The Girl, the Monk, and the Leopard

THE GIRL, THE MONK, AND THE LEOPARD In a certain country there were a Gamarala and a Gama-Mahage (his wife). There was a female child of the Gamarala's.

THE GIRL, THE MONK, AND THE LEOPARD

In a certain country there were a Gamarala and a Gama-Mahage (his wife). There was a female child of the Gamarala's.

After the child became suitable [for marriage] he went near the Lord or monk of the pansala to look at her naekata. The Gamarala said to the monk, "Ane! Lord, there is a female child of mine; the child became suitable [for marriage]. You must look at the naekata," he said to the Lord.

Thereafter, when the monk looked at the naekata, besides that it is very good for both the parents, it was said in the naekata that the man who calls her [in marriage] on that very day is to obtain a kingdom. Because of it, the monk after having placed the Gamarala in subjection (i.e., made him promise obedience), said, "The naekata is very angry. For the two parents, and for the man who calls her [in marriage], there is anger to the degree [that they are] to die," he said to the Gamarala. This lie the monk said to the Gamarala in order for the monk to call the female [in marriage] for himself.

At that time the Gamarala, having become much troubled, asked the Lord, "What shall I do for this?"

The monk said, "Don't kill the child outright, and don't [merely] turn her out of the house. You go home and make a box. After having made it, and made ready for the box [various] sorts of food and drink, put this child in the box, and having put into it the kinds of food and drink, after having closed it go to the river, and put it in."

Thereupon, the Gamarala having done in the manner the monk said, and having informed the monk that on such and such a day he will put the box in the river, went to the river and put the box in it.

The monk told the pupils who were at the pansala to wait [for it]. He said, "You go and wait near the river. At the time when you are there a box will come floating down. Taking it ashore, bring it to the pansala;" the pupils went on the journey. The monk that day, for the purpose of eating the [wedding] feast amply preparing [various] sorts of food and drink, remained ready.

Two boys of that country, or two young men, had set a trap at the bank [of the river]. At the time when these two persons went to look at it, a leopard was caught in the trap. These two having become afraid, having said, "What shall we do about this?" at the time when they were talking and talking on the river bank, they saw that a box is coming floating [down the river], and the two persons spoke together [about it]. Both having agreed that the things inside the box [should be] for one person, and the box for one person, they got the box ashore.

Having opened the mouth of the box, when they looked [in it] there were a woman, and [various] kinds of food and drink. Taking them aside, they seized the leopard, and having put it in the box and shut it, they took it to the river and put it in.

Out of the two persons, one took the woman, the effects one took. The person who took the woman that very day obtained the kingdom, it has been said.

Thereafter, that box floated down to the place where the monk's pupils stayed. Getting the box ashore, and tying [it as] a load (tadak) for a carrying pole, they took it to the pansala. The monk, taking the box, quickly placed it inside the house. The monk told the pupils to stay: "To-day I must say Bana from a different treatise (sutra); to-day you must respond, 'Sadhu,' loudly."

After it became night the monk told the pupils, "You also lie down," and having lit the lamp in the house, [after] shutting the door he opened the mouth of the box. Just as he was opening it, the leopard having sprung out, began to bite (lit., eat) the monk. Thereupon the monk cried out, "Apoyi! The leopard is biting me!"

The pupils began to respond, "Sadhu!" louder than on other days. At the time when the monk is shouting and shouting, the pupils loudly, loudly, began to respond, "Sadhu!" When he had been crying and crying out no long time, the monk died.

In the morning, having cooked rice gruel for the obligatory donation (hil daneta), when they were waiting, looking out for the time when the monk arose, he did not get up. Until the time when it became well into the day (bohoma dawal), they remained looking out. Still he did not [come out].

An upasaka (lay devotee) of that village comes every day to the wihara to offer flowers. He, too, remained looking out near the wihara until the time when the monk comes. Thereafter the upasakarala having gone to the pansala, asked at the hand of the pupils, "What is the reason the Lord has not yet arisen?"

Then the pupils said, "During last night it was not the Bana which he says on other days that he said; from another sutra he said Bana. He told us, also, to respond 'Sadhu' more loudly than on other days."

At that time the upasakarala tapped at the door to awake the monk; he did not speak. Having struck the door loudly [the upasakarala] spoke to him. At that also there was not any sound.

Thereafter, the upasakarala having mounted on the roof and put aside the tiles, when he looked [down] the leopard sprang at him, growling. The upasakarala having become afraid, fell from the roof and died.

Thereafter, many men having joined together and broken down the door, and killed the leopard, when they looked for the monk he was killed. So having put the leopard and the monk into one grave, they covered [them with] earth.