Listen, O King! by Sivadasa

Author:Sivadasa
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789386057976
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2016-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

Two Magic Balls

The patient king hauled the corpse down from the tree and set off. But, as usual, the vetal was in no mood to be quiet. ‘Listen, O king,’ it said. ‘I have yet another interesting story to divert you on your way.’

* * *

King Suvichar ruled over the city of Kusumavati. He had a daughter named Chandraprabha, who had just reached marriageable age.

The spring festival arrived and, as always, she went to the groves for the celebrations. While she was picking sweet-scented flowers with her companions, a young Brahmin named Vamanaswami arrived there too, quite by chance. They looked at each other, and in one glance they’d both decided that they liked what they saw—the two young people fell madly in love. But just then, the princess’s companions called out to her and she had to return to the palace, though she was loath to leave.

Vamanaswami was overcome with gloom and lay on the grass, thinking about the lovely young woman who had stolen his heart and gone away.

Muladeva and Sasi, two tricksters, also happened to be passing by the groves. Muladeva’s eyes fell on Vamanaswami lying sprawled on the ground. He nudged his friend and said, ‘Look at the state this fellow is in, Sasi! He doesn’t seem to be in his right senses. I suspect he is enamoured of some young lady.’

‘What is the matter, good sir?’ he asked Vamanaswami, winking at Sasi. ‘What has reduced you to this pitiful condition?’

‘What is the point of asking?’ replied the Brahmin. ‘Can you put me out of my misery? One should share one’s troubles only with someone who is able to end them. The truth is that I have many reasons to be unhappy. If you really wish to help, you could assist me in gathering firewood for my pyre.’

‘My young friend,’ Muladeva said in a kindly voice, ‘I can see you are a Brahmin. Don’t contemplate such actions. Why don’t you share your sorrows with me? I will try to ease them.’

Muladeva’s sympathetic words encouraged Vamanaswami to confide in him. ‘My situation is hopeless, kind friend,’ he said. ‘I have fallen in love with the princess and can’t dream of marrying another woman. How can there be any relief for me? Tell me, do I have any option but to do away with myself?’

‘Why do you think there is no woman other than the princess for you?’ said Muladeva. ‘Forget her. I will give you such a large sum of money that you will be able to find the most beautiful woman on earth.’

‘What use is wealth, without the company of the person you love?’ replied Vamanaswami. ‘Without the princess, my existence is meaningless. I will never be able to marry her, so it’s better to die!’

‘If that is the case,’ said Muladeva, ‘I will help you get to the princess.’

He produced a tiny ball and told Vamanaswami, ‘Open your mouth and place this ball inside it.’

When he did that, he was transformed into a pretty, young girl.

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