Note 3 — V. SUDHANA AVADĀNA.1

“I am he, and a serpent-charmer from South Panchāla wishes to carry me off. He has gone back to fetch offerings and utensils, and will return in seven days. He will then drive pegs of Khadira-wood3 into the shore of the lake at its four corners, will hang up various threads of different colours, and will recite spells. During that time you must remain hidden somewhere near. But when, as he is performing a ceremony of this kind, the waters of the lake begin to seethe and overflow, and I come forth from them, then you must bend your bow against the serpent-charmer, and run up to him quickly and say, ‘Reverse the spell. If you do not do so I shall sever your head from your body and send it to the bottom of the lake.’ But if he dies without reversing the spell, then, even after his death, I shall remain bound by its force all my life long.” The hunter said, “As I would have done this of my own accord, were it merely for the sake of doing you a service, how much the more shall I be ready to protect you, inasmuch as I shall be doing a service to the whole kingdom. Say no more.”