Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

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

Page 66

The princess dressed herself in white, and, mounted on a horse, approached the pyre which had been made for Amarachandra. Then the minister said: The princes assert that Amarachandra died from fear of them; now, in the family of our sovereigns a reproach like this makes even the dead live again. The princes said: 'If you have the power, bestow life on Prince Amarachandra.' Immediately after this speech the prince recovered life by means of his previously acquired power. The princes said to him: * Engage in combat before you celebrate your marriage, otherwise it will not be permitted.' Having made himself ready to battle, the prince, by the virtue of his necklace, conquered his enemies. Then Amarachandra celebrated his marriage, and returned to his own city, which he entered with great pomp.
In the meanwhile the joyful occasion was being celebrated by King Sundara with a dance of marionettes ; & puppet was dancing there on a bamboo. At this moment a wandering hermit came flying through the air. He im. proved the occasion in these words : 'King, look at the puppet-show in your inner self; why do you gaze on an external puppet-show? For this continuance* of yours is the stage ; your great name is the bamboo; the four migrationst of the soul are the four puppets; the four sins are the pegs, being anger, pride, delusion, and avarice; the eight actions are the drums; human forms are the attendants that tire the puppets; this intelligence is the master of the puppet-show.' When King Sundara had in these words been instructed by the wandering hermit, he placed the prince on the throne and took a vow. Amarachandra with his consort Jayaçrí performed the functions of royalty. Now, the king was a slave to his passions. One day the king saw a man in Jayaçrí's palace. Having been called by the prince, he entered his hall of audience
* Sthiti. See the translation of the Sarva Darçana Sangraha, p. 56.
Into the bodies of men, animals, gods, and inhabitants of hell. | Jivo' yam.