After having said this he thought, "I wonder now why I have recover'd these pence?" At that time the river-sprite, in an invisible form, stood in the air, saying, "I am the river sprite of the Ganges. You gave the remains of your rice to the fishes, and I received the merit of it, therefore I came and protected your property." Then by way of explanation he spake the following gâthâ:—
"When you so kindly fed the fish
A gift you gave to me;
Your offering do I not forget,
That gift I thee requite."
After these words the sprite informed him fully of the fraudulent deed done by his younger brother, saying: "He now lies down with his heart dried up within him. A dishonest-minded person, indeed, never prospers; I brought and gave you your money because I was determined that your property should not be lost. Do you now take it all, but don't give any to that thief your brother." Thereupon he uttered the following gâthâ:—
"A man dishonest never thrives,
The sprites respect him not.
Who carries off his brother's wealth
A base deed doth commit."
These words were thus spoken by the sprite who was unwilling to give any share of the money to the treacherous and false thief. But the Bodhisat e'en sent his brother five hundred pence because he could not act so towards him as to give him nothing.
(To be continued.)
