Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/262

 254 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA.

" In every house two masters * ruled and swayed, One beardless f was, with breasts that hung full low, Whose hair was done in plaits and tresses fine, And from each ear hung golden pendants bright : This household lord with precious wealth was bought,J And all folk felt this tyrant's awful rule."§

On hearing this all the monkeys cried out, " Say no more, say no more; we have listened to that which is highly improper to hear." Scorning that place they went elsewhere. That rocky mound, it is said, became known as " The Mount of Scorning."

The Komayaputta Jataka.|| The Monkey who turned Hermit.

In days long since past, when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisat was reborn in a certain village in a brahman-family, and he was called Komayaputta. After a time he left his native place, adopted the life of a holy recluse, and took up his abode in the Himalaya district. It happened that some anchorites had made them- selves a hermitage in the same locality, and there dwelt. Of frivolous disposition, they did not perform any of the various kinds of mystic meditation. From the forest they procured various kinds of fruits, which they ate, and passed most of their time in merriment and various kinds of amusement. In their neighbourhood was a monkey of a sportive disposition, who made mouths and grimaces, and thereby afforded no end of fun to these hermits.

After residing here for a considerable length of time the hermits left to go to inhabited quarters for salt, vinegar (and other condi- ments). After their departure the Bodhisat came and took up his abode in this hermitage. The monkey, as a matter of course, came

the house, the husband and (house)wife.
 * The original is gahapatiyo = house-masters, i.e. the master and mistress of

f The wife is here alluded to.

J The wife was, of course, purchased by the husband.

§ The wife ruled the house while the husband was away. The text expresses the whole of this line by the words " She stung the people [about her]," i. e. goaded her slaves and workpeople by sharp words and abuse, and was not sparing of her blows.

II Jdtaha Booh, vol. ii. No. 209, p. 447.