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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEB. 2, 1872,
« Once upon a time when Piliyuk was king to weep, not for himself, but for the destitution of Baranes, Gotama was born unto a hermit, in which he would leave his feeble parents. named Dukúla, and was named Sáma. After Horror seized the king at the reflection that his the son had grown up, Dukúla and his wife conduct was calculated to deprive of life three Pariká went one day into the jungle in quest of persons who had exercised the duties of Brahroots and fruits. There they encountered a machariyá, and that he could not escape the storm, and being much wet, were obliged to torments of hell if they all died; and touched take shelter under a tree close to a hole in- by the lamentations of the youth, he promised to habited by a malignant serpent. Whilst the succour and help his parents until his death. venerable pair were standing there, dripping Sáma, relying upon his faithful promises, blessed from their garments, a cobra issued a venomous the king, and desiring him to convey his respects blast, whereby they were instantly struck blind. and the sad tidings of his death to his blind In this helpless condition their son discovered parents, closed both his eyes and dropped down and conducted them home, and began to nourish as if he had expired. and maintain them with the affection of a 1 "Instantly a goddess named Bahusodari, who dutiful son. Sometime afterwards the king had been Sáma's mother in his tenth birth before went upon a hunting expedition, and rested on the present, perceiving the danger to the hermitthe banks of the Migasammata, not far from the boy and also to his parents, as well as the king, hermitage. He had not, however, been long made her appearance on the spot; and, after rothere before he saw the footsteps of deer that buking the king for his conduct and advising came down to the river to drink; and, him how he should behave towards Sáma's pathinking that he could kill them, lay in rents, watched over Sáma. ambush. Immediately a remarkably handsome "The king sorely afflicted with grief, picked person with a pitcher came down to the river up the pitcher which had been filled up by Sáma, Furrounded by a flock of deer. Amazed at the and taking the path which he had been directed, sight and wishing to ascertain whether it was reached the humble cottage of the blind pair, a nymph of the forest whom he thus beheld, who sat anxiously watching the return of their he issued a dart which, alas ! severely wounded son. They now heard the sound of advancing him. In the agonies of death the wretched footsteps, but, knowing that they were not those man put his pitcher by him, and, falling on the of their son, inquired, who approached the ground, began to exclaim, Who can be the door ?' The stranger announced that he was enemy of a person that was devoted to the re- Piliyuk, the king of Baranes ; and entered with ligious duties of the eight silas and ten kusalas? them into a conversation, in the the course of Who, indeed, could desire the flesh of an in- which he delicately disclosed their son's fate and nocent person like myself?' Hearing these the particulars connected with it, offering at the cries the king approached his victim, proclaimed same time to succour them through life. Unthat he was Piliyak, king of Baranes, explained bounded was now the grief of the hapless pathe motive with which he had shot him, and rents, to which they gave utterance in the landesired to know who or what he was. Where- guage of despair, falling down, and each bitterly upon Sámia replied, I was born in this forest, crying, 'Oh, son Sáma! from the day I have lost I am the only prop and support of two parents, my sight, have I, by thy unceasing attentions, both aged and blind. Little do they know of felt that I have acquired divine eyes. Where the mishap that has happened to me. They hast thou now gone? How shall I henceforth will indeed be much grieved and distressed live? Son, thou hast never done nor conceivwhen they find me thus delaying. I alone ed any evil towards us, or any other being. gave them what they desired. Twice daily Thou hast never uttered a falsehood. Thou hast have I washed them and thrice have I fed never committed life-slaughter; ever hast thou them. Who indeed will give them a drop maintained the observance of the pancha sila.' of water even after asking ten times? They The king tried his-utmost to console them but will be parched liker fishes out of water. Who, without success. Afterwards, turning to the alas I will succo and help those, who, probab- king, the blind parents addressed him, saying, ly, at this very moment are anxiously waiting that they had no faith in his proffered protecmy return and are watching for the first sounds tion, and that all the favour they desired was to of my footsteps?' Thus lamenting, he began be led to the place where Sáma lay. The king
