🧚 Opening, part 1

C 7971

NAILA2

(See page 64)]3

INDIAN TALES OF THE GREAT ONES4

_Among Men, Women, and Bird-people_5

By Cornelia Sorabji6

_With Illustrations by Warwick Goble_7

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED WARWICK HOUSE, BOMBAY LONDON AND GLASGOW8

_To my Baby-Friends in all Worlds_9

CONTENTS10

Page11

THE EAGLE BROTHERS 512

THE THRONE OF JUSTICE 1013

SAMYUKTA, OR THE STORY OF THE OWN-CHOOSING 1614

THE MAN WHO MADE HIMSELF AN ARCHER 2315

THE BLUE BIRD AND THE ARCHER 2716

DRAUPADI AND THE GREAT GAME 3017

THE SELF-BLINDING 3318

THE STORY OF THE MAIDEN-KNIGHT 3419

THE WAY OF FRIENDSHIP 3920

SIBI RANA AND THE GREY DOVE 4221

THE CROW AND THE BELL OF JUSTICE 4622

RAZIYA, QUEEN OF DELHI 4823

BABER THE TIGER 5424

THE KING WHO KEPT HIS WORD 6225

NAILA 6426

THE LOTUS-LADY 6627

THE PERFECT HOST 7528

THE DOVE-GIRL AND THE PRINCE 7929

THE BOY WHO WAS ALWAYS THIRTEEN 8530

INDIAN TALES31

OF THE GREAT ONES32

The Eagle Brothers33

There were once two great brother-eagles--Jattayu and Sanpati.34 And Jattayu was King of all the Eagle Tribes; and among the birds of the air there was none more powerful than Jattayu.35

The brothers lived together on a crag of the mountains called the Home of Snow, which stretch across the north-east boundary of India.36

They lived there because there was no higher spot in all the world that could be found for their home.37 And day after day Jattayu ranged the air, marshalling his bird-armies, or settling disputes, or swooping down on the things which he sought for food--for all the bird-people belonged to Jattayu, and owed him allegiance even with their lives, if so he should desire.38

And Jattayu was strong and took what he willed, without making excuse.39

And Jattayu was feared, even though there were those among the bird-people who could tell how Jattayu could be gentle to the weak.40

And of these was his brother Sanpati.41

When Jattayu ranged the air, he was a king; but when he flew back on strong outspread wing to his home in the snow mountains, he was only the big brother of Little-Eagle Sanpati.42

And together as children they shared the day’s meal, and together as children they talked of the wonders of the heavens.43 And always and always in their talk Little-Eagle Sanpati noticed one yearning in the big brother whom he loved and admired.44

“I want to get to the sun. Oh, as near as I can!” said Big-Brother Jattayu.45

And day after day Little-Eagle Sanpati kept wondering how this could be managed.46

And his love for Jattayu was so great that it found a way.47

“If one should fly between him and the sun to protect him,” he said, “it could be done.”48

So, one day he made the little-eagle heart of him very brave, and made Jattayu believe that he too was wanting to see the sun; but that he was afraid of falling back upon the earth in terror, when he got near the sun’s brilliance.49 So he begged Jattayu to fly just under him to protect him.50

And Jattayu consented; and they circled, Little-Eagle Sanpati and Big-Brother Jattayu, higher and higher, till they got so near to the sun that even Jattayu had had enough, and turned to fly back to the safe quiet nest in the white earth mountains, taking Little-Eagle Sanpati with him.51

“It is wonderful,” he kept saying, “that I got so near, and yet was not struck or burnt by the Sun-God and the fierceness of his rays.52 It is a tale of wonder for all the bird-people to hear.53 Well was it, Little-Eagle Sanpati, that I was there when you fell on my back in terror.”54

And in Little-Eagle Sanpati’s heart was a great gladness that Jattayu had had his desire.55 Nor did Jattayu, nor anyone in all the bird-world, know the reason why Little-Eagle Sanpati from that day forward remained the home-stay eagle who could not fly.56

It was because in protecting Big-Brother Jattayu whom he loved, from the rays of the sun, poor Little-Eagle Sanpati’s wings had all been scorched away.57

The Throne of Justice58

Long before time as we count it, there lived in India a great and just King whose name was Vikramaditya.59 When he died, his beautiful palace and city of marble fell into ruins: and people remembered nothing but his name, and that he was great and good, and wise and gentle.60

One day, some boys who were minding cows led them near a green mound among the ruins: and while the cows cropped the grass, the boys played.61

And one of them invented this game.62

“I shall be the Judge,” he said, “and you shall bring your quarrels to me.63 I will do justice.”64

So he sat on the mound; and the boys ran away and whispered, and made a tale of wrong, and brought it to the boy on the mound, who did justice.65

But the odd thing was, that the “justice” was such wisdom, that even through their play, the boys felt that something wonderful had happened to their playfellow.66

“He is a real Judge, not a play Judge,” was what they said.67

And they told their parents; and soon all the village got into the habit of coming to the boy on the mound to settle disputes.68 And everyone was always sure that his judgment was right.69

Now there lived close to the ruined city, a King great and powerful: and to his ears also came the story of the boy doing justice on the green mound.70 And the King laughed and said, “Why, he is sitting on the seat of Vikramaditya; that is why he is wise.”71

Then the King began to wish the throne for himself.72 And he sent men with pickaxes and shovels, who dug away the boy’s green mound.73 Deeper and deeper they went, till they came to a throne of black marble, resting on the backs of twenty-four beautiful carved eagles of marble.74 And the throne was taken to the palace of the King, and a great day of rejoicing was proclaimed, when the King would mount the throne.75

On the great day the King came in state, with his mace bearers, and the men who called his titles, and the men who carried the State jewels, and the men who fanned him with great fans made of the green-blue eyes of a peacock’s tail.76

But when the King would have mounted the throne, one of the carven eagles which bore the throne on its back, came alive and spoke to the King.77

“Stop!” he said.78 “Have you never wanted for yourself the kingdom of another?”79

And the King had to own that he had.80

“Then fast and pray for three days,” said the eagle, “and come back again.”81

And the eagle flew away.82

And after three days the King returned; but the second eagle stopped him.83

“Have you never”, he said, “done harm to another, to rob him of his riches?”84

And the King said, “Yes--often.”85

“Then fast and pray for three days,” said the eagle, “and come again.”86

And so each time that the King returned to mount the throne, an eagle spoke and showed some evil of his life, and the King went away sorrowful to his three days’ fasting.87

And last of all there was only one eagle left; and the King came walking slowly: “This time I must sit on the throne,” was his thought.88

But “Stop!” said likewise this eagle also, “unless you can tell me that your heart is as pure as the heart of a child.”89