by Translated by Arthur W. Ryder · 1917
Fantasy · Classics
A king is told to carry a corpse that a vampire-spirit has entered. The spirit tells him riddle-stories on the way, each ending in a question he must answer. Translated from the Sanskrit by Arthur W. Ryder.
Content note: These ancient tales contain violence, deception and death, and some attitudes toward women that are outdated today.
The Project Gutenberg E-text of Twenty-two Goblins, by Unknown
TWENTY-TWO GOBLINS
Translated from the Sanskrit by Arthur William Ryder
CONTENTS
Introduction
Goblin-story
1. The Prince's Elopement. Whose fault was the resulting death of his parents-in-law?
2. The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wife should she be?
3. The Parrot and the Thrush. Which are worse, men or women?
4. King Shudraka and Hero's Family. Which of the five deserves the most honour?
5. The Brave Man, the Wise Man, and the Clever Man. To which should the girl be given?
6. The Girl who transposed the Heads of her Husband and Brother. Which combination of head and body is her husband?
7. The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which is the more deserving?
8. The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, and the Specialist in Cotton. Which is the cleverest?
9. The Four Scientific Suitors. To which should the girl be given?
10. The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. Which is the most delicate?
11. The King who won a Fairy as his Wife. Why did his counsellor's heart break?
12. The Brahman who died because Poison from a Snake in the Claws of a Hawk fell into a Dish of Food given him by a Charitable Woman.
