Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/39

Rh went into the heart of the forest and cried aloud:

"All creatures living in the world, listen to my words. I roam over the earth looking for a bride so that I may beget a son and save my ancestors. But she must be named Jaratkaru, and she must come to me as a gift, and I will not bear the cost of her maintenance. Therefore if any of you have such a daughter, give her to me in marriage.

Now the snake king Vasuki had sent snakes to watch the rishi Jaratkaru and to follow him wherever he went. When they heard him cry aloud in this manner they hastened to tell Vasuki. And Vasuki on hearing them adorned his sister with jewels, and taking her by the hand led her before the great rishi and offered her to him as a gift. But the rishi would not take the gift until Vasuki had sworn to him that her name was Jaratkaru, and that Vasuki would bear the cost of her maintenance. Then the rishi accepted her as his bride, but warned her that if ever she did anything that displeased him, that moment he would leave her. The maiden vowed that she would always please him and for some months she did nothing to rouse her husband's anger. One evening the rishi placed his head upon his wife's lap and soon fell fast asleep. But she saw with dismay that the sun was sinking, and she knew that if the rishi did not wake he would miss his evening prayer and thus lose a portion of his virtue. On the other hand she guessed that if she awoke her husband he would be displeased with her, and would cast her from him. Nevertheless, after thinking deeply, she resolved rather to endure her husband's anger than to cause him to lose his virtue. So she spoke to her husband saying, "Great lord, arise, for the sun is setting." The rishi awoke, but