--- title: Opening, part 8 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 8, «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The prince went there and acquired the arts and crafts. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/8/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 8 # Opening, part 8 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/8/) **2** At that time the Future Buddha was learning the arts and crafts in the house of that Brahman.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Now one day the Brahman, accompanied by the Future Buddha, departed from his own village and set out for the kingdom of Cetiya on some business or other.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Along the road, at a certain place in the forest, five hundred Despatcher-thieves were in the habit of committing outrages on travelers.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") They captured both the Future Buddha and Brahman Vedabbha.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") (But why were these thieves called \_Despatcher-thieves\_?[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") We are told that whenever they captured two persons, they would \_despatch\_ one of them to fetch ransom-money; therefore they were appropriately called \_Despatcher-thieves\_.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") For example, if they captured father and son, they would say to the father: “Fetch us ransom-money first; then you may take your son and go.”[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Similarly, if they captured mother and daughter, they would despatch the mother; if they captured an older and a younger brother, they would despatch the older; if they captured teacher and pupil, they would despatch the pupil.)[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") So it was on this occasion.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Having captured the Brahman Vedabbha, they despatched the Future Buddha.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha bowed to his teacher and said: “I will return in the course of a day or two.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Have no fear.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") However, do as I tell you.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") To-day will occur the conjunction of the moon which causes the Rain of Riches.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Under no circumstances, because you cannot endure your misfortune, must you recite the charm and cause the Rain of Riches.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") If you do so, you will yourself come to ruin, and these five hundred thieves likewise.”[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Having thus admonished his teacher, he went for the ransom-money.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") When the sun had set, the thieves bound the Brahman and laid him down.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") At that very moment, from the eastern quarter rose the disk of the full moon.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman surveyed the constellations and reflected: “The conjunction of the moon which causes the Rain of Riches is at hand.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Why should I endure misfortune?[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") I will recite the charm, cause the Rain of Riches, give the riches to the thieves, and go where I please.”[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly he addressed the thieves: “Well, thieves, for what purpose did you capture me?”[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") “For ransom-money, noble sir.”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you want ransom-money, quickly free me from my bonds, bathe my head, clothe me with new garments, perfume me with scents, deck me with flowers, and set me on my feet.”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") The thieves, hearing his words, did so.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman, noting the conjunction of the moon, recited the charm and looked up at the sky.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Straightway jewels fell from the sky.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") The thieves gathered up that wealth, wrapped it in folds of their upper garments, and went their way.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman followed close behind them.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Now a second pack of five hundred thieves captured the first pack of thieves.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") “For what purpose did you capture us?” inquired the first.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") “For ransom-money,” replied the second.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you want money, capture this Brahman.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") It was he who, by looking up at the sky, caused a Rain of Riches; he is the man who gave us this wealth.”[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") The second pack released the first, captured the Brahman, and said to him: “Give us wealth too.”[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Brahman: “I would gladly give you wealth.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") But the conjunction of the moon which causes the Rain of Riches will not occur for a year yet.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") If you want money, have patience, and I will cause the Rain of Riches then.”[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") At this the thieves became enraged and said: “Oh, you rascally Brahman\![121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") You caused a Rain of Riches for others but a moment ago, but you tell us to hold our patience for another year!”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, they cleft the Brahman in twain with a sharp sword and left him lying on the road.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the second pack pursued the first pack hotly, fought with; them, killed every man of them, and took the spoils.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Again dividing into two packs, they fought with each other until one pack of two hundred and fifty had killed the other.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Continuing in this wise, they killed each other off until there were only two men left.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus those thousand men came to ruin.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Now those two men, having gotten away with the spoils by a ruse, hid the spoils in a thicket near a certain village.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") One sat guarding the spoils with sword in hand; the other, having procured rice, entered the village to have some porridge cooked.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") “Cupidity is the root of ruin!”[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") The man sitting by the spoils reflected: “When this fellow returns, this wealth will have to be divided into two portions.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Suppose I were to strike him with the sword and kill him the very moment he returns!”[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") So girding on his sword, he sat watching for his companion to return.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") His companion reflected: “That wealth will have to be divided into two portions.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Suppose I were to put poison in the porridge, let that fellow eat it, cause his death, and get the spoils for myself alone!”[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") So when the porridge was done, he ate some himself, put poison in the rest, and then took it and went to the thicket.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") The moment the second thief took that porridge out and set it down, the first thief cleft him in twain with his sword and flung his remains away in a secluded spot.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he ate that porridge and himself died on the spot.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, by reason of that wealth, every one of those men came to ruin.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") As for the Future Buddha, he returned in the course of a day or two with the ransom-money.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") Not seeing his teacher where he had left him, but seeing the spoils scattered all about, he reflected: “It must be that my teacher disregarded my words and caused the Rain of Riches; it must be that all of those men have come to ruin.”[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") And he continued his walk along the highway.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") As he proceeded, he saw his teacher lying on the highway, cleft in twain.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") Thought he: “My teacher disregarded my words and is dead.”[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he gathered firewood, built a pyre, cremated his teacher, and honored him with forest-flowers.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") As he proceeded, he saw farther on five hundred thieves who had met destruction; farther on yet, two hundred and fifty; and so on until finally he came upon two.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") Thought he: “These thousand thieves have come to ruin save only two.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") There must be two thieves besides.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") They also could never have restrained themselves.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Where can they be?”[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") As he proceeded, he saw the footprints of the two thieves who had entered the thicket with the spoils.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") Proceeding farther, he saw first a heap of riches wrapped up in a bundle, and then one of the two thieves dead with a porridge-bowl overturned beside him.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he knew all.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") “Such-and-such they must have done,” thought he.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he reflected: “Where can that fellow be?”[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") Making a search, he found his body also flung away in a secluded spot.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he reflected:[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") “Our teacher, because he disregarded my words, through his own habit of disobedience, through his own fault, has come to ruin.[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") Moreover through him a thousand men besides have perished.[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas\![160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") By employing wrong means, for no reason at all, seeking gain for themselves, these thieves, like our teacher, must all have come to a fearful end indeed!”[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") And he recited the following stanza:[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/8/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/8/) - next →: [Opening, part 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/9/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)