________________
HARIBALA
31
corner of the city People were happy and they thronged at the park to celebrate the home comiog of the hero He was duly received there by the king who then brought him to the palace.
The court was overflowiog with the people Very cordially, did His Majesty say to Haribala
“My worthy friend! How did you perform this most difficult job? We are waiting to receive the full account from you's
The following account was given by Harıbala :
"Your Gracious Majesty ! The course of events is too dong to be narrated within such a short time, but I shall make the long story short. I started for the south, and after having left behind many a deose forest and difficult mountain, at last, I reached the sea As I had no aid to cross it, I stood on the shore thinking At that time, a terrific giant, who was very hungry, came to me to use me as his food, but I could read bis intention and so humbly said that it would be a great occasion for me when my mortal frame would serve as his food, but, said I, my only regret would be that the body would end before it had fulfilled a promise The giant became impatient and shouted, 'What is your promise ? I shall help you to fulfil it' But when I told him about it, even the giant was taken aback. 'It is not easy for a human being to cross the sea ; but let me think' With folded palms I waited At last, the giant said, with his dreadful tongue visible : 'A pyre is burning in the forest Go there and jump into it. You cannot go with this body into Lanka. That may be the only way' I got alarmed, but I held my assignment above everything, even life, and so without thinking, I jumped straight into to Soon my body was turned into a pile of ashes The giant then collected my ashes in a piece of cloth, carried them himself to Lanka and placed them before king Vibhisana When the King heard the whole story from the giant, he was amazed at my devotion, and at once restored me to life, imparting in the process more beauty than I had before I bowed before the kiag who received me very cordially and at once proposed his daughter's
