Reading Notes: Jataka Tales, Part A

Notes:
  • There was a thrifty merchant visiting a great city to sell his goods.
  • There was another merchant that was considered stupid, selling his merchants too.
  • One man asked the other to go before or after and not trying to sell at the same time.
  • So the man suggested to go first.
  • The foolish man began to travel, and filled water-jars with water and loaded them into a large wagon to cross the desert.
  • There was a wicked demon in the desert and said to himself if he could talk the foolish merchant emptying his water-jars, then he could make him his slave.
  • So the demon changed himself to a noble gentleman.
    • He got the other demons to change too.
  • The demon started to have a conversation with the merchant.
  • The demon suggested the merchant to empty all his water-jars because he wouldn't need it anymore.
  • So the foolish merchant did what the demon told him to do and now traveling with no water.
    • Therefore, that night, they ended up sleeping on the ground.
    • The demons then came along and took every oxen and men.
  • The wise came along and month and a half later, following the same path as the foolish merchant did.
    • He then bumped into the demon and told him to pour out all the water he has as well.
    • The wise merchant knew he was a demon because he didn't have a shadow.
    • He told the demon he will not pour out all his water until he sees a place that has more.
  • The men that was with the wise merchant did not know that they were demons. Therefore, they could have fallen into the trap without him.
  • As they traveled further, they came across the foolish merchant's loaded wagons.
  • The thirty merchant took whatever they can from the foolish merchant's wagon and stumbled upon the city safely.
  • He sold all the goods and returned with his company to his own city.
Bibliography: The Wise and The Foolish Merchant, by Ellen C. Babbitt.

Demons turning themselves into noble gentleman with weapons and shields, Link Text.

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