, who took her away to his forest-home.
Princess Renuka was virtuous and good she
daughter,

was a most

and a

faithful wife

change that came upon her

to live

the

of

life

She

princess.

another

five

hero of this

last

one after
being the

tale.

princess

on

by the

way

her

Renuka went

Chittraratha

prince

human

alas,

to bathe

side of their hermitage.

heart

and luxuries

is

of

so weak, so

duty, fidelity

strong sense

of

and chastity, allowed unworthy thoughts

to arise Into her

hermitage

Bikm and

all

of a royal palace for the rigid

asceticism of the forest through her

mean

till

so unknowable, that she, who had renounced

pleasures

the

for the greaf

she was never sorry

lived happily for years

Mirtikahati\ and
frail,

sons were born to her, the

in the river that flowed

met

life

an ascetic, though she was a great

Once on a time
She

help-mate ot

dutiful

She never complained

her husband.

mind
and

She came back disturbed

her

husband

Athurba, these are the four Vedas.

the whole of

Hindu Theology.

perceived

to

her

But the Vedas often

TALES OF IND.

igS

Seeing that she had

agitations.

and

lost the lusture of sanctity,

fallen

from perfection

Jamadagni reproved

her and was exceedingly angry.

he entered the cottage, was

father to put his mother to death.

silent,

how could

and horrible crime

At
Rishi,

commanded by his
Amazed they stood

they commit such an

'

thy mother

''Kill

unnatural

came Parasurama. "Son,"

last

There came her sons from the wood, and each,

as

'

said the angry

she has sinned."

replied the son, "I must obey your

''Father,"

command."

took up his axe and beheaded Renuka.

'

He

"Well,"
|

said

my command

Jamadagni, "You have obeyed

and done an act hard to perform.

you and willing

to grant

am

pleased with

you whatever blessings you

j

"Father," said Parasurdma,

demand."

please, restore

my

mother

to life

he, "I restore

visit all

the

killing

holy places to

have committed under

in his

his

my

left

to

and

sin that

have
\

mother."

your mother to

Parasurdma
and went away

"Son," replied

and advise you to

expatiate the sin that you
life

my command."
the

hermitage of his father

travel over

honour.

holy-seat

the country.

and was received

'

Here

absence the mighty king Kirtaviryya came to

father's

and advice me what

to do to expatiate the great crime

committed by

you so

"If

in

'

great

But the proud king, instead of requiting

PARASURAMA,

the

hospitality

calf of the

of

the Rishi, took

milch-cow

was a

arms

the king for his

man

he at once took up

was a great
it

of high spirit^

giant in physical strength and

in

fell.

his

axe and went to

There

most impudent conduct.

Parasurdma

he

a great warrior

between the two, but

fight

force the

he was told what

returned,

He was

kill

king

away by

of the holy hermitage.

When Parsurdma
had happened.

199

at

the

last

struck off his head and took

to his father.

The sons

of

Kirtaviryya determined to revenge

They came with

their father's death.

and surrounded the holy hermitage

unopposed
him

Rishi, killed

destroyed the holy-seat of the

whom

they could lay hand upon

When

and slew the pious and unresisting sage.

Parasurdma

home

returned

murdered and

cruelly

army

large

Parasurdma was absent from home

Unfortunately
thus they

of the old Rishi.

he found his father

hermitage

his

mercilessly

destroyed.

He

silently

performed the

father

and placed

When

the

body
all

fire

blazed

of the old Rishi,

that

would

last

obsequies of his

body on the funeral

his

in

great

fury over the dead

Parasiirama

in

the

was holy made a vow facing the

kill

all

the

sons

of

would exterminate the whole

name

fire

Kirtaviryya,
of

pile.

of

that he

nay

the Kshatriya

he
race

TALES OF IND.

200

from the face of the earth to revenge his father's foul

murder.

With
fearful

the terrible axe

his father's hermitage

It

was a

fearful

his royal house.

other

He

then

the earth, and

of

the

he killed

left

forest.
all

the

each and every one of

left

the place and went to

Thrice

Kshatriyas.

exterminated the

big tanks.

nay

back he

his

and came out

carnage he began

sons of Kirtavtryya,

kill

on his shoulder and his

bow and deadly arrows on

seven

times

he

Kshatriya race from the face of

filled

up with Kshatriya blood seven

There on the banks

of these

bloody tanks

he performed his father's Srdddha ceremoney and

his last obsequies.

He
his

Janaka and left w^ith him

Thence he retired to the holy

then went to king

fearful

bow.^

mountains and passed

his

time in

prayers.
*

See Ramayana.

meditations and

BISHAYA.
[

Yf),ISHAYA was a most beautiful and accomplished

Princess of the Lunar Dynasty.
She was the

Ji^

only daughter of her father and

heir-apparent to the

throne

of

consequently the
his

kingdom.

was the joy of her parents and beloved

people.
She was intelligent and learned
received the education befitting her

great

She

of all their
;

she had
rank and

the high and responsible duties which sooner or later

she would be called upon to perform.

But education, learning or accomplishments have

no hold on one's heart.

Sense

of duty,

intelligence,

202

TALES OF IND.

prudence or

mind cannot

the higher faculties of

all

unknowable emotion which

the

control

by the name

of love.

It

blossoms up

so suddenly as to take him by surprise

known

is

mind

in one's

ignites, as

it

quick as gun-powder and blazes up in great fury.

never pauses to think who and what

its

love

loves

it

knowing why

it

but

in charity

he

father's

and he was a favourite

fell

greatly

loved by the king

of all the court.

He saw

the princess

honour

of

talking

accompanying her
particular

Wherever the

tion

love

more than once

love

young woman.

he had

with her and the pleasure of

;

and the greatest respect

unexplainable

his side.

many places but he had no

her.
He had the highest admira-

to

for

love

named
brought

boy,

king went, Chandrahasha was sure to be by

The king loved him and he loved the king.

the

in

court,

was handsome, educated and

He was

accomplished.

his

He was an orphan

Chandrahasha.

up

of

object of

to love without

Princess Bishayd

does.

man

with a young

the

is

and madly continues

It

for

her,

but not that

which a young man

He never knew,

never occurred to him,

that

and

feels for a

the

thought

the princess had any

other feelings for her than the ordinary sympathy and

affection

knew

for

that he

one

whom

her father loved.

He

never

had occupied her heart and become the

sole object of her adoration.

20-

BISHAVA.

Although no body knew

maids

the

of

companions and

the state of the feelings

She did never hid

mistress.

ot their

the

it,

knew

princess

and often

them that

told

she would marry at

if

she would marry Chandrahasha.

it

of her dauofhter's

very serious one

feelino^s
;

for

queen told the king what had

educated,

"My

Lord," replied the queen,

cleverness, intelligence,

all fly

Is.

She cannot be induced

remedy to cure

the only

remove

The

She cannot by
young man. She is sensible and
convince her of her folly and induce her
love

is

young man.

this

up the idea."

storm.

matter was a

happened. ''Well," said

"You know not what

tion

the

a serious matter no doubt.

''It is

any means marry

to give

The maids thought

she being the heir-apparent could

by no means marry the unknown

he,

all^

acquaint the queen with the state

duty to

their

she never
she openly

it,

tried to put a veil over her loving heart,

the

Before

as dust

it

education,

before a

does

to forget love. Separathis disease

therefore

young man from her presence."

The

king held a council of his ministers and discussed the

They unanimously agreed

matter.
of

the

queen,

would prevent him

innocent

the

proposal

but they went further and said that

he ought to be killed

Princess

to

But was

youngman

for

If

he be sent away

who

from coming secretely to the

it

not very cruel to

for

no

fault of his

kill
!

most

The king

TALES OF IND.

204

really

loved

him

he agreed to the foul deed only

through his strong sense of duty, but he positively

declined to have the deed done

when he would be
it

in

in his capital.

his

If it

presence or

be done at

all,

should be done as secretly as possible.

[2]
The

king and the queen with

out on a hunting-excursion.
left

all

their staff

went

solitary minister

was

behind to administer the State and to do what he

would be instructed
Chandrahasha.

to

do by the king as regards

The young man was ordered

to

accompany the royal suite, but Princess Bishaya

was left in the capital. None knew the secret plot
that was laid to remove the poor and innocent young

man from
by

this world, for not loving, but

another.

Bishaya

knew nothing

Chandrahdsha never dreamt

aimed at.

The king
forest.

left

being loved

that his

life

of

it,

and

had been

the capital and went to a distant

There he encamped and passed a few days

One day he asked Chandrahdsha to

appear before him and when he came and saluted
him in due respect he addressed him thus. ''I am
in

hunting.

entrusting you

with a most important State paper.

Take horse immediately and

deliver

it

to the minister

BISHAVA.

in

205

Chdndrahdsha was greatly

joy knew no bounds.
He had beeft

charge of the State/'

flattered, his

honoured with the royal confidence and had been made

an agent to carry most important and confidential

He

State papers to the royal court*

horse and rode as fast as the horse

He covered
But

miles

in

his horse

minutes and flew like a whirlwind^

broke dowrt when he had come

almost at the gate of the

not go a step

some

The poor

city.

further unless

the

treCj
fell

Princess

and

in

Came upon him

behind

left

disease

the palace

in

had

that

been
taken

She Was melancholy

possession of her loving heart.

she

he

not that a secret plot had

arranged to remedy the

'

halt

deep slumber.

Bhhay^ was

knew

she

to

to take

he lay half-reclined

as

the all-asSuaglng Sleep

into a

brute could

was allowed

sat at the foot of a tree.

and he

it

Chandrahdsha was forced

rest.

down from his horse and

He was very much fatigued

got

to

immediately took
could carry him.

Was not happy^ she did not get any pleasure

any thing, but she kneW not

her parents had gone

away

Were absent from her

Is

care to

it

w'hy.
?

Is

Is
it

in

her

own

pleasure

Her beloved companions were

the pleasures

because

because they did not

allow her to accompany them

was happy

it

because they

and luxuries were

No,

she

from her childhood.

all

by her side

at her

disposal

all

the

206

TALES OF IND.

whole kingdom was

wants to

feel

at

her

feet,

and no grievance

why, she had no

was not happy the fragrant flowers

;

the sweet songs that were

make.

to

that

But she

were her

joy,

her favourites, the plays

and games that were her amusements, did not and

could not please her
something was wrong somewhere. She felt a vacuum In the Innermost depth of
;

her heart and she tried not to feel

It

by every possible

means but without any avail. Chandrahasha was gone

and with him her joy, her pleasure, her happiness.
She smiled
of

at her

own weakness,

she tried to get rid

the feelings, she attempted to be merry,

but

alas,

She sang, she danced, she played, but

no,
the sweet face of her lover was always before
her eyes, and it made her melancholy morose and
all in

vain

unhappy.
restless

Nothing gave her pleasure, she grew so

She avoided her companions and passed hours

in silent meditations.

the thoughts of love.

Nothing

is

so pleasureable as

Her companions marked the

change that had come upon her they tried

;

all

possible

means to amuse her and to while away her time.

They induced her to go out and play in gardens
and groves
they took her to many places, hoping to
;

cheer her up by

new scenes and new

pastimes.

In one of these excursions Vvm<z^^'=> Bishaycu

with her maids to the garden where the young

asleep.

She

tried to

came

man

fell

be happy with her companions

BISHAYA.

207

she attempted to be merry with the song and

were got up

that

She slipped out

please her.

went

most

to the

company and

their

of

solitary corner of the garden.

she walked alone In

own

her

dance

nothing could

but alas,

for her,

There

thoughts, dreamlnof

of

Chandrahasha and his sweet face. But was she really

She stood amazed to find before her the
dreaming
!

very

object

peacefully sleeping and

her love,

of

the trunk

reclining on

of

She came near

a tree.

him and saw a packet underneath

What
She

it

it

woman's heart

and read the short

ran as follows,

breast-plate.

up without disturbing her lover

greater than curiosity In a

is

carefully took

she opened
It

his

"Give

lines

it

contained.

without least delay Bisha

The

(poison) to Chandrahasha^ the bearer of this."

was signed by her own father

Her head
reeled and she would have fallen, if she did not
place-herself on the tree.
But soon she regained

letter

her

and

self-control

determined

to

save

her

She took up a pin from her hair and with

pin and with the collyrium that was in her

lover.
this

eyes, she carefully

beautiful

hand

and added the

Thus

(poison).

instead

the

of

letter,

Yd

just

after

Bisha

became

Bishaya the princess,

Bisha the poison. She carefully folded

placed

young man

letters

immltated her father's

It

It

back where

it

was and

left

to sleep quietly at the foot of the tree.

the

TALES OF IND*

But soon Chandrahaslia got up and hastened

the

to

He

palace.

duly

minister in charge.

delivered the letter to the

was astonished

Pie

to

find that

he had been ordered to bestow the royal Princess on

the young man.

But he thought that the king must

have changed his mind and as he Was acconr^panied by

all

must have found some strong

ministers, they

the

reasons to advice him to give away the princess to

So he made no delay the very next

morning he married the princess lo Chaiidrah^sha in
due form and in all solemnity. What was the king's
Chandfahashd,

astonishment when he found on

capital that

young man

the

return

his

whom

to

to

poison to be given had become his son-in-law

was awfully annoyed, but there was no help
done and could not be undone.
;

He

reproved the minister,

king the letter

written

in

must

Q.nd

secretly

and made the alteration

said, 'father,

the act,

He
was

showed the

if

The king thought

letters.

have

appeared before her royal

and

it

Which Btsliaya and not Bisha was

very clear

Chandrahaslia
letter

in

but he

the

he ordered

but the

father, fell

any body

is

opened

to be

the

princess

on her knees
punished for

The king pardoned her

Bishayd and Chandrahasha became very happy.
it is I

for

did

it."

THE DANAVA KING.

[1]
)Q|^HERE

rose from the

ranks of the vicious and

wicked Danava kings a Ruler as mighty

arms, as

virtuous

and noble

in

deeds,

as

in

good,

generous and charitable, as the king of the gods or

the great Preserver himself.

His compeers conquered

the heaven and earth by their might, but

king Bali

conquered them by

exemplary

character,

by

nobleness."^
*

his goodness,

great charity,

by

his

generosity

and

Rishis were respected and honoured,

Taraka, Betra, Shambhu,

Ravana,
these

his

(see the

(see Battle of Gods and demons),

Monkey War), Hiranyakashipu, (see Prahlad) all

Danava kings were powerful and

but here

is

a contrast.

great in their wickedness

210

TALES OF IND.

endowments and

learning was encouraged by

grants,

Brahmins were enriched and the poor were supplied

with

all

His brother kings, his mighty

their wants.

predecessorsjhis great ancestors, conquered the lands,

kingdoms

the cities, the

and happy sovereignty

the heart of both

of

of the world

and the

of heaven, but

man and

blissful

king Bali

won

god.

Gods and Goddesses lost all hold over the heart

men and women began to worship
humanity
;

gods and goddesses.

king Bali instead of

sovereignty

Well,

it

heaven

of

went

further.

The goodness

of

BalivosQ over

that of the celestial

kingdom

began

happy homes and

to leave their

to the blissful

The

over the earth was gone.

gods and goddesses

and loving kingdom

to emigrate

the

of

Ddnava

king.

Indra, the king of the gods,

over the earth
hold over his

never

and found

own kingdom

such a

in

Ddnavas

In

crisis.

lost his

difficult

it

of

sovereignty

to

retain

heaven.

olden

his

He was

days when the

kingdom and empire,

with arms, he gave them
he defended himself
battle, he fought with them for years and kept them
at

his

bay

tried

to

conquer

at the gate of heaven,

possesions,

but here

he could do nothing

When

his

in

he struggled
the

to retain

case of king Bali

he was thoroughly helpless.

he fought with the Ddnavas his gods stood

THE DANAVA KING.

211

by him as men there was not a single dissentient

voice, there was none who went over to the enemy's
camp, but now not one, but hundreds went over
;

good and generous king Bali,

to the

Indra repaired
him

to

so that

retire,

to

to allow

Bali might be placed on the

*'My son,"

throne of heaven.
*'A

Empire or

to save his

the great Preserver

and prayed

to Baikuntha"^

said

great

the

God,

Ddnava cannot be made the Ruler

I shall soon go down
to the world and do

heaven and

of

earth.

the needful to put you at rest."

Vishnu

left his

womb

in the

He

Kashyapa.

heavenly throne and took birth

Aditi,

of

the great Rishi

the wife of

himself

incarnated

to

save

the

sovereignty of gods over the heaven and the earth.

[2]
The boy
intelligent
for

that

dwarf, t

was a

in

was born

very

ceremony

of

BaikuntJia

Dwarf was the

is

in

stature

He appeared

look.

he mastered the Vedas

the

to great Rishi

small

the

before

Kashyapa
but

very

to be a prodigy,

he went through

holy-thread. {

He was

the

the seat of Vishnu.

fifth

incarnation of Vishnu.

See the note

in

Prahldda.
X

The ceremony

a ceremony

in

of holy-thread is a sort of

Baptismal.

It is

which the boy begins to wear a thread round his

212

TALES OF IND.

beloved of

all

the Rishis and the favourite

of

the

all

ladies.^

He grew up and

the time for his Braamacharya

Rishi Kashyapa solemnised the ceremony

came.
in

due form and as the boy would have to maintain

himself by begging

alms, he was sent out to

make a

beginning at the palace of the most kind, generous

and charitable king Bali.

The
court

little

the

of

man went and appeared at the

Danava king.
None came

great

there and went

back

disappointed

showered over the needy

When

the boy

in great

him.

*'0h,

"My good
vow

"Then,

me what

sir," replied

therefore,

preparation

to

is

called

and

Celebacy was not the

Rishis

who were

ask from you ?"

safely ask

that

it

made a

vow-

his

of a

be granted."

me

Brahmin,

student-life.

Brahmacharya,
is

me what you

shall

boy, "Give

be a Brahmin, he

cultivate all moral virtues

MAny

for

have never broken through

emblem

and enters upon

cereomny which

you can

neck, and which, being the

shall

the king, "I have

Know for certain

Oh king," said the

to be very holy,
this

him

generous king," said the boy, "Do you

not to refuse any body.

want.

received

honour and asked him what he could do

promise to grant

the

king Bait.

in the court of

appeared, the king

were

riches

land that
considered

is

From
i.e.

the day of

the

life

for

to observe strict celebacy, to

to practise rigid studious habits.

strict rule for

married.

a Rishi.

There were

THE DANAVA KING.

my

would be covered by

and the court smiled

him mad

thought

''My good boy,"

three

the

at

the

said

The king
demand they

feet."

boy's

him

took

they

213

king,

"Ask

kingdom, sovereignty or whatever you

piece

small

good."

land that you

me whether you

ask

but the

do you no

will

"I

idiot.

riches,

will,

demand

"No, king," replied the boy,

Tell

else.

of

an

for

want nothing

agree to give

it

to

me

or

not."

The king smiled and was at the

affirmative, when Sukra^

point of

replying in the

Preceptor of the Ddnavas, rose and said,

the great

"King,

do

not argee to grant the land asked for by this Brahmin

boy.

It will

be your ruin and with you the ruin

Danavas.

the

Vishnu himself.

Know
He

then, he

has

is

come

of

no other than great

in

this

shape to

delude you and to take out of your hands the great

sovereignty you have been able to acquire."

The king could

Who

not believe what

could believe that the

the great

God

himself

his great Preceptor,

still

little

man

Although

was

told to him.

before him was

It

was

said

he thought that the great

Rishi could by no means be correct, at least

this surmise.

by

In his

TALES OF

214

IND.

[3]
"Great

Preceptor," said king Bali,

"If this

be really Vishnu and has come to delude

away my

take

to

possessions,

grant him what he asks,

my life." Then
said, "My gentle sir,

for

it

still

is

you ask from me."

me

"Oh

due form.""^

in

Preceptor

who was

of bestowal

king,"

replied

in his face

into the water-pot

race.

He saw

and stopped
fall

the Preceptor

its

last effort

He

entered

from the pot

ceremony

for

it

was

of bestowal.

was not found, the boy

absent Preceptor.

king

mouth, so that the

the king that he would himself perform

his

for

ruin staring the

he determined to make a

holy-water might not

for

it

required to perform the ceremony

absolutely necessary for the

When

boy,

But where was the great

save king Bali and the Danavas.

to

the

Come, bestow

Rishi Sukra had great love

Bali and the Danava

king

solemn vow

agree to grant you the land

thank you for your generosity.

on

the

but

cannot

he turned towards the boy and

of

"I

boy

me and

The king

it

and
sat

told

officiate

on a holy

seat and tried to get water from the pot, but without
avail.
*

palm
in

"Oh
In this

of his

king,"

said the boy, "take one of these

ceremony the bestower takes up holy water

in the

hands and utter some verses dictated by the Preceptor

honour of the great God.

THE DANAVA KING.

Kusha

grasses and clean the mouth of the pot/'

king did as he was ordered

he sent a

through the mouth of the pot and

the eyes of the great Rishi^

it

who was

the

water from coming out.

and

in

Kusha

struck

The
grass

one of

there to prevent

He was made

blind

pain and sorrow he fled from the place.

The ceremony was performed.

"My good

me."

me

''Show

the boy,

own

215

choice.

''Oh king,"

land that you would give

the

boy," replied the king,

am

the

said

lord

of

"Make your

both heaven and

you can select the place that you want."

At once the boy transformed himself into the
mighty, unknowable, and undescribable God which
earth

He

he was.

covered heaven with one foot and the

earth with the other.

earth and heaven

my

"Bali!^ said he, "I have taken

what

else

you would give me

for

third foot".

The good and great Bali stood firm he was

unmoved he was unchanged. "Great and mighty
God," said he, "Where is your third foot that you
demand land for it ?"
"Well," said the great
;

Preserver, "Here

it

is."

And

from the centre of his body.

"show me the land

and took
tions

all

it

for it."

"Bali," said Vishnu,

"Here

on his own head.

over the universe

a mighty leg issued

it

is,"

said the king

There were acclama-

and loud and continual

cheerings for the great deed done by the

Danava

king.

TALES OF IND.

2l6

Well, he had given to the great

eignty of heaven

and earth

well,

himself too to hold his third foot,

now go,
command
infernal

what

God

his

sover-

he had given up

where

should he

now do without the

of his great Master ?
He was sent to the
regions, there to live on refuse of men and
could

he

Gods *
*

It is

He was
fools,

said that Vishnu gave Bali a chance to live in heaven.

told that

if

he agreed to be accompanied by one hundred

he could go and

live

in

living in the infernal regions to

fools.

heaven.

going

to

But king Bali preferred

heaven with one hundred

A.PPE]SrDIX.
[A]
GITA,

Gita

Is

It

contains the Instructions that were

with his

whether Gita

in

It

is

addition,

(it

at

the

latter absolutely

relatives

discuss the point,

after

Arjuna

Srikrishna to

Kurukshetra, when the

fight

IT IS.

an episode of the great Sanskrit Epic

Mahdbhdrata.
given by

WHAT

and

friends.

field

We

need not

men)

has been done by greater

really a part of the great

whether the instructions

of

declined to

Epic or an
contained

were really given by Srikrishna or they are

from the

Imagination of the author and whether

Srikrishna had at

all

anything to do with

this

These Instructions were said

part

to

have

been delivered by him; the great author of

the

of

the

Epic.

Mahdbharta, himself made Srikrishna the speaker

of

Gita

; It

is

the general belief of the Hindus from

generation to generation, and

reviewing the

life

of

Srikrishna one would find that the justification of

many

events of his eventful

trines preached in the Gita.

life lies

only in the

doc-

When

the

two armies eneamped

and stood

battle

in battle 2irr3.y,

the

in

field of

A rjuna asked his friend

Srikrishna to place his chariot in such a position

as to allow him an opportunity to see the contending

Krishna did as requested and then Arjiina

armies.

exclaimed.

"Seeing

kinsmen,

these

standing here desirous to engage

Krishna^

my

in battle,

limbs

my mouth is quite dried up a tremor

comes on my body and my hairs stand on end my
bow slips from my hand my skin burns intensely.
my mind whirls round
I am unable too to stand up
droop down,

as

were.

it

adverse omens

see

and

perceive any good to accrue after killing

in

the

battle.

sovereignty,

do

we

are

standing here

wealth

do not

victory,

for

nor

Even those for whobC

and pleasures

nor pleasures.

sake

father,

wish

not

my kinsmen

desire sovereignty, enjoyments

for

preceptors,
maternal

battle,

father, sons, as well

uncles,

father-in-law,

brothers-in-law as also other

not wish to

kill,

abondoning

kill

and

grand-

grand-sons,

These I do
Even for the

relatives.

though they

as

life

me.

sake of sovereignty over the three worlds, how much

less than

in

for this earth a!one?

committing a heinous

makinof
of

the

Tell

efforts

greed

me what

disciple."

for
of
is

killinsf

the

sin,

our

Alas,

we

are engaged

we

are

kinsmen

out

seeing that

own

pleasures

of

sovereignty.

assuredly good for me,

am your

Ill

This Is a nice picture of the frame of Arjuna^s

mind who was expected to tread down every sort of
religious and moral virtues and to commit all sorts of
recognised sins and vices to win the battle. Had not

new

Srikrishna put forth some thoroughly

and

doctrines

on moral grounds, no sane

justified the acts

would have been willing to win the battle

moral and mental a

To Arjuna
"You
I

Dwarka

great king of

who

deserve no

grief.

replied,

Learned

Never

not for the living, nor the dead.

grieve

nor you,

exist,

such

at

sacrifice.

grieve for those

men
did

the

man

nor

these

rulers

men,

of

nor will any one of us ever hereafter cease to be.

He who
it

to

thinks

be

it

not killed.

It

to be the killer

know

both

killed,

is

Therefore knowing

and he who thinks

nothing.

It kills not, is

not born, nor does

it

to be such,

it

ever die.

you ought not to

grieve."

This
builds
is

up

is

upon which Srikrishna

new Philosophy. He says, this world

the stand-point

his

nothing but a shadow of an

invisible

world,

behind the visible shadow stands a world that

''everlasting

firm

unchangeable,

and eternal."

cannot have any

universe.

If

all

pervading,

that be the case,

effects

whatever over

You can do whatever you

stable,

"Your actions
this

like,

Invisible

but that will

not do harm or do s^oodtothat wonderful world.

feel

is

You

sorrowjfor you think and believe that your actions

IV

have

sort.

You are mere a shadow."

Then Srikrishna goes on

mind

effects

which

of Nature.
of Kuntiy
do,

nothing of the

whose

say, ''He

to

deluded by egoism thinks himself the doer

is

of actions,

is

on the world,

no,

will

you

is

way done by

every

All beings follow Nature.

the qualities

That,

son

which through delusion you do not wish to

will

The

do uivoluntarily.

seated in the region

turning round

all

beings,

Lord,

Arjuna^

of

the

as

though mounted on a

machine, by his delusion."

heart of

All this

beings,

all

means

in plain

words that you do nothing ; you are really a shadoiv.

Some body else i.e. God, acts and you by your
egoism think that you

which

act,

is

not the case.

How

This delusion produces pain and misery.

mental

this

and the

knowledge,

Srikrishna
devotion

delusion

says,

repair

that

to

who

wise
seat

Then he goes

unhappiness."
will stand yfrm

knowledge

effect of

''The

and steady

in

removed

be

could

on,

is

By

devotion.

have obtained

where

there

"When

no

is

your mind

contemplation, then will

you acquire devotion."

This mental delusion
in the

human mind.

idea that one exists.

therefore a most
this delusion,

It

difficult

which

is

idea of self-existence.

is

the very root of egoism

This produces
is

in

the

mind

needless to say that

task for a

in fact

man

the
it

is

to get rid of

nothing else but the

Srikrisna said that

acquiring knowledge^

can be done away with by

It

the

devotion.

Then he went on

and means

of acquiring

we need

to mention various

The key-note of his

a few words when he said, ''He

In

regardless of the fruits of

He

himself said, ''Actions defile

will

no attachment

who

me

not,

for

sin.

have

for the fruits of actions."

whose mind (which

a man,
of

In that case

be no good or bad, virtue or

you there

perception

the Devotee."

Is

to act, but without a mind.

to

To

performs the

actions,

actions which ought to be performed

So you are

ways

knowledge and devotlon^whlch

mention here.

not

Philosophy was told

who

which would be

of

effect

this

visible

Is

world)

Is

the

centre

of

destroyed and

sees not this world but the real world that exists

behind,

all

acts

are without any permanent results

they are mere shadows.

every

moment

He

is

takes various

the

like

shades,

sky which
shapes and

colours, but does not feel whatsoever.

Only he can be such a man who always

him

clearly before

In the

ments

Gitci

It

Is

the

Invisible

mentioned,

but

that

all

of Srikrishna failed to convince

unreality

of

the visible universe,

real

the

sees

world.

argu-

Arjuna

the

and then he was

obliged to show him the Invisible world, which

when

seen by Arjuna at once drove out of his mind the

delusion,

and

of this world.

made him
Srikrishna

see at
said,

once the unreality

"With God and God

VI

only,

Arjuna, seek shelter

favour you will

obtain

the

in

way

every

by

his

highest tranquility, the

eternal seat."

The summary
following
of
is

of the

This world

whole thing would be the

unreal and a mere

is

an invisible world that

lies

behind

it

shadow

that world

unchangeable, firm and ever-lasting, therefore the

changes,

the

pain

and pleasure,

and

virtue

sin,

good and bad, are

all sentimental creations of humanmind has the delusion which makes man
believe that he really exists and acts, whereas he does
not exist and act at all that this idea of self existence
makes man feel pain and pleasure, good and bad, virtue

mind

that

and

That man wants

sin.

to get rid of this senti-

mental and self-created unhappiness and misery.

that

he

case,

mind

is

to

destroy this

In

delusion from his

can be effected by knowlege and devotion.

this

There are many means to acquire knowlege and

devotion,

but the simplest

means

of the

is

to entirely

depend upon God and God alone and to act without

any attachment for the fruits of action. If a man
;

be fortunate to bring himself to

horrible

to

this state,

general

eyes,

defile

him

however good, noble and virtuous

We

he enjoys

and actions however bad, wicked and

perfect bliss,

would ask our readers

Srtkrishna,
of perfection.

He seems

to

not,

raise

and acts

him

not.

mark the character

of

to have reached this sort

Vll

[B]
YOGA,

From

the brief

WHAT

summary

Gita

of

In the

must have got an Idea

readers

on which the Hindu Religion

are different schools

they

fact

IT IS.

of

based.

is

Appendix A.

the Philosophy

of

Surely there

Hindu Phelosophy, but

agree In saying that this world

all

is

In

unreal

and that God only

Is

and perfect

he must go up to him and mix

bliss

real.

If

man wants

himself up with that great SouL.

salvation

Salvation

means

destruction of Individual soul and unification of that

soul with the

Yoga.

It

to

man can

specified

actions

formulas.

It

founder of

this

Is

this,

one

way

of

It.

get salvation by performing

is

Yoga

some

said

that

Risln Pdtonjali was the

School of Philosophy, but evidently

many

novel and

Innovations of Yoga practices. But the aim of

all

them was the same.

Rishi Pato7ijali divided the

different steps or stages,

is

which

of

doing

and by practising some defined

time went on other Rishis made

new
of

effect

the scientific

Is

says that

as

There are mentioned

great Spirit.

means

various

to be practised.

means

practising

performing

all

one

They

into

eight

which

are as follow,

self-control.

moral

Yoga

after another of

duties,

(2)
(3)

(i)

Jama

Niyama means
Askana

means

Vlll

practising particular

means

modes

Pranaydm,

of sitting, (4)

modes

practising particular

of breathing, (5)

Protydhar means practising the restraint of thoughts,

(6) Dhdna means meditation and perception of Spirit

Dhdrdna means
(7)
Shamddhi means final

When
to

retention

man perfects
practise Niyama and

the

of

idea,

with the great

unity

(8)

Spirit.

himself in Ja?na, then he

on

so

is

he reaches the

till

last stage.

When

man

but

salvation,

gets

reaches the state of Samddhi he

he acquires as

by

step,

and wonderful powers.

In

practising Yoga step

this

readers

book,

performed by Rishis.

have

many

man who

possesses

all

goes

tales

miraculous

It is

the attributes of God.

this

in

acts

further mentioned

has become a perfect adept in

be regreted that

on

said they acquired these

powers by practising Yoga.

that a

the

of

found

It is

he

innumerable miraculous

scientific

It is

Yoga

deeply to

process of acquiring

was kept a great secret and was taught to

only a favoured few. Thus at the modern time we
find hardly any man, although many try, who has
salvation

become a
practise
in the

it.

perfect adept

We

in

find the

it

who can comprehend

can explain them to others.

who knows how

to

Yoga processes described

book, but hardly there

of India

or

is

all

man

In

any part

the passages

and

yin

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