A prince went for hunting-sport. As he was going, a Yaksanī (female Yakā) who was living in the midst of the forest, chased him, saying that she was going to eat the Prince, and drove the Prince down the path. The Prince having gone running, went bounding through the middle of a city. The Yaksanī followed him in the disguise of a woman.
The King of the city having seen them, sent the Ministers, and told them to look what it was about. The Ministers asked the Yaksanī who was bounding behind him, “What is that for?”
The Yaksanī said, “My husband having quarrelled with me and left me, is running away. I am running after him because of it.”
The Ministers then brought her before the King, and having seen the beauty of the Yaksanī, the King was pleased with her, and said, “If you should not go with him it does not matter; stay here.” So the King, having prepared another house for the Yaksanī, and having married her, establishing her in the office of Chief Queen, she remained there.
While she was there, this Yaksanī having gone like a thief during the time when all were sleeping, and killed and eaten the men of the city, brought a few of the bones, and placed them in a heap at the back of the houses in which the twelve Queens of the King slept.
When a little time had gone by in this manner, the men of the city came to the King, and saying, “Since you have brought and are keeping this Yaksanī this city is altogether desolate,” made obeisance. Then the King made inquiry into the matter.
Then that Yaksanī said, “Anē! O Lord, Your Majesty, I indeed do not know about that, but I did indeed see that thief who eats human flesh, although I did not tell you.”
The King asked, “Who is it?”
The Yaksanī said, “If Your Majesty should look behind the houses of the twelve Queens you can ascertain.”
When the King went there and looked, he found that it was true, and gave orders for the twelve Queens to be killed. Then the Yaksanī told him not to kill them, but to pluck out their eyes, and send them into the midst of the forest. Having heard the words which the Yaksanī said, he acted in that very manner.