168 Analytical Account of the Pancha Tantra. 



" Pushpaka was the favourite parrot of Indra, a bird of wonderful beauty, 

 extraordinary abilities, and prodigious learning. One day he was perched 

 on Indra's hand, and was repeating the hymns of the Vedas, when Yama ar- 

 rived. The parrot immediately flew away abruptly. The Deities afterwards 

 asked him, why he had withdrawn ; he replied, how could he face the de- 

 stroyer of life. The Deities, in order to remove his fears, assured him that 

 they would protect him ; and, prevailing on him to accompany them, they 

 returned to Yama, and begged him, at their intercession, to abstain from ever 

 taking away the life of the parrot. Yama replied, that he knew nothing 

 about the matter, and referred them to Kala (Time), to whom they accord- 

 ingly repaired. Time referred them to Death, who, he said, was at hand : 

 and they hastened to prefer their suit to him. They no sooner encountered 

 the grisly terror, than the parrot fell dead. Exceedingly distressed and per- 

 plexed by this accident, they returned to Yama, and inquired of him what it 

 meant ; he replied, that Fate had fixed the parrot's life, and that no care on 

 their parts would have been of any avail. 



" Therefore, I say, whatever is foredoomed by destiny, cannot fail to 

 come to pass. 



" In this manner she resisted their persuasions, and the marriage took place. 

 She performed her duties diligently, feeding her serpent-husband during the 

 day with milk, and keeping him in her chamber at night, in a spacious basket. 

 One night she was alarmed by the appearance of a man in her cliamber, and 

 jumping up in terror, she ran to the door to make her escape. The person 

 called to her to stop, and dismiss her fears, as he was her husband ; and, to 

 assure her, reassumed his ophitic form, and crawled into the basket, whence, 

 immediately after, he again issued, in all the bloom and vigour of human 

 adolescence, and glittering with gold and gems. 



" In the morning, Deva Sarma, who had observed what was going forward 

 approached the basket, before his son was risen, and seizing the deserted 

 skin of the snake, threw it into the fire ; in consequence of which the youth 

 was constrained to adhere to his natural figure, and continued ever after to 

 constitute the pride of his parents, and the happiness of his family.' 



" The king of Ayod'hyd having heard this narrative from Balabhadra, hesi- 

 tated no longer to follow his advice. The mendicant's cell was therefore im- 

 mediately set on fire, and he perished in the flames." 



