The Story of Sokkā
In a certain country there was a man called Sokkā, it is said. For the purpose of this man’s living, catching a monkey (Wan̆durā) and having made it dance, he began to get money. [After] getting money in that way, when Sokkā, drinking arrack (palm spirit) very well, is walking to that and this hand, the monkey sprang off and went away.
After that, Sokkā, having by means of the money which remained again drunk arrack very well and become drunk, fell into the ditch. Thereupon many flies began to settle on this man’s body. This Sokkā having become angry at it, when he struck at the flies with both hands a great many flies fell dead.
In a little time his intoxication having evaporated his sense came. Thorough sense having come in that manner, when he looked round about he saw near him the quantity (rāsiya) of flies that had died. While he was there, thinking, “Æyi, Bola, at one blow with my hand they were deprived of life to this extent; isn’t it so?” a very foolish man who dwelt in that village came to go near this Sokkā.
The man having seen Sokkā asked, “Friend, what are you doing?”
Thereupon Sokkā says, “Aḍē! What art thou saying? I being a person who has now killed ten or fifteen, thou art not enough even to put on my bathing-cloth for me.”[1]
This foolish man having become frightened by the very extent [of the deaths] that he heard of in this word of Sokkā’s, began to run off. As he was running he met with yet a man who is going on the road; he asks at the hand of this foolish man, “What, friend, are you running for?”
Then this fool says, “Friend, a man who killed ten or fifteen men tried to kill me. Because of it I am running through fear,” he said. At that time that man also, through the extent [of the deaths] that he heard of in that speech having become afraid, began to run off. As these two persons were running they said thus to the men going on the road, that is, “On the road there is a great murderer. Don’t any one go.”
After that, having [thus] made Sokkā a great furious one, it became public. The King of the city also got to know of it. Well then, the King having caused this Sokkā to be brought, [said], “You are a dexterous swordsman and a dexterous fighter, they say. Is it true?”
Then Sokkā says, “O King, Your Majesty, when I have struck with one hand of mine, should there be ten or fifteen staying on that side the men fall dead.”