The Heṭṭiyā said, “No matter, come holding it.”
While [she was] thus holding it, calling him they went to the city to which the party are going. Having gone [there] and told the blind man to stay [with them] that day night, they gave him amply food and drink, and the mat also for sleeping on. Next day after light fell having said to the blind person, “Now then; there! You having gone into that street and begged, seeking something, eat,” with much kindness they started him.
Then the blind person having gone near the royal house at that city, said, “Anē! O Deity,[4] when I was coming away with my wife by the middle of a forest wilderness, a Heṭṭiyā having quarrelled with his father, and said that he was going to another country, and for six days having not a meal, as he was coming fell behind us. We gave him the cooked rice that we brought for our expenses, and came calling him [to accompany us]. As though in that way the assistance were insufficient, the Heṭṭiyā uprooting my wife also [from me] said he will not give her to me, and drove me away. To whom shall I tell this suit? Do you investigate only suits for rich persons? Do you not institute suits for poor persons? Now then, how shall I obtain a living?” Having said [this] he began to weep.
At that time the [royal] messengers having gone, told it to the King. Thereupon the King also having become grieved regarding it, sent messengers and caused the Heṭṭiyā who came with the blind person, and his wife, to be brought.
Having heard the case, he said, “This young Heṭṭiyā did not take a wife [for himself]; he took the blind person’s wife,” and ordered them to behead the Heṭṭiyā.[5] Having said, “The woman having come in dīga [marriage] to the blind person and in the meantime having endangered him, went with another man,” he ordered them to put her in a lime-kiln and burn her. Having given a little money to the blind person he told him to go.
Thereupon the blind person, taking the money also and having gone outside the royal palace, was saying and saying, “Anē! O Gods, what is it that has occurred to me! At the time when I remained for six days in the midst of the forest, this Heṭṭiyā and his wife having met with me while they are coming, and given food to me who was in hunger for six days, brought me to this city, and let me go. I having told all these (lit., these these) lies [in order] to take the woman, I was not allowed to take the woman, nor were the two persons allowed to live well together. The foolish King without giving me the woman ordered them to kill her. Now then, where shall I go?”
At that time a man having heard him, quickly went and said to the King that this blind person says thus. Then the King quickly having caused the blind person to be brought, and having released the Heṭṭiyā and the woman from death, and given presents to the two persons, and sent them away, ordered the blind person to be killed.
Immigrant from Malayālam, Southern India. (Written in Sinhalese, and partly related in that language.)
This story is given in Tales of the Sun (Mrs. H. Kingscote and Naṭēśa Sāstrī), p. 165.