130. The Bodhisatta And His Grandfather
Once upon a time when Brahamadatta was reigning in Benares, there was a landowner and he had a son, namely Sujata. The Bodhisatta came to life as the son of Sujata. And they called him young Sujata. When he was grown up, his grand father died. Then his father from the day of the old mans death was filled with sorrow, and taking his bones from the place of cremation he erected an earth-mound in his pleasure-garden, and depositing the remains there, whenever he visited the place, adorned it with flowers and studiously lamented, neither bathing nor eating. Neither did he attend to his business. The Bodhisatta, on observing this, thought, “My father ever since the death of my grandfather goes about overwhelmed with grief. And no one, I am sure, except myself has power to console him. I will find a way to deliver him from his sorrow.”
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.
