Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/117

109 what is this?" Chitragriva replied:—"Friend; this is the fruit of our destiny." The rat began to gnaw at the threads, but Chitragriva said:— "Friend, this is not the way to do it. First untie the knots of my subjects, and then mine." Hiranayaka replied:—"My teeth are very weak. I cannot cut all the knots. I will try to sever your knots as long as there is strength in my teeth. Then we shall see about the others if I have sufficient strength." To which Chitragriva replied:—"Do as you please. What can we do beyond our strength?" To which Hiranayaka said :—"Have you not heard of the proverb, ' charity begins at home?" Thereupon Chitragriva replied:—"Friend, what you say is true enough. But cannot endure the trouble of my subjects."

Thus pleased Hiranayaka and he set to work and free all the doves, and after entertaining them sent them all home rejoicing.

The guru further said:—Hiranayaka then entered his bole. Laghupathanaka, astonished at what he had seen, came and alighted near the hole of Hiranayaka, and said:—"Oh,