“As soon as she saw this, her eyes opened. And on its becoming morning, she told all the circumstances to her mother. When her mother heard this, she, on the following day, put the boy in a basket in the very manner directed, and left him at the king’s gate. Now, here (at the palace) the king saw an apparition with ten arms, five heads, each head having three eyes in it, and a moon upon it, very large teeth, a trident in his hand—a most terrifying form, which came before him and said, ‘O king! a basket is placed at thy door; bring away the child that is in it; he it is who will maintain thy dominion.’”
“As soon as the king heard this, his eyes opened. He then related the whole affair to the queen. After that, rising up thence, and coming to the door, he perceived the basket placed there. On the instant of opening the basket and peering into it, he beheld a boy and a bag of one thousand gold-mohurs in it. He took up the child himself, and told the door-keepers to bring in the bag. He then went into the female apartments, and placed the child on the queen’s lap.”
“By this time the day broke. The king came out, and summoning the sages and astrologers, questioned them, saying, ‘Tell me, what marks of royalty are perceptible in this child?’ Thereupon one of the sages, who was acquainted with the science of interpreting the spots on the human body, spoke, saying, ‘Your majesty! three marks are distinctly perceived on this child; 1. a broad chest; 2. a high forehead; 3. a large face; in addition to these, your majesty! the whole thirty-two marks which are assigned to man exist in this one. Have no apprehensions on his account; he will rule over the kingdom.’ On hearing this, the king was pleased, and taking off a chaplet of pearls from his own neck, presented it to that Brahman; and after giving large gifts to all the Brahmans, he bade them name the child. Then the sages said, ‘Your majesty! be pleased to sit down with the queen fastened to you; let her majesty sit with the child in her lap; and summon all the musicians, singers, and others employed on festive occasions, and cause rejoicings to take place; then will we give him a name after the manner prescribed by the sacred writings.’”
“When the monarch heard this, he ordered his minister to do whatever they bid him. The minister had rejoicings for the birth of the child forthwith proclaimed throughout the city. On hearing this, all the professional rejoicers were in attendance, and congratulatory songs rung forth from every home; festive music began to strike up in the king’s palace, and rejoicing to take place. Then the king and the queen, with the child in her lap, came and sat within a square filled with coloured meal, perfumes, and sweetmeats, and the Brahmans began reading the scriptures. An astrologer from among the Brahmans, having first determined the auspicious planetary conjunction and time, named the child Hardatti After that, he grew daily. At length, at the age of nine years, he finished the study of the six learned volumes, and fourteen sciences, and became a profound scholar. In the meantime, according to what was willed by God, it happened that his father and mother died. He ascended the throne, and began to govern justly.”
“After, several years, the king one day thought to himself, ‘What have I done for my parents in return for being born in their family? The saying is that,—Those who are compassionate, deal compassionately with all; they it is who are wise, and to them it is that Paradise is allotted. And the gifts, worship, religious penances, pilgrimages, and listening to the scriptures of those who are not pure of heart, is all in vain. And those who perform the funeral ceremonies and worship of the Manes without faith, and in pride, derive no advantage thereby, and so, their fathers go with their desires unfulfilled.’ Reflecting and pondering on this matter, the king decided that he ought now to perform the funeral ceremonies of his fathers. Thereupon King Hardatt proceeded to Gayã, and on arriving there, invoked the names of his fathers, and began offering oblations * to them on the bank of the River Phalgü, when the hands of all three ** came up out of the river. He was troubled in mind on seeing this, wondering to which of the hands he should give (the oblations), and to which not.”
* These oblations consist of balls (pind) or lumps of meat,
or rice mixed up with milk, curds, flowers, &c.
** That is the thief’s, the Brahman’s who begat him, and the
king’s who adopted him. The Hindus believe that when a son
performs the ceremony in question, the father is permitted
to come from the other world and receive the oblation.
Having reached this stage of the story, the sprite said, “O King Vikram! to which of the three was it right to give the oblations?” Then the king said, “To the thief.” The sprite said again, “For what reason?” Thereupon he (the king) said, “The seed of the Brahman had been bought; and the king took a thousand gold mohurs and brought up the boy; and therefore neither of these two had any right to the oblation.” On hearing these words, the sprite went again and hung on to that tree, and the king carried him away bound from thence.