The Haughty Slave

Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in
Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life again as a landowner.
Another landowner, a friend of his, was an old man him-
self, but had a young wife who had borne him a son and
heir. Said the old man to himself, "As soon as I am
dead, this girl, being so young as she is, will marry heaven
knows whom, and spend all my money, instead of handing
it over to my son. Wouldn't it be my best course to bury
my money safely in the ground ? "

So, in the company of a household slave of his named
Nanda, he went to the forest and buried his riches at a
certain spot, saying to the slave, " My good Nanda, reveal
this treasure to my son after I am gone, and don't let the
wood be sold."

After giving this injunction to his slave, the old man
died. In due course the son grew up, and his mother
said to him, "My son, your father, in the company of
Xanda, buried his money. Get it back and look after the
property of the family." So one day he said to Xanda,
"Uncle, is there any treasure which my father buried?"
"Yes, my lord." "Where is it buried?" "In the forest,
my lord." " Well, then, let us go there." And he took a
spade and a basket, and going to the scene, said to
Xanda, "Well, uncle, where's the money?" But by the
time Xanda had got up to the treasure and was standing
right over it, he was so puffed up by the money that he
abused his master, saying, " You servant of a slave-wench's
son! how should you have any money here?"

The young gentleman, pretending not to have heard
this insolence, simply said, " Let us be going then," and
took che slave back home with him. Two or three days
later, he returned to the place ; but again Xanda abused
him, as before. Without any abusive rejoinder, the young
gentleman came back and turned the matter over in his
mind. Thought he to himself, "At starting, this slave
always means to reveal where the money is; but no sooner
does he get there, than he falls to abusing me. The
reason of this I do not see ; but I could find out, if I
were to ask my father's old friend, the landowner." So
he went to the Bodhisatta, and laying the whole business
before him, asked his friend what was the real reason of
such behaviour.

Said the Bodhisatta, " The spot at which Xanda stands
to abuse you, my friend, is the place where your father's
money is buried. Therefore, as soon as he starts abusing
you again, say to him, 'Whom are you talking to, you
slave ? ' Pull him from his pe ch, take the spade, dig
down, remove your family treasure, and make the slave
carry it home for you." And so saying, he repeated this
stanza :

Methinks the gold and jewels buried lie
Where Nanda, low-born slave, so loudly bawls !

Taking a respectful leave of the Bodhisatta, the young
gentleman went home, and taking Nanda went to the spot
where the money was buried. Faithfully following the
advice he had received, he brought the money away and
looked after the family property. He remained steadfast
in the Bodhisatta's counsels, and after a life spent in
charity and other good works he passed away to fare
according to his deserts.