Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a Brahmin family. When he grew up he learned all the arts at Takkasila, and then returning lived as a householder. After a time he left his house and became an ascetic; soon he reached the Faculty of Meditation, and living in the Himalaya quarter in the standing and walking attitudes only, he walked all night without sleeping. A spirit who lived in a tree at the end of his walk was pleased with him and spoke putting a question to him from a hole in the trunk:–

Who is it that wakes when others sleep and sleep and sleeps while others wake?

Who is it can read my riddle, who to this will answer make?

The Bodhisatta, hearing the spirit’s voice, spoke:–

I am he who wakes while others sleep, and sleeps while others wake.

I am he can read your riddle, I to you can answer make.

The spirit put a question again:–

How is it you wake while others sleep, and sleep while others wake?

How is it you read my riddle, how this answer do you make?

He explained the point:–

Some men forget that virtue lies in stern sobriety,

When such are sleeping I’m awake, I spirit of the tree.

Passion and vice and ignorance in some have ceased to be:

When such are waking then I sleep, O spirit of the tree.

So it is I wake while others sleep, and sleep while others wake:

So it is I read your riddle, so to you I answer make.

When the Great Being gave this answer, the spirit was pleased and spoke in his praise:–

Good it is you wake while others sleep, and sleep while others wake:

Good you reading of my fiddle, good the answer that you make.

And so making the Bodhisatta’s praises, the spirit entered its abode in the tree.