Part 2: Story of the cocks

One day while King Ghanaratha, surrounded by his wives, sons, and grandsons like the leader of an elephant-herd, was occupied with various amusements comfortably in the women’s apartments, a courtesan, Susenā, holding a cock, asserted:

“Your Majesty, this cock of mine is a crest-jewel among his own kind. He has never been beaten by any one’s cock. If this cock is beaten by any one’s cock, I will pay a lac of dinars on a wager. If any one else has a cock, let him take up my challenge, lord.”

Queen Manoramā said, “Let my cock fight herewith that cock on that wager, Your Majesty.” The king agreed and Queen Manoramā at once had a servant-girl bring her cock, named Vajratuṇḍa. The two were set down on the ground and attacked each other, dancing with various steps like foot-soldiers in an exhibition. They flew up and fell down, they advanced and retreated, they gave and took blows mutually. The crests, though red, of these two fine cocks became red from blood produced by cruel blows with bills and feet. Like armed men in the form of birds, the cocks dug sharp claws in each other’s body frequently. Every moment, someone with the idea of victory said, “The queen’s wins!” “Susenā’s wins!” Neither one won. While they were fighting so, Ghanaratha said, “Neither one of these two will conquer the other.” Megharatha said, “Why do you think that there will not be defeat of one and victory of one of these two fighting so?”

King Ghanaratha, possessing three kinds of knowledge, said: “Hear the complete story of their former births.