Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/375

 So, from the mistake about the feet, the daughter became the wife of the father, and the mother the wife of the son, and so the daughter became the mother-in-law of her own mother, and the mother became the daughter-in-law of her own daughter. And in course of time, both of them had by those husbands sons and daughters, and they also had song and daughters in due course of time. So Chandasinha and Sinhaparákrama lived in their city, having obtained as wives Lávanyavatí and Chandravatí.

When the Vetála had told this story on the way at night, he again put a question to king Trivikramasena; " Now, king, about the children who were in course of time born to the mother and daughter by the son and the father in those two lines— what relationship did they bear to one another ? Tell me if you know. And the curse before threatened will descend on you, if you know and do not tell."

When the king heard this question of the Vetála's, he turned the matter over and over again in his mind, but he could not find out, so he went on his way in silence. Then the Vetála in the dead man's body, perched on the top of his shoulder, laughed to himself, and reflected; " Ha ! Ha ! The king does not know how to answer this puzzling question, so he is glad, and silently goes on his way with very nimble feet. Now I cannot manage to deceive this treasure-house of valour any further;* and this is not enough to make that mendicant stop playing tricks with me. So I will now deceive that villain, and by an artifice bestow the success, which he has earned, upon this king, whom a glorious future awaits." When the Vetála had gone through these reflections, he said to the king, " King, though you have been worried with so many journeys to and fro in this cemetery terrible with black night, you seem quite happy, and you do not shew the least irresolution. I am pleased with this wonderful courage that you shew.† So now carry off this body, for I am going out of it; and listen to this advice which I give you for your welfare, and act on it. That wicked mendicant, for whom you have fetched this human corpse, will immediately summon me into it, and honour me. And wishing to offer you up as a victim, the rascal will say to you, ' King, prostrate yourself on the ground in such a way that eight limbs will touch it.' Then, great king, you must say to that ascetic, ‡ ' Shew me first how to do it, and then I will do exactly as you do.' Then he will fling himself on the