One upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares the Bodhisatta was born in a rich man’s family; and coming of age, he acquired a property, and at his father’s death received his father’s station as merchant.

One day, as he reviewed his wealth and thought “My wealth is here; but where are those who gathered it? I must disperse my wealth, and give alms.” So he built an almonry, and lived distributing much alms; and when his days were drawing to a close charging his son not to discontinue the practice of alms-giving he was born again as Sakka in the Heaven. And the son gave alms as his father, and with the like charge to his son was born as Canda, the Moon, among the gods. And his son became Suriya, the Sun, who begot another that became Matali the Charioteer and his son was born again as Pancasikha, one of the Gandhabbas, or celestial musicians. But the sixth of the line was without faith, hard-hearted, loveless, niggardly; and he demolished the almonry, burnt it, beat the beggars and sent them about their business; gave no one so much as an oil drop on the end of a blade of grass.