14. A Man and a Lion

Abstract

The story is presented in both a spoken and a sung version. A son of a king went out hunting one day with some servants. After three days, they started to return home. On the way he encountered a group of people lamenting the death of somebody. The boy was shocked, since he had never witnessed death before. On returning home, he told his father that he had no desire to live a worldly life if men are mortal, but wished to seek to enter the heavenly kingdom. He left home and met a monk, who took him to a monastery. In the monastery the boy made a living through weaving baskets and mats. One day in the market he was accosted by the wife of a king, who asked him to weave a basket for her. When the boy delivered the basket to her, she attempted to seduce him. He refused her advances and castigated her. After the intervention of an angel, he managed to run away.