[1] Kah-gyur, iv. f. 249. Cf. A. Weber in the “Monatsberichten der K. Akademie der Wiss. zu Berlin,” 1860, p. 69, and “Indische Streifen,” i. 246 (Berlin, 1868).—S. [↑]
XLVI.
THE PEACOCK AS BRIDEGROOM.[1]
In long-past times lived the flamingo-king, Rāshṭrapāla. The birds which dwelt in the different countries, having heard that his daughter was going to choose herself a husband, assembled themselves together, each hoping that he would be her spouse.
When she had looked at the peacock, she said, “He shall be my husband.”
Thereupon the other birds told him that she had chosen him as her spouse. He expanded his tail and began to dance.
Rāshṭrapāla saw him, and asked, “Why does he dance?”
The others replied, “It is because he is to be your daughter’s husband.”