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THE CHILD MIYAPUTTA Then the Queen Miyá, drawing the wooden cart to the underground cell, and covering her mouth with a four-folded' piece of cloth said to the blessed Goyama, "Sir, you may also cover your mouth with the mouth-cloth, 2 Being thus requested by Queen Miya, the blessed Goyama covered his mouth with the mouth-cloth.
18. Then the Queer. Miyá with her face turned away, opened the door of the underground cell from which came a bad smell as if from a dead snake. Rather it was even more disagreeable than that,
19. Then that chill Miyaputta attracted by the fragrance of that plenty of food and drink became greedy and covetous for that. He ate that food and drink with relish. Eating it, he at once spoiled it.3 After that he changed it into pus and blood but he ate up even that pus and blood.
20. Then seeing the child Miyáputta the following thought occurred to the blessed (ioyama, “ Alas! This child is experiencing the evil result of his formerly done wicked deeds. I have not seen hells or the denizens thereof, but evidently this person is experiencing agonylike that of hell." So saying he took leave of the Queen
1. per' Having four folds', i e. :loubled and redoubled.
2. pateret Skt. Tafrat a piece of cloth for the mouth,' The Pujorá monks keep it in their hand, and hold it
fore tho mouth when speaking, but the Dhundiá monks keep it always suspended before their mouth by means of a thread passing round the ears. The Pujerás quote this passage to Dhúndias in support of their own custom.
3. The commentary does not explain how the food was decayed and was changed into .pus ani klond.
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