Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta As Sailor

283. The Bodhisatta As Sailor

Once upon a time, this Benares was named Molini. While Brahmadatta reigned in Molini as king, a brahmin Sankha, rich, of great wealth, had built alms-halls in six places, one at each of the four city gates, one in the midst of it, one by his own door. Daily he gave in alms six hundred thousand pieces of money, and to wayfarers and beggars he did much bounty.

One day he thought to himself, “My store of wealth once gone, I shall have nothing to give. While it is still unexhausted I will take ship, sail for the Gold Country, and I will bring back wealth.” So he built a ship, filled it with merchandise. He said to wife and child, “Until my arrival do not stop alms-giving.”