--- title: Opening, part 13 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 13, «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: _B. Uncanonical version. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/13/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/) / Opening, part 13 # Opening, part 13 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/13/) **2** Having uttered this stanza, the Future Buddha arose and passed away according to his deeds.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") As for the carpenter, his kinsfolk did their duty by his body.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Teacher: “Thus, lay disciples, in a previous state of existence also they were the very men who, with the thought in their minds, ‘We’ll hit a mosquito,’ hit something very different.”[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “But the wise man who uttered the stanza and departed on that occasion was I myself.”[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") \_B. Girl and fly.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 45: i. 248-249.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Better an enemy.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain slave-girl.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") A certain wealthy merchant, we are told, had a slave-girl.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Where she was pounding rice, her old mother came in and lay down.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Flies buzzed round her and ate her up, just as though they were piercing her with needles.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") She said to her daughter: “My dear, the flies are eating me up.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Shoo them off!”[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") “I’ll shoo them off!” replied the daughter.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Raising her pestle aloft, intending to kill the flies, with the thought in her mind, “I’ll make way with them!” she struck her mother with the pestle and killed her.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") When she saw what she had done, she began to weep: “Mother\![90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Mother!”[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") They reported that incident to the merchant.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") The merchant had her body attended to, and went to the monastery and reported the whole incident to the Teacher.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Teacher: “Verily, householder, not only in her present state of existence has this girl, with the thought in her mind, ‘I’ll kill the flies on my mother’s head!’ struck her mother with a pestle and killed her; in a previous state of existence also she killed her mother in the very same way.”[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") And in response to the merchant’s request, he related the following Story of the Past:[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in a merchant’s household, and on the death of his father, succeeded to the post of merchant.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") He also had a slave-girl.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") She also, when her mother came to the place where she was pounding rice and said to her, “My dear, shoo the flies away from me!”--she also, in the very same way, struck her mother with a pestle and killed her and began to weep.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha, hearing of that incident, thought: “For even an enemy in this world, if only he be a wise man, is better!”[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") And he uttered the following stanza:[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Better an enemy who is intelligent Than a well-disposed person who is a fool\![101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Look at that wretched little slave-girl\![102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") She killed her mother, and now,--she weeps\![103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") With this stanza did the Future Buddha preach the Doctrine, praising the man of wisdom.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Teacher: “Verily, householder, not only in her present state of existence has this girl, with the thought in her mind, ‘I’ll kill flies!’ caused the death of her mother; in a previous state of existence also she caused the death of her mother in the very same way.”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time that very mother was the mother, that very daughter was the daughter, but the wealthy merchant was I myself.”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") \_22.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Monkey-Gardeners.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Misdirected effort spells failure.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") \_A. One-stanza version.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 46: i. 249-251.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Never, in the hands of one who knows not what is good.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This parable was related by the Teacher in a certain little village in the country of the Kosalas with reference to one who spoiled a garden.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") The story goes that the Teacher, while journeying from place to place in the country of the Kosalas, arrived at a certain little village.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") There a certain householder invited the Teacher, provided seats in his garden, gave alms to the Congregation of Monks presided over by the Buddha, and said: “Reverend Sirs, walk about in this garden according to your pleasure.”[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") The monks arose, and accompanied by the gardener, walked about the garden.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Seeing a certain bare spot, they asked the gardener: “Disciple, everywhere else this garden has dense shade, but in this spot there is not so much as a tree or a shrub.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") What, pray, is the reason for this?”[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") “Reverend Sirs, when this garden was planted, a certain village boy watered it.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") In this spot he pulled up the young trees by the roots, and according as the roots were large or small, watered them plentifully or sparingly.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Those young trees withered and died.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") That’s how this spot comes to be so bare!”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") The monks approached the Teacher and reported that matter to him.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Teacher: “Not only in his present state of existence has that village boy spoiled a garden; in a previous state of existence also he did naught but spoil a garden.”[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, a holiday was proclaimed.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") From the moment they heard the holiday drum, the residents of the entire city went about making holiday.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time many monkeys lived in the king’s garden.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") The gardener thought: “A holiday has been proclaimed in the city.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") I’ll tell these monkeys to water the garden, and then I’ll go make holiday.”[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") Approaching the leader of the monkeys, he said: “Master monkey-leader, this garden is of great use even to you.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Here you eat flowers and fruits and shoots.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") A holiday has been proclaimed in the city.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") I’m going to make holiday.”[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") And he asked him the question: “Can you water the young trees in this garden until I come back?”[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, indeed, I’ll water them.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well,” said the gardener; “be heedful.”[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he gave those monkeys water-skins and wooden water-pots to use in watering the trees, and departed.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") The monkeys took the water-skins and wooden water-pots and watered the young trees.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") roots, every one.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the leader of the monkeys said to the monkeys: “Master-monkeys, the water must not be wasted.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") When you water the young trees, pull them up by the roots, every one; look at the roots; water plentifully the roots that strike deep, but sparingly the roots that do not strike deep; later on we shall have a hard time getting water.”[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well,” said the monkeys, promising to do as he told them to.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") And they did so.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time a certain wise man saw those monkeys working away in the king’s garden, and said to them: “Master-monkeys, why are you pulling up by the roots every one of those young trees and watering them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots are large or small?”[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") The monkeys replied: “That’s what the monkey who is our leader told us to do.”[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") When the wise man heard that reply, he thought: “Alas! alas\![147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") Those that are fools, those that lack wisdom, say to themselves: ‘We’ll do good.’[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") But harm’s the only thing they do!”[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") And he uttered the following stanza:[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Never, in the hands of one who knows not what is good, Does a good undertaking turn out happily.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") A man who lacks intelligence spoils what is good Like the monkey who worked in the garden.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, with this stanza, did that wise man censure the leader of the monkeys.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") Having so done, he departed from the garden with his followers.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/13/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/13/) - next →: [Opening, part 14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/14/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)