Moral.—Those who think they have the best claim, do not always attain their desires!
BARBIL’S SON
A Rajah’s son once went to worship at a sacred stone; when there, he beheld a lovely young girl, so, falling on his face before the stone, he said: “If you will but give me this girl as my bride, I will give you my head as a sacrifice.”
His prayer was granted, and he married the girl.
For two months he was so happy that he never remembered his vow, but at the end of that time, a Brahmin came and reminded him of it. So, after bidding his wife a loving farewell, he went sadly away, and, cutting off his head, placed it near the stone as a sacrifice.
Now his father, Barbil, missing him, came there to search, and was horrified to find his son’s dead body with the head offered to the stone.
“What is my life worth to me now? I will also sacrifice myself,” said he, and forthwith he too cut off his own head and placed it beside that of his son.
The bride, finding neither father nor husband return, went forth in search of them; and, seeing what had happened, determined to add her own life to the sacrifice.