The King and The Stick-Gatherer

Once on a time in Benares Brahmadatta the king,
having gone in great state to his pleasaunce, was roaming
about looking for fruits and flowers when he came on a
woman who was merrily singing away as she picked up
sticks in the grove. Falling in love at first sight, the king
became intimate with her, and the Bodhisatta was con-
ceived then and there. Feeling as heavy within as though
weighed down with the bolt of Indra, the woman knew
that she would become a mother, and told the king so.
He gave her the signet-ring from his finger and dismissed
her with these words : " If it be a girl, spend this ring on
her nurture; but if it be a boy, bring ring and child
to me."

When the woman's time was come, she bore the Bodhi-
satta. And when he could run about and was playing in
the playground, a cry would arise, " No-father has hit me !"
Hearing this, the Bodhisatta ran away to his mother and
asked who his father was.

"You are the son of the Kinpr of Benares, mv bov."


" What proof of this is there mother ? " " My son, the king
on leaving me gave me this signet-ring and said, ' If it be
a girl, spend this ring on her nurture ; but if it be a boy,
bring ring and child to me." "Why then don't you take
me to my father, mother ? "

Seeing that the boy's mind was made up, she took him
to the gate of the palace, and bade their coming be
announced to the king. Being summoned in, she entered
and bowing before his majesty said, "This is your son,

The king knew well enough that this was the truth, but
shame before all his court made him reply, " He is no son
of mine." " But here is your signet-ring, sire ; you will
recognise that." "Nor is this my signet -ring." Then said
the woman, "Sire, I have now no witness to prove my
words, except to make an act of truth. Wherefore, if
this child is yours, I pray that he may stay in mid-
air ; but if not, may he fall to earth and be killed." So
saying, she seized the Bodhisatta by the foot and threw
him up into the air.

Seated cross-legged in mid-air, the Bodhisatta in sweet
tones repeated this stanza to his father, declaring the
truth :

Your son am I, great monarch; rear me, Sire!

The king- rears others, but much more his child.

Hearing the Bodhisatta thus teach the truth to him
from mid-air, the king stretched out his hands and cried,
" Come to me, my boy ! None, none but me shall rear and
nurture you ! " A thousand hands were stretched out to
receive the Bodhisatta ; but it was into the arms of the
king and of no other that he descended, seating himself
in the king's lap. The king made him viceroy, and made
his mother queen-consort. At the death of the king
his father, he came to the throne by the title of King
Katthavahana the faggot -bearer, and after ruling his
realm righteously, passed away to fare according to his
deserts.