There was, once upon a time, a certain poor and rather foolish Brahmin with no wealth whatsoever and very many children. His name was Harisarman, and to keep his family alive he was forced to wander with them from village to village, begging.

One day, their steps brought them to the city of a king, and there their luck improved a little. The children got work tending the cattle of the king, Harisaman’s wife became a cleaner in the palace, and Harisarman himself was taken on as an attendant.

After some time it was announced that the daughter of the king was to be married, and everyone in the palace felt great excitement. Harisarman’s mouth began to water at the thought of all the delectable food to be served, and he dreamed that after the wedding feast he would at last be able to fall asleep with a full belly.

But when the guests arrived and began to celebrate, it became clear that Harisarman had been forgotten. Neither was he invited to eat nor did anyone send him anything. That night, he complained to his wife that he had been overlooked because he was foolish. “I know I am not wise,” he told her, “but I will make myself look clever. Tomorrow, when the king is perplexed, you must tell him that I am a sage, with much knowledge.”

Then Harisarman want out, and in the darkness of night, took the horse that the groom was to ride to the wedding the next day and quietly led it away to a hiding place.

In the morning, the whole palace was upset – the groom’s horse could not be found, and it seemed to be a very evil omen for the marriage. The king was very disturbed. But then Harisarman’s wife spoke to the king and told him that her husband was very wise sage, with much magical knowledge, and perhaps he could recover the horse.

The king summoned Harisarman, and began by begging his pardon for overlooking him during the wedding feast. “I was distracted by so many duties,” the king said. “I did not intend to neglect you. I promise I will treat you with more respect. But please, can you find the horse of the groom?”

Harisarman looked serious, and began to draw strange shapes on the ground, and finally, after peering for a long time in all four directions, told the king, ‘Go to such and such a place, and you will find the horse there.”

Then the horse was found, the wedding went forward, and – for a time – Harisarman’s fortunes seemed to be rising with the sun. But did they remain in the vault of the heavens? We will find out in the next portion of the story…

To be continued…