--- title: Opening, part 14 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees description: Opening, part 14, «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: 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 d --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/14/) [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 14 # Opening, part 14 Opening, part 14 of «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole text, 157 sentences and 2595 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/14/page/2/) 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.”[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the leader of the monkeys was the village boy who spoiled a garden, but the wise man was I myself.”[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") \_B. Three-stanza version.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 268: ii.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") 345-347.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") \_If the monkey considered the best of the crowd.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This parable was related by the Teacher in the South Mountain region with reference to a certain gardener’s son.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The story goes that the Teacher, after keeping residence for the period of the rains, departed from Jetavana and journeyed from place to place in the South Mountain region.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Now a certain lay disciple invited the Congregation of Monks presided over by the Buddha, provided seats in his garden, delighted them with rice-gruel and hard food, and said: “Noble sirs, if you desire to take a walk about the garden, go with this gardener.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") And he gave orders to the gardener: “Pray give the noble monks fruits and other such-like edibles.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") As the monks walked about, they saw a certain cleared space, and asked: “This space is cleared, without growing trees; what, pray, is the reason for this?”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the gardener told them: “The story goes that a certain gardener’s son once watered the saplings.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘I’ll water them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots are large or small,’ thought he.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") So he pulled them up by the roots and watered them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots were large or small.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") That’s how this space comes to be cleared!”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The monks went to the Teacher and reported that matter to him.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Teacher: “Not only in his present state of existence has that youth spoiled a garden; in a previous state of existence also he did naught but spoil a garden.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Vissasena ruled at Benāres, a holiday was proclaimed.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Thought the gardener: “I’ll go make holiday;” and said to the monkeys who lived in the garden: “This garden is of great use to you.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") I’m going to make holiday for seven days.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") You must water the saplings on the seventh day.”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well,” said they, consenting.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave them little water-skins and departed.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The monkeys did as they were told and watered the saplings.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the leader of the monkeys said to the monkeys: “Wait a moment\![26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Water is at all times hard to get; it must not be wasted.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") What you must do is to pull up the saplings by the roots, note the length of the roots, water plentifully the saplings that have long roots, but sparingly those that have short roots.”[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well,” said the monkeys, and went about watering the saplings, some of them pulling the saplings up by the roots and others planting them again.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time the Future Buddha was the son of a certain notable in Benāres.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Having occasion, for some purpose or other, to go to the garden, he saw those monkeys working away, and asked them: “Who told you to do this?”[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “The monkey who is our leader.”[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well! if this is the wisdom of your leader, what must yours be like!”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") And explaining the matter, he uttered the first stanza:[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") If the monkey considered the best of the crowd Has wisdom like this, Then what in the world must the others be like?[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Hearing this remark, the monkeys uttered the second stanza:[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Brahman, you don’t know what you are talking about When you blame us like this; For how, unless we see the roots, Can we know whether the tree stands firm?[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Hearing their reply, the Future Buddha uttered the third stanza:[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") It isn’t you I blame,--not I,-- Nor the other monkeys in the wood; Vissasena alone is the one to blame, Who asked you to tend his trees for him.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Teacher had related this parable, he identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the leader of the monkeys was the youth who spoiled the garden, but the wise man was I myself.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") \_23.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Two Dicers.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Take care\![43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") \_A. Canonical version.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Dīgha ii.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") 348-349.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") In olden times two dicers played at dice.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") The first dicer swallowed every ace.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The second dicer saw that dicer swallow every ace.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Seeing, he said this to that dicer: “You, sir, have it all your own way.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Give me the dice, sir; I must hurry away.”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, sir,” said that dicer, and handed over the dice to that dicer.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Now that dicer painted the dice with poison, and said this to that dicer: “Come, sir, let us play at dice.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, sir,” said that dicer in assent to that dicer.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") A second time also those dicers played at dice; a second time also that dicer swallowed every ace.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") The second dicer saw that dicer swallow for the second time also every ace.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Seeing, he said this to that dicer:[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Smeared with the strongest poison Was the die the man swallowed, but knew it not.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Swallow, O swallow, wicked dicer\![59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Later it will taste bitter to you.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") \_B. Uncanonical version.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 91: i. 379-380.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") On a certain occasion the Exalted One reproved the monks for handling their property carelessly.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Said he: “Monks, careless handling of property is like careless handling of deadly poison.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") For men of old, through carelessness, not knowing what was the matter, ate poison, and as a result experienced great suffering.”[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in a household of great wealth.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") When he reached manhood, he became a dicer.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Now a second dicer used to play with the Future Buddha, and he was a cheat.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") So long as he was winning, he would not break the play-ring; but when he lost, he would put a die in his mouth, say, “A die is lost!” break the play-ring, and make off.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha, knowing the reason for this, said: “Let be\![71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") I shall find some way of dealing with him.”[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") So taking the dice to his own home, he painted them with deadly poison and let them dry thoroughly.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, taking them with him, he went to the second dicer’s and said: “Come, sir, let us play at dice.”[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, sir,” said the second dicer, and marked out the play-ring.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") As the second dicer played with the Future Buddha, he lost, and put a die in his month.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the Future Buddha, seeing him do this, said: “Just swallow\![77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Later you will know what that is.”[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") And to rebuke him he recited the following stanza:[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Smeared with the strongest poison Was the die the man swallowed, but knew it not.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Swallow, O swallow, wicked dicer\![81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Later it will taste bitter to you.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Even as the Future Buddha spoke, he swooned from the effect of the poison, rolled his eyes, dropped his shoulders, and fell.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Future Buddha: “Now I must grant him his life.”[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") So giving him an emetic containing herbs, he made him vomit.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, giving him ghee, honey, and sugar to eat, he made him well.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally he admonished him: “Never do such a thing again.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") And having performed alms-giving and the other works of merit, the Future Buddha passed away according to his deeds.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Teacher had completed this parable, he said: “Monks, careless handling of property is like careless handling of deadly poison.”[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the wise dicer was I myself.”[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/14/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/13/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/14/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)