Transcribed by "Batsy" Bybell, cgale@turbonet.com

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

Translated from the Sanskrit by Arthur W. Ryder

CONTENTS

Introduction

Goblin-story

1. The Prince's Elopement. Whose fault was the resulting death of his parents-in-law?

2. The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wife should she be?

3. The Parrot and the Thrush. Which are worse, men or women?

4. King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which of the five deserves the most honour?

5. The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the Clever Man. To which should the girl be given?

6. The Girl who transposed the Heads of her Husband and Brother. Which combination of head and body is her husband?

7. The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which is the more deserving?

8. The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, and the Specialist in Cotton. Which is the cleverest?

9. The Four Scientific Suitors. To which should the girl be given?

10. The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. Which is the most delicate?

11. The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. Why did his counsellor's heart break?

12. The Brahman who died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of a Hawk fell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman. Who is to blame for his death?

13. The Girl who showed Great Devotion to the Thief. Did he weep or laugh?

14. The Man who changed into a Woman at Will. Was his wife his or the other man's?

15. The Fairy Prince Cloud-chariot and the Serpent Shell-crest. Which is the more self-sacrificing?

16. The King who died for Love of his General's Wife; the General follows him in Death. Which is the more worthy?

17. The Youth who went through the Proper Ceremonies. Why did he fail to win the magic spell?

18. The Boy whom his Parents, the King, and the Giant conspired to Kill. Why did he laugh at the moment of death?

19. The Man, his Wife, and her Lover, who all died for Love. Which was the most foolish?

20. The Four Brothers who brought a Dead Lion to Life. Which is to blame when he kills them all?

21. The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy. Why did he weep and dance?

22. The Father and Son who married Daughter and Mother. What relation were their children?

Conclusion

TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS

INTRODUCTION

On the bank of the Godavari River is a kingdom called the Abiding Kingdom. There lived the son of King Victory, the famous King Triple-victory, mighty as the king of the gods. As this king sat in judgment, a monk called Patience brought him every day one piece of fruit as an expression of homage. And the king took it and gave it each day to the treasurer who stood near. Thus twelve years passed.

Now one day the monk came to court, gave the king a piece of fruit as usual, and went away. But on this day the king gave the fruit to a pet baby monkey that had escaped from his keepers, and happened to wander in. And as the monkey ate the fruit, he split it open, and a priceless, magnificent gem came out.

When the king ...

Show full text: 210,485 characters