Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/184

176 vious, misconducted herself with a certain young brâhman. For there are of a truth sixteen things which cannot be satisfied. What are they? They are as follows:—1, the ocean is not satisfied with rivers; 2. nor fire with fuel; 3. nor a king with his (own) kingdom; 4. nor a fool with sin; 5. nor a woman with sexual intercourse, ornaments, and child-bearing; 6. nor a brâhman with spells; 7. nor a recluse with meditation; 8. nor a sekha with reverence (due to an arahat); 9. nor a contented man with the dhuta observances; 10. nor an energetic man with energy; 11. nor the talker with conversation; 12. nor a wise man with councils; 13. nor a faithful (follower of Buddha) with serving the sangha (assembly); 14. nor a learned man with hearing the law; 15. nor the four assemblies (of Buddha's disciples) with seeing the Tathâgata.

So this brâhman woman, unsated with sexual intercourse, determined to get her old husband out of the house, and to follow her vicious inclinations. One day this evil-minded creature lay down (as if indisposed). "What's the matter, my dear?" asked the husband. "O, sir," she replied; "I can't do the housework, so get me a female slave." "O, my dear," answered her husband, "I have no means, how shall I obtain one for you?" asked the brâhman. "Go in quest of alms, so get some money and bring me home a slave," replied the wife. "Well, then, wife, provide me with some food for the journey," said he. The wife then filled a leather bag with two sorts of meal (baked and unbaked), and gave it to him. The brâhman, after wandering about through divers villages, towns, and cities, obtained seven hundred kahâpanas; then he turned towards his own village, knowing that he had got enough money to purchase a female slave. On his way home at a certain spot, where there was a good supply of water, he untied his bag, ate some of his food, and then without fastening up his bag, he went down to the spring to get a drink of water. Just at that time a black snake living in the hole of a certain tree smelt the savour of the meal, crept into the bag, ate and enjoyed the meal, and then lay down (to sleep).

On his return the brahman tied up his bag without taking any note of what was inside it, slung it across his shoulder, and started off