Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 305

SEPTEMBER, 1884.)
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
269
coolie by the hand the robber went off to the a beast, and I shall die a virgin." So saying she palace. Wherever he found a door locked he conducted out in haste the supposed coolie, who applied a leaf that he carried in his hand to the had only time to take a hasty embrace, whis. fastening, and behold the lock flew back, and pering in her ear that he was the prince, and the door opened of its own accord. The prince that he would marry her without fail. He was astonished. In a few minutes the robber now ran for his life. Fearing the robber opened one and all of the gates and boxes, and would come after him he left the way by which extracted all the precious stones. He tied | he reached the cave, and passing through them up in a bundle, and set it on the prince's unknown fields reached the south gate of the head, and asked him to follow. Sundara fol- town. By that time the search for him had lowed. He assisted in the plunder of his own almost abated, and the prince, praising God for palace, and carried the booty behind the rob his delivery, reached the south street. The ber, who, praised be his stupidity, never for night was almost spent. Before returning to one moment suspected he was a prince, but the palace he wished to take rest for a few admired his coolie for the beauty of his person, minutes, till he had recovered his breath, and thought of saving his life, and also of making so he sat down on the pyal of an old and almost him his son-in-law. For the robber had ruined house. a beautiful daughter, for whom he had long That happened to be the house of a poor been searching for a suitable husband. So Brâhman, who had not even sufficient clothes with this thought he reached the cave, to wear. As the prince sat down in a corner stopped before it, and taking the bundle from of the pyal the door of the house opened, the prince's head ordered him to go into a large and the old Brahman came out. The oell, the mouth of which he covered with a big old woman, the Brahmani, was standing at stone which he lifted up by pronouncing an the door with a vessel containing water for incantation over it. The robber went with the her husband. Subhasistri, for that was bundle to his wife, and described to her the the Brahman's name, looked up to the sky for beauty of the coolie, and what a fair match he a couple of minutes, after which he heaved would be for their daughter. The wife did
a deep sigh, and said, "Alas, the prince, the not like it, and asked her husband to do with only son of our former protector, Sivachår, the coolio as was usual, i. e., murder him ; is not to remain for more than two ghatikas, and the robber, who, never in anything acted A kálasarpa (black serpent) will sting him. against the will of his wife, went in to fetch What shall we do? we are poor. If we could his weapon.
begin Sarpahóma now we could tie the mouth Meanwhile the robber's daughter, an excel- of the snake, sacrifice it in the fire, and thus lent girl, of the most cherming beauty, over- save the prince." So saying the poor Brahman hearing all that took place between her parents, cried. Sundara, who overheard everything, came running to the cave where the coolie was jumped down in confusion, and fell at the feet confined. She pronounced a single word over of the Brâhman, who asked him who he was. the stone lid of the cave, and it opened, and the “I am a herdsman of the palace. Preserve my prince, who had lost all hopes of recovery, now master's life," was the reply. Subhasastri was beheld beautiful girl coming towards him. extremely poor. He had no means to procure “Whoever you may be, my dear coolie, fly for & small quantity of ghi even to begin the hôma. your life for the present. You are my hus- He did not know what to do. He begged from band. My father has so named you, but as his neighbours, who all laughed at his stupidity, my mother does not like it, he has gone to fetch and ridiculed his astrology. The prince in a his weapon to murder you. Excepting we hopeless state of anguish wrang his hands, and three, none, not even Brahmå, can open the in wringing them he felt his ring. Drawing it once-shut gates. After hearing you once called off his finger he gave it to Subhaśastri, and my husband, I must ever regard you so. Now requested him to pawn it. The latter resorted fly, and escape my father's sharp sword. If you to the nearest bazar, and awakening the bazárare a man, marry me in kind remembrance of the keeper procured from him a little ghi, by pawning assistance rendered. If you fail to do so you are the ring. Running home and bathing in cold