[1] Uman̥-mīyō. Compare p. 81, vol. ii. [↑]
[2] Para-teraṭama, completely, from top to bottom. [↑]
[5] Compare the similar incident in vol. i, p. 133. [↑]
No. 250
The Story of the Cobra’s Bite
In a certain country there was a King, it is said. Belonging to that King there was only a single son-Prince. He handed over this Prince to a Royal Preceptor for teaching him the arts and sciences. Although until this Prince became big to a [considerable] degree he was learning near the Royal Preceptor, he did not properly get to know even a single letter.
While he was staying thus, a King of another country sent a letter to his father the King. Thereupon he gave this letter to the Prince to read. The Prince, bringing the letter near his forehead, looked at it, rubbing his eye he looked, (after) running round the house he looked; but he was unable to read it. The royal retinue who saw this laughed.