The Origin of a River

There stands on the old Agra Bombay Road, between Goona in Central India and Jhansi, a small village beside a stream, and this used to be a bathing stage for travellers in the old days, before railways were known in India.

中央インドのグナとジャーンシーのあいだの、古いアグラ・ボンベイ街道ぞいに、小川のほとりの小さな村がある。そこは、インドで鉄道が知られる前の昔には、旅人の水浴び場だった。

In the village there once lived a man whose wife died, leaving an only daughter. The girl, as she grew to womanhood, had a very bad time of it, as all the housework fell upon her shoulders. She had to cook her father's food and carry it to him in the fields; to draw water for the cattle and look after them, besides many other things which took up her time and strength.

その村に、むかし、妻に死なれてひとり娘を残された男が住んでいた。娘は年ごろになるにつれて、家の仕事がみな肩にかかってきたので、たいそうつらい思いをした。父親の食事をこしらえて畑へ運び、家畜のために水を汲んで世話をしなければならず、そのほかにも時間と力を取られることがたくさんあった。

So she invoked the aid of the Gods.

そこで娘は神々に助けを願った。

Next time she went to draw water from the well, which was a very deep one, and required a long, long string for the bucket, she looked in, and lo! the water had risen to the top, and was almost overflowing, so that there was no need to draw any; and her father's cattle stood round and drank their fill.

次に娘が井戸へ水を汲みに行ったとき、その井戸はたいそう深くて、つるべにはとても長い綱が要ったのだが、なかをのぞくと、見よ! 水がてっぺんまで上がってきて、今にもあふれそうだったので、汲む必要がなかった。父親の家畜たちはまわりに立って、たっぷり水を飲んだ。

Then she filled her chattie with water, and enjoyed a bath in the sunshine.

それから娘は水がめに水を満たして、日なたで水浴びを楽しんだ。

After a time the water sank to its usual level. Thus far all was well, but her father noticed how quickly the cattle had been watered, and how soon his daughter returned home: also he missed the long rope which she always carried on her arm. He began to suspect that some unknown man, a stranger to himself, used to help her, and determined to watch.

しばらくすると、水はいつもの高さまで下がった。ここまでは万事うまくいっていたが、父親は、家畜にどんなに早く水がやられたか、娘がどんなに早く家へ帰ってくるかに気づいた。そのうえ、娘がいつも腕にかけている長い綱が見当たらなかった。父親は、自分の知らないどこかの男が娘を手伝っているのではないかと疑いはじめ、見張ろうと決めた。

A great fig tree grew beside the well; and one day he concealed himself in its branches.

井戸のそばに大きなイチジクの木が生えていた。ある日、父親はその枝のなかに身を隠した。

As usual, his daughter came with the cattle, and all happened as before. He was struck with wonder and amazement at what he saw.

いつものように娘が家畜を連れてやって来て、すべてが前と同じように起こった。父親は見たものに驚き、呆然とした。

Just as the girl was about to take her usual bath, she looked up and saw him.

娘がいつもの水浴びをしようとしたちょうどそのとき、娘は見上げて父親を見た。

In a moment she felt that he had suspected her of some evil. "Father," cried she, "why do you look with an evil eye on your child? Do you not believe that the Gods have helped her?"

たちまち娘は、父親が自分を何か悪いことで疑っていたのだと感じた。「お父さん」と娘は叫んだ。「どうして自分の子を悪い目で見るのです。神々がわたしを助けてくださったことを信じないのですか」

But before her father could reply, she sank down to the bottom of the well with the water and never rose again, for the outraged Gods took her to themselves; and, in token of their displeasure, the well was cleft from top to bottom, and hillocks formed on either side. From this spot flows a tiny stream, which, if you follow it, becomes a mighty river.

けれども父親が答える前に、娘は水と一緒に井戸の底へ沈んでいき、二度と上がってこなかった。辱められた神々が娘を自分たちのもとへ引き取ったのである。そして神々の不興のしるしに、井戸はてっぺんから底まで裂け、両側に小山ができた。この場所から小さな流れが流れ出ていて、それをたどっていくと、大きな川になるのである。