But Dr. Ocean-of-illness, son of the renowned Āturāntaka (patient-killer), is a step ahead of Dr. Wormbanner, for just by his “mere sight, the sick are relieved of their lives”. After concluding his boasts, Dr. Ocean-of-illness proceeds to treat a courtesan who is unable to see her own face in the mirror. He comes up with the ingenious cure of “firmly inserting a heated rod into her eye”, for, as he astutely explains— “without eyes, how can there be blindness?”. This sends the courtesan’s daughter into peals of laughter, causing the good doctor to exit in a huff.

In an independent event, “mahāvaidya” Dr. Wormbanner is visited by a different courtesan, Danturā, with failing eyesight.

“महावेज्ज, तिमिराउला मे णअणा न पेक्खन्ति” “Doctor, my eyesight is failing”

“कियद्दूरं पश्यसि?” “Well, how far can you see?”

“वडरुक्खं जाव” “Till the vaṭa tree.”

“अत्र वटवृक्षोप्यस्ति किम्” “There’s a vaṭa tree here?!”

“वेज्जो ज्जेव तिमिराउलो” “Why, the doctor himself is blind!”

And she makes a quick exit.

Kaliviḍambana redoubles this sentiment —