Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/137

 FOUR LEGENDS OF KING RASALU OF SIALKOT.

VARIOUS are the stories told by the villagers of the Panjáb of the old hero, King Rasálu. The present history professes to give a few only of the incidents of his remarkable career. The following version has been taken down from the mouth of a peasant of the Upper Punjáb, living in a village under the very shadow of Gangar, which was the scene of the hero's principal exploit.

.

Rájá Sulwán had two sons,—the elder Puran, the younger Rasálu. On the death of their mother the King had married again, and his new Queen, who was childless, being herself in love with Puran, procured his disgrace and exile because he refused to listen to her overtures. Puran left the palace and turned fakir, and concealing his identity he took up his residence in a certain garden. The fame of his sanctity spread far and wide, until it was reported to King Sulwán that the very trees of the garden which had dried up to the roots were miraculously beginning to bud and to shoot forth leaves. So the King and the Queen, being both desirous of offspring, determined to visit him. As they approached, Puran said to himself, "Here comes my father, and not only he but my step-mother as well; if she should chance to recognise me she will again work me ill." But being a good man he considered once more, "Never mind, I trust in God. Whatever she does she must answer for hereafter. And so, though I would not that they should know me, still out of respect I will rise and do obeisance to them."

When the King and his consort arrived at the place, Puran stood up and bowed himself humbly. "Ah," cried the King, "you have acted wrongly; you are a iakir, and it is I who should have salaamed to you." Puran answered, "King, I had once a religious instructor, and your highness's face is not unlike his: this is the reason