CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 107 



that. He replied, the king has given it to me, my friend. 

 The keeper of the timber thought, this priest, being a son of 

 Sakya, is a righteous, just, holy, truth-telling, virtuous, good 

 man : he would not say that the timber was given him, were 

 it not so : he therefore said, Take it, my lord, Dhaniyo im- 

 mediately had the timber cut up, and put in carts, and 

 taking it away erected a small house. 



A short time afterwards, the B ram in Wesaka.ro, prime 

 minister of the king of Magadha, inspecting some works in 

 Rajagaha, went to the keeper of the timber and enquired for 

 that which was reserved for the public works, and was in- 

 formed that it had been given by the king to Dhaniyo. The . 

 Bramin being much displeased, said, How could the king give 

 to the potter's son Dhaniyo, the timber collected for the public 

 works, and went immediately to Seniya Bimbasaro, the king 

 of Magadha, and said, Is it true, your majesty, that you have 

 given to the potter's son Dhaniyo, the timber which has been 

 collected for the public works ? Who said so ? The keeper 

 of the timber-yard, your majesty. Order him here, Bramin. 

 The Bramin ordered him to be put instantly under arrest. 

 When he was bound, the priest Dhaniyo saw him and en- 

 quired the reason. Upon being informed, he said. Go ; I will 

 call upon the king, and accordingly went to the palace, and 

 seated himself. The king, being informed of his arrival, 

 came to him, and having reverently saluted him, sat down 

 and said, Is it true, my lord, that I gave you the timber 

 which was collected and reserved for the public works ? It 

 is true, your majesty. He replied, Kings, my lord, have 

 many things to occupy their attention, and may forget some 

 circumstances, can you recall it to my memory ? Do you 

 not remember, your majesty, that on the day of your inaugu- 

 ration* you said, wood and water are given to the Samanas 

 and Bramin s to enjoy. I remember, my lord, the day of my 

 inauguration, but Samanas and Bramins arc modest in their 



