This manuscript pertains to a ruler of Vārāṇasī city (present-day Benares) who had 500 wives but no children. God Indra gave him 101 crabs and said that his wife should eat all 101 crabs in order to get pregnant. Only one of his wives named Suwanna could do it while the other wives dare not. Then Suwanna became pregnant and gave birth to 101 crabs. Having been provoked by other wives, the city ruler expelled Suwannand ordered her to become a servant living in the space beneath the palace. The 101 crabs were floating on a log along a river. A couple who worked laundry jobs saw the crabs and adopted them. Later, the crabs became 100 boys and one girl. One day, they won a cock battle against the cock of the city ruler. They asked the ruler to release their imprisoned mother as reward. He therefore realized the truth, reappointed her as his main wife, and drove other wives who had accused her out of the city.
Colophon:
Nibbāna paccayo hontu me niccaṃ dhuvaṃ dhuvaṃ I, Khanan (ex-monk) Rin Acan (teacher), wrote the manuscript for Khruba Sommana to sustain the continuation of Buddhism 5,000 years. May the merit support me, Khruba Sommana, and my family members. CS 1264, a tao yi year, the twelfth waxing-moon day of the eighth [lunar] month, a Monday, at the time of the morning drum.
Other notes:
This date corresponds to Sunday, 18 May 1902 (1264 Vaisakha 12).