While they are in friendship in this way, without a marriage, one day, having called the others, [one of them] said thus:—“The whole of us are beings possessing much dignity. Because of it, let us summon a woman [as wife] for the whole seven of us.”
Having [thus] talked, for the purpose of asking for the daughter of King Moṭānis [in marriage] the two called Noisy-Drummer and Trap-Setter having gone to Kurupiṭi City, and perched on the portico (toraṇa) near the palace of King Moṭānis, cried with the sound, “Ūm, Ūm.”[3]
At that time the King having come out, and perceiving, because he knows the Fish-Owl language, the matter for which they called out [to him], the King asks them, “What is the business that ye do? Your livelihood being of a different sort, how is it?” he asked Noisy-Drummer.
Thereupon he says, “O King, Your Majesty, it is I indeed whom in Bakarāwatā City they call Noisy-Drummer. In the same city the Minister of King Kuru am I.”
Then the Fish-Owl called Trap-Setter says, “I am the son of King Moṭābā, who is near the same city,” he said.
Thereupon the King says, “Unless King Moṭābā will give marriage to you, we are unable [to do] so.” Having said, “Ye are of the lower animals” (tirisannu), he abused them, and drove them away.
After that Noisy-Drummer and Trap-Setter came to Bakarāwatā City, [and told the others of the failure of their mission]. While they were there, to Noisy-Drummer the other five say, “Ye fools! When ye asked for marriage in that way will they give it?” Having said [this], they quarrelled [with them]. What was that for? Because King Moṭābā is not an overlord of lineage,[4] if they had asked for the marriage from an overlord of lineage it would be good. Having said [this], they five quarrelled with them.
After that, the two Fish-Owls called Great-Fisher and Long-Bones went to Sulambāwatī City in order to ask for [marriage with] the Nadakāra Kumārī,[5] the daughter of King Aṭṭapāla.
While they were there, sitting upon the porch of the palace of King Aṭṭapāla, Long-Bones called out, “King Aṭṭapāla!”
After that the King having come, when he asked, “What is it?” as they were sitting upon the porch Long-Bones spoke to the King, “We came to ask for a marriage.”