At a certain city there was a foolish King. At the time when the
King says anything he kills the whole of the Ministers who do
not give answer, "Yahapati" (It is good), to it. In this way, by
not remembering to say Yahapati a great number of Ministers tasted
death. [232] By his doing thus, on account of his making this order
[in the end] there was not a Minister for the King.
After that, he caused notice to be given by tom-toms in the city for
a person to come for the ministership (aemaeptiyakama). Because they
were not willing to taste death anybody was unwilling to do it.
At last, a drunken cheat having the name Jobbuwa arrived. "Yahapati;
be pleased to give me the office of Minister," he said. The King
having said, "Yahapati," gave him the office of Minister.
While time was passing, he spoke to the Minister one day, and said,
"Cannot I obtain profit by cultivating kahawanas (coins)?"
"Yahapati; you can get much gain by it," he said.
"If so, for the purpose of sowing them cause a chena to be cut,"
the King said to the Minister.
The Minister, having said, "Yahapataeyi" (It is good), went away, and
firstly having told the Chiefs (pradaninta) of the village to collect
and bring Tamarind seeds, told the villagers to put in order a wide,
level, open place on the border of a certain river. The villagers
having put the Tamarind seeds into sacks and stitched them up,
brought them.
Having cut the chena, after it was completed the Minister having
gone, asked the King for kahawanas [to sow in it]. The King said,
"Take as many as you require for sowing in the chena." The Minister
having brought the kahawanas home, caused the Tamarind seeds to be
sown in the chena.
After they sprouted, the King said he must go to look at the chena. The
Minister inviting the King [to go], having gone in state (peraharin)
with him, and caused the army to stay on one side, the King and
the Minister went into the chena. Because, when the Tamarind seeds
sprouted, many young shoots were of golden colour [233] the King said,
"These are very good."
While he was walking there a long time, having arrived at weariness
the King went to the river to bathe. In that river the water is very
rapid. Because of it, at the time when the King descended into the
water he began to be drawn down into the water. Thereupon, at the
time when the King says, "Take hold of me," the Minister, having said,
"Yahapati," remained looking on.
After the King had been swallowed up in the river and died, the
Minister, having put on the royal ornaments and gone away with the
army, exercised the sovereignty of that city with renown.
Uva Province.