The Girl, the Monk, and the Leopard
In a certain country there were a Gamarāla and a Gama-Mahagē (his wife). There was a female child of the Gamarāla’s.
After the child became suitable [for marriage] he went near the Lord or monk of the pansala[1] to look at her naekata.[2] The Gamarāla said to the monk, “Anē! Lord, there is a female child of mine; the child became suitable [for marriage]. You must look at the naekata,” he said to the Lord.
Thereafter, when the monk looked at the naekata, besides that it is very good for both the parents, it was said in the naekata that the man who calls her [in marriage] on that very day is to obtain a kingdom. Because of it, the monk after having placed the Gamarāla in subjection (i.e., made him promise obedience), said, “The naekata is very angry. For the two parents, and for the man who calls her [in marriage], there is anger to the degree [that they are] to die,” he said to the Gamarāla. This lie the monk said to the Gamarāla in order for the monk to call the female [in marriage] for himself.
At that time the Gamarāla, having become much troubled, asked the Lord, “What shall I do for this?”
The monk said, “Don’t kill the child outright,[3] and don’t [merely] turn her out of the house. You go home and make a box. After having made it, and made ready for the box [various] sorts of food and drink, put this child in the box, and having put into it the kinds of food and drink, after having closed it go to the river, and put it in.”
Thereupon, the Gamarāla having done in the manner the monk said, and having informed the monk that on such and such a day he will put the box in the river, went to the river and put the box in it.[4]
The monk told the pupils who were at the pansala to wait [for it]. He said, “You go and wait near the river. At the time when you are there a box will come floating down. Taking it ashore, bring it to the pansala;” the pupils went on the journey. The monk that day, for the purpose of eating the [wedding] feast amply preparing [various] sorts of food and drink, remained ready.
Two boys of that country, or two young men, had set a trap at the bank [of the river]. At the time when these two persons went to look at it, a leopard was caught in the trap. These two having become afraid, having said, “What shall we do about this?” at the time when they were talking and talking on the river bank, they saw that a box is coming floating [down the river], and the two persons spoke together [about it]. Both having agreed that the things inside the box [should be] for one person, and the box for one person, they got the box ashore.
Having opened the mouth of the box, when they looked [in it] there were a woman, and [various] kinds of food and drink. Taking them aside, they seized the leopard, and having put it in the box and shut it, they took it to the river and put it in.