Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1897.
that her husband was not really a horse, so one night she pretended to be asleep, and saw her husband take off his horse-covering. She became possessed of it with great skill, set it on ftre, and broke the spell to the immense joy of her parents.
In due course Jambhu RajA had a palace constructed close to the royal residence of his father-in-law. There, in the midst of pleasure and comfort he lived, loving and loved by his wife, and performing deeds of kindness to mankind. In his absence his two sisters sent by their mother came to the palace disguised, the one as a needle-seller and the other as a bangleseller. In the midst of their daty they asked the Rapt her husband's name, though they knew that she was their brother's wife. As she did not know it, she promised to tell them on another occasion. After the lapse of two or three days they came again. In the course of their conversation, naturally and without arousing any suspicion, they asked the Rani her husband's name. On this she frankly admitted that she had entirely forgotten to ask abont it. Thereapon the sisters gave her a needle telling her to stick it in her towel, so that when she wiped her face in the morning, it would come in contact with the needle, and she would be reminded at once. It need hardly be said that the needle pricked the Râni's face next morning, whereupon she ran to her husband and asked him his name.
“ You will repent of it," said the husband. “ No," replied the wife. "Do you really ask my name " again said the husband. 4 Yes," returned the wife.
On hearing this the FjA ran to the brink of the river olose by. Hardly had he uttered his name,"Jambhu Raja," than he disappeared into the waters below. In due course he returned to his parents' home, but complained of heat like barning fire throughout his body. Hundreds of water-carriers were employed to pour water over him, but nothing could cool him nor alleviate bis acute suffering.
Now, after the Rajâ disappeared, the Rani raved like a mad woman for a time. Then she became a gosdín, and started in search of her husband. Perilous and long was the journey she had imposed on herself; and though her courage sank within her at times, and her tender. feet, unaccustomed to walking, became swollen, she walked on until she reached tlie confines of the kingdom of her husband's parents.
Here, on the branches of a tree, a pair of chakwa chekwi binds were holding a close conversation.
"Our Raja's son, Jambha Rajh, is suffering greatly from heat in his body," said the male bird.
“Yes, dear," said the female bird, “but there is no cause for anxiety. If any one were to collect our dung, and reduce it to powder, and apply it to his body, he would be cured instantaneously."
Saying thus the birds flew away up into the high heavens. Our heroine, who was conversant with the language of birds, gratefully gave heed to the speech. Collecting some of the dang she reached the capital sooner than she would otherwise havo done, weary and footsore as she was. The people that first met her gave were a group of water-carriers whom. she interrogated thus:i "Sisters ! sisters. Whither are yon going with these pots full of water?"
• Compare the legend of King Bantana.
It is said that there are fires under the son, Vadavanála, a mythological person, being in charge of them.