The Story of a Man who became a Serpent - Part One

A hunter was deep inside a forest. This time the hunter shot a bear when he was hunting.

The wounded bear ran from the hunter and entered a cavee.

Realizing that the wounded animal could not escape inside a cave, the hunter also entered the cave.

Strangely, inside the cave, the hunter could not find any bear.

The hunter tracked the bear and saw that the bear had walked further into the cave.

The cave itself seemed to slope further into the earth.

The hunter decided to finish his hunt and followed the bear’s tracks into the cave.

The hunter walked on and on, in this passage, but he found no bear.

Finally, there was light in front of him and the hunter was shocked because the light came from a beautiful garden.

The hunter looked around the garden with shock and awe. The garden had many trees the likes of which the hunter had never seen in his life.

The trees had many fruits and to the hunter, the fruits looked strange too.

Roaming around the garden, the hunter saw no one else in the garden.

There was no one to stop him, so the hunter plucked a few berries from around him and the hunter ate the berries.

The berries tasted good.

However the hunter suddenly felt strange, after eating the berries.

Adapted from Japanese Folklore

Chandasimha and Sattavasila - Part Five

 

The other city that the princess led Chandasimha and Sattavasila to, had trees that produced flowers and fruits for all the seasons, at the same time. The city itself was made of gold and jewels.

The princess led the king to the throne and told him her story. “I am the daughter of Kalanemi, the asura who was killed by Lord Vishnu.” The princess nodded at the king. “I have inherited these two cities from my father and these cities were designed by Vishwakarma, the divine architect.These cities can provide everything that a person wants.” The princess studied the king and took a deep breath. “I look upon you as my father now. And I am placing these two cities at your disposal.”

The king studied the princess and smiled. “You are my daughter now. So I give you as a wife to my friend and relation - Sattavasila.”

The princess happily agreed to this.

The king then turned to Sattavasila. “You had given me two amalaka fruits when I was in need. What I have done for you today is in return for one of the fruits that you have given me.”

Sattavasila bowed to the king but he was speechless.

The king then turned to the princess. “Now, this city belongs to you and Sattavasila. So lead me to my own city.”

The princess first gave the king a sword that would make the wielder invincible against anyone. The princess also gave the king a fruit which when eaten would prevent old age and death.

After that, the king went to the tank of water. He stepped into it and came out of his own city.

Sattavasila and the princess ruled the undersea kingdom and Chandasimha went back to him own kingdom and ruled that place.

Now that the story of Chandasimha and Sattavasila was complete, Vetala had a question for King Trivikramasena.

“Who among the two men was more brave? Chandasimha or Sattavasila?”

The king thought for some time. “Sattavasila.”

“Why?”

“Sattavasila did not know what to expect when he went to the undersea kingdom. But he went on. The king on the other hand knew exactly what to expect. That would mean Sattavasila was the braver one. The king never tried to charm the princess because he had realized that it would have never worked on the princess. But it is Sattavasila who is the braver of the two men.”

On receiving the right answer, Vetala flew back to the tree away from King Trivikramasena.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara

Chandasimha and Sattavasila - Part Four

 

Soon King Chandasimha and Sattvasila reached the undersea kingdom.

Chandasimha was stunned when he saw the temple of Goddess Durga in the undersea kingdom and sat down along with Sattavasila to admire the entire kingdom.

This time too, the princess and her attendants came to the temple. One look at the king and the princess realized that the king was royalty. She turned to her attendant. “Go to that distinguished man and request him to accept our hospitality. He is a great hero and we have to entertain him.”

The attendant went to the king and repeated everything.

The king was however unimpressed. “The temple and the garden around is sufficient entertainment for me. I do not need any other entertainment."

When the princess heard the words of the king, she realized that the king was unimpressed with her and she realized that she had to do something else to get the attention of the king. 

“I have another city, my king.” The princess told the king. “Come and see it.”

The king laughed as he waved at Sattavasila who was near him. “He has already told me about the tank of water that you use to deceive people.”

The princess was chagrined. “I have no intention of cheating you, my king. The kingdom that I speak of, is far too beautiful than this place.”

The king finally consented to go with the princess.

Sattavasila accompanied the king and the princess as she took the two men to the other city.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara

Chandasimha and Sattavasila - Part Three

Once Sattavasila plunged into the water of the tank and rose up from it, he was shocked. 

Sattavasila woke up in the garden of King Chandasimha in Tamralipti.

He was shocked and looked around. The city that he had seen under the water and the beautiful maiden had all disappeared.

Realizing that he had been fooled by the attendants of the maiden, Sattavasila roamed around the king’s garden like a madman.

The people working in the garden saw Sattavasila who looked like he was pining for the loss of someone and they immediately went and told the king all about it.

King Chandasimha was bewildered when he came to the garden. The man whom he had sent in a ship was in the garden near his palace. The king sat beside Sattavasila and asked him what had happened.

Sattavasila told the king all about his adventures.

The king immediately realized that Sattavasila had fallen in love with that maiden under the sea. The king realized that this was his opportunity to repay the debt to Sattavasila for the two amalaka fruits that Sattavasila had given him.

“Don’t be sad, Sattavasila.” The king told the other man. “Take me to the same place where this beautiful maiden lives.”

The next day, the king entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and along with Sattavasila, they set out on a journey by sea.

Sattavasila showed the exact spot where the banner had appeared. Today there was a flagstaff that had appeared there.

“I will dive into the sea towards the flagstaff, the king must follow me there.” Sattavasila told the king.

Both the men jumped into the sea after that.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara

Chandasimha and Sattavasila - Part Two

The other people in the ship were terrified.

Sattvasila pulled out his weapon and jumped into the sea to fight with whatever it was that was pulling the ship into the sea. Sattvasila did not know any details about the dangers of the sea, but he was determined to fight it out.

However, as soon as Sattavasila jumped into the sea, the wind blew the ship and the others in it far away and the ship and the others were eaten by sea monsters.

Sattvasila looked around the waters and that was when he saw a beautiful city that was under the waters.

The underwater city glittered with palaces made of gold, and there were pillars made of jewels and the gardens there had precious gems strewn around.

He also saw a temple of Goddess Durga there.

Sattvasila went towards the temple first and prayed there and looked around the city wondering what sort of enchantment this was.

That was when an extraordinarily beautiful girl came to the temple.

She was so beautiful that Sattvasila immediately fell in love with her.

Sattvasila sat beside the girl gazing at her with love in his eyes.

That was when the attendants of the girl came to the temple. The attendants realized that the girl also liked Sattvasila and went towards him. “You have come here as our guest. So enjoy our hospitality.”

Sattvasila rose up and towards a tank that had some water in it.

However, something very strange happened when Sattvasila went under the water.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara

Chandasimha and Sattvasila - Part One

 

This is one of the stories that Vetala, the goblin, narrated to King Trivikramasena. 

Once, there was a king called Chandasimha. A man called Sattvasila came to work for the king.

Once, the king went to hunt and Sattvasila accompanied him.

The king was very tired and there was no food to be found anywhere. Sattvasila had two ‘amalaka’ fruits tied in his garment. When Sattvasila saw the tired king, he gave the king the two fruits.

The king ate the two fruits and after this, Sattvasila led the king away from the forest back to his kingdom.

From that day, the king was very happy with Sattvasila and the king gave enormous riches to Sattvasila.

After that, Sattvasila became a bodyguard of the king.

Once, Chandasimha entrusted an important task to Sattvasila. The king sent Sattvasila to Lanka. The king wanted Sattvasila to talk to the king of Lanka and ask for the Lanka King’s daughter in marriage. Along with Sattvasila went a group of people from Chandasimha’s kingdom.

They all decided to go to Lanka by sea.

However Sattvasila’s adventures had started.

When the ship was halfway to Lanka, a huge banner suddenly emerged from the sea. The banner was made of gold and waved above the sea in various colours. Suddenly a gust of wind blew and huge clouds emerged in the skies and it began to rain.

The winds pushed the ship towards the banner and before anyone could move, the banner along with the ship sank into the sea.

Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Seven

Machi-Bugyo felt sorry for Bun-yemon’s wife. 

He ordered the clerk of the pawn-broker to come before him. Bun-yemon was also brought before him. 

Chobei heard that Bun-yemon had been arrested and he also appeared in court to help Bun-yemon.

Chobei explained in court about how he had given twenty-five gold rio to Bun-yemon.

After this Machi-Bugyo released Bun-yemon. The pawn-broker was sentenced to be put to death for giving false witness against an innocent man.

However, that was not all that Machi-Bugyo did. “Chobei, you have done a great debt of gratitude and your daughter has to be commended for being so obedient.” For this, Machi-Bugyo rewarded Chobei with a hundred yen.

After this, Iroku was returned to her parents.

Chohachi, Chobei’s friend, was rewarded for his kindness.

Soon, all this information reached Chobei’s old lord, from whom he had been removed from work.

Chobei was even restored to his work.

Chobei was called Shindo again.

Though Shindo was no longer called as the Waste Paper Man, there were still rumours about him, by the women of the streets that he roamed to and he was called as the man with the ‘coat of rags, heart of brocade’.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales