The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. Why did his
counsellor's heart break?
Then the king went
as before to the sissoo tree, put the Betal on his shoulder, and started back.
And the Betal said once more: "O King, I like you wonderfully well
because you are not discouraged. So I will tell you a delightful little story
to relieve your weariness. Listen."
In the Anga country was a young king named
Yashaketu, so beautiful that he seemed an incarnation of the Lord Kamadev. He
had conquered all his enemies by his strength of arm, and he had a counsellor
named Dheergadarshi.
At last the king,
proud of his youth and beauty, entrusted all the power in his quiet kingdom to
his counsellor, and gradually devoted himself entirely to pleasure. He spent
all
his time with the ladies of the court, and listened more attentively to
their love-songs than to the advice of statesmen. He took greater pleasure in
peeping into their windows than into the holes in his administration. But Dheergadarshi
bore the whole burden of public business, and never wearied day or night.
Then the people
began to murmur: "The counsellor Dheergadarshi has seduced the king, and
now he alone has all the kingly glory." And the counsellor said to his
wife, whose name was Medhavini: "My dear, the king is devoted to his
pleasures, and great infamy is heaped upon me by the people. They say I have
devoured the kingdom, though in fact I support the burden of it. Now popular
gossip damages the greatest man. Was not Rama forced to abandon his good wife
by popular clamour? So what shall I do now?"
Then his clever
wife Medhavini showed that she deserved her name. She said: "My dear,
leave the king and go on a pilgrimage. Tell him that you are an old man now,
and should be permitted to travel in foreign countries for a time. Then the
gossip will cease, when they see that you are unselfish. And when you are gone,
the king will bear his own
burdens. And thus his levity will gradually
disappear. And when you come back, you can assume your office without
reproach."
To this advice the
Dheergadarshi assented, and said to the king in the course of conversation:
"Your Majesty, permit me to go on a pilgrimage for a few days. Virtue
seems of supreme importance to me."
But the king said:
"No, no, counsellor. Is there no other kind of virtue except in
pilgrimages? How about generosity and that kind of thing? Isn't it possible to
prepare for heaven in your own house?"
Then the
counsellor said: "Your Majesty, one gets worldly prosperity from
generosity and that kind of thing. But a pilgrimage gives eternal life. A
prudent man should attend to it while he has strength. The chance may be lost,
for no one can be sure of his health."
But the king was
still arguing against it when the doorkeeper came in and said: "Your
Majesty, the glorious sun is diving beneath the pool of heaven. Arise. The hour
for your bath is slipping away." And the king went immediately to bathe.
The counsellor
went home, still determined on his pilgrimage. He would not let his wife go
with him, but started secretly. Not even his servants knew.
He wandered alone
through many countries to many holy places, and finally came to the Pundra
country. There he saw a city near the ocean, where he entered a temple to Shiva
and sat down in the court. There he sat, hot and dusty from long travel, when
he was seen by a merchant named Nidhidatta who had come to worship the god. The
merchant gathered from his dress and appearance that he was a high-born
Brahman, and invited him home, and entertained him with food, bathing, and the
like.
When the
counsellor was rested, the merchant asked him: "Who are you? Whence do you
come? And where are you going?" And the other replied: "I am a
Brahman named Dheergadarshi. I came here on a pilgrimage from the Anga
country."
Then the merchant Nidhidatta
said to him: "I am preparing for a trading voyage to Suvarna Dweepa. Do
you stay in my house. And when I come back, and you are wearied from your
pilgrimage, rest here for a time before going home." But Dheergadarshi said:
"I do not want to stay here. I would rather go with you." And the
good merchant agreed. And the counsellor slept in the first bed he had lain in
for many nights.
The next day he
went to the seashore with the merchant, and entered the ship loaded with the
merchant's goods. He sailed along, admiring the wonders and terrors of the sea,
till at last he reached Suvarna Dweepa. There he stayed for a time until the
merchant had finished his buying and selling. Now on the way back, he saw a
magic tree suddenly rising from the ocean. It had beautiful branches, boughs of
gold, fruits of jewels, and splendid blossoms. And sitting on a jewelled couch
in the branches was a lovely maiden of heavenly beauty. And while the
counsellor wondered what it all meant, the maiden took her lute in her hand,
and began to sing:
Whatever seed of fate is sown,
The fruit appears—'tis strange!
Whatever deed a man has done,
Not God himself can change.
And when she had
made her meaning clear, the heavenly maiden straightway sank with the magic
tree and the couch. And Dheergadarshi thought: "What a wonderful thing I
have seen to-day! What a strange place the ocean is for the appearance of a
tree with a fairy in it! And if this is a usual occurrence at sea, why do not
other goddesses arise?"
The pilot and
other sailors saw that he was astonished, and they said: "Sir, this
wonderful maiden appears here regularly, and sinks a moment after, but the
sight is new to you." Then the counsellor, filled with amazement, came to
the shore with Nidhidatta, and disembarked. And when the merchant had unloaded
his goods and caused his servants to rejoice, the counsellor went home with him
and spent many happy days there.
At last he said to
Nidhidatta: "Merchant, I have rested happily for a long time in your
house. Now I wish to go to my own country. Peace be with you!" And in
spite of urging from the merchant, Dheergadarshi took his leave, and started
with no companion except his own courage. He went through many countries and at
last reached the Anga country. And scouts who had been sent by King Yashaketu saw
him before he reached the city. When the king learned of it, he went himself
out of the city to meet him, for he had been terribly grieved by the
separation. He drew near, embraced and greeted the counsellor and took him, all
worn and dusty with the weary journey, into an inner room.
And as soon as the
counsellor was refreshed, the king said: "Counsellor, why did you leave
us? How could you bring yourself to do so harsh and loveless a thing? But after
all, who can understand the strange workings of stern necessity? To think that
you should decide all at once to wander off on a pilgrimage! Well, tell me what
countries you visited, and what new things you saw."
Then the
counsellor told him the whole story truthfully and in order, the journey to Golden Island
and the fairy who rose singing from the sea, her wonderful beauty and the magic
tree.
But the king
immediately fell in love so hopelessly that his kingdom and his life seemed
worthless to him without her. He took the counsellor aside and said:
"Counsellor, I simply must see her. Remember that I shall die if I do not.
I bow to my fate. I will take the journey which you took. You must not refuse
me nor accompany me. I shall go alone and in disguise. You must rule the
kingdom, and not dispute my words. Swear to do it on your life."
So he spoke, and
would not listen to advice, but dismissed the counsellor. Then Dheergadarshi
was unhappy though a great festival was made for him. How can a good counsellor
be happy when his master devotes himself to a vice?
The next night
King Yashaketu threw the burden of government on that excellent counsellor,
assumed the dress of a hermit, and left his city. And as he travelled, he saw a
monk named Grass, who said when the king bowed before him as a holy man:
"My son, if you sail with a merchant named Nidhidatta, you will obtain the
maiden you desire. Go on fearlessly."
So the king bowed
again and went on rejoicing. After crossing rivers and mountains he came to the
ocean. And on the shore he met at once the merchant Nidhidatta whom the monk
had mentioned, bound for Golden Suvarna Dweepa. And when the merchant saw the
king's appearance and his signet ring, he bowed low, took him on the ship, and
set sail.
When the ship
reached the middle of the sea, the maiden suddenly arose, sitting in the
branches of the magic tree. And as the king gazed eagerly at her, she sang as
before to her lute:
Whatever seed of fate is sown
The fruit appears—'tis strange!
Whatever deed a man has done,
Not God himself can change.
Whatever, how, for whom, and where
'Tis fated so to be,
That thing, just so, for him, and there
Must happen fatally.
This song she
sang, hinting at what was to happen. And the king gazed at her smitten by love,
and could not move. Then he cried: "O Sea, in hiding her, you deceive
those who think they have your treasures. Honour and glory to you! I seek your
protection. Grant me my desire!" And as the king prayed, the maiden sank
with the tree. Then the king jumped after her into the sea.
The good merchant Nidhidatta
thought he was lost and was ready to die of grief. But he was comforted by a
voice from heaven which said: "Do nothing rash. There is no danger when he
sinks in the sea. For he is the king Yashaketu, disguised as a hermit. He came
here for the sake of the maiden; she was his wife in a former life. And he will
win her and return to his kingdom in the Anga country." So the merchant
sailed on to complete his business.
But King Yashaketu
sank in the sea, and all at once he saw a heavenly city. He looked in amazement
at the balconies with their splendid jewelled pillars, their walls bright with
gold, and the network of pearls in their windows. And he saw gardens with pools
that had stairways of various gems, and magic trees that yielded all desires.
But rich as it was, the city was deserted.
He entered house
after house, but did not find the maiden anywhere. Then he climbed a high
balcony built of gems, opened a door, and entered. And there he saw her all
alone, lying on a jewelled couch, and clad in splendid garments. He eagerly
raised her face to see if it was really she, and saw that it was indeed the maiden
he sought. At the sight of her he had the strange feeling of the traveller in a
desert in summer at the sight of a river.
And she opened her
eyes, saw that he was handsome and loveable, and left her couch in confusion.
But she welcomed him and with downcast eyes that seemed like full-blown lotuses
she did honour to his feet. Then she slowly spoke: "Who are you, sir? How
did you come to this inaccessible under-world? And what is this hermit garb?
For I see that you are a king. Oh, sir, if you would do me a kindness, tell me
this."
And the king
answered her: "Beautiful maiden, I am King Yashaketu of the Anga country,
and I heard from a reliable person that you were to be seen on the sea. To see
you I assumed this garb, left my kingdom, and followed you hither. Oh, tell me
who you are."
Then she said to
him with bashful love: "Sir, there is a king of the fairies named Mrigankasena.
I am his daughter, and my name is Mrigankavati. Now my father has left me alone
in this city. I do not know where he went with the rest of the people, or why.
Therefore, as my home is lonely, I rise through the ocean, sit on a magic tree,
and song about fate."
Then the king
remembered the words of the monk, and urged her with such gentle, tender words
that she confessed her love and agreed to marry him. But she made a condition:
"My dear, on four set days in each month you must let me go somewhere
unhindered and unseen. There is a reason." And the king agreed, married
her, and lived in heavenly happiness with her.
While he was
living in heavenly bliss, Mrigankavati said to him one day: "My dear, you
must wait here. I am going somewhere on an errand. For this is one of the set
days. While you stay here, sweetheart, you must not go into that crystal room,
nor plunge into this pool. If you do, you will find yourself at that very
moment in the world again." So she said good-bye and left the city.
But the king took
his sword and followed, to learn her secret. And he saw a giant approaching
with a great black cave of a mouth that yawned like the pit. The giant fell
down and howled horribly, then took Mrigankavati into his mouth and swallowed
her.
And the king's
anger blazed forth. He took his great sword, black as a snake that has sloughed
its skin, ran up wrathfully, and cut off the giant's head. He was blinded by
his madness, he did not know what to do, he was afflicted by the loss of his
darling. But Mrigankavati split open the stomach of the giant, and came out
alive and unhurt, like the brilliant, spotless moon coming out from a black
cloud.
When he saw that
she was saved, the king cried: "Come, come to me!" and ran forward
and embraced her. And he asked her: "What does it mean, dearest? Is this a
dream, or an illusion?" And the fairy answered: "My dear, listen to
me. It is not a dream, nor an illusion. My father, the king of the fairies,
laid this curse upon me. My father had many sons, but he loved me so that he
could not eat without me. And I used to come to this deserted spot twice a
month to worship Shiva.
"One day I
came here and it happened that I spent the whole day in worship. That day my
father waited for me and would not eat or drink anything, though he was hungry
and angry with me. At night I stood before him with downcast eyes, for I had
done wrong. And he forgot his love and cursed me—so strong is fate. Because you
have despised me and left me hungry a whole day, a giant named Kritantasamtrasah
will swallow you four times a month when you leave the city. And each time you
will split him open and come out. And you shall not remember the curse afterwards,
nor the pain of being swallowed alive. And you must live here alone.'
"But when I
begged him, he thought awhile and softened his curse. When Yashaketu, King of
the Angas, shall become your husband, and shall see you swallowed by the giant,
and shall kill the giant, then the curse shall end, and you shall remember all
your magic arts.' Then he left me here, and went with his people to the
Nishadha mountain. But I stayed here because of the curse. And now the curse is
ended, and I remember everything. So now I shall go to the Nishadha mountain to
see my father. Of course now I remember how to fly. And you are at liberty to
stay here, or to go back to your own kingdom."
Then the king was
sad, and he begged her thus: "My beautiful wife, do not go for seven days.
Be as kind as you are beautiful. Let me be happy with you in the garden, and
forget my longings. Then you may go to your father, and I will go home."
So he persuaded her, and was happy with her for six days in the garden. And the
lilies in the ponds looked like longing eyes, and the ripples like hands raised
to detain them, and the cries of swans and cranes seemed to say: "Do not
leave us and go away."
On the seventh day
the king cleverly led his wife to the pool from which one could get back to the
world. There he threw his arms about her and plunged into the pool, and came up
with her in the pool in the garden of his own palace.
The gardeners saw
that the king had come back with a wife, and they joyfully ran and told the
counsellor Dheergadarshi. He came and fell at the king's feet, and then led the
king and the fairy into the palace. And the counsellor and the people thought:
"Wonderful! The king has won the fairy whom others could see only for a
moment like the lightning in the sky. Whatever is written in one's fate, that
comes true, however impossible it may be."
But when Mrigankavati
saw that the king was in his own country, and the seven days were over, she
thought she would fly away like other fairies. But she could not remember how.
Then she became very sad, like a woman who has been robbed.
And the king said:
"Why are you so sad, my dear? Tell me." And the fairy said: "The
curse is over. Yet because I have been bound so long in the fetters of your
love, I have lost my magic arts. I cannot fly." Then the king thought:
"The fairy is really mine," and he was happy and made a great feast.
When the
counsellor Dheergadarshi saw this, he went home, and lay down on his bed, and
his heart broke, and he died. Then the king governed the kingdom himself, and
lived for a long time in heavenly happiness with Mrigankavati.
When he had told this story, the Betal said: "O King, when the king was so happy, why should the counsellor's
heart break? Was it from grief because he did not win the fairy himself? Or
from sorrow because the king came back, and he could no longer act as king? If
you know and will not tell me, then you will lose your virtue, and your head
will go flying into a hundred pieces."
And the king said
to the Betal : "O magic creature, neither of these reasons would be
possible for a high-minded counsellor. But he thought: The king used to neglect
his duties for the sake of ordinary women. What will happen now, when he loves
a fairy? In spite of all my efforts, a terrible misfortune has happened.' I
think that was why his heart broke."
Then the magic
Betal went back to his tree in a moment. And the king was still determined to
catch him, and went once more to the sissoo tree.
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment