[1] In the MS. the words are gañga-pahalaṭa, ‘down the river,’ an evident mistake, as the hair passed down with the current. [↑]
No. 241
The Royal Prince and the Heṭṭirāla[1]
In a certain country both the royal Prince and the Minister-Prince were joined together by much friendship, it is said. Thus, having been in that way, one day the royal Prince having talked with the Minister-Prince, says, “Friend, we two having come to a foreign country, let us do trading.”
The Minister-Prince also having said, “It is good,” the two persons taking as much money as each can carry for the purpose of trading, set off to go to a foreign country.
During the time when they are going thus, the two having met with a junction of two roads, the two persons say, “We two having separated at these roads let us go to two districts.” So speaking, having separated they went to two districts.
Out of them, the royal Prince having arrived at the place where a courtesan woman is gambling, and having staked with the courtesan woman this money he brought, gambled. The courtesan woman won the whole of the money. Well then, the royal Prince having staked the clothes he was wearing, when he gambled the Prince lost them also.
Well then, the Prince says, “It is good.[2] If so, you and I having staked ourselves let us gamble.”
So speaking, staking each against the other they gambled. Thereupon the Prince lost. Having shaved the Prince’s head, taking him for the state of labourer, while he was drawing water and washing pots, when the Heṭṭirāla of that village was going by that street he saw the Prince who was washing and washing pots, and great sorrow having been produced for the Heṭṭirāla, he spoke to the courtesan woman, and says, “The labourer who is washing these pots is of very white colour. It is not worth [while] taking this work from him. If you will give me him I can give him a suitable means of livelihood.”