Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

Page 42

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forty-eight years in all. At the end of this period he departed, taking leave of all his superiors. When he was starting his mother gave him a jewelled shawl. He then took his way to the court of his uncle Pundaríka, and reached the city of Saketa at night. He said to himself : 'I will wait upon the king to-morrow morning early;' and so he carelessly seated himself to see a play acted at night in a temple. The king and many other persons were present to see the play, which was very interesting. After three watches of the night had passed an actress was exhausted. Her mother said: 'My child, when but a little difficulty has arisen, why do you allow your limbs to become relaxed ?
"You have sung well, you have played well ;* After lasting through a long night, do not be careless when the
darkness passes away.' When the hermit heard this verse repeated; he was filled with the spirit of renunciation, and he gave the jewelled shawl to the actress; the prince gave a golden bracelet studded with jewels; a lady named Críkántá, who was a native of that city, gave a necklace of pearls; the driver of the royal elephant gave a driving-hook; the prime minister, named Jayasandhi, gave a couple of golden bracelets. All the presents taken together were worth five lakhs. The king's mind was filled with astonishment. He asked the hermit the cause of so unusual a gift. He answered: . She has brought my mind to a state of composure, which my teacher
could not do; As a candle in a cellar pierces the darkness which the sun cannot
pierce. King, this lady is my spiritual preceptor, and teaches me the true path; for this reason I gave her my jewelled shawl.' The king then asked Críkántá. She said : King, I was purposing in my mind to murder my husband and take another, but I also have been converted by her words.' The king asked the driver of the royal elephant the reason of his gift. He answered: King, I wished to go to another kingdom, and I was purposing on the field of
* I read vaditam for viditam.