Preface to volume 4

AS I mentioned in the Introduction to Volume I, the Ocean of Story is divided into one hundred and twenty-four chapters, called taraṅgas, “waves” or “billows”; while Brockhaus, following Somadeva’s metaphoric nomenclature, made a further and independent division into eighteen Books, which he called lambakas, “surges” or “swells.”

Following Brockhaus’ text, Tawney issued his translation in two volumes, each containing nine Books. This volume takes us to the end of Book IX and, with the three previous volumes, corresponds to Tawney’s first volume. Books X-XVIII, however, contain much more matter than the first nine Books, owing to the inclusion of such large cycles of stories as the Pañcatantra (which will appear in my next volume) and the Vetāla-Pañcaviṃśati. These Books will probably occupy five more volumes of the present edition, but I hope to be able to reserve Volume X for the accumulated indexes, etc.

The first hundred and twenty-one pages of the present volume are taken up with the “Story of Sūryaprabha and how he attained Sovereignty over the Vidyādharas,” which, with its few sub-stories, constitutes Book VIII. It is much the longest tale we have had so far, although it is certainly not the most interesting. In fact, like the longest tale in the Nights— “King Omar Bin Al-Nu’uman”—it “has its longueurs and at times is longsome enough,” dealing at first with somewhat wearisome accounts of how the hero abducted each of his brides and subsequently had to appease their angry and indignant fathers. Even when the actual fighting begins, we have a long drawn-out series of single combats, which are, however, relieved in places by some fine descriptions of battle scenes, reminding us of similar ones in the tale from the Nights mentioned above.

There are also occasional passages of a lighter vein, which come as a welcome contrast. Such, for instance, is the conversation between Sūryaprabha’s wives on a night when their husband is too worried about the slaughter of his men to join them. They proceed to discuss the various qualities of beautiful women of different lands, for, as Somadeva says (D. text):

“... there is no occasion on which women would not talk of the chronique scandaleuse of their town”

(see pp. 73, 74).

The only sub-story of any length is No. 62 d, “King Mahasena and his Virtuous Minister Guṇaṣarman,” which introduces the “Quintessence” and “Scorned Love of Women” motifs.

Book IX contains several good stories, such as

• No. 68, “Anaṅgarati and her Four Suitors”;
• No. 69, “King Lakṣadatta and his Dependent Labdhadatta,” illustrating the doctrine of karma, or inevitable destiny;
• and No. 74, “King Kanakavarṣa and Madanasundarī.”

The last tale in the Book, however, is the most important, for it contains one of the best-known stories in India, that of Nala and Damayantī. It is taken from the Mahābhārata, but has been considerably abbreviated by Somadeva. As several of the most beautiful parts have been omitted, I have given them in Appendix II, using H. H. Milman’s translation.

It is a matter of much gratification that Dr Thomas so kindly consented to write the Foreword to the present volume; for, apart from the advantages derived from the pen of so ripe a scholar, there is a further interest in the fact that Dr Thomas succeeded Mr Tawney as Librarian at the India Office.

Once again I have to thank Dr Barnett for his continued proof-reading and constant advice on numerous points.

Both Mr Fenton and Mr Marshall have been through the proofs from the general point of view, so that mistakes should now be reduced to a minimum.

N. M. P.

St John’s Wood,
3rd July 1925.