Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/81

 her, saying, " Take this as a vessel in which to receive alms."* The good Bráhman lady said, " Who will give me alms in this vessel, for I am a woman?" The serpent said: " If any one refuses to give you alms in it, his head shall that moment burst into a hundred pieces. What I say is true." When the virtuous Bráhman lady heard that, she said to the serpent, " If this is so, then give me my husband in it by way of alms." The moment the good lady said this, the serpent brought her husband out of his mouth alive and unharmed. As soon as the serpent had done this, he became a man of heavenly appearance, and being pleased, he said to the joyful couple: " I am a king of the Vidyádharas, named Kánchanavega, and by the curse of Gautama I was reduced to the condition of a serpent. And it was appointed that my curse should end when I conversed with a good woman." When the king of the Vidyádharas had said this, he immediately filled the vessel with jewels, and delighted flew up into the sky. And the couple returned home with abundance of jewels. And there Yajnasoma lived in happiness having obtained inexhaustible wealth.

" Providence gives to every one in accordance with his or her character. Hear the story of the foolish man who asked for the barber."

Story of the fool who wanted a barber.:— A certain inhabitant of Karnáta pleased his king by his daring behaviour in battle. His sovereign was pleased, and promised to give him whatever he asked for, but the spiritless warrior chose the king's barber. " Every man chooses what is good or bad according to the measure of his own intellect: now hear the story of the foolish man who asked for nothing at all."

Story of the man who asked for nothing at all.:— A certain foolish man, as he was going along the road, was asked by a carter to do something to make his cart balance evenly. He said, " If I make it right, what will you give me?" The carter answered; " I will give you nothing at all." Then the fool put the cart even, and said, '* Give me the nothing-at-all you promised." But the carter laughed at him. " So you see, king, fools are for ever becoming the object of the scorn and contempt and reproach of men, and fall into misfortune, while the good on the other hand are thought worthy of honour."

When the prince surrounded by his ministers, had heard at night these amusing stories from Gomukha, he was enabled to enjoy sleep, which refreshes the whole of the three worlds.