Thereafter, the Carpenter’s son having gone, at the time when he was coming back [after] taking the stone, the Cobra came after him, crying and crying out. The Prince, taking [the stone] and having waited, cut it down. Instantly, both of them having mounted on the back of the horse, began to run off.
Having gone very far, after they halted they looked at the stone. On the stone was written, “There is a well in this jungle. When one has held the stone to the well, the water will dry up. Having descended into the well, when one has looked there will be a palace; there will also be a Princess in the palace. If there should be a person who has obtained this stone, it is he himself whom this Princess will marry.” [This] was written upon the stone.
Thereafter, after it became light, these two persons began to seek the well. At the time when they were seeking and looking for it they met with the well. When they held the stone to the well the water dried up. Both of them having descended into the well, when they looked about, they met with the palace also; the Princess, too, was there.
Thereupon the royal Prince said to the Carpenter’s son, “Owing to your good luck we met with this gem-treasure[2] and the Princess. Because of that, let the Princess be for you.”
The Carpenter’s son said to the Prince, “You, Sir, are a great fool. You are my royal Prince; it is not right to say this word to me.”
Thereafter, having married the Princess to the Prince, and united the two persons, and set that Nāga gem in a ring, and put it on the Prince’s finger, he said, “On the Princess’s asking for this ring on any day whatever,[3] don’t give it. Women are never to be trusted.” Having taught the Prince [this], having said, “In any difficulty whatever, remember me,” the Carpenter’s son, plunging into the water, came to the surface of the ground, and went [back] to their city.
While this Prince and Princess were [there], one day she begged and got the ring that was on the Prince’s hand, in order to look at it. When she begged and looked at it, this Princess saw that these matters were written in Nāgara letters.
On the following day, begging the ring from the Prince, and having gone noiselessly, when she held it out to the well the water dried up. Thereupon, the Princess, having mounted upon the well mouth, and stayed looking about, came again to the palace. In that manner, several times begging for the ring she stayed on the well mouth, and came back.
One day, at the time when the Vaeddā who goes hunting for the King of that city was going walking [in the forest], the Vaeddā, having heard that this Princess sitting on the mouth of the well is singing, went and peeped, and remained looking at her. Thereafter he went and told the King of that city, “In such and such a jungle there is a well. Sitting on the well mouth, a Princess was singing and singing songs. Having stayed there, she jumped into the well. When I went and looked there is only water. The beauty of her figure is indeed like the sun and moon. In this city there is not a woman of that kind.”
Thereupon the King having become much pleased, on the following day the Vaeddā, and the King, and the Minister, the whole three persons, went to look at the Princess. Having gone, at the time when they were hidden the Princess came that day also, and sitting on the well-mouth sang songs. Thereupon the King, taking the sword, went running to seize the Princess. As soon as the Princess saw them she jumped into the well. The King having gone near the well, when he looked there is only water. The Princess was not to be seen.