Once upon a time when Brahmatta was king in Benares the Great Bing was born in the region of the Himalaya as a fairy. His wife was named Canda. These two dwelt together on a silver mountain named Canda-pabbata, or the Mountain of the Moon. At that time the king of Benares had committed his government to his ministers, and all alone dressed in two tallow robes, and armed with the five weapons, he proceeded to the Himalayas.

While eating his venison he remembered where was a little stream, and began to climb the hill. Now the fairies that live on the Mountain of the Moon in the rainy season remain on the mountain, and come down only in the hot weather.

At that time this fairy Canda, with his mate, came down and wandered about, anointing himself, singing songs in a honey-voice. He too came to this stream; and at one halting-place he went down into it with his wife, scattering flowers about and playing in the water. Then they put on again their garments of flowers, and on a sandy spot white as a silver plate they spread a couch of flowers, and lay there. Picking up a piece of bamboo, the male fairy began to play upon it, and sang with a honey-voice; while his mate waving her soft hands danced hard by and sand withal. The king caught the sound, and treading softly that his footsteps might not be heard, he approached, and stood watching the fairies in a secret place. He immediately fell in love with the female fairy. “I will shoot the husband,” thought he, “and kill him, and I will live here with the wife.” Then he shot the fairy Canda, who lamenting in his pain uttered:

“It is passing away, I think, and my blood is flowing, flowing,

I am losing my hold on life, O Canda! My breath is going!

’It is sinking, I am in pain, my heart is burning, burning:

But it is for your sorrow, Canda, the heart within me is yearning.

As grass, as a tree I perish, as a waterless river I dry:

Thus did the Great Being lamented and lying upon his couch of flowers, he lost consciousness, and turned away. The king stood where he was. But the other fairy did not know that the Great Being was wounded, not even when he uttered his lament, being intoxicated with her own delight. Seeing him lie there turned away and lifeless, she began to wonder what could be the matter with her lord. As she examined him she saw the blood oozing from the mouth of the wound, and being unable to bear the great pain of sorrow for her beloved husband, she cried out with a loud voice. “The fairy must be dead,” thought the king, and he came out and showed himself. When Canda beheld him she thought, “This must be the brigand who has slain my dear husband!” and trembling she took to flight. Standing upon the hill-top she denounced the king:

“You! evil prince–ah, woe is me!–my husband dear did wound,

Who there beneath a woodland tree now lies upon the ground.

O prince! The woe that wrings my heart may thy own mother pay,

The woe that wrings my heart to see my fairy dead this day!

Prince! The woe that wrings my heart may thy own mother pay,

The woe that wrings my heart to see my fairy dead this day!

And may your mother mourn her lord, and may she mourn her son,

Who on my lord most innocent for lust this deed hast done.

And may thy wife look on and see the loss of lord and son,

For thou upon my harmless lord for lust this deed hast done.”

When she had thus made her moan, standing upon the mountain top the king comforted her by saying:

“Weep not nor grieve: the woodland dark has blinded you, I ween:

A royal house shall honour thee, and thou shalt be my queen.”

“What is this word thou hast said?” cried Canda, when she heard it; and loud as a lion’s roar she declaimed:

“No! I will surely slay myself! Thine I will never be,

Who slew my husband innocent and all for lust for me.”

When he heard this his passion left him, and he said:

“Live if thou wilt, O timid one! To Himalaya go:

Creatures that feed on shrub and tree the woodland love, I know.”

With these words he departed. Canda so soon as she knew him gone came up and, embracing the Great Being took him up to the hill-top, and laid him on the flat land there; placing his head on her lap, she made her moan:

“Here in the hills and mountain caves, in many a glen and grot,

The wild beasts range, the leaves are spread on many a lovely spot:

The wild beasts range, sweet flowers are spread on many a lovely spot:

Clear run the rivers down the hills, with flowers all overgrown:

Blue are the Himalaya hills, most fair they are to see:

Gold tips the Himalaya hills, most fair they are to see:

The Himalaya hills glow red, most fair they are to see:

Sharp are the Himalaya peaks, they are most fair to see:

White gleam the Himalaya peaks, they are most fair to see:

The Himalaya rainbow-hued, most fair it is to see:

Hill Fragrant is to goblins dear; plants cover every spot

The fairies love the Fragrant Hill, plants cover every spot:

What shall I do, O fairy mine, now I behold not thee?

So did she make her moan; and putting the hand of the Great Being on her breast she felt that it still was warm. “Canda lives yet!” she thought: “I will taunt the gods until I bring him to life again!” Then she cried aloud, taunting them, “Are there none who govern the world? Are they on a journey? Or peradventure they are dead, and therefore save not my dear husband!” by the power of her pain Sakka’s throne became hot. Pondering he perceived the cause; in the form of a brahmin he approached, and from a water-pot took water and sprinkled the Great Being with it. On the instant the poison ceased to act, his colour returned, he knew not so much as the place where the wound had been; the Great Being stood up quite well. Canda seeing her well-beloved husband to be whole, in joy fell at the feet of Sakka, and sang his praise:

“Praise, holy brahmin! who didst give unto a hapless wife

Her well-loved husband, sprinkling him with the elixir of life!”

Sakka then gave this advice: “From this time forth go not down from the Mountain of the Moon among the paths of men, but abide here.” Twice he repeated this, and then returned to his own place. And Canda said to her husband, “Why stay here in danger, my lord? Come, let us go to the Mountain of the Moon.”