Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins Part B

• Twenty-Two Goblins from the Vetālapañcaviṃśati, translated by Arthur Ryder
  
  The Brahman who died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of a Hawk fell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman. Who is to blame for his death?
  
  
  • Summary: A Brahman's wife is kidnapped. He goes to find her and is offered a bowl of rice which is poisoned by a hawk eating a snake. Nobody is to blame - so it must be the Brahman who is wrong for trying to blame someone. Goblin escapes. 
  • Old-fashioned language. "He broke silence" 
  The Girl Who Showed Great Devotion to the Thief. Did he Weep or did he Laugh?
  • Summary: 
  • People named after beautiful things. I wonder how bad people might be named.
  • "She was prudent and did not like men" (storybook inspiration, lol)
  • Valour = fighting well?

  The King who died for Love of his General's Wife; the General follows him in Death.Which is the more worthy?
  • Summary: The king falls in love with a woman who is married to a general. The general offers his wife to the king. The king declines and dies of grief. The general kills himself. The king is more honorable. The goblin escapes. 
  • The lion of spring, the elephant of winter 
  • Heavy emphasis on honor. 

  The Four Brothers who brought a Dead Lion to Life.Which is to blame when he kills them all?
  • Summary: Three brothers learn how to put an animal's body together. One learns to bring it to life. The latter is guilty when they bring a lion to life and it kills them all. 

  

  Shiva, by Arumugam Manivelu

  
  The Old Hermit who exchanged his Body for that of the Dead Boy.Why did he weep and dance?
  • Summary: Boy dies. Hermit steals his body. He weeps and dances because he is sad and happy to leave his old body for a new one. Goblin escapes. 
  • These riddles are really wild. It would be interesting to do one using modern Western values. 

  The Father and Son who married Daughter and Mother.What relation were their children?
  • Summary: Son and father marry mother and daughter, respectively. The king is stumped. Goblin tells him that the monk is trying to trick him and he should kill the monk. 
  • Men need wives?
  • Inclusion of a verse of poetry.

  Conclusion

  • Summary: King kills monk and becomes king of the fairies. 
  • Heavy emphasis on royalty and hermits. Are there stories about regular people?