IN a certain country a King was ruling ; the King was without children. The King having performed many meritorious deeds, five children were bom. When they looked into the Naekata (or prognostics resulting from the positions of the planets) at the time when the children were bom, those of four were good, but that of the fifth child was that on seeing him his father’s two eyes would become blind. The King told them to take the Prince and put him down in the forest. So having taken the Prince they put him in the forest. After that, animals having come through the favour of the Prince’s guardian deity, gave him milk, and reared him. After much time had passed, the Prince’s father, the King, went to have the jungle driven (for shooting) ; and having gone, while they were driving the jungle that Prince came, and bounded round the King’s enclosure. Then, the King having seen him his eyes became blind, and he went away without his eyes seeing anything. The people who went with the King, lifting him up, carried him to the palace. Having arrived there, various medical treatments were applied ; he was not cured. After that, he caused soothsayers to be brought, and after he had asked them regarding it, they said, “By applying medical treatment you will not meet with a cure. In the midst of the Forest of the Gods there is a flower called Kulē-bakā. Having brought that flower, and burnt it on your eyes, your eyes will see.” Afterwards the King asked the people, “Who is able to bring this flower ?” All the people said they could not do it. Then the four eldest Princes of the King, having said, [Page 174] “Let us go,” asked permission of the King ; the King told them to go. So the four persons having started, went. As they were going, the four persons went to a city. A courtesan stayed in that city ; her name was Diribari-Lakā.1 She gambled (i.e. kept a gambling house). These fourpersons went to her house, and having gone there prepared to gamble. Then the woman said, “Should you lose by this game, I shall make you four persons prisoners (that is, slaves).” The four persons having said, “It is good,” gambled, and all four having lost remained there as prisoners. The Prince who was in the forest, having got to know all these matters, also set off to seek the flower, and on his way arrived at the city at which the Princes who were made prisoners were staying. This one, having gone to the King of the city, was appointed to do messenger’s work there. While he was living thus, this one obtained news that the courtesan was gambling, and thereupon this Prince asked the King for leave of absence. Having obtained it, he went to the house of an old woman near the courtesan’s house. Having gone there, this Prince having fallen down near the feet of that old woman and made obeisance, weeping and weeping, these words are what he said, “Mother, are you in the enjoyment of health ? Do not you let your face be even visible (to) scrofulous offspring. When l