Dhurtakhyana in the Nisithacurni

Author(s): A N Upadhye
Publisher: Z_Vijay_Vallabh_suri_Smarak_Granth_012060.pdf

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DHURTAKHYANA IN THE NIŠITHA-CÜRŅI
145
"These ideas are found in scriptures like the Bharata and the Ramayana. A stream in which the entire army was plunged is described. Secondly, a big sesamum plant is not impossible, for it is said that at Pāšaliputra a drum was carved out of a māşa plant.'
Mūladeva then narrated: 'As a youth, yearning for prosperity, I proceeded to the abode of Isvara for a bath with a gourd-kettle and an umbrella in hand. A wild elephant rushed against me. There being no other alternative I entered the gourd-kettle through the spout. The elephant also followed me, but I could delude and evade it for six months inside. Then I escaped through the spout; the elephant also pursued me, but its tail-end was caught there. I reached the Ganges which I crossed easily, and took the stream of it on my head for six months. Then I saluted Mahāsena, came back here and met you all. Either accept this as true or give a feast to all the rogues.' Others added thus : 'What you say is true and reasonable. Brāhmaṇas, etc., came out from the different parts of Brahma's body in which the entire population was contained; similarly, the elephant and yourself could be contained in a gourd-kettle. Secondly, Brahmā and Vişnu could not reach the terminus of the Linga even after many years; still Umā's body could accommodate it; similarly an elephant and yourself could be contained in the kundikā. Thirdly, when Vişņu was reposing in the ocean, Brahmă came out of his navel, but the lotus (stalk) was stuck at it; similarly the tip of the tail could be stuck even when you both came out of the spout. Fourthly, Rāma ordered Sugrīva to get news about Sītā; Hanūmat was entrusted with this mission which he fulfilled by crossing the ocean by his arms; similarly you also could cross the Ganges. Lastly, when Gangā was invited on the earth, Pasupati received her in his matted hair for years together; similarly you could receive the stream of the Ganges for six months.'
In reply to Khandapāna's suggestion, the Dhūrtas said that they would not sacrifice their self-respect for a meal. She smiled and started narrating thus: 'I am the daughter of a king's washerman. Accompanied by my retinue I went to the river with a cart-load of clothes to be washed. All the clothes spread in the sun were blown off by the wind. Being afraid of the king, I became a lizard and entered the garden where I changed myself into a mango tree. I heard one day that washermen were all forgiven; so I became myself once more. The ropes and stripes of the cart were eaten by jackals; so my father got them prepared from a