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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(MAY, 1925
52. The Weaver Bird and the Elephant. (Told by Ram Sahai, Brahman of Aulharanpur, and recorded by Jang Bahadur Kayasth,
Basitnagar, Hardoi District.) A Phadka or weaver bird and his wife, the Phadki, once built their nest on an acacia tree, and close by lived an elephant and his wife. Now the elephant used to come daily and rub himself against the acacia tree so violently that it was almost uprooted. One day, when the tree was shaking violently, the Phadki said to the Phadka "My dear husband, if this goes on much longer the tree will fall, our nest will be thrown down, and our eggs broken. You must see to it at once.” “What can I do against such a great beast as this?” said he.
So the Phadki went herself to the Elephant's wife and said, "Great trouble will soon befall your husband if he goes on rubbing himself against our tree." The female elephant warned her husband, but all he said was, “Let me once get the wretched creature under my foot and I will crush him to powder." Next day he went as usual to the tree, and as he was rubbing himself against it, the Phadki flew down, got into his ear, and began to scratch and tear with her claws and beak. The elephant howled for mercy, and from inside his ear the Phadk oried, "Did I not warn you that one day evil would befall you?” Then, when the Elephant besought her to desist, she repeated the following verse :
Ari chhoto ganiye nahin jate hot bigår
Trin samuh ko chhinak men chinagi deli bigar. ie. “Never despise an enemy, however insignificant. A little spark destroys a great pile of bay in a moment."
This is one of the cycle of tales in which the inferior animal overcomes the mightier one.--W. CROOKE.)
53. The Result of Charity.
(Told by Thakur Sinh, Ahir, of Saharanpur.) There was a princess who was so haughty that she said, “I will marry none save him who can bring Airavati, the elephant of Raja Indra, and all the fairies of Indrasan to the wedding.” In that city lived a poor Brahmani who was in the most bitter poverty. One day an old Brahman, who was Bhagwan in disguise, came to her door and asked for food. Her son was given to charity and he said, “Mother, there is naught in the house wherewith we may feed this poor Brahman. Cook my dinner and let him bave it." So the old woman cooked her son's dinner and gave it to the Brahman. But by the grace of Bhagwan the food doubled in quantity, and when the Brahman had eaten, there was enough and to spare for the boy and his mother. What was saved they gave tu the needy.
Bhagwan was pleased with the boy; so that night he appeared to him in a dream and said, "Go and demand the princess as your wife." Next morning the boy went to the palace and demanded the princess. Her father and the courtiers were wroth at his preBumption and the Raja ordered that he should be slain. But Bhagwan appeared to the Raja and said, "Do not slay the boy. To-morrow the elephant Airavati and the fairies of IndrasAn will accompany his marriage procession."
And so it was ; the Brahman boy married the princese amid the utmost splendour. So may Bhagwan reward all who do good.
54. The Fruits of Covetousness.
(Told by Thakur Sinh, Ahir, of Saharanpure) There was once a Chamar who wanted a cocoanut to offer to his god. So he went to the bazar to buy one. He asked the price, and the Banys said, "An anna apiece." "And whence and at what rate do you buy them ?" asked the Chamar. “They come from Kahnpur," he replied, "and they cost half an anna each." The Cham Ar thought he would
