Story of Prāṇadhara

A carpenter of Purāṇic fame.

There were two celebrated carpenters in the country of Kāñcī named Prāṇadhara and Rājyadhara when King Bāhubala was ruling that country. They learnt many mechanical arts in carpentry and architecture from the great architect, Mayāsura. Prāṇadhara, the elder brother, became an addict to wine and women and gambling and lost all his wealth. Rājyadhara gave a portion of his wealth to his brother and before long both became poor. Then Prāṇadhara found out a plan and they both together made a mechanical bird and tying a rope to its legs sent it into the treasure-house of the King through a window. The bird picked up diamonds or ornaments which it could carry in its beak and came back to them. This continued daily for some days and then Rājyadhara advised his brother to stop it acquainting him with the dangers if it was ever found out. But Prāṇadhara did not heed the advice and continued the theft. When the keeper of the treasury found things missing he was worried. He mused: "Doors are not open. Can it be rats? No, there has never been a single rat here before. Then how did it happen?" Thinking thus he went and reported the matter to the king. The King was confident of the keeper. Soon he put guards over the treasure-house to keep watch over it at night. Little knowing that he was being watched Prāṇadhara put his bird into action that night also. The watchmen caught hold of the rope as soon as the bird came out with the booty from the treasure-house. Prāṇadhara knew that the trick had been found out and he rushed to his brother and told him what had happened. Immediately Prāṇadhara made a Vimāna and escaped from the place with his family. Rājyadhara also made a Vimāna and escaped. When he had travelled in the Vimāna for four hundred Kātas (Kāta=four miles) he reached a sea-shore and then leaving the Vimāna there started walking. On the way getting tired he slept inside a garden. When he woke up, a man on a peacock came to his side and said "You live here. When you are hungry and feel like taking food go to the second floor of this house and you will find there whatever you want." The visitor disappeared and he found a house in front of him. When he had finished his daily ablutions he went inside the house which was empty. But when he went up he saw ample food in gold vessels arranged there. He never heard about his brother again. (Taraṅga 9, Ratnaprabhālambaka, Kathāsaritsāgara).