The King required to look at the animals which these Princes had hunted [and killed]. Thereupon, to be visible above the meat procured by the hunting of the whole of them, [the Prince] placed [on the top of them] the dead body of his rat-snake. Then the whole of them abused this one, it is said.
Thereupon this one says to the King, “It was not these Princes; I killed these animals.” Having said, “If these killed them, where are the tongues of these animals?” he opened [their] mouths and showed them. Having shown the King the tongues of the animals which he had, and caused them to see [him in] the likeness of the Prince decorated with all the ornaments, like the full moon, this flower-mother’s son stood before the King. Thereupon, the King and the other Princes also, retreated in extreme astonishment.
Thereupon, when he gave the King information of all the account of this Prince from the commencement, [the King] having handed over the sovereignty to him he put on the crowns.[1]
[1] Ceylon was formerly sometimes termed Tri-Siṇhala, because it was divided into three districts, Pihiṭi-raṭa, the northern part, containing the capital; Malaya-raṭa, consisting of the mountainous part; and Ruhuṇu-raṭa, the southern part, round the hills. It is very doubtful if the supreme King ever wore a triple crown that symbolised his rule over the three districts; on the other hand, a triple head-covering like the Pope’s tiara was certainly known, and is represented in the frontispiece to Ancient Ceylon. [↑]
No. 245
Concerning a Prince and a Kinnara Woman
In a certain country there was a King, it is said. There was a single daughter of the King’s. From many places they spoke of marriage to that royal Princess, but her father the King did not agree to it.