The Kahawana Sowing (Variant)
At a certain city there was a foolish King. At the time when the King says anything he kills the whole of the Ministers who do not give answer, “Yahapati” (It is good), to it. In this way, by not remembering to say Yahapati a great number of Ministers tasted death.[2] By his doing thus, on account of his making this order [in the end] there was not a Minister for the King.
After that, he caused notice to be given by tom-toms in the city for a person to come for the ministership (aemaeptiyakama). Because they were not willing to taste death anybody was unwilling to do it.
At last, a drunken cheat having the name Jobbuwā arrived. “Yahapati; be pleased to give me the office of Minister,” he said. The King having said, “Yahapati,” gave him the office of Minister.
While time was passing, he spoke to the Minister one day, and said, “Cannot I obtain profit by cultivating kahawanas (coins)?”
“Yahapati; you can get much gain by it,” he said.
“If so, for the purpose of sowing them cause a chena to be cut,” the King said to the Minister.
The Minister, having said, “Yahapataeyi” (It is good), went away, and firstly having told the Chiefs (pradānīnṭa) of the village to collect and bring Tamarind seeds, told the villagers to put in order a wide, level, open place on the border of a certain river. The villagers having put the Tamarind seeds into sacks and stitched them up, brought them.
Having cut the chena, after it was completed the Minister having gone, asked the King for kahawanas [to sow in it]. The King said, “Take as many as you require for sowing in the chena.” The Minister having brought the kahawanas home, caused the Tamarind seeds to be sown in the chena.