Nalrayavadanti Charita

Author(s): Ernest Bender
Publisher: American Philosophical Society

Page 77

VOL. 40, PT. 4, 1950) TRANSLATION
337 giving you milk gets bitten—this is the practice of that collection of fraud, virtueless, and cruel, and have your tribe!" (202) Then, under an enchantment, come here to you." (220) Dadhiparna, hearing of Nala became hunchbacked, dark-skinned, and exceed- Nala's death, in deep grief performed the obsequial ingly ugly.
rites for him and) Nala, pleased, was secretly deWhen the king lamented, "Where can one go in this lighted. (221) form?" (203) then, it doffed the snakel's form and] One day a messenger was sent by Dadhiparņa on revealed the semblance of a radiant god, saying, "I am (some] business to Kundinapura. When he had a your father, Nişadha, who have come because of love suitable opportunity, he told Bhima the story of the for you. (204) For twelve years this condition must cook, Hundika. (222) When Davadanti heard this be yours in accordance with your karma. Know that story she said, "Who and of what sort is Hundika, even a god does not have power over karma. (205) father? Send a spy to find out. I know he must be Since in ruling you made all the kings slaves, they will Nala, (223) since, except Nala, no other person knows do you harm [if] they recognize you now, (206) and so how to prepare [that] delicious sun-cooked dish." for your own welfare I have given you a deformed Then the king, after instructing [him), sent out Kušala, shape. You will [in due time) by donning divine gar- who went off. (224) ments and divine ornaments regain your own form. When he came to the court of King Dadhiparņa and (207) In (this) jewel-casket there are ornaments, and saw Hundika, he became sad at heart, "As much differin [this] vilva-fruit fine clothes. Take both these and ence as there is between the sun and a mustard (seed) keep them, until you (want to] assume your own] so much is there between Nala and Hundika. (225) form, o hero." (208) Questioned by Nala about That arena of grace and beauty, handsome [in his Davadanti, the god related her adventures, with praise bodily perfection), the blessed King Nala--what refor her virtue, so completely pure. (209) At his wish, semblance to him has this repulsive Hundika whose [the god took him to the city of Sumsumāra. Leaving body is hunchbacked and dark as soot. (226) DavaNala, the god went to the Brahma-heaven having re- danti has in her mind in error (lit upon] Hundika for moved his son's delusion. (210)
Nala. Nevertheless, if I cause him to speak, I (can) When Nala had entered a pleasure-garden in the make certain through [his speech, eye, mind, and city, after worshipping the Jina in a temple, an ele- behavior." (227) phant which had broken its post in rut was causing Then the Brāhman lad at the king's request enacted terror and doing destruction in the city. (211) Dadhi- skillfully the tale of Nala. As constantly as an alluparņa, the king, ascended his balcony and said, "I will sion appeared, so constantly did recollection grieve give his heart's desire to whichever hero subdues this Hundika. (228) [Kušala said,] "Pitiless, virtueless, noble elephant." None ventured into the sight of the shameless, and base; faithless, merciless, unmanly, and elephant. (212)
impotent-no other man equals Nala by whom his Nala mounted the elephant and brought it under true wife was deliberately deserted. (229) O you luckcontrol, and the king gave him a gold chain as a gift. less Nala, how did you make your feet move when you Nala dismounted from the elephant and, sauntering abandoned that true wife sleeping alone in the forest, over, sat down by the king without bowing to him. (213) trusting in you, fragrant, golden colored, true?" (230) The king asked, "Do you know any other excellent As he heard this account he experienced a boundless art?" He replied, "I can prepare a (savory] dish grief, and loosing his throat, the cook wept (aloud). cooked by the sun, if you would like me to." (214) He saw Davadanti about to hang herself. Jumping The king provided for the preparation plenty of all up, he cut (the ropel and stopped her. (231) "Don't the necessary ingredients, consisting of pure milk, commit suicide, o queen; I have come back to you. [etc.]. He then made the sun-cooked dish and the I won't run away!" He, when love overcame his king and all his people ate (of it). (215) They were mind, thus, revealed himself. (232) unanimous in their praise and the king, happy, gave C ompared with spirituous liquor deep and pure love him ornaments, a lakh of rupees, and five-hundred is treacherous. A creature, disordered by its poison, villages. And he accepted everything with the excep- knows nothing of religious discrimination and pious tion of the villages. (216)
reflection. (233) The king, pleased, abolished hunting and spirituous Kusala said, "This Nāțaka is not true, O Hundika. liquors at the request of Nala. The king asked, No one sees any association. Why do you feel such "What is your name? Speak up, Hunchback, what distress?" (234) "I am Nala's private cook. Thereis your village?" (217) The hunchback replied, "In fore, I love him very much. A servant is, indeed, Kośalā was that noble Nala king. I was his cook, devoted to his master." In this fashion spoke Hundika by name. With Nala as my instructor I Hundika very moved. (235) Respectfully, he invited have learned all the arts. (218) In playing at dice [Kusala) to his house and joyfully fed him a delicious with Kübara, Nala lost his kingdom. Taking Dava- sun-cooked dish. [Then), Hundika gave Kusala a danti, he left to dwell in solitude in a forest. (219) As lakh of rupees, ornaments, and a golden necklace. (236) Nala left to wander about, then I deserted Kübara, He was privately questioned by Kušala [but did not