THE FAITHFUL RAJPOOT
One morning a soldier presented himself at King Sudraka's palace gate, and asked the porter to secure an audience for him.
Having gained admittance to the King's presence, he bowed and said:
"Your Highness, I am Vira-vara, a Rajpoot, who seeks employment."
"What pay do you ask?" inquired the King.
"Fifty pieces of gold a day," replied the soldier.
"And what will you do in return for so much money?" said the King.
"I have two strong arms, and this sabre, which shall be devoted to your Majesty's service," answered the Rajpoot.
"You ask too much," said the King, "and I am afraid I cannot retain you, but I will confer with my Ministers about you."
Then the King spoke to his Ministers, who agreed that the stipend asked was very large, but advised that he be given four days' pay, and to see what the soldier should do to earn it. So this was done.
The King watched very closely to see how Vira-vara spent his pay, and found that half of it went towards the support of the Temple, a fourth was devoted to relieving the poor, and the remaining fourth only did he reserve for his own sustenance. This division he made at the beginning of each day, and then he would stand on guard with his sabre at the palace gate, from whence he would retire only upon receiving the royal permission.
One very, very dark night King Sudraka thought he heard the sound of someone outside the palace gate sobbing as though stricken with deepest grief. He called for his guard, and Vira-vara at once appeared.
"Did you hear a sound of weeping?" asked the King.
"I thought I did, your Majesty," replied the Rajpoot.
"Then go and find out the cause," said the King.
The soldier at once departed on his mission, but as soon as he had gone the King repented him of sending him out alone into a night so dark that a hole might be pierced in it with a needle, so he took his scimitar, and followed his guard beyond the city gates.
Vira-vara had not gone far when he almost stumbled over a woman who was weeping bitterly. By the dim light of a torch, which he had hurriedly picked up after leaving the King's presence, he could see that she was a very beautiful and splendidly dressed lady.
"Why do you thus lament?" asked he.
"I am the Fortune of the King Sudraka," answered she. "For a long while I lived happily in the shadow of his arm, but on the third day he will die, and therefore do I shed these bitter tears."
"Can anything be done, dear lady, that will prolong your stay here?" asked the Rajpoot.
"Only one thing," replied the Spirit, "but that I do not like to tell you."
"Tell me what it is, and I swear to do it, out of loyalty to my kind Master," said the faithful guard.
"Then," said the Spirit Lady, "if you will cut off the head of your firstborn son, who has on his body the marks of greatness, and offer his head as a sacrifice to the all-helpful Goddess Durga, then shall I continue to be the guardian angel of the Rajah, even though he should live another hundred years."
Having said this, she disappeared, and Vira-vara went to his own house and awoke his wife and son.
These two listened attentively while he repeated to them the words of the vision and then the son said: "I feel honored in that I may be the means of saving the King's life; kill me quickly, for it is well that I can give my life to such a good cause."
To this the Mother agreed, saying, "It is well, and worthy of our blood; how else should we deserve the King's pay?"
Then they went to the temple of the Goddess Durga, and having paid their devotions and asked the favor of the deity on behalf of the King, Vira-vara struck off the head of his son, and laid it as an offering upon the shrine.
But the task had been too great for the Rajpoot. "Life without my boy is something I cannot bear to think of," said he; "my service to the King is now ended." Thereupon he plunged his sword into his own breast, and fell dead.
The sight of her husband and son, both lying dead at her feet, was too much for the grief-stricken mother, so she seized the blood-stained weapon, and with it slew herself.
Now all this was seen and heard by King Sudraka, who was just entering the gate of the temple, but so quickly did it happen, that he was unable to stop it. He hastened to where the bodies lay, and exclaimed: "Woe is me!"
Kings may come, and kings may go;
What was I to bring these low?
Souls so noble, slain for me,
Were not, and will never be!
Sorrowful indeed was he as he gazed upon the remains of his three faithful subjects. "Having lost these," he said, "what do I care for myself or my kingdom," Then he drew his scimitar, intending to take his own life.
But at that moment there appeared to him the Goddess, who is mistress of all men's fortunes. She stayed his uplifted hand, and said:
"Son, forbear, do not this rash deed; think of your kingdom."
The Rajah prostrated himself before her, and cried: "O Goddess! I am finished with life and wealth and country! Have pity on me, and let my death restore these faithful ones to life; I must follow in their path."
"Your affection finds favor in my sight, and is pleasing to me, Son," said the Goddess. "As a reward the Rajpoot, his wife and son shall be restored to life, and many years shall they live in your service."
With this assurance the King returned to his palace, and very soon he saw Vira-vara return and take up his station at the palace gate.
The Rajah sent for him and asked if he had discovered the cause of the weeping.
Now:
So the Rajpoot merely said: "It was a woman weeping, your Highness, and she disappeared on my approach."
The next day the King summoned his ministers and told them all that had happened, and he made the faithful guard his Grand Vizir.