Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

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

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husband for her, he proceeded to hold her Svayamvara, and summoned to it all princes. On the day of the Svayamvara all the kings, magnificently adorned, ascended platforms. Then Vishnuçrí, decked with ornaments on all her limbs, came among the suitors; and at the same time that ploughman, having heard of the Svayamvara, came to see it. The female warder, having described in succession the families of all the kings, at last came with Vishnuçrí near the door. She saw the ploughman standing on his plough. Being inspired by the god, the princess passed over all the princes and chose the ploughman. Then her mother and father were afflicted. They said: 'Unhappy is our lot, since our daughter has chosen a ploughman.' Then, too, all the kings were enraged. They said: Though we were present, this girl has chosen a ploughman. We cannot well blame the girl or the ploughman; the blame must fall on King Surasena, the girl's father, because, after inviting us, he has given his daughter to a ploughman. So we will kill this ploughman and seize her.' Having said this, all the kings attacked the ploughman. The ploughman for his part, animated with the might of the deity, fought with them all, while they at once assailed him. Then the ploughman, whirling aloft his plough, cleft the foreheads of elephants, cut open the heads of horses, and dashed chariots in pieces. Then all the kings were astonished. They said to one another: 'Is this a god, or a Vidyadhara, or is he some Siddha hero, that such might is seen to be his? So let us propitiate him before he destroys us all.' Having said this, they joined together, with Chandasimha at their head, and tried to conciliate the ploughman, saying: 'O thou god, pardon the impropriety which we committed.' Then the father and mother, beholding such exploits performed by the ploughman, made their daughter marry him, and celebrated the ceremony with great rejoicings. They did honour to the kings and dismissed them. The ploughman enjoyed with Vishnuçrí the pleasures of royalty. One day that god appeared before the ploughman in visible form,