6. Greed of Merchants

Once upon a time hard by Benares was this same wild forest and this same banyan tree. The merchants strayed from the way and saw the banyan tree.

The Master, in his perfect wisdom, explained the matter:–

Merchants from many a kingdom came, and all together met,

Chose them a chief, and straight set out a treasure for to get.

5. Father Testing The Daughter

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was a tree spirit.

One pious greengrocer lived with his daughter and he decided to test his daughter. He led her into the woods, and seized her by the hand, and pretended to have sex with her. She cried out in woe. He addressed her:

4. Ending Battle Without Fight

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as Prince. He grew up and was educated at Takkasila, and at his father’s death became king and ruled righteously. Now in those days the King of Kosala came up with a great force against Benares and killed the king and bore off his queen to be his own wife.

3. Eating A Sword

Once upon a time when the great king Maddava was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin household. They called his name young Senaka. When he grew up he learned all the sciences at Takkasila, and coming back to Benares he became king Maddava’s counselor in things temporal and spiritual, and being called wise Senaka he was looked upon in all the city as the sun or the moon.