Atondido Stories
The king heard, cursed the day on which he believed in the
word of a goldsmith, beat his head, tore his hair, wept and
wailed for his crime, asked a thousand pardons, and swore to
rule in a just way from that day. The serpent-king and tiger-king
also promised to observe their oath as long as justice prevailed,
and took their leave. The gold-smith fled for his life. He was
caught by the soldiers of the king, and was pardoned by the gen-
erous Gangazara, whose voice now reigned supreme. All re-
turned to their homes. The king again pressed Gangazara to ac-
cept the hand of his daughter. He agreed to do so, not then, but
some time afterwards. He wished to go and see his elder brother
first, and then to return and marry the princess. The king agreed;
and Gangazara left the city that very day on his way home.
It so happened that unwittingly he took a wrong road, and had
to pass near a sea-coast. His elder brother was also on his way
up to Benares by that very same route. They met and recognised
each other, even at a distance. They flew into each other's arms.
Both remained still for a time almost unconscious with joy. The
pleasure of Gangazara was so great that he died of joy.
The elder brother was a devout worshipper of Ganesa. That
was a Friday, a day very sacred to that god. The elder brother
took the corpse to the nearest Ganesa temple and called upon
him. The god came, and asked him what he wanted. "My poor
brother is dead and gone; and this is his corpse. Kindly keep it in
your charge till I finish worshipping you. If I leave it anywhere
else the devils may snatch it away when I am absent worship-
ping you; after finishing the rites I shall burn him." Thus said the
elder brother, and, giving the corpse to the god Ganesa, he went
to prepare himself for that deity's ceremonials. Ganesa made
over the corpse to his Ganas, asking them to watch over it care-
fully. But instead of that they devoured it.
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