Then yet [another] Minister said, “That punishment is not good enough; I will tell you one. In the Atirawatī[1] river the water is very swift; the water goes and falls into the Nāga residence.[2] Having taken that one you ought to put it into that.”
Then the Turtle, after having shrugged its shoulders, said, “O Lord, Your Majesty, though you should inflict all other punishments don’t inflict that punishment on me.”
Just as it was saying it, the King said, “Aḍē! Take that to that very one and put it in.” After that, the Ministers having taken the Turtle put it into the Atirawatī river.
When it was put in, the Turtle, having gone turning and turning round, fell into the Nāga residence. Well then, the shore is not a suitable place. Now then, the Turtle thinks, “Should I stay thus the Nāgayās, seizing me, will eat me. Because of it, I must go near the great Nāga King, Mahakela[3] by name.”
The great Nāga King, Mahakela by name, having seen this Turtle, asked, “Whence camest thou? Who art thou?”
Then the Turtle gave answer, “O Lord, Your Majesty, they call me, indeed, the Minister, Pūrnaka by name, of King Bamba of Bamba City. Because there was no other man to come [to make] appearance (daekuma) before Your Honour (num̆ba-wahansē), His Majesty our King sent me.”
Then the Nāga King asked, “What is the business for which he sent thee?”
Then the Turtle says, “There are seven Princesses of His Majesty our King. Out of them, His Majesty our King is willing to give any Princess you want, for the Nāga residence. Because of it he sent me.”
Thereupon the Nāga King says, “It is good. If he is thus willing I will cause two persons to make the journey with thee.”
Then the Turtle says, “O Lord, Your Majesty, permission has been given to me for [only] seven days’ [absence]; because of it, I must go this very day.”