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

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Six

Bun-yemon scolded his wife. “He is a poor waste-paper basket man. I cannot take this money. You have to give the money back to him.”

His wife shook her head. “I do not know where he lives. How can I give it to him?”

At that time the wife had an idea. “You have pawned your sword. Take this money that Chobei has given you and redeem your sword. Then we can sell the sword for more money. We can pay Chobei back and have some money left over as well.”

Bun-yemon did not agree to this at first.

But eventually he agreed to this.

Bun-yemon however was in trouble.

The pawn-broker to whom Bun-yemon had pledged his sword wanted to take the sword for himself. He was sure that Bun-yemon could not repay the money and that thereafter he would own the sword.

However, the pawn-broker was shocked when Bun-yemon came with the money.

The pawn-broker became very angry and he accused Bun-yemon of stealing the money.

The officers came and took Bun-yemon to prison.

However, Bun-yemon’s wife was determined to free her husband. 

The only way Bun-yemon’s wife could get her husband to be free was if she talked to Machi-Bugyo who was the most righteous judge of all.

Bun-yemon’s wife was patient and she saw that there was a fire near the neighbourhood of Machi-Bugyo.

When all the other officers were busy with the fire and did not notice her and the people were excited watching the fire, Bun-yemon’s wife caught the bridle of Machi-Bugyo’s horse. 

“They have taken my husband away unjustly. You are the only one who can save him.”

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Five

 

Chobei was shocked when he found that the beggar was none other than the ronin who had come to his help - Bun-yemon.

Chobei took the man to his home.

After that, Chobei spoke with his wife Tsuiu. “If it had not been for this ronin, we would have died all those years ago.”

Tsuiu said nothing as Chobei continued. “Now that Bun-yemon is in trouble, it is our duty to help him.”

“We have to give him at least twenty-five gold rio.” Chobei announced.

“That is a fortune! How can we get that much money?” Tsuiu cried.

“We have to sell our daughter.” Chobei was sorrowful but firm.

Tsuiu wept bitterly.

Finally both of them agreed that this was the only way.

Chobei and Tsuiu went and told their daughter Iroka everything.

Iroka accepted it. “It is an honour for me to become a geisha for the debt of my parents.”

So Chobei and Tsuiu sold the beautiful Iroka and got twenty-five gold rio for her.

Chobei took the money and gave it to Bun-yemon.

Bun-yemon flatly refused to take the money.

Chobei pretended to take the money back, but he left the money in a box and left.

After Chobei had left, Bun-yemon’s wife found the money.

Bun-yemon was very angry because his wife had not been observant and that was the reason that Chobei had left the money here.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Four

 

To practice hearing the sound of his own voice, Chobei shouted ‘Waste paper’ all day. 

The boys laughed at him and thought that Chobei was mad and threw stones at home.

Chobei went home that day and he was discouraged.

Chohachi laughed when he heard what had happened. “Chobei, rich people do not sell waste papers. Talk to women and flatter them and then suggest to them that they may have papers to sell.”

So Chobei tried again. He went to the poorer streets.

The women here worked and the old women were talking and children played around the pavement.

Chobei smiled and bowed at the women. “May the Sun Goddess smile upon you. I am very pleased to meet you.” Chobei spoke well and finally studied the women. “Do you have any waste paper to sell?”

The women were thrilled to hear his words. They searched hard in their house for waste paper and gave it to him.

He came to be called as Knightly Waste-Paper Man and soon Chobei came to have good trade.

Chohachi helped him spend the money carefully.

By this time, Chobei and O Tsuis San had a daughter. 

Chobei made good money and took good care of his family.

This went on for some time.

The Knightly Waste-Paper Man was calling out in the streets and there Chobei saw a man who fell down the road.

The others thought the man was a beggar.

But Chobei felt sorry for the man and helped him.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Three

At Chohachi’s place, O Tsuis San recovered from her fatigue and Shindo’s wound also healed.

Then Chahachi told Shindo something important. “You are always welcome at my home, but my rice pot is enough to feed four people.” Chohachi studied Shindo. “Do you have any skills that can make the pot boil?”

Shindo sadly shook his head. “I have no skills.”

Chohachi was worried. “Can you teach men to fence?”

Shindo shook his head. “I have no skill as a swordsman.”

“Can you teach writing?”

Shindo shook his head again.

Chohachi wondered what task he could give the man before him that would earn money. The task had to be easy and something that the man could do easily. 

Finally, Chohachi figured it out. He wanted Shindo to be a Waste-Paper man. It was such an easy job that even a simpleton could do it.

Chohachi called Shindo as Chobei because Shindo did not seem the right name for a waste-paper man. After that, Chohachi purchased a pole of bamboo with baskets at both ends and gave it to Chobei.

Chobei went the next day to start his work.

However, the first day, Chobei lost his way. It was so bad that Chobei had to pay a man to guide him to the tradesman’s home.

He brought no waste-paper and Chohachi scolded him. “You have to call out. If you walk silently, how will anyone know what you want?”

Chobei anxiously listened to the words of the tradesman because he did not want to depend on the trader all the time. Moreso Chobei was worried because O Tsuiu San was at home trying her hand at embroidery to earn some coins.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales