The Rayar gave to each house in his town a kitten and a cow, and ordered that each kitten should be reared on the milk of the cow. Like others Tennalirama received a cow and a kitten. All the householders milked their cows and gave the whole yield to their kittens. But Tennalirama on the very first day milked his cow and placed it boiling-hot near the kitten. It eagerly placed its mouth in the vessel and got scalded. From that day forward the kitten used to run away the moment it saw the milk. Tennalirama then consumed the entire milk of the cow which had been intended for the kitten. After six months, the Rayar ordered all the kittens to be brought that he might see them. And of all the kittens Tennalirama's alone was very lean. It appeared to be almost dying. "Why has this grown so lean?" asked the Rayar. "It runs away at sight of milk; what can I do?" said Tennalirama. The Rayar at once ordered some milk to be offered to it in his presence. And when it saw the milk it became afraid and ran away. The Rayar ordered it to be caught, and on examining it he saw half of its mouth scalded. But he was pleased with the joke, and laughed as he said: "There is a proverb which says that the scalded cat never approaches the hearth. Even so you have once placed hot milk before it and made it dread the very sight of milk."
