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:
In CS 1264, a tao si year, on the fourteenth waxing-moon day of the eighth [lunar] month, the fourth day of the week, [the writing of this manuscript] was completed by Khanan (ex-monk) Teja who wrote it alone. My handwriting is not beautiful.
Nibbāna paccayo hotu me niccaṃ dhuvaṃ dhuvaṃ.
The story Nang Kin Pu (Woman Eating Crabs) has been transmitted from venerable monks of Wat Suan Dòk, Lamphun. May the merit derived from writing this manuscript support me now and in the future. May I be endowed with sharp wisdom to absolutely understand the 84,000 Dhamma collections.
Other notes:
This date corresponds to Tuesday, 20 May 1902 (1264 Vaisakha 14).