Gomukha

“ Now, once on a time the prince, with his ministers, and accompanied by his beloved, went on a pilgrimage to a garden called Nágavana. There a certain merchant's wife fell in love with Gomukha, and being repulsed, tried to kill him by offering to him a poisoned drink. But Gomukha came to hear of it from the lips of her confidante, and did not take that drink, but broke out into the following denunciation of women: "Alas! the Creator first created recklessness, and then women in imitation of it; by nature nothing is too bad for them to do. ”

“ And in the meanwhile Gomukha came, riding on the chariot, with the charioteer, and that Bráhman Pralambabáhu. Then, being questioned by his father, Naraváhanadatta related in the presence of all his ministers his very wonderful adventures. And all said—“God grants to that virtuous man, whom he wishes to favour, association with good friends.” When all said this, the king was pleased, and ordered a festival for his son on account of the favour which Vishṇu had shewed towards him. ”

“ And in due course he arrived with Gomukha near the king's palace, and saw that all the horses and elephants there were of the same material; and with his minister he entered, full of wonder, that palace, which was resplendent with seven ranges of golden buildings. There he saw a majestic man sitting on a jewelled throne, surrounded by warders and women, who were also wooden automata, the only living being there, who produced motion in those dull material things, like the soul presiding over the senses. ”

“ When the minister Gomukha had told this tale, he again said to Naraváhanadatta, summing up the subject—“Thus, king, do sovereigns, by their merit in a previous life, sometimes fall in with exceptionally heroic servants, who, in their nobility of soul, abandoning regard for their lives and all other possessions for the sake of their master, conquer completely the two worlds. And Pralambabáhu, this lately arrived heroic Bráhman servant of yours, my king, is seen to be such, of settled virtue and character, a man in whom the quality of goodness is ever on the increase.” ”

“ With these words Gomukha took leave of him, and going back informed Naraváhanadatta that he bad gained his object without any solicitation.
And the next day Váyupatha came in person and requested the favour, and the sagacious Gomukha said to the king, " My prince, you must not refuse the request of Váyupatha; he is your faithful ally; your majesty should do whatever he asks." Then the king consented to do it; and Váyupatha himself brought his younger sister, and bestowed her on the emperor against her will. ”

“ And everybody there laughed, when they saw him with his head covered with blood, looking like the diadem with which he had been crowned king of fools.
“Thus you see, prince, that foolish persons become the objects of ridicule in the world, and do not succeed in their objects; but wise persons are honoured.”
When Naraváhanadatta had heard from Gomukha these elegant and amusing anecdotes, he rose up and performed his day’s duties. And when [48] night came on, the prince was anxious to hear some more stories, and at his request, Gomukha told this story about wise creatures. ”

“ So the boastful fashion of promising to accomplish impossibilities only makes a man ridiculous. Therefore a discreet person should not walk in these ways of fools." When the wise prince Naraváhanadatta had heard, at night, these tales of fools from his auspicious-mouthed minister, named Gomukha, he was exceedingly pleased with him.
And though he was pining for Śaktiyaśas, yet, owing to the pleasure he derived from the stories that Gomukha told him, he was enabled to get to sleep, when he went to bed, and slept surrounded by his ministers who had grown up with him. ”

“ After the king had said this, he gave the dependent those jewels, and also villages, elephants, horses and gold, and made him a feudal chief. And he rose up from that assembly, in which the people applauded, and went to bathe; and that dependent too, having obtained his ends, went to his own dwelling.
So true is it that, until a servant’s guilt is effaced, he cannot obtain the favour of his master; even by going through hundreds of hardships.
When Gomukha the prime-minister had told this tale, he again said to his master Naraváhanadatta ”

“ The truth is, Destiny takes trouble to provide the fortunate with the means of obtaining prosperous success.” Then all respectfully commended Gomukha for his devotion to his lord. And they praised queen Ratnaprabhá, who by her knowledge protected her lord on his journey, for she produced general satisfaction by acting like a woman devoted to her husband. Then Naraváhanadatta, having made his party of air-travellers forget the fatigues of their journey, entered his palace with his father, and mother, his wives and other relations. ”

“ And Gomukha, who saw into his master’s heart, and wished to bring about his long stay there, used to tell various tales to Kalingasená. The king was delighted by his friend’s penetrating his intentions, for seeing into one’s lord’s soul is the surest way of winning him. And Naraváhanadatta himself perfected Madanamanchuká in dancing and other accomplishments, giving her lessons in a concert-hall that stood in the garden, and while his beloved danced, he played on all instruments so as to put to the blush the most skilful minstrels. ”

“ When he said this, all the ministers laughed at him, and Naraváhanadatta said to the minister Marubhúti: “What are you thinking about, you fool? Your intentions are not over-creditable. Rise up, give him the hundred dínárs without delay.” When Marubhúti heard this speech of his sovereign’s, he was ashamed, and immediately brought that hundred dínárs and gave it to him. Then Gomukha said—“Marubhúti is not to be blamed, because the works of the Creator’s hand have varying moods of mind. Have you not heard the story of king Chiradátṛi, and his servant named Prasanga?” ”

“ Then he told the king his whole stratagem. But it was with difficulty that the king could be induced to take half the money. Then he gave him the post of a Cabinet Minister, and the rogue, having obtained riches and position, kept complimenting the people with entertainments.
“Thus a wise man obtains great wealth without committing a very great crime, and when he has gained the advantage, he atones for his fault in the same way as a man who digs a well.” Then Gomukha went on to say to the prince; “Listen now to this one story, though you are excited about your approaching marriage.” ”

“ When Gomukha heard this, he said—“Marubhúti speaks well, but you, king, are not the least in fault in this matter; for until a suitor’s guilt, which stands in his way, is removed, a king, even though disposed to give, cannot give; but when a man’s guilt is effaced, a king gives, though strenuously dissuaded from doing so; this depends upon works in a previous state of existence. And à propos of this, I will tell you, O king, the story of Lakshadatta the king, and Labdhadatta the dependent ”

“ When the intoxicated Marubhúti heard this, he said to him in his anger, “This should be said to me by the prince or some superior. But, tell me, who are you that you take upon you to instruct me, you son of Ityaka?” When [370] he said this, Gomukha replied to him smiling, “Do princes reprove with their own mouths an ill-behaved servant? Undoubtedly their attendants must remind him of what is proper. And it is true that I am the son of Ityaka, but you are an ox of ministers,1 your sluggishness alone would show it; the only fault is that you have no horns.” ”

“ When Gomukha heard that, he said, “The Vidyádharas found out that the prince was to be their future lord, from a speech in the air, by which the future birth of the prince was made known to the king in private, and they immediately desired to do him a mischief. What self-willed one would desire a mighty lord as his ruler and restrainer? For which reason [315] Śiva has made arrangements to ensure the safety of this prince, by commissioning his attendants to wait on him in actual presence. I heard this speech of Nárada’s being related by my father. ”

“ Immediately he and the elephant-driver fell into the river and were drowned, for association with fools brings prosperity to no man. After Gomukha had told this story, he went on to tell that of Hiranyáksha. ”

“ When the boy said this, the dead man’s relations knew that Devadása had been killed by his wife’s paramour, and they searched him out, and put him to death then and there, and they adopted that boy and banished Duḥśílá.
“So you see, a woman, whose heart is fixed on another man, infallibly kills like the snake.” When Hariśikha said this, Gomukha said again—“Why should we tell any out-of-the-way story? Listen to the ridiculous fate that befell Vajrasára here, the servant of the king of Vatsa.” ”

“ For we are all of us devoted to him, and it is by his favour that we possess rule over those mountains of ours, and prosperity accompanied with supernatural [526] power. So come, we will shew you the lord Hari in Śvetadvípa; we will carry you through the air, friend, if you approve.” When those sons of gods said this, Naraváhanadatta consented, and leaving Gomukha and the others in that place, where they could obtain water, fruits and so on, he went with them to Śvetadvípa through the air, for Devasiddhi, one of the four brothers, carried him in his lap. ”

“ And was not Muktáphalaketu, emperor of the Vidyádharas, reunited to Padmávatí, after he had been separated from her? And now listen, king; I will tell you the story of that couple.’ When Gomukha had said this, he told me the following tale.”
[Contents]
Story of king Brahmadatta and the Swans.3
There is in this country a city famous over the earth by the name of Váráṇasí, which, like the body of Śiva, is adorned with the Ganges, and bestows emancipation. With the flags on its temples swayed up and down by the wind, it seems to be ever saying to men “Come hither, and attain salvation.” ”

“ Then the excellent ministers brought to the infant prince their infant sons, who delighted the heart of the king, and commended them to him. First Yaugandharáyaṇa brought Marubhúti, and then Rumaṇvat Hariśikha, and then the head-warder named Ityaka brought Gomukha, and Vasantaka his son named Tapantaka. And the domestic chaplain Śántikara presented the two twin sons of Pingaliká, his nephews Śántisoma and Vaiśvánara. ”

“ But Dhavalamukha induced him to return home, saying that the king’s ministers had pacified his resentment. And he said to his wife: “This, my dear, is the difference between those two friends of mine.” And she was quite satisfied.
“So you see that a friend, that shews his friendship by ceremonious entertainment only, is a different thing from a real friend; though oil and ghee both possess the property of oiliness,28 oil is oil, and ghee is ghee.” When Gomukha had told this story, he continued his tales of fools for the benefit of Naraváhanadatta. ”

“ And the king of Vatsa honoured that warder of her father’s, giving him many crores of gold-pieces, garments and lumps of camphor, which had been brought in the chariot. And the king then honoured Práṇadhara as the benefactor of his son Naraváhanadatta, who had pointed him out as the maker of the chariot. And then the king honoured Gomukha, and asked him joyfully, “How did you obtain this princess? ”

“ When the noble-minded prince Naraváhanadatta heard this from his minister, the mighty-minded Gomukha, he felt unsurpassed satisfaction in his heart.
1 The word in the original is kárpaṭika. Böhtlingk and Roth explain it in this passage as “ein im Dienste eines Fürsten stehender Bettler.” It appears from Taranga 81, that a poor man became a kárpaṭika by tearing a karpaṭa, a ragged garment, in a king’s presence. The business of a kárpaṭika seems to have been to do service without getting anything for it. ”

“ By these words she comforted the king of Vatsa and his retinue. And she despatched [381] another science to wait on her husband during his journey, and dispel his fatigue; for good women who desire their husband’s happiness do not account of jealousy.
In the meanwhile Naraváhanadatta performed a long journey on horseback in that forest, accompanied by Gomukha. Then a maiden suddenly came up to him in his path and said to him, “I am a science sent by Ratnaprabhá, named Máyávatí, I will guard you on the path without being seen, so proceed now without fear.” ”