The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story

In the city of Dhavala there was a merchant’s son, named Chakra. He went on a trading voyage to Svarṇadvípa against the will of his parents. There he gained great wealth in five years, and in order to return embarked on the sea in a ship laden with jewels. And when his voyage was very nearly at an end, the sea rose up against him, troubled with a great wind, and with clouds and rain. And the huge billows broke his vessel, as if angry because he had come against the wish of his parents. Some of the passengers were whelmed in the waves, others were eaten by sea-monsters. But Chakra, as his allotted term of life had not run out, was carried to the shore and flung up there by the waves. While he was lying there in a state of exhaustion, he saw as if in a dream, a man of black and terrible appearance come to him, with a noose in his hand. Chakra was caught in the noose by that man, who took him up and dragged him a long distance to a court presided over by a man on a throne. By the order of the occupant of the throne, the merchant’s son was carried off by that noose-bearer, and flung into a cell of iron.

In that cell Chakra saw a man being tortured by means of an iron wheel7 on his head, that revolved incessantly. And Chakra asked him,—“Who are you, by what crime did you incur this, and how do you manage to continue alive?” And the man answered—“I am a merchant’s son named Khaḍga, and because I did not obey the commands of my parents, they were angry and in wrath laid this curse upon me:8 ‘Because, wicked son, you torture us like a hot wheel placed on the head, therefore such shall be your punishment.’ When they had said this they ceased, and as I wept, they said to me, ‘Weep not, your punishment shall only last for one month.’ When I heard that, I spent the day in grief, and at night when I was in bed, I saw, as if in a dream, a terrible man come. He took me off and thrust me by force into this iron cell, and he placed on my head this burning and ever-revolving wheel. This was my parents’ curse, hence I do not die. And the month is at an end to-day; still I am not set free.” When Khaḍga said that, Chakra in pity answered him—“I too did not obey my parents, for I went abroad to get wealth against their will, and they pronounced against me the curse that my wealth, when acquired, should perish. So I lost in the sea my whole wealth, that I had acquired in a foreign island. My case is the same as yours. So what is the use of my life? Place this wheel on my head. Let your curse, Khaḍga, depart.” When Chakra said this, a voice was heard in the air “Khaḍga, thou art released, so place this wheel on the head of Chakra.”

There he remained without disobeying again the orders of his parents: but Chakra put that wheel upon his head, and then spake thus—“May other sinners also on the earth be released from the result of their sins; until all sins are cancelled, may this wheel revolve on my head.” When the resolute Chakra said this, the gods in heaven, being pleased, rained flowers and thus addressed him: “Bravo! Bravo! man of noble spirit, this compassion has cancelled thy sin, go; thou shalt possess inexhaustible wealth.” When the gods said this, that iron wheel fell from the head of Chakra, and disappeared somewhere. Then a Vidyádhara youth descended from heaven, and gave him a valuable treasure of jewels, sent by Indra pleased with his self-abnegation, and taking Chakra in his arms, carried him to his city named Dhavala, and departed as he had come. Then Chakra delighted his relations by his arrival at the house of his parents, and, after telling his adventures, remained there without falling away from virtue.