Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/385

Rh wrapping it round with the fastenings of the cross-piece, tied it fast; so that when this was done, the yoke could not move this way and that way, and it was possible for one ox to drag forwards the double bullock-cart.

Then the Brāhman seated himself on the pole, stroked Nandi Visāla on the back, and called out, "Gee up! my beauty!! Drag it along, my beauty!!"

And the Bodisat, with one mighty effort, dragged forwards the hundred heavily-laden carts, and brought the hindmost one up to the place where the foremost one had stood!

Then the cattle-owner acknowledged himself beaten, and handed over to the Brāhman the two thousand; the bystanders, too, presented the Bodisat with a large sum; and the whole became the property of the Brāhman. Thus, by means of the Bodisat, great was the wealth he acquired.

So the Teacher reproved the Six, saying, "Harsh words, O mendicants, are pleasant to no one;" and uttered, as Buddha, the following stanza, laying down a rule of moral conduct:

Speak kindly; never speak in words unkind! He moved a heavy weight for him who kindly spake. He gained him wealth; he was delighted with him!

When the Teacher had given them this lesson in virtue ("Speak kindly," etc.), he summed up the Jātaka, "The Brāhman of that time was Ānanda, but Nandi Visāla was I myself."

END OF THE STORY OF THE BULL WHO WON THE BET.