The Katha Sarit Sagara.

by Somadeva Bhatta.

BOOK I.

CALLED KATHaPiTHA

CHAPTER I.

May the dark neck of Siva, which the G.o.d of love has, so to speak, surrounded with nooses in the form of the alluring looks of Parvati reclining on his bosom, a.s.sign to you prosperity.

May that victor of obstacles, [1] who after sweeping away the stars with his trunk in the delirious joy of the evening dance, seems to create others with the spray issuing from his hissing [2] mouth, protect you.

After worshipping the G.o.ddess of Speech, the lamp that illuminates countless objects, [3] I compose this collection which contains the pith of the Vrihat-Katha.

The first book in my collection is called Kathapitha, then comes Kathamukha, then the third book named Lavanaka, then follows Naravahanadattajanana, and then the book called Chat.u.r.darika, and then Madanamanchuka, then the seventh book named Ratnaprabha, and then the eighth book named Suryaprabha, then Alankaravati, then Saktiyasas, and then the eleventh book called Vela, then comes Sasankavati, and then Madiravati, then comes the book called Pancha followed by Mahabhisheka, and then Suratamanjari, then Padmavati, and then will follow the eighteenth book Vishamasila.

This book is precisely on the model of that from which it is taken, there is not even the slightest deviation, only such language is selected as tends to abridge the prolixity of the work; the observance of propriety and natural connexion, and the joining together of the portions of the poem so as not to interfere with the spirit of the stories, are as far as possible kept in view: I have not made this attempt through desire of a reputation for ingenuity, but in order to facilitate the recollection of a mult.i.tude of various tales.

There is a mountain celebrated under the name of Himavat, haunted by Kinnaras, Gandharvas, and Vidyadharas, a very monarch of mighty hills, whose glory has attained such an eminence among mountains that Bhavani the mother of the three worlds deigned to become his daughter; the northernmost summit thereof is a great peak named Kailasa, which towers many thousand yojanas in the air, [4] and as it were, laughs forth with its snowy gleams this boast--"Mount Mandara [5] did not become white as mortar even when the ocean was churned with it, but I have become such without an effort." There dwells Mahesvara the beloved of Parvati, the chief of things animate and inanimate, attended upon by Ganas, Vidyadharas and Siddhas. In the upstanding yellow tufts of his matted hair, the new moon enjoys the delight of touching the eastern mountain yellow in the evening twilight. When he drove his trident into the heart of Andhaka, the king of the Asuras, though he was only one, the dart which that monarch had infixed in the heart of the three worlds was, strange to say, extracted. The image of his toe-nails being reflected in the crest-jewels of the G.o.ds and Asuras made them seem as if they had been presented with half moons by his favour. [6] Once on a time that lord, the husband of Parvati, was gratified with praises by his wife, having gained confidence as she sat in secret with him; the moon-crested one attentive to her praise and delighted, placed her on his lap, and said, "What can I do to please thee?" Then the daughter of the mountain spake--"My lord, if thou art satisfied with me, then tell me some delightful story that is quite new." And Siva said to her, "What can there be in the world, my beloved, present, past, or future that thou dost not know?" Then that G.o.ddess, beloved of Siva, importuned him eagerly because she was proud in soul on account of his affection.

Then Siva wishing to flatter her, began by telling her a very short story, referring to her own divine power.

"Once on a time [7] Brahma and Narayana roaming through the world in order to behold me, came to the foot of Himavat. Then they beheld there in front of them a great flame-linga; [8] in order to discover the end of it, one of them went up, and the other down; and when they could not find the end of it, they proceeded to propitiate me by means of austerities: and I appeared to them and bade them ask for some boon: hearing that Brahma asked me to become his son; on that account he has ceased to be worthy of worship, disgraced by his overweening presumption.

"Then that G.o.d Narayana craved a boon of me, saying--Oh revered one, may I become devoted to thy service! Then he became incarnate, and was born as mine in thy form; for thou art the same as Narayana, the power of me all-powerful.

"Moreover thou wast my wife in a former birth." When Siva had thus spoken, Parvati asked, "How can I have been thy wife in a former birth?" Then Siva answered her. "Long ago to the Praj.a.pati Daksha were born many daughters, and amongst them thou, O G.o.ddess! He gave thee in marriage to me, and the others to Dharma and the rest of the G.o.ds. Once on a time he invited all his sons-in-law to a sacrifice. But I alone was not included in the invitation; thereupon thou didst ask him to tell thee why thy husband was not invited. Then he uttered a speech which pierced thy ears like a poisoned needle; 'Thy husband wears a necklace of skulls; how can he be invited to a sacrifice?'

"And then thou, my beloved, didst in anger abandon thy body, exclaiming,--'This father of mine is a villain; what profit have I then in this carcase sprung from him?'

"And thereupon in wrath I destroyed that sacrifice of Daksha. Then thou wast born as the daughter of the mount of snow, as the moon's digit springs from the sea. Then recall how I came to the Himalaya in order to perform austerities; and thy father ordered thee to do me service as his guest: and there the G.o.d of love who had been sent by the G.o.ds in order that they might obtain from me a son to oppose Taraka, was consumed, [9] when endeavouring to pierce me, having obtained a favourable opportunity. Then I was purchased by thee, [10] the enduring one, with severe austerities, and I accepted this proposal of thine, my beloved, in order that I might add this merit to my stock. [11] Thus it is clear that thou wast my wife in a former birth. What else shall I tell thee?" Thus Siva spake, and when he had ceased, the G.o.ddess transported with wrath, exclaimed,--"Thou art a deceiver; thou wilt not tell me a pleasing tale even though I ask thee: Do I not know that thou worshippest Sandhya, and bearest Ganga on thy head?" Hearing that, Siva proceeded to conciliate her and promised to tell her a wonderful tale: then she dismissed her anger. She herself gave the order that no one was to enter where they were; Nandin [12]

thereupon kept the door, and Siva began to speak.

"The G.o.ds are supremely blessed, men are ever miserable, the actions of demiG.o.ds are exceedingly charming, therefore I now proceed to relate to thee the history of the Vidyadharas." While Siva was thus speaking to his consort, there arrived a favourite dependant of Siva's, Pushpadanta, best of Ganas, [13] and his entrance was forbidden by Nandin who was guarding the door. Curious to know why even he had been forbidden to enter at that time without any apparent reason, Pushpadanta immediately entered, making use of his magic power attained by devotion to prevent his being seen, and when he had thus entered, he heard all the extraordinary and wonderful adventures of the seven Vidyadharas being narrated by the trident-bearing G.o.d, and having heard them he in turn went and narrated them to his wife Jaya; for who can hide wealth or a secret from women? Jaya the doorkeeper being filled with wonder went and recited it in the presence of Parvati. How can women be expected to restrain their speech? And then the daughter of the mountain flew into a pa.s.sion, and said to her husband, "Thou didst not tell me any extraordinary tale, for Jaya knows it also." Then the lord of Uma, perceiving the truth by profound meditation, thus spake: "Pushpadanta employing the magic power of devotion entered in where we were, and thus managed to hear it. He narrated it to Jaya; no one else knows it, my beloved."

Having heard this, the G.o.ddess exceedingly enraged caused Pushpadanta to be summoned, and cursed him, as he stood trembling before her, saying, "Become a mortal thou disobedient servant." [14] She cursed also the Gana Malyavan who presumed to intercede on his behalf. Then the two fell at her feet together with Jaya and entreated her to say when the curse would end, and the wife of Siva slowly uttered this speech--"A Yaksha named Supratika who has been made a Pisacha by the curse of Kuvera is residing in the Vindhya forest under the name of Kanabhuti. When thou shalt see him and, calling to mind thy origin, tell him this tale, then, Pushpadanta, thou shalt be released from this curse. And when Malyavan shall hear this tale from Kanabhuti, then Kanabhuti shall be released, and thou, Malyavan, when thou hast published it abroad, shalt be free also." Having thus spoken the daughter of the mountain ceased, and immediately those Ganas disappeared instantaneously like flashes of lightning. Then it came to pa.s.s in the course of time that Gauri full of pity asked Siva, "My lord, where on the earth have those excellent Pramathas [15] whom I cursed, been born?" And the moon-diademed G.o.d answered: "My beloved, Pushpadanta has been born under the name of Vararuchi in that great city which is called Kausambi. [16] Moreover Malyavan also has been born in the splendid city called Supratishthita under the name of Gunadhya. This, O G.o.ddess, is what has befallen them." Having given her this information with grief caused by recalling to mind the degradation of the servants that had always been obedient to him, that lord continued to dwell with his beloved in pleasure-arbours on the slopes of mount Kailasa, which were made of the branches of the Kalpa tree. [17]

CHAPTER II.

Then Pushpadanta wandering on the earth in the form of a man, was known by the name of Vararuchi and Katyayana. Having attained perfection in the sciences, and having served Nanda as minister, being wearied out he went once on a time to visit the shrine of Durga. [18] And that G.o.ddess, being pleased with his austerities, ordered him in a dream to repair to the wilds of the Vindhya to behold Kanabhuti. And as he wandered about there in a waterless and savage wood, [19] full of tigers and apes, he beheld a lofty Nyagrodha tree. [20] And near it he saw, surrounded by hundreds of Pisachas, that Pisacha Kanabhuti, in stature like a Sala tree. When Kanabhuti had seen him and respectfully clasped his feet, Katyayana sitting down immediately spake to him. "Thou art an observer of the good custom; how hast thou come into this state?" Having heard this Kanabhuti said to Katyayana, who had shewn affection towards him, "I know not of myself, but listen to what I heard from Siva at Ujjayini in the place where corpses are burnt; I proceed to tell it thee." The adorable G.o.d was asked by Durga--"Whence, my lord, comes thy delight in skulls and burning-places?" He thereupon gave this answer.

"Long ago when all things had been destroyed at the end of a Kalpa, the universe became water: I then cleft my thigh and let fall a drop of blood; that drop falling into the water turned into an egg, from that sprang the Supreme Soul, [21] the Disposer; from him proceeded Nature, [22] created by me for the purpose of further creation, and they created the other lords of created beings, [23] and those in turn the created beings, for which reason, my beloved, the Supreme Soul is called in the world the grandfather. Having thus created the world, animate and inanimate, that Spirit became arrogant: [24] thereupon I cut off his head: then through regret for what I had done, I undertook a difficult vow. So thus it comes to pa.s.s that I carry skulls in my hand, and love the places where corpses are burned. Moreover this world resembling a skull, rests in my hand; for the two skull-shaped halves of the egg before mentioned are called heaven and earth." When Siva had thus spoken, I, being full of curiosity, determined to listen; and Parvati again said to her husband, "After how long a time will that Pushpadanta return to us?" Hearing that, Mahesvara spoke to the G.o.ddess, pointing me out to her; "That Pisacha whom thou beholdest there, was once a Yaksha, a servant of Kuvera, the G.o.d of wealth, and he had for a friend a Rakshasa named Sthulasiras; and the lord of wealth perceiving that he a.s.sociated with that evil one, banished him to the wilds of the Vindhya mountains. But his brother Dirghajangha fell at the feet of the G.o.d, and humbly asked when the curse would end. Then the G.o.d of wealth said--"After thy brother has heard the great tale from Pushpadanta, who has been born into this world in consequence of a curse, and after he has in turn told it to Malyavan, who owing to a curse has become a human being, he together with those two Ganas shall be released from the effects of the curse." Such were the terms on which the G.o.d of wealth then ordained that Malyavan should obtain remission from his curse here below, and thou didst fix the same in the case of Pushpadanta; recall it to mind, my beloved." When I heard that speech of Siva, I came here overjoyed, knowing that the calamity of my curse would be terminated by the arrival of Pushpadanta. When Kanabhuti ceased after telling this story, that moment Vararuchi remembered his origin, and exclaimed like one aroused from sleep, "I am that very Pushpadanta, hear that tale from me." Thereupon Katyayana related to him the seven great tales in seven hundred thousand verses, and then Kanabhuti said to him--"My lord, thou art an incarnation of Siva, who else knows this story? Through thy favour that curse has almost left my body. Therefore tell me thy own history from thy birth, thou mighty one, sanctify me yet further, if the narrative may be revealed to such a one as I am." Then Vararuchi, to gratify Kanabhuti, who remained prostrate before him, told all his history from his birth at full length, in the following words:

Story of Vararuchi, his teacher Varsha, and his fellow-pupils Vyadi and Indradatta.

In the city of Kausambi there lived a Brahman called Somadatta, who also had the t.i.tle of Agnisikha, and his wife was called Vasudatta. She was the daughter of a hermit, and was born into the world in this position in consequence of a curse; and I was born by her to this excellent Brahman, also in consequence of a curse. Now while I was still quite a child my father died, but my mother continued to support me, as I grew up, by severe drudgery; then one day two Brahmans came to our house to stop a night, exceedingly dusty with a long journey; and while they were staying in our house there arose the noise of a tabor, thereupon my mother said to me, sobbing, as she called to mind her husband--"there, my son, is your father's friend Bhavananda, giving a dramatic entertainment." I answered, "I will go and see it, and will exhibit the whole of it to you, with a recitation of all the speeches." On hearing that speech of mine, those Brahmans were astonished, but my mother said to them--"Come, my children, there is no doubt about the truth of what he says; this boy will remember by heart everything that he has heard once." [25] Then they, in order to test me, recited to me a Pratisakhya [26]; immediately I repeated the whole in their presence, then I went with the two Brahmans and saw that play, and when I came home, I went through the whole of it in front of my mother: then one of the Brahmans, named Vyadi, having ascertained that I was able to recollect a thing on hearing it once, told with submissive reverence this tale to my mother.

Mother, in the city of Vetasa there were two Brahman brothers, Deva-Swamin and Karambaka, who loved one another very dearly; this Indradatta here is the son of one of them, and I am the son of the other, and my name is Vyadi. It came to pa.s.s that my father died. Owing to grief for his loss, the father of Indradatta went on the long journey, [27] and then the hearts of our two mothers broke with grief; thereupon being orphans though we had wealth, [28] and, desiring to acquire learning, we went to the southern region to supplicate the lord Kartikeya. And while we were engaged in austerities there, the G.o.d gave us the following revelation in a dream. "There is a city called Pataliputra, the capital of king Nanda, and in it there is a Brahman, named Varsha, from him ye shall learn all knowledge, therefore go there." Then we went to that city, and when we made enquiries there, people said to us: "There is a blockhead of a Brahman in this town, of the name of Varsha." Immediately we went on with minds in a state of suspense, and saw the house of Varsha in a miserable condition, made a very ant-hill by mice, dilapidated by the cracking of the walls, untidy, [29] deprived of eaves, looking like the very birth-place of misery.

Then, seeing Varsha plunged in meditation within the house, we approached his wife, who shewed us all proper hospitality; her body was emaciated and begrimed, her dress tattered and dirty; she looked like the incarnation of poverty, attracted thither by admiration for the Brahman's virtues. Bending humbly before her, we then told her our circ.u.mstances, and the report of her husband's imbecility, which we heard in the city. She exclaimed--"My children, I am not ashamed to tell you the truth; listen! I will relate the whole story,"

and then she, chaste lady, proceeded to tell us the tale which follows:

There lived in this city an excellent Brahman, named Sankara Svamin, and he had two sons, my husband Varsha, and Upavarsha; my husband was stupid and poor, and his younger brother was just the opposite: and Upavarsha appointed his own wife to manage his elder brother's house. [30] Then in the course of time, the rainy season came on, and at this time the women are in the habit of making a cake of flour mixed with mola.s.ses, of an unbecoming and disgusting shape, [31] and giving it to any Brahman who is thought to be a blockhead, and if they act thus, this cake is said to remove their discomfort caused by bathing in the cold season, and their exhaustion [32] caused by bathing in the hot weather; but when it is given, Brahmans refuse to receive it, on the ground that the custom is a disgusting one. This cake was presented by my sister-in-law to my husband, together with a sacrificial fee; he received it, and brought it home with him, and got a severe scolding from me; then he began to be inwardly consumed with grief at his own stupidity, and went to worship the sole of the foot of the G.o.d Kartikeya: the G.o.d, pleased with his austerities, bestowed on him the knowledge of all the sciences; and gave him this order--"When thou findest a Brahman who can recollect what he has heard only once, then thou mayest reveal these"--thereupon my husband returned home delighted, and when he had reached home, told the whole story to me. From that time forth, he has remained continually muttering prayers and meditating: so find you some one who can remember anything after hearing it once, and bring him here: if you do that, you will both of you undoubtedly obtain all that you desire.

Having heard this from the wife of Varsha, and having immediately given her a hundred gold pieces to relieve her poverty, we went out of that city; then we wandered through the earth, and could not find anywhere a person who could remember what he had only heard once: at last we arrived tired out at your house to-day, and have found here this boy, your son, who can recollect anything after once hearing it: therefore give him us and let us go forth to acquire the commodity knowledge.

Having heard this speech of Vyadi, my mother said with respect, "All this tallies completely; I repose confidence in your tale: for long ago at the birth of this my only son, a distinct spiritual [33] voice was heard from heaven. "A boy has been born who shall be able to remember what he has heard once; he shall acquire knowledge from Varsha, and shall make the science of grammar famous in the world, and he shall be called Vararuchi by name, because whatever is excellent, [34] shall please him." Having uttered this, the voice ceased. Consequently, ever since this boy has grown big, I have been thinking, day and night, where that teacher Varsha can be, and to-day I have been exceedingly gratified at hearing it from your mouth. Therefore take him with you: what harm can there be in it, he is your brother?" When they heard this speech of my mother's, those two, Vyadi and Indradatta, overflowing with joy, thought that night but a moment in length. Then Vyadi quickly gave his own wealth to my mother to provide a feast, and desiring that I should be qualified to read the Vedas, invested me with the Brahmanical thread. Then Vyadi and Indradatta took me, who managed by my own fort.i.tude to control the excessive grief I felt at parting, while my mother in taking leave of me could with difficulty suppress her tears, and considering that the favour of Kartikeya towards them had now put forth blossom, set out rapidly from that city; then in course of time we arrived at the house of the teacher Varsha: he too considered that I was the favour of Kartikeya arrived in bodily form. The next day he placed us in front of him, and sitting down in a consecrated spot, he began to recite the syllable Om with heavenly voice. Immediately the Vedas with the six supplementary sciences rushed into his mind, and then he began to teach them to us; then I retained what the teacher told us after hearing it once, Vyadi after hearing it twice, and Indradatta after hearing it three times: then the Brahmans of the city hearing of a sudden that divine sound, came at once from all quarters with wonder stirring in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s to see what this new thing might be; and with their reverend mouths loud in his praises honoured Varsha with low bows. Then beholding that wonderful miracle, not only Upavarsha, but all the citizens of Pataliputra [35] kept high festival. Moreover the king Nanda of exalted fortune, seeing the power of the boon of the son of Siva, was delighted, and immediately filled the house of Varsha with wealth, shewing him every mark of respect. [36]

CHAPTER III.

Having thus spoken while Kanabhuti was listening with intent mind, Vararuchi went on to tell his tale in the wood.

It came to pa.s.s in the course of time, that one day, when the reading of the Vedas was finished, the teacher Varsha, who had performed his daily ceremonies, was asked by us, "How comes it that such a city as this has become the home of Sarasvati and Lakshmi, [37] tell us that, O teacher." Hearing this, he bade us listen, for that he was about to tell the history of the city.

Story of the founding of the city of Pataliputra.

There is a sanctifying place of pilgrimage, named Kanakhala, at the point where the Ganges issues from the hills, [38] where the sacred stream was brought down from the table-land of mount Usinara, by Kanchanapata the elephant of the G.o.ds, having cleft it asunder. [39]

In that place lived a certain Brahman from the Deccan, performing austerities in the company of his wife, and to him were born there three sons. In the course of time he and his wife went to heaven, and those sons of his went to a place named Rajagriha, for the sake of acquiring learning. And having studied the sciences there, the three, grieved at their unprotected condition, went to the Deccan in order to visit the shrine of the G.o.d Kartikeya. Then they reached a city named Chinchini on the sh.o.r.e of the sea, and dwelt in the house of a Brahman named Bhojika, and he gave them his three daughters in marriage, and bestowed on them all his wealth, and having no other children, went to the Ganges to perform austerities. And while they were living there in the house of their father-in-law, a terrible famine arose produced by drought, thereupon the three Brahmans fled, abandoning their virtuous wives, (since no care for their families touches the hearts of cruel men,) then the middle one of the three sisters was found to be pregnant; and those ladies repaired to the house of Yajnadatta a friend of their father's: there they remained in a miserable condition, thinking each on her own husband, (for even in calamity women of good family do not forget the duties of virtuous wives). Now in course of time the middle one of the three sisters gave birth to a son, and they all three vied with one another in love towards him. So it happened once upon a time that, as Siva was roaming through the air, the mother of Skanda [40] who was reposing on Siva's breast, moved with compa.s.sion at seeing their love for their child, said to her husband, "My lord, observe, these three women feel great affection for this boy, and place hope in him, trusting that he may some day support them; therefore bring it about that he may be able to maintain them, even in his infancy." Having been thus entreated by his beloved, Siva, the giver of boons, thus answered her: I adopt him as my protege, for in a previous birth he and his wife propitiated me, therefore he has been born on the earth to reap the fruit of his former austerities; and his former wife has been born again as Patali the daughter of the king Mahendravarman, and she shall be his wife in this birth also. Having said this, that mighty G.o.d told those three virtuous women in a dream,--"This young son of yours shall be called Putraka; and every day when he awakes from sleep, a hundred thousand gold pieces shall be found under his pillow, [41] and at last he shall become a king." Accordingly, when he woke up from sleep, those virtuous daughters of Yajnadatta found the gold and rejoiced that their vows and prayers had brought forth fruit. Then by means of that gold Putraka having in a short time acc.u.mulated great treasure, became a king, for good fortune is the result of austerities. [42] Once upon a time Yajnadatta said in private to Putraka,--"King, your father and uncles have gone away into the wide world on account of a famine, therefore give continually to Brahmans, in order that they may hear of it and return: and now listen, I will tell you the story of Brahmadatta."

Story of king Brahmadatta. [43]

"There lived formerly in Benares a king named Brahmadatta. He saw a pair of swans flying in the air at night. They shone with the l.u.s.tre of gleaming gold, and were begirt with hundreds of white swans, and so looked like a sudden flash of lightning, surrounded by white clouds. And his desire to behold them again kept increasing so mightily that he took no pleasure in the delights of royalty. And then having taken counsel with his ministers he caused a fair tank to be made according to a design of his own, and gave to all living creatures security from injury. In a short time he perceived that those two swans had settled in that lake, and when they had become tame he asked them the reason of their golden plumage. And then those swans addressed the king with an articulate voice. 'In a former birth, O king, we were born as crows; and when we were fighting for the remains of the daily offering [44] in a holy empty temple of Siva, we fell down and died within a sacred vessel belonging to that sanctuary, and consequently we have been born as golden swans with a remembrance of our former birth';--having heard this the king gazed on them to his heart's content, and derived great pleasure from watching them.

"Therefore you will gain back your father and uncles by an unparalleled gift." When Yajnadatta had given him this advice, Putraka did as he recommended; when they heard the tidings of the distribution those Brahmans arrived: and when they were recognized they had great wealth bestowed on them, and were reunited to their wives. Strange to say, even after they have gone through calamities, wicked men having their minds blinded by want of discernment, are unable to put off their evil nature. After a time they hankered after royal power, and being desirous of murdering Putraka they enticed him under pretext of a pilgrimage to the temple of Durga: and having stationed a.s.sa.s.sins in the inner sanctuary of the temple, they said to him, "First go and visit the G.o.ddess alone, step inside." Thereupon he entered boldly, but when he saw those a.s.sa.s.sins preparing to slay him, he asked them why they wished to kill him. They replied, "We were hired for gold to do it by your father and uncles." Then the discreet Putraka said to the a.s.sa.s.sins, whose senses were bewildered by the G.o.ddess, "I will give you this priceless jewelled ornament of mine. Spare me, I will not reveal your secret; I will go to a distant land." The a.s.sa.s.sins said, "So be it," and taking the ornament they departed, and falsely informed the father and uncles of Putraka that he was slain. Then those Brahmans returned and endeavoured to get possession of the throne, but they were put to death by the ministers as traitors. How can the ungrateful prosper?

In the meanwhile that king Putraka, faithful to his promise, entered the impa.s.sable wilds of the Vindhya, disgusted with his relations: as he wandered about he saw two heroes engaged heart and soul in a wrestling-match, and he asked them who they were. They replied, "We are the two sons of the Asura Maya, and his wealth belongs to us, this vessel, and this stick, and these shoes; it is for these that we are fighting, and whichever of us proves the mightier is to take them." When he heard this speech of theirs, Putraka said with a smile--"That is a fine inheritance for a man." Then they said--"By putting on these shoes one gains the power of flying through the air; whatever is written with this staff turns out true; and whatever food a man wishes to have in the vessel is found there immediately." When he heard this, Putraka said--"What is the use of fighting? Make this agreement, that whoever proves the best man in running shall possess this wealth." [45] Those simpletons said--"Agreed"--and set off to run, while the prince put on the shoes and flew up into the air, taking with him the staff and the vessel; then he went a great distance in a short time and saw beneath him a beautiful city named akarshika and descended into it from the sky. He reflected with himself; "hetaerae are p.r.o.ne to deceive, Brahmans are like my father and uncles, and merchants are greedy of wealth; in whose house shall I dwell?" Just at that moment he reached a lonely dilapidated house, and saw a single old woman in it; so he gratified that old woman with a present, and lived un.o.bserved in that broken down old house, waited upon respectfully by the old woman.