Kathasaritsagara 1.3.55.p1

1.3.55.p1

v v| - - v -| - v| % A pathyā
v| - -| v v -| v - % B correct
- -| v - v -| - -| % C pathyā
- -| - v v| - v - % D correct

In the meanwhile that king Putraka, faithful to his promise, entered the impassable wilds of the Vindhya, disgusted with his relations: as he wandered about he saw two heroes engaged heart and soul in a wrestling-match, and he asked them who they were. They replied, " We are the two sons of the Asura Maya, and his wealth belongs to us, this vessel, and this stick, and these shoes; it is for these that we are fighting, and whichever of us proves the mightier is to take them." When he heard this speech of theirs, Putraka said with a. smile—"That is a fine inheritance for a man." Then they said—"By putting on these shoes one gains the power of flying through the air; whatever is written with this staff turns out true; and whatever food a man wishes to have in the vessel is found there immediately." When he heard this, Putraka said— " What is the use of fighting? make this agreement, that whoever proves the hest man in running shall possess this wealth." Those simpletons said— " Agreed"— and set off to run, while the prince put on the shoes and flew up into the air, taking with him the staff and the vessel; then he went a great distance in a short time and saw beneath him a beautiful city named Akarshika and descended into it from the sky. He reflected with himself; "hetaerae are prone to deceive, Brahmans are like my father and uncles, and merchants are greedy of wealth; in whose house shall I dwell?" Just at that moment he reached a lonely dilapidated house, and saw a single old woman in it; so he gratified that old woman with a present, and lived unobserved in that broken down old house, waited upon respectfully by the old woman.