A True Friend

The land of Pushkara was
ruled by King Bhumivarma.
He had one son named Rajendra.
Manimada. the Minister's son
was a bosom friend of the
prince.

Rajendra was betrothed to
the princess of a neighbouring
country. Accompanied by his
good friend Manimada, the
young prince set out for the
capital of his fiancee to get
married.

After travelling for a few days,
the royal retinue rested on the
banks of a river. The two
friends made their beds under
a huge banyan tree. The prince
was soon fast asleep but Mani-
mada was enjoying the serene
beauty of the night. Suddenly,
he heard voices from the tree.
A group of fairies were resting
on the branches of the tree.

Said one of them, "This prince
won't live to see the daylight.
Hell die as soon as he picks up
the garland I've thrown on the
ground."

. Said another, "If he survives
that he'll surely die when he
eats the ripe mango hanging
from that tree." Said the third
one, "If he should escape that,
he'll die as soon as he steps
inside the bride's house because
a portion of the wall will fall
on him."

The fourth one said, "When he
goes to sle'ep in his chamber,
he'll be racked by severe snee-
zes. If anyone shouts out,
'Long live' for each sneeze until
he completes a hundred the
prince will live."

The fifth one said, "And if
anyone reveals to the prince
what we have said, his head shall
split into a thousand pieces."



Manimada was aghast to
know of the terrible fate hanging
over his friend's head. But he
was determined to save his
friend's life.

From that moment he follo-
.wed the prince around like a
faithful hound. He prevented
Rajendra from picking up_ the
garland, and ate the mango
before the latter could. When
the prince reached the bride's
house and was about to step in,
Manimada pretended to stum-
ble against the latter and pushed
Rajendra out of harm's way
when the wall finally caved in.
The prince was a little irked by
such behaviour but he did not
say anything.

When the prince retired for
the night, Manimada crept
under the royal bed and
began a tally as Rajendra star-
ted sneezing. When a hundred
were completed, Manimada
sprang from his hiding place



and said to the astonished
prince, "Now there is no more
danger."

Rajendra's rage at this inter-
ruption boiled over and in a
harsh voice he ordered his guards
to drag this mad man away to
the executioner's block.

As Manimada was led away,
he" entreated the guards to per-
mit him to speak to the prince
for the last time. So they led
him to Rajendra's presence
and there Manimada explained
the cause of his strange beha-
viours. He could not warn the
prince . before hand because
Manimada's own life would
have been forfeited.

Rajendra was overwhelmed by
gratitude at his friend's reve-
lation and regretted his hasty
action in sentencing him to the
executioner's block. He heaped
honours on his friend and lived
in the closest amity with him.