The Kule-baka Flowers

In a certain country a King was ruling; the King was without children. The King having performed many meritorious deeds, five children were born.

ある国で王が治めていた。その王には子がなかった。王が多くの功徳を積むと、五人の子が生まれた。

When they looked into the Naekata (or prognostics resulting from the positions of the planets) at the time when the children were born, those of four were good, but that of the fifth child was that on seeing him his father's two eyes would become blind. The King told them to take the Prince and put him down in the forest. So having taken the Prince they put him in the forest.

子が生まれたとき、ナエカタ(惑星の位置から出す占い)を見ると、四人のはよかったが、五人めの子のは、その子を見ると父の両の目が見えなくなるというものだった。王はその王子を森に捨ててこいと言った。そこで王子は森に捨てられた。

After that, animals having come through the favour of the Prince's guardian deity, gave him milk, and reared him.

そのあと、王子の守り神の恵みによって獣たちが来て乳を与え、育てた。

After much time had passed, the Prince's father, the King, went to have the jungle driven (for shooting); and having gone, while they were driving the jungle that Prince came, and bounded round the King's enclosure. Then, the King having seen him his eyes became blind, and he went away without his eyes seeing anything. The people who went with the King, lifting him up, carried him to the palace.

多くの時がたって、王子の父である王が、狩りのために藪を打たせに行った。行って藪を打たせていると、その王子が来て、王の囲いのまわりを跳ねまわった。すると王は王子を見て目が見えなくなり、何も見えぬまま去った。王に従っていた者たちは、王を抱え上げて宮殿へ運んだ。

Having arrived there, various medical treatments were applied; he was not cured. After that, he caused sooth-sayers to be brought, and after he had asked them regarding it, they said, "By applying medical treatment you will not meet with a cure. In the midst of the Forest of the Gods there is a flower called Kule-baka. Having brought that flower, and burnt it on your eyes, your eyes will see."

着くとさまざまな手当てが施されたが、治らなかった。そのあと占い師を呼び寄せて尋ねると、占い師たちは言った。「手当てをしても治りませぬ。神々の森の奥にクレバカという名の花がございます。その花を持ってきて目の上で焼けば、目は見えるようになります」

Afterwards the King asked the people, "Who is able to bring this flower?" All the people said they could not do it. Then the four eldest Princes of the King, having said, "Let us go," asked permission of the King; the King told them to go. So the four persons having started, went.

そのあと王は人々に尋ねた。「この花を持ってこられる者はおるか」。誰もができないと言った。すると王の四人の兄の王子たちが「われらが行きましょう」と言って王の許しを乞い、王は行けと言った。そこで四人は出発した。

As they were going, the four persons went to a city. A courtesan stayed in that city; her name was Diribari-Laka. [57] She gambled (i.e. kept a gambling house). These four persons went to her house, and having gone there prepared to gamble. Then the woman said, "Should you lose by this game, I shall make you four persons prisoners (that is, slaves)." The four persons having said, "It is good," gambled, and all four having lost remained there as prisoners.

行く途中、四人はある都へ行った。その都に遊女が住んでいて、名をディリバリ・ラカ [57] といった。その女は賭けごとをしていた(つまり賭場を開いていた)。この四人はその家へ行き、賭けをする支度をした。すると女は言った。「この勝負で負けたら、あなたがた四人をわたしの囚人(つまり奴隷)にします」。四人は「それがよい」と言って賭け、四人とも負けて囚人としてそこに留まった。

The Prince who was in the forest, having got to know all these matters, also set off to seek the flower, and on his way arrived at the city at which the Princes who were made prisoners were staying. This one, having gone to the King of the city, was appointed to do messenger's work there. While he was living thus, this one obtained news that the courtesan was gambling, and thereupon this Prince asked the King for leave of absence. Having obtained it, he went to the house of an old woman near the courtesan's house.

森にいた王子はこのことをすっかり知って、自分も花を求めて出かけ、その道中、囚人となった王子たちのいる都に着いた。この者は都の王のもとへ行き、使い走りの仕事に就いた。そうして暮らすうちに、この者は遊女が賭けをしていると知り、そこでこの王子は王に暇を願い出た。許しを得て、遊女の家の近くの老婆の家へ行った。

Having gone there, this Prince having fallen down near the feet of that old woman and made obeisance, weeping and weeping, these words are what he said, "Mother, are you in the enjoyment of health? Do not you let your face be even visible (to) scrofulous offspring. When lightning has struck you (may it) take your progeny." [58] Having spoken and spoken with these honours he remained weeping. The woman's child, not of small age, was there, and having said similar things to the child also, and while weeping having paid respect, the woman made that Prince rise, and asked him, "Where were you for such a long period?"

そこへ行って、この王子はその老婆の足もとにひれ伏して頭を下げ、泣きに泣いてこう言った。「母さま、お達者でいらっしゃいますか。瘰癧の子らにあなたの顔を見せてはなりません。雷に打たれるときは〔どうか〕あなたの子孫を連れていきますよう」 [58]。こうした敬いの言葉を口にしながら泣きつづけた。女の子は幼くはない年で、そこにいた。その子にも同じようなことを言い、泣きながら敬いを示したので、女はその王子を立たせて尋ねた。「こんなに長いあいだ、どこにいたのですか」

"I was with a King," the Prince said. "Mother, whose is that house?" he asked.

「王のところにおりました」と王子は言った。「母さま、あの家は誰の家ですか」と尋ねた。

The woman said, "Why, son? Do not say anything about it. That house is the house of a courtesan. There is a gambling game of that woman's, and by it many persons, having lost, remain as prisoners."

女は言った。「まあ息子や、それについては何も言わないことです。あの家は遊女の家です。あの女の賭けごとがあって、それで大勢が負けて囚人になっています」

The Prince asked, "Mother, how does one win by that game?"

王子は尋ねた。「母さま、その勝負に勝つにはどうすればよいのですか」

Then the woman said, "A bent lamp having been lighted, is placed at the gambling place. Below the lamp a cat is sitting. While the woman is gambling the cat raises its head; then victory falls to the woman. When another person is playing the cat lowers its head; then defeat falls to that man. If you are to win, having extinguished the bent lamp, and driven away the cat, and brought and placed there another lamp, if you should then play you can win."

すると女は言った。「曲がった灯明をともして賭けの場に置きます。灯明の下に猫が坐っています。あの女が賭けているとき猫が頭を上げます。すると勝ちは女のものになります。ほかの者が打っているときは猫が頭を下げます。するとその者に負けが落ちます。もし勝ちたければ、その曲がった灯明を消し、猫を追い払って、別の灯明を持ってきて置いてから打てば、勝てます」

After that, the Prince went to gamble. Having gone there, when he was ready to gamble she said, "Should you lose in gambling, you will be condemned to imprisonment; should you win you marry me."

そのあと王子は賭けに行った。行って賭ける支度ができると、女は言った。「賭けに負けたら囚われの身と決まります。勝ったらわたしを娶るのです」

The Prince said, "It is good," and gambled. When he was losing, he extinguished the lamp, and having beaten and driven away the cat, he told the woman to bring another lamp. After that, the woman brought a lamp. Having brought and placed the lamp there, they gambled. The woman having lost all, the Prince won. Afterwards, that woman married this Prince.

王子は「それがよい」と言って賭けた。負けかけると、灯明を消し、猫を打って追い払い、別の灯明を持ってこいと女に言った。そのあと女は灯明を持ってきた。持ってきて置いてから、二人は賭けた。女はすっかり負けて、王子が勝った。そのあとその女はこの王子を娶った。

During the time while he was living there, as this Prince was starting to go and bring the Kule-baka flower, the woman said, "Don't go."

そこで暮らしているうちに、この王子がクレバカの花を取りに行こうと出かけると、女は言った。「行かないでください」

The Prince said, "I did not come for this gambling; I came for the Kule-baka flower. I must indeed go, after having set off for this purpose," he said. So the Prince went to bring the flower. Before this, he had allowed the imprisoned men to go, and said to the four Princes, "Stop until I return."

王子は言った。「わたしはこの賭けのために来たのではない。クレバカの花のために来たのだ。その目当てで出てきたのだから、行かねばならぬ」と言った。そこで王子は花を取りに行った。それより前に、囚われの者たちを放してやり、四人の王子に「わたしが戻るまで待っていてください」と言っておいた。

Having thus gone, he entered into the midst of a forest. While he was there, human-flesh-eating serpents and forest animals that were in the midst of the forest sprang to devour this Prince, but he made supplication to his deity, so they were unable to do it, and went away.

そうして出かけて、王子は森の奥へ入った。そこにいると、森の奥にいる人肉を食う蛇や森の獣がこの王子を食おうと跳びかかってきたが、王子が守り神に祈ったので、獣たちは何もできずに去っていった。

Then the Yaka who was guarding the Kule-baka garden, having seen the Prince, and having arisen and come near the Prince, asked, "Have you, a man born in the world of men, come into my presence to be a prey to me?"

するとクレバカの園を守るヤカーが王子を見て、立ち上がって王子のそばへ来て尋ねた。「人の世に生まれた者が、わしの餌食になろうとわしの前に来たのか」

The Prince said, "My father the King for a fault said he must behead me. On account of it, having made my way into the midst of the forest, I have come to you for you to eat indeed. If you are going to eat me, eat me; if you are going to keep me, keep me alive."

王子は言った。「父である王が、咎があるからわたしの首を刎ねねばならぬと言いました。それで森の奥へ分け入り、あなたに食われようとやってきたのです。わたしを食うなら食いなさい。生かしておくなら生かしておきなさい」

After that, the Yaka asked, "What do you eat?"

そのあとヤカーは尋ねた。「おまえは何を食う」

The Prince said, "We eat wheat flour, ghi, sugar, and camels' flesh. [59] These indeed we eat."

王子は言った。「われらは小麦粉と、ギー(澄ましバター)と、砂糖と、駱駝の肉を食います。 [59] まことにそれを食うのです」

All these requisites having been brought by the Yaka, after he had given them to the Prince, the Prince made the food, and gave to the Yaka also.

ヤカーがその品をすっかり持ってきて王子に渡すと、王子はその食べ物をこしらえて、ヤカーにも与えた。

The Yaka having eaten the food, sprang up into the air, and said to the Prince, "I never ate a meal like this. I will do anything you tell me."

ヤカーはその食べ物を食べて、宙へ跳び上がり、王子に言った。「こんな食事は食ったことがない。おまえの言うことは何でもしてやろう」

Then the Prince said to the Yaka, "Where is the path to go to the Kule-baka garden?"

そこで王子はヤカーに言った。「クレバカの園へ行く道はどこです」

The Yaka sprang up into the air, and fell on the ground, and beating his head, said, "If you had said so before this, by this time I should have eaten you. What can I do now that I have promised to help you?" Having said, "Go away from here," he told him about the path.

ヤカーは宙へ跳び上がり、地に落ちて、頭を打ちながら言った。「それを先に言っていたら、いまごろおまえを食っていたものを。助けると約束してしまったからには、どうすることもできぬ」。そして「ここから行け」と言って、道を教えた。

Then the Prince went along it. There, also, a Yaksani [60] (female Yaka) was guarding it, and the Prince came to her. The Yaksani asked the Prince, "Where are you going?"

そこで王子はその道を行った。そこにもヤクサニ [60](女のヤカー)が守っていて、王子はそのもとへ来た。ヤクサニは王子に尋ねた。「どこへ行く」

The Prince said, "Having delayed in the midst of a forest, as I was returning I was unable to find the country with my village. Now I have met with you here."

王子は言った。「森の奥で長居してしまい、帰ろうとしても自分の村のある国が見つからなくなったのです。いまここであなたに出会いました」

As he appeared good to the Yaksani she caused him to stay there, and married her daughter to him. The name of the girl to whom the Prince was married was Maha-Muda. [61]

王子はヤクサニによい者と見えたので、ヤクサニは王子をそこに留め、自分の娘を娶らせた。王子の娶った娘の名はマハ・ムダ [61] といった。

During the time while he was there the Prince remained angry.

そこにいるあいだ、王子は不機嫌なままだった。

The girl asked, "What are you angry for?"

娘が尋ねた。「なぜ不機嫌なのですか」

The Prince said, "I must go to look at the Kule-baka garden."

王子は言った。「クレバカの園を見に行かねばならぬのだ」

Then the girl spoke about this matter to her mother. So that woman having fetched rats, caused a tunnel to be made by them to the Kule-baka garden. Along that tunnel the Prince went to the flower garden, and having gone there, and plucked the flowers, came back again.

そこで娘はこのことを母に話した。するとその女は鼠たちを呼び寄せて、クレバカの園まで地下の道を掘らせた。その道を通って王子は花の園へ行き、そこで花を摘んで、また戻ってきた。

Having returned there, calling Maha-Muda he came to the house of Diribari-Laka. Having arrived there, he burnt on the lower part of the back the four Princes who had remained as prisoners. The Prince who went for the Kule-baka flowers having burnt in this way the four Princes, who stayed as slaves at the house of Diribari-Laka, these four persons were freed from imprisonment.

戻ってくると、マハ・ムダを呼んで、ディリバリ・ラカの家へ来た。着くと、囚人として留まっていた四人の王子の腰の下を焼いた。クレバカの花を取りに行った王子がこうして、ディリバリ・ラカの家で奴隷として留まっていた四人の王子を焼いたので、この四人は囚われから解き放たれた。

Then the Prince, Maha-Muda, and Diribari-Laka, taking the flowers, came to the Prince's native country. Having arrived there, he burnt the Kule-baka flowers on the two eyes of his father the King, and the two eyes of the King became well.

そして王子とマハ・ムダとディリバリ・ラカは、花を持って王子の故国へ来た。着くと、王子はクレバカの花を父である王の両の目の上で焼き、王の両の目は治った。

After that, the King having asked the Prince regarding these matters, learnt that he was the King's Prince, [and he and his two wives continued to live there with him].

そのあと王は王子にこのことを尋ねて、その者が自分の王子だと知った〔そして王子は二人の妻とともにそこで暮らしつづけた〕。