Notes: At Wikipedia you can find about more about Kubera and the yakshas (translated as "sprite" or "demon" in this story). The theme of the princes' exile in this story may remind you of the beginning of the Ramayana, and the incident at the pool may remind you of the story of Yudhishthira and his brothers who also meet a deadly water-yaksha in the part of the Mahabharata known as the Yaksha-Prashna.
Summary: Living in the wilderness, three princes face danger at a pool that belongs to a malicious water-sprite.
Read the story below:
THE THREE PRINCES AND THE WATER-SPRITE
The king's three sons: Mahimsasa, Sun, and Moon
Once on a time Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares in Kāsi. The Bodhisatta, having come to birth in those days as the king's son by the queen, was duly named Prince Mahiṃsāsa.
By the time he could run about, a second son was born to the king, and the name they gave this child was Prince Moon; but by the time he could run about, the Bodhisatta's mother died.
Then the king took another queen, who was his joy and delight; and their love was crowned with the birth of yet another prince, whom they named Prince Sun. In his joy at the birth of the boy, the king promised to grant her any boon she might ask on the child's behalf. But the queen treasured up the promise to be fulfilled at her own good time hereafter.
Later, when her son had grown up, she said to the king, "Sire, when my boy was born, you granted me a boon to ask for him. Let him be king."
"Nay," said the king; "two sons have I, radiant as flaming fires; I cannot give the kingdom to your son."
But when he saw that, undaunted by this refusal, the queen kept plaguing him time after time, to grant her request, the king, fearing lest the woman should plot evil against his sons, sent for them and said, "My children, when Prince Sun was born, I granted a boon; and now his mother wants the kingdom for him. I have no wish to give him the kingdom; but women are naturally wicked, and she will be plotting evil against you. You had better retire to the forest, to return at my death to rule in the city which belongs by right to our house."
So saying, with tears and lamentations, the king kissed his two sons on the head and sent them forth.
The pool in the Himalayan mountains
As the princes were leaving the palace after their adieux to their father, who should see them but Prince Sun himself, who was playing in the courtyard? And no sooner did he learn what was the matter than he made up his mind to go with his brothers. So he too went off in their company.
The three came to the region of the Himalayas; and here the Bodhisatta, who had turned aside from the road and was sitting at the foot of a tree, said to Prince Sun, "Run down to the pool yonder, Sun dear; drink and bathe there; and then bring us too some water back in a lotus-leaf."
Now that pool had been delivered over to a certain water-sprite by Vessavaṇa [Kubera], who said to him, "With the exception of such as know what is truly god-like, all that go down into this pool are yours to devour. Over those that do not enter the waters, you have no power granted to you." And thenceforth the water-sprite used to ask all who went down into the pool what was truly godlike, devouring everyone who did not know.
Princes Sun and Moon at the pool
Now it was into this pool that Prince Sun went down, quite unsuspiciously, with the result that he was seized by the water-sprite, who said to him, "Do you know what is truly godlike?"
"O yes," said he; "the sun and moon."
"You don't know," said the monster, and hauling the prince down into the depths of the water, imprisoned him there in his own abode.
Finding that his brother was a long time gone, the Bodhisatta sent Prince Moon. He too was seized by the water-sprite and asked whether he knew what was truly godlike.
"Oh yes, I know," said he; "the four quarters of heaven are."
"You don't know," said the water-sprite as he hauled this second victim off to the same prison-house.
Prince Mahimsasa at the pool
Finding that this second brother too tarried long, the Bodhisatta felt sure that something had happened to them. So away he went after them and tracked their footsteps down into the water. Realising at once that the pool must be the domain of a water-sprite, he girded on his sword, and took his bow in his hand, and waited.
Now when the demon found that the Bodhisatta had no intention of entering the water, he assumed the shape of a forester, and in this guise addressed the Bodhisatta thus: "You're tired with your journey, mate; why don't you go in and have a bathe and a drink, and deck yourself with lotuses? You would travel on comfortably afterwards."
Recognising him at once for a demon, the Bodhisatta said, "It is you who have seized my brothers."
"Yes, it was," was the reply.
"Why?"
"Because all who go down into this pool belong to me."
"What, all?"
"Not those who know what is truly godlike; all save these are mine."
"And do you want to know the godlike?"
"I do."
"If this be so, I will tell you what is truly godlike."
"Do so, and I will listen."
Prince Mahimsasa answers the question
"I should like to begin," said the Bodhisatta, "but I am travel-stained with my journey."
Then the water-sprite bathed the Bodhisatta, and gave him food to eat and water to drink, decked him with flowers, sprinkled him with scents, and laid out a couch for him in the midst of a gorgeous pavilion.
Seating himself on this couch, and making the water-sprite sit at his feet, the Bodhisatta said, "Listen then and you shall hear what the truly godlike is." And he repeated this stanza:--
Those only 'godlike' call who shrink from sin,
The white-souled tranquil votaries of Good.
And when the demon heard this, he was pleased, and said to the Bodhisatta, "Man of wisdom, I am pleased with you, and give you up one of your brothers. Which shall I bring?"
"The youngest."
"Man of wisdom, though you know so well what the truly godlike is, you don't act on your knowledge."
"How so?"
"Why, you take the younger in preference to the elder, without regard to his seniority."
"Demon, I not only know but practise the godlike. It was on this boy's account that we sought refuge in the forest; it was for him that his mother asked the kingdom from our father, and our father, refusing to fulfill her demand, consented to our flight to the refuge of the forest. With us came this boy, nor ever thought of turning back again. Not a soul would believe me if I were to give out that he had been devoured by a demon in the forest; and it is the fear of odium that impels me to demand him at your hands."
"Excellent! excellent! O man of wisdom," cried the demon in approval; "you not only know but practise the godlike." And in token of his pleasure and approval he brought forth the two brothers and gave them both to the Bodhisatta.
Prince Mahimsasa converts the demon
Then said the latter to the water-sprite, "Friend, it is in consequence of your own evil deeds in times past that you have now been born a demon subsisting on the flesh and blood of other living creatures; and in this present birth too you are continuing to do evil. This evil conduct will for ever bar you from escaping re-birth in hell and the other evil states. Wherefore, from this time forth renounce evil and live virtuously."
Having worked the demon's conversion, the Bodhisatta continued to dwell at that spot under his protection, until one day he read in the stars that his father was dead. Then taking the water-sprite with him, he returned to Benares and took possession of the kingdom, making Prince Moon his viceroy and Prince Sun his generalissimo. For the water-sprite he made a home in a pleasant spot and took measures to ensure his being provided with the choicest garlands, flowers, and food.
He himself ruled in righteousness until he passed away to fare according to his deeds.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.