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MAY, 1905.]
FOLKLORE OF THE TELUGUS.
123
Once upon a time, NArada approached and addressed the tree, saying: "O, thou art delightful. O, thou art charming! O foremost of trees, I am always delighted at thy sight. O charming tree, delightful birds of diverse kinds, and elephants and other animals cheerfully live on thy gigantic branches and under their shade. I never see any of them broken by the wind-god. Is it, O child, the case that Pavana is pleased with thee and is thy friend, so that he protects thee always in these woods? The illustrious Wind, possessed of great speed and force, moves from their sites the tallest and strongest trees, and even mountain summits, dries up rivers, lakes, and seas. Pavana undoubtedly protects thee through friendship. It is for this reason that, though possessed of innumerable branches, thou art still graced with leaves and flowers. O lord of the woods, this thy verdure is delightful, since these winged creatures, filled with joy, spert on thy twigs and branches. During the season, when thou puttest forth thy blossoms, the sweet notes of all these denizens of thy branches are heard separately when they indulge in their melodious songs. Then, again, these elephants, bathed in sweat and indulging in cries of delight, approach thee and find happiness here. Indeed, O tree, thou lookest beautiful even like the mountains of Mêru, peopled by creatures of every kind. Resorted to also by Brahmanas, crowned with ascetic success, by others engaged in penances, and by Yakshas devoted to contemplation, this, thy region, resembles heaven itself. Without doubt, the terrible and irresistible god of wind always protects thee out of amity. A close intimacy must subsist between thee and the Wind. I do not know any other tree, mountain, or mansion in this world that I have not seen broken by the wind. Without doubt, thou standest here with all thy branches and twigs and leaves, simply because thou art protected by the wind for some reason or reasons unknown."
To which the tree replied: "The Wind is neither my mate nor my well-wisher. Indeed, he is neither my great ordainer that he should protect me. My fierce energy, O Nârada, is greater than the Wind's. In sooth, the strength of the Wind comes up to about only an eighteenth part of mine. When the Wind comes in rage, tearing up trees, mountains, and other things, I curb his strength by putting forth mine. Indeed, the Wind that breaks many things has himself been repeatedly broken by me. For this reason, I am not afraid of him when he comes in wrath."
Nârada said: "O tree, thy perception seems to be thoroughly perverse. There is no doubt in this. There is no created thing which is equal to the Wind in strength. Even Indra, or Yama, or Varuna, the Lord of the waters, is not equal to the God of the Wind in might. What need, therefore, to say of thee that art only a tree? Whatever creature in this world does whatever act, the illustrious Pavana it is that is at all times the cause of that act, since it is he that is the giver of life. When that god exerts himself with propriety, he makes all living creatures live at their ease. When, however, he exerts improperly, calamities overtake the creatures of the world. What else can it be than weakness of understanding which induces thee thus to withhold thy worship from the God of the Wind, that foremost of creatures in the universe, that being deserving of worship? Thou art worthless and of a wicked understanding. Indeed, thou indulgest only in unmeaning brag. Thy intelligence being confounded by wrath and other evil-passions, thou speakest only untruths. I am certainly angry with thee for thy indulging in such speeches. I shall myself report to the God of the Wind all these derogatory words of thine. Other trees of good souls that are far stronger have never, O thou of wicked understanding, uttered such invectives against the Wind. All of them know the might of the Wind, as also their respective powers. For these reasons those foremost of trees bow down their heads in respect to him. Thon, however, through folly, knowest not the infinite power of the Wind. I shall, therefore, repair to the presence of that god for apprising him of thy contempt for him."
