Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/77

 Story of the Brahmachárin's son.:— A certain fool was engaged in relating his father's good qualities in the midst of bis friends. And describing his father's superior excellence, he said: " My father has followed a strict vow of chastity from his youth, there is no man who can be compared with him." When his friends heard that, they said, " How did you come into the world?" He answered "Oh ! I am a mind-born son of his;" whereupon the matchless fool was well laughed at by the people.

" Thus foolish people make self-contradictory statements with regard to others. You have beard the story of the son of the man who observed a strict vow of chastity. Hear now the story of the astrologer." Story of the astrologer who killed his son.:— There was a certain astrologer wanting in discernment. He left his own country with his wife and son, because he could not earn a subsistence, and went to another country. There he made a deceitful display of his skill, in order to gain complimentary presents by a factitious reputation for ability. He embraced his son before the public and shed tears. When the people asked him why he did this, the wicked man said: " I know the past, the present, and the future, and that enables me to foresee that this child of mine will die in seven days from this time: this is why I am weeping." By these words he excited the wonder of the people, and when the seventh day arrived, he killed his son in the morning, as he lay asleep. When the people saw that his son was dead, they felt confidence in his skill, and honoured him with presents, and so he acquired wealth and returned leisurely to his own country.

" Thus foolish men, through desire of wealth, go so far as to kill their sons, in order to make a false display of prescience; the wise should not make friends with such. Now hear the story of the foolish man who was addicted to anger."

Story of the violent man who justified his character.:— One day a man was relating to his friends, inside a house, the good qualities of a man, who was listening outside. Then a person present said: " It is true, my friend, that he possesses many good qualities, but he has two faults; he is violent and irascible." While he was saying this, the man, who was outside, overhearing him, entered hastily, and twisted his garment round his throat, and said: " You fool, what violence have I done, what anger have I been guilty of?" This he said in an abusive way, inflamed with the fire of anger. Then the others who were there laughed