The Way the Rakshasi Died

THE WAY THE RAKSHASI DIED In a certain city there is a Rakshasi, it is said. The Rakshasi seizing each man who is going along, eats him. While a Brahmana was…

THE WAY THE RAKSHASI DIED

In a certain city there is a Rakshasi, it is said. The Rakshasi seizing each man who is going along, eats him. While a Brahmana was going along, she seized the Brahmana, but because the Brahmana had a good beautiful figure, putting him in her rock-house (cave) and shutting the door, she remained without eating him.

During the time while he was there a child was borne to the Brahmana by the Rakshasi; the child was like the Brahmana. Having sought food she continued to give it to the Brahmana and the little one. While the Rakshasi was there in that way the youngster (paetiya) became big.

One day having waited until the time when the Rakshasi goes to seek food, the youngster asked at the hand of the Brahmana, "Father, what is [the reason why] you have one form and mother a [different] form?"

Then the Brahmana says, "Son, your mother is a Rakshasi. Seizing each man who is going past this place, she eats him. I also came to go this way. Then seizing me she put me in the rock cave. She has not done any harm to me yet."

The youngster said, "Father, we cannot remain in this way. Rakshasis and men cannot be in one place."

Then the Rakshasi came, bringing food. So the youngster said, "Mother, when you are not here how will it be for us? Tell us the limits [of the power] of these persons" (that is, those who lived there).

The Rakshasi said, "In width they are five gawwas (twenty miles); in length they are ten gawwas (forty miles)."

On the following day, during the time when the Rakshasi went to seek food, the Brahmana and the youngster having taken a large quantity of excellent (honda honda) goods, the two persons bounded off to go by the quarter that was ten gawwas long, and went away. Then the Rakshasi having come [after] seeking food, when she looked neither Brahmana nor youngster [was there].

After that, while the Rakshasi was going along continuing to cry aloud, these two persons had not yet succeeded in bounding through the forest that was ten gawwas in length. The Rakshasi, weeping and weeping, having said, "What was this need for you to abandon me?" came back, summoning these two [to accompany her].

On the following day, after the Rakshasi went to seek food, these two persons having bounded through the quarter that was five gawwas in width, reached the far bank of a river.

Then the Rakshasi having come [after] seeking food, when she looked these two were not [there]. After that, as the Rakshasi was coming continuing to cry aloud, these two came to this bank of the river; the Rakshasi, sitting down on the bank on that [other] side, remained crying aloud.

While she was there the Rakshasi said, "Son, there is a spell of mine; [after] learning it go."

Thereupon the youngster said, "I will not [return to learn it]; say it while sitting there."

Afterwards the Rakshasi, sitting on the bank on that side, said the spell. The youngster, sitting on the bank on this side, learnt the spell. "When you have uttered that spell, on this side of twelve years you will meet with any lost thing," the Rakshasi said.

After that, the Brahmana and the youngster came away to the Brahmana's village. That Rakshasi having been looking while a trace of the heads of these two was visible, through the affection there was for the two persons, when those two were hidden [from her view] the Rakshasi's bosom was rent, and she died.

While that Brahmana and the youngster, having gone to the village, were staying there, certain goods of the King's having been lost, the King published a proclamation by beat of tom-toms that to a person who found and gave the goods he will give wealth [amounting] to a tusk elephant's load, and a district from the kingdom.

Then the Brahmana's youngster having said, "I can," and having uttered the spell taught by that Rakshasi, obtained the goods and gave them to the King. He having given them, the King gave to the Brahmana's youngster wealth [amounting] to a tusk elephant's load, and a district from the kingdom.