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:
[The writing of this manuscript] was completed in CS 1264, a kap yi year, on the first day of the week, at noon. I am not good at writing palm-leaf manuscripts.
Iminā puññatejena mayā likhitena vāyācāmi anāgate kāle niccaṃ dhuvaṃ dhuvaṃ
I, Nòi (ex-novice) Yasamut, wrote the manuscript with my own hand to sustain the continuation of Buddhism, awaiting Metteyya Buddha. May I reach Nibbāna in his period.