Illustrated Classics From India A Bag of Gold Coins ‘The two stories in this Amar Chitra Katha are adapted from Anwar-i-Suhaili, a Persian version of the Panchatantra, written by Hussain Ali Waiz. Born in the kingdom of Khurasan at the time of Sultan Hussain Mirza (1489-1506 AD), Waiz took the liberty of changing the names of characters to give them local appeal The stories from Anwar-i-Suhaili, with its singularly beautiful writing, were illustrated many times by eminent painters in the courts of Akbar and Jahangir. It is one of the most beautiful expositions of the early phase of ‘Mughal painting. Only three copies of the book have been found, Two of them are in India and the third in a museum in London. lin Waiz’s version of the first story, the bag of gold coins is stuffed into the mouth of @ cow, whichis later kiled, To avoid hurting the sentiments of a vast section of Indians, we have shown a goat in our version. Script: Shanti Devi Motichandra Illustrations: V. B. Halbe Cover: V. B. Halbea pe A BAG OF GOLD COINS Rene 5 Wes LONG, LONG AGO THERE L/VED A FARMER WHO ALWAYS WORKED HARD,SS .. a ~ Ss oS N= pee A HE SOLD HIS CROP AT A GOOD PROFIT (N THE CITY MARKET. THREE HUNDRED GOLD COINS! | MUST NOT LET ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT MY GOOD FORTUNE . THE TREASURE . HE RETURNED HOME AND BURIED A FEW DAYS) WAS iT THREE | LATER— HUNDRED OR Was IT MORE? LET ME CHECK. ,HE CLOSED THE DOOR AND BOLTED IT. AS HE SAT DOWN TO COUNT THE COINS, THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. AN OUTSIDER AT THE DOOR. \ MUST HIDE. 3 HE HURRIEDLY PUT THE COINS BACK INTO THE BAGHE THEN OPENED THE DOOR,/T WAS A FRIEND OF HIS OUTSIDE. AS HE WAS SETTING OUT HE SAW HIS WIFE 1AM ON MY WAY TO THE MARKET. | THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO JOIN ME. | CERTAINLY WOULD! PLL BE BACK BY NOON. KEEP LUNCH : we IN HIS HURRY HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE BAG OF COINS. WIFE ENTERED 4EN— THERE ISN'T A DROP OF WATER IN THE HOUSE. | MUST FETCH..AND WAS ABOUT TO SET OUT FOR THE RIVER,WHEN A THOUGHT SUDDENLY STRUCK HER, MY HUSBAND WILL BE UPSET IF cf AH! HERE COMES THE BUTCHER! HE IS R ALWAYS HELPFUL. }& WILL YOU AS THE BUTCHER WALKED FETCH ME TOWARDS THE RIVER HE SOME WATER? » hy HEARD A CLINKING Z \ FROM THE POT. GIVE. ME THE POT. NOW WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE ? COINS? INSIDE. THE, Por? A BAG! WHAT'S THIS |XAMINED THE BAG & PUT DOWN THE POT AND "HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE WATER AND WALKED TOWARDS THE CITY. GOLD COINS, ALL OF THEM! THIS RIS MY LUCKY = 1 WILL GIVE A FEAST TO MY FRIENDS, WHAT A FOOL AM I, TO CARRY THE BAG OPENLY! Jo, WHAT GETTER PLACE THAN THE GOAT’S INSIDE !AS HE WENT FARTHER,HE MET HIS SON, | PAID TWO GOLD COINS FOR THAT GOAT, SEE THAT YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. TAKE THIS GOAT HOME. ALL RIGHT, | HAVE SOME WORK FATHER. IN THE TOWN. THIS IS A FINE GOAT, WILL YOU SELL IT Tt i HOW MUCH WILL YOU OFFER? Hin Gye ee { \J id () ae ih | COINS. GOAT IS c YOURS. :FATHER WILL BE PLEASED WITH THIS DEAL... IT’S BROUGHT HIM A PROFIT. Za om ‘ WHEN THE FARMER REACHED HOME— GIVE A FEAST TO OUR FRIENDS, TIE IT UP IN THE BACKYARD, WHERE 1S THE POT WHICH | HAD KEPT | GAVE IT TO THE BUTCHER TO FETCH HERE? WATER IN, HE By HASN'T YET COME BACK.HE’S NOT LIKELY TO, y OH, WHY DIDNPT EVER AGAIN.| HAD dA YOu TELL MEP KEPT THE BAG OF GOLD COINS IN THAT POT. DON’T GRIEVE. NOBODY CAN DEPRIVE US OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY HARD-EARNED MONEY GONE! PERHAPS: you ARE RIGHT. | THINK VLL SACRIFICE THE GOAT AND INVORE GOD'S BLESSINGS.[WiTHIN MINUTES, HE CAME RUSHING VY MY BAG OF COINS! INTO THE KITCHEN, 1 MY TREASURE! | FOUND IT IN TI : s/t BOK HE GOAT’S EXCITED, WHAT 1S THE MATTER? THE BUTCHER MUST I'VE LEARNT MY LESSON. HAVE STUFFED IT HENCEFORTH ILL CARRY THERE ? DOWN THE ANIMAL’S THE MONEY ON MY THROAT. | BOUGHT PERSON. IT FROM HISTHE NEXT DAY, THE FARMER. 1iAD TO 60 TO TOWN ON BUSINESS.ON THE WAY BACK— ~— iT is HoT.n RO DIP IN THE S WATER WOULD BE PLEASANT. LEAVING THE CLOTHES AND THE BAG OF COINS ON THE BANK, HE GOT INTO THE WATER. GOLD COINS! THIS IS MY LUCKY DAVY. THE BAG At SHEPHERD WHO HAPPENED TO PASS THAT WAY SAWamar cnitra nue, ON THE WAY— STRANGERS! THEY ARE SURE TO SNATCH MY BAG OF COINS. p i) MEANWHILE THE FARMER, CO AND REFRESHED, CAME OUT ian OF THE WATER. 75> getter = Sy 3 ee me °° 224 BUT WHERE IS MY BAG OF COINS? ALAS! | HAVE. LOST IT AGAIN.WHILE THE DEJECTED FARMER WAS WALKING HOMEWARDS, THERE CAME A STRONG WIND, CHASING THE TURBAN, THE FARMER REACHED THE WELL, MY TREASURE! PvE FOUND HE CLIMBED OUT OF THE WELL...THE NEXT DAY, THE FARMER. AND THE|YOU LOOK UNHAPPY. | HAD HIDDEN A BAG SHEPHERD RAN INTO EACH OTHER |WHAT'S THE MATTER?) OF GOLD COINS IN A AT THE V/LLAGE MARKET, WELL.NOW IT HAS DISAPPEARED. THEN THE BAG | PICKED UP FROM THE WELL | WAS NOT MINE. YOUR MONEY |S SAFE.| FOUND THE BAG AND | THOUGHT IT WAS THE ONE | HAD LOST ON THE RIVER by BANK, COME WITH ME AND I'LL fy GIVE IT TO THE FARMER TOOK HIM HOME AND GAVE HIM THE BAG OF COINS, | HOPE You SOON FIND YOUR BAG.AS THE SHEPHERD WALKED HOMEWARD S WHAT A FOOL! HE COULDN’T RECOGNISE HIS OWN BAG. WHEN THE SHEPHERD REACHED Home — | THE COINS WILL BE SAFER IN THE HOLLOW OF MY STAFF. FELL FROM HIS HAND. BEFORE HE COULD RETRIEVE IT, IT WAS CARRIED AWAY BY THE CURRENT. .70 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER WHERE THE FARMER HAPPENED TO BE BATHING. A STAFF! | MAY FIND SOME USE FOR IT, PLL TARE IT HOME.WHEN HE REACHED HOME — S Sk v FOR FUEL, SS USE THIS PLL CUT IT uP FOR you. THRICE HAVE | LOST MY COINS AND THRICE HAVE | REGAINED GLORY BE &i MORAL: NOBODY CAN DEPRIVE US OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS. —‘ mR | te uncrareru GOLDSMITH Bit SeligTHE KIND-HEARTED TRAVELLER LOWERED A CREEPER INTO THE © G00D MAN, HELP: US OUT OF THIS WELL.DO VISIT ME WHEN you COME TO THE MOUNTAINS. | COULD BE OF SOME SERVICE 5 Z y TO You. p g x SO COULD |, ) IF YOU EVER VisIT THE JUNGLE, _ [so COULD |, IF yOu COME NEAR PTE city BOUNDARY. HAVE. YOU FORGOTTEN ME? 1’M STILL DOWN WAIT ! DO NOT RESCUE THAT UNGRATEFUL MAN."HE’S NOT TO BE TRUSTED.| CAN?T LEAVE HIM TO DIE. OF STARVATION. | WILL HELP / HIM OUT. _A¢ A YEAR LATER,THE TRAVELLER RETURNED TO THE SAME SPOT WITH A BAG OF GOLD COINS. IT 15 GETTING DARK. LET ME REST NOW. TOMORROW | SHALL SEEK MY FRIENDS, “Wl [S00n THE man = SOON THE MAN TOO WAS OUT OF THE WELL. YOU MUST VISIT ME AT MY HOUSE IN THE CITY. KR | AM A GOLDSMITH. ) AS HE SLEPT, A BAND OF ROBBERS HAPPENED TO PASS BY,+PUSHED HIM DOWN THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE. .. «AND RAN AWAY WITH HIS BAG OF GOLD COINS. AH! IT?S You ! DO NOT WORRY, MY FRIEND, PLL SET YOU FREE IN NO TIME, AT THAT MOMENT, THE MONKEY WHO HAPPENED TO BE NEAR BY, HEARD SOMEONE CRYING FOR HELP. THAT VOICE | SOUNDS FAMILIAR. LET ME SEE WHO i FORTUNATELS S| HAD FALLEN ON A HEAP OF GRASS.AS HE RESTED UNDER A TREE, THE TRAVELLER TOLD M/S TALE N = > You STAY HERE AND RELAX.?LL BRING YOU YOUR BAG OF GOLD COINS.WHEN THE ROBBERS WOKE UP— |HEY!OUR SWORDS! OUR BOXES! WHERE ARE | \ SOME EVIL SPIRIT HAS ) WHISKED THE JUBILANT MONKEY CARRIED THE THe TRAVELLER TOOK THE BAG OF BAG OF COINS TO THE TRAVELLER. COINS AND WENT ON HIS WAY. BUT S00N— HERE |S Ys { YOUR. BAG cr \ a Oe OF COINS, ti HAVE BEEN KIND TO ME,| MY FRIEND.DON’T BE AFRAID. | AM YOUR FRIEND. DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME2, =< WHY, YOU . ARE THE LION OF THE WELL! YOU ARE RIGHT, COME TO my CAVE AND BE MY Ae S (You re very AS THE TRAVELLER SET OUT FOR Sj. GENEROUS, | HAVE A PRESENT @ KING OF HOW GRATEFUL THE | FOR YOu. PLEASE £ BEASTS. . ANIMALS HAVE BEEN! AccePT tT. 4 NOW LET ME > . VISIT THE GOLDSMITH.WHEN. HE REACHED THE CITY RS IT IS HARD TO FIND THE NEXT MORNING — pu BY SOMEONE IN THIS EXCITED CROWD WHO YE) ouR PRINCESS DO YOU “ é) WILL GUIDE ME TO 1S KILLED KNOW WH a aN; 2p THE GOLDSMITH Dy a MN a Kr 3 ae Ast wy \ FORTUNATELY THE GOLDSMITH ALSO HAPPENED TO BE IN THAT CROWD. IT 15 A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU AGAIN. PLEASE COME HOME, TSI AAV AY MAVENS Z| SAND ISTISEISDISISIS SPTISIISIINDSD Se | HAVE A NECKLACE, A PRESENT FROM OUR FRIEND, THE LION. . ff HELP ME SELL IT AT hy A GOOD PRICE. 4 YW AYWHILE TAKING OUT THE NECKLACE FROM THE BAG, THE TRAVELLER SPILLED A FEW COINS, ere, 4! WISH | COULD GET ery MY HAND ON THOSE GOLD COINS, HERE 19 THE NECKLACE . AND | ALSO ENTRUST THIS BAG OF GOLD COINS TO YOU. RETURN 'T TO ME WHEN | LEAVE. YOU CAN TRUST ME WITH YOUR BAG OF GOLD COINS, AND | SHALL SELL YOUR NECKLACE FOR A HIGH PRICE. ‘THE GOLDSMITH GATHERED THE COINS AND HANDED THEM BACK. TO THE TRAVELLER. THIS LOOKS LIKE THE NECKLACE OF THE PRINCESS, THE LION MUST HAVE KILLED HER AND GOT IT. | WILL INFORM THE KING ABOUT THE NECKLACE. THE TRAVELLER WILL BE SUSPECTED AND HANGED. | WILL BE REWARDED AND THE COINS WILL BE MINE FOREVER.WHEN THE KING WAS INFORMED, HE YOU TOOK THE ORDERED THE ARREST OF THE TRAVELLER.| LIFE OF THE PRINCESS, NOW You PAY FOR IT WITH YOuR MAJESTY, 1 AM INNOCENT. IN YOUR POSSESSION z PRISON FOR THE NIGHT. PROVES YOUR GUILT. | THE ANIMALS WERE YOU WILL BE HANGED RIGHT. THE GOLDSMITH Sy TOMORROW AT HAS BETRAYED SUNRISE. a | tN, MY TRUST. é NECKLACE FOUND THE TRAVELLER WAS KEPT IN TAKE HEART. NOT EVERYTHING |S IT?S YOU,MY FRIEND, LOST. I"M HERE. BUT HOW WILL YOU a SAVE ME? = Peceg iyNO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO CURE HER OF MY POISON, THEN YOU GO. TO THE «AND SAVE HER WITH THIS HERB, THE KING |S BOUND TO REWARD YOU. ne GIVING Him THE HERB, THE SNAKE WENT AWAY. I'VE BEEN BITTEN BY A SNAKE! SAVE ME! be WE. HAVE. TRIED N i ALL THE | Wisg| REMEDIES KNOWN TO US BUT IN VAIN, YOUR MAJESTY.\S THERE NO ONE WHO CAN SAVE MY MOTHER? YES, THERE IS ONE — THE INNOCENT MAN WHOM You HAVE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF YouR DAUGHTER. oss RSesssS999) Y THAT WAS DEFINITELY A SUPERNATURAL VOICE. BRING THE PRISONER | WHEN THE PRIGONER WAS\BROUGHT BEFORE THE KING = 7 SAVE MY MOTHER AND | WILL REWARD YOu. YOUR MAJESTY, | WILL DO SO. f BUT FIRST PLEASE LISTEN TO MYAS THE TRAVELLER CONCLUDED HIS STORY— By THE TRAVELLER. MIXED AST \/ Be | THE HERB IN A GLASS eel THE PRINCESS MIGHT Y HE SHALL BE OF MILK... & HAVE BEEN KILLED PUNISHED. 5 ; BY THE LION. THE NOW PLEASE Bh GREEDY GOLDSMITH CURE HER. LIED ABOUT ME. MOTHER! DO YOU FEEL | BETTER? SEE THAT THE ONE WHO SAVED MY LIFE 1STHE KING TURNED TO THE TRAVELLER. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS BAG OF GOLD COINS, THANK, You, YOUR MAJESTY. [ BY THEN IT WAS DAYBREAK. THE GOLDSMITH WAS WAITING AT THE PLACE OF EXECUTION. THE TRAVELLER HAS NOT YET BEEN BROUGHT. ONCE HE 1S HANGED, PM SAFE. AND SEIZED HI , RA VR Any GUILTY ONE: a yOu ARE TO BE HANGED! THE KING’S ORDERS. ‘i AaB ‘! a MG MORAL: EVIL 1S ALWAYS REWARDED WITH EVIL. ate NDYOUR ORDER, MY, MASTER P <4 BRING ME THE LATEST] MAY | BORROW YOUR COPY OF A AMAR... CHIT., CHIT CHITRA KATHA FOR A WHILE P at phd a Senne Amar Chitra Katha are available in 500+ bookstores across India au and on www.amarchitrakatha.com vys Our latest reprints are Sher Shah and Surya’s Gifts.