When he had brought it, the Boy-king ordered him to place it before the throne; then said he, “Let me see now whether of you two can enter into this water-jug; then shall we know which is the rightful son.”
Then the rightful son turned away sorrowful and mourned more than before, “For,” said he, “how should I ever find place for so much as my foot in this water-jug?”
But the Schimnu, by his demoniacal power easily transformed himself, and entered the jug.
The Boy-king, therefore, no sooner saw him enclosed in the water-jug, than he bound him fast within it by sealing the mouth with the diamond-seal, which he might not pass[2], undismayed by the appalling howling with which the Schimnu rent the air, at finding himself thus taken captive.
Thus bound he sent him back to Ardschi-Bordschi, together with all the family concerned in the case, and with them this declaration written in due form of law:—
“According to the principles of earthly might, and the sacred maxims of religion hast thou not decided, O Ardschi-Bordschi! Thus should not an upright and noble ruler deal. The wife and children of thine own subject hast thou given over to the power of a wicked Schimnu; and sent the rightful and innocent away lamenting. Unless it is given thee to discern good from evil, truth from falsehood, it were better thou shouldst lay aside thy kingly dignity. But if thou desirest to remain king, then judge nothing without duly investigating the matter even as I.”
With such a letter the Boy-king sent the men back to Ardschi-Bordschi.
When the King read the letter, he exclaimed, “What manner of boy is this, who writes thus to the King? He must be a being highly endowed with wisdom. If it was the same boy who appeared every day so gifted, I should hold him to be a Bodhisattva or indeed a very Buddha; but as on different days different boys attain to the same sagacity, the source must remain one and the same for all. Shall it not be that on the foundations of this hill or mound is a stupa, where Buddhas or Bodhisattvas have propounded sacred teaching to men. Or shall it be that there lies hidden therein some treasure gifted to impart wisdom to mortals? In some way of a certainty the spot is endowed with singular gifts.”
Thus he spoke; and concluded the affair of the two sons in accordance with the Boy-king’s judgment, giving over the rightful one to his family, and delivering the Schimnu to be burned.