Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/80

 " So women, who associate with witches, fall into evil courses, but they are restrained and saved by the advice of the old. Now, prince, hear the story of the man who brought the ámalaka fruit."

Story of the servant who tasted the fruit * :— A certain householder had a stupid servant. As the householder was fond of ámalakas, he said to his servant, " Go, and bring me some perfectly sweet ámalakas from the garden." The foolish fellow bit every one, to taste if it was sweet, and then brought them, and said; " Look, master, I tasted these and found them sweet, before bringing them." And his master, seeing that they were half eaten, sent them away in disgust and his stupid servant too.

" Thus a foolish person ruins his master's interests and then his own, and here by way of episode hear the story of the two brothers."

Story of the two brothers Yajnasoma and Kírtisoma.:— There were two Bráhmans, brothers, in the city of Pátaliputra; the elder was called Yajnasoma and the younger Kírtisoma. And those two young Bráhmans had much wealth derived from their father. Kírtisoma increased his share by business, but Yajnasoma exhausted his by enjoying and giving. Then, being reduced to poverty, he said to his wife; " My dear, how can I, who am reduced from riches to poverty, live among ray relations ? Let us go to some foreign country." She said, " How can we go without money for the journey." Still her husband insisted, so she said to him: " If you really must go, then first go and ask your younger brother Kírtisoma for some money for the journey." So he went and asked his younger brother for his travelling expenses, but his younger brother's wife said to him: " How can we give even the smallest sum to this man who has wasted his substance. For every one who falls into poverty will sponge on us." When Kírtisoma heard this, he no longer felt inclined to give anything to his elder brother, though he loved him. Subjection to bad women is pernicious !

Then Yajnasoma went away silent, and told that to his wife, and set out with her, relying upon the help of Heaven only. When they reached the wood, it happened that, as he was going along, he was swallowed by a monstrous serpent. And when his wife saw it, she fell on the ground and lamented. And the serpent said with a human voice to the lady: " Why do you lament, my good woman?" The Bráhman lady answered the snake: " How can I help lamenting, mighty sir, when you have deprived me in this remote spot of my only means of obtaining alms?" When the serpent heard that, he brought out of his mouth a great vessel of gold and gave it