Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a merchant’s family and was named ‘Wise.’ When he grew up he entered into partnership with another merchant named ‘Wisest’ and traded with him. And these two took five hundred wagons of merchandise from Benares to the country districts, where they disposed of their wares, returning afterwards with the proceeds to the city. When the time for dividing came, Wisest said, “I must have a double share.” “Why so?” asked Wise. “Because while you are only Wise, I am Wisest. “But we both had an equal interest in the stock in trade and in the oxen and wagons. Why should you have two shares?” “Because I am Wisest.” And so they talked away till they fell to quarelling.

Wisest asked his father to hide in a hole in the tree. He told him to say, “Wise will have one share; and the Wisest two.” Having arranged this, he told Wise, “Come! We will refer the case to tree-fairy.” Knowing what to do, the Bodhisatta agreed and wen to the tree. Wisest explained the case; Wisest’s father in the hole of the tree said, “Wise will have one share; and the Wisest two.” Hearing this decision, the Bodhisatta decided to find out whether it was indeed a Tree Sprite or not. So he filled the hollow trunk with straw and set it on fire. And Wisest’s father was half roasted by the rising flames and clambered up by clutching hold of a bough.

Then the two merchants made an equal division and each took half, and at their deaths passed away to fare according to their deserts.