THE BAITÂL PACHCHISI.
INTRODUCTORY TALE.
There was a city named Dhãrãnagar, the king of which was Gandharb Sen. He had four queens, and by them six sons, one more learned and more powerful than another. Fate ordaining, after some days the king died, and his eldest son, Shank by name, became king in his stead. Again, after some days, a younger brother, Vikram, after slaying his eldest brother, himself became king, and began to govern well. Day by day his dominion so increased that he became king of all India; * and, after fixing his government on a firm basis, he established an æra.
* Jambudwip is the name of one of the seven divisions of the
world, and implies, the central division, or the known
world; according to the Bauddhas, it is confined to India.
After some time the king thought to himself that he ought to visit those countries of which he had heard. * Having determined on this, he made over his throne to his younger brother Bharthari, and himself assuming the guise of a devotee, set out to wander from land to land and forest to forest.
* Lit.—The king thought in his mind, “I should travel over
those countries whose names I am hearing.”
A Brahman was practising austerities in that city. One day a deity brought and presented to him the fruit of immortality. He then took the fruit home and said to his wife, “Whoever shall eat this will become immortal; the deity told me this at the time of giving, the fruit.” Hearing this, the Brahman’s wife wept excessively, and began to say, “This is a great evil we have to suffer! For, becoming immortal, how long shall we go on begging alms? Nay, to die is better than this; (for) if we die, then we escape from the trials of the world.” Then the Brahman said, “I took the fruit and brought it; but, hearing your words, I am bereft of understanding. Now I will do whatever you bid.” Then his wife said to him, “Give this fruit to the king, and in exchange for it take wealth, whereby we may enjoy the advantages of this world as well as that to come.”