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Chandamama July '66

 * WE GLADLY ANNOUNCE
THE INAUGURATION
CHANDAMAMA
of
CONTENTS FOR JULY 1955

CHANDAMAMA
*
joining Ilie group of tlie

The Proouratok [Jalaka) ... U already popular

Who 13 THB Thihf ! 15

CHANDAMAMA
BIHDI. THLUGU, KANKADA,
Shiva and Madhata 19

The Oombt 23
(xSerial) ...

AMBULIMAMA
CoPBAdfB S3

Pbavaba's WiPfl 30 AMBILI AMMAVAN

KALAYAEAU
49
AND
Chikka thh Bobbkik 62
CHANDOBA
A Family ob- Pamdits 54

*
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Chan dam am a July '65

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Ghandamama July 'Bfl

 !

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CbaDclamama July '85

 CHANDAMAMA
C/'nIrollIng Editor: CHAKRAPANI

We are very glad to place Ihis issue in

your hands. "Chandamama" has
been appearing in seven Indian lancuages.
Now it has begun appetiring in English too.
Everybody is fond of stories. There is a
great joy in reading or Ustening lo a nice
story, in olden days some kings engaged
story-tellers in order to derive this joy.
Some of the teachers told their pupils tales
of wit and wisdom instead of dry lessons.
And these pupils got really educated by
Ustening to them.
Those days are gone but the stories have
remained. "Chandamama" brings to you
these wise, old stories and gives you the
samejoy that kingsofold derived from their
story-tellers. The charm of tlie stories is
enhanced by nice and colourful illustrations.
We hope you will like this issue immensely.

V<j|. 1 JULY 1955 No. 1

 THE FRONT COVER

Many of you, no doubt, heard of Noah and his Ark

and the Flood. There is a similar, but slightly different,
story in our mythology. It runs thus :

Vaivaswala, the great Manu, was doing penance on the

banks of the Ganges. One day he found a small fish
insidehis water bowl. And the fish said, "O Manu.
put me where I shall be safe from bigger fish."

So the Manu put the fish in a small tub and in a few

days the fish was too big So he transferred
for the. tub.
the fish to a small pond. Soon the fish was too big for
the pond too. The Manu transferred it to the Ganges.

The fish still kept growing. One day it said, "O Manu,
Mother Ganges is not deep enough for me. So I am
going out into the open sea. But, before I go, I want
to tell you one thing. There is a huge flood coming.
The entire creation will be destroyed. Obtain a boat
and fill it with seeds of all important plants. Get the
Seven Great Rishis into the boat. Then I, shall come
and help you."

The Flood came. The Manu obtained a boat and filled

it with all sorts of seeds. He also took into his boat the
Seven Great Rishis. The mighty Fish who was none
other than Lord Vishnu tugged the boat to a Himalayan
peak where it remained till the Flood receded.

Later, Vaivaswata, the Manu, started recreation on earth.

At the time when Brahmadiitt tration was never held up for the
was the ruler of Banaras. the want of a particular commodity
Bodhisatva was employed as the which was urgently needed. He
king's procurator. was also very fair-minded in his
The procurator's job was to dealings with merchants and tra-
buy the various properties and ders from other countries, so thai
commodities that were required the name of Banaras was respec-
for state purposes. He had to be ted in far-off places.
an expert in estimating the value Now, King Brahraadutt was
of things. a miser. He thought that liis
The Bodhisatva would buy procurator was paying too much
elephants, horses, gold, silver for everything and squandering
and so on for the kingdom and away the slate moneys. " At this
pay the merchants who brought rate I shall be bankrupt in no
them. time," he said to himself.
As procurator the Bodhisatva The next act of the king was to
was very capable, so that the dismiss the Bodhisatva and
royal stores were always filled appoint some one else in his
with the right things and the place. This he did in the easiest
best things. He was also very possible manner. He opened the
thoughtful and foreseeing in his window of his chamber and
purchases, so that the adminis- looked down. There were some

A JATAKA TALE
 a horse, but he was an expert in
offering astoundingly low value
for anything he had to buy.
The merchants who came from
far off countries could hardly kick

up rows with the king's official.

So they used to sustain huge
losses on state purchases. They
had to make good these losses
somewhere else.
In bis anxiety to buy cheap
things the new procurator bought
useless and unwanted things.
These began to accumulate in the
of his attendants standing about. royal store. Even when some of
He selected one of them at them were stolen no one felt
random and ordered him to come their loss.
up. When this unknown and The foolish procurator could
insignificant fellow came up, the not guess what commodities
king told him, "From now on would be required in the near
you are my procurator." future. Administration was often
The king hoped that a common held up for want of sometliing
fellow without any rank or status which was urgently needed.
would buy nothing without hig- Above all, the name ofBanaras
gling and haggling and would be acquired a very bad reputation
hiore economical in his pur- abroad and good merchants
chases. Bui (his particular man stopped going to that city for
was qulic a fool and the king fear of the procurator.
didn'tknow it. One day a merchant arrived at
The new procurator could not Banaras with iave hundred horses
distinguish between a donkey and of very good breed. The king

12
came to know of it and instructed
his procurator to buy them up.
The procurator called for the
merchant, looked over the horses
and fixed their price —a measure
of rice!
The merchant was astounded
but did not protest. But straight-
away he sought the Bodhisatva,
the ex-procuralor, and told him
what had happened.
" The new procurator seems to
be a queer person. I depend

upon you, sir, to see that 1 get

justice," the merchant said. and said, " Sir, you bought from
The Bodhisalva pondered over me five hundred horses of the
the problem for a while and said best variety. May I know before
" When you go to court to-
witnesses what I am going to be
morrow to receive the value for
paid for them ?"
your horses, ask the procurator " Why, a measure of rice, of
what he is going to pay. When course, I told you so, yesterday,"
he says, s measure ot" rice, ask replied the procurator.
him what the value of a measure This reply amazed everyone iu
of rice is. Let us see what will the court, including the king.
happen next. 1 too shall be in The merchant put his next
the court."
question, "
And may I know be-
The merchant put his faith in fore witnesses what the value of
the Bodhisatva, thanked him and a measure of ricemay be?"
took his leave. "Ah, anyone can tell you that.
Next day, in^ court, the mer- The value of a measure of rice is
chant addressed the procurator exactly equal to the value of the

^g^^^^^^^^^ CHANDAMAMA
13
kingdom of Banaras and her de- the procurator to buy them a
pendencies," said the procurator. couple of palaces for a handful
Like anyone who is considered of rice, the king bent his head in
to be a good bargainer th« pro- mortification.
curator was exaggerating the The Bodhisatva decided to put
value of what he was paying and a stop to this jocularity. He
depreciating what he Was huijing. stood up and said :

But being a born fool, he overdid " Do not mock at a man for his
it. That was ail. ignorance. When a man is en-
The entire court resounded trusted with a job for which he
with peels of laughter at the is not qualified he is bound to
stupidity of the procurator. make laughing-stock of himself
Some of them even made jokes sooner or later. U is not this
about it by estimating how many poor fellow's fault that he was
kingdoms each one of them could made the procurator."
buy with rice stored in their The king raised his head and
houses ill
; howmany d ays a said, '"The fault was mine.
good eater could gobble up a O Bodhisatva, 1 have learnt my
kingdom and so on. lesson. No one can do wrong
The only persons who could except the king."
not enjoy were the
the joke The king at once removed the
foolish procurator and the as- new man from the job of procu-
hamed king who employed him. rator and put the Bodhisatva
When some of the courtiers asked back in his place.
 ie> THE THIEFF
secretly buried it at a certain
place in the woods.
Every day he used to go to
the woods and make sure that
no one touched his treasure.
But one day the Brahman went
to the spot as usual and found
to his horror that some ,one had
made away with his hoard of
gold. At once the poor Brahman
went crazy with sorrow. He ran
to the city crying loudly, beat-
ing his chest and telling every
one that his gold was stolen.
^^hile King Prasenajit was rul-
Seeing no one to share his great
ing the city of Sravasthi, a sorrow, the Brahman decided to
destitute Brahman came to that fall into the river and end his
city in search of livelihood. For- wretched life.

tunately for hinn lie found favour King Prasenajit who was
with the rich merchants there. returning from a bath in the river
Besides enough of food and met him and learnt about the
clothing, he accumulated a tragedy that befell the Brahman.
good daal of money. He con- "Why do you want to kill

verted all this, money into a yourself, O Brahman?" said the

thousand gold pieces and King. " I am liere to inquire into

R. Krishnan
 "No, sire. This was the only
wild cucumber plant in the entire

vicinity," the Brahman replied.

Now, tell me, could any one
^c known that you have
iiidden your gold in the woods?"
asked the king.
"Not a soul. Nor did any
one ever follow me to the woods,"
the Brahman replied.
The king went to his palace
and thought over the problem till
he found a way to catch the man
who took the gold.
any theft that is committed in He called his minister and said
this kingdom. 1 shall restore to him, "J do not feel quite
your lost treasure or compensate well. I should like to see some
you from my treasury. Now, tell doctors. Can you please arrange
me whether there was any mark to bring to me every doctor in
"
to indicate the spot where you the city ?

buried the gold." Tt was soon done. Ali the

"Yes, sire. There was a wild doctors assembled outside the
cucumber plant over my treasure, king's private chamber. As each
Now that too is gone," replied doctor was ushered in, the king
the Brahman. asked him, " Who are your
"There may be many such present patients ? Wliat medi-
plants in the woods. How can cines have you given them ? " The
that be a proper mark?" said doctors answered these questions
the King. and the king sent them away.

16
 At last one doctor said, " Sire, Soon the doctor's servant was
yesterday I gave the juice of a standing before the king.
wild cucumber plant to the rich "What did you do with the
merchant, Matri-dutt.'' gold which you found when you
The king immediately got inte- dug up the wild cucumber
rested and said, "I see. Where plant?" the king asked him.
could you get thisplant?" The doctor's servant turned
"Sire, It is not a common plant pale at this question. Shivering
in these parts. My servant found with fear he replied, '"I kept it

it in the woods after a great deal safe in my house, Your Majesty."

of searching," replied the doctor. "That is fine", said the King.
"We would like your servant "That gold belongs to such-and-
to present himself before us at such a Brahman. Restore it to
once," the king told ihe doctor. him at once."
 "

The servant took leave, feeling for the plant but not for the gold.
as though he had been saved There was no such plant any-
from the gallows. where else in the neighbourhood.
Now, the minister was.watch- So if any one did need the plant
ing the entire proceedings with- he had to dig only where the gold
out understanding a thing. He was hidden. Had anyone dug
was very much impressed with only for the gold, he would have
the ease willi wliich the King thrown the plant away. Unless
laid his hands on the real cul- the man came for the plant, both
prit. He wanted to know how the plant and the gold need not
the King could do it. have disappeared.
The King smiled at the mini- "Now, who would be in need
ster's question and said : of a wild cucumber plant except
"My job was to find out a doctor? What all I had to do
which one out of the entire popu- was to call up all the doctors in
lation of the city could have dug the city and find out wliich of
up that gold. According to the them used this plant for medical
Brahman nobody knew that purposes.
there was gold under the plant. The minister was amazed at
So whoever thought of digging the powers of deduction display-
at that spot must have done so ed by King Prasenajit.
In the city of Ratnapur there god with pure white flowers.
were two young friends called Past noon, he would beg food
and Madhava. They had
Sliiva at three doors only, divide it

heard that the King of Ujiain into three equal parts, throw
had a f>ui»kii. called Shankara- one part to the birds, give one

swarai who amassed a lot of part to the hungry and eat the
wealth and concealed ii under- third part himself. In short, Shiva

ground. They wanted to get it. was up to the ideal of a

living

Shiva arrived in Ujjain first, pious Brahman bachelor mendi-

disguised as a Brahman bachelor. cant. And people said, "'Oh,
He entered a math on the banks what a great man! How pure
of the Sipni. His entire property he is

consisted of a begging-bowl and After a few days IVIadhava loo

a deer-skin. Shiva would smear entered Ujjain. He was dressed
his whole body with mud, bathe like a rich prince with a retinue

in the river and stand on his head and caskets of wealth. He

for a while facing the sun. Then acquired suitable lodgings and
he would go to the temple of went for a bath in the Sipra.

Lord Shiva, and worship the There he saw Shiva standing on

V. S. Kumar
 clothes and told him, "Sir, I am a
prince, Madhava by name. I come
from the South. I have been
swindled by people of my owq
clan and come to spend my days
in this distant place. I lack no
wealth. But my attendants insist
that 1 get engaged as a courtier.
I know you are the best man to
help me in this matter. I can
repay you in several ways."
The King's Purohii, Shankara-
swami was a covetous felJow.
Itwas said that he had a half-
his head with his eyes closed
share in every gift the King
in penaoce. At once Madhava
prostrated himself before Shiva had made to any one during
exclaiming, " How fortunate several years. He had filled his

that I should meet you again. wealth in seven pots which he

Holy Man!" By this Shiva knew buried in his back-yard.

that Madhava had arrived, but he Shankaraswami easily managed

did not even open his eyes. to get Madhava employed in the
That night Shiva and Madhva King's Court.He also suggested
met secretly andgood time
liad a thatMadhava should residein his
eating and drinking. They also own house and get all amenities
made plans to rob the King's and comforts.
Piirohil of his secret wealth. Now iviadhava was comfor-
Next day Madhava w,ent to tably lodged in Shan karaswa mi's
the puTohit with a gift of fine house. Everyday he would attend

CHANDAMAMA
20
court and come home. In the die. I want to give away alJ my
evenings he would take out a wealth to a holy man. Kindly
jewel or two out of a full jug find a proper man and bring
and show the huge diamonds him to me."
and other precious stones to The purohit brought several
Shan karas warn i. Brahmans but Madhava turned
After some days Madhava be- all of them down, saying, "For

gan complaining that he had heaven's sake, can't you find a

dyspepsia and stopped taking better man ? "
any food. In a few days he At last some of the neighbours

became emaciated due to starva- advised the purohit to find out

tion and took to bed. One day the holy bachelor who was resid-

he called the purohii and told ing at the maih. The purohii

him, "Dear sir, I am going to found Shiva and requested him,

 age to me. So, please, leave me
alone.^ said Shiva.
'
/ will give you my daughter.
Only, come at once and talce the
gift. That man is at death's door,"
said the purolul.
Shiva followed the puraliii to his

house and took the gift of the

precious jug, saying, "T do not
know what this jug contains.
I am taking it only for the satis-
faction of the dying man."
But (he man did not die. As
by magic Madhava began to feel
"Sir, come along and accept
better and better. Slowly he be-
the girt of some precious stones
from gan to take nourishment and
a dying man."
within a few days was restored
Siiiva laugtied and said, "I am
a bachelor. What am to complete health.
I to do
with precious stones? Go and "There is not the least doubt
find some family man who will that the gift I made to the holy
enjoy the gift." man washed away all my sins
"No, no. Don't say that. The and saved me from the jaws of
dying man wants some one like death," Madhava announced to
you. You need not be a bachelor every one.
all your Ufe. Talce this gift, marry The purohit kept his word
and be happy," said the purohU. and gave Shiva his daughter in
"J am a stranger here. No one marriage. Soon after, Madhava
will give his daughter in marri- found separate lodgings for him-

CHAPJDAMAMA
22
self. Shiva took his place and
enjoyed the hospitahty that was
due to him as a son-in-law.
One day Shiva told his father-
in-law, "I've lived long enough
under your roof. It is time that
I set up my own home with ray
wife. What ail I have is the gift

I received from Madhava. As

I can't live by gold and pre-
cious stones, I wish that you
take it and give me money in
exchange."
The father-in-law said, " My
boy, we cannot assess the value letters of sale and got them pro-
" perly signed and attested.With
of all those gems so easily.
Shiva rephed, "Ido not care this money Shiva set up house
was and gave half of it to Madhava
for the value of the gift. It
as was originally arranged be-
you who had it given to me and
tween them.
it is you 1 want to give it to.
After a time the purohit picked
Give me as much money as you
out one jewel from the jug and
have and I shall be satisfied."
took it to a diamond merchant
Shankaraswami dug up the to find its value.
wealth he had buried in the back- He had a shock when the mer-
yard and transferred it to his chant examined it briefly and
son-in-law. He was afraid that returned it saying, "This is a
his son-in-law jTiight go back fake. These are bits of cheap
upon his word. So he executed glass studded in brass.''

CHANDAMAMA ^ '
^
23
 The purohit sent the entire Madhava for an explanation,'"

contents of the jar for examina- he shouted at his father-in-law.

tion and was told that there was In utter anguish the purohii

neither a grain of gold nor a ran to Madhava and charged him

single precious stone ia the entire with cheating. Madhava retorted

lot. He had been thoroughly by calling him a fool. He said,

swindled. "That jug was in our possession

In a great rage the purohit went for ages and ages. When 1 was
to his son-in-law and demanded, face to face with death I gifted it

*'Give me back all my money. I away to a pious man. As a result

gave it away for a potful of of that I got back my health.

brass and glass." What is my crime? Did I try

Shiva got wild. "How dare you to sell the stufl" to some one
say that to me now? I was lead- at a false price? Did you give
ing a pious life until you made me a pie of the sale -money?

me give it up, got me this fraud- Why blame me like a fool?"

ulent gift and put me to the Now it was clear to the purohii
yoke of family life. The deal is that nobody was to blame except
legally closed between us. If himself It was his own avarice

you sustained a loss, go and ask that brought him this disaster.
A long time back King Ciiitra- This was all to the good. Yet.
sen ruled the Isle of Kundalini. even as the good name of the
At the time of our story he had king was spreading far and wide,
been on ti^e throne for only two the treasury began to run dry.
years. Yet, he had made every As the money dwindled in the
effort to see that his subjects royal coffers the administration
were happy and contented and became topsyturvy.
his rule rivalled Ram Baj. To- The chief minister was, how-
wards (his end he had cut all ever, a clever fellow. He had
taxes by half. foreseen some of the conse-
The people were really happy quences. He had also been warn-
that ihe burden of taxes was ing the king time and again.
reduced. They praised their king Only, the king was bent upon
inverse and song. The good doing good to his people and the
name of King Chitrasen echoed minister's word fell upon deaf
from every corner of his island ears. So ultimately the minister
kingdom. had to give up.

CHANDAMAMA

1
 I hate to say this, sire. But
I he balance in our treasury is

htirdly enough to pay the garden-

L'cs of our palace. In another
week the monthly payment of
salaries for our administrative
staff as well as the military falls

due," the minister rephed.

" Js that so ? we shall decide
something in court tomorrow.
See to it that all the ministers
and most of the importan citizens
:^ha]l attend," the king said.

Nowthe ueasury was tjuite

The minister nodded his head
empty. The minister had to but he could not guess what the

do something about it. So he king intended to do. Promul-

approached the king and sub- gation of new taxes was the only
mitted to him respectfully, " Sire,
way of averting disaster. Hold-
ing court was going to solve no
it is true that our subjects are
But then, problem, the minister thought.
happy. the state is

banlcrupt. Nothing can be done Anyway the king had to be

witliout money. J cannot dis- obeyed.
charge ray duties unless T can When the people heard the
get things done. So I request announcement asking everyone
you to relieve me of my res- to attend court, they did not
ponsibility," know what itwas all about. They
"Has it come to that?" the began to guess accordmg their

king asked in surprise. individual fancies. Some people

CHANDAMAMA '^^^^^^^^WS^'
26
actually went about saying.
" Mark my words. The good
king is going to do away with aii

taxes this time." Quite a few

credulous people believed this

rumour to be true.

Next day the court was filled

to overflowing with the many

ministers and other officials as
well as many an important citizen.
King Chitrasen entered the
court and sat on the throne. At
the king's command the chief
minister addressed the gathering
Some one stood up among llie
with these words:
crowd and asked the chief minis-
"We have had the fortune of
ter, " Is it necessary to tax the
being ruled by a kind and charit-
people in order to carry on with
able hne of kings. They have
the administration?"
always treated their subjects as This question amazed every-
their own progeny. The taxes one. The chief minister nearly
that were levied on us have al- had a fit, but he controlled him-
ways been purely nommat. But self and went on
even these have been reduced by " Compute for yourself. What
half in the present regime, as is is the population of our kingdom?
known to one and all of you. What would it cost to provide
Now has arisen the question, amenities for the entire popula-
how to administer the land with tion? The sick need medicines

such meagre taxes." and treatment. Growing child-

•>^^SM^!i^^^'^^^ CHANDAMAMA
27
 "

doubt whether we can restore the

old taxes and collect them easily."
There were whisperings all over
the court. One bold fellow stood
up and said," Your Highness,

you should think twice before

you increase the taxes again.
For one thing it will be a great
blow to the good name you have
achieved far and wide. It is not a
small matter that a king should
go back upon his own word.
Think well. Your Highness,
!

think well
reii iCL| line cu ucliI u ) 1 1 . A ny
The king could see that there
moment enemies might attack
was some truth in these words.
the land and our defence forces
It was out of the question that
must be there to protect us. How
he should restore the reduced
can all these expenses be met
taxes and lose the good name he
except through taxation ? Where
had been earning ever since he
else are we to look to for the
ascended the throne. So, other
funds to provide our people with
all these amenities? It is the ways must be found to solve the

duty of every citizen to under- present problem.

stand taxes and their purpose." " We do not intend

certainly
At this point the king interrup- to go back upon a decision
ted the chief minister and said, which was once made," he said.
"What the chief minister says is "The taxei shall not be enhanced,
quite true. But it is a matter of nor new taxes levied. On the

28
other hand the minister has ex-
plained to you the nature of the
present probleai. Let some one
come forward with a solution.
There was a hush over the
entire court. People looked at

each other and saw only blank

faces. The silence was broken
by the commander-in-chief who
stood up and said, " Your High-
ness, it is not very difficult to fill

the coffers. There is a way ot

doing it. Bui, it is a matter ul
great secrecy and I can reve;il

m ol ten and met the king. He

it to Your Highness only
said to the king :

strict privacy."
"Sire, our problem is to make
So, a private audience of the the people happy and establish
king was granted to the com- Ram Baj. It is not to be hoped
mander-in-chief at ten o'clock that we will be able to raise a
that night in the royal gardens. pie more through taxes. That
iVleanwhile the courtiers leaves us with only one choice.
wondered what was up the sleeve Let us loot other kingdoms.
of the commander-in-chief. They It is one of the legitimate rights
had to content themselves with of kinghood. It is for this very

the thought that the secret would purpose that armies and their
be out next day. commanders are maintained."
"1 agree with you, Samarsen.
The commander-in-chief went
to the royal gardens at the stroke But ours is an isle surrounded by

29
 :

•* '' ' ••

departed. He assembled all his

military chiefs and told them

about the conversation he had
with the king. They appeared
to agree with the king in his
doubts. But the commander-in-
chief said
" You must remember that our
purpose is only to cross the
ocean and loot other lands. We
do not intend to conquer or
subjugate them. 1 believe that
we have enough military strength
for our present purpose."
the ocean. hriLiginc for a moment
Some one objected, "But
how much navy and military
while we take away our armies
might is required to cross the
abroad, the king will be left
oceaa and conquer foreign terri-
helpless in case of a people's
tory," the king said.
" Sire, I shall answer for our uprising."

military might." replied Samar- " In the name of Mother

sen, the coimnander- in -chief. Kundalini. such a calamity can
" Then I leave the entire thing be very easily averted," said
to you," said the king. " For an old veteran. " An internal

conscription and other things you revolution bound to be headed

is

will be requiring the royal author- by the youth. We must conscript

ity. So take the royal seal." all the young fellows."

The commander-in-chief took This was considered a wise

the seal from the king and measure. A proclamation was

•••^'S^^.S^SS^ CHANDAMAMA S^gSSSS^SS^^'

30
^ESSS^S^S^ * "J* ''^ •**
* ••*
^

at once drawn up conscripting

all male citizens between fifteen

and forty and the royal seal was

put to it.

The next day onwards military

officers went round the various
villages with copies of the pro-
clamation and drafted all avail-

able young men into the army.

Not all, however, joined willingly.
" For heaven's sake, don't draft

us and take us away from our

kith and kin- We would rather
pay taxes to any extent," they reducing taxes. If 1 enhance
pleaded, in vain. tjjenj a.gain you will again write
While those who voluntarily songs and verses, abusing me
joined in the army went along this time. You know that we
with the officers, those who never go back upon our deci-
protested and resisted were tied sion. What we have decided
hand and foot and dragged upon shall take place."
away mercilessly. The conscription was over and
Somepeople went on a deputa- one auspicious day ihe armies
tion to the king and complained got into the military vessels,

against the conscription. Just as the king said. * Start",

" It cannot be helped," said to the troop-carrying vessels,

the king. "Some of you have some one saw a mighty comet in

already praised me in song and the south-eastern direction. Us

verse for my considerateness in head was glowing bright like the

^^^ggS^gS-S^- CHANDAMAMA ^^^^'^H^E^:*

31
moon and its enormous tail was As for the anxiety of the soldiers,
flung across the sky. no one was bothered about it.

Soon every one was gazing at As a matter of fact there was

it. Awe-struck, some ol them no time to lose. An expedition
" "
said, An ill-omen !
like this was bound to take a lot
The court-astrologer too con- of time. The commander-in-chief
sidered this as a bad omen and had a big task before him. He
suggested that the boats should had to cross the ocean, fight his
postpone their voyage' and a way into other countries, loot
more propitious time be chosen. them and come back. Then only
The commander-in-chief could the coffers be filled and the
scoffed at this and said, "I never economic crisis averted. That
heard such nonsense in my life. was the reason why the
We have got the bravest soldiers commander-in-chief ignored the
in the world. What harm can ill-omen. The king too supported
"
the comet do to them ? him for the same reason.
The astrologer tried to persist Finally, the commander-in-chief
but to no purpose. The king gave the order and the ships,
himself was inclined to agree setting sail, headed south-east
with the commander-in-chief in the direction of the comet.
and the astrologer had to retreat. fTo ba continued)
In a certain village there was a " Look at this field," said the
shepherd who had hundreds of goddess of Harvest, " If only it
goats but no land. Thinking yields a good harvest this
that these goats would menace shepherd boy will not have a
their fields, the villagers warned single problem. 1 shall enter the
the shepherd that he should leave field and make it rich." So
the village or buy some land. saying, she sal in the maize field.

So the shepherd raised a loan " I am the real benefactor of

and bought a small strip of land. mankind. See what I can do to
This plot was so barren that this poor boy," said the goddess
nothing but maize could be sown of Wealth. She turned herself
in it. Tt turned out that even into a bag of money and waited
the maize crop the shepherd by the path.
it was very poor. All your efforts are useless if
''
raised in
After some time the shepherd's I sit upon his head," said the
sight began to fail and his yotmg goddess of Courage. She at once
son took charge of the field. sat upon the shepherd boy's head.
One day the three deities of When Harvest sat in it, the
Harvest, Wealth and Courage field was completely transformed.

came by the shepherd's field, Maize stocks of enormous height

arguing as to which one of them stood thick in the field, their
was the most powerful. heads benl down with huge ears

M. Ismail

3
 strip of land at any price. His
blind father agreed to sell it if

only there was anyone to buy it.

The boy returned to the field

and saw a stranger gazing at the
unique maize crop. He was a
trader. He saw many countries
but nowhere did he see maize of
such quality. He approached the
shepherd boy, learnt that the
field belonged to him and offered

to buy it at a good price.

Prompted by the goddess of
Wealth who was trying her best
to do good to the boy, the trader
of corn. But the young shepherd offered to keep the boy in his
got freightened at the sight, be- serviceon a monthly pay.
cause Courage was sitting on his Thetrader emptied all his
head. He started home to report carts and filled them with the
to his father that a sirange disease unique maize, leaf, stalk and ear.
had overtaken the maize.. He took the boy with him and
The boy took the path by proceeded on his journey.
which lay the bag of money. But Presently the caravan reached
he said to himself, "Let me see a city. The trader took speci-
how far I can walk with my eyes mens of his maize to the king
shut." He did not open his eyes and said, "Perhaps Your
UTitil he passed the bag of money. Highness never saw maize the
Reaching home, the boy told tike of this. 1 have plenty of it.

his father that the crop was I shall part with a cart-load in
ruined by some pest and sug- exchange for an elephant with a
gested that they should sell the howdah. If this corn were to be

CHANDAMAMA
34
planted in your kingdom, your The king of that place was
people need never sttirve." already aware of the coming
The king took one cartload of of the king and his minister from
the corn and gave the trader an the Land of Gold and received
elephant in exchange. The trader them with great pomp and
sold another cartload to some of honour. He put them up in the
the rich landlords of the city. Palace of Mirrors and treated
With this money he dressed the them grandly.
boy in royal brocade, so that he After food and rest the trader
looked like a prince. The trader took the boy to the king's
put him on the elephant and court. He said, " In our
proceeded on. He told every kingdom even the poorest land
one, on the way, thai the young yields such golden maize. That
man riding the elephant was the is vvhy one can see nothing but
king of the Land of Gold and gold anywhere in our land."
that he was his minister. Thus The king and queen thought
they arrived at the next city. that it would be nice if they
 ^4. 4» ^ 4. ^ji, ^ 4> #
to the marriage. "But," he
warned the kmg, " the marriage
shall take place according to the
customs prevailing m our land."
On the day of marriage a
palanquin was sent to the Palace
of Mirrors to fetch the
bridegroom. The boy was
carried out of the house, tied
hand and foot, and was dumped
in the palanquin by four
servants. This was taken to be
one of the customs of the Land
of Gold.
The marriage ceremony over
could marry their daughter to the bridegroom was sent to the
this King of Gold. When they bridal chamber.
made this suggestion to the The trader told the king,
trader, he said that he would "Two soldiers shall wait outside
find out his Icing's mind. thechamber with drawn swords
Back at the lodge the trader and threaten to kill the bride-
told the boy, "you are to marry groom if the tries to escape before
the king's daughter." The boy the bride arrives." This too was
refused in horror, saying that the taken to be one of the queer
regal ladies were shrews. customs of the Land of Gold.
" Scoundrel! You forget that Looking round the gorgeously
you are my hirehng. Disobey decorated and brilliantly lit
me and 1 shall break your bed-chamber, the shepherd boy
bones," said the trader. He thought that it must be the
went back toking and
the temple of the Goddess to whom
reported that his king consented he was going to be sacrificed.

> ->:^>^:^':ici^*'' CHANDAMAMA

 He tried to run away but the
man at the gate showed him the
sword and frightened him.
The princess arrived and he
thought it was the Goddess.
''
Here she comes to gobble me
up!" he said. In desperation
he gave the princess a mighty
push and bolted out of (he room.
When he reached the lodge, the
trader gave him a sound thrash-
ing and said, " Worthless wretch !

T marry the princess to you and

you run away from her !"

Next day the king sent for the
trader and asked him, " What The -puroliiis apologised for

made your king so angry with their mistake and fixed another

my daughter that he pushed her mulmrat the next night. But

away and left her?" once again the shepherd boy ran
" Don't you know that rain away from his bride and got
poured down like elephant trunks thrashed by the trader. Once
last night?" said the trader. again the trader was put to the
" Naturally the king was indig- trouble of answering the king.
nant that such a time was chosen " Your puroMts seem to be
for him to meet the bride." ignorant fools. Last night it
The king order his puroJdts to appears that rain fell like elephant
be whipped for this blunder heads," the trader told the king.
and demanded that they fix a The puroldfs were again chas-
better imihurat for the consum- tised and they fixed another
mation of his daughter's marri- muhurat, the very best one, the
:age with the King of Gold. third night.

-*1^^'^«<^> CHANDAMAMA '^:^'^^S^^g^llC^<-

37
 " If you run back to night I
your head
shall certainly cut off
and go my way," the trader
warned the shepherd youth.
" fEuhcr the Goddess eats me
or the trader kills me.
or the other I am fated to die to
night." the shepherd thought as
he sat awaiting the princess.
You must remember, that
goddess of Courage was still
sitting upon the poor shepherds"
heao. She now turned to her
*Hwo companions and asked'them,
" is there any more good you
can do to this poor fool?"
The goddesses of Harvest and
Wealth accepted defeat and beg-
ged their companion to save
their protege and she came down
from the head of the shepherd
youth. Just then the
stepped into the chamber.
There was a remarkable change
in theshepherd. He got up on
seeing the princess and approa-
ched her. He accosted her court-
eously and made formal in-
One way quiries about her health and
so on. The princess was very glad
to find her husband so decorous
and cultured.
the Thanks to the goddess of
Courage the poor shepherd boy
now became a prince and the
husband of a princess. He settled
in the same place and became
king after his father-in-law. The
trader became his minister and
served his master faithfully.
Ever since, the goddesses of
Harvest and WeaKh walk only
behind the goddess of Courage.
Tiiose whom the goddess of
princess Courage avoids the goddesses of
Harvest and Wealth also avoid.
In Kashmir there was once King Jayasena ruled this city.

a rich and noble youth called He had a charming and intelligeni

Pravara. He started on a pilgri- daughter called Kanchanavalli.
mage to see the world. Unfortu- On her attaining womanhood the
nately one day he fell into the king stopped herstudies and fixed
hands of robbers who robbed up her marriage. The princess
him even of his clothes. Dressing was not in favour of this mar-
himself in the discarded clothes riage. She had always wanted to
of the robbers, Pravara walked marry one who was her match in

many days without food or sleep all respects. Rather than agree to
and at last reached a strange city. this marriage, she wanted to run
It was night. Pravara was too away from home, see the wide
proud lo beg for food or shelter. world, find a worthy man and
No one offered him what he was marry him.
ashamed to ask. He reached the To run away from home she
king's stables near the city wall, needed help. The minister's son
found a pial nearby and lay down was her co-student and a close

on it. At once he was overcome friend of hers. So the princess

with sleep. secretly sent word to him, jn:

N. S. SANTHA
 ed down city wall by the
the
help of a chain and came to the
stables. was very dark and she
It

thought was the minister's son

it

that was sleeping on the pial.

She woke him up rudely saying,
'Get up! How can you sleep
when there is so much to do?
Cio at once and bring two horses.
We must be going."
Pravara woke up heavy with
sleep. He brought two horses
from the stable. The princess
got upon one of them and led the
way asking him to follow her on
oear the slables with a couple the other. They travelled all

of horses that very night. The night without a stop. The princ-
minister's son was ready to help ess wanted to be as far away
her but he was prevented from from home as possible before
doing so because his father in- daybreak. She thought she could
sisted that he too should attend explain things to her companion
a dance performance which was next morning.
arranged at the palace. By morning they arrived near
This same performance helped a tank. Imagme the surprise of
the princess to escape. She pre- the princess when she turned to

tended to have a headache. her companion and found that he

When the royal family was was a total stranger. He looked
engrossed in the dance, she climb- more like a thief than anything

40
else. She realised her mistake
and shedding tears. But
felt like

there was no going back. Her

father would order her to be
killed mercilesdy.
The princess sat down on the
ground and looked away from
Pravara. Pravara did not attempt
to speak to her. He broke a
couple of twigs from a tree and
threw one of them before her so
that she could bnish her teeth.
In silence they finished their

ablutions, mounted their horses

came After crossing ihc riva (he old

and rode on till they to
j-jygj.
lady thanked Pravara. She
A ferry-boat was about to
mistook the couple to be wife

cross the river. An aged woman husband and offered herself

^ ^l^^"^-
was entreating the boatman to
take her on the boat free of "^U right, granny. You can
charge, and the boatman was ^liare our fate," Pravara told

insisting on payment. Since the imploring woman.

Pravara too had no money with By noon they reached a city

him, he looked at his companion, called Helanagar. They went to

The princess threw a gold coin a choultry, had food and rested
at his feet. Pravara gave this there for the day. Next morning
coin to the boatman and told the Pravara went to the market place
old woman to come along. and offered to give the merchants

^'
41

- —
CHANDAMAMA I^^^^^^^W^^i^^^^:
daily prediclions which would vara was an expert in diamonds.
be profitable to them. A few He gave him a job on a decent
merchants bought his predictions monthly salary.
and he went back with- some Life was now very happy for
food sluffs. The old- woman the three of them. Only "granny"
cooked nice food and all the wonderd why the wife and hnsb-
three ate it. and never exchanged a single
The next day more merchants word. Being a wise old woman
bought Pravara's predictions for she toid herself, " who can
the day and they considered him penetrate the mysteries of mar-
a man of worth. Pravara had ried life ?"
enough money now to talce a One day a trader from the
house and live independently. south brought an extraordinary
Accidentally one of the mer- diamond to the king of the city
chants one day found that Pra- and oflered it for a crore rupees.
The king desired to possess this
beautiful gem but he wanted
to have the opinion of experts
before paying such a huge price.
So the diamond merchants of
the place were called to the
palace. They saw the diamond
by turns and estimated ils price
variously from 75 lakhs to two
crores. When it was Pravara's
turn, he too examined the gem
carefully and said, " This dia-
mond is worth exactly one rupee.
Of course, that is the charge for
cutting it. As for the material day he appointed him as one
it is utterly worthless." of his advisers. Pravara justified

This was a terrible slap in the the king*s choice by giving him
face for the trader from the south. wise counsel on several occasions.
His reputation was shattered. A short while later the king's
He shouted, "You should not minister died and Pravara was
say such things without proving given the post as there was none
them." else more suited for it.

To prove what he said Pravara After Pravara became minister

dashed the diamond against an his private affairs became subject
iron plate and it was shattered of general gossip. One day the
into a thousand bits. royal washerwoman told the
The king was impressed by the queen that the minister's wife
wisdom of Pravara. That very was an uncommonly beautiful

CHAND\MAMA
43
 and serve it, Pravara understood
the king's intention. He must do
to the king what the king did to
him. He could invite the king for
dinner. But how could he ask
a strange lady to prepare food
and attend upon his guesl?
Not knowing what to do,
Pravara went home that night
and lay in his bed. When
"granny" told him to come for

food he said, "I am not hungry."

The princess guessed thatsome-
thing was troubling Pravara and
lady. The queen in her turn told that it concerned herself. She
this to the king. Pravara was a said to the old woman, "Tell
common man befere he was made him, granny, that if there is any-
a minister. How could a com- thing to be done, it will be done.
mon man have an uncommonly Why should he go without food
beautiful wife? This puzzled and worry himself?"
the king. Also, he wanted to see Hearing these words Pravara
how beautiful his minister's wife was greatly relieved. He sat be-

really was. fore his meal and said, ''Granny,

To satisfy his curiosity the today the king gave me a dinner.
king devised a plan. One day It was prepared and served by
he invited his minister to dine the queen herself. Is it not pro-
with him. The queen herself per that we return the king's
"
was made to prepare the food hospitality ?

)iSL^>-^i*^5*o*0^: CHANDAMAMA *"^M?S^so*:?»f:^

44
 "Tell him, granny," said the
princess, "that I too can prepare
and serve good dishes. I shall

not lag behind the queen."

Next day the king was invited
to dine at the minister's house.
The princess prepared very good
dishes. She served them to the
long and went away. Before
coming back for re-serving, she
changed her clothes, ornaments
and even her hair-style, so that

the king believed that two difler-

ent women attended upon him.
The king went home and told his wives on the Ardlwdaya day.
his wife. "Our minister has Pravara was now in a worse
two wives. Both are such beau- phght than before. Preparing
ties!" The queen had a great and serving food to a guest was
desire to see them. So she one thing and taking part in the

suggested to the King, " Ardho- ceremony of bathing-conples was

daya is at hand. Let us invite another. How could he make
our minisler and his wives to such a request to the lady who
accomoany us, that day, to the was not his lawful wife?

sea. They too can take part in Pravara came home and lay

theceremony of bathing-couples." down tormented by this problem.

Accordingly the king extended When the old lady came and
an invitation to his minister to called him to eat, he replied that

accompany him to the sea with he was not hungry,

45
 The princess said, " Ask him, of clothing and jewellery got
granny, how It is that he loses ready. Let them set up a tent
his appetite so frequently. Does with seven entrances on the
lie not know that those who beach. Everything will be in

heiped him once can help him order." the princess said.

again, if necessary. He who pro- On the Ardliodaya day seven

tects can order too. Is it nob closed Palanquins accompanied
so?" the minister's palanquin. Only
Pravara stopped worrying and one of them contained the prin-
sat before his meal. He told cess, Kanchanavalli. The seven
"granny" about the king's invit- palanquins were set down behind
ation. the tent with seven entrances.
" Let him accept the invitation, From the first entrance of the
granny. Let seven closed palan- tent the princess stepped forth
quins be ordered and seven sets and joined the minister on the
beach. They tied their clothes
together according to the custom
and bathed together. Then Ihe
princess went baclc lo the tent.
Soon she came out of the second
entrance dressed and looking
person and repea-
like a different
ted the ceremony with the
minister. She did this seven limes.
The king and queen who were
watching this thought that seven
different ladies came out of the
tent and bathed with the minis-
ter- Each one of them was a
great Ixauty! The minister has etght wives.

The next day the queen sent One of them could not go to the

seven sets of gifts for the seven sea because she was unwell.

wives of the ininisler through her Their names are the same as
maid and instructed her to find those of the eight wives of Lord

out the names of all the seven Krishna. Tliey avoid one another
ladies. The maid arrived at the and you have to meet them one
minister's house and requested by one."
for an interview with the The queen's maid ran back and
minister's wives. returned with an extra gift. The
On instructions from the princess came to her eight times,

princess "granny" met the each time in a different dress and

queen's maid and said, "I am conversed with her, each time in

afraid the queen made a mistake. a different voice and accent.

CHANDAMAMA
47
 "

A few days later the princess She replied, "1 left home in
instigated " granny " to serve order to find a husband worthy
food in excess while Pravara was of me. In that very instant God
eating. has presented you before me. But
He protested to the old liidy, I was blind and mistook a gem
"What is the matter with you for a glass bead. I followed you
today, granny? Do you think only out of helplessness. You
that r have a bigger stomach never even looked at me. Can I

today ? Why are you serving me hope to meet a nobler man ! You
so much food ?"' were not aware of it, but in my
"Tell him, granny", said the mind 1 have been your wife for a
princess mischievously, " that, if long time now."
he caonot eat all the foodj there Pravara was very happy to
are others to finish off what he hear this. He took the first

leaves over." opportunity of informing the king

Now Pravara understood how about his coming marriage. The
the young lady was disposed to- king heard to the full story of
wards him. When the prmcess Pravara's wife with unconcealed
brought hun pari after food, he wonder and at last exclaimed,
asked her, " when are we going " What an extraordinary
to get married ? " woman !
 NOBLEST CREED

1 axila, or Takshasila. on the creeds. Instead of worshipping

banks of the Vitasata was once Brahmans you take to beggar-
ruled by King Kalingadutt. He worship. This accursed religion
was a follower of Buddhism. is for those who do not bathe
But in his kingdom there were properly, who eat any time of the
several who advocated the Vedic day, who lead a life of ease with-
religion. The king never forced out let or hindrance, lounging
his subjects to adopt the Bud- in the uihams along with loafers
dhist creed. Only when people of castes and communities.
all
voluntarily approached him he How could you take to it?"
used to initiate them. Ratnadutt would ask his father.
Among those who thus adopted And the father would reply
the Buddhist creed was one rich with a great pain in his heart
merchant called Vitastadutt. But " Son, you seem to think that
his son, Ratnadutt, was an ardent external symbols are the true
believer of the Vedic cult. So, he creed. Do you believe that real
was always condemning and Brahmanisra is that which is
cursing his father. inherited? To control one's emo-
" You are a sinner. You have tions, to practise the virtues of
strayed away from tlie virtuous Truth and Ahimsa— that is true
Vedic path and adopted atheist Brahmanism. Why do you always

S. S. Khanna
c
abuse and curse this noble creed The very next day Vitastadutt
which offers protection to all came to the king accompanied by
living creatures? You should his son, Ratnadutt. The king pre-

develop tolerance and charity." tended to be enraged at the mere

ButRatnadutt whose heart was sight of Ratnadutt. He shouted
full of hatred did not listen to his to his servants, "Seize this traitor
'father's words. His attitude to his and behead him at once."
father grew from bad to worse. Ratnadutt listened to this and
One day Vitastadutt went to shivered with fear and dismay.
the king and told him all about His father pleaded before the
his son. king, "I beg Your Highness to
The king said to him, "On consider well befor acting."
some pretext or other you bring The king seemed to relent a

your son to me. I shall see bit. He said, " Well, then I shall

what can be done with him." postpone the punishment for two
months. At the end of that him condition of Ratnadutt. "Are
you bring hira to me. You can you not eating food ? I never
now take him home." ordered that you should go with-
!

Ratnadutt pondered well in his out food

mind as to what crime he could "Your Highness," replied Rat-
have done towards the king, nadutt in anguish, " when yon
that he should order him to be commanded that I should be kill-

beheaded. However much he ed you also commanded that I

thought he could not find any should neither eat nor sleep. Fear
reason for the king's anger. Day of death has brought me to this
or night, he could not forget state."
the impending death and he "So now you know what fear
was greatly agitated in his mind. of death is ! Like you, every liv-

He could neither eat nor sleep ing thing desires life. Now, tell

and, at the end of two months, he me if anything can be nobler than

was so emaciated that he appeared the creed of preserving precious
to be more dead than alive. life," the king said.
At the end of the two months These words of the king
Vitastadutt took his son to the brought wisdom to Ratnadutt.
court and presented him before He at once fell upon the king's
the king. feet and begged him to initiate

"What is the matter with you?" him into the Buddhist creed. The
asked the king, seeing the woeful king gladly did so.
 ; . ;

CHIKKA THE ROBBER

Unce lliRrc wuh a rohljur

Lhikka was his naniE.

A wily tlilEf was IiGj

EnDniinii!! wnri liis fame.

In his native iown

There was a teniple finR ;

Tile fBarsfime goddess. Naga

Was wcrshippLrl at that shrine.

\1hiWd the rnbhidr saw

ThL jeWEils cnstiy and rare

In tlifi an[:iL;[il tiiuujli-i

GiistcninLj hefure him thfirt:!

'Let nighl and darlmBHS mme;

Let pmpie In sIegp retire.

Then I'li Yuh these jfiwels,"

Thought Chiklia hreathing fire.

Niglit and darkness came;

People to strep rEtired.

Chiklsa rifled the shrine

But the dnnr was iQcked oulside-

It was the temple guard

WliD wnke at tiie midnight hour
In the city of Amaravati there Ihem form the city.

" Where
was a poor family consisting of are you all going to?"

a Brahman, tis wife, their son and the old Brahman asked the elder

daughter-in-law. All the four pandit, the head of the family.

were pandits and poets. So the "We are going to see King

people used to call them the Bhoja who is well-versed in all

pandit-family. the Vedas and the Pwranas,"

The pangs of poverty are hard replied the elder pandit.

to bear.Having heard that King " You say the king is well-

Bhoja was inclined to help pan- versed. But I doubt if he knows

dits and poets, the pandit-family how to read at all. If he could,

undertook a journey to the city read the curse of poverty that

ofDhara(now known as Ujjain). Fate has inscribed on my fore-

As they came in sight of their head, would he have given me so

?"'
destination they met an old much wealth

Brahman with a heavy bundle on Having thus comphmented the

his shoulder coming towards great charity of King Bhoja, the

P. Saradadevi
old man departed. The pandit-
family was glad to see this proof
of the king's philanthropy. Evi-
dently he did not look down on
the poor.
Before any outsiders entered
the city they had to obtam per-

mission from the Court. So the

pandii-family made their camp

under a spreading banyan tree

just outside the city-walls and

sent word to the king.

After some time a messenger

^|,^ messenger, "Take i
came to see them. He carried
|,ack to the king." The Brah-
|
'
a tumbler filled to the brim with
^^nted to convey to the
milk and offered it to the elder i^j^g ti,at the new-comers would
Brahman as a gift from the ^ith the pandits of the city ,

king to the pandit-family. s^g^r „ixed with milk. Also ,

Through this gift the king they could add new sweetness,
meant to convey to the new- The king understood the Brah-
comers that the city was already man and was very glad,
full of pandits and there was no The king desired to lest the i

room for any more. The elder pandit-family some more. He j

Brahman understood this. He dressed himself like an ordinary J

added some sugar to the milk citizen and reached the banyan
j

: CHANDAMAMA
55 i

.
i
tree about the time of siiDset. man Agastya, who drank down
He saw only the ladies there. He all the oceans at one gulp ?"

went to the river expecting, the The young Brahman under-

males to be there at their even- stood this silent question and

ing prayers. Howevei^ he saw asked in return another by

only the Brahman's son at the throwing a stone into the water.

river. The king looked at him His question was, " Are you not
queslioningly. and taking some a Kshatriya like Sree Rama who
water in his hands, drank it. Jn bridged the ocean by throwing
doing so the king was asking the stones in it?"

young Brahman, "Are you not King Bhoja was very much
the same caste as the great Brha- pleased at this and went home.
 : :

"^ifiSoiis to learn

poetic gifts the family

^ssed. So he dressed himself

, a wood-cutter, look a bundle
fire-wood upon his head and
came out of the city gates as they

were about to be closed.

He approached the pandit-

family resting under the banyan

tree and said to the elder

Brahman, " Sir, I tarried too

long in the forest. Now the city

Ihe king spoke out where he
gates are closed. Let me spend
lay
the night here. 1 .shall go away " In this uiiluippy wiirlil

In the morning."
Three lliltig.s are ikemecl pleasant."
The elder Brahman agreed, And the elder Brahman replied
saying, " You are welcome. This " Life in Kasi, servini- the good
place is nobody's property." Ami taking the mime of God."
All of them could not go to After a time the elder Brahman
sleep for fear of thieves. So the woke up his wife and went to
family decided to keep awake by sleep. During her watch the
turns while the rest slept. The king said where he lay :

first one to keep watch was the " In this unhappy world
elder Brahman. During his walch Tii'o ihf/ig.f are cfeerued pleasant."

CHAISDAMAMA
57
 The Brahman's wife repKed: During the last watch
•'
The sweet-meat made of sugar the dawn, when the dau
And the holy feel of God." in-law was awake the kin^
Presently the son took over the where he lay
" In this unhappy world
watch from his mother and the
Woman is the only pleasure."
king said where he lay :

The young girl shrewdly guess-

" In this unhappy world
ed that the wood-cutter was
Pleasant is the wife's hirlhplace."
none other than King Bhoja and
The young Brahman replied: replied

"Shiva lies on Snow Hill. " She who gave birlh to one

Vishnu on the Ocean of Milk-" Like you. O King Bhoja."

(Lord Shiva's wife was the The king at ouce got up and
went home in the dark.
daughter of the king of Himalaya
Early next morning the family
and Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu
had an invitation from the king.
was born out of the Milky Ocean.
He honoured each one of them
Both Shiva and Vishnu have in his very best manner and gave
made their wives' birthplaces them all permanent employment
their residence.) in his court.
PHOTO CAPTION COMPETITION :: AWARD Ks. 10/-

You will find on the maide covers of this number two photos for
which the captions are supplied by US. In the August issue also you
wOl find a pair of photos on the inside covers for which we will supply
the captions.

Bat from September issue onwards you will supply the best
possible pair of captions for the photos appearing on the inside covers

of " Chandamama ".

Photos for the September 1955 Issue

* Choose apt and significant cap- * The pair of captions considered

tions for the above pftir of best will be awarded Hb. 10/-
photos. The captions should * Please wiite lejiibly or type the
go in a pair, eitlier words, ii»]itions on a postcard and
phrases or abort geiitonces. address it to :
" Chandamamn
* The captions should reach us Photo Caption Competition ",
before 20th of July "55. Madi-as-26.
 THE MOON
iifaziiie h nampd after Uncle Moon. So
iMirn some faotB about the real moon

Til
'iic iiini.li] goes round our earth in an orbit
h'wh is l,f>l)0,6S0 miles long. This orbit is

(luL [ici'l'rrLly rouiiil. At. tiiuea tho moon comes as near as

J^l.lUKl iiiii> s n.m\ gucw ;i.s fa.r as ^n^.HTO iiiiies.

Iti this orbit the moon moves at a speed of miles an

hour, completing ofte round m 27 days. 7 hours. 4.'i iniiuiifcs and
11 acc'omls.

Tlie moon has a diameter of 2,163 miles and a ciremnference

of (i,7ll5 miles. Its sur.faee area is 1-1,600,000 square miles. Its
wcitrlit. IS 7t^,OOl\ono,<nio.(iiHi noa,(iiK.l tons.

Mooii shinefl by the suiili^lifc Ihiit falls on it. We get about

17'^,, of this sunlight ay moon light. The light of the sun is

018,000 timcK stronger than the light from the full moon.
The moon is full of wide craLcrs. The biggest of thoni is called
I'tok-my and is 1 ir. niil.^s Hide. 'I'lic deepest crater is called
Th.-uphilns an. I is in, dud ir. L ,1cc|,. The liigliest visible peak
<m the moon is .ailed U'ihn'M/.. Its heiglit Is 24,970 feet.

The frravitational pull ol' the moon is about one-sixth that of

the eartli and an object that would weigh 6 lbs. on earth would
weigh only a II). on the moon.
Both heat and cold are much more severe on the moon than
on the earth. Its day temperature is about 200° and the night
temperature 'KiO'' below freezing.

Spen through the biggest telesoope on earth the moon appears

as seen from a distance of only 25 miles.

The bodies that circle round the sun are called planets and the
bodies that circle round the planets satellites- Our earth is a
planet and the moon is its satellite.
 : 1

THE BACK COVER

THE PORTRAIT ON THE WALL-
Of^f^'-'tJpon 3 time, there lived on a mountainside in China,
uyoung farmer named Chuang. He was a very nice boy.
He worked hard all the year round. He earned enough
to live comfortably.But most of his earnings were taken
away by the wicked emperor in the shape of taxes. So he
was left poor. He could not take a wife and have the
comforts of a family. He was doomed to permanent
poverty and lonliness.

Wlien his friends saw Chuang tkey would sing

" The Emperor's harm are bursting full,

Poor Chuang hasn't a "penny.

The Emperor has wives by scores and dozens.

Poor Chuang hasnt any.'"''

An artist saw the misery of Chuang and painted a life-size

picture of a beautiful girl. He thought the picture would

give the young man some pleasure. He put it up on a
wall inside Chuang's house, so that it brightened the
home and made it look less lonely.

Chuang fell in love with the girl on the wail. She looked so
nice and so real. She seemed to be keeping him company.
He looked upon her as his own wife. When he went
out to the fields next morning he looked at the painting
and thought, "How nice it would be if only she could
cook for me " !

4 I
 The Hind!! Marrkge Bill, 1955, an important part of the Hindu
Code, haa ohtaiuBd the PreBident'B assent and become law sinoo 19th.
May. According to this" law monogamy is the rule for the entire
Hindu Community. Divorce ia also permitted uuder certain conditions.
* *
« *

It is estimated that 1,480 crores may be spent upon Indian

Railways under the Second Five-Year Phvn. This is mure than
three-and-a-half times the^ amount spent during the Firat Plan. The
total amount to he apent under the Second Plan is 6,300 crores.

In May an All-India Mango show was held in Bombay. Nearly

1,000 exhibits were displayed. Over 130 prizes were given away.
Shri S. V, Sitaramaawamy of Bobbili, who sent about 100 exhibits got
the most important prizes including the Rajprai ukh of PEPSU
Trophy.

Recently two Himalayan Peaks were conquered by different

expeditions Kanchan]unga, the third highest peak in the world was
conquered by ft Tiritish expedition led by Dr. Cliarica Evans, on May
25- A French expedition led by M. Jean Franco conquered MakaUi
pciik. the fifUi highcsi m the world, on May 36.
 "Kaalimir PrincBBs'' an Air India luternatioQal Constellation
plane was destroyed on the eve of the Bandung Conferenco, near
Sarawak. An inquiry about the accident rovoaled tliat the plane was
destroyed by sabotage through a time-bomb cxiilosion.
* # »

By the Pcestdenta' order a now Ministry of Iron iiiid Steel was

constituted on May 'j9. Shri T, T, Kriahnamachari who was in charge
of Commerce and Industry has been put new Ministry.
in charge of the

70,000 railway men in the United Kingdom started a strike at

midnight of May 28-29. On the night of May 31. Queen Elizabeth
declared a state of emergency to keep the vital services running in
face of the stiike.
* « *
Former French areas of Pondichei'ry, ICiiraikal, Mahe and
Yanam irill be electing an Assembly for blie Pondiclierry State. There
are 1,60,000 voters and they will elect 39 membora to the Assembly,
They will abo elect 200 members to the various municipal councils in
the £our territories. It is decided that the elections shall take place in
the third week of July.

'Prime Minister Nelu'u started for the Soviet Uniou ou June 4

accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Indira Candlii. On his wity he
touched Cairo (Capital of Egypt), Prague (Capital of Czechoslovakia)
and reached Moscow on June 7, where he had a great welcome. He
will tour the Soviet Union for two weeks.

Recently Nehru's book "Discovery of India " has been trans-

lated into BuBsian,
 (>in3 Dafis Lincl Vasa went to the iiieadoww i'or a walk.
eveiiirig

Tlieii- Tif/er
(li)j; ai/comjiauied tliem caiTying an umbrella in it&
'

moiilh. nase it Hlinr-ld rain. All the three sat on the green grass.
in

A hig,bad ram which was grazing nenrljy .'^;m\ them and got
angry, 'How
dare these kids come and sil iiPie while J.

having my lunch? I shall frighten tlietn "iit uf Lheir wita,' the

big, bad ram thought. It lowered its head lind charged at tijcm. [i

Pi'omptly Daas and Vaas took ihe umbrella from 'Tigpv/ unfolded
it and showed it to the ram. It was the big, bad ram that was <

ficighteaed out of its wits. It turned back and.ran away for dear life.

Printed by 13. NAGI KEDDl at Hie B. N. K. Press IJtl., Madras a6, and Piiblislicd Uy him-
for Chandamaina Publications, Madias a6. ConlroUing lidiior: SHI -CHAKRAPANl