The Gamarāla who ate Black Fowls’ Flesh and Hīn-aeṭi Rice
In a certain country there were a Gamarāla and a Gama-Mahagē, it is said. There was a paramour for this Gama-Mahagē, it is said. Because the Gamarāla was at home the paramour was unable for many days to come to look at the Gama-Mahagē.
Because of it, the Gama-Mahagē having thought she must make her husband’s eyes blind, went on the whole of the days to the bottom of a spacious tree in which it was believed that there is a Dēvatāwā, and cried, “O Deity, make my man’s eyes blind.”
Having seen that in this way incessantly (nokaḍawama) the Gama-Mahagē in the evening having abandoned all house work goes into the jungle, the Gamarāla wanted to ascertain what she goes here for. The Gamarāla also in order to stop this going of the Gama-Mahagē settled in the afternoon that there will be a great quantity of work [for her] to do. The Gamarāla, who saw that nevertheless, whatever extent of work there should be, having quickly finished all the possible extent she goes into the jungle, on the following day in the evening having been reminded of the preceding reflections, remained hidden in a hollow in the tree there.
And the Gama-Mahagē, just as on other days, in the evening having finished the work and having come, cried, “O Dēvatāwā who is in this tree, make my man’s eyes blind.” Having cleared the root of the tree and offered flowers, she also lighted a lamp.
The Gamarāla who was looking at all these, having been struck with astonishment, after the Gama-Mahagē went away descended from the tree and went home.
On the following day, also, in the evening the Gamarāla, catching a pigeon and having gone [with it], remained hidden in the hollow of the very same tree. At the time when he is staying in this way, the Gama-Mahagē having come, and having offered oil, flowers, etc., just as before, when she cried out [to the deity] to blind her man’s eyes, the Gamarāla from the hollow of the tree, having changed his voice, spoke, “Bola!”
Thereupon the Gama-Mahagē, having thought, “It is this Deity spoke,” said, “O Lord.”
At that time the Gamarāla said thus, “If [I am] to make thy man’s eyes blind, give [him] black fowls’ flesh[1] and cooked rice of Hīn-aeṭi rice.” Having said [this], he allowed the pigeon which he had caught to fly away.
Thereupon the Gama-Mahagē having thought, “This Deity is going in the appearance of a pigeon,” having turned and turned to the direction in which the pigeon is going and going, began to worship it. And the Gamarāla after that having slowly descended from the tree, went away.