Note.
For the story of Víravara, see Vol. I, pp. 253 and 519. Oesterley refers us to Benfey’s Panchatantra, Vol. I, p. 414, where it is shown to be based upon the Asadṛiśa Játaka of Buddha. The story is found in the Persian Tútínámah, No 21, (in Iken, p. 89,) in a form resembling that in the Hitopadeśa. But there is another form which is No. 2 in the same work of Kaderi and found in the older Tútínámah, (p. 17 in Iken,) which seems to be based on the Vetála Panchavinśati. This is also found in the Turkish Tútínámah. Jánbáz saves the life of a king by the mere determination to sacrifice himself and his whole family. (Oesterley’s Baitál Pachísí, pp. 185–187.) Benfey refers us to No. 39 in Basile’s Pentamerone, [Liebrecht’s German translation, Vol. II, pp. 116–134,] and to No. 6 in Grimm’s Kinder-Märchen.
[1] I conjecture prahárí for the pahárí of Brockhaus’ edition. In dhárá there is a pun as it also means the “edge of a sword.”
[2] I read with the Sanskrit College MS. gupta-bhuvane kálatamasi.
[3] Cp. the way in which the Banshi laments in Grimm’s Irische Märchen, pp. 121 and 122.
[4] I read kṛitapratishṭhá which I find in the Sanskrit College MS.
[5] Sattvavara means distinguished for courage.
Chapter LXXIX.
(Vetála 5.)
Then king Trivikramasena went back again to that aśoka-tree, and saw the Vetála in the corpse again hanging on it as before, and took him down, and after showing much displeasure with him, set out again rapidly towards his goal. And as he was returning along his way, in silence as before, through the great cemetery by night, the Vetála on his shoulder said to him, “King, you have embarked on a toilsome undertaking, and I liked you from the moment I first saw you, so listen, I will tell you a tale to divert your mind.”