“We are going to guard the Precepts. You also come and go with us,” he said. The Squirrel having said, “Hā. I will come,” the three went along [together].
As they were going they met with the Ground Cuckoo called Bum-bum the Tom-tom Beater. “Where, Upāsakarāla, are you going?” he asked.
“We are going to guard the Precepts. You also come,” he said.
The Ground Cuckoo having said, “Hā. If so, I also will come,” the four went together.
At the time when they were going they met with the Hare called Tokkan the Devil-dancer. “Upāsakarālas, where are you going?” he asked.
“We are going to guard the Precepts. You also come and go with us,” he said.
Well then, the five went to the jungle. Having gone on and on, there was a rock cave. Having said, “Look there! Our pansala,” he told the people to creep inside. “In order that I may go and rehearse the Precepts, let no single other person besides cause any disturbance,” he said.
Then the Rat, being hungry during the night, was wriggling about. So the Upāsakā Cat said, “Aḍē! While Bum-bum the Tom-tom Beater stays there quietly, while the Three-lined Chief stays there [quietly], while Tokkan the Devil-dancer stays there [quietly], this one does not take [to heart] the things that were said. Being on guard over it I must put it out of the way.”[9] Saying this, he ate the Rat.
At the daybreak watch the Ground Cuckoo crowed [as usual]. After it had crowed, the Cat said, “While the Three-lined Chief stays there [quietly], while Tokkan the Devil-dancer stays there [quietly], because this one is making noises, and as I am on guard over it, I must put it out of the way,” and seizing that one also he ate it.
As it became light in the morning, at the time when the Squirrels were singing, “Tin̥-Tin̥,” the Three-lined Chief also sang, “Tin̥-Tin̥.”