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56
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARCH, 1926
110. The Raja and the Cowherd.
(Told and recorded by Jagat Sinh, Meerut District.) A king and his minister were once out hunting, and as they were conversing together, they met a cowherd grazing his cattle. Just as they were passing, the minister spoke as follows:
Rajd to pdg bán ke, than ban ki ghors;
Gay bhains sing banki nain ban ki gori. i.e., "A Raja looks well with a turban on, and-a mare when she is tied in the stable. A buffalo looks beautiful when it has good horns, and a fair lady when she has large eyes."
The young cowherd overheard this and said to a cow, which was going astray: "O cow, if you wander away I will break your legs, even as this prince has broken the legs of the verse," Hearing this remark, the Raja asked the boy what he said, whereupon the boy repeated his remark to the cow. "But how did the minister break the legs of the verse ? said the Raja. Said the boy: "Does a turban make a Raja look well! No! This is wrong. The verse should run thus :
Raja to rac ban ke, ptth ban kí ghôri ;
Gaya bhains dudh ban ki, kak ban ki gori.” i... " A Raja looks well who is equipped for battle, and a mare when she has a strong back (to carry her rider). A buffalo looks beautiful when it is in milk, and a fair woman when she has sweet speech."
111. The Parrots Reproof.
(Told by Akbar Shah, Dudhi, South Mirzapur.) A woman was going after her marriage to her husband's house, when she saw her lover standing a little way off and weeping. Then she said :
Gori chali gawand ke jankhan lage mit kya ? Jhankho kya jhurud ? kya jhurwd kêo? Dahi rahd so tum khayo, au mantha chala bides. Bhar angan sab sabhd rahi, kaise bida batawôn ; Gaon ke uttar pokhard wahân pani bharne dwÔn;
Tum dhani ghord daurdye awo to hamen wahan pâyo. i.e., "The fair one started for her husband's home and her lover began to mourn. Why mourn for the beloved and her hair? You ate the good curd; the curd which has been mixed with water and adulterated is going to another country. How could I let you know that my father would send me away on such and such a day! You know that during these days our courtyard was full of clansmen. To the north of the village lios a tank, on the bank of which is a pipal tree. If you ride quickly there on horseback, you may find me, as I shall go there to draw water."
Hearing this, the lover retired, and in the evening he went to the tank, but did not find his beloved. So he returned home, heavy of heart. Seeing a parrot on a tree, he cxclaimed:
Sugå tor lai thor, piar thor, tore mukh men amrit ghariya ;
Yah båtên gori dekhe, sir par gagariya. i.e., “O Parrot, thou hast a red and yellow bill. In thy mouth is the cup of nectar. Sawest thou my fair one pass this way with a pitcher on her head ?" The Parrot answered:
Gori dya rahi, gori jaya rahi, aur bhari gågariya ;
Chand, suraj donon chha pit bhaye, toré mukh men lagi karikha. i.e., " The fair one came and drew water and went away. The sun and moon have now set. Thy face, O my friend, has been blackened (i.e., You came too late)." The lover was ashamed of his folly and went home.
