Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

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

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gods, the soul of the cock-parrot became a king of the name of Hemaprabha, in the city of Hemapura. The soul of the hen-parrot also fell from the world of the gods, and became Hemaprabha's wife, Jayasundarí by name. The second hen-parrot also, after wandering about in the course of mundane existence, was born as another wife of Hemaprabha's, Rati by name. The king had five hundred other wives also, but the two first wives were most dear to him, owing to the fact that affection had subsisted between them and the king in a previous birth. One day the king contracted a painful burning fever. At one moment he rolled on the ground, at another he anointed his limbs with sandalwood juice, and at another he rolled on the bed; still, he could not obtain any relief. Then physicians skilled in spells applied their remedies; but no one's remedy took effect on the king. Then an expiatory rite was performed; a great ceremony in honour of the mighty Jinas was performed in the Jaina temples; the deities of the clan were worshipped; but still the fever-heat in the king's body was not allayed. After all this, during the course of the night a certain Rákshasa appeared, and said to the king: 'King, are you asleep or awake?' The king said: How can I sleep?' The Rakshasa said: 'If one of the queens makes herself a victim and hurls herself into the sacred fire-pit you will recover; otherwise you have no chance.' When the Rakshasa had said this, he went to his own place. The king said to himself: 'Is this all a juggling delusion, or have I seen a dream to this effect owing to the suffering which has reduced me? No, this cannot be a dream, for I saw the Rákshasa before me in bodily presence.' So when the king woke up in the morning he told Sumantrin the occurrence of the night. He said: Let this expedient even be adopted to save your life.' Then the minister told the story of the Rakshasa in the presence of all the queens. Though they heard the story, all the queens remained with their eyes fixed on the ground out of regard for their own lives. Thereupon the queen consort Rati, with the lotus of her face expanded,
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