Then the Wind-cloud says, “I, the Wind-cloud, having gone, what of my going throwing down the Rain-cloud and smashing the trees! I am unable to do anything to the Ground[4] Ant-hill. However much wind blows, the Ant-hill does not even shake. Because of it he is greater than I. Take it and give it to him.”
After that, the Brāhmaṇa having taken the kitten gave it to the Ground Ant-hill. Then the Ground Ant-hill asked, “What have you brought this kitten for?”
Then the Brāhmaṇa says, “I reared this kitten to give it [in marriage] to His Majesty the Sun. When I brought it near the Sun, the Divine King, he told me to give it to the Rain-cloud. The Rain-cloud told me to give it to the Wind-cloud. The Wind-cloud said, ‘There is a greater than I, the Ground Ant-hill. Give it to him.’ Because of it I brought it to give it to you.”
Then the Ground Ant-hill said, “The Sun, the Divine King, can do nothing to me, the Rain-cloud can do nothing to me, the Wind-cloud can do nothing to me, but there is a greater person than I, the Bull (gon-madayā). He having come and gored me, smashes me and throws me down. Because of that give it to the Bull.”
After that, the Brāhmaṇa having taken the kitten gave it to the Bull. Then the Bull asked, “What did you bring this kitten for?”
The Brāhmaṇa says, “To give this kitten [in marriage] to His Majesty the Sun, I reared it since the day when it was little. When I brought it there, the Sun, the Divine King, told me to give it to the Rain-cloud. When I brought it near the Rain-cloud he told me to give it to the Wind-cloud. When I brought it there he told me to give it to the Ground Ant-hill. When I brought it there he said, ‘The Bull is greater than I; give it to him.’ Because of it I brought it to give it to you.”
Then the Bull says, “There is a greater person than I, the Leopard. It is true that I trample on the Ant-hill, and gore it and throw it down; but the Leopard chases me, and tears me, and eats my flesh, therefore he is greater than I. Because of it give it to him.”
After that, the Brāhmaṇa having taken the kitten gave it to the Leopard. Then the Leopard asked, “What did you bring this kitten for?”
The Brāhmaṇa says, “This kitten reared I to give [in marriage] to His Majesty the Sun. Well then, having walked from there in this and this manner, the Bull told me to give it to you. On account of that I brought it to give it to you.”
Then the Leopard says, “The Cat is greater than I; my Preceptor is the Cat. He taught me to climb up trees, but I have not yet learnt how to descend.[5] Because of it give it to the Cat.”