Page:The Katha Sarit Sagara.djvu/522

 The queen said, " Do not fear. Tell your tale. Who is he? Why does he wish to slay you?" When thus questioned, the woman began to say:

Story of Aśokamálá.:— My sovereign. I am the daughter of a Kshatriya in this city, named Balasena, and my name is Aśokamálá. When I was a virgin, I was demanded from my father by a rich Bráhman named Hathaśarman, who was captivated by my beauty. And I said to my father; "I do not like this ugly grim-visaged man for a husband; if you give me to him, I will not remain in his house." Though Hathaśarman heard that, he sat in dharna at the door of my father's house, until he gave me to him, being afraid of causing the death of a Bráhman. Then the Bráhman married me and carried me off reluctant, and I deserted him, and fled to another man, the son of a Kshatriya. But that Hathaśarman managed to crush him by the power of his wealth, and then I went to another Kshatriya, who was well off. Then this Bráhman went at night and set his house on fire. Then he abandoned me, and I went to a third Kshatriya, and this Bráhman burnt his house also at night. Then I was abandoned by him also, and I became a fugitive, flying in terror, as the sheep flies from the jackal, from that Hathaśarman, who wishes to slay me, and follows me step by step. In this very city I entered the service of the mighty Víraśarman your servant, a Rájput who protects the helpless. When the wicked Hathaśarman found that out, he was miserable at having no hope of recovering me, and being afflicted with separation, he was reduced to skin and bone. But the Rájput Víraśarman, when disposed to imprison him for my protection, was prevented by me, O queen. To-day it chanced that I went outside the house, and Hathaśarman, seeing me, drew his sword and rushed on me to kill me, but I thereupon fled here, and the female warder, melted with compassion, opened the door and let me enter, but he, I know, is waiting for me outside.

When she said this, the king had the Brahman Hathaśarman summoned into his presence; he looked at Aśokamálá with an eye inflamed with anger, his form was distorted, he held a sword in his hand, and the joints of his limbs trembled with rage. The king said to him, " Wicked Bráhman, do you try to kill a woman, and for her sake set on fire your neighbours' houses? Why are you so wicked?" When the Bráhman heard that, he said, " She is my lawful wife. She has left my protection and gone elsewhere, how could I endure that?" When he said this, Aśokamálá, in distress, exclaimed, " guardians of the world, tell me this; did he not in your presence marry me and carry me off by force against my own will? And did I not say at the time, ' I will not dwell in his house?'" When she said this, a heavenly voice said, "The statement of Aśokamálá is true. But she is not a woman: hear the truth about her.