Indian Antiquary Vol 31

SR No.: 032523
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 556
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1902.
Calling his wives together he said : “My mother will come. One of you should hold the pullem, another should wash her feet and offer a seat, while the third should wipe them." With these words the prince left them and went to his mother, who, on seeing him, fell on his neck, and, shedding tears, exclaimed: "My son, my son, you have come back after all, and I have been 80 anxious." He told her that three daughters-in-law were awaiting her! She went to the princesses and was mightily pleased at their bumility and comeliness.
Meanwhile the two other princes bad reached their country with the Nymph of the Wire Hill, and their father was immensely delighted and applauded his two boys for having brought the unobtainable, and declared to the people that no two princes of equal prowess were to be found on the face of the earth. The princes also on their part went about bragging.
But the Nymph of the Wire Hill fretted, and constantly thought of the young man who bad fallen headlong from the Wire Hill, and when the king made overtures to her, she said: "I have certain Dévèndra vows to perform. If you get me some cobra lilies (ndgu-mallailu in Telugu) I will perform the vows and then marry you." Her object in asking for these lilies was to get news of the missing prince, as she was fully convinced that if any one could bring the cobra-lilies, which are only to be found seven and seven, fourteen, seas beyond the sea of milk, it would be he alone.
The king, summoning the two princes, said to them: "Your mother wants some cobra-lilies for the performance of her vows. Will you go and get them ?”
"It is not a difficult affair, father dear. We will go and bring them," said they, and, mounting their steeds, set out,
Now the third prince saw his two brothers going out to fetch the cobra-lilies and he at once ran to his youngest wife and said: "My brothers are going to bring the cobra-lilies; I will go too."
But how are they going to fetch them ?" asked she. "They are in the sea of milk which is beyond seven and seven, fourteen, seas."
• What do you advise " the prince asked in baste, and she gave him some seeds, after repeating certain incantations over them, and also a letter and said: "When you come to the sea, throw these seeds, and the sea will make a way for you, and you can walk straight on dryshod, and when you come to the sea of milk at the end of seven and seven, fourteen, seas, von will see a tortoise. Throw the letter to it, and it will take the letter to the Lord of the Serponts. The Lord of the Serpents will send back the tortoise, and you must take your seat on his back and go to the Lord of the Serpents, who will give the cobra-lilies and send you back."
Cordially thanking his wife for her help, and bidding her, his other two wives and his mother a hasty farewell, he hurriedly started, and when he came to the sea he did as he had been bidden. He threw the seeds on the sea, and the sea opened a presage for him. He passed along it and came to the sea of milk, and, seeing a tortoise, he throw the letter to it. The tortoise took the letter and ran to the Lord of the Serpents, who sent the tortoise back to bring the young man, and the prince, mounting the tortoise, went to the Lord of the Serpents, who received him with every mark of respect, and put him up at his own house and married him to his daughter, the Celestial Swan. He plucked some cobra-lilies, gave them to the prince, and said :
Here take the cobra-lilies and go safely back to your country with your wife, my daughter." And he ordered the tortoise to carry them. The tortoiso took the prince and princess on its back across the seven and seven, fourteen, seas, and set them down on the seashore of their own country.
• A small tray of gold or brass on which camphor is burnt and carried before a groat personage by his host.