Bīrūnī, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad, Alberuni's India (v. 2)

(London :  Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.,  1910.)

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  Page 141  



CHAPTER LXV.                             141

should have a horrid croaking and be odious to all
others.

Next, the parrots betrayed to the Devas the hiding-
place of the fire. Thereupon the fire carsed them, that
their tongues should be turned topsy-turvy, that their
root should be where its tip ought to be. But the
Devas spoke to them : " If your tongue is turned topsy¬
turvy, you shall speak in human dwellings and eat
delicate things."

The fire fled from the asvattha tree to the tree sami.
Thereupon the elephant gave a hint to the Devas re¬
garding its hiding-place. Now it cursed the elephant
that his tongue should be turned topsy-turvy. But
then the Devas spoke to him : "If your tongue is
turned topsy-turvy, you shall participate with man in
his victuals and understand his speech."

At last they hit upon the fire, but the fire refused
to stay with them because it was leprous. Now the
Devas restored it to health, and freed it from the
leprosy. The Devas brought back to them the fire
with all honour and made it a mediator between them¬
selves and mankind, receiving from the latter the
shares which they offer to the Devas, and making these
shares reach them.
  Page 141