Afterwards, the youngest Princess, having uttered spells over the sand, and given it into the Prince’s hand, said, “Having gone into the Sea, when you put down this little sand, firm sand will become clear (i.e., will appear above the water). Having gone a little distance again, when you again put down a little sand, firm sand will become clear. Having come quite close [to the flower], when you have held the hands in a cup shape the Blue-lotus flower will come into the hands.”
Afterwards, the Prince, in that very manner having gone upon the hard sand, held his hands in a cup shape; then it came into his hands. Having taken it, when he comes back the King is still at the widow woman’s house. Afterwards the Prince gave the Blue-lotus flower into the King’s hand. Thereupon the King thought to himself, “Āḥ, Bola! by this also I was unable to kill this one.”[17]
There is a Bee-hive in a forest; no one can draw out [the honey combs]. The bees come further than two gawwas[18] (each of four miles) [to attack would-be plunderers of the hive]. To draw out that Bee-hive the King told this Prince. The Prince said, “I can.”
Afterwards that widow-mother is weeping. Then the three Princesses asked, “What is it, mother, you are weeping for?”
Then the widow-mother said, “When my son has gone to draw out [the honey-combs at] the Bee-hive, the bees having stung (lit., eaten) him he will die.”
Then the Princesses said, “What are you crying for on that account? Come back [after] breaking a branch without disease or former disease.”[19] Afterwards the woman, breaking a branch without disease or former disease, came back and gave it.
After that, the youngest Princess, having uttered spells for the branch, and given it into the Prince’s hand, said, “Strike at the Bee-hive with this branch; then the bees will go. Well then, you will be able to draw the Bee-hive.”
The Prince, having taken the branch, and gone to the place where the Bee-hive is, struck the Bee-hive with the branch. The bees went away. The Prince, drawing out [the honey-comb of] the Bee-hive,[20] came back and gave it to the King.
The King thought to himself, “Āḥ, Bola! after I was unable to kill this one by this also, what shall I do?”
Thinking [thus], he cut a well. Having cut it, and at the very bottom[21] having left a little earth, he said to the Prince, “Having descended down this, you must take out this earth to-morrow.”