Atondido Stories
Ten complete years rolled away in close imprisonment. On
the last evening of the tenth year one of the serpents got into the
bed-chamber of the princess and sucked her life. She breathed
her last. She was the only daughter of the king. The king at once
sent for all the snake-bite curers. He promised half his kingdom
and his daughter's hand to him who would restore her to life.
Now a servant of the king who had several times overheard
Gangazara's cries, reported the matter to him. The king at once
ordered the cell to be examined. There was the man sitting in it.
How had he managed to live so long in the cell? Some whis-
pered that he must be a divine being. Thus they discussed, while
they brought Gangazara to the king.
The king no sooner saw Gangazara than he fell on the
ground. He was struck by the majesty and grandeur of his per-
son. His ten years' imprisonment in the deep cell underground
had given a sort of lustre to his body. His hair had first to be cut
before his face could be seen. The king begged forgiveness for
his former fault, and requested him to revive his daughter.
"Bring me within an hour all the corpses of men and cattle, dy-
ing and dead, that remain unburnt or unburied within the range
of your dominions; I shall revive them all," were the only words
that Gangazara spoke.
Cartloads of corpses of men and cattle began to come in eve-
ry minute. Even graves, it is said, were broken open, and corpses
buried a day or two before were taken out and sent for their re-
vival. As soon as all were ready, Gangazara took a vessel full of
water and sprinkled it over them all, thinking only of his snake-
king and tiger-king. All rose up as if from deep slumber, and
went to their respective homes. The princess, too, was restored
to life. The joy of the king knew no bounds. He cursed the day
on which he imprisoned him, blamed himself for having
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