233. The Bodhisatta And The Tavern-Keeper
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was the Treasurer of Benares, and had a tavern-keeper who lived under his protection. This man having stock of strong spirits, which he left his apprentice to sell. He went to the river for taking a bathe. During his absence his apprentice mixed salt with the liquor, and spoiled it. On his return the tavern-keeper came to know what had happened, he told the story to the Treasure. The Bodhisatta said,”Truly. The ignorant and foolish, with every desire to do good, only succeed in doing harm.”
232. The Bodhisatta And The Tailor’s Son
Once upon a time a great monarch named Magadha reigned in Rajagaha. And merchant of that city brought home for his son’s wife the daughter of some county merchant. But she was barren. In course of time less respect was paid to her for this cause; they all talked so that she could hear them. As this talk kept coming to her ears, she pretended to be pregnant. Her husband too showed her the attentions proper to her state. After nine months had passed in this fashion, she declared her wish to go to her father’s house. So taking leave of her husband’s parents, she mounted a carriage, and with a large number of attendants left Rajagaha behind her, and proceeded along the road.
231. The Bodhisatta And The Snakes
Once upon a time, during the reign of Brahmadatta king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a young brahmin of Kasi. When he came of age, he quelled his passions and took upon him the life of an ascetic; he developed the Supernatural Faculties and the Attainments; he built an hermitage by the bend of the Ganges near the foot of Himalayas, and there he lived, surrounded by a band of ascetics, lost in the rapture of meditation.
230. The Bodhisatta And The Snake
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a wealthy family in the Kingdom of Kasi. Having come to years of discretion, he saw how passion springs from pain and how true bliss comes by the abandonment of passion. So he went to the Himalayas became a hermit, winning by fulfillment of the ordained mystic meditations the five orders of the Higher Knowledge and the eight Attainments. And as he lived his life in the rapture of Insight and as many as five hundred hermits came to him as disciples.
