The Story of Bahu-Bhūtayā
Reading edition
In a certain city a woman had become dexterous at dancing. It became public everywhere that there was not a single person in the whole of Great Dam̆badiva (India) to dance with (i.e., equal to) the woman.
While Bahu-Bhūtayā, having gone, and looked and looked, was there, she began to dance, having sung and sung poetical songs, and beaten and beaten cymbals. The woman says,
“The savages that are to Lan̥kā bound!
When, in singing it, she had made it about Lan̥kāwa (Ceylon), when she [thought she] had made no opportunity (iḍak) for any other dancing person who might be present [to surpass her], having sung the poetical song she danced.
At that time Bahu-Bhūtayā, after having decorated himself with [dancer’s] dress, taking the uḍakkiya (the small hand tom-tom), and asking permission from all (according to the usual custom), sang a song (a parody of the other). The very song indeed [was]:—
“Alas! Alas! Daub oil my head around;
Or, if you won’t,
(Anē! Anē! Mage isa waṭa tel gāpan̥
Having sung the song, Bahu-Bhūtayā descended to dance.
Because the Danḍapola Kōrāla previously taught Bahu-Bhūtayā that same song, and because the same teacher had given his sworn word [not to teach it to another person], the woman was unable to dance the same song. After having made obeisance to Bahu-Bhūtayā, she says, “You, Sir, must give me teaching,” the woman said to Bahu-Bhūtayā.
After that, Bahu-Bhūtayā, marrying that very woman, began to teach her. After he had taught her, one day the woman thinks, “I must kill this Bahu-Bhūtayā,” she thought. “What of my being married to this Bahu-Bhūtayā! From dancing I have no advantage; he himself receives the things. Because of it I will kill him,” she thought.
One day, lying down in the house, saying, “I have a very severe (lit., difficult) illness,” the woman remained lying down. Bahu-Bhūtayā having gone for a work, when he came back saw that she is lying down. Having seen it, he says, “What is it? What illness have you?” he asked.
The woman, in order to kill the man, says, “Now then, I shall not recover; I have much illness,” she said.
Thereupon Bahu-Bhūtayā, because the woman was good-[looking], thinks, “What medical treatment shall I give for this?” he thought.
After that, the woman says, “If you are to cure my illness, having brought a little water which is at the bottom of the Great Sea beyond the Seventh Ocean, should I drink it (bunnot) my illness will be cured,” she said.
After that, Bahu-Bhūtayā began to go. Having gone on and on he went on the Great Ocean. Through affection for his wife, because she was very handsome, he jumped [into it] to get the water from the bottom of the ocean. After he jumped [into it], the fishes having bitten him and the water having soaked him, he died.
Beginning from that time, this woman, having associated with another husband also, when dancing brought back presents. After a long time, that very woman also, through the crime committed respecting her first husband, fell into the water and died.
From that time, the persons who saw these [things said] they are in the form of a folk-tale.
Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.