Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/83

75 On a certain moon-light night, it climbed and sat on an adjacent mountain-top, and said to the elephants who came by, as usual, to drink from the tank:—"O, ye elephants, I have been deputed by Chandra (the moon), whose tank it is, to inform you that this tank has been dug under Ids orders. That is the reason way it goes under the name of Chandrapushkarani (lit., the moon's tank). He comes here every night and dallies with his wives. For some time past he has been interrupted in his pastime by your advent and meddling with the waters. He is, therefore, very angry with you. Quit the tank instantly, or otherwise, he told me, he would smash you up ere dawn. If you want to see whether he is angry or not, just look into this tank and you will be satisfied."

The elephants were wonder-struck, and seeing the reflection of the moon, agitated by the wind in the waters, mistook it for his wrath with them, bowed to the moon, requested him to excuse them as they had come there in innocence, and desired the hare to intercede