Baal Kaanda
33 - The story of king Pratapabhanu
Chaupais
Description
"Very well, my lord," the king replied; and bowing to the hermit's command he tied up the horse to a tree and then sat down. The king extolled him in many ways and bowing at his feet congratulated himself. He then spoke to him in soft and endearing terms, "Regarding you as a father, my lord, I venture to address you. Looking upon me as your son and servant O great sage, pray tell me your name in full, my master." Although the king did not recognize him, he recognized the king. While the king had a guileless heart, the hermit was a pastmaster in fraud. Being an enemy in the first instance, and a Ksatriya on top of it and again of royal blood, he sought to accomplish his end by dint of his cunning. The thought of the pleasures of royalty had made the enemy king sad; the fire of jealousy smouldered within his heart like that of a furnace. On hearing the artless words of Pratapabhanu and recalling the grudge he had nursed against him, the hermit felt delighted at heart.