Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a Sprite in the king’s pleasaunce, and lived in a clump of kusa grass. Now in the same grounds near the king’s seat there grew a beautiful Wishing Tree (also called the Mukkhaka) with straight stem and spreading branches, which received great favour from the king. Here lived one who had been a mighty deva king and had been reborn a Tree sprite. And the Bodhisatta was on terms of intimate friendship with this Tree sprite.

Now the king’s house had only one pillar to support the roof and that pillar grew shaky. Seeing this, the king sent for carpenters and ordered them to put in a sound pillar and make it secure. So the carpenters searched for a tree everywhere and finally went to the pleasaunce and saw the Mukkhaka. Then they went to the king and told, “Since you love that tree, we haven’t cut that tree.”

The king ordered, “Go! Cut it down and make the roof secure. I will look out for another tree.”

The carpenters went home saying, “We will come to-morrow and cut the tree.” Hearing their words, the Tree sprite knew that her home would be destroyed to-morrow. It burst into tears as she clasped her children to her breast, not knowing where to fly with them. Her friends, the spirits of the forest came and asked what the matter was. But none of them could solve the problem. The matter was refered to the Bodhisatta, the Spirite.

The Bodhisatta said cheerfully, “Have no fear! I will see that the tree is not cut down. Only wait and see what I will do when the carpenters come tomorrow.”

Next day when the men came, the Bodhisatta, assuming the shape of a chameleon, was at the tree. He went up and down from root to branch. Then the Bodhisatta rested among the boughs with his head rapidly moving to and fro. Seeing this, the leader of the carpenters struck the tree with his hand, and exclaimed that the tree was rotten and that they didn’t look carefully before making decision. He went away with the carpenters to search some other tree.

In this way the Bodhisatta saved the Tree sprite’s home. And when all her friends and acquaintances came to see her, she joyfully sang the praises of the Bodhisatta, as the saviour of her home, saying, “Sprites of the Trees, for all our mighty power we knew not what to do; while a humble Kusa sprite had wit to save my home for me. Truly we should choose our friends without considering whether they are superiors, equals, or friends without considering whether they are superiors, equals, or inferiors, making no distinction of rank. For each according to his strength can help a friend in the hour of need.”

Thus she taught the assembled devas, adding these words, “Where fore, such as would escape from an evil plight must not merely consider whether a man is an equal or a superior, but must make friends of the wise whatsoever their station in life.” And she lived her life and with the Kusa sprite finally passed away to fare according to her deserts.