Vicram Maharajah returned home, and told the Wuzeer that he was possessed of the much-desired secret. “Then,” said Butti, “the best use you can put it to is to fly to the Pomegranate country, and bring Anar Ranee here.”
“How can that be done?” asked the Rajah. “Thus,” replied Butti; “transport yourself into the body of a parrot, in which shape you will be able to fly over the seven hedges of bayonets that surround her garden. Go to the tree in the centre of it, bite off the stalks of the pomegranates and bring them home in your beak.”
“Very well,” said the Rajah, and he picked up a parrot which lay dead on the ground, and placing within his own body the beauty-preserving charm, transported his soul into the parrot, and flew off.
On, on, on he went, over the hills and far away, until he came to the garden. Then he flew over the seven hedges of bayonets, and with his beak broke off the three pomegranates (in which were Anar Ranee and her two ladies), and holding them by the stalks brought them safely home. He then immediately left the parrot’s body and re-entered his own body.
When Butti saw how well he had accomplished the feat, he said, “Thank heaven! there’s some good done already.” All who saw Anar Ranee were astonished at her beauty, for she was fair as a lotus flower, and the color on her cheeks was like the deep rich color of a pomegranate, and all thought the Rajah very wise to have chosen such a wife.
They had a magnificent wedding, and were for a short time as happy as the day is long.
But within a little while Vicram Maharajah said to Butti, “I have again a great desire to see the world.” “What!” said Butti, “so soon again to leave your home! So soon to care to go away from your young wife!”
“I love her and my people dearly,” answered the Rajah; “but I cannot but feel that I have this supernatural power of taking any form I please, and longing to use it.” “Where and how will you go?” asked the Wuzeer. “Let it be the day after to-morrow,” answered Vicram Maharajah. “I shall again take the form of a parrot, and see as much of the world as possible.”
So it was settled that the Rajah should go. He left his kingdom in the Wuzeer’s sole charge, and also his wife, saying to her, “I don’t know for how long I may be away; perhaps a day, perhaps a year, perhaps more. But if, while I am gone, you should be in any difficulty, apply to the Wuzeer. He has ever been like an elder brother or a father to me; do you therefore also regard him as a father. I have charged him to take care of you as he would of his own child.”
Having said these words, the Rajah caused a beautiful parrot to be shot (it was a very handsome bird, with a tuft of bright feathers on its head and a ring about its neck). He then cut a small incision in his arm and rubbed into it some of the magic preservative given him by Gunputti to keep his body from decaying, and transporting his soul into the parrot’s body, he flew away.