Indian Antiquary Vol 14

SR No.: 032506
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 351

NOVEMBER, 1885.]
FOLKLORE IN WESTERN INDIA.
313
have equall cause for rejoicing. In one of them, however, you will hear that there is a cause of regret, viz., that the newly born boy refuses his mother's breast. The boy will be myself, come back into the world a second time, whilst the girl will be no other than my wife. You must, therefore, ask the people to take you to the house of the minister, my father, and there you will see me lying in my mother's lap. As soon as I see you I shall speak to you and then commence to suck my mother."
The king, who had followed his host throughout most attentively, was at a loss to know what to think of all he had heard. He tried to go to sleep again after the cowherd had retired, but in vain. Meanwhile he could hear his friend snoring away in the adjoining room.
Before the day had broken, the disguised king, who had been tossing about in his bed, pondering upon what had been so strangely related to him, heard people shouting that the king's palace was on fire. He instantly got up and began to look about for a knife. He soon found one, and hurrying to where the cattle were kept, cut the ropes with which they were tied up and set them at liberty. He then re. turned to the hut, and there, sure enough, he found the poor cowherd and his good wife dead in their beds. He forth with proceeded to do as he had been bidden over-night. He got everything ready and burnt the bodies with all due ceremony, defraying the cost out of the poor man's savings, which he found in the box in the corner, as had been pointed out to him. While returning from the burning-ground, he saw the dhed coming down a hill with his two new-born babes, proclaiming in a loud voice that he was going to throw them into the sea. Remembering what his deceased host had told him he went up to him, and after a good deal of persuasion succeeded in getting him to promise to spare the lives of the infants, giving him, at the same time, the two gold coins still remaining in hand out of the cowherd's box. The scavenger returned home with the infants and the two gold coins, to his wife's great delight, and the king went on his way.
When he reached the city he heard the sound of music and singing, and on inquiring into the cause of the rejoicings was told just what the cowherd had predicted. When he approached the house of the Minister to whom had been born a son and heir he remarked that some of the people around looked sad and dejected, because, he was told, the newly born boy refused the breast.
"Take me to the child," said the king to some of the servants whom he found loitering about the house, and I shall work a charm that will make him suck his mother fast enough."
The men looked at him for a while in astonishment, but at last, with the permission of the master of the house, they took him to the chamber where sat the mother with the baby in her arms, wondering how the boy she was so pleased to have would live without the nourishment he refused. The king went up to her, and as soon as the child saw him he began to speak, to the great surprise of his mother. They were quite alone, for every one else had been sent out of the room, and what the child said was :
"Have all my words been verified ? Have you learnt the lesson you came to learn ?"
The king had scarcely answered “Yes," when the baby put his mouth to his mother's breast and drank his fill. The gratified mother requested the stranger to explain the meaning of her baby's questions, but the king wisely refrained from giving her any explanation and left the house amidst many expressions of gratitude from the parents of the boy, as well as from their friends, for the wonderful change he had produced in him.
Immediately after this he set sail for his native country, and when he arrived there, he was greeted by his Minister, to whom he related all that he had seen and heard, and assured him that he was now fully convinced that there was nothing in this world likecharity and benevolence.
From that day he devised every means in his power to enhance the welfare and happiness of his subjects, and died regretted and respected by all for his numerous virtues, prominent among which were benevolence and charity.
Ordinarily there would be no rejoicings at the birth of a girl, but many at the birth of a boy.
The point of this tale, which must be of purely Hindu origin, lies in the doctrine of the transmigration of souls. The wicked king and queen are punished by being born again as the children of a scavenger, and the virtuous
cowherd and his wife rewarded by becoming the children of ministers, who in India are not only people of very high position and great wealth, but are also usually high-caste Brahmans. The cowherds are everywhere a low caste. Charity' in India usually means almsgiving to Brahmans.