Hindoo Tales by Translated by P. W. Jacob
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Translated by P. W. Jacob >> Hindoo Tales
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But she, with her face full of tears, said "O beloved, do not, on my
account, engage in violence. Thou, who having been born of a worthy
merchant, Arthadasa, wast called Kosadasa by thy parents, art called
by thy enemies Vesadasa (slave of a girl), from thy excessive
attachment to me. Thou thyself being dead, I should imagine the
popular saying would be (he was) Nrisansa-Vesa--the slave of a wicked
one. But now take me to any place you will."
But he said to me: "Friend, in the regions seen by you, which was
(the most) prosperous, abounding in corn, and having the greatest
number of good men?"
To him, having laughed a little, I said "Wide is this (world bounded
by) ocean and sky. There is no end of pleasant regions in one place or
another. But, indeed, if I should not be able to produce some plan
causing you to live comfortably here, then, indeed, I will show you
the way."
Meanwhile, the sounds of jewel-anklets arose. Now she, in a hurry,
said: "My lord's daughter Kandukavati is come to propitiate Durga with
playing at ball; and she is of unforbidden sight in this Kanduka
(ball) festival. May the eye of you going to see her be successful; I
must be keeping near her." So saying, she went away, and we two
followed her.
I first saw the red-lipped (lady) standing on the floor of a jewelled
stage; and she, seen by me a stranger and at a distance, immediately
settled in my heart. And I, having my mind occupied by astonishment,
thought: "Is this Lakshmi? for the lotus is not placed in her hand;
but in her (Lakshmi's) hand there is a lotus, and she (the goddess)
has been all enjoyed by Vishnu, and by former kings; but in this
(lady) there is unimpaired faultless youth."
While I was thus reflecting, she, faultless in every limb, touching
the ground with the tips of her stretched-out fingers, having her dark
curled locks shaken, having with agitation saluted the mighty goddess,
took hold of the ball, resembling (in colour) the god without a body
(_i.e._ Kama) having his eye reddened by no slight passion; and having
dropped it with graceful languor to the ground, having struck it,
gently rising, with her bud-like hand having the delicate fingers
stretched out, the thumb a little bent; having thrown, it up with the
back of the hand, she caught it observed with active grace, in the air
as it fell like a bunch of flowers joined with a circle of bees; and
she discharged it in middling slow and quick musical time, throwing it
very gently; and at that moment she displayed a quick movement with
her feet; and when it stopped, she caused it to rise up with numerous
blows; and, contrarywise, she caused it to rest; and she made it rise
up like a bird, striking it regularly with her left and right hands
when it was come straight to her side, and having caught it fallen
when it had risen to a very great height, she practised a song-step;
and having caused it to go up in various directions, she made it come
back again. Thus sporting sweetly in various ways, accepting the words
of praise loudly spoken at every moment by the people with their
feelings interested come near to the stage, she stands turned towards
me (who was) leaning on the shoulder of Kosadaasa, having just then
confidence produced in me, with flushed cheek and wide expanded eye.
Then she being caused to have a glancing look like that of Kandarpa
when first descended to earth, corresponding therewith having her
gracefully-curved creeper[12] eyebrows sportively playing; with the
network of the rays of light of her lips oscillated by the waves of
the wind of her breath, like twigs moved in sport, as if beating off
the bees eager to catch the perfume of heir lotus-face. In the
circular whirlings of the ball (caused) by very rapid striking,
entering, as it were, a flowery cage, through bashfulness at sight of
me; in the Panchavindhu movement shaking off, as if through fear, the
five arrows of Kama simultaneously falling (on her); in the Gomuttrika
steps quivering like the brightness shown in the cloud imitating
forked lightning; in the harmonious movements of her feet, having the
time kept by the sound of the jewelled ornaments; with her lower lip
suffused with the brightness of a furtive smile; with the mass of her
locks put up again when fallen down; with her jewelled girdle-belt
sounding by knocking together; with the brightness of her muslin
dress, agitated as it rested on her gracefully prominent full hips;
with the beautiful ball, struck by the quivering, bent, and extended
arms; with the arms like a loop, turned downwards; with her graceful
hair reaching to the end of the back, rolled round upwards; with the
game continued (and) not neglected from her rapidity in putting up the
fallen-down golden leaf of the ear-ring; with the ball whirled inwards
and outwards by the feet and hands throwing it up repeatedly; with the
necklace lost to sight through bending down and rising up; the pearls
without separation in falling and rising; with the wind of the little
branch (stuck) in (or behind) the ear engaged in drying up the paint
of the cheek spoilt by the perspiration breaking forth; with one hand
engaged in holding back on the surface of her bosom the falling
muslin dress; sitting down and rising up, closing and opening her
eyes, striking on the ground or in the air, with one ball or more than
one, she showed various sorts of play worth looking at.
* * * * *
PAGE 36.
After that, a certain damsel, adorned with a quantity of ornaments,
made of jewels, who had become the chief of the whole race of women in
the world, attended by a numerous train of modest female friends,
having the gait of a swan, having come up softly, having made an
offering to the most excellent brahman, of one jewel of the form
(colour) of flame, being asked by him: "Who art thou?"
Sorrowfully, with a low murmuring voice, very gently, in a submissive
attitude, said: "O excellent brahman, I am the daughter of a chief of
Asuras, Kalindi by name. My father, the ruler of this world, great in
dignity, in a battle in which the immortals were removed to a
distance, was made a guest of the city of Yama by Vishnu, impatient of
his own valour. Me, immersed in an ocean of grief at separation from
him, a certain compassionate perfected devotee told: 'Damsel, a
certain mortal, bearing a divine body, having become thy new husband,
shall rule over the whole of Patala.'"
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PAGE 309.
Having propitiated with clasped hands, put together in the form of the
red lotus; the mass of rays coloured by the red sandalwood body of the
thousand-eyed elephant of the eastern quarter having a thousand
flames, the witness of things (which ought) to be done and not to be
done, the unique sea-monster leaping over the row of cloud-waves of
the celestial ocean, the graceful actor dancing on the stage of the
golden rock, the one lion the tearer of the scented elephant of
nocturnal darkness, the jewel arranged at the top of the pearl
necklace the canopy of the stars; I went to my own dwelling. And three
days being gone, when the lord of day had a splendour of colour common
to it with the red chalk side of the peak of the western mountain, and
was looking like the orb of one bosom of the Goddess of Twilight,
united with the body of Siva, under the name of atmosphere, for the
disparagement of the daughter of the king of mountains; that king also
having come, stood in humble attitude, having his diadem eclipsed by
the rays from the nails of the feet of this person placed on the
ground; and he was thus addressed:--
* * * * *
PROPER NAMES, ETC., OCCURRING IN THE TALES.
_Alaka_, a mountain inhabited by Kuvera and the Yakshas.
_Ambalika_, the daughter of Sinhavarma, wife of Mantragupta.
_Amittravarma_, King or Governor of Mahishmati.
_Anantavarma_, King of Vidarba.
_Apaharavarma_, son of Praharavarma, and one of the nine companions of
Rajahansa.
_Apsaras_, heavenly females, nearly corresponding with the houris of
the Mahometans.
_Arthapala_, son of Kamapala, one of the nine companions of Rajahansa.
_Arthapati_, a merchant at Champa, who wished to marry Kulapalika.
_Aryaketu_, a minister and friend of Visruta.
_Asura_, a general term for various supernatural beings not regarded
as gods, but in general hostile to them, nearly the same as the jins
or genii of the "Arabian Nights."
_Avantisundari_, daughter of Manasara, wife of Rajavahana.
_Balabhadra_, a merchant, husband of Ratnavati.
_Balachandrika_, wife of Pushpodbhava, and friend of Avantisundari.
_Bandhupala_, a merchant, father of Balachandrika.
_Betel and pawn_, a mixture for chewing, frequently offered in
politeness, as snuff with us.
_Bheels_, savages, wild tribes, robbers.
_Bhimadhanwa_, brother of Kandukavati.
_Buddhist_, a disciple of Buddha. Buddha was a Hindoo reformer, whose
followers were once very numerous in India, but at the date of these
stories had been much diminished in number, through the persecutions
of the brahmans. They still, however, form a large part of the
population of Ceylon, Thibet, China, and some other countries, though
the comparatively pure religion of the founder has for the most part
degenerated into gross idolatry and unmeaning ceremonies.
_Chakravaka_, name of a bird quoted for affection, as turtle-doves by
us.
_Chandala_, a pariah, outcast.
_Chandrasena_, foster-sister of the Princess Kandukavati.
_Chataka_, a bird supposed to be very fond of rain, and to make a loud
noise at its approach.
_Dhanamittra_, husband of Kulapalika, friend of Apaharavarma.
_Dharmapala_, one of Rajahansa's ministers.
_Dharmavardhana_, King of Sravasti.
_Durga_ or _Kali_, wife of Siva, a terrific goddess, delighting in
human sacrifices.
_Gauri_, wife of Siva.
_Ghee_, liquid butter, or butter which has been liquefied.
_Indra_, the chief of the inferior gods, presiding over the clouds,
rain, thunder, &c.
_Kailasa_, a mountain, part of the Himalaya chain.
_Kalahakantaka_, the man who fell in love with a portrait.
_Kalindi_, Queen of Patala, wife of Matanga.
_Kalpasundari_, wife of Vikatavarma, afterwards of Upaharavarma.
_Kama_ or _Kandarpa_, the God of Love.
_Kamamanjari_, the actress who seduced the Muni.
_Kamapala_, son of Dharmapala, minister and son-in-law of the King of
Benares.
_Kanakalekha_, daughter of the King of Kalinga, wife of Mantragupta.
_Kandukavati_, the princess who performed the ball-dance.
_Kantaka_, the gaoler killed by Upaharavarma.
_Kantimati_, the wife of Kamapala, mother of Arthapala.
_Kirata_, a savage, forester, Bheel.
_Kosadasa_, lover of Chandrasena.
_Kusa-grass_, a scented grass, much used at sacrifices for laying
offerings on, &c.
_Kuvera_, the God of Wealth, whose attendants were the Yakshas.
_Magadha_, the kingdom of Rajahansa.
_Mahakala_, a famous temple of Siva, the object of many pilgrimages.
_Mahishmati_, name of a city.
_Malaya_, a mountain, or range of mountains, having many sandal trees,
the perfume from which was supposed to be carried a long distance by
the wind.
_Malwa_, the kingdom of Manasara.
_Manapala_, the officer who guarded Vamalochana.
_Manasara_, King of Malwa, conqueror of Rajahansa.
_Manibhadra_, a Yaksha, father of Taravali.
_Manjuvadini_, daughter of Anantavarma, wife of Visruta.
_Mantra_, a verse or chapter in the vedas, any prayer or words recited
as a charm.
_Marichi_, a great muni seduced by Kamamanjari.
_Matanga_, a brahman who went down to Patala together with Rajavahana.
_Mithila_, a city or country, called also Videha.
_Mitragupta_, one of the nine companions of Rajavahana.
_Muni_, a holy man devoted to study, meditation, and penance.
_Nalijangha_, the old man whom Visruta rescued from the well.
_Narayana_, a name of Vishnu, an incarnation of the three principal
gods, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva.
_Navamalika_, daughter of the King of Sravasti, wife of Pramati.
_Padmodbhava_, one of Rajahansa's ministers.
_Patala_, a fabulous subterranean country.
_Prachandavarma_, King or Governor of Mahishmati, killed by Visruta.
_Praharavarma_, King of Mithila, father of Apaharavarma and
Upaharavarma.
_Priyamvada_, Queen of Praharavarma.
_Purnabhadra_, the reformed robber, servant of Kamapala.
_Pushpapuri_, the capital of Magadha.
_Ragamanjari_, an actress, sister of Kamamanjari.
_Rajahansa_, king of Magadha, father of Rajavahana, the hero of the
story.
_Rakshas_ or _Rakshasas_, evil spirits or ogres, hostile to men, whom
they used to devour.
_Rati_, a goddess, wife of Kama.
_Rishi_, nearly the same as Muni, a holy man retired from the world,
devoted to prayer and meditation.
_Satyavarma_, son of a minister of Rajahansa, and father of Somadatta.
_Savara_, fem. _Savari_, a savage, not a Hindoo.
_Siddha_ (literally perfected), a very holy devotee.
_Simanta_, a religious ceremony performed on behalf of a woman at a
certain period of pregnancy.
_Sinhaghosha_, the deposed King of Benares.
_Sinhavarma_, King of Anga, father of Ambalika.
_Sitavarma_, one of Rajahansa's ministers.
_Sringalika_, the nurse of Ragamanjari.
_Siva_, one of the three chief gods or triad of the Hindoos, Brahma,
Siva, and Vishnu, who are sometimes regarded as one, sometimes
confounded with each other.
_Sumantra_, son of Dharmapala.
_Susruta_, son of Padmodbhava.
_Taravali_, a Yaksha lady, wife of Kamapala.
_Vamadeva_, a holy man consulted by Rajahansa.
_Vamalochana_, daughter of Viraketu, wife of Somadatta.
_Vasumati_, Queen of Rajahansa.
_Vasundhara_, Queen of Anantavarma the King of Vidarba.
_Vidarba_, name of a country.
_Videha_, a country called also Mithila.
_Vidyadhara_, one of the numerous demigods.
_Vidyeswara_, the conjuror who married Rajavahana to Avantisundari.
_Vikatavarma_, King of Mithila, husband of Kalpasundari.
_Vimardaka_, a keeper of a gaming house, employed by Apaharavarma.
_Viraketu_, King of Patali, father of Vamalochana.
_Yaksha_, a sort of demigod or fairy, a servant of Kuvera.
_Yama_, God and Judge of the Infernal Regions.
_Yati_, an ascetic, a devotee.
_Yavana_, a Greek, an Arabian--any foreigner.
THE END.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: A religious ceremony on behalf of a woman at a certain
period of pregnancy.]
[Footnote 2: The Hindoos attach much importance to certain marks on
the body, such as the lines on the hands, &c.]
[Footnote 3: Kusa-grass, or kuskus, is used for strewing the floor of
a sacrificial enclosure, for laying offerings on, and for other sacred
uses.]
[Footnote 4: To be pushed in through opening in a wall, so as to
receive any blow which might be given.]
[Footnote 5: To be let loose that it might put out the lights.]
[Footnote 6: Hindoo women, when absent from their husbands, always
wear, or used to wear, their hair done up into a single braid.]
[Footnote 7: The author has here made a mistake which cannot be
explained. In the introductory chapter Pramati is the son of Sumati,
and there is nowhere mention of a second son of Kamapala. The
confusion of names is, however, of little importance, since the
adventures of Arthapala and Pramati are quite distinct.]
[Footnote 8: Increaser of virtue.]
[Footnote 9: It was considered a very great sin to be, even
indirectly, the cause of the death of a brahman.]
[Footnote 10: An evil spirit, the ghoul of the "Arabian Nights," the
readers of which will remember the story of Amina, who goes out at
night to feast on dead bodies.]
[Footnote 11: The inhabitant of Vindhya.]
[Footnote 12: Resembling tendrils.]
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