Category Archives: INDIA
129. The Bodhisatta And His Friendship
Once upon a time, when a king of Magadha was reigning in Rajagaha, the Bodhisatta was his Treasurer, worth eighty crores, and known as the ‘Millionaire.’ In Benares there lived a Treasurer also worth eighty crores, who was named Piliya, and was a great friend of the Millionaire. For some reason or other Piliya of Benares got into difficulties, and lost all his property, and was made a beggar. He left Benares with his wife and went on foot to Rajagaha, to see the Millionaire, the last hope left him. And the Millionaire embraced his friend and treated him as an honored guest, asking, in due course, the reason of the visit. Piliya answered, “I am a ruined man. I have lost everything, and have come to ask you to help me.”
128. The Bodhisatta And His Daughter-In-Law
Once on a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born of a rich man’s family. When he came of age, he lived as a householder, and was blessed with sons and daughters, and for his son’s wife he chose the daughter of a richman of Benares, and marriage was celebrated.
Now the girl saw in her home honour and reverence offered to a bull. She asked of her nurse, “What is that?” “A right royal bull,” said she. And afterward the girl saw a hunchback going through the street. “That must be a right royal man!” thought she; and taking with her the best of her belongings in a bundle, she went off with him.
127. The Bodhisatta And His Cunning Brother
Once upon a time when Brahmdatta was reigning in Benares. The Bodhisatta was born in a merchant’s family worth eight crores. When he grew up, at his parents’ death he provided for his younger brother and carried on the house: he made an alms-chamber at the house-door and lived as a householder giving much in alms. One son was born to him; and when the son could walk on his feet, he saw the misery of desires and the blessing of renunciation, so handing over all his wealth together with his wife and child to his younger brother, he became an ascetic, and gaining the Faculties and Attainments he dwelt in the Himalaya.
126. The Bodhisatta And His Correspondent
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was a very wealthy merchant in that city. And he had a border merchant as a correspondent, whom he had never seen. He showed kindness to them at the time of crisis.
When his caravan traveled East, it was attacked by thieves. They took everything leaving the wounded traders belonging to the Bodhisatta. When they reported the matter to the correspondent, he refused to help them.
Being told by his people what they had done, he said, “This trouble is the result of their ingratitude for kindness shown them.” And he went on to instruct the assembled crowd:-
The man ungrateful for a kindly deed,
Thenceforth shall find no helper in his need.
The Bodhisatta taught the truth. After a life spent in charity and other good works, he passed away to fare according to his deserts.
