Chapter 20 - The Magicians Pupil

[Source: Kah-gyur, iv. f. 171.]

In long past times, King Brahmadatta lived in Vārāṇasī. There also a Caṇḍāla^[1] lived, who was versed in spells and magic lore, and who, employing the Gāndhāra-Mantra, was wont to obtain by spells from the Gandhamādana mountain^[2] such fruits and flowers as were not in season, and to present them to king Brahmadatta. The King who was highly pleased thereby, made him presents. Now there was a Brahman youth who longed after a knowledge of spells. And in his search after them, in accordance with what he heard spoken thereof, he came from his own country to Vārāṇasī. After he had recovered from the fatigues of his journey, he betook himself to the Brahman who was versed in spells and magic lore. And when he came before him, he said—

“I wish to serve the Paṇḍit.”

“Why?”

“For the sake of learning magic.”

The Caṇḍāla replied in verse, “Magic lore is communicated to no man. It dies with its possessor. Or it is vouchsafed to him who has knowledge and means and renders service.”

The youth said, “O Paṇḍit, if such is the case, and I have to render service, I ask for how long a time must that be.”

“When you have served twelve years,” was the reply, “it will be seen whether I shall communicate it to you or not.”

As the youth had a great craving after magic lore, he agreed to this, and after he had with the greatest joy testified his respect, he entered upon his service.

It happened once that the Caṇḍāla came home drunk, and the Brahman youth said to himself, “As the master has drunk so much more than is befitting, I will lie down to sleep beside him.” The Caṇḍāla took to tossing about on his bed, and as he did so one side of the bed gave way. The noise this made awoke the Brahman youth, who said to himself: “As the master is so restless in his sleep, I will support the bed with my back.” Accordingly he propped up the bed with his back, and patiently held out all night [in spite of much discomfort,]^[3] thinking that if he moved his body, or uttered a word, the teacher would hear the noise he made, and would awake, and be unable to go to sleep again.

When the Caṇḍāla awoke of his own accord, and saw the youth, he asked who was there. The youth replied, “O teacher, it is I, the companion of your fortunes,” and he told him all that had occurred. The Caṇḍāla was greatly delighted, and said, “O son, as I am exceedingly pleased, I will teach you the art of magic.”

As Brahmans are of a conceited nature, the youth could not restrain himself, but must needs immediately make a trial of his magic art on the spot, and then depart. So he employed his magic power, and soared into the sky. When he came to Gandhamādana, he there plucked fruits and flowers which were out of season on earth, and gave them to the king’s purohita, who gave them to King Brahmadatra. The king asked where he had got them. The purohita replied—

“There is a Brahman youth here from a distant country. He it is who gave them to me. As he is extremely well versed in spells and magic lore, and as the Brahman is of a better nature than the Caṇḍāla, who is despised by the whole world, the question arises of what is to be done with the Caṇḍāla. Be pleased to take away his employment from the Caṇḍāla, and to confer it upon the Brahman youth.”

The king replied, “Do so.” Accordingly the Caṇḍāla was deprived of his employment by the purohita, who conferred it upon the Brahman youth. But in consequence of the youth’s ingratitude his magic power deserted him.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Caṇḍāla, “the generic name for a man of the lowest and most despised of the mixed tribes, born from Śūdra father and Brāhman mother.”

[2]:

Gandhamādana, “intoxicating with fragrance.... Name of a particular mountain, forming the division between Ilā-vrita and Bhadrāśva, or to the east of Meru, renowned for its fragrant forests.”

[3]:

This passage has been slightly modified.