The Story of the King
In a certain country, during the time when a King was exercising sovereignty the King married a Queen, it is said. In the Queen’s womb, begotten by the Great King, three Princes were conceived, it is said.
While the three Princes were in the state approaching full age, the eldest Prince of the three Princes improved himself in throwing stones with the stone-bow, it is said. During the time when he was improving himself thus, he became a very skilful and dexterous person at stone-bow throwing. After that, the same Prince having abandoned the stone-bow began the shooting of animals with the bow and arrows. By that means, having shot at animals and killed animals, while eating the flesh with good joy and pleasure he passed the time in happiness with his father the King, and his mother the Queen, and his younger brothers who were the other two Princes.
At the time when he passed the time thus, his mother reached the other world. Not much time after it the Great King effected the wedding festival for yet [another] Queen from another country. The Queen was a childless proud woman. Because it was so, her happiness was in passing the time in discourtesy.
Furthermore, by this Queen there not being any notice of the three Princes, and as she was passing the time in anger and jealousy, the three Princes spoke together, “When our father the King has gone to war with any city, we three persons, taking three bags of masuran and causing a bag of cooked rice to be made ready, will go to another country.”
[After] saying [this], at the time when they are there the King received the message to go to a war. As soon as he received it,[1] having spoken to the Princes and the Queen, “Remain in happiness, looking after the country and the palace,” the Great King having been adorned to go went away.
After he went, the three Princes, making ready the bags of masuran and cooked rice, and forsaking the country, having started to go to another country, went off. While they were thus going, a very severe water-thirst[2] seized the elder Prince. While going seeking water, perceiving that there was no water he said to the other young Princes, “Having gone to a high hill or up a large tree, look if there is water near.” Then a Prince having gone up a tree, when he looked said that very far away a pool of water is visible.
After that, having gone to the quarter in which is the pool and having met with water, staying there and dividing the bag of cooked rice they ate. Having eaten and drunk, and having finished, they spoke together, “Let us three pluck three [lotus] flowers from this pool. [After] plucking them let us go to three countries. When we have gone there, should there be harm to anyone whatever of us, the flowers of the remaining two will fade.” Having said [this], the three Princes [plucked three flowers, and taking them with them] went to three countries.
After they went there, while the eldest Prince was going on the road, a palace of great height was visible. When he went to the palace that was visible, there was a Princess [at it] possessing much beauty. Having seen this Prince’s splendour[3] that very Princess fell down unconscious, without sense. Afterwards the Prince having restored the Princess to consciousness, asked, “What happened?”
The Princess having spoken, said, “Having seen your beauty, Sir, it caused a great dizziness to seize me, and I fell down.”