From the Folklore of Kashmir
A certain king of Kashmir was very fond of hunting. One day, when he went to some distant jungle to shoot, he saw an animal that gave his such a chase as he never had before or after. He shot at it again and again, but missed. Determined to get it, however, he pursued the beast more swiftly. A long way he ran, leaving his attendants far behind out of sight and hearing. At length he could not run any more, and therefore stopped. He found himself in a large well-kept garden, along one of the paths of which a beautiful girl was walking unattended.
“Ha, ha!” said the king, going up to her. “Certainly! A wife like you, whom after marrying I could put aside here in this jungle!”
“Of course,”retorted the maiden, “I’d marry somebody like you and get a child; and the boy should marry your daughter!”
Surprised at her clever and ready reply, the king left the garden. He found his way back to the palace, and there inquired about the beautiful girl. Nobody could tell him anything, and so he dispatched a messenger to make a thorough and full inquiry. It appeared that the maiden was a princess, and was accustomed to go tot he garden where the king had seen her, because of its beautiful flowers, crystal fountains, and delightful shades.
On hearing this the king of Kashmir said, “I must marry her,” and ordered the most skilful and experienced go-betweens to start at once and arrange for the match. The go-betweens left, and as soon as they reached the kingdom of the princess’s father they obtained an interview with His majesty. Prostrating themselves before him, they said, “Our king has sent us to you on a special errand, of which we care not to speak before all the people. We pray Your Majesty, if it seem convenient, to grant us a private reception, when only Your Majesty and the chief wazir were present, the embassage again prostrated themselves and said, “O great king, live for ever! May peace and prosperity abide in your kingdom, and may all its enemies be scattered. O king, we have been sent to you to arrange for the marriage of your daughter, the fame of whose beauty has reached all countries, with out good and noble king of Kashmir. He knows her beauty and excellent virtues, and cannot rest day or night till he is certified of your good pleasure concerning this his wish. Our king’s goodness and power and wealth are not hidden from Your Majesty. We beseech you, therefore, to sanction this most desirable union, and dismiss us.
“I have heard,” the king said after a brief pause. “Tomorrow I will give you my reply.”
On the morrow, therefore, he consulted his wife and his wazir, and they both having accepted the match, he called the embassage and told them to go and inform their king that the offer was approved, and that in due time arrangements would be made with him for the wedding.
When the king of Kashmir heard from his go-betweens that the other king would give him his daughter in marriage he was exceedingly glad, and gave large presents to the go-betweens.
In a little while the king sent for him. A convenient day was at hand, and the message to him was to come at once. Accordingly, attended by his most wise ministers and courtiers, the flower of his army, and a large company of gaily dressed servants and richly caparisoned horses bearing gifts, the king of Kashmir started. He reached his destination without any mishap, and was heartily welcomed by the other king.
Within a day or two the wedding took place. It is not necessary to peak of the magnificent arrangements of everything – how that palace seemed on blaze of jewels; and gold and silver, like so much rice, were distributed to vast crowds of beggars who came from all parts; and the bride and bridegroom looked very beautiful. All these will be supposed. Everything was splendidly done, and everybody was exceedingly happy.
On arrival in his own country after the wedding, the king of Kashmir put his new wife, with the rest of his wives, in the royal haram. But, strange to say, these first days passed without his ever seeing her or speaking to her. In a little while her father sent for her, according to custom. So she went back to her father’s house, and there remained; but she said nothing to any one, except her mother, about her husband’s strange behaviour to her. To her mother, however, she explained everything. She told her of the garden episode also, and added that she supposed it was on account of her retort that the king of Kashmir thus treated her,
“Never mind,” said the queen. “Don’t worry. Matters will right themselves again. Only wait.”
When three years had elapsed, and the king of Kashmir had not sent for or inquired after his wife, she went to her father and expressed her great desire to travel and begged him to allow one of his wazirs and a cohort of soldiers to accompany her, in order that she might travel in a manner befitting her position.
“What do you wish to do? Where do you wish to go?” said the king.
“I wish to see something of other countries, and especially your feudatories; and in order that I may do so with ease and pleasure, I beg you to give me help.”
“But you are a woman,” said the king with an astonished air, “and young and beautiful. How can you travel? People will wonder to see you going about unattended by your father or mother. No; I don’t think that I can grant your wish. I should be wrong if I did.”
“Then I must go altogether alone,” she said; “for I am determined to carry out my wishes.”
“Ah me! If it is so, I suppose I must give my consent. It will only be adding trouble to trouble to hear of your death as well as your disgrace. But I ask you not to go very far – only in the surrounding countries.”
“I promise you,” she replied, and left the room.
Then the king summoned wazir, one in whom he had special confidence, and ordered him to attend the princess in her wanderings. His Majesty also gave him charge of all the moeny and jewels and other valuables which his daughter would require on the journey.
In a few days the princess departed, attended by the faithful wazir and a large company of soldiers and servants. Her first visit was to a petty king who held a small tract of country in fief under her father. Hearing of her coming, this king went forth to meet her, and received her with great honour, and caused a great feast to be made in her name. She remained there a few days, and then continued her journey. In this way she saw nearly all the adjacent countries, and learnt very much of their rulers and their ruled.
At length she arrived near her husband’s country of Kashmir. She naturally wished very much to see it – its court, its bazar, and its commerce, and everything concerning it. Accordingly she sent a letter to the king saying that she was the daughter of a certain king to who he paid tribute, and that she was now waiting outside the walls, and wishing very much to see the city within them. When the king of Kashmit had read the letter he summoned his wazirs and others, and at once went forth to the princess;s camp, and conducted her to his palace. There everything that could minister to the illustrious visitor’s comfort and pleasure was ordered and got ready. A special suite of apartments were set apart for her, the walls of which were hung with the most beautiful cloths, and the floors covered with the richest carpets; the most sumptuous food was provided; and the royal minstrels were bidden to be always present. These excellent arrangements charmed the princess, who at the end of the day thanked the king for his attention, and promised to remember him to her father.
The next day, in the course of conversation, she said to the king of Kashmir, “I have something to say to you privately. Please come into the room.
Thinking that she had a special message or him from her father concerning his country, he did so. It happened, however, that she loved him, and had called him aside into that room in order that she might tell him so, and entreat him to allow her to stay there as long as she liked, and to come and see her constantly.
Overcome by her beauty and entreaties, the king of Kashmir consented, and was often in her society. Many many months thus passed, till the princess revealed her intention of leaving for her own country. Her excuse was, that she had other cares, and wished to be at home again. However, she promised to return as soon as possible, and giving the king her ring asked him for his ring and handkerchief in exchange, in token of this promise of their affection for one another. The king did so, and kissed her.
The princess then left Kashmir, and returned to her own country as soon as she could. Everybody was glad to see her back. The king, her father, was much interested in the account of her travels, and professed that he was now glad that she had visited the different countries. The queen, her mother, was intensely pleased to hear of her expectations of a child, and began to concoct all sorts of plans for the bringing together of the husband, wife, and little one.
At the appointed time a song was born, and they called him Shabrang. When the king heard of his birth he was much enraged, for he thought that his daughter had done wrong. “This comes,” he cried, “of sanctioning her wild request! Oh that I had not been such a fool, and allowed her to go! Her character is ruined; her husband will never have anything to do with her; and my name is brought to reproach. Alas! Alas! Better to die than to suffer this!”
“Not so,” said the queen, who had been attracted by the king’s loud voice. “You have not asked who is the father of the child. He who ought to be the father is the father; and nothing has happened to damage either our daughter’s reputation or your name. While travelling the princess visited her husband’s country; and feigning herself to be another, she was admitted to her husband’s palace, and there quickly won his affections, so that he grieved exceedingly to part with her; and now she has given birth to a son by him. To accomplish this end was her only reason for asking your permission to travel.”
On this explanation His Majesty’s anger and grief entirely disappeared. The thought of a son having been born into his family filled him with joy, and he praised his daughter for her affection and cleverness.
As the by few he became wise and learned. Every instruction was given him, so that he had knowledge of almost every art and science then extant. He was also brave and skilful with the sword. The king was exceedingly proud of his grandson, and declared his readiness to make him one of the chief wazirs, and in a few years to deliver up the throne to him, if his father, the king of Kasmir, would not acknowledge him.
His mother, however, was bent on Shabrang becoming a thief. She thought that by such a training he would become proficient in all manner of trickery and cunning, and thus be a great help to her in the accomplishment of her wishes. Accordingly, the most clever master-thief in the country was sent for, and ordered to take Shabrang and educate him in all the secrets of his art, and he was promised a very handsome present when the youth should be judged perfect. The thief said that he would try to teach him thoroughly, and he had no doubt that in a few months Shabrang would become an incomparable thief. Within three months the master-thief returned with the lad, and said that he had learnt remarkably quickly and well, and that the princess would not find him wanting in any respect.
“Well,” said the princess, “I will examine him to see whether it is as you say. If Shabrang can climb yonder tree (which was an immense buni), and can take away the hawk’s egg from the nest without disturbing the hawk, I shall be pleased.”
“Go,” said the master-thief, “and do your mother’s wish.”
Away went Shabrang, climbed the lofty tree in a trice, and so skilfully inserted his hand into the nest and underneath the hawk, and took away the egg, that the bird did not notice anything, and remained quiet and still long after Shabrnag had descended and given the egg to his mother.
“Clever! Well done!” she said. “But go you now, Shabrang, and take that man’s paijamas from him.” She pointed at a labourer who was on the way to his house.
Shabrang at once left, and running round a field, got some distance in front of the man, and then sat down by the path and looked most earnestly up at a tree. Presently the labourer came near, and being very curious about what did not concern him, like the majority of ignorant people, he asked, “What are you looking up there for?”
“O wretched fellow that I am!” replied Shabrang, assuming a most pitiful expression. “My beautiful coral necklace is on the top of this tree. I was playing with it, and accidentally slung it up there. Will you please fetch it for me? I promise to give you two rupees bakhenish.”
“Oh yes,” said the labourer, and immediately swung himself on to the lowest branch of the the tree, and climbed higher and higher in the direction indicated by Shabrang. Shabrang thought he would surely have taken off his paijamas before climbing; but the labourer refused to do this, saying that there was no need. So now Shabrang knew not what to do. He could not return to his mother empty handed. His wits, however, did not fail him. He found a reed, and putting one end of it by an ant-hole, soon had it filled with those insects. Then, taking the reed, he climbed the tree after the labourer, till he got within a yard or two of him. The labourer did not notice him, because of the dense foliage and the noise of the wind and birds. Seeing his opportunity, Shabrang put the reed to his mouth, and blew with all his strength against the man’s paijamas. In a minute or two the poor labourer was itching terribly, and looking down, saw that the whole of the lower part of his body was covered with ants. He supposed that he must have rubbed by one of the holes of these insects in climbing. At all events there were there, and he had to unfasten his girdle, and pulling off his paijamas, throw them out on to the ground. Happy Shabrang! As quickly as possible he descended, picked up the paijamas, and went to his mother.
The princess was astonished. “You have been well taught. I do not fear for you now,” she said; and then turning to the master-thief, she gave him a handsome present and dismissed him.
One morning, not long after this, while Shabrang was playing with other youths in the palace-garden, one of the company twitted him about his illegitimate birth. Very much surprised and annoyed, Shabrang immediately left the game and ran to his mother. “Mother, mother, tell me of my father,” he cried, almost breathless.
“My boy,” she replied, “you are the son of the king of Kashmir, to whom I was duly married, but by whom I have been most cruelly deserted.”
“Dear mother,” said Shabrang, “why did you not tell me this before? And why doesn’t my grandfather avenge this insult at the point of the sword?”
“Be not hasty,” the princess answered. “To wound and to slay are not necessary, if other means are at hand. You are a sharp and clever boy. Go to your father’s country, and so ingratiate yourself in the king’s favour that he will promote you to high office, and offer you his own daughter in marriage. When matters reach this stage send for me, and then I will give answer to the king whereby he will be convinced of his wrong, and perhaps restore his banished wife and place his brave and clever son on the throne.”
“Good,” said the youth; “I will struggle hard to do this.”
Sources:
Folk-Tales of Kashmir, J Hinton Knowles, 1893
Kotharian Lightning 