Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into the family of a business man; and grew up to be a great merchant. At one time he had filled his wagons with goods, and in company with a large caravan he came to the woods and saw a well. The traders wanted to drink water, and began to dig, and as they dug they came upon a quantity of metal and gems. But though they got a great deal of treasure, they were discontented. “There must be another treasure here, better than this!” they thought, and they dug and dug.

Then the bodhisatta said to them, “Merchants! greed is the root of destruction. Ye have won a great deal of wealth; with this be content, and dig no more.” But they went on digging.

Now this well was haunted by serpents. The Serpent-king, incensed at the falling of clods and earth, killed all the merchants except the Bodhisatta with the breath of his nostrils. The serpent-king put the oxen to the carts, filled them with jewels, and seating the Bodhisatta upon a fine wagon, he made young serpents drive the carts, and brought him to Benares. He led him into his house, set the treasure in order, and went away again to his own place in the serpent land.

And the Bodhisatta spent his treasure by alms giving, and having undertaken the deeds of virtue, and kept the holy day, at the end of his life he came to paradise.