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 saw this, he took it and asked the treasurer: "Where have you been keeping the fruits which the monk brought? I gave them to you." When the treasurer heard this, he was frightened and said: "Your Majesty, I have thrown them all through the window. If your Majesty desires, I will look for them now." And when the king had dismissed him, he went, but returned in a moment, and said again: "Your Majesty, they were all smashed in the treasury, and in them I see heaps of dazzling gems."

When he heard this, the king was delighted, and gave the jewels to the treasurer. And when the monk came the next day, he asked him: "Monk, why do you keep honouring me in such an expensive way? Unless I know the reason, I will not take your fruit."

Then the monk took the king aside and said: "O hero, there is a business in which I need help. So I ask for your help in it, because you are a brave man." And the king promised his assistance.

Then the monk was pleased, and said again: "O King, on the last night of the waning moon, you must go to the great cemetery at nightfall, and come to me under the fig-tree." Then the king said "Certainly," and Patience, the monk, went home well pleased.

So when the night came, the mighty king remembered his promise to the monk, and at dusk he wrapped his head in a black veil, took his sword in his hand, and went to the great cemetery without being seen. When he got there, he looked about, and saw the monk standing under the fig-tree and making a magic circle. So he went up and said: "Monk, here I am. Tell me what I am to do for you."