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TRANSLATION
303
163. The king said: 'If so, let me by your grace comprehend
the tongues of all living creatures : let this be my
boon.' 164. 'So be it, king, but if you reveal this boon to another
person your death will straightway ensue by a bursting
of the brain.' 165. So saying the god went away at once whilst the king
betook himself to his dwelling-house, having obtained
his boon. Thus the days passed. 166. One day the king sat down to his toilet and heard a
remark addressed by the tame koil bird to her husband. 167. She said : 'For my sake just bring a little of that unguent.
. I have a craving for unguent.' 168. He replied: 'I will not fetch it, I am afraid of the king.'
She then said : ' If you do not fetch it I shall certainly
die.'
169. The queen saw the king was wearing a smile provoked
by overhearing that remark and asked him: Why
are you smiling at this ? ' 170. The king replied: 'Indeed I smiled, my dear, I say no
more than this.' 'Why?' she asked. I shall die if
this is told,' he replied. 171. She continued : 'It is necessary that this should be told.
If you do not tell me, then assuredly, my lord, I shall
die.' Then the king said : 172. 'If so, my queen, then I will tell you as soon as I have
mounted the funeral pyre.' So saying the king set
forth with his queen for the cemetery. 173. It had become common talk that if indeed the king
· revealed anything to his wife then he would die :
such was the gossip (at every well and fountain ?). 174. Then a she-goat said to her he-goat: 'For me to feed on
fetch me one sheaf of corn from that heap of barley.' 175. He replied: ‘King Brahmadatta's horses are to eat of
that barley and he who takes it will certainly be put to death.'
