The Story of a Nobleman’s Son.[23] (Variant b.)
In a certain country there were three Princes, [the sons] of a nobleman. Having called the eldest Prince of the same three Princes he asks from the same Prince, “Son, what is the work thou canst do?” he asked.
Thereupon the big Prince says, “Father, having gone to a threshing-floor on the [full moon] pōya day, on the fifteenth of the light half [of the lunar month], it would be good to spread [and thresh] the stacks, if the moon be shining and shining,” he said. Thereupon he told the same Prince to go aside.
Having called the next Prince he asked, “Son, on the second pōya day, on the fifteenth of this bright half [of the lunar month], what is the best work to do? What the best journey to go on?”
The Prince says, “Father, according to me, on the second pōya day, on the fifteenth of the bright half, when they have put packs on seven or eight pairs of bulls, if they drive them [on a trading journey] when the moon is shining and shining, it would be good,” he said. Thereupon the father told the Prince to go aside.
Having called the young Prince he asked, “Son, on this second pōya day, on the fifteenth of the bright half [of the lunar month], what is the best work to do? What are the best journeys to go on?”
Thereupon the young Prince says, “Father, according to me, if I should have placed the head on the Goat Queen’s waist pocket, my shoulder on the Blue-Lotus Queen’s waist pocket, my two feet on the Mī-flower Queen’s waist pocket, it would be good,” he said.
Thereupon the father says to the above-mentioned two Princes, “Cut down this wicked Prince with the sword,” he said.
At that time, because they could not kill the young Prince, the above-mentioned two Princes did not speak. Then their mother, having called the above-mentioned two Princes, says, “Having fulfilled the hopes of seven kalpas,[24] [after] being hidden in the womb of one mother you [three] were born. Because of it, do not cut down your younger brother at your father’s word,” she said.
Having said [to their father], “We are going away to cut him down,” they abandoned him in the midst of a very great forest; and having killed a lizard (kaṭussā) and said they killed the Prince, smearing the blood on the sword they came back, and said, “Father, we killed the Prince,” and gave him the sword. Thereupon he became [filled] with happiness or great satisfaction.