At the time when the Prince who was left in the midst of the forest was going along in the forest wilderness for seven days, as he was going along eating and eating sugar-canes, pine-apples, sweet oranges, various ripe fruits, he saw a great mountain. Having seen an aerial root of a Banyan which swung there, seizing the aerial root he went [climbing up it] to the rock, and when he looked about he saw a rock cave, and not a country furnished with villages (gama raṭak).
Thereupon, holding the aerial root of the Banyan he descended to the ground at the rock, and went away in the direction of the rock cave. Having seen a house near the rock the Prince went to the house.
A woman, called the Mal-kāra Ammā (garland-making mother), who takes messages to the King of that country, saw that the Prince was going. At the time when she asked, “Where are you going?” a flock of goats which were there saw him, and a large female goat coughed. Thereupon a piece of mucus fell down. Taking the piece of mucus, he tied it up in his waist-pocket.
Thereafter, to the garland-making mother he says, “I am going to a place where they give food and clothing.”
Then the garland-making mother says, “I have no child; come, for me to rear you,” she said. The Prince said, “It is good,” [and went to live with her].
Thereupon, having put [for him] outside [her room] cooked rice and curry, the flower mother went to inform the King. She having thus gone, the things that were in the waist-pocket of the above-mentioned Prince who came to the house, came to their time.[25]
After three days, the Prince having arisen, on seeing the garland-making mother says, “Mother, I will take these flowers and give them to the King,” he said.
Thereupon the garland-making mother said, “Don’t go.” Thereafter, the garland-making mother went to the city [to present the flower-garlands], and came back.
On the following day, when the above-mentioned Prince said that he must go to another place, the garland-making mother says, “Son, beginning from your young age, I reared you until the time when you are becoming as big as this. Now, to what place are you to go?” she said.
“It is so, indeed. Give me the thing that I gave you that day to put away,” he said.