Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

SR No.: 016059
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 288
Language: English
Classification: Dictionary & Dictionary
File Size: 15 MB

Page 197

171
service, to kill this boy secretly; and when he is slain, you must bring me a token of it.' The Chaņdála agreed, and took Dámannaka a long way off from the city. The Chandála reflected in his mind : 'What crime can this poor wretch have committed, that Ságarapota tries to have him killed ? So I will assuredly not kill him; my hands will not move for the purpose.' Then he drew his knife, that resembled the tongue of Yama, and cut off his little finger, and said to the child : 'If you remain in this city, I will kill you; if you leave the city and go elsewhere, I will let you off.' He wept, and said: 'I will do as you say.' So the Chandála spared him and went home. He showed the piece of his finger to Ságarapota, who was delighted.* Dámannaka, while roaming about in the wood, was seen by Ságarapota’s herdsman, who asked him, “Who are you ?' He said: 'I am a son of a merchant, and my whole family has perished.' Then the herdsman took him to his house, and made him over to his wife, and said: “The goddess of our clan has given this son to you, who have no son.' The wife of the herdsman was delighted. Owing to his modesty and other virtues, he became much beloved by the two women.f Then Dámannaka, growing up in that cattlefarm, reached adolescence. One day the merchant Ságarapota came to inspect the cattle-farm. He saw Dámannaka there, and asked : 'Who is this boy?' He said: 'He was roaming about alone in this wood without a master, so I adopted him as my son. The merchant, seeing that his little finger was cut off, came to the conclusion that he was Dámannaka; then he said to himself : Can the speech of the hermit, that this boy is to be the lord of my external wealth, be falsified ? Nevertheless, I must not cease to strive manfully.' Having thus reflected, Ságarapota said : Come, herdsman, I must go home.' He said : You have
* The order to kill a person, and bring back some part of the body as a token or voucher, is very common in European stories. In Gonzenbach's third story the old queen orders the cook to kill Maruzzedda's three children, and to bring their liver and heart. (Gonzenbach, Sicilianische Märchen,' p. 13.)
+ There appears to be some omission here.