5. Father Testing The Daughter

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was a tree spirit.

One pious greengrocer lived with his daughter and he decided to test his daughter. He led her into the woods, and seized her by the hand, and pretended to have sex with her. She cried out in woe. He addressed her:

“All the world’s on pleasure bent;

Ah, my baby innocent!

Now I’ve caught you, pray don’t cry;

As the town does, so do I.”

When she heard it, she answered, “Dear Father! I am a maid, and I know not the ways of sin;” and weeping she uttered:

“He that should keep me safe from all distress,

The same betrays me in my loneliness;

My father, who should be my sure defence,

Here in the forest offers violence.”

And the greengrocer, after testing his daughter thus, took her home, and gave her in marriage to a young man. Afterwards he passed away according to his deeds.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *