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.
125. The Bodhisatta And His Chaplain
Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born to his chief queen. He came of age, and his father passed away; and then he became king and ruled in righteousness.
The Bodhisatta had a chaplain named Ruhaka, and this Ruhaka’s wife was an old Brahmin woman.
124. The Bodhisatta And Foolish Merchant
Once upon a time in the city of Benares there was a king named Brahmadatta. In those days the Bodhisatta was born into a merchant’s family, and growing up in due course, used to journey about trading with five hundred carts, traveling in four directions. There was also another young merchant, a stupid blockhead, lacking resource.
Now at the time of our story the Bodhisatta had loaded five hundred carts with costly wares of Benares and had got them all ready to start. And so had the foolish young merchant too.
123. The Bodhisatta And Fire God
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin family. When he was about sixteen years old, his father and mother took his birth fire and spoke to him thus. “Son, will you take your birth fire into the woods, and worship the fire there or will you learn the Three Vedas, settle down as a married man, and live in the world?” Hee said, “No worldly life for me. I will worship my fire in the woods, and go on the way to heaven.” So taking his birth fire he went to the forest, where he lived in a hut made of branches and leaves and did worship to the fire.
