After the seven years went by, it was commanded to give the kingship to the Tom-tom Beater. But the people of the city said they could not give him the kingship, because he was a Tom-tom Beater. Because, through the act of his eating the White Rat-snake’s head they were unable to avoid giving (nodī) him the kingship, they said, “Let us give him the sovereignty for one paeya (twenty-four minutes). A strong man having shot an arrow aloft, let us give the kingship until it falls to the ground.” Having promised this he shot it.
For thirty years that arrow did not fall to the ground; Śakra held it. After thirty years had gone, the arrow afterwards fell to the ground. The kingship of that King Moṭā-Tissa having been changed that day, again a Prince of the royal line, suitable for the city, obtained the kingship.
After that, on account of the Tom-tom Beaters who were in this Lan̥kāwa (Ceylon) claiming, “We, too, are of the royal line,” the King and the other people, also, having become angry, say, “Can anyone, indeed, construct a Four-fold Trap?” they asked. A smith who knows various expedients (upā-waeḍa), having said, “I can,” constructed a Four-fold Trap.
Inside the Four-fold Trap having placed cakes and milk-rice, the King said, “To the Tom-tom Beaters who are in Ceylon the King will give an eating (feast).” He sent letters to the Tom-tom Beaters to come. They call that one with one mouth (entrance) like the Habaka (a snare-trap) the Four-fold Trap (Hatara-maha Lūla).
Well then, after all the Tom-tom Beaters came, the King says, “All of you go at one time into that house,”[3] he said. After that, all the Tom-tom Beaters at one time entered the house. Afterwards the King struck off (gaesuwāya) the Four-fold Trap. Well then, all the Tom-tom Beaters died.
Because one pregnant woman, only, was at the corner (or end, assē), the woman’s neck having been caught she died. As ten months had fully gone, the infant was brought forth outside. Thereafter, at the time when the Gamarāla, and the King of the city, and the Washerman who washes the clothes are going near the Four-fold Trap, an infant was crying and crying. Afterwards the Gamarāla and the Washerman (Radā minihā) having gone away carrying the infant, reared it.
After not much time, the King having died another Prince obtained the kingship. For the purpose of making [his accession to] the sovereignty public to the world, he told them to beat on the double kettle-drum. Although all the people of the country beat on the double kettle-drum the sound did not spread. The King asked, “Who must beat it for the sound of this to spread?”
Then the people say, “Should a Tom-tom Beater beat, indeed, the sound of this will spread.”
Thereupon the King asks, “Are there not Tom-tom Beaters in this city?”
Then the people say, “In the time of such and such a King, having constructed the Four-fold Trap he killed all the Tom-tom Beaters.”