Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources)

by W. R. S. Ralston | 1906 | 134,175 words

This page related the story of “the five lovers” from those tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) found in the Kah-gyur (Kangyur or Kanjur). This represents part of the sacred Tibetan canon of Buddhist literature. Many of such stories correspond to similar legends found in the West, or even those found in Polynesia.

Chapter 23 - The five lovers

[Source: Kah-gyur, ix. ff. 67-69.]

A merchant had a wife with whom four of the city stipendiaries and their superior officer fell in love, and they all sent go-betweens to her. She listened to what they said, and appointed a time for a meeting. But when they asked where the meeting-place was to be, she directed them to a fig-tree which stood not far from the city, the head of which soared aloft towards the sky, the branches of which were widespread, and the foliage of which was thick. Up this tree they were to climb, and there to await her. She herself awaited an opportunity of going out of the house. But her husband became suspicious, beat her, and bound her to a pillar. She had told one of the four lovers that he was to climb on to a branch on the eastern side of the tree, and she would come by daybreak. He did so joyfully. The second one, likewise by her instruction, climbed on to a branch on the south side of the tree, the third mounted on the western side, and the fourth on the north side, and the superior officer clambered on to a branch in the middle of the tree. They spent the whole night on the tree in expectation, terrified by the wind, all by themselves. For the woman did not come although the day dawned. Then he who was waiting on the eastern branch uttered this verse: “The sun has risen, from the village comes the ploughman. The fig-tree must learn that the false do not come.”

He who was waiting on the southern branch said: “The woman who was to come is truly false. This sun full of splendour is now about to rise.”

He who was on the eastern side said: “Wilt thou come, excellent one? Being asked this, she replied, ‘Yes.’”

Then he who sat on the western branch uttered this verse: “As the sun has risen on the right hand, the ploughers go forth from the village. As I knew not the appointed time, I have not closed my eyes during the night.”

After a while he who sat on the northern branch said: “The wind has shaken me the whole night long. He who goes after strange women suffers thus and in other ways.”

Then said the superior officer: “If the wind has shaken you well, I shall not complain. The fig-tree, in nought to blame, complains that its branches are broken.”

The deity who dwelt in the tree, seeing that they were tricked, said: “You will complain, and the four others too. When the Vaiśākha month[1] comes, the tree which men have maimed recovers.”

Having given up their hopes with respect to the woman, the men came down from the tree and went homewards. But the woman had been released by her husband, and she betook herself secretly to that tree. When they saw her they asked her why she had deceived them. She told them the whole story. They said, “So you are now come to light!” As she reflected that she could not have to do with five men after the fashion of dogs, she said that she would yield herself to him among them who should bring her the most beautiful flowers. Now there was in the royal castle a keeper of the king’s lotuses, whose nose and ears had been cut off. To him they betook themselves. But they thought that they would certainly get nothing from him by way of purchase, though they might if they flattered him. So one of them said: “As the bulrush grows again after being cut, so mav your nose grow again. Give flowers to him who prays.”

The second said: “As the kuśa grass grows again after being mown, so mav vour nose "row again. Give lotuses to him who prays.”

The third said: “As the Dūrvā grass[2] and the Vīraṇa[3] grow again even when cut down, so may your nose grow again. Give flowers to him who prays.”

The fourth said: “As hair and beard, although shorn, vet grow again, so mav your nose grow again. Give flowers to him who prays.”

The fifth said: “The lotus-cravers have all talked nonsense to you. Whether you give lotuses, or do not give them, your nose will never grown again.”

The watchman said to himself: “Those four men have talked to me useless stuff. But the fifth has kept steadily to the truth. To him will I give the lotuses.”

So he gave him as many lotuses as he wanted. That man went joyfully with them to the woman, whose enjoyment now fell to his share.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

“The first of the twelve months constituting the Hindu solar year (answering to April-May).”

[2]:

“Bent grass, panic grass, commonly; Panicum Dactylon.”

[3]:

Andropogon muricatus.—S.

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