But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it
filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him,
and the water-goddesses were pleased and said, "O King, O King,
sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the
tank will fill with water." The king heard it and went home very
troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved
the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of
many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last
he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, "Daughter-in-law,
it is a long time since you went to see your parents. You had better
go and pay them a visit and leave your eldest boy behind. I shall look
after him here." The daughter-in-law consented and went to visit her
parents, leaving her son behind. The king waited for a favourable
day and then bathed and anointed his grandson. He gave a feast in
his honour and covered his body with costly jewelry. He then took
him into the middle of the pond and made him lie down on a bed and
told him not to stir.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118