Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 1.pdf/56

 38

[FER. 2, 1872.

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

“Once upon a time when Piliyuk was king of Baranes, Gotama was born unto a hermit, named Duküla, and was named Sáma. After the son had grown up, Duküla and his wife

to weep, not for himself, but for the destitution in which he would leave his feeble parents.

of a

Horror seized the king at the reflection that his conduct was calculated to deprive of life three persons who had exercised the duties of Brah machariyá, and that he could not escape the torments of hell if they all died ; and touched by the lamentations of the youth, he promised to succour and help his parents until his death. Sáma, relying upon his faithful promises, blessed the king, and desiring him to convey his respects and the sad tidings of his death to his blind parents, closed both his eyes and dropped down as if he had expired. “Instantly a goddess named Bahusodari, who

afterwards the king

had been Sáma's mother in his tenth birth before

went upon a hunting expedition, and rested on the banks of the Migasammata, not far from the hermitage. He had not, however, been long there before he saw the footsteps of deer that

the present, perceiving the danger to the hermit boy and also to his parents, as well as the king, made her appearance on the spot; and, after re buking the king for his conduct and advising

came down

him how he should behave towards Sáma's par rents, watched over Säma.

Pariká went one day into the jungle in quest of roots and fruits. There they encountered a storm, and being much wet, were obliged to take shelter under a tree close to a hole in

habited by a malignant serpent. Whilst the venerable pair were standing there, dripping from their garments, a cobra issued a venomous

blast, whereby they were instantly struck blind. In this helpless condition their son discovered and conducted them home, and began to nourish and maintain them with

dutiful son.

Sometime

to

the

affection

the river to

drink; and,

thinking that he could kill them, lay in ambush. Immediately a remarkably handsome person with a pitcher came down to the river surrounded by a flock of deer. Amazed at the sight and wishing to ascertain whether it was a nymph of the forest whom he thus beheld, he issued a dart which, alas ! severely wounded him. In the agonies of death the wretched man put his pitcher by him, and, falling on the ground, began to exclaim, ‘Who can be the enemy of a person that was devoted to the re ligious duties of the eight silas and ten kusalas ! Who, indeed, could desire the flesh of an in nocent person like myself?' Hearing these cries the king approached his victim, proclaimed that he was Piliyuk, king of Baranes, explained

“The king sorely afflicted with grief, picked up the pitcher which had been filled up by Sāma,

and taking the path which he had been directed, reached the humble cottage of the blind pair, who sat anxiously watching the return of their son. They now heard the sound of advancing footsteps, but, knowing that they were not those of their son, inquired, ‘who approached the door 7.

The stranger announced that he was

Piliyuk, the king of Baranes; and entered with them into a conversation, in the the course of

which he delicately disclosed their son's fate and the particulars connected with it, offering at the same time to succour them through life. Un bounded was now the grief of the hapless Pº

the motive with which he had shot him, and

rents, to which they gave utterance in the lan

desired to know who or what he was.

guage of despair, falling down, and each bitterly

Where

upon Sáma replied, ‘I was born in this forest, I am the only prop and support of two parents, both aged and blind. Little do they know of the mishap that has happened to me. They will indeed be much grieved and distressed when they find me thus delaying. I alone gave them what they desired. Twice daily have I washed them

and

thrice

have I fed

them. Who indeed will give them a drop of water even after asking ten times 2 They will be parched like fishes out of water. Who, alas! will succour and help those, who, probab ly, at this very moment are anxiously waiting my return and are watching for the first sounds of my footsteps ?' Thus lamenting, he began

crying, ‘Oh, son Sáma! from the day I have lost my sight, have I, by thy unceasing

attentions,

felt that I have acquired divine eyes. Wherº hast thou now gone?

How shall I

henceforth

live? Son, thou hast never done nor concº" ed any evil towards us, or any other being. Thou hast never uttered a falsehood. Thou " never committed life-slaughter; ever hast thou maintained the observance of the panch" sila.

The king tried his utmost to console the "

but

without success.

the

Afterwards, turning "

king, the blind parents addressed him, saying, that they had no faith in his proffered protec tion, and that all the favour they desired "** to

be led to the place where sama lay. The *