Dhammapada 2.2.p6

2.2.p6

Sā katipāhaccayena rañño sāsanaṃ pesesi – ‘‘bhatakavīthiyaṃ chaṇaṃ karontu. Yassa pana ghare chaṇo na karīyati, tassa ettako nāma daṇḍoti ghosanaṃ kāretū’’ti. Rājā tathā kāresi. Atha naṃ sassu āha – ‘‘tāta, bhatakavīthiyaṃ rājāṇāya chaṇo kattabbo jāto, kiṃ karomā’’ti? ‘‘Amma, ahaṃ bhatiṃ karontopi jīvituṃ na sakkomi, kiṃ karissāmī’’ti? ‘‘Tāta, gharāvāsaṃ vasantā nāma iṇampi gaṇhanti, rañño āṇā akātuṃ na labbhā. Iṇato nāma yena kenaci upāyena muccituṃ sakkā, gaccha, kutoci ekaṃ vā dve vā kahāpaṇe āharā’’ti āha. So ujjhāyanto khīyanto gantvā cattālīsakoṭidhanaṭṭhānato ekameva kahāpaṇaṃ āhari. Sā taṃ kahāpaṇaṃ rañño pesetvā attano kahāpaṇena chaṇaṃ katvā puna katipāhaccayena tatheva sāsanaṃ pahiṇi. Puna rājā tatheva ‘‘chaṇaṃ karontu, akarontānaṃ ettako daṇḍo’’ti āṇāpesi. Punapi so tāya tatheva vatvā nippīḷiyamāno gantvā tayo kahāpaṇe āhari. Sā tepi kahāpaṇe rañño pesetvā puna katipāhaccayena tatheva sāsanaṃ pahiṇi – ‘‘idāni purise pesetvā imaṃ pakkosāpetū’’ti. Rājā pesesi. Purisā gantvā, ‘‘kumbhaghosako nāma kataro’’ti pucchitvā pariyesantā taṃ disvā ‘‘ehi, bho rājā, taṃ pakkosatī’’ti āhaṃsu. So bhīto ‘‘na maṃ rājā jānātī’’tiādīni vatvā gantuṃ na icchi. Atha naṃ balakkārena hatthādīsu gahetvā ākaḍḍhiṃsu. Sā itthī te disvā, ‘‘are, dubbinītā, tumhe mama jāmātaraṃ hatthādīsu gahetuṃ ananucchavikā’’ti tajjetvā, ‘‘ehi, tāta, mā bhāyi, rājānaṃ disvā tava hatthādigāhakānaṃ hattheyeva chindāpessāmī’’ti dhītaraṃ ādāya purato hutvā rājagehaṃ patvā vesaṃ parivattetvā sabbālaṅkārapaṭimaṇḍitā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Itarampi parikaḍḍhitvā ānayiṃsuyeva.

After a few days she sent a message to the king, saying, “Cause the following proclamation to be made, ‘Let those who dwell in the servants’ quarters make holiday. Whoever does not make holiday in his house shall be visited with such and such punishment.’” The king did so. Kumbhaghosaka’s mother-in-law said to Kumbhaghosaka, “Dear son, the king commands those who dwell in the servants’ quarters to make holiday. What shall we do?” “Mother, I can barely get along on the wages I earn. What shall I do?” “Dear son, those who live in a house of their own can borrow money. The king’s command must not be disobeyed, but a debt can be paid off in some way or other. Go somewhere and get one or two pieces of money.” Kumbhaghosaka, much provoked, went to the spot where his forty crores of treasure were buried, removed but a single piece of money, and returned with it. His mother-in-law sent this piece of money to the king and paid the expenses of the holiday with a piece of money of her own. Again after a few days she sent the same message to the king. Again the king gave orders, "Let them make holiday. Those who do not shall be visited with such and such punishment." And again Kumbhaghosaka, under compulsion of his mother-in-law, who repeated the same suggestion she had previously made, went to his hidden store, removed three pieces of money, and brought and gave them to her. She sent these three pieces also to the king. After a few days more had passed, she sent yet another message to the king, saying, "Now let the king send some of his men and summon this man into his presence."

The king's men came and began a search for their man, inquiring, "Which man is Kumbhaghosaka?" When they saw Kumbhaghosaka, they said to him, "Come, sir, the king summons you." Kumbhaghosaka was frightened and was unwilling to go, saying, "The king does not know me," and much else. But the king's men overpowered him, and seizing him by the hands and feet, dragged him off. When his mother-in-law saw what they were doing, she reviled them, saying, "Rascally villains, you are not fit to lay hands on my son-in-law." Turning to Kumbhaghosaka, she said, "Go, my dear son; be not afraid. When I see the king, I will have him cut off the hands of those who seized you by the hands and feet." So saying, she took her daughter, and preceding the king's men, went to the royal palace. When she arrived at the palace, she changed her garments, adorned herself with all her adornments, and thus arrayed took her stand on one side.

The king's men came, pulling and dragging Kumbhaghosaka with them. Kumbhaghosaka paid obeisance to the king and took his stand before him. The king said to him, "You are Kumbhaghosaka?" "Yes, your majesty." "Why do you practice deceit in spending your great wealth?" "Where is my great wealth, your majesty? I make a living by working for hire." "Do not act thus. Why do you deceive us?" "I am not deceiving you, your majesty. I have no wealth." Then the king showed him those pieces of money and asked him, "Whose are these pieces of money?" Kumbhaghosaka recognized the coins. Thought he, "Alas, I am lost! How did these pieces of money get into the hands of the king?" Looking about him, he saw those two women, adorned and bejeweled, standing at the door of the room. Thought he, “This is a deep-laid plot. These women must have been suborned by the king.”