At that time, the young Prince and Princess[3] having gone to yet [another] garden, building a stick house [there], this Prince having told that Princess to be in the house went and plucked coconuts during the whole day-time (dāwal tissē). Taking the coconuts given as his hire (baelageḍi), and having given them at the shop, in the evening procuring two gills of rice and the requisite things for it he comes back.
When he brought them, what does that Princess do? Each day she put away at the rate of half a gill from the rice, and cooked the other things; and having given to the Prince also, and the Princess also having eaten, in this manner, when three or four days had gone, the rice that she put away was collected [sufficient] for eating at still a meal or two.
Then the Princess said to the Prince, “Elder brother, [in exchange] for the things you obtain to-day not getting anything [else], bring a cubit of cloth, and thread, and a needle.” Thereupon, having given the coconuts obtained that day he brought a cubit of cloth, and thread, and a needle.
After he brought them, having eaten and drunk in the evening, and spread and given the mat for the Prince to sleep on, what does this Princess do? Having cut the cubit of cloth, and put sewing on it worth millions (kōṭi ganan) of masuran, she sewed a handkerchief. Having sewn it, and finished as it became light, she said to that Prince, “Elder brother, give this, and not stating a price, asking for only what the shopkeeper gave [for such an article] bring that.”
Thereupon the Prince, taking the handkerchief, went to three or four shops. The shopkeepers said, “We have no words [to say] regarding taking that handkerchief.”
At that time there was still a great shop; to it he took it. The shopkeepers, taking the handkerchief, having seen the marvel of it, asked, “For this handkerchief how much?”
Then this Prince said, “I cannot state a price for that. Please give the price that you give.”
Thereupon the shopkeepers having said, “Take as much rice and vegetables as you can,” after he got them gave also a hundred thousand masuran.
This Prince taking them and having returned, those two persons remained eating and drinking.
In those days the King who sold the Princess made a proclamation by beat of tom-toms,[4] that is, “If there should be a person who came [after] finding my Princess, having married the Princess to him I will decorate him with the royal crown.”