Bhallāṭiya Jātaka

Once upon a time, a King named Bhallāṭiya reigned in Benares. Overcome with a desire to eat venison broiled on charcoal, he gave an order to his courtiers. He armed himself with the five weapons, and with a well-trained pack of clever pedigree hounds, he left the city and went to the Himalaya Mountains. He travelled along the Ganges until he could get no higher. Then he followed a tributary stream for some distance. There he killed a deer and pig, eating the flesh broiled. Then he continued until he had climbed to a great height. There, when the pleasant stream ran full, the water was breast high. But at other times, it was no more than knee deep. At that time there were fish and tortoises of all sorts. There was sand at the water’s edge like silver. There were trees on both banks bending beneath a load of flowers and fruit. Many birds and bees who were well drunken with the juice of fruit and the honey of flowers flitted about in the shade. Deer herds of all manner visited there.

Now on the bank of this beautiful mountain stream, two fairies fondly embraced and kissed one another, then they fell weeping and wailing most pitifully.

As the King climbed Mount Gandhamādana by way of this riverbank, he saw these two fairies. “What can they be weeping about?” he thought. “I will ask them.” He glanced at his hounds, and with a snap of his fingers, the thoroughbred dogs—that knew their work well—crept into the underwood and crouched down on their bellies. As soon as he saw they were out of the way, he laid down his bow, quiver, and other weapons by a tree, and without letting his footsteps be heard, he crept gently up to the fairies and asked them, “Why do you weep?”

To explain this, the Master repeated three stanzas:

“Was a King Bhallāṭiyo

And out a-hunting he would go,

Climbs the Fragrant Mount, and finds it

Full of sprites and flowers that blow.

“Straight he quiets every hound,

Lays bow and quiver on the ground,

Forward steps, to ask a question

Where a pair of fays were found.

“Winter’s gone, then why return

To talk and talk beside the burn?

O you human-seeming creatures,

What men call you I would learn.”

To the King’s question, the male fairy said nothing. But his mate answered as follows:

“Malla, Three-peak, Yellow Hill

We traverse, following each cool rill.

Human-like the wild things deem us,

Huntsmen call us goblins still.”

Then the King recited three stanzas:

“Though like lovers you caress

You weep as full of deep distress.

O you human-seeming creatures,

Why this weeping? come, confess!

“Though like lovers you caress

You weep as full of deep distress.

O you human-seeming creatures,

Why this sorrowing? Come, confess!

“Though like lovers you caress

You weep as full of deep distress.

O you human-seeming creatures,

Why this mourning? Come, confess!”

The stanzas which follow were said by each in course of address and answer:

“We apart one night had lain,

Both loveless, full of bitter pain,

Thinking each of each, but never

Will that night come back again.”

“Why then spend that night alone

Which cost you many a sigh and groan,

O you human-seeing creatures—

Money lost? A father gone?”

“Shaded thick the river flows

Between the rock, a storm arose.

Then with anxious care to find me

Right across my loved one goes.

“All the while with busy feet

I gathered thyme and meadowsweet,

All to make my love a garland

And myself, when we should meet.

“Clustering harebell, violet blue,

And white narcissus fresh with dew,

All to make my love a garland

And myself, when we should meet.

“Then I plucked a bunch of rose,

That is the fairest flower that grows,

All to make my love a garland

And myself, when we should meet.

“Flowers next and leaves I found,

And strewed them thickly on the ground,

Where the livelong night together

We might slumber soft and sound.

“Sandal and sweet woods anon

I pounded small upon a stone,

Perfume for my love’s limbs making,

Sweetest perfume for my own.

“By the river flowing fast

I gathered lilies to the last,

Evening came—the river swelling

Made it hopeless to get past.

“There we stood on either shore,

Each on other gazing o’er.

How we laughed and cried together!

Ah! that night we suffered sore.

“Morning came, the sun was high

And soon we saw the river dry.

Then we crossed, and close embracing

Both at once we laugh and cry.

“Seven hundred years but three

Since we were parted, I and he.

When two loving hearts are severed

Seems a whole long life to be.”

“What the limit of your years?

If this by rumor old appears.

Or the teaching of the elders,

Tell it me, and have no fears.”

“A thousand summers, strong and hale,

Never deadly pains assail,

Little sorrow, bliss abundant,

To the end love’s joys prevail.”

The King thought as he listened, “These creatures, who are less than human, go weeping for 700 years for one night’s parting, and here I am, lord of a realm of 300 leagues, leaving all my magnificence and wandering about the forest. It is a great mistake.” He returned immediately. Arriving at Benares, the courtiers asked him whether he had seen any marvelous things in the Himalayas. He told them the whole story, and from then on, he gave alms and enjoyed his wealth.