Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/343

 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA. 335

she made four parts to be eaten. Again another cat canght her, and the rat got free in the same way as before. From that day she made five portions to be eaten. As she only got a fifth part (of her usual allowance) she became weak, skinny, lean and pale. When the Bodhisat saw her he said, " My dear, how is it you are in such a poor condition ?" The rat told him how it had been brought about. "Why didn't you tell me about it at the time ? However, I'll see what's to be done here in thi^ matter." After consoling her he made a cave ont of pure quartz-rock, to which he brought the rat, saying. " My dear, go into this cave and lie down, and when the cats come here, one by one, rate them soundly with sharp words." She entered the cave and lay down there. After a while the first cat came and said, " Give me a piece of meat." Then the rat began to abuse him. " I say, you wretched cat, why should I provide meat for you ? Go and eat the flesh of your own children." The cat was not aware that the rat was lying down in the rock cave. Under the influence of anger he vowed that he would catch the rat, and making a furious dash at it struck the cave with his chest and injured himself. His eyes appeared as if they were ready to start out of his head. So he lost his life there, and fell out of sight, into an unknown and out-of-the-way spot. By that means the four cats, one after another, lost their lives. Hence- forward the rat, free from fear, gave two or three kahdpanas to the Bodhisat, and thus m the course of time she handed over to him the whole of the money. Both, as long as life lasted, lived together in unbroken friendship, and (when they died) passed away to be recom- pensed according to their deeds.

[The teacher, possessing perfect knowledge, having related this story, uttered the following gdthd : —

" In the place where a cat its meat found prepared, E'en there tabbies two, and eke three, soon appeared. A fourth was not wanting to make up the whole, But they found out a cave which cost them their lives." *]


 * The Pali original is very brief, though the meaning is tolerably clear : —

" Where one cat gets (meat), a second there appears. E'en a third and a fourth ; (but) those cats (struck) this cave."