Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/252

 244 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA.

his son. After weaning him from his (low) " field-pursuits '* he made him one of his own family and they lived together in unbroken friendship and harmony as long as life lasted.

The SiLAviMAmsA Jataka.* No evil deed is unseen. Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares the Bodhisat was reborn in a brahman family. When he was grown up there in Benares itself, at the head of five hundred brahman youths, he studied science under a distinguished teacher. The instructor had a grown-up and marriageable daughter. He thought to himself, " I'll put the honesty of these brahman youths to the prpof, and will give my child to the one who is thoroughly trustworthy."

grown-up daughter, and I shall have her married to one of you. I must however receive presents of raiment and ornaments, so he who wants my daughter for a wife must steal, without letting his relations know anything about it, apparel, ornaments, &c. I'll receive what- ever you may bring, provided no one has seen you take them, but not otherwise." " Good," replied they, and consented.
 * ' My sons," said he one day to the young brahmans, *' I have a

From that time forth they robbed their relations secretly of clothes, ornaments, and the rest, and brought them to their teacher, who put aside in a separate place each individual thing that he received.

The Bodhisat stole nothing. Then said his teacher to him, " You, my son, appear to have taken nothing ? " He replied, " It is as you say, sir; I have taken nothing." ^' How's that ? " he inquired. " You receive nothing but what is brought to you in secret, but in wrong- doing I see no secrecy," said the Bodhisat, uttering the following gdtlia : —

" Not here on earth is any evil hid, Though fools their crimes would hide from human eyes, And deem none knows the secret wrong they've done ; But woodland sprites them see, if no one else. No secret place I find, whate'er men say, No empty spot exists, though void it seems, E'en where no one appears yet seen I am."

♦ Jdtaka Book, vol. iii. No. 305, p. 18.