That day when he was shooting the woman said this word. Then the Vaeddā asked, “What, Aḍiyē! didst thou say?”
Afterwards the woman says, “There will be better shooters than that in this country.”
Then the Vaeddā says, “Where, Aḍin! are they? I must seek them and look at them. Tie up a bundle of cooked rice and bring it.” So having cooked a bundle of cooked rice she gave it.
Taking it, the Vaeddā began to go through the forest jungle (himālayē). At the time when he was going he saw that a man is staying looking upwards. The Vaeddā having gone near asked, “What are you staying looking upward for?”
“It is now eight days since I shot at a bird. I am waiting until it falls.” When a little time had gone, the bird’s flesh, having become decomposed, fell down.
At that time the Vaeddā thought, “A better shooter than I is this one.”
In order to inquire further, the two persons, having joined together, began to go through the midst of the forest. At the time when they were going they saw yet a man who is looking upward. These two having gone near asked, “What are you staying looking upward for?”
The man said, “I see the celestial nymphs[1] dancing in the divine world.”
The two persons spoke together: “In sight this person is more dexterous than we.” Thereupon these three having joined together, at the time when they were going [they saw that] at the bottom of a Jak tree a bride was staying, leaning against the tree. A cobra was preparing to strike the woman.
Then the shooter said, “I do not see far. You aim the arrow and show me [the direction]; then I will shoot.” Then he shot at the cobra. The arrow having entered the cobra in the quarter of the cobra’s tail, came out near the bride’s head.