Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/345

 him all his experiences, ending with the cool feel of the fire. Then his teacher said to him, " My son, I am afraid you have made some mistake in this incantation, otherwise how can the fire have become cool to you? This phenomenon in the process of acquiring this science is unprecedented." When Chandrasvámin heard this remark of his teacher's, he answered, " Reverend sir, I am sure that I made no mistake." Then the teacher, in order to know for certain, called to mind that science, and it did not present itself to him or his pupil. So, as both of them had lost the science, they left that place despondent.

When the Vetála had told this story, he once more put a question to king Trivikramasena, after mentioning the same condition as before. " King, resolve this doubt of mine; tell me, why was the science lost to both of them, though the incantation was performed in the prescribed way?" When the brave king heard this speech of the Vetála's, he gave him this answer; " I know, lord of magic, you are bent on wasting my time here, still I will answer. A man cannot obtain success even by performing correctly a difficult ceremony, unless his mind is firm, and abides in spotless courage, unhesitating and pure from wavering. But in that business the mind of that spiritless young Brahman wavered, even when roused by his teacher,* so his charm did not attain success, and his teacher lost his mastery over the charm, because he did bestowed it on an undeserving aspirant."

When the king had said this, the mighty Vetála again left his shoulder and went back invisible to bis own place, and the king went back to fetch him as before.

The above story closely resembles one quoted from the Turkish Tales in the 94th number of the Spectator. A sultan of Egypt was directed by a great doctor in the law, who had the gift of working miracles, to place himself in a huge tub of water, which he accordingly did; and as he stood by the tub amidst a circle of his great men, the holy man bid him plunge his head into the water and draw it up again. The king accordingly thrust his head into the water, and at the same time found himself at the foot of a mountain on the seashore. The king immediately began to rage against his doctor for this piece of treachery and witchcraft; but at length, knowing it was in vain to be angry, he set himself to think on proper methods for getting a livelihood in this strange country, Accordingly he applied himself to some people, whom he saw at work in a neighbouring wood: these people conducted him to a town that stood at a little distance from the wood, where after some adventures, he married a woman of great beauty and fortune. He lived with this woman so long that he had by her seven sons and seven daughters. He was afterwards reduced to great want, and forced to think of plying in the streets as a porter for his livelihood. One day, as he was walking alone by the seaside, being seized with many melancholy reflections upon his former and his present state of life.