The Gamarāla’s Son-in-law
At a city there is a Gamarāla. There are two daughters of the Gamarāla’s; one is given in dīga [marriage] two gawwas (eight miles) distant, the other is not given. He said he would give her to him who comes to ask for her. From [the time] when he said it he did not give her.
Having brought [1] Having ploughed the rice field in just one day, and sown paddy there, and chopped the earthen ridges in it, and on that very day blocked up the gaps [in the fence], and come back, and given to the twelve dogs twelve haunches of Sambhar deer, and given leaves to the twelve calves, and poured water on the twelve betel creepers, and come back [after] cutting the Milla stump, and warmed water, can you bathe me?” he asks.
Then the son-in-law says, “Aniccan̥ dukkhan̥! Who can do these things?” he says.
Then saying, “I shall cut off [your] nose,” he cuts off his nose. In that country they cannot say, “Aniccan̥ dukkhan̥”; should they say it he cuts off the nose.
Well then, giving [his daughter] in this fraudulent way, in the aforesaid manner having told two or three persons [these works], in the same way he cut off [their] noses, too.
During the time which is going by in that way, there are an elder brother and a younger brother, two persons. The elder brother’s wife having died, he came in the said manner. When he asked for [the girl], the Gamarāla said he will give her. Then in the aforesaid manner he cut off his nose.
Having gone away, through shame at going home he remained hidden near the well. The above-mentioned younger brother’s wife having gone [there], when she looked saw that he was hidden, and having come running back, on seeing her husband told him. He went, and when he looked saw that his brother is there.
Having seen him, when he asked, “What is it?” he says, “He cut off my nose.”
When he asked, “Why so?” he told him in the aforesaid manner. After that, that man says, “Elder brother, you stay [here]; I will go.” Having said [this], and given charge of his wife to the elder brother, he went.