Quickly having come back, taking the [Blue-lotus] flower at the house into his hand, and having cast away the petals, when he looked there was a Princess.
At that time the widow-Mahagē having gone to the royal house, says, “I don’t know if this Prince is a magician;[6] I don’t know if he is a person possessed of supernatural powers;[7] I cannot find out what he is. Now he is there, and three Princesses are there.”
Then the King thinks, “How [am I] to take these very three beautiful Princesses?” he thinks. Again he thinks, “Should I send this Prince to the Nāga world I can take them; without it, indeed, I cannot.”
At that time the King says to the widow-Mahagē, “Say thou to the Prince that I say he is to come.” She accepted that word; having come she told the Prince.
At the time when she is saying it, the Blue-lotus-flower Princess says to the Prince, “Prince, should he tell you any work, don’t say, ‘Hā’; don’t say, ‘I cannot’; don’t say, ‘I can.’ Having gone to the royal palace, when he has said it come back, saying, ‘After I have considered I will tell you.’ ”
Having gone and returned, he says to these three Princesses, “The King says thus to me, ‘How is it? Canst thou go to the Nāga world?’ he says. Thereupon I said, ‘Having considered I will tell you.’ Having said [this] I came back.”
Then these three Princesses say, “Prince, when [he thinks] you have died the King will come summoning us three to go [to become his wives].” These Princesses say to the Prince, “You go [to the King]. Having gone, say, ‘I can.’ ”
He having gone, and having returned after saying it, they thereupon summoned the Prince. Sitting near him, the Mī-flower Princess, taking a palmful of oil, after having uttered spells over it rubbed it on his head. The Nā-flower Princess also having uttered spells over oil rubbed [it on his head]. The Blue-lotus-flower Princess also having uttered spells over oil rubbed [it on his head].
The Mī-flower Princess next having uttered spells over a handful of sand, gave it into his hand. The Nā-flower Princess also having uttered spells [over sand] gave it into his hand, and told him to tie it himself at his waist. The Blue-lotus-flower Princess also having uttered spells over a handful of sand, said, “Having gone near the tunnel [leading to the Nāga world], when just going into the hole throw down the sand of the Mī-flower Princess. At the time when you are descending and going down the hole, when going to the middle of the hole throw down the sand of the Nā-flower Princess. When going to the foot of the tunnel, throw down the sand of the Blue-lotus-flower Princess.”
Having stayed at the house of the widow-Mahagē, they cut a tunnel [which met the tunnel opened by the King, so that the Prince might escape by it]. The Prince does not go; the widow-Mahagē does not know [about it]. Anyone you like[8] [sees it] not; they do not know [about it].