Budhism : — Chariya Pitaka. 3 



So I, being desirous of merit, perceive a field for its 

 attainment, of pre-eminent excellence : if I do not perform an 

 act of kindness I shall derive no merit therefrom. 



As the Minister desirous of being steward of the royal 

 household will lose his office if he neglect to supply the ne- 

 cessary provisions and wealth : 



So I, desirous of being eminently meritorious, shall be 

 deprived of merit, if, seeing this holy man, I do not present 

 him with offerings. 



Thus thinking I took off my sandals, and worshipping his 

 feet, I presented him with my sandals and umbrella. 



Thus I gave him alms, received thereby happiness a hun- 

 dred fold, and continued to fill up the measure of my liberality. 

 End of the Brahmin Sankha. 



Afterwards I was Dananjaya, king of the great city of 

 Indapat, exercising the ten regal virtues. 



Some Brahmins came to me from Kalinga, and requested 

 me to give them my noble, valuable, state elephant. 



They said, We have no rain in our country and there is a 

 great famine ; give us your noble elephant, which is as a dark 

 mountain of antimony. 



When supplicants approached me it was not becoming that 

 I should reject their request, and break my rule of liberality 3 

 I therefore gave them my large elephant. 



Taking the elephant by the trunk and from a golden 

 vessel pouring water on the hands of the Brahmins, I gave 

 the elephant. 



When I thus gave the elephant, my councillors enquired, 

 Why do you give your noble elephant to beggars? 



If you give your valuable state elephant, able to ensure 

 victory in war, what will you do with your kingdom ? 



(I replied) I would even give my kingdom: I would give 

 my own body : my desire is to become Budha, and on that 

 account I give the elephant. 



End of Dananjaya, 



