美丽的东方传说——印度＆日本（中文导读英文版）
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作者： 王勋等编译
出 版 社： 清华大学出版社
出版时间： 2008-10-1字数：版次： 1页数： 232印刷时间：开本： 16开印次：纸张：I S B N ： 9787302185444包装： 平装内容简介
本书收集了9个印度和13个日本经典传说故事，这些故事具有浓郁、神秘的东方色彩，它只占众所周知和广为流传的神秘东方传说宝库的一小部分。“月亮里的兔子”、“白象的故事”、“兄弟历险记”、“索命绳”、“一个真正的武士”、“老鼠嫁女儿”、“拇指太郎”、“月亮的女儿”等脍炙人口的故事伴随了一代又一代人的美丽童年、少年直至成年。
无论作为语言学习的课本，还是作为通俗的文学读本，本书对当代中国的青少年学生都将产生积极的影响。为了使读者能够了解英文故事概况，进而提高阅读速度和阅读水平，在每篇英文传说故事的开始部分增加了中文导读。
目录
1. 兄弟历险记/The Adventurous Brethren1
2. 铁石心肠的公主/The Hard-Hearted Princess37
3. 沙恭塔拉或戒指的记忆/
Sakuntala, or the Ring of Remembrance48
4. 月亮里的兔子/The Hare in the Moon60
5. 罗摩和希妲历险记/The Adventures of Rama and Sita65
6. 白象的故事/The Story of the White Elephant99
7. 看得见脚印的男孩/The boy Who could See Footsteps104
8. 索命绳/The Noose of Fate111
9. 国王的圆柱/The King's Column123
10. 月亮的女儿/A Daughter of the Moon127
11. 一个傻老头儿的故事/The Story of a Goody Old Man145
12. 戴钵的公主/The Bowl-Wearing Princess149
13. 一个真正的武士/
The Story of the Knight Who Was Restored to His Estate160
14. 桃太郎/Momotaro, the Peach Boy169
15. 赖光的故事/More Stories about Raiko173
16. 仙太郎寻找长寿仙药记/
The Story of Sentaro Who Did Not Wish to Die180
17. 拇指太郎/Oyayubi-Kotaro, the Japanese Tom Thumb186
18. 小白狗恩仇记/
The Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Bloom191
19. 老鼠嫁女儿/The Marriage of the Rat's Daughter197
20. 须佐之和大国的故事/Susano and Ohkuni206
21. 日出王子和日落王子/The Princes Hinode and Irihi214
22. 高天原/The Plain of High Heaven222
书摘插图
1．兄弟历险记
The Adventurous Brethren
第一章 箭 敌
Part I The Rival Archers
从前，年老的毗湿摩君王统治着印度的大片土地。他的大儿子特拉思塔拉思特拉是个盲人，二儿子潘多已去世，他只有等孙子们长大接管王权。
君王大儿子的继承人杜尤丹勇敢但妒嫉心很强，人们称他和其弟兄“库鲁”；潘多家的五兄弟以“潘达瓦”闻名：老大约迪西斯拉，老二比摩，老三阿遮那，最小的是一对双胞胎。老毗湿摩想让孙儿们学习高超的武艺，可始终找不到合适的老师。
一天，男孩子们在野外玩耍时，把球踢到一个井里去了，他们想尽办法也捞不上来，最后球沉到了水底。
阿遮那看到不远处一个僧侣在看他们，便过去请求帮助。这位老婆罗门在他们的央求下来到井边，取下手上的戒指扔到井里。从旁边采来一把草，用一片叶子投到水下五十英尺的球上，牢牢戳进球内。又用第二片叶子穿入第一片叶子的根部，依次将草叶组成一个草链，将球拉了出来。他又取出弓箭，将箭射入水中的戒指，箭又迅速返回到他手中。
男孩们惊喜得跳了起来，约迪西斯拉问婆罗门要什么报酬，僧侣让他们告诉国王，德罗纳现在又渴又饿。国王马上有请这位虽未谋面但早已闻名的贤德武士。
德罗纳私下告诉国王，自己从小和王子、王孙们共同受训。曾同现在的潘奇拉国君德拉帕达起誓，互相忠诚、互相帮助，随后自己当上了僧侣；多年后结婚生子，决定返俗，找到德拉帕达请求帮助，但这位儿时的朋友却不认他。他发誓要让德拉帕达用眼泪重新认识自己，听说国王为孙子们请教官便来了，国王让他留下教孙子们武艺。
次日，德罗纳带领年轻人来到森林的空地，问他们今后的武艺超过印度的其他王子时，能否帮他实现一个计划。王子中只有潘瓦达的阿遮那发誓将来让他做什么都会执行，这让二人的心贴得很近，不久，阿遮那的武艺超过了其他人。
一天晚上，他们在练功回去的途中吃东西时，阿遮那想到眼睛看不见照样可以凭感觉，就将食物吃下，然后拿出弓箭练习在黑暗中凭鸟叫声射鸟，得到了德罗纳的称赞，使在旁边本来对阿遮那就妒嫉的杜尤丹更加 愤怒！
国王允许邻国的王公和贵族青年跟德罗纳学习武艺。其中有一位沉默寡言叫卡那的青年，没人知道他的父母是谁，但他学习十分努力，技艺与阿遮那不相上下。杜尤丹时常送他一些贵重礼物，并挑拨他和阿遮那的关系，使他们之间充满了敌对的情绪。
德罗纳开始考核他们，做了一只假鸟放在树上，让年长的杜尤丹先射，并问他看到了什么。他说看到了鸟、树及周围的人，德罗纳让他站到一边，终止了他的比赛。其他的王子也以同样原因被停止了比赛，最后只剩下卡那和阿遮那两个人。
德罗纳十分伤心：这么多人都没有通过简单的测验。如果剩下的两人也不能通过，自己只有承认无能。当卡那试射时，德罗纳问他看到了什么，他说看到了树、老师和鸟。德罗纳停止了他的试射。
阿遮那试射时说，只看到了鸟。德罗纳高兴地让他射箭，鸟头和身子立刻分了家。
德罗纳告诉其他人，射箭要盯准目标，不要看旁边的其他东西，阿遮那就是这样，他是这次的射箭冠军。
杜尤丹觉得老师事先告诉了阿遮那，但卡那认为阿遮那赢得十分公平，他不分昼夜地练习和研究，争取下次拿冠军，而杜尤丹不断在他耳边贬低潘达瓦家族。
ong years ago there ruled over a great part of India, an ancient King called Bhishma. He was really much too old for his duties, but of his sons, the elder, Dristarastra, was blind; and the younger, Pandu, was dead; so until the children of these two grew up, and were able to take over kingly duties, their white-haired grandfather was obliged to act both as their guardian, and protector of the realm.
The heir of Dristarastra was named Duryodhana—a brave but envious and ambitious youth—and he and his many brothers were called the "Kurus;" while Pandu's children, five only in number, were known as the "Pandavas." Yudhishthira was the eldest; then came Bhima; next Arjuna, who, even as a baby, showed remarkable strength and fearlessness; and last, the twins, who always played, worked, laughed and cried together.
Now old Bhishma was very anxious that the two families of cousins should be trained in every branch of princely accomplishment; but, try as he might, he had not yet found any one really fit to teach them the whole art of warfare, and he was beginning to grow anxious on this score, for Duryodhana and Yudhishthira were now approaching the years of manhood, and were still mere babes in the use of arms.
One day, however, the lads discovered a teacher for themselves— and a fortunate discovery it was.
They were playing near a well, and one of them kicked their ball, which was painted exquisitely with pictures of monkeys, tigers and other forest creatures, right into the water. With sticks and stones they tried to recover it, but only succeeded at length in making it sink to the bottom. They were about to give up their toy as lost for ever, when Arjuna, favourite among the Pandavas, spied a priest sitting cross-legged on the ground not far away, and looking earnestly towards them.
"Let us ask that old Brahman," he said to the others. "Grandfather Bhishma has often told us that a good priest can work magic. Perchance he can direct us how to get back our ball."
So the lads trooped up to the old man, and telling him their trouble, were reassured when he smiled at them and solemnly nodded his head. But then he assumed a grave expression and frowned-
"Fie, little princes!" he said. "Are you indeed the famous Kurus and Pandavas, sons of the Royal house, and can you not perform so simple a task as to shoot a ball up from the depths of a well? Fie! Fie! Who is your master of archery?"
"We have none," answered the lads. "But, good sir priest, is it possible to shoot up our lost ball? Show us how! Show us how!"
Upon this the Brahman pulled a ruby ring from his finger, and threw it after the ball.
"There," he said, "not only will I bring back your toy, but my ring also;" and, to the amazement of the princes, he plucked a handful of grass, and, selecting a blade, aimed it with great precision at the ball, which was clearly to be seen some fifty feet below in the water. The blade of grass pierced the ball as though it had been a needle piercing silk; and the sage then threw another blade, which struck through the upstanding end of the first one; then another and another, until he had formed a perfect chain of grass, by means of which he easily pulled the ball to the surface.
The princes watched this performance with bated breath. "Good, good!" and "Oh, wise and clever Brahman!" they shouted in chorus. "Now bring up the ring; bring up the ring!"
Immediately the priest took his bow, and carefully choosing an arrow from his quiver, shot it into the water. Imagine the amazement and delight of the onlookers when, in a second, the dripping arrow returned to the hand that had loosed it, bearing upon its feathered end the ruby ring.
The boys clapped their hands, and leapt round and round. This magic was even more fascinating than that of the travelling fakirs, with their dancing serpents and the swords that they swallowed whole! But Yudhishthira, eldest of the Pandavas, silenced the hubbub, and, pushing his way to the front, asked the Brahman what return he and his comrades could make for such a wonderful exhibition of skill.
"Tell thy grandsire, the mighty Bhishma, that Drona, who wields the bow as well as he the sceptre, has travelled many miles, and is now hungry and in need of water."
The lads scampered to the palace with the message, and broke in upon the King, each anxious to be the first to deliver it, and to enlarge upon the prowess of their newly-found friend.
"Drona here!" exclaimed Bhishma, when he heard the news. "Go out quickly, my sons, and bring him hither." But he had scarcely spoken when two slaves drew back the rich hangings before the portal of the chamber, and the Brahman approached. He bowed low before the King, and then seated himself cross-legged upon the floor, and rested his head on his hands.
"Welcome, Drona," said the old sovereign. "Never before have I seen thee, but the fame of thy skill with weapons, and of thy exceeding holiness, has travelled to me. Wherefore hast thou sought me out?"
"Give me private audience, oh Bhishma," cried the priest, "and I will unfold my story."
Whereupon, the chamber being cleared, he continued—
"In the days of my youth, oh King, I was nurtured and trained up with princes, and the sons of princes. Among the dearest of my comrades was Drupada, now King of Panchala, and he and I, ere we parted, swore a boyish oath each to the other, of eternal friendship, fidelity, and mutual assistance, if need arose.
"Now, I, after these early years, devoted myself to a life of holiness and poverty, giving up all my possessions and living in the forests amidst the hermits. But after some years I married and had a son, for whose sake I determined to return again to the world and the life of cities. In my need I went first to Drupada, and asked him for money and clothes, until such time as I could find pupils enough to instruct in the use of weapons—for even in the forests I had not let my heaven-sent skill rust disused. And Drupada scornfully sent me away, saying it was not meet for a King to speak with a poor priest, and that he had no knowledge of me, nor had he ever heard of the name of Drona."
"Therefore, oh Bhishma, have I vowed that he shall remember my name with sorrow and tears, but the time of my revenge is not yet, and, until the day dawns, I must needs turn schoolmaster. I heard thou went in need of such an one, for thy grandsons."
Bhishma replied that Drona might, from this moment, live in the palace and regard himself as chief tutor to the Kuru and Pandava brethren, who, to say the truth, had been eagerly hoping for this end to their adventure of the morning.
The next day Drona took the youths to a clearing in the forest, and, before the first lesson began, he commanded them to seat themselves in a circle around him. He then solemnly asked them whether, if he taught them the use of every kind of weapon, so that they should become more skilled to attack and defend than any other princes in India, they would in return promise some day to carry out a certain plan he was treasuring in his heart.
More than that he would not tell them, and most of them, fearing what the plan might be, shook their heads wisely, and Duryodhana was heard to murmur something about the foolishness of a blindfold promise.
But Arjuna of the Pandavas sprang up from the circle and swore aloud that whatever Drona should in the future ask him to do, that he would perform.
Then Drona drew the lad to him and kissed him on the brow; after which it seemed that a special bond existed between these two, Drona ever watching his pupil as keenly and lovingly as a father, and Arjuna staying closer to his master than the others, and hanging on every word of instruction that issued from those pious lips.
Before long, such was Arjuna's devotion that he had outstripped all his companions and could handle his weapons, especially his bow and arrow, almost as well as Drona himself.
One night they had pursued their lessons and practice in the forest until the sun sank, and they found themselves some way from home when darkness swept down on them. So Drona told them to sit, and gave each boy some rice and fruit, lest he should faint with hunger after the day's exercise. As Arjuna ate his portion, he began wondering why his hand so easily found its way to his mouth, though he could see nothing.
"It is because my hand is so used to the journey," he thought. "And why should not that same hand learn to string a bow, and shoot towards a sound, without the help of the eye?" So he leapt up, and began practising in the dark, aiming at birds who sat chirruping on the trees about.
Drona heard the twang of the bow-strings, and, coming to him, embraced him, telling him that the name of Arjuna, the archer, should one day ring through the world.
Duryodhana was standing near. He had long felt envious of his cousin's skill, and he now ground his teeth with anger. "If I cannot match thee myself," he thought, "I will never rest till I have found a champion to outdo thee. Arjuna the archer, indeed! How I hate thee!" and the jealous youth's anger grew bitterer, even as Arjuna's prowess daily increased.
Now, though Drona was employed by King Bhishma, many princes and nobles from neighbouring territories were permitted to join the classes, the King having no apprehension that any rival youths could attain greater skill than his own grandsons. And among the newcomers was one lad called Karna, of sad and silent character, about whom little could be said except that he looked and spoke as if of noble blood. No one knew the name of his father or mother, but Drona accepted him for a pupil, and therefore his appearance among the others was never challenged, though many were the speculations and stories circulated about him.
From the day of his arrival he showed truly marvellous talent with all manner of weapons, and, by dint of constant attention to his master's lessons, he quickly outstripped his comrades, until it was doubtful whether he were not as brilliant as Arjuna himself; and the two became keen though good-natured rivals.
As soon as Duryodhana perceived this, he did everything in his power to make friends with Karna, and gave him as a present, on one day alone, a ruby and an emerald, a purse of rupees, a young elephant, and an ebony box of great value carved with a thousand figures, and exuding, when opened, the scent of spices.
Karna was naturally won over by these attentions from the eldest of the Kuru princes, and soon Duryodhana was trying to fan the harmless rivalry which existed between him and Arjuna into a feeling of hostility and hatred. He did not succeed very well at first, but gradually the pupils noticed that the silent youth scarcely ever spoke to the Pandavas, and kept more and more with the Kurus.
At length Drona decided that he would test the skill which his pupils had acquired, by an open competition in archery. So he procured an artificial bird and had it placed on the top of a high tree. Then he assembled his class, and said to them: "Stand in a circle thirty paces away from this tree, and be ready to shoot one by one. Look at the bird on the topmost branch. You are to shoot at his head and try to cut it off."
In great excitement the boys arranged themselves, each one practising his aim and hoping he might be the first to accomplish the task.
"Since he is the eldest of the noble princes assembled," went on Drona, "Duryodhana shall be the first to try." Duryodhana stood steady and raised his bow.
"Tell me, Prince," called his master, "do you see the bird?"
"I do," replied Duryodhana.
"What exactly do you see? Your comrades, or me, or the tree, or the bird?"
"I see all that you name, master; I see the bird, and the tree, and you and my companions."
"Put down your bow, Prince, and stand aside. You cannot compete."
Wondering what he had said or done to be thus disqualified, Duryodhana moved back, scarcely able to brook his bitter shame and disappointment, for he felt sure that he could have beheaded his target.
One by one Drona called upon his pupils. They were all asked the same question and they all gave the same answer—"Yes, master, we see you and our friends, the tree, and on the top of the tree, the bird." At last all were disqualified except Karma and Arjuna, who, as the champions, had been kept till last. The tears were streaming down old Drona's face, such was his vexation, that none of his pupils had stood this very simple test.
"Alas!" he cried; "have I laboured so many months to such poor purpose? Come, Karna; either by you or Arjuna must the arrow be shot, or Drona will bury his weapons in the forest, and own himself shamed before all the Court."
Karna raised his bow and drew the string taut.
"What see you?" asked his master.
"I see the tree and the bird, sir," he replied.
"Stand back; thou canst not shoot. Arjuna, try thou. Dost thou, too, see the tree and the bird? And me, perchance also, and thy comrades?"
"Nay," answered Arjuna quickly. "I can see neither them nor thee; I cannot see the tree nor the branch; only the bird."
"Describe the bird to me," said Drona in a trembling voice.
"I cannot, master, for I perceive only its head."
"Then shoot," cried the old man exultingly, and Arjuna loosed an arrow, which whirred upward, and severed the head clean from the bird's body.
Drona turned to the others and spoke: "How often, oh my pupils, careless apes that ye are, have I told you that no man can hit if he let his eyes dance from his aim. Ye saw two things, three, four—Arjuna but one. Therefore doth Arjuna ever strike his mark: therefore is Arjuna champion among you all."
The youths then realised how foolish had been their answers, and loudly applauded the Pandava hero; only Duryodhana drew Karna aside and said to him—
"Are we always to be worsted by this 'champion'? Perchance Drona, since he loves him so, told him the trick before the trial began."
But Karna answered, "Nay, Prince, wrong not our master. Arjuna has won quite justly; but at the next contest, look you, he shall not win."
And after that he worked more earnestly than ever, rising in the night to study books upon the management of weapons, and even practising in the heat of the day, when the others slept; while ever at his ear whispered the malicious counsels of Duryodhana, poisoning his mind against the noble house of the Pandavas.
第二章 虫胶宫殿
Part II The House of Lac
通过三年的传授，德罗纳觉得是实现自己计划的时候了。他征得国王的同意，告诉学生们联合起来，把潘奇拉的国王德拉帕达绑起来，带到他跟前，以消解自己曾受到的侮辱。
青年们高兴极了，他们征集战车及人员，跟随德罗纳向潘奇拉进军。三天后到达，他们谎称拜见国王，进入城门后，都拔出刀来，向王宫冲去。而德拉帕达听说一支像是偷袭的部队入了城，马上组织卫队，把杜尤丹和卡那带领的库鲁兄弟打得四处逃散，两名指挥也受了伤。
这时，阿遮那率领着人马冲了上去，德拉帕达的军队抵挡不住强烈的攻势被打败，他本人也成了俘虏，当被带到德罗纳面前时他羞愧地低下 了头。
德罗纳告诉德拉帕达既然德拉帕达只和国王交往，那就把德拉帕达的王国分给自己一半，以后他们就对等了，也可以继续交往下去。德拉帕达只好答应了。德罗纳告别弟子，去恒河以北统治他的土地。
阿遮那率领众人踏上回家的路程。一路上，他的弟子们唱着歌颂他的歌曲，杜尤丹和卡那羞愧地跟在后面。
国王封约迪西斯拉为皇太子，这个偏爱的决定使杜尤丹下决心立即除掉对手，他反复在父亲耳边唠叨着：堂兄弟们在皇宫，自己和弟兄们永无出头之日。盲人父亲终于同意将潘达瓦送到偏避地方的计划，杜尤丹精心设计着这个狠毒的计划。
没过多久，宫中传说着第二年在贝拿勒斯将有一个极大的庆典，一些大臣在杜尤丹和他父亲的指示下，也在谈论着这座城市。阿遮那对这个庆典产生了极大兴趣，盲人伯父将此事告诉了国王，国王让他弟兄们去高兴 一下。
潘达瓦兄弟为旅途准备了珠宝、卢比和衣服。却没想到这是杜尤丹设下的圈套，更没想到提前去准备的大臣普如奇那是杜尤丹买通好的，要用易燃的虫胶为他们造一座宫殿。
潘达瓦兄弟在宫中的舅舅维杜茹阿知道了这个阴谋，在他们即将启程时告诉他们有人要置他们于死地，在危险时会告诉他们的。
出发时，国王率众人送他们到城门。维杜茹阿送了他们一段路，并告诉约迪西斯拉不要给敌人机会，不要拒绝拿采矿工具的人，红色船桅的船上人是朋友，说完就回去了。
王子们在贝拿勒斯受到市民的欢迎，住到了普如奇那为他们准备的宫殿。在宫殿中他们闻到了沥青和油等易燃物质的味道。他们谨慎地住了十一个月，没发生任何事情，可杜尤丹在计划命令手下在王子们睡觉时放火。
到最后一个月的月初，一个人拿着维杜茹阿的戒指找到约迪西斯拉，拿出开矿工具说将从宫殿后面挖一条通道到森林，这样遇到火灾时就能跑出去。
通道挖好后阿遮那等不及敌人放火，便借故把个仆人派遣进城放火烧了宫殿，从通道进入了森林。他们到达恒河岸边，遇到一艘红色船桅的船，发出暗号，小船将他们接上了船。
到达对岸后，经过千辛万苦，来到伊卡查库拉，他们扮成朝圣的婆罗门，将所带的食品施舍给了人们，等着舅舅来找他们。
y the time Drona had been instructor at the palace for three years, he thought that his pupils, especially Arjuna, should be ready to perform the task which, from the beginning, he had destined for them. So having first consulted King Bhishma and gained his consent to the enterprise, he assembled the Princes and thus addressed them:
"For three years, my pupils, have I diligently taught you the whole art of warfare, and never have I required a fee of you. If you would repay me in some measure, band yourselves together and seek out Drupada, King of Panchala, who in past years grievously insulted me. Bind him and bring him to me."
The idea of a raid and some fighting in real earnest, filled the young men with excitement. They collected weapons, chariots, elephants, and as many followers as would bring their full strength up to nine hundred; and, with Drona in their midst, they set out for the kingdom of the Panchalas, which they reached after three days' journey.
They rode peaceably enough through their enemy' s country, giving out that they were on a pilgrimage to the King, until they reached the capital. As soon as they had passed the gates, they drew their weapons and made a rush for the Royal palace, hoping to surprise Drupada and seize him before the guard could be called out. Drupada, however, heard that a company of apparent raiders were in the city, and, hastily arming, he summoned his bodyguard and issued to meet them, expecting only a handful of ruffians who should easily be overpowered.
And, indeed, when he first caught sight of them, they seemed to justify no better a description, for the Kurus, led by Duryodhana and Karna, had completely lost their heads in the excitement, and were riding here, there and everywhere, shouting, laughing, and slashing in all directions, without either method or control.
Arjuna, who had taken command of the Pandava division, seeing that his fellows would never come off victors in such a scrimmage, held his men in reserve, and watched the fray. Drupada's well-trained band came steadily forward, and met each excited attack of the Kurus with a firm front, so that before long the invaders found themselves scattered and disorganised; and with both their leaders wounded, and unable to re-form their ranks, they turned and fled back.
Now was Arjuna's chance. With a cry of encouragement to his men, he darted forward; the twins, on either side, protecting his chariot wheels, and his brother Bhima running in front, armed with a mace and dealing death wherever he struck. Arjuna himself stood upright on the seat of his car, showering arrows in every direction, and at the same time commanding the attack.
For a few moments the battle swayed evenly, but Drupada's force had not been prepared for a second assault, and soon they gave way before the impetuous Pandavas, the King only continuing to fight amid the hail of arrows that descended on him. As soon as Arjuna was within a few yards of the royal chariot, he leapt from his own, and, throwing aside his bow, gripped the King's sword, and deftly wrenched it from his hand.
"Now thou art our prisoner," said the youth, "but thy life is safe unless Drona desires otherwise."
At the mention of the name, Drupada blanched, and when he was led to the warrior-priest, who had been raised shoulder high by the victorious Pandavas, he bowed his head in shame, remembering the vow of his boyhood and the faithless manner in which he had broken it.
"Fear not, and hang not thy head, Drupada," said Drona. "I harbour no vengeance against thee. But since thou wilt admit none but kings to thy friendship, take thou from this day one half only of the kingdom of Panchala, and I will take the other. Then, both being rulers, perchance we can be comrades also."
There was nothing for Drupada to do but accept these terms, at any rate for the moment, so he assented with what appeared to be good grace; and in due time found himself lord of that part of his former territory which lay south of the Ganges, while Drona bade farewell to his pupils and proceeded to take up the kingship of that part which lay to the north.
With sad hearts, the band of young warriors turned their steps homewards, realising that, now Drona had left them, their pleasant forest fellowship would be broken up, and that schooldays must give place to the serious business of life.
Arjuna headed the company, in virtue of his proven leadership and success; and as they travelled they sang songs of his prowess, to shorten the journey—
"How have the Gods blest the house of the Pandavi!
Lo! Arjuna is one of the brethren; he who can loose fifty arrows at once from a single string! He who can fight with all manner of weapons! He who conquered the Panchalas, and stood aloft above the warriors like a palm-tree golden in the sun?"
At the tail of the party rode Duryodhana and Karna; and as they listened to the song, their heads sank lower on their breasts, and frowns of anger and shame clouded their noble countenances. "Revenge!" whispered Duryodhana. "The time will come," answered his companion; and no other word did they speak until at length they arrived at the Court of Bhishma.
The people of Hastinapura had heard by messenger of the brilliant achievements of the Pandavi, and they had decorated the streets and houses with flags, ribbons and flowers to welcome their return; indeed, so popular had the five brethren become that King Bhishma thought it a suitable moment to nominate Yudhishthira crown prince, and to bestow public honours and privileges upon the others.
These marks of favour wrought their elder cousin to such a pitch of jealousy that he decided, by fair means or foul, to get rid of his rivals without delay. So he approached his father, the blind Dristarastra, who was thoroughly weak and pliable. "You see, father," he said, "that I and my brothers stand no chance of popularity or preferment while our cousins remain at Court. Our grandfather dotes upon Yudhishthira, and Arjuna, with his braggardism and show, has won the sheep-hearts of the people. They have already been given suzerainty over the richest of our provinces, and soon, no doubt, the whole kingdom will be divided among them. Once they find themselves in power it will go hard with the Kurus, for whom, since childhood days, they have ever harboured a secret grudge and enmity." With these and suchlike speeches he plied his father, until at length Dristarastra had agreed to a plan by which the Pandavi should be sent away to a distant part of India,—"when," thought Duryodhana, "I will devise some means to destroy the whole verminous breed." But of this last wickedness he breathed no word to any man, not even to Karna, who, he knew, would not adopt any underhand means against his rivals.
Before long, news was spread abroad in the Court that a most wonderful festival was to be celebrated at Benares, throughout the coming year: the like of it had never been seen before and would never be seen again. A certain number of the courtiers, secretly instructed by Duryodhana and his father, could talk of nothing else. They described the beauties of the city, dwelling upon the magnificence of the public buildings, the richness of the inhabitants, the gaiety and brilliance of the social life; until one day Arjuna exclaimed laughingly, "By the god Shiva, whose festival this is to be, it were a pity to die without having set eyes upon such a sovereign city!" Whereupon Dristarastra quickly turned to King Bhishma and called to him, "Hearest thou the plaint of Arjuna thy grandson? He desires to go to Benares, to witness the coming sacrifices of Shiva there."
"Go, then, my son," replied Bhishma, "and take with thee thy brethren, if it pleases them."
The idea was acceptable enough to the Pandavi, who had no suspicion that Dristarastra and his son, together with a dozen courtiers in their pay, had been working for weeks to achieve this end. Accordingly they made ready for the journey, taking with them a caravan full of jewels, another of rupees, and five of rich raiment, so that they should be able to establish themselves in Benares with the splendour that became their rank.
A minister of the Court, named Purochanna, was sent ahead of them, to find a suitable palace and make arrangements for their reception. Little did Bhishma think, as he gave his consent to the departure of this emissary, that he had been bribed by Duryodhana to build with all speed a palace of lac, a very inflammable kind of wood, which if a spark so much as touches it, will turn to a mountain of fire in a few moments.
"Fill the palace with all kinds of the costliest furniture," Duryodhana had said; "spare no expense or trouble, and when you return my father will bestow on you riches greater than you can dream of."
Purochanna's cupidity conquered his conscience, and breathing no word of the dastardly plot, he set out for Benares, and here fulfilled in detail all the instructions of the wicked Prince. What a terrible fate would have awaited the noble Pandavi, had not there been at the Court a certain Vidura, their mother's brother, who was as wise as he was good, and who, having for a long time suspected Duryodhana, had made it his business to find out by secret means the plots and machinations of the Prince!
Before the Pandavi started on their journey, therefore, he took them to his private chamber, and, setting a guard outside doors and windows for fear of espionage, he told them that dangers of the most appalling kind awaited them, and that a scheme was afoot against their lives. Their best course, he said, would be to appear, for the present, innocent of their enemies' devices; and that he would, from time to time, keep them informed of what was happening at Court, and help them to escape when the fate which threatened them approached.
The whole city turned out to send the five brothers triumphantly on their way; flowers were thrown upon them from all the balconies, and "The blessings of Shiva upon ye," re-echoed from street to street.
Duryodhana, contrary to his usual sulky habit, was most fervent in his good wishes, boisterously laughing and shouting songs as he rode beside them. Old Bhishma accompanied them to the city gates in his golden chariot drawn by black oxen; and when the time came to say farewell, he wept as he kissed each of the noble youths, and gave them his blessing, reminding them to return, without fail, at the end of the twelve months' festival.
Vidura rode with them some way beyond the city, and, before he parted, spoke to Yudhishthira in a low voice, and in a language known only to those two.
"Guard yourselves from surprise both by day and night. Forget not that your enemies only wait their opportunity. Study the forest tracks that lead from Benares hitherward, and learn to guide yourselves by sun and stars. When a man comes to you with implements for mining, close not your doors to him; and remember that a trading ship with a red mast, plying the Ganges, will not prove an enemy to you." And, gravely embracing the Prince and his brothers, the good Vidura turned his horse's head back towards Hastinapura.
When the Princes arrived in Benares they were received with great acclamation by the people, for their fame had travelled everywhere. Purochanna was among the first to make his salaams, and ceremoniously informed them that, as he had been unable to find a house sufficiently splendid, he had employed workmen by day and night to erect a palace, which, he said, was now ready, equipped with costly furniture, with slaves, musicians, dancing girls, and every other luxury necessary for the comfort and convenience of his young masters.
The Pandavi appeared delighted with this news; but on arriving at the palace, they all noticed that the smell of tar, oil, and other inflammable substances were ill-concealed by that of the strong scents and spices which had been lavishly scattered everywhere.
For eleven months the brethren remained in their dangerous habitation, but so shrewdly did they guard it that none of Duryodhana's agents obtained a chance of carrying out his fell orders, which were to burn the place to the ground one night when it was certain that the Princes were asleep within.
At the beginning of the twelfth month a man arrived at the palace entrance and demanded audience with Yudhishthira, presenting to the guard and servants a ring, which, he said, would instantly gain him admission when the Prince beheld it. Upon the ring was graven a symbol, unintelligible to the gaping curiosity of those who carried the message; but to Yudhishthira the marks meant "Friend," in the secret language of Vidura. He therefore ordered the stranger into his presence, and found that he had brought with him various mining tools, with which, he said, he proposed to make a subterranean passage leading from the back of the building into the forest beyond; and by means of this any one could easily escape in case of fire.
As soon as the passage was complete, Arjuna's restlessness knew no bounds.
"I am weary of this life in Benares, brothers," he said. "It seems that we have outwitted our enemies, or that their courage does not rise to their desire for our destruction. Since they cannot, or will not, burn us out of this palace, which, to me, has become little better than a prison, let us take the brand from their hands, and burn ourselves out."
At first Yudhishthira would pay no attention to this wild scheme; but at length he, too, grew weary, and longed once more to look upon his aged grandfather, and his good uncle Vidura, and to see the sparkling turrets and arcades of Hastinapura. So one night, having on one pretext or another, sent all their servants into the city, the Pandavi brethren set fire to the front part of the dwelling, and hastily running through the corridors to the back, they entered the subterranean passage. In a few moments the whole palace was blazing, and the citizens ran from all parts of the town to watch the great fire, for the spires of it seemed to reach almost to the sky, and the heat of it was a hundred times the heat of the sun, when he scorches the earth in summer, so that beasts and men perish beneath his rays.
And the watchers sent up a great wailing, for they deemed that the noble youths had been burned alive before help could reach them.
Meantime, however, the Pandavi had threaded the mazes of the dungeon passage, and emerged safely into the forest, the tracks and fastnesses of which they had acquainted themselves with during the past year; and after travelling many miles, they at length came to the banks of the Ganges. How to cross the river seemed indeed a problem, as their fame was so great that they would certainly be recognised if they tried to charter a boat, and they wished it to be believed for the present that they had perished in the House of Lac. They were about to turn and hasten back into cover of the forests, when they saw a vessel with a red mast moored not far away. The words of Vidura flashed into Yudhishthira's mind: "Brothers," said he, "never trust me if this vessel and its captain be not at our service;" and approaching the ship, he shouted a secret word, to which the captain replied by sending off a small boat to fetch them. He was, indeed, an agent of their uncle's, and had been stationed many months at or near that spot, waiting for the princes to come.
With light hearts the youths crossed to the other side of the river, and after many adventures they at length settled in the town of Ekachakra, where, disguised in garments of deerskin, with strings of sacred beads hung round their necks, and their hair grown long and matted, they gave out that they were Brahmans come from a long pilgrimage. And so noble was their bearing, and so great seemed their learning, that all and sundry gave them food and alms; and thus they lived, waiting to hear news of their enemies, and confident that before long Vidura would seek them out and advise them how most safely they could set about regaining their position in Hastinapura.
第三章 赌徒的妻子
Part III The Gamblers Wife
潘达瓦不久得到家乡的消息，除舅舅和几位朋友外，别人都以为他们已被烧死，杜尤丹掌握着王国的政权。
此时，德拉帕决定举行射箭比赛。他让人做了一个强弓，将一枚戒指挂在一根又细又长的木棍上，如谁能连续五箭穿过摇晃的戒指，谁将娶走他的女儿德拉帕蒂。潘达瓦决定扮成婆罗门参加比赛。
比赛当天，传令官宣布只有高阶层的人才可以参加比赛。竞技场上摆放着一张大弓，比赛场旁站着五个英俊的婆罗门打扮的人。约迪西斯拉隐隐约约看到幔帐里的公主，心里格外激动。
参赛者一个个上去，都没拉开弓。这时卡那上场，婆罗门打扮的五兄弟紧张起来，只见卡那使尽全力拉开了大弓，对准戒指射出了五箭。
这时，杜尤丹拉着卡那来到公主面前，可公主告诉他们，听说卡那的父亲是马夫，没资格参加比赛。卡那红着脸跟着杜尤丹走了。
阿遮那忍不住来到公主面前，表明自己有高贵的身份。在得到公主允许后，轻轻地举弓很快射出五箭，准确穿过戒指，公主宣布阿遮那赢了。
当国王知道得胜者是阿遮那时便告诉大家，自己当时被打跑时就暗暗许愿，希望女儿嫁给五兄弟中的一人，现在终于实现了。当知道阿遮那是为哥哥比赛，公主将要嫁给皇太子时，更加高兴，马上举行了结婚典礼！
老毗湿摩国王听到消息后，让杜尤丹将土地分给五兄弟一半，并逐步将政权交给约迪西斯拉，使他成为真正的国王。
杜尤丹没办法，便通过卑鄙的手段，划给了潘达瓦兄弟们一些荒地和沙漠。五兄弟没有为此争辩，他们先从一个人的集镇开始，将破旧的房屋和庙宇改造成华丽的城市，然后再进行下一个集镇的改造。通过几年的努力，他们管辖的地方成为印度最繁华的地区，他们将其命名为陀罗普拉沙。潘达瓦兄弟决定为长兄举行加冤仪式，并邀请邻国国王参加。
杜尤丹来到后，看到华丽的宫殿，十分嫉恨。杜尤丹在水晶地板和玻璃门前出尽了丑，便产生了一个邪恶的计划。
他知道约迪西斯拉的缺点，就是一赌必输，而且控制不住自己，便以节日庆典的名义邀请潘瓦达兄弟到哈斯提纳普拉。
