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Rh Chhota Rani did as advised. Then they both went to draw water, leaving the other Ranis to talk over the incidents of the day.

After the lapse of ten months and ten days, each of the Ranis brought forth her offspring. Wonder of wonders! Nau Rani and Chhota Rani, respectively, gave birth to an owl and a monkey, while the other Ranis were each blessed with sons as charming in appearance as the moon.

The square in front of the apartments of the more fortunate mothers resounded with the beating of drums and trumpets, while there was nothing but lamentation in the quarters of Nau and Chhota Rani. The Ranis who had given birth to sons were escorted into the palace by their husband and his gorgeous retinue, while nobody deigned to notice the mothers of the monkey and the owl.

After a few days Nau Rani was made to work as a menial in the Raja's zoological establishment, and Chhota Rani was degraded to the rank of those who made and gathered cow-dung cakes for the fuel required in the royal household. Thus their days passed in great sorrow and distress.

In course of time the five princes grew up into handsome young men. The monkey and the owl, too, grew proportionately. The princes were named Hirarajputra, Manikrajputra, Motirajputra, Shankharajputra, and Kanchanrajputra, the first parts of their names respectively meaning Diamond, Precious Jewel on the Cobra's head, Pearl, Conch, and Gold. The name of the owl was Bhootoom and that of the monkey Boodhu.

The five princes used to ride on horses as speedy of motion as birds, accompanied by soldiers as their bodyguards, while Bhootoom and Boodhu passed their days on the Bakul tree near the hut occupied in common by their mothers.

The princes as they grew older became very cruel and oppressive. Not content with beating the people, they even at pleasure cut off their heads. The voice of discontent was loud everywhere. Bhootoom and Boodhu diverted themselves