Raja Rasalu: The King and His Two Queens

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

The King and His Two Queens

ONCE there lived a great Raja whose name was Salbahan, and he had two Queens. Now the elder, by name Queen Achhra, had a fair young son called Prince Puran, but the younger, by name Lona, though she wept and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes.

So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her heart, and she so poisoned Raja Salbahan's mind against his son, young Puran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father became madly jealous of him and, in a fit of anger, ordered his hands and feet to be cut off. Not content even with this cruelty, Raja Salbahan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well.

Nevertheless, Puran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped and expected, for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the great and holy Guru Goraknath came to the place and, finding Prince Puran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison, but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet. Then Puran, in gratitude for this great boon, became a faqir and, placing the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknath as a disciple and was called Puran Bhagat.

But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so Guru Goraknath gave him leave to visit his native town, and Puran Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled garden where he had often played as a child.

And lo! he found it neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the broken watercourses and the withered trees. Then he sprinkled the dry ground with water from his drinking vessel and prayed that all might become green again. And lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had once been.

The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the wonder. Even the Raja Salbahan and his two Queens heard of it in the palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own eyes.

But Puran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhra, had wept so long for her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not to see, but to ask the wonder-working faqir  to restore her sight.

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she fell on the ground before Puran Bhagat, begging him to cure her, and lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly.

Then deceitful Queen Lona, who all these years had been longing vainly for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown faqir  possessed, fell on the ground also and begged for an heir to gladden the heart of Raja Salbahan.

Then Puran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern, "Raja Salbahan already has a son. Where is he? What have you done with him? Speak truth, Queen Lona, if you would find favour with God!"

Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride and, though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the faqir  and told the truth — how she had deceived the father and destroyed the son.

Then Puran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards her, and a smile was on his face as he said softly, "Even so, Queen Lona! Even so! And behold! I  am Prince Puran, whom you destroyed and God delivered! I have a message for you. Your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those my mother wept for me. So, take this grain of rice; eat it, and you shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours. Go in peace; your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!"

Next: How Raja Rasalu Was Born

(700 words)

Raja Rasalu: How Raja Rasalu Was Born

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

How Raja Rasalu Was Born

Queen Lona returned to the palace and, when the time for the birth of the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jogis who came begging to her gate,what the child's fate would be, and the youngest of them answered and said, "Oh, Queen! The child will be a boy, and he will live to be a great man. But for twelve years you must not look upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the twelve years are past, you will surely die! This is what you must do: as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar underneath the ground and never let him see the light of day for twelve years. After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the river, put on new clothes, and visit you. His name shall be Raja Rasalu, and he shall be known far and wide."

So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into  the world, his parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and servants, and everything else a King's son might desire. And with him they sent a young colt, born the same day, and sword, spear, and shield, against the day when Raja Rasalu should go forth into the world.

So there the child lived, playing with his colt and talking to his parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's son to know.

Young Rasalu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with his colt and talking to his parrot, but when the twelfth year began, the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison from the outside world.

"I must go and see where the voices come from!" he said, and when his nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed aloud, saying, "Nay! I stay no longer here for any man!"

Then he saddled his Arab horse Bhaunr, put on his shining armour, and rode forth into the world, but mindful of what his nurses had oft told him, when he came to the river, he dismounted and, going into the water, washed himself and his clothes.

Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on his way until he reached his father's city. There he sat down to rest awhile by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen pitchers. Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels  and broke them all. Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant steed beside him, sat by the well and broke their pitchers.

Now, as soon as Rajah Salabhan heard this, he guessed at once that it was Prince Rasalu come forth before the time and, mindful of the Jogis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize the offender and bring him to be judged. So he bade the women be comforted and take pitchers of iron and brass, giving new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of their own.

But when Prince Rasalu saw the women returning to the well with pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself and drew his mighty bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though they had been clay.

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Yet still the King did not send for him, so he mounted his steed and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace. He strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and saluted him with all reverence, but Raja Salabhan, in fear of his life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply.

Then Prince Rasalu called scornfully to him across the hall:

"I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee!
What have I done that thou shouldst turn away?
Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me —
I go to seek a worthier prize than they!"

Then he strode away, full of bitterness and anger, but, as he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great loneliness fell upon him because he was spurned by both father and mother. So he cried sorrowfully,

"Oh heart crown'd with grief, hast thou nought
But tears for thy son?
Art mother of mine? Give one thought
To my life just begun!"

And Queen Lona answered through her tears:

"Yea! mother am I, though I weep,
So hold this word sure,
Go, reign king of all men, but keep
Thy heart good and pure!"

So Raja Rasâlu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune. He took with him his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, and his parrot, both of whom had lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted friends he had two others — a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who were determined to follow the Prince till death.

So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud of dust  on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept, saying,

"O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes,

Let the cloud of thy going arise,

Dim the sunlight and darken the day;

For the mother whose son is away

Is as dust!"

Next: How Raja Rasalu's Friends Forsook Him

(1000 words)

Raja Rasalu: How Raja Rasalu's Friends Forsook Him

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

How Raja Rasalu's Friends Forsook Him

NOW, on the first day, Raja Rasalu journeyed far, until he came to a lonely forest where he halted for the night. And seeing it was a desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch. So he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasalu the third.

Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master and, fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement,

"Cradled till now on softest down,
Grass is thy couch to-night;
Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown —
Brave hearts heed not her slight!"

Now, when Raja Rasalu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out of a thicket hard by and crept towards the sleepers.

"Who are you?" quoth the carpenter lad, "and why do you come hither?"

"I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!" returned the serpent. "Who are you that have dared to come hither?

Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield and said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be discouraged.

Now, when it came to Raja Rasalu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful unspeakable horror came out of the thicket. Nevertheless, Rasalu went up to it boldly, and cried aloud, "Who are you? and what brings you here?"

Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, "I have killed everything for thrice twelve miles around! Who are you that dare come hither?"

Whereupon Rasalu drew his mighty bow and pierced the horror with an arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it. And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and Rasalu returned to watch in peace.

Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasalu called his sleeping servants, and the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed.

"'Tis but a small snake!" quoth the Raja. "Come and see what I killed in the cave!"

And behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasalu had slain, they were exceedingly afraid and, falling on their knees, begged to be allowed to return to the city, saying, "O mighty Rasalu, you are a Raja and a hero! You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we follow you, we shall surely be killed. Such things are nought to you, but they are death to us. Let us go!"

Then Rasalu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they wished, saying—

"Aloes linger long before they flower:
Gracious rain too soon is overpast;
Youth and strength are with us but an hour:
All glad life must end in death at last!
But king reigns king without consent of courtier;
Rulers may rule, though none heed their command.
Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier,
Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!"

So his friends forsook him, and Rasalu journeyed on alone.

Next: How He Killed the Giants

(Sutlej Valley)

(600 words)

Raja Rasalu: How He Killed the Giants

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

How Raja Rasalu Killed the Giants

NOW after a time, Raja Rasalu arrived at Nila city and, as he entered the town, he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made it, she sometimes wept and sometimes laughed, so Rasalu asked her why she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly as she kneaded her cakes, "Why do you ask? What will you gain by it?"

"Nay, mother!" replied Rasalu; "if you tell me the truth, one of us must benefit by it."

And when the old woman looked in Rasalu's face she saw that it was kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, "O stranger, I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city to receive tribute from us — every day a fair young man, a buffalo, and a basket of cakes! Six of my sons have gone, and now today it has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers. Therefore I weep!"

Then Rasalu was moved to pity and said,

"Fond, foolish mother! Cease these tears—
Keep thou thy son. I fear nor death nor life,
Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife.
My head for his I give! So calm your fears."

Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, "Fair words, fair words! But who will really risk his life for another?"

Then Rasalu smiled at her and, dismounting from his gallant steed, Bhaunr Iraqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a son of the house, and said, "Fear not, mother! I give you my word of honour that I will risk my life to save your son."

Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell a-weeping once more, saying,

"O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the turban bound high
O'er thy fair bearded face, keep thy word; my oppressor draws nigh!"

Then Raja Rasalu rose in his shining armour and haughtily bade the guards stand aside.

"Fair words!" replied the chief officer; "but if this woman does not send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole city. Her son must go!"

"I go in his stead!" quoth Rasalu more haughtily still. "Stand back, and let me pass!"

Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse and, taking the basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding the buffalo show him the shortest road.

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a huge skinful of water. No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja Rasalu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Iraqi and leading the buffalo than he said to himself, "Oho! we have a horse extra to-day! I think I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!"

Then he reached out his hand, but Rasalu drew his sharp sword and smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in great fear.

Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to him, "Brother, whither away so fast?"

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

And the giant answered in haste, "Raja Rasalu has come at last, and see! He has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!"

Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as they fled they called aloud—

"Fly! brethren, fly!
Take the path that is nearest;
The fire burns high
That will scorch up our dearest!
Life's joys we have seen:
East and west we must wander!
What has been, has been;
Quick! Some remedy ponder."

Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother and bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasalu were really born into the world. And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east and west, but even as they turned, Raja Rasalu rode up on Bhaunr Iraqi and challenged them to fight, saying, "Come forth, for I am Rasalu, son of Raja Salbahan, and born enemy of the giants!"

Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, "I have eaten many Rasalus like you! When the real man comes, his horse's heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!"

Then Raja Rasalu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the ground, and lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut them in pieces.

Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying, "Aha! We have eaten many Rasalus like you! When the real man comes, his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other."

So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread and placed them one behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants who were own brothers, and lo! when Raja Rasalu twanged his mighty bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles and spitted the seven giants in a row!

But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the Gandgari mountains. Then Raja Rasalu had a statue made in his likeness and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and shield. And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave, so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death inside.

So this is how he killed the giants.

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Next: How He Became a Jogi

(1000 words)

Raja Rasalu: How He Became a Jogi

You may be surprised by the ending of this story, and in order not to give it away, I have put a note at the bottom instead of here at the top!

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

How Raja Rasalu Became a Jogi

THEN, after a time, Rasalu went to Hodinagari. And when he reached the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundran, he saw an old Jogi sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire.

"Wherefore do you sit there, father?" asked Raja Rasalu.

"My son," returned the Jogi, "for two-and-twenty years have I waited thus to see the beautiful Sundran, yet have I never seen her!"

"Make me your pupil," quoth Rasalu, "and I will wait too."

"You work miracles already, my son," said the Jogi, "so where is the use of your becoming one of us?"

Nevertheless, Raja Rasalu would not be denied, so the Jogi bored his ears and put in the sacred earrings. Then the new disciple put aside his shining armour and sat by the fire in a Jogi's loin-cloth, waiting to see Queen Sundran.

Then, at night, the old Jogi went and begged alms from four houses, and half of what he got he gave to Rasalu and half he ate himself. Now Raja Rasalu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not care for food and was well content with his half share, but the Jogi felt starved.

The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasalu sat by the fire waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundran.

Then the Jogi lost patience and said, "O my disciple, I made you a pupil in order that you might beg and feed me, and behold, it is I who have to starve to feed you!"

"You gave no orders!" quoth Rasalu, laughing. "How can a disciple beg without his master's leave?"

"I order you now!" returned the Jogi. "Go and beg enough for you and for me."

So Raja Rasalu rose up and stood at the gate of Queen Sundran's palace in his Jogi's dress and sang,

"Alack! At thy threshold I stand,
Drawn from far by the name of thy charms;
Fair Sundran, with generous hand,
Give the earring-decked Jogi an alms!"

Now when Queen Sundran, from within, heard Rasalu's voice, its sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by the hand of her maid-servant. But when the maiden came to the gate and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasalu, standing outside, fair in face and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground.

Then once more Rasalu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen Sundran's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another maiden. But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasalu's marvellous beauty.

Then Queen Sundran rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately. She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into Rasalu's hands, saying proudly,

"Since when have the earrings been thine?
Since when wert thou made a faqir?
What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee?
What seekest thou here?
Do you beg of all women you see,
Or only, fair Jogi, of me?"

And Rasalu, in his Jogi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying softly,

"A day since the earrings were mine,
A day since I turned a faqir;
But yesterday Love's arrow struck me;
I seek nothing here!
I beg nought of others I see,
But only, fair Sundran, of thee!"

Now, when Rasalu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels, the old Jogi was sorely astonished and bade him take them back, and ask for food instead. So Rasalu returned to the gate, and sang,

"Alack! At thy threshold I stand,
Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms;
Fair Sundran, with generous hand,
Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!"

Then Queen Sundran rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the gate, said softly,

"No beggar thou! The quiver of thy mouth
Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red
As rubies rare. Though ashes hide thy youth,
Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead!
Deceive me not — pretend no false desire —
But ask the secret alms thou dost require."

But Rasalu smiled a scornful smile, saying,

"Fair Queen! What though the quiver of my mouth
Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red?
I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south;
Take back thy gems, and give me food instead.
Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms
Scarce find fit placing in a Jogi's alms!"

Then Queen Sundran took back the jewels and bade the beautiful Jogi wait an hour till the food was cooked. Nevertheless, she learnt no more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word. Only when Queen Sundran gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him sadly, saying,

"What King's son art thou? And whence dost thou come?
What name hast thou, Jogi, and where is thy home?"

Then Raja Rasalu, taking the alms, replied,

"I am fair Lona's son; my father's name
Great Salbahan, who reigns at Sialkot.
I am Rasalu; for thy beauty's fame
These ashes, and the Jogi's begging note,
To see if thou wert fair as all men say;
Lo! I have seen it, and I go my way!"

Then Rasalu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he went away from the place for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he was, might try to keep him prisoner.

And beautiful Sundran waited for the Jogi's cry, and when none came, she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jogi whither his pupil had gone.

Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or sign, answered back, "My pupil? I was hungry, and I ate him, because he did not bring me alms enough."

"Oh, monster!" cried Queen Sundran. "Did I not send thee jewels and sweets? Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty also?"

"I know not," quoth the Jogi; "only this I know — I put the youth on a spit, roasted him, and ate him up. He tasted well!"

"Then roast and eat me too!" cried poor Queen Sundran, and with the words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became sati for the love of the beautiful Jogi Rasalu.

And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and reigned in his stead.

---

For more about sati, often spelled in English "suttee" (reflecting the Hindi pronunciation), see this Wikipedia article: Suttee. For more about the wife of the god Shiva, from whom the practice took its name, also see Wikipedia: Sati.

[Notes by LKG]

---

Next: The Dice and the Cricket

(1100 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Dice and the Cricket

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

The Dice and the Cricket

NOW, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasalu gave up his kingdom and started off to play chaupur with King Sarkap. And as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so that he sought shelter and found none save an old graveyard, where a headless corpse lay upon the ground. So lonesome was it that even the corpse seemed company, and Rasalu, sitting down beside it, said:

"There is no one here, nor far nor near,
Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim;
Would God he might come to life again —
'Twould be less lonely to talk to him."

And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasalu. And he, nothing astonished, said to it:

"The storm beats fierce and loud,
The clouds rise thick in the west;
What ails thy grave and shroud,
O corpse! that thou canst not rest?"

Then the headless corpse replied:

"On earth I was even as thou,
My turban awry like a king,
My head with the highest, I trow,
Having my fun and my fling,
Fighting my foes like a brave,
Living my life with a swing.
And, now I am dead,
Sins, heavy as lead,
Will give me no rest in my grave!"

So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasalu sat in the graveyard and talked to the headless corpse.

Now when morning broke, and Rasalu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse asked him whither he was going and when he said "to play chaupur with King Sarkap," the corpse begged him to give up the idea saying, "I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways. Every day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just to amuse himself. One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another. However, if you are determined to go and play chaupur with him, take some of the bones from this graveyard and make your dice out of them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will lose their virtue. Otherwise he will always win."

So Rasalu took some of the bones lying about and fashioned them into dice, and these he put into his pocket. Then, bidding adieu to the headless corpse, he went on his way to play chaupur with the King.

Now, as Raja Rasalu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to play chaupur with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a voice rose from the fire saying, "Oh, traveller! for God's sake save me from the fire!"

Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice was the voice of a tiny cricket. Nevertheless, Rasalu, tender-hearted and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty.

Then the little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers and, giving it to its preserver, said, "Keep this, and should you ever be in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your aid."

The Prince smiled, saying, "What help could you give me?" Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way.

Next: The Maidens Test Rasalu

(cricket)

(600 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Maidens Test Rasalu

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

The Maidens Test Rasalu

Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens, daughters of the King, came out to meet him — seventy fair maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter, but one, the youngest of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr Iraqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to him saying:

"Fair Prince, on the charger so gray,
Turn thee back! turn thee back!
Or lower thy lance for the fray;
Thy head will be forfeit to-day!
Dost love life? Then, stranger, I pray,
Turn thee back! Turn thee back!"

But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly:

"Fair maiden, I come from afar,
Sworn conqueror in love and in war!
King Sarkap my coming will rue,
His head in four pieces I'll hew;
Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride,
With you, little maid, as my bride!"

Now when Rasalu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face and, seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the world.

But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at her, saying, "Not so fast, oh gallant warrior! If you would marry our sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger brother."

"Fair sisters!" quoth Rasalu gaily; "give me my task and I will perform it."

So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundred-weight of millet seed with a hundred-weight of sand and, giving it to Rasalu, bade him separate the seed from the sand.

Then he bethought him of the cricket and, drawing the feeler from his pocket, thrust it into the fire. And immediately there was a whirring noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him, and amongst them the cricket whose life he had saved.

Then Rasalu said, "Separate the millet seed from the sand."

"Is that all?" quoth the cricket; "had I known how small a job you wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren."

With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they separated the seed from the sand.

Next: Rasalu Swings the Maidens

(crickets)

(400 words)

Raja Rasalu: Rasalu Swings the Maidens

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

Rasalu Swings the Maidens

Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the king saw that Rasalu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired.

Whereupon he laughed, saying, "There are seventy of you, counting my little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life swinging girls! Why, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first will be wanting another! No! if you want a swing, get in, all seventy of you, into one swing, and then I'll see what can be done."

So the seventy maidens climbed into one swing, and Raja Rasalu, standing in his shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up to its fullest bent. Then he let go and, like an arrow, the swing shot into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter.

But as it swung back again, Rasalu, standing there in his shining armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes. Then the seventy fair maidens fell to the ground headlong, and some were bruised and some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who loved Rasalu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so came to no harm.

After this, Rasalu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the seventy drums that every one who came to play chaupur with the King had to beat in turn, and he beat them so loudly that he broke them all.

(tabla)

Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces.

Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying:

"A mighty Prince — Sarkap! — making havoc, rides along;
He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong;
He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride;
Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!"

But King Sarkap replied scornfully:

"Silly maiden, thy words make a lot
Of a very small matter;
For fear of my valour, I wot,
His armour will clatter.
As soon as I've eaten my bread
I'll go forth and cut off his head!"

Next: The Dog and the Cat

(400 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Dog and the Cat

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

The Dog and the Cat

Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very much afraid, having heard of Rasalu's renown. And learning that he was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city till the hour for playing chaupur arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest. But the food was poisoned.

Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasalu, he rose up haughtily, saying, "Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him in friendship. I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!"

So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had followed the slave, and lo! the dog died.

Then Rasalu was very wroth, and said bitterly, "Go back to Sarkap, slaves! And tell him that Rasalu deems it no act of bravery to kill even an enemy by treachery."

Now, when evening came, Raja Rasalu went forth to play chaupur with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns, he saw a cat wandering about restlessly, so he asked what ailed her that she never stood still, and she replied, "My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the kiln yonder. It has just been set alight, and my children will be baked alive; therefore, I cannot rest!"

Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasalu and, going to the potter, he asked him to sell the kiln as it was, but the potter replied that he could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could not tell how many would come out whole.

(Indian potter)

Nevertheless, after some bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasalu, having searched all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother, and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them,  saying, "Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in difficulties."

So Raja Rasalu put the kitten in his pocket and went to play chaupur with the King.

Next: How He Played Chaupur with King Sarkap

(300 words)

Raja Rasalu: How He Played Chaupur with King Sarkap

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling (1894).

(illustration by John Batten)

How Raja Rasalu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap

Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes. On the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole world; and on the third, his own head. So, likewise, Raja Rasalu fixed his stakes. On the first game, his arms; on the second, his horse; and on the third, his own head.

Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasalu's lot to make the first move. Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the chaupur pieces on the sly, so that Rasalu lost the first game, and gave up his shining armour.

So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the pieces, and Rasalu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed. Then Bhaunr Iraqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master,

"I am born of the sea and of gold;
Dear Prince! Trust me now as of old.
I'll carry you far from these wiles —
My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,
For thousands and thousands of miles!
Or, if needs you must stay, ere the next game you play,
Place hand in your pocket, I pray!"

Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr Iraqi since he gave his master advice in the game. Now when the slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasalu could not refrain from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Iraqi had been his companion. But the horse cried out again,

"Weep not, dear Prince! I shall not eat my bread
Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.
Take thy right hand and place it as I said."

These words roused some recollection in Rasalu's mind, and when, just at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice made from dead men's bones. Then his heart rose up once more, and he called boldly to Raja Sarkap, "Leave my horse and arms here for the present. Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!"

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasalu's confident bearing, began to be afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their gayest attire and stand before Rasalu so as to distract his attention from the game. But he never even looked at them and, drawing the dice from his pocket, said to Sarkap, "We have played with your dice all this time; now we will play with mine."

Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol Raja used to come, and the game began.

After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasalu was winning, called to his rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid and would not go farther. So Rasalu won and took back his arms.

Next he played for his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat, but Dhol Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid. So Rasalu won the second stake and took back Bhaunr Iraqi.

Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game, saying—

"O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
For sooth this is a man with whom I play.
No paltry risk, but life and death at stake;
As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!"

But Rasalu answered back—

"O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!
For sooth it is a man with whom I play.
No paltry risk, but life and death at stake;
As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!"

So they began to play whilst the women stood round in a circle, and the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window. Then Sarkap lost — first his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.

Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, "Kill her at once! For she has been born in an evil moment and has brought her father ill luck!"

But Rasalu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong, saying, "Not so, O king! She has done no evil. Give me this child to wife, and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play chaupur for another's head, I will spare yours now!"

Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head, and after that he took a fresh mango branch and the new-born babe, and, placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.

Now, as Rasalu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out to him,

"A royal hawk art thou, O King! The rest
But timid wild-fowl. Grant us our request —
Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!"

And Raja Rasalu hearkened to them and bade King Sarkap set them at liberty.

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Then he went to the Murti Hills and placed the new-born babe, Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the door, saying, "In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will I return and marry Kokilan."

And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja Rasalu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he played chaupur with the King.

Next: The Hunter (Swynnerton)

(1000 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Hunter (Swynnerton)

The first half of this unit was taken from a collection of stories by Flora Steel. For the second half of the unit, you will be reading stories taken from an entire book of Raja Rasalu legends compiled by Charles Swynnerton. You can read the whole book online: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu.

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton (1884).

Raja Rasalu and the Hunter

WHEN he had established a new government in Sialkot, it was that Raja Rasalu set out alone for the Deccan because he wished to meet and to see Mirshikari, the renowned hunter. As he was riding along, his horse suddenly heard the sweet strains of distant music proceeding from the depths of the forest.

"Sir," said she to her master, "what is that sweet sound which I hear, and whence is it coming?"

"I have been told," answered Rasalu, "that there is a certain king of the greenwood named Mirshikari who sits in the forest playing on a lute which was given to him by the Water-King, the immortal Khwajah Khizar.

(veena)

All the animals, when they hear the melodious music, come and gather around him to listen. Then, when he finds a chance, he shoots at them with his bow and kills whatever game he favours."

Saying this, Raja Rasalu, with his horse and with Shadi his parrot, followed the direction of the sound, and approached the glade in which Mirshikari was sitting.

Now Mirshikari had been informed by astrologers that in the course of time one Rasalu would come, who should be his master in magic and fighting and in woodcraft. So he was always expecting him, and now, when he saw a mounted stranger approaching, he enquired of him, "Who are you?

"What Raja's son are you?
And say what name you bear;
Where lies your fatherland?
What city owns you there?"

And Rasalu answered him: —

"Raja Sulwan's son am I,
Rasalu is my name;
Sialkot is my fatherland,
My city is the same."

Then asked Mirshikari: "Are you the Rasalu that should come?"

"Yes," answered the king.

"As I have heard about you," said Mirshikari, " so now have I seen you."

"What have you heard about me?" enquired Rasalu.

"The real Rasalu," answered Mirshikari, "carries an arrow weighing one hundred pounds. By this token I know you are the real Rasalu, and today, by the grace of God, I have met you in the forest, where I had scarcely hope of seeing you at all."

Then said Rasalu, "What are you doing? Why are you playing on a lute?"

"It is my usual custom," answered Mirshikari. "Every day of my life I play on my lute in order to entice the animals, because, when my lute is playing, all the animals of the forest gather round me to listen to it, and then, watching my chance, I choose my sport and shoot at them and kill them, since I cannot live without flesh-meat every day. But, my Master, as you have come to the green- wood at last, I pray that you will make me your disciple."

"So let it be," said Rasalu, "but first, if you will be a follower of mine, there are three conditions which you will have to observe."

"Whatever shall be told me," said Mirshikari, "that shall I observe to do implicitly."

Then said Rasalu, "The first condition is this — Let no one know of my coming here, and tell no one that you have seen me. The second is this — You may go and shoot over three sides of the forest, the north, east and the west, but on the fourth side you shall not shoot. And the third condition is this — On the forbidden side of the forest there live two deer, a buck and a doe. On no account must you kill them."

"How shall I know," then asked Mirshikari, "which of all the deer of the forest the two reserved ones are?"

To him Rasalu returned answer, "On the south side of the forest those two deer live, and to that side alone they resort. You will never meet them and you will never see them unless you go there. But if you do go there, and if you shoot them, oh, remember, you will lose your own life!"

All these terms were accepted by Mirshikari, and Rasalu, having shown him his mode of using weapons of war and of the chase, went away from that place, and tarried in another part of the forest.

So Mirshikari, after playing on his lute and killing some deer, returned to the city, and when he had eaten his food, he went to his chamber, and there he began to address sweet words to his wife. In the midst of their colloquy, he broke the first condition imposed upon him by Raja Rasalu, for he said to her: "Today I have seen Rasalu in the forest."

The woman turned round and said, "You are speaking a jest. What, is Rasalu a madman to be wandering about in the woods? What a wise man are you!"

Feeling ashamed and abashed on account of his wife's words, he took an oath to God before her, and said: " I have verily seen Raja Rasalu today with my own eyes."

Next: The Hunter (cont.)

(900 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Hunter (cont.)

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton (1884).

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Raja Rasalu and the Hunter (cont.)

But his wife believed not his words, and she said to him, "Hold your tongue and do not vex me so, seeing you cannot beguile me."

After a short time Mirshikari ordered his wife to prepare his breakfast overnight, "because," said he, "tomorrow I must be in the forest long before dawn."

Hearing this speech, his wife thought to herself: "It is useless to take so much trouble at so late an hour of the night. Everything can be got ready for him before he starts in the morning."

At the fixed time on the morrow, while it was yet dusk, she awoke, and having bathed, she went to the cook-room to prepare some food for Mirshikari, but she was astonished at finding that there was no meat of any description in the house.

Then said she: " Mirshikari will not eat anything but meat. I must go into the street, to the stalls of the butchers, and bring home two pounds of goat's flesh."

So she went to a butcher and said to him: "Give me two pounds of goat's flesh, and tomorrow I will give you four pounds of venison instead of it."

"At this time of night," answered the butcher, "I cannot possibly open my door. I hear your voice, but what you are God knows; some witch perhaps, or a giantess, or it may be an evil spirit."

"I am the wife of Raja Mirshikari," replied the woman.

Then said the butcher: " If you are the wife of Mirshikari, bring me the money, and I will give you the two pounds of meat."

In the meantime, while his wife was arguing with the butcher, Mirshikari woke up, and he called and looked, but in the palace his wife was nowhere to be found. For some time he waited, but he waited in vain, for she did not return.

Then, as it was growing late and as he was tired of waiting, he took up his lute, his quiver, and his bow, and, without any breakfast, he went out to his shooting.

When he arrived at the ground, he broke the second condition, for he chose for his sport the side of the forest which had been forbidden to him by his master Rasalu. Having fixed on a place, he sat himself down, tuned the strings of his lute, and began to play.

The beautiful strains floated on the morning air and penetrated into the depths of the forest, so that, as Raja Rasalu was wandering about, his mare again heard the sweet woodland notes, and said to the King: " Sir, it is the sound of the lute we heard in the woods yesterday."

"You are right," answered Rasalu, "but my man has not fulfilled my behest, nor has he regarded my word, and now we shall witness the turning of his fate."

Meanwhile, as Mirshikari was playing his lute, the two deer, a buck and a doe, came out of the forest into the open glade, and there stood still to listen. As they felt themselves drawn towards the spot where the lute was playing, the doe said to the buck: "Let us wait here and see. Perhaps it is Raja Mirshikari playing on his lute. I am afraid lest, seeing us, he will kill us dead, because by means of his treacherous lute he has already done much to empty the woods."

On hearing these unexpected words, Mirshikari stopped his music, and glancing all round him, he saw a chachra tree covered with large green leaves. Then moving softly to it, he plucked some of the foliage, and having fastened it all over his body, he made himself leafy and green like the tree, and taking up his lute, he began to play on it once more, and as he played, he slowly advanced towards the buck and the doe.

When the two deer saw him approaching, the buck said to the doe, "See, he is coming towards us for something, let us go and meet him."

But the doe said: "Do not move a step further," to which the buck made answer:

"In the forest I was bred,
In the forest I was fed,
And the forest is my home;
Some little leafy tree,
To discover you and me,
In perplexity doth roam."

Then said the doe to her simple husband:

"In the forest I was bred,
In the forest I was fed,
And the forest is my home;
Such a thing could never be
For a little leafy tree
On two little feet to roam."

But the buck, being resolved to go forward, said:

"In the forest I was bred,
In the forest I was fed,
In the forest I abide;
And if hunger be his plea,
Or if forced by fate he be,
We may venture to his side."

"No, no," cried the doe; "be well advised:
"In the forest I was bred,
In the forest I was fed,
In the forest I abide;
By his acting I can see
He would capture you and me,
And our flesh he would divide."

Next: The Hunter (cont. again)

(800 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Hunter (cont. again)

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton (1884).

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Raja Rasalu and the Hunter (cont. again)

"Oh, my husband," continued she, "you should not go nearer." Saying this, she stopped, but the wilful buck went nearer and nearer, listening to the dulcet music, and when Mirshikari saw him well within flight of his arrow, he took his lute between his teeth and, drawing his bow, he shot at him, and the foolish deer, being pierced by the sharp weapon in the shoulder, fell to the ground. Then ran Mirshikari swiftly forward, and drawing his knife, he prepared to cut the throat of his quarry according to custom.

But all the time Raja Rasalu was watching his proceedings, saying to his horse: "He has disregarded my counsel; look and you will see the trouble which shall shortly fall upon him."

Mirshikari now lifted his knife to despatch his victim, when the deer addressed him in reproachful words, and said:

"Thou tyrant-thrower of the pointed dart,
Thine edgeless knife, O lay it by,
But take the lute, the lute that pierced my heart,
And strike some chords before I die;
tyrant, sweep the trembling strings again,
1 fain would hear one fleeting dying strain!"

Then said Mirshikari: "His death has been caused by my lute, and I must therefore play for him something more. Yet I am in fear lest, as I play, he may suddenly turn his head and gore me with his horns."

So he sat upon him astride, pressing him down with the weight of his body, and thus seated, he began to play upon his lute once more while the dying buck, as his life ebbed away, listened to the ravishing sounds.

When he had finished playing, Mirshikari laid aside his lute again, and lifting his knife, he passed it over the throat of the buck and let out his life-blood. After this he looked about him for some water, "for," said he, " if the knife be not washed, my game will not be fit for eating."

But no water was to be seen, excepting the heavy dew which lay ail round about upon the earth. So he wiped his bloodstained knife in the grass, and when it was cleansed, he held it between his teeth in order that he might also wipe the blood from his hands in the same manner. But it so happened that no sooner had he put his hands into the wet grass than he was stung by a viper. Uttering a loud cry, he dropped the knife from his mouth, which, falling upon the serpent, cut it into two pieces so that it died, and presently Mirshikari himself, as the poison pervaded his system, gave up the ghost and expired as well.

Seeing this, Raja Rasalu, who was watching all these fatal consequences, said to his mare: "Now see what will come to pass next."

After a little while, the doe stole out from the jungle to look for her husband, and she found him dead. She also saw Mirshikari lying still upon the ground. Then thought she to herself: "The hunter-king has been shooting for a long time, and now, being tired, he is taking his rest."

But, venturing nearer, she espied the dead snake cut into two pieces, and the knife resting close by. Then understood she that her husband had been killed by Mirshikari, that Mirshikari had been killed by the snake, and that the snake had been killed by the knife. Having looked upon this dismal spectacle, she said to herself: "Now for me to live longer in the world is useless, for God knows who may not kill me, or what suffering it may not be my lot to endure." And she began to wonder how she should destroy herself.

After thinking and considering, she said: "O my husband's horns, they are sharp as spears! I shall put straight his head and jump upon them, and their points will pierce through my body and kill me." So saying, she set the buck's head upright, and going to a little distance she leaped upon his sharp, tapering horns which, penetrating her body, ripped her open and killed her. In her dying struggles she gave birth to two little kids, a male and a female, but they, after breathing the air for a few short moments, expired likewise by the side of their dam.

And all the time Raja Rasalu was gazing at the scene, watching every hapless circumstance, and he now said to his mare: "Let us see what will come to pass next."

In a few minutes, a jackal came out of the forest, and finding so many dead bodies lying prone upon the ground, he began to trim his moustachios and to leap and frisk for joy, saying to himself: "God has given me lots of good things to-day! I shall eat my fill, and sleep, and eat again. But Mirshikari is a strong man and a famous hunter, and if he wakes up he will certainly kill me. So my best plan will be to steal his bowstring and throw it away, because then, if he awake, he will never without it be able to harm me, and meanwhile I shall have time to escape."

Saying this, the jackal came silently towards Mirshikari, and, taking away his bow and skipping into the jungle, he endeavoured to break it. But the string was made of twisted wire which proved too tough for his teeth. At last, putting the side of the bow on his hind legs and one end of it under his chin, he succeeded in slipping the wire, but the rebound of the weapon was so sharp and so sudden that it tore him in two, and the upper part of his body went flying towards the sky.

When Raja Rasalu saw the jackal's fate he laughed and said: "Let us go and look at them now."

Next: The Hunter (end)

(1000 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Hunter (end)

The final verse alludes to another legendary king, King Dharthali (also spelled Bhartili or Bhartari); here is the author's note about him: "The famous king who abdicated his kingdom and became a fakir, a disciple of Guru Goraknath." You can read more about this famous guru at Wikipedia: Gorakshanath.

(Guru Goraknath)

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton (1884).

Raja Rasalu and the Hunter (end)

Coming to the spot, he said to his mare, "What shall we do? What arrangements shall we make for conveying the body of Mirshikari?"

"Lay it on his own horse," answered she, "and she will carry it straight to his house."

Then Rasalu lifted the body and was going to lay it on Mirshikari's horse, but the animal refused, saying: "As he failed to obey your orders, I will never carry him more."

"At least,' said Rasalu, "guide me to your master's palace," and, taking from the fatal spot Mirshikari's turban, his quiver, his bow, and his lute, he followed the dead hunter's horse, which led them on through the grassy glades and the leafy alleys of the forest.

As they entered the city, Raja Rasalu caught sight of a woman standing at the stall of a butcher who was weighing out some meat, and he overheard her saying: "Do not longer delay. My husband Mirshikari is waiting."

Then Rasalu stopped and said to her: " O woman! What are you doing there?

"You weigh the flesh within the scale,
But say for whom the flesh you weigh;
The flesh you weigh will ne'er avail:
The man who looked his last today."

Hearing these words, the woman hastily turned and said: "Who are you thus cursing my husband?"

"I am Rasalu," answered he.

But the woman did not believe him. "A wise Rasalu too," replied she, "to curse another man needlessly. It is no good thing which you do."

"But," said Rasalu, "would you recognise your husband's things if they were shown to you?"

"Yes," answered she, "wherefore not?"

Then he laid down before her Mirshikari's turban, his lute, and his weapons, and said: "Examine and see if these things are your husband's."

As soon as she looked upon them, the woman swooned and fell senseless to the ground. When she came to herself she arose and ran to the palace of the king who was the lord of all that country, weeping and beating her breast, and Rasalu followed her.

There she cried aloud: " Sir, this man has killed my husband Mirshikari!"

The king, hearing her distressful cries, ordered a trial, and at the hour appointed one hundred men were despatched to bring Raja Rasalu into the court. But Rasalu, collecting them all in one place, covered them under the broad expanse of his shield and then sent a message to the king, saying: "Come if you can, and take your men from under my shield."

When the king understood what a wonderful master of magic he was and how great was his might to cover one hundred men with his shield, he sent other messengers, saying to them: "Do not use force with him. Bring him by solicitations and prayers."

And they, as soon as they arrived, humbly requested Rasalu to come before their lord, beseeching him with courteous words.

"I come," answered he and so, lance in hand and with the king's messengers behind him, rode to the city and so to the palace.

When he entered the king's presence, he said: "Wherefore have you sent for me?"

"Why have you slain Mirshikari?" enquired the king.

"I will also ask you a riddle," replied Rasalu, "and if you can answer it, you will know of the death of Mirshikari:

"One was killed and two died;
Two were killed and four died;
Four were killed and six died;
Four were males and two were females."

But the king was unable to guess the answer. Therefore said he to his ministers: "Go with this stranger, whoever he is, and see if he tells the truth, and let us beware lest he be the real Rasalu."

So Rasalu conducted them to the forest, where they came and saw all the six bodies lying lifeless together on the ground. Taking up the corpse of Mirshikari, they took it into the presence of the king, who, having heard their tale, looked upon it and said of Rasalu: "This man has indeed spoken the word of truth."

Then Raja Rasalu carried the body of his disciple Mirshikari back into the forest, and there he laid it down, and he dug a grave for it, both long and deep, with his own hands, and buried it under the shade of the trees.

And over the spot he erected an enduring tomb, and proclaimed to the whole city and to all the country round: "Whosoever would go hunting, let him first go visit the tomb, and do homage at his grave, of Mirshikaril"

Having performed this last act of piety to the remains of the hunter-king, he engraved on his tomb the following epitaph, and then went his way:

"King Dharthali, peerless he for deeds of might,
Abandoned all his pomp to die:
And this fair world shall sink in endless night,
As fades a star-bespangled sky."

Next: The Swans (Swynnerton)

(800 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Swans (Swynnerton)

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton (1884).

Raja Rasalu and the Swans

Rasalu, in his wanderings, once came to a certain city, on the gate of which he read an inscription setting forth that Rasalu of Sialkot, the son of Sulwan, would one day appear, that he would shoot an arrow of iron one hundred feet into the air, and that his reward should be a turban one hundred feet in length.

There Rasalu determined to tarry, and one day in the presence of the inhabitants, when feats of strength were being exhibited, he took one of his arrows and shot it towards the sky. Ail the people stood still to gaze, waiting for the return of the arrow, but as it never came back, they said, "This must be the real Rasalu!" Then they wove for him a turban one hundred feet in length and proclaimed him as the real Rasalu throughout the city, and for his great strength he was held in honour of all men.

The next day he entered on his travels again, and as he was walking by a river-side, he saw a crow and his mate sitting fondly together, and he heard the female bird saying, "Please take me up to the sky."

"No one can go up to the sky," answered the male bird.

But she insisted and said: "Take me up as high into the air, then, as you can."

Saying this, she mounted up, and the male bird followed her, and both went flying skywards until they were out of sight, and Rasalu, wondering what would come of this adventure, continued his wanderings.

Now the two birds flew up so high that at last they came to a region of rain, hail, and snow, which kept falling continually, and the female bird, drenched and terrified, cried: "For God's sake, save my life and take me to some place of shelter."

"What can be done now?" said her companion. "It is your own fault; why did you not listen to good advice?"

With these words they began to descend, and, worn out with fatigue, they at last fell on to a certain island in the middle of the sea.

Then said the female crow: "Let us go and look for some place of shelter."

Searching here and there, at last they saw a swan with his mate, sitting in a nest in the midst of a tree. So the crow approached, and offered his salaams.

"What do you want, O crow?" said the swan to his unwelcome guest.

"For the sake of God," answered the crow, "be good enough to give us a corner to shelter in to save our lives."

"Although between you and me," said the swan, "there is no relationship, come in and take your rest."

On hearing this, the female swan protested vehemently. "I cannot allow the creature to come into any house of mine," cried she. "He is a mean fellow, and our kinspeople will reproach us, not to speak of our good name."

"He is asking for shelter in the name of God," said her husband, "and I am therefore bound to allow him to enter and rest."

The crow and his mate then crawled into the nest, and the swan gave them pearls to eat and whatsoever else his house afforded.

The next morning, the rain being over, the crows stepped forth and the male bird said to the swan, "Dear friend, against the wicked you should always be on your guard."

"He who will do evil shall suffer evil," answered the swan.

"True," said the crow, "but whether a man do evil or not, he should always keep the base and the unworthy at a distance."

"What do you mean by saying that?" enquired the swan.

"Do you not know," said the crow, "that in a single night you have robbed me of my swan-wife whom I have tenderly reared for twelve years? You had better give her back to me."

"Is this your return for all my kindness?" asked the swan.

"I do not know the meaning of kindness," replied the insolent crow; "give me back my wife! Otherwise, you must either fight with me, or go to the king's court for judgment."

"I have no desire to fight with you," answered the swan meekly. "Come, let us go to the court of the king!"

All the birds at once set out and came to the palace of Raja Bhoj. When they entered the court the king enquired: "Why have those four birds come here to-day? Bring them before me first!"

Then were they marshalled by officers before the judgment seat, and they said: "Sire, we have come to you for a decision ; condescend to listen!"

"What is it that you want?" asked the king.

"Enquire from the crow," said the swan.

"Nay," replied the crow, " I do not wish to say anything whatever — please ask the swan."

Then the swan stated his case:

"Struck down by storm, and rain, and driving snow,
With cries for shelter came this crafty crow;
In God's great name he proffered his request,
We gave him all we had— our place of rest;
But lo! when morning dawned, good turned to ill,
He sat and mocked us, and he mocks us still."

Then the crow stood forward, and stated his own side of the question thus:

"One day upon the river-side
I chanced to take a stroll,
And there I found some creature's egg
Within a sandy hole.
This egg I carried in my bill,
And cherished it with care,
I hatched it underneath my breast,
Till all my breast was bare.
At last, the young one burst the shell,
No useless cock was he,
Or else he might have wandered forth,
And roamed the jungle free.
It was a female, and I said,
'I will preserve her life;
When twelve years old, she'll doubtless prove
A most deserving wife.'
Then came this swan, struck down by rain,
By storm and driving snow,
And begged me for the love of God
Some pity to bestow.
I took him in without a word,
But lo! when morning came,
On score of caste he took my wife,
And vilified my name."

Next: The Swans (cont.)

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

(1100 words)

Raja Rasalu: The Swans (cont.)

This story is part of the Raja Rasalu unit. Story source: The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton (1884).

(Romantic Tales from the Punjab)

Raja Rasalu and the Swans (cont.)

Raja Bhoj, having heard both stories, said to the swan: "This crow appears to me to be in the right, so hand him over his wife!"

The poor swan made no reply, but gave up his wife at once to the crow, and then he went crying and sobbing to a distant place, where he lived in a certain solitary garden.

The triumphant crow, leading out his prize, thought to himself, "As my new wife is so handsome, no doubt if I go to my own house, my kinsfolk will come and snatch her away from me. It is better therefore to take her away to some distance."

It chanced, however, that the spot which he chose was the very garden in which the male swan was already living, and so it came to pass that all the four birds once more found themselves together.

One day it happened to Raja Rasalu that, in the course of his travels, he rode by that way, and that, as he went, he was saying to his mare, "To pass the time, let us look for some friend and get him to talk."

Just then he saw a jackal, and making for him, he ran him down and caught him.

"Sir, why have you caught me?" said the jackal.

"Merely to make you talk," answered Rasalu, "and to pass the time."

Then the jackal seated on Rasalu's saddle-bow began to tickle them both with hundreds of lying stories which amused them excessively.

While thus employed, they approached the city of Raja Bhoj, when Rasalu told the jackal to be off.

"But," answered the jackal, "it would be cruel to leave me here, since all the dogs of the town would set on me and kill me. You had better take me with you."

Rasalu, consenting, entered the city, and the people seeing him, paid him salutations and said, "Who are you?"

"I am Rasalu, the son of Sulwan," answered he.

Hearing his name, all the inhabitants came and surrounded him, saying: "This day God has fulfilled our desires."

Thence Rasalu went to the court of Raja Bhoj, for whom he conceived a strong feeling of friendship, and dismounting from his horse, he entered and sat down.

Then Raja Bhoj called for chess and invited his visitor to play. Rasalu, who had taken a fancy for his amusing little friend the jackal, caused him to sit close to him whilst he began the game.

First Raja Bhoj, on his side, laid a bet of one thousand rupees and threw the dice, but, his cast being spoilt by the jackal falling violently against his arm, Rasalu won.

Raja Bhoj became angry with the jackal, but the latter said: "Pray, sir, pardon my offence! I have been awake the whole night, and being sleepy, I touched your side quite by an accident."

Once more Raja Bhdj laid and began to play, but his cast of the dice was again spoilt by the jackal falling as before against his side. Then cried Raja Bhoj, "Is there anyone there? Ho! Someone cut this jackal to pieces!"

"I have been awake the whole night," said the jackal, excusing himself again; "forgive me, as I have not committed this fault wilfully."

"What is this talk about your being awake the whole night?" enquired Rasalu. "What do you mean by that?"

"I will tell the secret," said the jackal, "to Raja Bhoj only."

"Tell me then, O jackal," said Raja Bhoj, "what it was you were doing all the night through."

"Sir," replied the jackal, "tormented with hunger I went to the river-side to look for food. But finding none I grew desperate, and taking up a stone, I threw it against another stone, and from the two stones came out fire."

Having said so much, the jackal came to a stop, and Raja Bhoj said, "Well, what else did you do?"

"Sir," said the jackal, "I caught the fire in some dry fuel, out of which a small cinder flew and fell into the river, when at once the whole river was in a blaze. Then I, being afraid of my life on account of you, endeavoured to quench the fire with dry grass, but though I tried my best I am sorry to say two-thirds of the river were burnt up and one-third only remained."

Listening to this tale, everyone began to laugh and to say " What a fib! Can water catch fire, and, even if it could, can dry grass quench it?"

"Sirs," said the jackal, "if water cannot catch fire, how can a crow possibly claim a female swan as his wife?"

Hearing this mysterious answer Kaja Rasalu said:  "Jackal, what in the world are you talking about?"

"Sir," answered the jackal, "Raja Bhoj pronounced a judgment in this court yesterday between a crow and a swan, and without due consideration he snatched away the swan's wife and made her over to the crow. This judgment I listened to myself. And now the wretched swan is crying all round the jungle, while the crow is enjoying his triumph without let or fear."

"Can this be true?" asked Rasalu, to which Bhoj replied: "Yes, this fellow tells the truth. I was undoubtedly wrong."

Then Raja Rasalu sent for those four birds, and when they came, he ordered them to sit in a row on the branch of a tree and to close their eyes. The birds did so, and Rasalu, taking a bow and pellets, shot at the crow and killed him dead on the spot, saying: "This is a just reward for fraud and treachery."

At the same time he restored the female swan to her proper mate, who, delighted with the judgment, extolled his wisdom thus:

"All other kings are geese, but you
The falcon wise and strong;
A judgment just you gave, and true—
O may your life be long!"

Next: Raja Rasalu and Raja Bhoj (Swynnerton)

(1000 words)