Analijtical Account of the Panel la Tantra. I77 



ing occasion to go to the village, appointed his son to present the oblation of 

 milk in his absence. When the lad, upon the ensuing morning, found the 

 Dinar as usual, it occurred to him, that the mound must be filled with coin ; 

 and that it would be the most eligible plan to kill its serpent-owner, and seize 

 at once upon the whole treasure. Arming himself, therefore, with a stick, 

 lie lay wait for the snake, as he was lapping the milk, and struck him on the 

 head. The blow failed to kill the snake, and the animal, inflamed with 

 wrath, bit the lad with his poisonous fangs, so that he immediately died. The 

 body was burnt by his people, who were at hand, and saw what had chanced. 

 The father returned on the day following, and when he had heard the cause 

 of his son's death, was satisfied that the event was not unmerited ; declar- 

 ing, that the vital elements will be ever snatched from those, who shew no 

 tenderness to those living creatures, that repair to them for preservation, as 

 happened to the Swans and their Lake. The persons present asked him to 

 explain this allusion, and he thus replied : 



" ' In a certain country reigned CHiTRARAT'HA,in one of whose gardens was 

 an extensive lake, guarded by his troops. In this lake were golden swans, who 

 moulted a feather once in every six months. A large bird, having joined 

 them, was refused admission to their troop ; they claiming the exclusive oc- 

 cupation of the pool, by the fee of the moulted feather. After much discus- 

 sion, the stranger bird applied to the king, and said. Sire, these swans have 

 had the audacity to say, what have we to do with the king ? we will not al- 

 low any one to reside here : and it was to no purpose that I expostulated 

 with them on the impropriety of such language, and threatened to bring it to 

 your knowledge. The king, having heard this, commanded his servants to 

 go and kill the birds, and bring them to him ; and they set oflTwith this in- 

 tent. When they approached the pool, an old swan, suspecting their pur- 

 pose, persuaded the rest to fly away ; and thus, although they preserved 

 their li\-es, they lost the residence, which they refused to share with a guest.' 

 " Having related this tale, the BrcUiman proceeded to worship the snake. 

 The serpent, however, could not be tempted forth, but shewing himself at 

 the entrance of his hole, he thus spoke : ' Avarice brings thee hither, and ba- 

 nishes all sorrow for thy son's fate, but there cannot be any cordiality be- 

 tween thee and me:' again, 'the insane presumption of youth, your son 

 struck me ; I have bitten him, and killed him : how is it possible for me 

 ever to forget his violence ? how is it possible that you should ever forget 

 his death ? Take this jewel, therefore ; depart, and never more ajjproach this 



