Extra Credit Reading Notes: Francis and Thomas. Jataka Tales Part C

The Too-Clever Merchant

• While Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a merchant's family and his name was Wise
• When he grew up he entered into partnership with another merchant named Wisest and traded with him
• The two took 500 wagons of merchandise from Benares to the country-districts, where they disposed of their wares, returning afterwards with the proceeds to the city
• When it came time for dividing, the Wisest said, "I must have a double share"
• Wise asked him, "why?'
• Wisest replied back, "Because while you are only Wise, I am Wisest. And Wise ought to have only one share to Wisest's two"
• Wise said, "But we both had an equal interest in the stock-in-trade and the oxens and waggons. Why should you have two shares?"
• Wisest said, "Because I am Wisest"
• They kept arguing about the situation until Wisest came up with a plan
• Wisest made his father hide in a hollow tree and told the old man to say, "Wisest should have a double portion"
• Wisest brought Wise to the tree, where the tree will decide who receives what
• "Lord, decide our cause! Lord, here stands Wise and here stand I Wisest. We have been partners in trade. Declare what share each should receive"
• The "tree" responded, "Wise should receive one share, and Wisest two"
• Hearing this decision, the Bodhisatta resolved to find out whether it was indeed a tree divinity or not
• So he filled the hollow trunk with straw and set it on fire
• And Wisest's father was half roasted by the flames and fell to the ground saying, "Wise righty, Wisest wrongly got his name; Through Wisest, I'm night roasted in the flame"
• After that the two merchants made an equal division and each took half, and at their deaths passed away to fare according to their deserts 

Hollow Tree. Source: geograph.

Bibliography: http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/search/label/Guide%3A%20Francis.%20Jataka%20Tales