Thereupon the King asks Sokkā, “If you are a dexterous man to that degree, will you come to fight with the first dexterous fighter of my war army?”
Sokkā says, “When ten or fifteen are dying by one hand of mine, what occupation is there [for me] with one! I am now ready for it.”
The King says, “When for three days time is going by, on the third day you having fought in the midst of a great assembly, the person out of the two who conquers I will establish in the post of Chief of the Army (Senā-Nāyaka).” Sokkā was pleased at it.
The King having put these two persons into two rooms, placed guards. While they were thus, Sokkā having spoken to the dexterous fighter, says, “You having come for the fight with me will not escape. To this and this degree I am a dexterous one at fighting. Fight in the midst of the assembly, and don’t be shy.”
The dexterous fighter having become frightened at Sokkā’s word, got out of the chamber by some means or other, and not staying in the city, bounded off and went away.[2]
When the third day arrived, the whole of the forces dwelling in the city assembled together to look at the fight of these two persons. Thereupon, only Sokkā arrived there. Then when Sokkā became more and more famous the King was favouring him.
During the time while he is thus, a war arrived for the King. The King says to Sokkā, “We must do battle with a war army of this extent. Because of it, having gone together with my war army can you defeat the enemies?”[3]
Sokkā says, “I don’t want Your Honour’s army. Having gone quite alone I can defeat them.”
Thereupon the King said, “What do you require?”
Sokkā, asking for a very rapidly running horse and a very sharp-edged sword, mounted upon the back of the horse, and having bounded into the middle of the hostile army who were building the enemy’s encampment, driving on the horse to the extent possible, he began to cut on that and this hand (ē mē ata). Sokkā having cut down as many as possible, stringing a head, also, on his very sword, came to the royal palace. Thereupon, the forces (pirisa) who were building the encampment, thought, “If so much damage came from one man, how much will there be from the other forces!” Having thought [this], they bounded off and ran away.