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OXFORD
UsaIvast T a'ataas
Oxford New York
Auckland
Bangkok Buenoa Aires Cape Town Chennal
Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata
Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Momhai
Nairobi Sno Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto

Copyright © 2004 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Fnhlished by Oxford Univeraity Preaa, Inc.
193 Madiaon Avenue, New York, New York 10016
for Joan R.
- www.oup.com
whose story,
Oxford ia a registered trademark of Oxford University Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, if it isn't already here,
stored in a retrieval ayatem, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or oshenviae,
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should he
Library of Congress Cataloging.in.Publicasion Data
Fabulous femalea and peerless pars: tales of mad adventure in old
bengal / translated by Tony K. Stewart.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index,
Translated from Bengali,
ISBN 0-19-516529-2; 0-19516530.6 (pbk.)
It. Short stories, Bengali—Translations into English. 2. Bengal
(lndia)—'Soeial life and customs. 3. Bangladesh—Social life and
customs, 4. Religious pluralism. I. Stewart, Tony K., 11954—
FK11716.5.Faa 2003
89l.t4301t0B—dc21 2003000165

135793642
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
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 lestial nymph, it was as if Bidhata, the god of fate, had cast a new mold for girls with me, a woman, a lowly being devoid of any good qualities? As soon as your father
this little one. Since this sonless father had no other, he raised his only daughter, the emperor hears of this he will slit both our throats with his own hand! Put these
Lalmon, with the love and affection generally reserved for boys. Jamal felt deep in crazy thoughts out of your mind and let me back to my quill, for I must strive to
his heart that she was in truth a male in disguise, and so he committed her to the compose my lyrics without further disruption."
F:1!!

regimen of the local muhtab. Each day the young lady Lalmon headed to school, Hearing her rebuke, the crown prince wailed, "Haya, hayaP' in despair. "I will
toting a copy of the Qur'an under her arm. For her first official action each day, she give up my kingdom to be with you! I shall abandon this world for your sake alone.
recited the Bismillah to commence work, and then took to the study of the Qur'an.' I shall become a wandering fakir, wtapping my neck in their distinctive patchwork
After that the young lady studied the Farsi or Persian tongue. After completing the rags."
oral recitation of her Persian, she would at last turn to the study of Arabic. And so As the daughter of the wazir listened, she chided the crown prince, "Why would
did the two young students come to sit together as one, for Lal faithfully attended, you become a fakir on account of a worthless woman? You are the only son of the
never missing a day of school. In this routine did many days manage to pass without emperor and darling to all. You need but command and countless female servants
event. But pay attention to how God, Khoda, can create mischief! come running. I have already told you, good Prince, that you cannot have me. Don't
III
One day Lalmon began to feel a little light-headed, so she hurried to take her even dream about me!" And of course upon hearing this, the young prince wailed
F!
I'! III bath. When she finished bathing, the young lady returned to her private chambers. nfl the more loudly and could do httle else.
To better dry her hair, this precious girl chmbed to the second-floor balcony. Bending Distressed, he pressed his case again to Lal, this time more solicitously, "Usten
F! over, she twisted the water from her hair and shook it dry; her chest arched forward, to the timbre of my voice that it may better convey my appeal!" The crown prince
causing her simple shift to slip down from her breast. As this beauty stood there— continued, "Usten, my dear girl, you who are so beautiful. You alone will I make
naked from the waist up—the crown prince Hosen Shah chanced to look up. With the prince consort! Elephants, horses, jewels, and land—all will be yours. I shall
but a glimpse, this heir to the throne sputtered with the excitement of the first- speak to the emperor and get full sanction and approval of the court for the two of
smitten. As the day passed he could neither eat nor drink. us. Otherwise, your mother and father will marry you off to someone who is not
The crown prince arose early the next morning and went to the school, to the even a local. How could you stand that, Lal? How could you continue to hve having
study area known as the darasa. Once there the prince tried to study—if study is to forget everyone here? Love is an object difficult to obtain, the most prized expe-
I!!
the word for it. rience of this world. You must be extremely cautious to nurture this fragile love. My
So has written the Poet Anf about his friend and companion Satya Pm life, my wealth—everything have I offered you, 0 beautiful one! After I ascend the
throne as emperor, it is you, Lal, who will give the commands! If you pay no heed
That morning the crown prince sat down and opened his book to read, when Lalmon and ignore what I say, Lal, I shall commit suicide by impaling myself on my scimitar.
arrived at the school as usual. The crown prince was in a daze, indeed enchanted, You and you alone shall bear full and complete responsibility for my death all the
staring at Lalmon, who came in and took her place with a light heart. The book in days of your life. You shall suffer miserably throughout this life and the afterlife as
which she had begun to write her lessons was soon filled with the giddy joys that well. All the wealth you can see about you is yours. Listen, protect too this treasure
ran rampant in her heart, and for some httle time more she was able to continue that is my paltry hfe, my dearly beloved Lalmon!"
this charade. But watch the mischief of which God alone is capable of stirring. By the end of his declarations, Lalmon was completely distraught. Exasperated
As she wrote, ill's hand slipped to the left and her half-finished page fell directly and desperate she replied, "Love is indeed the cool and creamy essence of experience
I
I
in front of the crown prince. Watching it slip away, ill called out to the prince, "I've in this world of honorable men, but for those of questionable motives, 0 Prince, it
dropped my paper. Please pick it up and hand it to me." is like a searing fire. You have spoken freely of what is in your heart. I recognize
Paying heed to Lal's request, he timidly rephed to her, "I feel constrained, indeed your love as true, so please extend your right right hand to me. Love and protect
I do not have the courage, to speak to you directly." Lal listened and then told the me, 0 Prince, for as long as you live! Should you abandon me any time in the future,
son of the emperor, "First fetch me my paper, then speak your mind." you will bear the burden of this heinous evil. Because we are alone, this is our private
"I am haunted without respite by thoughts of you. Gloom grips my heart when vow to each other and before no one else. The only witness present before us is the
I cannot see you. Be merciful, my dear, and save my pitiful life! I crave the intimacy Master himself, Satya Pit."
of eating betel, ill, directly from your hand."2 Listening carefully to the conditions set forth, the crown prince proffered his right
When she heard his words, ill was flabbergasted. "You want to eat betel from hand. The daughter of the wazir stood up and acknowledged him with a formal

30 Fabulous Females and Peerless Pa's The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 31
 salaam. Grasping the prince's hand, she guided it to her head and solemnly declared, instantly a servant was assigned as a chaperone there in the ornate gazebo in which
"This body is now yours, 0 Prince among princes, I have entrusted it entirely to you they studied—and to him fell the order to murder Ul.
and your safekeeping." Leading the prince by the hand, she sat on the bed. Opening It happened that a maidservant, a wet nurse named Htra—the embodiment of
a box of gold, she fed him betel with her own hand. The king's son and Lalmon clarity and strength, as her name, "Diamond," suggests—was in that very same place
were transfixed. Kissing gently they stretched out and lay on the bed together as a and heard with her own ears everything that was plotted. Now FlIra was UI's favorite
couple. There on that bed the couple surrendered themselves to unmitigated joy. servant and she was very partial to Lal, so she rushed to the school under the pretext
Lalmon's extraordinary beauty glowed even brighter, if that were possible. of going to the bazaar. Presenting herself with the utmost formality and courtesy,
While the two savor their love play, extended and intense, on that nuptial bed, may she stood firm and placed her hand over her heart as a sign of sincerity. "0 my
Satya Ptr be merciful and save our hero! May everyone recite Allah, Allah, and take refttge prince, 0 daughter of the minister! Listen carefully to my words: Your sins of the
in the Prophet. Serving his muriid, the poet Arif sings. flesh, the fact that you are illicit lovers, has been discovered. When you return home,
your throat is to be slit."
The couple was absorbed in their mutual pleasures, whispering sweet nothings, and The wazir's daughter listened and the pleaded with the crown prince, "Hear me,
playing as only new lovers do, when magically Satya Pir materialized in their midst. lord of my life, what can we do? The news is out, so everyone now must know.
The Pir interrupted them, "Lal, you called me as witness to your betrothal. Out of Come, let us escape the kingdom and flee for our lives!"
mercy I have come. Now stretch out your hands to make offering to me." Slowly The prince gave heed and immediately ordered UI, "Go back and slip quietly
and deliberately Satya Fir slid away and suddenly floated above the doorway. Ex- through the back door into your private chambers. Put on the clothes of a man and
tending his magical power over the physical world, he called out to Lal, "I have come wrap your torso with a broad cummerbund to disguise yourself. Take some gold
to your chambers to receive alms!" coins—moharas of value—to cover travel expenses. We shall saddle two of the finest
The son of the emperor grew belhgerent in his pride and arrogance as he hstened horses and under the cloak of night make good our escape." When they had worked
to the Pir's words. He picked up a pen—the only item close at hand—and hurled out the details of their plan, each returned home surreptitiously, entering their pri-
it with all his might at Satya PIr. "I worked long and hard to win Lal, so be off with vate ward through the back, while the ministers sat in ambush outside. Through
you!" cried out the heir apparent. But when the eminent Satya FIr registered the secret back passageways and alleys they wended their way through the confines and
vitriol spewing from the prince's mouth, he calmly observed, "You who have cast equipped themselves quickly as they arrived in their chambers. They wound compact
aspersions on me do not merit the likes of Lal." The prince unsheathed his scimitar turbans around their heads in the Mongolian style, and Ui, who was such a beauty,
and lunged to strike, but Satya Pir prudently and deftly sidestepped just beyond his chose outer gannents that matched the prince's. They shpped into pajamas of finest
reach. The PIr retorted, "0 son of the emperor, you have failed utterly to recognize muslin, called mulmul, and around their waists they strapped dagger, sword, and
me. You struck me with a pen from your own hand." Anger rising unchecked, Satya shield. Over these they slipped their matching red jackets and leather helmets. Finally
Pir let fly a retahatory curse, "Suffer greatly you will on account of Lal. You came at they packed a change of clean clothes and picked well-tempered Kharasani scimitars,
me to hack me to pieces with your sword, but it is you who will be felled by the renowned for their icy-edged sharpness. After fixing handkerchiefs in their tightly
hand of a witch, one possessed, in a land far away." Having had his say, the Pir bound cummerbunds, they at last set off. From the palace they fled, dressed as
suddenly vanished as quickly as he had come, while the crown prince and the wazir's soldiers of fortune. From the stable each picked a handsome steed, bridled and
daughter remained frozen on the bed. saddled it. They carefully tucked an extra gold mohara into an inner pocket and then
They returned to their respective abodes only to eat. The couple tried to resume their leaped upon their mounts. With a magical twinkling the high-strung horses were
normal studies, attending school every day. The days began to slip by, one just like the off, and the couple abandoned everything to this sorry world, speeding onto the
other—but just watch and see what mischief God can stir up. open greenway. They paused only when they reached a distant stand of flowering
kadamba trees.
Sinful acts always will out, and so they did. One day Ui, the minister's daughter, The poet Anf serves the feet of his spiritual preceptor by singing.
was caught giving a meaningful look at the crown prince. Even though that daughter
of a wazir gave but a single look and said nothing whatsoever, from that solitary act As Lal despaired, openly wallowing in her misery, she spoke abjectly to the prince.
Lal's demise was plotted by those who saw: "When the emperor hears the whole "I have abandoned my home, everything for which I hoped and held dear. And here
story, he will take his own son's hfe, hurling him into a lime pit, be sure of it." Nearly I sit crying, alone at the foot of the orange-flowering hadamba tree. By what ill fate

32 Fabulous Females and Peerless Ptrs The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 33
T was I destined to become a woman of ill repute, tarnished goods? I have become she mounted on the spot.
guideless, my lord and master Satya Pir has completely forsaken me." The trials of love are severe.
Abandoning her mother, father, and wet nurse,
Standing beneath the kadamba tree UI stepped onto the roadway and joined the prince.
Ulmon spoke throngh her tears. He who never knows love
"Get up my prince, wake up! lives peacefully and in happiness.
The night is fast becoming dawn. If one is lucky, he stays that way.
How and where shall we go?" UI spoke forcefully,
Lalmon cried out in anguish. "We cannot stay here any longer,
"When we were in the school, lest someone catch sight of us."
what power compelled us to love Love suffers no shame.
once your real feelings were made known? Abandoning royal convention and propriety
I was a defenseless girl the two lovers bolted.
saddled with the guilt of your destruction Artf the poet lives,
when you declared your love for me. his mind focused on the feet of truth,
Before you I was everyone's darhng. serving the feet of the Pir.
I went to school to study,
carefully raised by my mother and father. The couple turned and headed north. They passed through the city without anyone
Not realizing the consequences recognizing them. Tensions eased and they conversed hghtheartedly. The stallions
I committed immoral sins of the flesh— never relented, gallantly cariying them forward. They made good time, covering
to you I surrendered my body completely. about twenty-five miles in three hours, just as the sun came up. When they had
Your heart was hard, distanced themselves by those twenty-five miles, they decided to veer off the path
when forgetting all else you took me, and make for the border. The two lovers seemed to fly effortlessly over hundreds
1: now a few short days later your fortune has turned sour and hundreds of miles.
Bnt the crown prince had been asleep On her right, in the distance, Lalmon noticed a town slip by. Then they reached
and was only gradually waking to consciousness. the city of Magna. Off to the left they saw seven women and quickly turned their
He stood up and looked around to get his bearings. horses away. When they reached Cherapa, they left the road and skirted around the
He called out to Lal, town. Riding back into the middle of the main road, the son of the emperor spoke,
"Stay here under the kadamba tree. "We can certainly lay over in the city of Ajarna." And saying that, the prince rode
Please forgive my mistakes and bad quahties, on ahead. . but he had blundered and was nowhere near the road to Ajama. As it
.

pardon my faults. dawned on him, the prince grew worried and pulled up to a stop. "I don't under
The palace still sleeps. stand. When are we ever going to reach Ajama?" cried the prince to Lalmon. "Hear
Let us get dressed. Be quick!" me! My body trembles for food, and it has made my head ache."
Lal nodded her assent Lal parried this august son of the emperor, "Listen, lord of my life. How am Ito
and began to pull on her garments. prepare food in the middle of this foreign jungly wasteland?" And with this short,
Carefully did she clothe and disguise her body. somewhat pointed exchange, the two pressed forward, when they suddenly found
On her lithe form went fine muslin pajama, themselves unwittingly at the house of some phasaras, particularly bloodthirsty high-
decorated with delicate beads of pearls. waymen, a merciless brand of brigands. The entire group of phasaras was out hunt
Then she emerged from beneath the shelter of the tree. ing, but an old crone was sitting on the threshold of the house. Lal addressed her
She held in her hand a shield and scimitar. politely and with respect, "Listen, Grandmother, could you please give me a pot to
The liveliest stallion from the stable cook some food for us to eat?"

34 Fabulous Females and Peerless Ptrs The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 35
 When she heard this plaintive voice, that mean old woman was nearly ecstatic. kings on his person. I finagled to hold them here as long as possible, but the couple
She instantly handed Lal some wood, but it was wet, wood stacked in standing water, mounted up and rode off hard." The chief phasara listened attentively and then
and a cracked pot that would hold nothing at all. While the crown prince announced spoke, "Listen, Old Mother, you must tell us everything you know, for they may
that he was going to he down on the veranda and nap, hal went off alone to cook. already have gotten away." The old woman responded, "Usten to what I tell you,
Filling her leaky pot with water, she began to sift the rice for cooking. This sweet Khelaram, my boy. I figure that they could not have covered more than about four
young girl then sat down to cook it. Water seeped out of the pot's cracks, adding its miles by now." The old woman then showed the men the horses' hoofprints and all
deluge to the already wet wood of her smoky fire. It was only then that Lal realized seven hundred phasaras took off after them in a mad rush. Anger welled in their
what the old crone had been up to. She had feigned affection when she had spoken hearts—for they were an innately malevolent breed—and they urged themselves
to Lalmon, with an obvious bounce in her step as she stole occasional glances at the forward with screams of "Kill! Kill!" Meanwhile, the crown prince and the wazir's
young and healthy Lalmon. When the old crone lavished just a bit too much attention daughter had paused to rest under a small stand of hadamba trees. Then Lalmon saw
on Lal—but tricked her with the delaying tactic of the leaky pot and wet wood—it the phasaras and panic was upon her.
was then and only then that hal realized they had stumbled onto the homestead of May the Stainless One protect them, mutters the poet Ar[ Who can fathom the complex
a band of phasaras. Carrying on and fussing about, the old woman finally went inside, magic of the Fir's compassion? May you be enveloped in the aura of Satya Fir's grace.
and just as suddenly as she had disappeared a very young girl——the phasara house-
hold's newest bride—was standing there. Gesturing for attention, the girl quietly hal cried out, "Listen, 0 Prince, lord of my life! The hand of this wicked phasara has
confided to Lal, "Be warned. Get away as quickly as you can! But first, listen carefully. put us into a desperate state. 0 my lord, you must mount your horse and ride to
Ask the old hag for a httle bit of ghee to prepare your food." i-Tearing her out, the freedom, while I stay behind and give battle to the phasaras!" Lalmon was emotionally
young Lal began to see her strategy, so she called the old lady plaintively, "Please overwrought and she clipped her words. "Why should you be struck down by the
give me some ghee to prepare my food!" Immediately the old woman ordered the -

hand of the phasaras? You are male, you are the touchstone. Wherever you go untold
child-bride, "Little Mother, give a little ghee for our honored guests' use!" As soon numbers of beautiful women will happily run with your summons. Tam but a terribly
as she heard the order, the young girl was gleeful and ran off to collect a small cup unfortunate woman who is httle more than a dark blot on her family and hneage.
of ghee, which she handed over to hal. She instructed her, "Pour this directly onto You will find many loving women who are gold compared to my dross. Give up this
the wood in the embers of your small stove. You will see that the heat will cook the crazy infatuation you have for me and turn your attention to someone else. Save
rice in no time at all, even though the wood be wet." yourself! Do not delay, 0 my prince, ride like the wind!"
Heeding her instruction, Lalmon poured the ghee on the flames, which instantly After hearing her out, the son of the emperor rejoined, "If I give up you, what
roared to hfe, cooking the rice. Then the young hal called out, "Prince, 0 my prince! will I do? Where will I go? With whom shall I run? I have extended my right hand
Wake up quickly. Listen, treasure of my life, the Fates have guided us to the house to you for love's sake. How can I survive, hal, if I abandon you? You are the treasure
of a phasara." When this finally registered with the groggy emperor's heir apparent, of my hfe, the very ring on my finger. It was only for you, UI, that I have become
he woke with a start. The couple wolfed down their food and made ready to flee. a fugitive, a refugee from my own land."
They jumped on their horses and rode hard and fast, slipping away from the phasaras' The couple stood there, absorbed in their argument, until suddenly they were
house. UI urged them on, "0 Prince, drive the horses harder, harder!" while follow- surrounded by the full contingent of seven hundred phasaras. Lalmon vented her
ing hard behind the old hag screamed the alann. passion with a deafening roar and every single phasara without exception involun-
Gaining on them, the crone tried to cut them off at a pass, but the prince and the tarily recoiled. The brave Gopala Jagai was the man at the point, but he called on
wazir's daughter spurred their horses onward. Unable to stop them, the old hag someone else to take the lead, "Hey, listen, brother' Damodara then tried, "Hey,
could only watch mournfully as they rode away. In her anguish at having failed she Roghu, my good brother, why not order Han to lead the chargel Listening to
flung herself hard to the ground, weeping and rolling in the dirt, but soon collected their spineless chatter, Had flew into a rage and advanced. Lal met him on her horse
herself and began to scream at the top of her voice. With the alarm she sounded, and quickly thrust her sword deep into his belly, Hard on her heels the emperor's
more than seven hundred phasaras responded by returning to the estate compound. son spurred his horse, and with a swing of his scimitar he separated head from body.
Finding the old woman in such a state, they questioned her closely, "Why are you The phasaras quickly blocked the road forward and backward, for they outnumbered
rolling around on the ground in such a frenzy? Why are you weeping?" The crone the couple. Forced into a corner, the two began to hack their way forward. The
spoke, "A stranger came here from Chephai. The young man had the wealth of seven phasaras proved no match against them, falling one by one to their incessant rain of

36 Fabulous Females and Peerless Prrs The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificia/ Goat 37
 blows until only one was left standing, a small boy. Lal was with the emperor's son swear it." As the head prattled on, the phasara quickly exchanged his tattered clothes
every step of the way, fighting back to back. for those elegant ones worn by the decapitated prince. He put them on with great
As this delicate daughter of the wazir was about to let fly one final blow, the glee. He strapped the scimitar to his side, picked up a shield, a dagger, and a stubby
prince called out to her, "Lal, do not strike. Don't kill this one!" Lifi replied, "My machete for close-in fighting. He then mounted the prince's gallant steed and waited
prince, you do not understand. It will never do to save this child, for he is a black for Lalmon. When she returned from her bath, the phasara eyed her lecherously and
snake, the serpent of death!" said, "See for yourself, my dear, I have hacked your husband to death. Come, let us
"Why would you behead this lovely child? This tiny child of such delicate con- go, my lovely, for you are mine and I'm taking you to my home."
stitution and tender age can hardly know anything at all." The prince continued, When everything registered, La! broke into wails of agony and grief. It was as if
saying, "Listen, Lalmon, I plan to raise this child as if it were my own. I shall pick the vault of the heavens had shattered and rained down on her head. "Where has
it up and take it with me to sate its hunger." UI argued, "0 son of the emperor, I my treasure gone, leaving me in this world without a guide?"
am at a loss! It is not meet that we have slain these many people, but now that it is Anf replies, "My girl, the Fates have veered dangerously off course."
done, you must finish the job, sever the lotus's stalk and deprive it of its life-giving
water. Listen, 0 lord of my life, should you try to rear that child, you are certain to As she gazed at the severed head lying on the ground,
suffer, for it will bite the hand that feeds it. Listen, let us not procrastinate over what her eyesblurred with the upsurge of tears,
must be done. Pull yourself together and let us go. I will then cook some food." casting her adrift on an ocean of sorrow
Unable to agree, the pair rode slowly away from the scene, taking the boy. Deep barely able to cling to life itself.
within the jungle they came upon a lake. They pulled up beside it and loosed their Weeping, Lal reckoned it was the circumstance of birth
gear. The prince instructed the child phasara, "Take yourself to the market and be that occasioned this vile and black death.
quick about it! Fetch some rice, lentils, flour, and ghee and bring them back here at "Get up, get up!" she screamed,
once!" The phasara did as told and headed for the local bazaar. He later presented "I shall pour water in your mouth and make you live.
the lentils, rice, etc., exactly according to the instructions of the crown prince. As Apart from you, who else is there
usual the prince spread out some bedding and promptly lay down, dozing off, while by whom I can stand?"
the daughter of the wazir jumped to the labor of cooking. When the food was When he heard Lid's pathetic mourning,
prepared, they sat down and ate and drank together. As their stomachs filled, the the phUsara spoke unsympathetically.
pair began to exchange the humorous nonsense of those in love. UI fashioned a "Now who is your man? Who is in charge?
betel quid and shpped it into the prince's mouth, while the young phasara sat silently You must come with me now! Quick!"
and watched their increasingly amorous play. Their two bodies quickly joined as She contemplated her options and quickly cast her lot
one; nothing could have pried them apart. And for seven straight days did they vent and answered, "I will come with you.
their passions, making this humble place their home. You go on a httle ahead,
One morniug when Lalmon had gone out for her toilet, the prince's new child while I follow behind as is proper."
lay beside him all alone. The prince was in the unconscious bliss of a deep sleep. And so the phasara foolishly led the way
Gazing intently at the face of this crown prince, the young child saw only his family's While Lalmon came after in a quiet rage.
death. With the idea gradually taking shape in his phasara mind, he concluded that Quietly did she raise high her scimitar
he would decapitate this monster, then retrieve UI and carry her off to his former and let it fall at the crown of the phcisara.
home. He quickly raised the prince's scimitar and swung, neatly separating the His head flew, bouncing to the ground
prince's head from his body in a single stroke. Examining the severed head he grew while Lid pufied up on the reins to stop the horse.
drunk with pleasure. Lid had slain the phasar without remorse.
The severed head screamed, "Lalmon, where are you?" Rolling around in the dust She pulled hard on the reins, wheeled her horse around,
it screeched between its final grunts and groans. "Where are you, love of my life? and headed back to that dreadful place
Show yourself to me! Befitting this worldly life you can go home. In this birth we where she had dallied amorously,
two have been tom asunder, but, my beautiful UI, we shall meet in the next life, I but where her husband's corpse now lay.

38 Fabulotu Females and Peerless Ptrs The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 39
 I

Anf the poet composes tried in vain to cover the body with the ends of her own clothes. The young woman
while serving the feet of Truth, Satya Ptr emitted a long, haunting wail of agony, which began to tug the heartstrings of Satya
Pir, who sat on his throne far away.
Lal picked up the prince's head and cradled it in her lap. Striking her own head His seat, normally fixed and stable in this world, began to quiver and shake. Satya
in grief, she cried bitterly, lost in her delirium. "'Where have you gone, 0 lord of Pir himself finally went to the rescue of his devoted Lal. A wooden staff came to his
my life, casting me adrift in this fathomless ocean of existence? I have no one hand when bidden, wooden sandals popped onto his feet. The FIr picked up his
else save you! Who else can I possibly have in this world? Save you, the lord of my worn and soiled shawl and wrapped it tightly around his withered body. By magic
life, on whom shall I lean? With whom shall I play and indulge each day, for when dtd Satya Ptr take himself to the place where UI wept, holding a severed head in
I lost your side there was none left on whom to lavish my affections. We rolled the her lap. As he watched her, the Pir was finally able to get her attention and speak,
dice together, but no longer."3 She cradled the severed head in her lap and traced "For what reason do you weep like this, stretched out on the ground?"
its features with her fingers. "Through this mouth would you eat betel, my life's When she heard him, UI replied, "Listen, Wise One. In this jungle has my fate
lord. You have abandoned me, 0 my lord, where have you gone? How can I forget run foul. The lord of my life has abandoned me, leaving me unprotected, bereft of
you and continue to live? I have no friends, male or female, in this sea of life. It is a husband. I have become the most unfortunate creature in this wide expanse of the
as if I float hither and yon on the surface of the water hke a rootless water hyacinth. world."
Did I steal away someone else's husband in a previous birth? Perhaps that would The Pir listened and then advised Lal directly. "It is only because of the irascible
explain why my lord has now parted. Float me across this ocean of existence and nature of Satya Ptr that this favorite son of the emperor met his death. Offer to Satya
make me your mate. We two shall become one as we are consumed with our love. Ptr the inti—a simple mixture of banana, rice flour, sugar, and milk—prepared with
Listen, my lord, half of the day has already passed. Too long have you slept without hberal doses of faith and trust, and your husband who is now suffering death will
food; wake up and eat some rice. Apart from you I have no other in this river of regain his hfe. With single-minded zeal attach the severed head to its body, and your
life." intimate companion, Satya PIr, will resuscitate the darhng son of the emperor."
Just as waters without swans have lost their true beauty, her body, which had Hearing his words, Lal concentrated on the proper preparation of the iirii, while
once glowed golden from her love play, now lost all luster and turned dark. A flood the bestower of all pleasures quietly shpped away. She carefully placed the severed
of tears soaked her shirt. As she rehnquished her grief, the tears began to flow, head, affixing it to the body just so, and by the grace of Satya PIr, the head was
increasing until they drenched her entire body. Three days did she thus pass, eating firmly reattached. Life began gradually to stir and reanimate the body. When the
absolutely nothing. The many hying creatures that populate the jungle heard and vital breaths returned, the crown prince slowly came to consciousness. As soon as
felt pity. The entire jungle began to fast in sympathy. For three days did the tiny he was revived, the prince sat up. The young woman immediately threw herself at
fawn nestle under the protection of its mother, and each morning when it would his feet. "Where did you go, my lord? When you left me behind, I became the most
awake the doe told it to suckle. But the fawn rephed, "Listen, Mother, there is an unfortunate creature this mundane world has ever seen." Overcome with emotion
important guest in the forest and she sits all alone, crying, clasping her lord to her and blustery with tears, she held fast his feet. The emperor's son could make neither
breast. I will not drink any milk until this young woman stops her grieving and goes heads nor tails of her behavior. Then UI explained to the prince, "Listen, my lord,
to bathe." These were the exact words exchanged between fawn and doe. Touched, Madana the phasara decapitated you with your own sword She then proceeded
the doe and her mighty buck wept together. Predators and prey ahke gave up their to describe all the ensuing events to the prince. "Listen, lord of my hfe, for three
food as they wept. The normal hunt of the forest was abandoned as every sentient whole days you lay slain The prince listened carefully to Lal's vivid description,
being crouched down in sympathetic apprehension. For lii's sake alone did all the then the two of them went to bathe and to eat. The multitudes of living creatures
birds of the forest fold away their wings, like so much stubble, refusing to fly, roosting there in the forest were reheved, finally able to take their food, and the prince said
fast to branches hke the roots dropped from the limbs of the banyan. At the foot of quietly, "Let us stay here and burden them no longer."
the kadamba tree the great steed neighed its grief loudly, for horses know these things. The poet Anf sings the praise of Truth, Satya Prr, whose feet I clasp in hard embrace,
Three days passed and it would eat nothing at all. The flesh of the crown prince's Gazi Warrior for the Faith, who is benevolent to our hero.
body began to putre', giving off a wretched odor. The young lady sighed in exas-
peration, recognizing but grudgingly the condition of her lord and husband. Untold The couple saddled their horses and rode off, but they completely forgot to offer the
numbers of flies began to appear, multiplying into a frenzied swarm, while Lalmon promised irii. So distracted were they in their romance they failed to honor the Ptr.

40 Fabulous Females and Peerless Firs The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 41
 The PIr declared, "I shall make Ui suffer for this!" Filling with anger, Satya PIr cursed his cue, the brave young constable searched high and low. Meanwhile Lalmon was
her: "For six long months will you languish in prison!" fast beneath her tree, weeping disconsolately.
Just as Satya Pir dispatched that curse from his place in Mecca, the city of Mogan It so happened that the exact coloring of the two horses that were stolen matched
could just be seen ahead. A lake lay hard by the city, and there the prince stopped precisely the color of the two horses in Lal's possession. While the noble Lal was
and pulled loose his cummerbund. The son of the emperor made fast his horse to distracted in crying for her prince, the constable apprehended her as the horse thief.
the trunk of a convenient tree. The prince then went off to shop in the local bazaar. Finally waking up to what was happening, UI pleaded, "Where is your sense of
The lady Lal uneasily called out to him, "Go straight there and come straight back. justice? By what measure can you jail me, my brother, without hearing me out?" But
Don't dawdle!" he had no time for appeals and dragged her away. Screaming for her beloved lord,
The young prince took note and went off with high spirits. Along the roadside Lal was swept away in tears. "Just when my lord abandons me, so too my fortunes.
he spotted a woman who was selling flowers. Her name was Purpima—the Full I have been made out a horse thief. My fate has turned fickle!" UI's cries fell on deaf
Moon—and her beauty was that of a celestial nymph. When she in turn saw how ears as she headed for jail. Some of her captors strnck her around the neck and
handsome the prince was, she was smitten. When she started to stare at the prince, houlders, pushing her forward, while others roughly shoved her back.
dangerous ideas cried for her attention, each asking, "How can I charm this attractive When the king held his regular public audience, the report was handed over and
young prince?" The string of rose and magnolia flowers that bound her hair she the constable had her produced. Seething with anger, the king examined his horse
pulled down around her neck as a garland. The hair that was wound tightly on top thief, never dreaming she was a woman. "Beat him and behead him in the southern
of her head she loosed, and deftly wove into it fresh jasmine and miniature magnolia gateway!"
blossoms. She pushed another flower blossom behind her ear, enhancing her already When the king issued this conmiand, Lalmon became incensed and began to
ample charm. Then, smiling coyly, she addressed the prince. This mischievous berate him. "Listen, you who are a king in name only! You have ordered me punished
wench spoke suggestively, if not outright provocatively. She surreptitiously tugged without granting me a trial. The true extent of your intelligence and wisdom have
the cloth from her body to reveal her breasts. The prince, understandably, quite surely been exposed. Those who sit in your court are nothing but mindless ignora-
forgot himself, and, his eyes riveted on this flower vendor, he muttered, "I'll take muses. Your soldiers and servants are equally sycophantic fools. There is none among
that garland of flowers hanging there around your. . . neck." you worthy of being the king's spokesman!"
Pun2ima the garland weaver knew well the art of magical charms. Into the prince's As her passions rose, her words fell over themselves until the king commanded,
outstretched hand she placed from her body those flowers so charged. With great "Sieze this thief and take him to jail! It is the will of Allah that this contemptible
dehght the sporting young prince inhaled the fragrance of those flowers, and by the creature be granted a reprieve! Tie him up in prison. I will try him later."
incredible power of that erotic magic, the man was transformed into a ram! Having Receiving this order, the constable remanded UI into thejail for men. They bound
made him into a ram, she took him home. She kept the charming prince in a specially her with ropes, hand and foot. An impossibly large stone was hoisted onto her chest.
constrncted wooden deck and enclosure. By night she transformed him into a man Lal cried out in gut-wrenching pain, "As heart and hope wither, my chest rips apart."
to enjoy his fine company, but by morning back into a ram he was turned, to be Her heart fluttered anxiously; she could hardly breathe. Endlessly she wept, at first
kept for the day in his special pen. counting each of her sorrows. But as her weeping could not be stymied, Lal lost
Meanwhile, back at the lake, the minister's daughter decided to take a look track of her miseries. Mentally she repeated the name of her prince—who can cal-
around. When the prince was late, she began to fret. "The lord of my life has left me culate just how many times? "Where have you gone, lord of my life? You have
here without protection!" But there she remained rooted, both she and her horses abandoned me! I am the most unfortunate creature in all of this worldly creation."
involuntarily fasting. "My lord has brought me into a strange land and abandoned But, exhausted, UI no longer registered the extent of her suffering. All this noble
me—such is my luck! I do not know why fate makes me suffer yet again." Falling woman could do was to cry out for her lord and master. "If only I could meet my
to the dust, disheveled, her breasts unbound in anguish, she lay weeping. Somehow lord for a moment! There is no one who can fathom just how wretched I have
the day passed and night stole in. become. This must be the suffering that fate etched so plentifully on my forehead at
The ruler of the city ol Mogan, one Sayyid Nehar—the All Seeing—had two birth. Your beloved servant cries out, for she is dying—come to see me one more
horses stolen from him that night. When the king arose the next morning and sat time! If you have not seen your UI by the time of her demise, then please, my lord,
in his court, he called for the constable to inform him of the event. "I want my horses meet me in the next world! It was undoubtedly decreed that in this world we two
returned now—and be quick about it! If you are slow, your head will roll!" Taking would be estranged, and now here I lie in the dust on the floor of a prison."

42 Fabulous Females and Peerless Pns

H
The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 43
 In this way did two full months pass. The king had completely forgotten to bring Some fled on foot to escape being killed;
II her to trial. Endlessly did Lal weep, lying in that awful jail cell. Finally, moved, the others simply dived deep into the surrounding waters.
Pir decided, "I shall save Lal." And so the PIr spoke to her from afar, "Be calm, cry Like some frantic demon embodied,
no more, my child." it scattered the nine hundred thousand soldiers.
Shortly after that, a rhinoceros appeared in the city; it was a regular monster of Then the king anxiously announced,
the species. Everyone fled the city in great alarm and the news was duly reported to "Whoever can subdue this rhinoceros
the king by his ministers. When he heard about it, the king immediately made it I will make my son-in-law!
top priority: "Spread the word that the rhino must be slain!" To him I shall give my daughter's hand in marriage,
May everyone repeat the name of Allah, Refuge for the Anxious. Says the poet Arif, and in addition hand over one-half of my kingdom."
"The Pie will save you." Even UI, sitting in prison, heard this announcement.

The king spoke with the full power of his office UI beckoned the guard to come over
and personally went forth with great pomp and majesty. and engaged him in casual conversation.
He called this to the attention of everyone "Take these twenty-five gold mohara coins
and ordered his cavalry to muster their ranks. and release me for two hours."
Bamboo mallets thumped smallish kettle drums; Greedy, he took the twenty-five gold pieces
the ground reverberated with their message. and cut her rope bindings free.
Horns, bells, and cymbals sounded He brought Lal her spirited charger and
to assemble nine hundred thousand titan warriors, even supplied her with shield and razor-sharp sword.
III
Then war trumpets blared and massive kettle drums boomed Her body had grown thin, emaciated,
as mounted soldiers strutted forward their steeds. but she saddled and mounted her horse herself.
Message drums and signal bugles ordered forth the assembly, Out she rode on her steed,
while innumerable victory drums banged their support. passing the king, to whom she bowed.
Again the horns sounded, this time with flutes, She spurred her horse forward, out past
mustering the sepoy lines to the front. the dispersed ranks of the nine hundred thousand soldiers.
Then waves of drummers hned up, Still no one had recognized that
reminiscent of a precision macbine in action. Ul was a woman and not a man!
The cannons were then wheeled from the arsenal. With great cunning she ensnared that nasty beast,
Archers bristled with clusters of sharp-tipped arrows, slipping a noose around its neck, a girth of a dozen feet or so.
while other soldiers seemed to dance into their formations. The rhinoceros charged, enraged at this act,
Collectively they advanced, row upon row upon row. but Ul met him herself, head-on.
They mounted one massive attack, It forced her mount to rear up dangerously,
firing on that place where the rhino rested. but she wheeled and smashed the beast's head, cutting deep.
Arrows and grapeshot rained down Its majestic head thudded hard to the ground
only to arouse that rhinoceros to defiance. and Lal pulled up her horse, reining it to a halt.
In a rage that rhino bull charged, head down, The assembly of nine hundred thousand witnessed her feat
goring some to their grisly deaths. and sang high her praises in gratitude and admiration.
It looked hideous, hke a monstrous demon, Lal then took herself straightaway to
forcing the rattled infantry and officers to flee. that place where the king was waiting.
No one could stand his ground Serving Allah and the feet of the Prophet,
as the beast gored horses and tossed riders to their ends. the poet Anf composes his tale.

44 Fabulous Females and Peerless Pies The Worir's Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 45
 When he witnessed the event, the king was overjoyed. He began to inquire of UI, the building contractors and immediately started to lay the foundation of that
"What land do you call home? Who is your family? Please tell me now, do not make
mosque. And she commanded, "Let the singers sing and dancers dance throughout
me wait!"
the holy month of Ramadan! Let musicians and troubadours entertain without stop!"
The daughter of the minister acknowledged the inquiry but hid her identity. She And to herself she thought, "If only my lord is ahve somewhere here in this land
spoke, calling herself Ui Shah. "Remember that person you called a horse thief and
Thinking only of this, she kept the entertainment going day and night, for everyone
had jailed—that is I, who am talking to you now!" When he heard this, the king in the country would eventually come to the celebration.
was understandably engulfed in shame, but he bravely continued, "You are the horse And, as these things happen, one day her prince heard about the great goings on,
thief?" Then the king recovered and said, "My son, what I said to you I still hold and of his captor, the flower vendor, he asked, "Who is putting on such long and
trne—my daughter, whose name is Mahtab, I will ve to you in marriage." lavish entertainment for the general public?" To which the flower vendor rephed, "It
UI countered, "Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider. How can you possibly give is the king's son-in-law. He is a trained soldier, a foreigner of sorts, who lived in
your daughter to a horse thief? If I, who am a thief, were to become your son-in- Karab City. The king has married his daughter to the one he accused of being a
law, everyone in your fair city will hold you at fault." horse thief. Apparently the bridegroom suffered terribly in jail, branded a thief, but
The king was not deterred, "You cannot be a horse thief! And I will give you my
when he slew the rogue rhinoceros, he got to marry the king's daughter." As the
I' daughter, Mahub, in marriage! I have no male offspring; I am a king who failed to
prince hstened, he slowly pieced together everything that had transpired. 1-Ic reached
produce an heir. You will ascend the throne and become king!" The king was per- for the flower vendor's hand and spoke. Holding her hands he pleaded with her
suasive and managed to get UI to agree. Without wasting any time, he sent for the earnestly. "Please take me to see this great event! I must see it for myself!" Seeing
town's magistrate, the local qazi. Tents and canopies were erected and wedding music
the obvious agitation of the prince, she was unable to deny him, so take him with
was played. And of course all the soldiers and their officers lined up for their share her to the extravaganza she did.
of the food.
When they attended the festivities, the two of them sat together—the emperor's
The princess Mahtab was waiting in her chambers, and the king then presented son in front and the flower vendor right behind.
to Ui that charming young woman. Somehow no one had discerned UI's real iden- Artf has composed his song, meditating on the greatness of God. With deep devotion
tity as a woman. So Mahtab joined Lal in the marriage hail. Laimon's physical form
repeat the name of Allah, my brothers, acknowledging no other.
was radiant as the full moon. To behold her dazzling countenance proded everyone
with extreme pleasure. All those participating in the festwities had a tmly dehghtful
The prince stayed for a long time and watched many interesting performances,
time. Drnms, deep throated and double ended, kept time, while someone sang ap- but Lalmon had failed to recognize him with that magical garland draped around
propriate songs. When they had exhausted the spectacle, everyone went home. his neck. To himself the prince likewise lamented, "it has been written in my fate
Alone, lii began to shed tears for the lord of her hfe. She fell onto the bed in a that I should be unable to meet with my UI. My luck has run out with the Fates
fit of sobs and tears—which, needless to say, did not go unnoticed by the king's
conspiring against me. I shall write my name on the side of the mosque. . ." Some-
.

daughter. Being shy and somewhat embarrassed, the young bride could do nothing.
one had conveniently spat out some chewed tobacco, so with that this heroic young
For three days she endured, until finally on the fourth day she returned to their man began to write. In addition to writing his name, this young man described his
bridal chamber. Dejected and feeling the grief of her hfe mate, the young bride predicament, telling his tale of woe. "I have fallen into danger in the clutches of the
screwed up her courage and spoke, "What is the reason, my beloved, that you weep flower vendor. If you are able to locate me, then please rescue me! 0 UI, my eyes
50 disconsolately? Why do you not joke and play romantically with me?" long to behold you1 And so he wrote his sad story, taking care to point the way
With tears flowing down, Lalmon could barely speak, "What can I say, my newly for his beloved. As he returned with the flower vendor, he could not stop weeping.
beloved, when my heart aches so? If you will be patient for one month, I swear I Purnima, that wicked garland weaver, led him back to her house and reinstalled her
will tell you. My bride, I will explain everything, all there is to know. I will tell you
handsome prince on her special platform.
this much now, however: When you hear my tale, it will surely break your heart!" Sometime later Lal went as usual to inspect personally the mosque's progress.
And so somehow they got through the rest of that day. Examining it from one end to the other, her eyes ran across that fateful wall. She
Lal then conjured the memory of the one they call Satya Pir. "I promise to build
noticed that the wall was discolored with dark blotches. And as UI began to decipher
a mosque, a permanent structure with exquisitely decorated walls. And when I get those marks, her grief overwhelmed her. The message she read rattled her brain; her
F

back the lord of my life, I will offer iiri to that Fir." Within the hour she had fetched
mind raced, but overcome, she slumped to the ground, completely insensate. "0 my

46 Fabulous Females and Peerless Firs

The Wazirs Daughter Who Married a Sacrificial Goat 47
 beloved," she moaned, 'You departed from me promising to return. What incredible was flailed severely, the rapid arc of the blows resembling the up and down undu-
miseries must you have suffered in the lair of that flower vendor! 0 my lord, it was lations of a yak-tail whisk. In the end the flower woman capitulated and reluctantly
written on our foreheads to suffer through all of this. May you once again physically transformed her ram back into a young man.
return to join me!" Several soldiers and officen noticed that she had fallen and ran Afi who witnessed this miracle were stunned. UI collapsed to the ground and
forward to assist her getting up. began to weep. Her crying was uncontrolled and in the stress of the moment, she
Although deeply anguished, UI sat for her daily court audience. She called the banged her head onto the ground. "Where had you gone, my lord, leaving me so
sepoys and started to issue a series of commands. "Listen carefully, all you who are utterly alone?" She cried like this for a long time, simply holding onto his hands.
present. I have a mind to see staged an elephant fight. Also staged battles with tigers, Then wrapping their arms around each other's necks, they slumped down into a
water buffaloes, and wild horses. And better yet, search the land over for rams. heap on the ground.
Today, in fact, I want to see some rams butt heads and until then, everything else Serving my spiritual preceptor, my murid, the poet Anf sings. Repeat the name of
must stop—I'll neither eat nor bathe until I've seen them." Allah, 0 brother, and take your place in the community of the faithful.
When it received its orders, that vast assembly quickly scattered to all the points
of the compass. And collect rams it did, countrywide, all to present to His Majesty. Lal was overjoyed to see her young prince. She had proper royal clothes brought
Lslmon inspected all the rams, but found them lacking. She at last declared, "There to her lord and, grabbing the prince's hands, she led him into the inner chambers
is an extraordinary specimen of a ram to be found in the house of a local flower of the palace. Everyone else who was present took appropriate leave. Inside, adjacent
vendor. South of the city in Begam Bazaar you will find a ram, strong and spirited, to the primary palace residence, stood a small annex. There she deposited the prince
in the house of one Puriiima. As her name—the Full Moon—imphes, she possesses until all the servants in the vicinity could be alerted. Then Lal escorted the prince
the beauty of a celestial nymph. She has penned that special ram on a wooden into the palace's main residential hall. Mahtab had been waiting there on her bed.
platform made just for it. That platform lies in the northeast corner of the house; UI explained and showed her who she really was. "I am not a man at all. In fact, I
visible as you pass through the southern entrance. Go and fetch that ram from the am menstruating right now Listening with utter disbelief, that innocent young
flower vendor." bride sobbed in shock, anger, and hurt. UI continued to explain, "That flower ven-
Taking their orders, the men assigned to the new prince hurried off, systematically dor, Malini, knows wefi the art of magical spefis. She had placed in his hand a flower
searching out this flower vendor, whom they found and questioned. "Produce the she had so charmed. With great pleasure and expectation did my handsome young
ram you've got; we are here to collect it. And by the prince's decree, you too will prince sniff its fragrance, and by the incredible power of her magic, he, a man, was
have to come with us." When the flower vendor heard this she protested—it was as transformed into a ram.
if the sky had fallen, crushing her head to pieces, such was her surprise. She had "That flower vender then took him to her home. She kept the prince in a specially
three or four other rams inside her compound, so all of these she handed over to constructed platfonn, by transforming him into a ram—and so my lord lived in that
the armed scouts. But these soldiers were not so easily fooled. "Pay close attention. flower seller's house. Now, using a number of strategies, I have recovered him from
We did not come after these rams. Bring out the special one!" The flower vendor that ignominious fate. I have nothing but profound love for this prince. Listen care-
swore, but recovered quickly and said, "If there is a ram inside, then you can bring fully, my young lover, the jewel I had lost I have found again. Now I shall escort
him out." Receiving that go ahead, they all rushed inside. The ram that was standing him back to our own country. You should remain here in the house of your mother
on that magical platform they unleashed and brought out. and father." But when she heard all this, the young bride pleaded with UI, "How
They took the flower vendor back, hurrying until they reached the royal and can you, my lord, go and leave me behind? You are the lord of my hfe; I am your
august presence of the prince. When Lalmon saw the ram, she was flooded with a female servant. If you abandon me I will hang myself in shame. Please stay right
sense of happiness and well-being. Then she turned her attention to the flower here for a moment, my love. First I want to explain everything personally to my
vendor. "Listen, flower vendor, turn this ram back into a man! If you do not do it mother and my father."
right now, you will pay with your hfe!" Having taken her stand, the young bride went deeper into the palace, where she
This flower seller listened incredulously to Lal's demand and retorted, "What kind found the king and his queen seated on the edge of their royal bed. Mahtab addressed
of nonsense am I hearing—that a man can become a ram? them. "Do you have any idea what you have done to me, Daddy? You gave me in
When she heard this reply, Lal flared with anger! In no mood to brook such marriage to someone you knew nothing about. And that young man is no man at
impertinence, she wasted no time in giving the order to lash the flower vendor. She all, but a young woman! She holds an abiding love for the son of another emperor.

48 Fabulous Females and Peerless Ptrs The Wazir's Daughter Who Married a Sacnjlcial Goat 49
r I-Ic had been held captive in the form of a ram in the house of a flower vendor, and
now that she has gotten him back, she wants to return to her own home! Still, she
is the treasure of my heart! I cannot part with her. Summon her, please, and hand
me over to her custody!"
"Where is this 'husband' of yours, show us!" boomed the king. Seizing that open-
ing, Mahtab called for La1.
Having anticipated the worst, the wazir's daughter was much reheved to hear the
call, and she commanded that her own husband be fetched. Taking him by the hand,
Lal entered into the inner confines of the palace. 1-fosen Shah and Lalmon moved as
one. The king was deeply moved to see how handsome this young prince really was.
I-fe then seated the prince and held him by the hand. Taking his daughter's hand,
he proffered her to UI, and UI in turn made her over to her husband, the crown
prince.
The king announced, "I am a king without an heir. I have no one of my own.
You must ascend the throne and reign as king." Having levied this royal edict, the
king returned to his own chambers, while the three heroes took their seats together
on the throne. Lalmon sat to the right, Mahtab to his left, Hosen Shah in the center.
The two women plied the king with betel from their own hands. When the night
had passed, what they all desired had been fulfilled. And, as promised, seven hun-
dred thousand rupees' worth of inii was given to honor Satya Fir.
At his place in Mecca, Satya FIr smiled benevolently, knowingly. And Hosen Shah
ascended the kingship of Mogan City. His desires continued to be fulfilled, death
The Unwilting Garland
of Faithfulness

Kinkara Dasa's Rambhavatf Pala

May your mind be stilled meditating on the boundless grace of

Satya Fir, When you hear this song, your miseries will slip away.

and misery held long at bay. ayadattathe merchant owned a house in a city on the Ajaya River, and in this
May Satya Fir be merciful to all who join him.
J house he had many treasures and gems. This man was blessed, a man of great
fortune, and that fortune included his wife, RamhhavatI. Her name—She Who Pos-
That I may be worthy of your protection, 0 Gcizi, Warrior of the Faithful, I clasp your sesses the Form of a Nymph—was appropriate, for this woman was the very em-
holy feet. May everyone repeat the name of Allah, as this fabulous tale reaches its end. bodiment of beauty itself. Quite understandably, the merchant was reluctant to leave
her, even for a moment; he would not go outside his home, just as Sri Ka kept
watch over his wife Rulcrnini. So dear to her husband was this woman that she could
never get away to visit the house of her mother and father; and appropriately, she
in response never failed to think of her husband alone as her lord. The merchant
would not even leave to visit a friend—he was more than content to stay at home.
So consumed was he by this conjugal love that he even managed to forget Satya Fir.
Now the Fir took note of this merchant's omission and, so offended, his anger
grew. Just as Kamala, one of Kia's many wives, sto]e from him, so the same befell
this son of a merchant. Diamonds, sapphires, pearls, corals, strings of precious and
semiprecious stones, silver, gold, and gold necklaces of fine filigree, exquisite yak-
tail whisks, sandalwood and other unguents, carved conch shells, finely wrought
musical instruments of many shapes and sizes—anything and everything did Satya
PIr pilfer.
One day Rambhavatt felt compelled to speak, "Listen my precious husband and

I
50 Fabulous Females and Peerless Firs 51