No. 147
The Loss that occurred to the Nobleman’s Daughter
In a certain country there is a nobleman (Siṭānō), it is said. There is a Princess of the nobleman’s, it is said. The Princess having become associated with the servant at the house, in secret they went to another country, it is said.
At the time when the two persons had been there a long time, the Princess became pregnant.[1] When the ten months were coming to be fulfilled she said to the Princess’s husband, “Dear (son̆dura), let us go to seek our two parents.” At that word her husband was displeased. Afterwards, in not many days the child was born.
When they had been some time thus, a fresh child was conceived. At the time when the ten months were coming to be fulfilled for that child, she said, “Dear, it is very difficult for me. Because of it, let us go to seek our two parents,” she said.
After that procuring all [necessary] provisions, afterwards they began to go. Having gone thus, that day it became night. They stayed near a tree in the midst of the forest. Because rain was coming, having said he must construct a leaf [parturition] house (kolasun geyak) he went to cut sticks, creepers, etc. Having gone, at the time when he was cutting them sitting upon an ant-hill, the Nāga King who stayed in the ant-hill bit (daṭṭa kalā) her husband in the leg; the man died there.
At the time when that woman, placing the child near her, was staying [there], pain in the body having seized the woman she bore From there, weeping and weeping, having walked [back] to the place where the children were, and having descended to the road carrying the two children, while she was going away to the very city of her two parents there was water in the river [that she must cross] on the road. After that, having gone to that [far] bank carrying the elder child, and having made the child stay there, she came to the middle of the river [in order] to return to this bank. Then, having seen that an eagle striking the child she bore yester-night was taking it, she clapped her hands and shouted. Then the child who was on that [far] bank said, “Mother is calling,” and sprang into the river. Then, of both children, one the eagle took away, one having fallen in the water died. The two children were lost, and the man was lost. Well then, having said, “I myself must still go to seek my two parents,” at the time when she was going she met with a man of that city whom she knew. From the man this woman asked, “Is the affliction of my two parents light, or what?” she asked.