The Story of the Gamarāla’s Son

In a certain country there is a Gamarāla; the Gamarāla had no wives. While he was thus, at one time (eka pārama) he brought seven wives; all the seven had no children. Again he brought yet a woman; that woman also had no children.

After that, when the man was going in order to escort the woman [on returning her to her parents], they met with a Sannyāsi. The Sannyāsi asked, “What is it? Where are you going?”

The man said, “I brought seven wives; all seven had no children. After that, I brought this woman. Because the woman also had no children I am going in order to escort her [to her parents again].”

Then the Sannyāsi says, “I will perform a protective spell (ārakshāwa) for children to be born, if you will give me the lad who is born first of all.” The Gamarāla promised, “I will give him.”

Afterwards the Gamarāla having come back, when a little time had gone she bore a boy. After the boy became somewhat big he planted a flower tree. The Gamarāla having told the Sannyāsi to come gave him the boy; the Sannyāsi having taken him went away. The lad says to the Gamarāla, “Should I die the flowers on the flower tree will fade.” Younger than this lad [the Gamarāla’s wife] bore yet a boy.

When the Sannyāsi was taking the lad he met with a man. This man said to the lad, “Lad, the Sannyāsi will give you a thread. Tie it to a tree, and having got out of the way remain [there].”

The Sannyāsi having gone with the lad near a hidden treasure, gave a thread into the boy’s hand, saying, “Remain holding this.” The lad tied the thread to a tree; having hidden himself he remained [there].

Thereupon the Sannyāsi said, “There (ān̥) he is, [at the end of the thread].” Then when the Yakā looked there was no one. Well then, the Yakā broke the Sannyāsi’s neck and drank his blood.

Afterwards the lad said, “What is the difficulty for you?”

Then the girl [said], “You must bring and give me the milk of the wild Elephant that is in the jungle; if not, I shall die.”

This lad said, “Anē! I came to take a little milk from the Elephant for medicine for me.”

The Elephant calves said, “If so, you remain hidden there; we will take and give it to you.”

In still a little time, again having said that she had an illness, she lay down. That lad asked, “What are you again lying down for?”

The girl says, “Bring the milk of the female Bear (walasdena) in the jungle. Should I drink it this illness of mine will be cured.”

Afterwards, this lad, having taken the coconut water-vessel, and gone to the jungle and gone near a Bear cub, said, “Anē! You must take and give to me a little Bear’s milk for medicine.”

Afterwards, the Bear cub having said, “If so, you remain hidden there until the time when I bring it,” took the coconut water-vessel, and having gone near the female Bear, drinks a little milk, and again pours a little into the coconut water-vessel. In that way having collected it, it brought and gave it to that lad. The lad brought the Bear’s milk home, and gave it to the woman to drink.

The girl having drunk it, in still a few days again lay down. The lad asked, “What are you again lying down for (budi)?”

Afterwards the lad, having taken the coconut water-vessel and gone, went near the young ones of the Giju-lihinī, and said, “Anē! I must take a little milk of the Giju-lihinī for medicine.”

Afterwards, those Giju-lihinī young ones having told the lad to remain hidden, in the very same manner as before brought and gave the milk. The lad brought and gave it to the girl to drink. The girl having drunk it said that the illness was cured.

Well then, these two persons have a boy (son). Still having said that she had illness, this girl lay down. The lad asked her [about it] in the same manner as before.

After the lad went into the jungle he met with the Yaksanī. Having met with her, the Yaksanī said, “We two must wrestle to-day; having wrestled, the fallen person (waeṭicci kenā) will lose.”

This lad said, “It is good,” and having wrestled the lad fell, and the Yaksanī killed the lad.

Then at that place [where he planted it] the flower also faded. Well then, the Gamarāla sent the other younger youth on horseback to look [for him]. When the youth was coming he met with the Yaksanī who killed that lad. Having met with her the youth said, “Give me (dila) my elder brother,” he asked.

The Yaksanī said, “I don’t know [about that].”

Then the youth [said], “Don’t say ‘No’; you must give him, quickly.”

The Yaksanī said, “Let you and me wrestle. Having wrestled, should you fall I shall not give him; should I fall I will give you your elder brother.” Both having agreed to it, they wrestled. Having wrestled, the Yaksanī lost.

Well then, that elder brother’s boy having said, “Father, there is no stopping here for us; let us go to another country,” the two started, and at the time when they were going they met with a tank.

The boy asked, “Father, how far (koccara taen) can you swim in this tank?”

The boy’s father said “Let us see,” and having swum a little space (ṭikak taen) being unable [to swim further] came back.

The boy said, “Father, if you cannot swim, clasping my hand let us go,” he said. The man was held by the boy’s hand.

Having gone there they arrived (eli-baessā) at the palace (vimānē) of a Rākshasa. When they went two Rākshasa lads were [there]. The Rākshasa and Rākshasī went to eat human flesh. The two Rākshasa lads said, “Anē! What have you come to this place for? Should our mother and father come they will eat you up (kālā damayi).”

Then these two having said, “Anē! Don’t say so; to-day you must somehow or other (kohomawat) save us and send us away,” those two Rākshasa lads hid them.

The Rākshasa and Rākshasī came. Having come there, “What is this smell of dead bodies?” they asked.

The Rākshasa lads [said], “Having come after eating men’s flesh, what do you say ‘smell of dead bodies’ for?”

Well then, the Rākshasī and Rākshasa swore, “We will not eat; son, tell us.”

At that place these two Rākshasa lads showed those two, father and son, to these two. Although this Rākshasī and Rākshasa could not bear not to eat those two, because they had sworn that day they were forbearing.

On the next day the two persons went away to another country. Having gone there they arrived near a tank. Both having descended at the bank, swam. When they were going to the middle of the tank both of them being soaked with the water died.

Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.