A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.300

v2.c19.s3.t2.300

Sāma is a pious hermit boy, who lives in the forest with his blind parents and devotes himself entirely to attending on them. One day, while he is fetching water for them, he is struck by a poisoned arrow which was aimed at him by King Piliyakkha of Benares, in the wantonness of the chase. No curse, no angry word escapes the lips of the youth, but only a woeful lament at the fate of his poor parents, who are now bereft of their support. Remorsefully the king consoles him and promises to undertake the care of his parents. Sāma tells him in which direction his parents' hut lies, and, uttering expressions of thanks, falls unconscious. Filled with bitter remorse, the king bursts into lamentations and is comforted by a forest spirit, who tells him that he will be freed from his heavy guilt, if he goes to Sāma's parents and tends them like a son. Lamenting, the king takes the water pitcher, and goes to the parents' hut. By the footsteps of the approaching king, the old father recognises that it is not the expected son. Piliyakkha tells who he is, and the blind old man welcomes the king with friendly reverence, and offers him water and fruits as gifts of hospitality. The king asks whence he obtains fruits, as he cannot seek them himself, and the old man answers: We have a dear son, young and handsome, it is he who brings us water and fruits. Then the king announces the dreadful news: Your faithful son is dead, I have slain him. Mild, but full of piteous complaint are the words of the father. But the mother bursts into loud lamentations, and cannot understand the gentleness of her husband, who wishes the king no harm. The king comforts the parents, and begs of them to accept him in the place of a son; he will take care of them as Sāma did. But the parents only beseech him to lead them to their son's corpse, which the king does, though reluctantly. Before the corpse the blind parents burst into touching plaints, which however, end with conjurations.¹ The mother says: If it is true that Sāma always lived a virtuous life, then may the poison vanish, and may he stand before us in good health once more. The father repeats the conjuration with reference to his own virtues and those of his wife. The forest spirit also utters a similar conjuration. Then Sāma arises, stands fresh and well before his parents, and bids the astonished king welcome. He declares that he had only fainted; for those who honour their father and mother enjoy even in this world the support of the gods, and after death go to heaven. Then the king seeks Sāma's protection, and the latter preaches to him on the virtues which a king should practise.¹