Read Ebook: Tibetan Tales Derived from Indian Sources by Ralston William Ralston Shedden Translator Schiefner Anton Translator

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While Manohar? was wending her way through the air she said to herself, "The directions of the Rishi were the cause of my passing into this condition. Had he not given these directions I should not have been captured. So I will go to him for awhile." On reaching the Rishi's hermitage she touched his feet and said, "Great Rishi, in consequence of your directions, I have been captured and exposed to the touch of man, and have nearly lost my life. Now then, if the youth Sudhana should happen to come here in search of me, give him my ring, and say to him these words: 'O youth, turn back again, for the way is full of woe and hard to tread. But if you cannot turn back, it is right to show you the way. Thus, O youth, does Manohar? point it out. In the north there are three black mountains. When these are surmounted, there rise three more. When these three have been surmounted, there rise three more again. And when these three also have been surmounted, there remains the prince of mountains, Himavant. On its north side are the mountains Utk?laka, Jalapatha, Khadiraka, Ekad?raka, Vajraka, K?mar?pin, K?laka, Air?vata, Adhov?na, and Pramuchapa. Over these mountains you must make your way. Traverse Khadiraka, Ekad?raka, and Utk?laka by the cavern. The king of the birds will carry you over Vajraka. In such a way will you traverse these mountains. You will overcome magic creatures, ram-like and goat-faced, and also a man having the form of the R?kshasa Pingal?. In the cavern is a huge snake, which rolls with the force of a foaming stream. This snake you must tame by force. When you see the black snake half coiling in the cavern, you must slay it, bending the bow and shooting the arrow. When you see two rams butting one another, break a horn off each of them, and you will find the way. If you see two iron men with fear-inspiring weapons, and you slay one of them, you will find the way. If you see an iron-lipped R?kshas? opening and shutting her mouth, you must fling a wedge at her forehead. Likewise must you spring across the fount with the wild whirlpool, which measures sixty fathoms. Bending your bow, you must slay Yakshas and R?kshasas with lion-yellow hair and eyes, difficult to resist and hard to approach. Many rivers, also, full of tens of thousands of alligators, must you cross. You will see the Crocodile, the Butterfly, the Sad, the Gay, the Weeper, the Laugher, a river full of snakes, and another full of reeds. In the Crocodile is R?kshas?-anger, in the Butterfly a demon, in the Sad are many water-monsters, in the Gay is a Vidy?dhara, in the Weeper is a Kinnar? serving-maid, in the Laugher is a Kinnar?, in the snake-filled river are many snakes, in the river rich in reeds is ??lmali . In the presence of the Crocodile you must stand firm, and be bold in that of the Butterfly. On reaching the Sad, you must bind the jaws of the water-monsters. With the Gay you will succeed by the help of some N?gas, with the Weeper by means of courage, with the Laugher by means of silence. The snake-filled river you must pass by means of snake-charms, and the reed-producing river by means of the charm of sharp weapons beaten together. Having crossed all the rivers, you will come to a wild country wherein five hundred Yakshas dwell. Opposing these, overcome them. Then will appear the capital of the Kinnar? king. To him address yourself.'" Having spoken these words to the Rishi, Manohar? touched his feet with her head and went away.

Great was the joy when the king heard that the youth Sudhana had returned to Hastin?pura with the army after subduing the mountaineers. As soon as the youth had rested, he went to his father, made obeisance, and took his place before him. The king began to speak with great joy, and said, "O youth, have you been successful?"

"Your majesty, through your grace have the mountaineers been overcome, hostages have been taken, and chiefs appointed. Tribute and taxes have also been levied. Be pleased to have all this taken into the treasury."

The king said, "O son, as you have done well, I will receive these things." Then the son made obeisance to his father, and was about to depart when the king said, "Stay, O youth, in order to take food with your father."

"Your majesty, as it is a long time since I saw Manohar?, I wish to go to her."

"O youth, put off going to her for to-day and go to-morrow."

"Father, I will certainly go to-day," said the youth, moving restlessly this way and that. Whereupon the king made no reply.

When the youth entered his house, and did not see the fair one at the door of the women's chamber, he was utterly cast down. As he did not see Manohar?, his mind became disordered, and he ran hither and thither, calling out, "Manohar?! Manohar?!" When the women had repeated these words to the winds, and he in his grief of heart had many times questioned them, they told him the whole story. Clouded over was his mind with grief. The women said, "Why should you be so cast down? In the band of women are those who are much more beautiful than she was."

When he had learnt how cruelly his father had acted, he went to his mother, touched her feet, and said, "O mother, as Manohar? is not here, Manohar? who was endowed with every virtue that could be wished for, and endowed with admirable beauty, where then has she gone? Thinking ever so rapidly, I am all confused in mind. On account of being separated from her my mind is exceedingly sad. As Manohar? dwells within my mind, pleasing to my mind and my mind's joy, as through separation from Manohar? my body is saddened, what is there that will make my pain diminish?" His mother said, "O son, as intolerable fear came upon Manohar?, I let her go away." "Mother, how did that come to pass?" His mother gave him a complete account of the matter. He said, "That was a cruel misdeed on my father's part." He said, moreover, "Mother, whither has she gone? which way lies the road?" His mother replied, "The road which Manohar? has taken is that of the mountains where Rishis and lions ever dwell, and which are the abode of the Dharma-r?ja." In his intolerable grief at being separated from Manohar?, the prince renewed his sad wailings, crying, "As Manohar? is not here, Manohar? who was endowed with every virtue that could be desired," and so on down to the words, "What is there that will make my pain diminish?" Then his mother said, "My son, as there are women in this band of wives who are more beautiful than she is, wherefore are you sad?" The youth replied, "Mother, how can I be happy if I find her not?"

Although his mother tried to console him, he still remained sad; but as he wandered hither and thither, looking for Manohar? and seeking for information as to her abode, a bright idea occurred to him. "Where I obtained her," he thought, "there will I go again and make inquiries." So he went to the hunter Phalaka, and asked him where it was that he had got possession of Manohar?. The hunter replied, "On the slope of such and such a mountain dwells a Rishi, in whose hermitage there is a pool, Brahmasabh? by name. Going there to bathe, I captured her according to the Rishi's directions." Sudhana said to himself, "I will go to the Rishi's abode, and there obtain information." Hearing that the youth was greatly depressed by his separation from Manohar?, the king said, "O youth, wherefore are you so depressed? I will now give you a much more beautiful wife." The prince replied, "Father, as she is not here, I shall certainly betake me to her tarrying-place." The king could not dissuade him from this, though he repeatedly attempted to do so. Then the king ordered watchers to be set at the gates and outlets from the walls, in order to prevent the youth from going forth. Thereupon the youth could not sleep the whole night long. Five are there who on their nightly couch are sleepless all night long, namely, the man whose mind is enchained by love for his wife, the wife who loves her husband, the red duck, the robber chieftain, the Bhikshu who studies zealously. The youth said to himself, "If I go to the gate, the king's gatekeepers are harsh. As they would punish me, or even deprive me of life, I would rather depart by a road which has no watchers." So he went forth by night to a spot where no watcher was, having attached to a standard such blue lotus garlands as men bind around their heads. Just then the moon rose. When he saw the moon, he uttered this lament for his separation from Manohar?, "O full moon, king of the stars and illuminer of the night, thou who art dear to the eye of Rohi??, excellent caravan-leader, hast thou seen the abiding-place of my loved one, the lotus-eyed Manohar??"

Remembering the joys he had formerly experienced, he walked on, and when he saw a gazelle, he addressed it also, saying, "O gazelle, thou who enjoyest grass, water, and foliage, wander in peace and quiet, for I am no hunter. Hast not thou seen my deer-like, long-eyed, beautifully formed Manohar??" Going on farther, and reaching another spot, he saw bees at work in the interior of a wood adorned with flowers and fruits, and to one of the bees he said, "O bee, thou who art blue, like unto the mountains, thou who abidest within hollow canes and upon lotuses, hast thou seen my Manohar?, her of the long hair, dark of hue, like unto bees?" Going still farther he saw a snake, and when he saw it he said, "O snake, thou who movest thy tongue as a forest tree its leaves, thou who emittest from thy mouth and eyes masses of smoke, hast thou seen her who is unlike thy poison-fire and the fire of passion? hast thou seen my Manohar??" He went on still farther, and he heard a Kokila calling in the forest, and seeing it, he said, "O Kokila, thou who abidest on the magnificent trees of the forest, king of the troops of birds, hast not thou seen her who is endowed with the lovely, spotless eyes, like unto blue lotuses? hast not thou seen my Manohar??" Going still farther on, he saw an A?oka tree widely spreading forth its leaves, and when he saw it he said, "Thou who art called after happiness, and who art the great king of the trees, troubled by grief for Manohar?, I clasp my hands. Do thou dispel my grief."

After this fashion, with troubled mind, he at length arrived at the hermitage of the Rishi. And when he had meekly paid reverence to the Rishi, he said, "O thou who art exalted through endurance, thou who art clothed in the bark of trees and the skins of wild beasts, thou who feedest on roots and sprouts, the Vilva tree and the Kapittha tree. O Rishi, I pay thee reverence, bowing my head. Hast thou seen my Manohar?? Tell me quickly." Then the Rishi said to the youth Sudhana, "Welcome!" And after unfolding a carpet and making preparations for a friendly reception, he continued, "I have seen her who is endowed with smooth, interlacing eyebrows, who possesses a comely form, a face resembling the full moon, and eyes like unto blue lotuses. Take your seat upon the carpet, and partake of these different kinds of roots and berries. There is no doubt in my mind that you will obtain happiness in the future. Thus spake she of the beautiful eyebrows: 'I have learnt that the youth, rendered unhappy by longing, although a dweller in the forest, affected by great sorrow, will come to you.' Then she gave me this ring and said, 'As the way which leads to me is full of woe and hard to tread, he can turn back. But if he cannot bring himself to turn back, then you must direct him on his way.' And she spoke as follows: 'In the north there are three black mountains. When these are surmounted, there are three more on the other side; and when these three have been surmounted, there are again three more; and when these three also have been surmounted, there remains the king of mountains, Himavant. Here are certain remedies to be obtained. There is the remedy nectar. When it has been boiled in melted butter, he who drinks it will feel neither hunger nor thirst, and will increase in memory and strength. There is also a monkey which must be carried away; there are spells which must be learnt; and there are also to be carried away a bow and arrows, a gleaming jewel, a deadly poison and a remedy, three iron wedges, and a lyre. On the north side of Himavant, king of mountains, is Mount Utk?laka, and beyond are Mounts Jalapatha, Khadiraka, Ekad?raka, Vajraka, K?mar?pin, Utk?laka, Air?vata, Adhov?na, and Pramuchaka. These mountains you must climb, but to pass Khadiraka, Ekad?raka, and Utk?laka you must traverse a cavern, and over Vajraka will the king of the birds convey you. In this way will you cross the mountains. Magic creatures, ram-like and goat-faced, and a man who has the form of the R?kshasa Pingal?, you must overcome. In the cavern is a snake which rolls with the strength of a foaming stream, and this you must overcome by force. Where there is a black snake, and you see half of it in the cavern, you must bend your bow and let fly your arrow and kill it. When you see two rams butting one another, break a horn off each of them and you will find your way. When you see two iron men holding fear-inspiring weapons, strike down one of them and you will find your way. When you see a R?kshas? with iron lips opening and shutting her mouth, fling a wedge at her forehead. Then you must leap across the fount with the wild whirlpool, which measures sixty fathoms. You must bend your bow and slay Yakshas and R?kshasas with lion-yellow hair and eyes, difficult to resist and hard to approach. Many rivers, also, filled with alligators, must you cross. There are the Crocodile, the Butterfly, the Sad, the Gay, the Weeper, the Laugher, a river full of snakes, and a river rich in reeds. In the Crocodile is R?kshas?-anger, in the Butterfly is a demon, in the Sad are many water-monsters, in the Gay is a Vidy?dhara, in the Weeper a Kinnar? serving-maid, in the Laugher is a Kinnar?, in the snake-filled river are many snakes, in the river rich in reeds is ??lmali. In the presence of the Crocodile you must stand firm, and you must be bold in the presence of the Butterfly. On reaching the Sad, you must bind the jaws of the water-monsters. With the Gay you will succeed by the help of some N?gas, with the Weeper by means of courage, with the Laugher by means of silence. You will cross the snake-filled river by means of the charm against snakes, and the river rich in reeds by means of the magic of sharp weapons struck together. When you have crossed the rivers and reached a land rich in bushes, you must oppose and overcome five hundred Yakshas who dwell there. There stands the capital of the Kinnar? king. Go and speak with him.'"

Thereupon the youth Sudhana touched the Rishi's feet with his head, and went away in order to seek the remedies, spells, and antidotes indicated to him. When he had obtained all but the monkey, he came back with them to the Rishi. The Rishi gave him a monkey and said, "O youth, why do you trouble yourself so much? Wherefore is Manohar? so necessary to you. Alone, without companions, you will surely lose your life." The youth replied, "Great Rishi, I shall surely go, and why? Where has the heaven-traversing moon a companion? The king of the beasts, endowed with strength of tusks, and the fire which burns the forest--where are their companions? Wherefore should a strength like mine require a companion? What! shall not men trust themselves to the great ocean wave? Shall not one heal the hand which a snake has bitten? If a vigorous being struggles to the utmost, no blame can be found with the pains taken, even though they may not be successful."

Thereupon the youth Sudhana, provided with the various objects indicated by Manohar?, set forth. He passed in their turn the rivers, the caverns, and the abysses, assisted by the remedies, the spells, and the antidotes, and he came into the neighbourhood of the Kinnar? king, Druma. The youth gazed at the city, which was adorned by a park rich in flowers and fruits of various kinds, the haunt of all sorts of birds, provided with tanks, oblong and square lakes, and surrounded by Kinnar?s. He saw some Kinnar?s coming to draw water, and he said to them, "What are you going to do with all that water?" They replied, "The Kinnar? king has a daughter, Manohar?. As she has fallen into the hands of human beings, the smell of humanity has to be washed off her." The youth Sudhana said, "Are all these jugs to be emptied over her at once, or one after another?" They replied, "One after another." He thought, "Here is a good opportunity. I will drop this ring into one of the jugs." He chose the jug of one of the Kinnar?s, dropped the ring into it, and said to her, "Let your jug be the first to begin Manohar?'s ablutions." Whereupon she thought, "No doubt he will be wanting something or other."

When this Kinnar? had been the first to empty her jug over Manohar?'s head, the ring fell into Manohar?'s lap, who said to her, "Has not a man come hither?" She replied, "Yes." "Go to him, and bring him to some retired spot." Accordingly the Kinnar? brought him in and took him to a retired spot. Then Manohar? touched her father's feet and said, "Father, if the youth Sudhana, who was my husband, were to come here, what would you do with him?" He replied, "As he is a man, and I have no need of him, I would cut him into a hundred pieces and scatter him on all four sides." Manohar? said, "Father, as he is a man, how could he be here? It was only my talk."

Afterwards, when the wrath of the Kinnar? king, Druma, was assuaged, he said, "If the youth comes, I will have you provided with all kinds of ornaments, and with many goods and treasures, and surrounded by Kinnar?s, and will give you to him as his wife." Thereupon Manohar?, full of great delight, clothed the youth Sudhana in divine array, and showed him to the Kinnar? king, Druma. When the Kinnar? king, Druma, saw the young Sudhana's stately form and pleasing aspect, his handsome face and brilliant complexion, he was greatly astonished. As he was desirous of having him as his son-in-law, he set in order seven golden stems, seven palms, seven kettledrums, and seven wild boars. Now the youth Sudhana was a Bodisat, and Bodisats are versed in all arts and in every kind of skill. Moreover, the gods take pains to remove all hindrances out of their way. The Bodisat stepped forth, surrounded by many thousands of Kinnar?s, amid dance and song, and to the sound of the harps, kettledrums, cymbals, lutes, drums, and the rest of the instruments of various kinds made by the gods. Before the eyes of the Kinnar? king, Druma, he drew nigh to the golden stems, wielding a sword which looked like the leaf of a blue lotus, and began to cut the stems in pieces as though he were slicing a plantain. Whereupon he broke them into fragments like grains of sesame. Moreover he shot an arrow uninjured through the seven palm-trees, the seven kettledrums, and the seven boars, and remained standing like Sumeru unremoved. Thereupon the heaven-inhabiting gods and many hundreds of thousands of Kinnar?s set up a cry of triumph with noise and shouting. When the Kinnar? king, Druma, saw and heard all this, he marvelled greatly.

After that the king placed Manohar? in the middle of a thousand Kinnar?s exactly like her, and said to the youth Sudhana, "Come hither, O youth, and recognise Manohar?." Then the youth Sudhana, in order that he might recognise her, uttered these verses, "Thou who art Drama's daughter, thou art also my beloved Manohar?; let it come to pass, in consequence of this truth, that thou, O Manohar?, swiftly steppest to the front." Thereupon she immediately stepped forward, and the Kinnar?s said, "Your majesty, as this youth Sudhana is of excellent strength, manliness, and courage, and deserves to be Manohar?'s husband, therefore please to be angry no longer, and to give Manohar? to him."

Then the Kinnar? king summoned the Kinnar? host, and the Kinnar? assembly paid great honour to the youth Sudhana. Holding Manohar? adorned with divine array with his left hand, and a jar full of gold-dust with his right hand, the king went up to the youth Sudhana and said, "O youth, I give you Manohar? as your wife, surrounded by a thousand Kinnar?s. But men are of a fickle nature. Do not on any account desert her." "I will act, O father, in accordance with your words," said the youth Sudhana, and proffered obedience to the Kinnar? king, Druma. Then in a palace of the Kinnar? domain he and Manohar?, apart from men, revelled and enjoyed themselves to the sound of the musical instruments.

After a time, remembering his home, and being depressed by the pain arising from his separation from his parents, he informed Manohar? that he was overcome by the anguish caused by his separation from his parents. Thereupon Manohar? gave her father a full account of what had taken place. The king said, "Go with the youth, but act cautiously, seeing that men are deceitful." Then the Kinnar? king, Druma, let her go, after bestowing upon her jewels, pearls, gold and so forth in profusion.

Sudhana went his way with Manohar?, speeding onwards through the air by Kinnar? power, and at length arrived at the city of Hastin?pura. In the city of Hastin?pura, after all stones, gravel, and rubble had been swept away, and sandal-wood water had been sprinkled, and floral hangings, standards, and flags had been set up, and exceedingly fragrant incense had been provided, and flowers of all sorts had been strewn about, men gave themselves up to rejoicing. Then the youth, accompanied by Manohar?, surrounded by many thousands of leaders of men, made his entry into the city of Hastin?pura.

When he had recovered from the fatigue caused by the journey, he took jewels of different kinds and went to his father, and remained standing beside the king, and gave him a full account of his journey to and from the Kinnar? city. As King Dhana had become aware that the prince possessed remarkable strength, manliness, and courage, he invested him with regal power. The youth Sudhana said to himself, "That I have met with Manohar? and obtained the might of kingly power is the special result of earlier deeds. Therefore will I now also bestow gifts and practise virtuous works."

And during the space of twelve years he without let or hindrance offered sacrifice in the city of Hastin?pura.

PRINCE J?VAKA AS THE KING OF PHYSICIANS.

In Videha, in a vast, rich, prosperous, fruitful, and populous land, reigned King Vir??haka. He had five hundred ministers, with ?akala at their head, and through his chief minister ?akala he ruled in accordance with the law, and transacted business according to justice. For this reason all men looked up to ?akala. After ?akala had taken to himself a wife of his own degree, and had lived with her, there was born unto him a son, to whom, on the twenty-first day after his birth, the name of Gop?la was given. After he had again lived with his wife, another son was born to him, to whom he gave the name of Sim?ha.

When these two sons were grown up, it was with them just as it had been with their father, who from the very first surpassed all the other ministers in courage and superiority in the five arts. Now these ministers could not endure this. So they took counsel together, and betook themselves to the king, and asked him, when an opportunity presented itself, who really was king. The king replied, "Honoured sirs, what is the meaning of such a question? I am the king. Who else could there be?" They said, "O king, ?akala is king, not you. If he could manage it, he would deprive you of the regal power, set the diadem on his own head, and seize the regal power for himself." But the king saw quite clearly that they were hostile to ?akala because he was superior to them all.

On another occasion, the king was sitting surrounded by the band of ministers, while the first minister, ?akala, was detained in the king's palace, surrounded by eight thousand plaintiffs and defendants, so that the king's palace was quite full. But when the public business was brought to an end and the crowd had gone away, the palace was left quite empty. The king asked if all the crowd had left the palace. The ministers, trusting that they had found an opportunity, replied, "O king, what you wished to hear is evidently this: If ?akala could bring it about, he would deprive you of the sovereignty, set the diadem upon his own head, and seize the regal power for himself."

As kings, like crows, live in fear of death, he thought that what they said was doubtless true, and he began to find fault with ?akala. As every one finds in the world friends, foes, and indifferent persons, ?akala's attention began to be called to the fact that the king wanted to get up a quarrel with him, and that he must therefore take some precautions. After pondering over the matter, he considered whither he should betake himself. If he were to go to ?r?vast?, he would be in the same danger there, as that also was under regal power. Just the same would be the case if he were to go to V?r??as?, to R?jag?ha, or to Champ?. Only in Vai??l? did the people rule. There, if ten men were contented, twenty were discontented. He had better betake himself thither.

So he sent a messenger to the Li??havis of Vai??l? to ask if he might take up his abode under the shelter of their power. They replied with all respect that he might come to Vai??l?, and would be welcome there. Thereupon the first minister, ?akala, called his kinsmen together, and said to them, "Honoured sirs, I am about to move to Vai??l?. Let those among you who are contented here remain here; but he who is not so, let him get ready and go with me." He also ordered the herdsmen to drive the oxen and buffaloes to Vai??l?, and told his servants to get themselves ready for the journey thither.

After having thus incited many men to get ready, he went to the king, touched his two feet, and said, "O king, as I have a little business to see to, allow me to go to the park." The king gave his consent. When ?akala had caused the park to be ransacked, he filled his waggons with treasures, which he covered over with food and liquor, and set off.

When the ministers heard that ?akala had absconded, they came in haste to the king and reported his flight. The king ordered them to recall him. They equipped a fourfold army, overtook him, and ordered him to turn back in compliance with the king's commands. He replied, "Honoured sirs, ye have long been considering whether I should die or take to flight. As the latter has now come to pass without much difficulty, think no more of it. I have escaped."

They shot some arrows in order to satisfy the king's expectations. Then they turned back and informed the king that ?akala had escaped. The king was displeased thereat and kept silence.

At that time there were three districts in Vai??l?. In the first district were 7000 houses with golden towers, in the middle district were 14,000 houses with silver towers, and in the last district were 21,000 houses with copper towers. In these lived the upper, the middle, and the lower classes, according to their position. The people of Vai??l? had made a law that a daughter born in the first district could marry only in the first district, not in the second or third; that one born in the middle district could marry only in the first and second; but that one born in the last district could marry in any one of the three; moreover, that no marriage was to be contracted outside Vai??l?, and that a woman recognised as a pearl among women should not be married to any one, but should appertain to the people for common enjoyment.

As ?akala was a man of position, he was allotted a house in the first district. When he began to live there, he could not be induced, although invited, to appear in the assembly of the people. The Li??havis asked him why he did not appear. He replied, "As harm might come to me from the assembly, therefore I do not go to it." The inhabitants of Vai??l? encouraged him to attend, saying that no harm could come to him. He then went to the assembly, but he never expressed any opinion. They invited him to do so. But he explained that he never did so, because if he did some evil might come upon him. They declared that he ought to do so, and that doing so would bring him into no trouble. So when he afterwards appeared in the public assembly, he expressed his opinion along with the rest.

Up to that time, the Li??havis of Vai??l?, whenever they sent a missive to any one, wrote it in a rude style. But after ?akala had given his advice they framed their missives in a friendly tone. They who received such friendly missives talked them over among themselves, and tried to find out the reason for this friendliness. Then some of them explained that it was since ?akala, the first minister of Vir??haka, king of Videha, came to Vai??l? and took part in the councils, that letters of this kind, full of friendliness, had been issued.

After ?akala had arranged marriages for his two sons, Gop?la and Sim?ha, there was born unto Sim?ha a daughter, to whom the name of V?sav? was given at her birth-feast. When the seers had inspected her, they declared that she would bear a son who would take his father's life, set the diadem on his own head, and seize the sovereignty for himself. After Sim?ha had again lived with his wife, a daughter was born to him, whose birth also was celebrated in the most festive manner, and to whom the name of Upav?sav? was given. Her also the seers inspected, and they declared that she would bring into the world a son provided with excellent qualities.

Now it came to pass that Gop?la, who was fierce and of great strength, ravaged the parks of the Li??havis of Vai??l?. The park-keepers tried to prevent him from doing so, pointing out to him that the Li??havis were fierce and of great power. As the keepers gained nothing thereby, they betook themselves to his father and besought him to restrain his son. ?akala sent for him, and made him aware of the danger which threatened him on the part of the Li??havis. He replied, "Father, they have parks; we have none." ?akala said that he would ask the popular assembly for a park. He did so, and the assembly granted them an old park. In the park there was an ancient S?la tree, out of which the one made an image of Bhagavant, and the other consecrated the same. The Sthaviras in the S?tras also say that the Buddha Bhagavant went out from Vai??l? into the S?la forest of Gop?la and Sim?ha.

When Gop?la had committed a thousand misdeeds, and the Li??havis had blamed and reproved him and called him to account, ?akala sent for him, and commanded him, in order not to irritate the people, to retire to a certain hill district, and there to practise agriculture on his own lands. The son obeyed his father's commands.

Afterwards, when the commander of Vai??l? died, the first minister, ?akala, was elected commander. After he had held this post for a short time, he also died. The people of Vai??l? met together, and held counsel as to whom they should appoint commander. Then some of them said, "As the excellent minister, ?akala, has admirably protected the people, let us elect his son." Others said, "His son Gop?la is fierce and of great strength. If we appoint him as commander, discord will be sure to come upon the people. His younger brother, Sim?ha, is good, accessible, and likely to render the people contented. If it so please the people, let us appoint him commander." As all acquiesced in this, the assembly waited upon Sim?ha and offered him the post of commander. He answered, "Gop?la is my elder brother; therefore appoint him." They replied, "O Sim?ha, is the post of commander hereditary in your family? If you are not inclined to take the post, we will appoint some one else commander." He reflected that it would not be well if the commandership were to pass to some other family from his own, so he decided that it would be better to accept it. Thereupon he was invested with the office in great state.

Previously to this, when the inhabitants of Vai??l? sent a missive, they used to write, "Thus say the people, with ?akala at their head." A little after this a missive arrived at the place where Gop?la was practising agriculture on his lands. When Gop?la had opened it and perused it, he asked if his father was dead, seeing that the inhabitants of Vai??l? had been in the habit of writing, "Thus say the people, with ?akala at their head," but now there was written, "Thus say the people, with Sim?ha at their head." When he was told that his father was dead, he took offence, and went to Vai??l?, and asked Sim?ha if it was right that he should have been made commander, although he himself, Gop?la, was the elder brother. Sim?ha explained how the whole matter had come about. Full of displeasure against the Li??havis, Gop?la determined, in consequence of this slight, to go to R?jag?ha. So he sent a messenger to King Bimbis?ra to make known his desire to place himself under the king's protection. The king sent back word that he would be welcome. So he went to R?jag?ha, and King Bimbis?ra made him his first minister.

Now after some time King Bimbis?ra's chief wife died, and as he was sitting depressed, leaning his cheek upon his hand, Gop?la asked him what was the cause of his grief. He replied that his chief wife was dead, and he could not but be unhappy. Gop?la said, "O king, be not troubled in mind. My younger brother has two daughters, perfect in youth and beauty. They would be exactly suitable for you. One of them, according to predictions, will give birth to a son who will put his father to death. But the other will bring into the world a son possessing the most excellent characteristics. It will be well for you, O king, to have that maiden brought here, of whom it was predicted that she would bear a son with the most excellent characteristics."

Thereupon Gop?la informed his brother Sim?ha that King Bimbis?ra's chief wife was dead, and that he ought to send his daughter Upav?sav?, as she would in that case become the king's chief wife. Sim?ha wrote to him in reply, "What this will come to I will not ask you. But you, who understand the measure of things, will know what ought to be done. As the people have made a law that no maiden of Vai??l? may be given in marriage to an outsider, you must come yourself and wait in the park. I will go to the park with my daughter, and you can carry her off from there."

Thereupon Gop?la took leave of the king, mounted his chariot, and set off for Vai??l?. Having arrived there, he waited in the park. At that time one of the gatekeepers of Vai??l? had died and had been born again among the demons. He gave to the inhabitants of Vai??l? the following instructions: "As I have been born again among the demons, confer on me the position of a Yaksha and hang a bell round my neck. Whenever any foe to the inhabitants of Vai??l? appears, I will make the bell sound until he is arrested or has taken his departure." So they caused a Yaksha statue to be prepared and hung a bell round its neck. Then they set it up in the gatehouse, provided with oblations and garlands, along with dance and song, and to the sound of musical instruments.

Gop?la sent word to Sim?ha to come to him, as he was waiting in the park. Taking the people of Vai??l? into consideration, Sim?ha went home and said to Upav?sav?, "You are to be given to King Bimbis?ra as his wife, so take your ornaments and go forth to the park." When she began collecting her ornaments, V?sav? saw her and asked why she was doing that.

"I am going to be married."

"To whom?"

"To King Bimbis?ra."

V?sav? said this could not be done, seeing that she was the elder sister.

"In that case do you take the ornaments."

While they were still discoursing the bell began to sound. The inhabitants of Vai??l? were in great commotion, supposing that an enemy had come to Vai??l?. Full of anxiety, Sim?ha took with him his elder daughter, V?sav?, under the impression that she was Upav?sav?, and went hastily to the park. There Gop?la, equally full of anxiety, received V?sav? into his chariot and drove away.

The people of Vai??l? set out in pursuit of him, overtook him, and began to fight with him. But as he was versed in the five arts of battle, he pierced five hundred Li??havis to the heart, and said, "Honoured sirs, as I have pierced five hundred of your number to the heart, but am ready to leave the rest of you alive, do ye now turn back."

"No living being among us has been killed."

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