When the King learnt that somebody had killed the lion he gave public notice that its destroyer should be sought for. The Vaedi youth then came forward, and after he had [proved that he was the person who killed it] the King gave that royal Princess to him in marriage [and he went away with her].
While she was living with him another good-looking Vaedi youth accompanied him one day. On seeing him the Princess trickishly drove away the Vaeddā who was her husband, and married that handsome Vaedi youth.
It was not long before this Vaeddā one night killed a buffalo, and [taking some of the flesh] said to the Princess, “Cook this, and give it to me.”
The Princess replied, “It would be disgusting work for me to do; it is no business of mine. [She added] “What does it matter if my first husband is not good-looking? He was good to me.” Saying this, she drove this Vaeddā away, and seeking the place where the first Vaeddā whom she had married was stopping, went to him and said, “Let us go [off together].” But the Vaeddā said, “I will not.”
After that, she put on her Princess’s robes as before, and came away.
In a little while afterwards that very Vaeddā was appointed to the kingship, and everybody subsequently lived prosperously and in health.
[1] This story appeared in Ancient Ceylon, p. 93. [↑]
[2] A free gift of food to the poor; see vol. iii, Nos. 212 and 241. [↑]