In an older time than this, in a certain village there was a nobleman's
family. In the nobleman's family there was a Prince whose eyes do
not see at night.
Because the nobleman-Prince is not of any assistance to his parents,
the nobleman having spoken to his wife, told her that having given
him suitable things, etc., she is to send off this one to any place
he can go to, to obtain a livelihood. The lady (situ-devi) having
tied up a packet of cooked rice and given it to her son, says,
"Go in happiness, and earn your living."
Thereupon this Prince whose eyes were blind at night, taking the packet
of cooked rice and having started, goes away. Having gone thus, and
at the time when it was becoming evening having eaten the packet of
cooked rice, he thinks, "Should it become late at night my eyes do
not see." Having thought, "Prior to that, I must go to this village
near by," and having arisen from there very speedily, he arrived at
a village.
Having gone there and come to a house, during the time while he is
dwelling with them this one says, "I am going away [from] there for
no special reason (nikan). I am going for the purpose of seeking a
marriage for myself," he said.
Thereupon they say, "There is a daughter to be given with our
assent. We do not give that person in that manner (i.e., not merely
because she is sought for). From our grandfather's time there is a
book in our house. To a person who has read and explained the book
we are giving our daughter in marriage," they said.
At that time this person who is blind at night asked for the book. The
party brought and gave him the book. This person who is blind at night,
taking the book into his hand, began to weep.
When they asked, "What are you weeping for?" he says, "Except that
in my own mind I completely understand the difficulty of the matters
that are in this book, I wept because of the extreme difficulty that
there is for some one else in expounding it," he said.
At that time the party think, "To give our daughter [in marriage]
we have obtained a suitable son-in-law." They gave her in marriage.
At the time when he is living thus for a few days, his father-in-law
having spoken, says, "Don't you be unoccupied (nikan). There is our
chena; having gone to the chena with the other brothers-in-law, taking
a tract of ground for yourself clear it and sow it for yourself."
This one having said, "It is good," and having gone, taking a side
of the chena began to clear it. This one worked more quickly than
the other persons. Thereupon the father-in-law felt much affection
for this person who was blind at night.
During that time when he was clearing it, a porcupine having been there
at the corner of a bush, he killed it unseen by anyone, and put it away
and hid it. At the time when it became evening the other dependants
(pirisa) went home. This one, his eyes not seeing, was in the chena,
clasping the dead body of the porcupine.
During the time while he was thus, the father-in-law came to seek
him. Thereupon he says to the father-in-law, "It is excellent that
you came first to do a work. Was it good to go home empty-handed? When
I stopped for this business you went away, didn't you?"
Thereupon the father-in-law says, "Don't you be displeased; we did
not know that you stopped. Come, to go home."
Then he says, "I cannot go in that way. Getting a stick and having
come, hang this animal in the manner of the carrying-pole load (tada),
in order to carry it," he said.
Thereupon, tying the carrying-pole, and placing the father-in-law
in front, [196] he came to the house. That his eyes do not see,
this one did not inform the father-in-law.
While a few days are going in that manner, the work in the chena
having been finished he sowed it, and fitting up a watch-hut there
he is [watching it] carefully.
While he is thus, thieves having broken into the house of the King of
that country came near the watch-hut to which this one goes, in order
to divide the goods. When they were sitting there dividing the goods,
this one opened his eyes, and becoming afraid says, "Seize them! Beat
them! Tie them!"
At once the thieves, leaving the goods and having become afraid,
jumped up and ran away. When this one, collecting the heap of goods
and having arrived at the house, informed the father-in-law, the
father-in-law gave the King notice of it. The King having become much
pleased, caused this one to be brought, and having given him various
things appointed him to the office of Treasurer [197] of that city.
Western Province.