The Wishing-Cup

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in
Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a rich merchant's son ;
and after his father's death, took his place. In his house
was buried a treasure of four hundred million. He had
an only son. The Bodhisatta gave alms and did good
until he died, and then he came to life again as Sakka,
king of the gods. His son proceeded to make a pavilion
across the road, and sat down with many friends round
him, to drink. He paid a thousand pieces to runners
and tumblers, singers and dancers, and passed his time in
drinking, gluttony, and debauchery; he wandered about,
asking only for song, music, and dancing, devoted to his
boon-companions, sunk in sloth. So in a short time he
squandered all his treasure of four hundred millions, all
his property, goods, and furniture, and got so poor and
miserable that he had to go about clad in rags.

Sakka, as he meditated, became aware how poor he
was. Overcome with love for his son, he gave him a
Wishing Cup, with these words: "Son, take care not to
break this cup. So long as you keep it, your wealth will
never come to an end. So take good care of it ! " and then
he returned to heaven.

After that the man did nothing but drink out of it.
One day, he was drunk, and threw the cup into the air,
catching it as it fell. But once he missed it. Down it fell
upon the earth, and smashed ! Then he got poor again,
and went about in rags, begging, bowl in hand, till at last
he lay down by a wall, and died.