Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was a Tree sprite dwelling in a castor oil plant. And the villagers of those days were superstitious about gods. A festival came round and the villagers offered sacrifices to their respective Tree sprites. Seeing this a poor man showed worship to the castor oil tree. All the others had come with garlands, odours, perfumes, and cakes; but the poor man had only a cake of husk powder and water in a coconut shell for his tree. Standing before it, he thought within himself, “Tree sprites are used to heavenly food, and my Tree sprite will not eat this cake of husk powder. Why then should I lose it outright? I will eat it myself.” And he turned to go away, when the Bodhisatta from the fork of his tree exclaimed, “My good man! if you were a wealthy man, you would bring me dainty manchets; but as you are a poor man, what shall I have to eat if not that cake? Rob me not of my portion.”

Then the man turned again, and, seeing the Bodhisatta, offered up his sacrifice. The Bodhisatta fed on the savour and said, “Why do you worship me?”

The poor man said, “I am a poor man, my lord, and I worship you to be eased of my poverty.” The Bodhisatta said, “Don’t worry. You have sacrificed to one who is grateful and mindful of kindly deeds. Pots of treasure are buried round this tree. Go! tell the King, and take the treasure out and give it to the king. The King will be pleased and he will make you Lord Treasurer.” So saying, the Bodhisatta vanished from sight.

The man did as he was told, and the King made him Lord Treasurer. Thus did the poor man by aid of the Bodhisatta come to great fortune; and when he died, he passed away to fare according to his deserts.