How Raja Rasâlu Played Chaupur With King Sarkap

Now, when evening came, Raja Rasâlu went forth to play _chaupur_

with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat

wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never

stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the

kiln yonder. It has just been set alight, and my children will be

baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!'

Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasâlu, and, going to the potter, he

asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he

could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could

not tell how many would come out whole. Nevertheless, after some

bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasâlu, having

searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother,

and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying,

'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in

difficulties.'

So Raja Rasâlu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play

_chaupur_ with the King.

Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes. On

the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole

world; and on the third, his own head. So, likewise, Raja Rasâlu

fixed his stakes. On the first game, his arms; on the second, his

horse; and on the third, his own head.

Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasâlu's lot to make the first

move. Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the

dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his

famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the

_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasâlu lost the first game,

and gave up his shining armour.

So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the

pieces; and Rasâlu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed. Then

Bhaunr Irâqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master--

'I am born of the sea and of gold;

Dear Prince! trust me now as of old.

I'll carry you far from these wiles--

My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird,

For thousands and thousands of miles!

Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play,

Place hand in your pocket, I pray!'

Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr

Irâqi, since he gave his master advice in the game. Now when the

slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasâlu could not refrain

from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Irâqi had

been his companion. But the horse cried out again--

'Weep not, dear Prince! I shall not eat my bread

Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led.

Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.'

These words roused some recollection in Rasâlu's mind, and when, just

at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he

remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice

made from dead men's bones. Then his heart rose up once more, and he

called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the

present. Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!'

Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasâlu's confident bearing, began to be

afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their

gayest attire and stand before Rasâlu, so as to distract his attention

from the game. But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice

from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all

this time; now we will play with mine.'

Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol

Raja used to come, and the game began.

After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasâlu was winning, called to his

rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go

farther. So Rasâlu won, and took back his arms. Next he played for

his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol

Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid. So Rasâlu won the

second stake, and took back Bhaunr Irâqi.

Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game,

saying--

'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!

For sooth this is a man with whom I play.

No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;

As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!'

But Rasâlu answered back--

'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day!

For sooth it is a man with whom I play.

No paltry risk--but life and death at stake;

As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!'

So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and

the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window. Then Sarkap lost, first

his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head.

Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to

Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once!

for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father

ill luck!'

But Rasâlu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong,

saying, 'Not so, O king! She has done no evil. Give me this child to

wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play

_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!'

Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and

after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and

placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince.

Now, as Rasâlu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe

and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out

to him--

'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest

But timid wild-fowl. Grant us our request--

Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!'

And Raja Rasâlu hearkened to them, and bade

King Sarkap set them at liberty.

Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe,

Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the

door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will

I return and marry Kokilan.'

And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja

Rasâlu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he

played _chaupur_ with the King.