Indian Antiquary Vol 22

SR No.: 032514
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 442
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL, 1393.
who was in fear of her life, coaxed her over, so that at length, unable to resist her mother's command, she had to live with the hamadryad.
It happened one night that King Sakra, having need of the fairies in council, desired the presence of Sakkaru. The latter could not resist, and, leaving behind his snake's skin went off secretly to the fairies' council in T'Âwatinsa. When it dawned he could not return, as the council was not ended. At that time Mi Dwê Pyû, who was ignorant of his absence, as she did not as usual hear any sound from him, looked at his sleeping place and perceived him to be seemingly motionless. On handling him she perceived that there was no flesh but only the gkin left, and she called out in tears to her mother and sister, "Come, come, my husband is dead." Her mother, however, said, "Don't cry, if people hear it will be a pretty disgrace, keep quiet; whilst her sister added that there were plenty of hamadryads like this one in the forest, and that she would go and get one. Dwê Pyû replied, "He was my husband, and I am greatly grieved;" but her mother talked her over saying that if there was a regular funeral and guests received with betel-nut and tea, so that everybody knew, there would be a scandal, and that it would be better to perform the funeral quietly by burning. Dwê Pyû agreed, and accordingly they burnt the skin, so that it was completely consumed. Thereupon the Snake Prince Sakkaru, being heated more than he could beer, appeared in person by the fire-place. Miss Dwê Pyû did not know him, and asked who he was. He repeated to them how he had suffered intense heat, whereupon Dwe Pyû and her parents knew who he was, and rejoiced greatly. But Shwe Kyon became jealous and said, "I have not got him because of Dw6 Pyû. If it were not for her I should get him."
When it became dark they all went to bed. At midnight the fairy Samâ-dêva, who had been sent by King Sakra, came and said to Sakkaru :-"Here is & magic wand which our royal grandfather, King Sakra, has granted to you, and the virtue of it is that if you strike with it and wish for anything your desire will be accomplished. Your title also is to be SakkaruKumma. From the time your child is born let not a drop of snake's blood touch you; if it does you will become a snake as before. If you avoid this danger you will become in time a mighty king. However, on receiving this wand you can only come back here after wandering in other Countries." After speaking these words Sama-deva vanished, At dawn, when Dwê Pyû awoke, Sakkaru repeated to her what the latter had said. Although she repeatedly tried to restrain him, he said, "It is King Sakra's order. I cannot disobey," and going down to the sea he struck it with the magio wand. Thereupon a ship, fully rigged and manned, rose into sight, and he went on board and left Dwe Pyt, who remained behind with child.
After his departure Shwe Kyon said to hersell, “If Dwe Pya dies, I will get her husband; so she coaxed Dwê Pyu, wbo could not withstand her, down to the river bank. There Shwe Kyên said, “When you die, I will get your husband, so I am going to push you into the river." Dwê Pyû cried and besought her, saying, " There are two lives in me. Do not kill me. When my husband returns do you live with him. I will have you married all right. But Shwe Kyên replied, "As long as you are alive I shall never get your husband, but only on your death," and throwing her into the river, she returned home.
As Dwê Pya floated down the river & big eagle, taking her for a fish, swooped down on her and carried her off to his nest in a silk-cotton tree. There he discovered her to be a woman, and when Dwê Pyll had told him all about herself, he kept her in his nest, where she was delivered of a son.
When the child cried she soothed it by repeating Sakkaru's name, but as the eagle became angry and talked of pecking it to death in consequence, she soothed it by talking of " Papa Eagle." The latter then said, "Ha, you are laughing at me." This squabbling was overheard by the Snake Prince, who was just returning in the ship, and who remarked that one voice was like Dwê Pya's. The sailors replied, "How could Dwê Pyû get to such an extraordinary place ? It cannot be her." On coming near to the silk-cotton tree, the Prince asked, "Is that Dwê