Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c14.4

c14.4

The Bōdhisat was born once as a dēva that dwelt in a clump of kusa grass in the king’s garden at Benāres. In the same garden there grew a beautiful Wishing-tree, with a straight stem and spreading branches, and the king loved it. In it dwelt one who had been a king of dēvas and was now reborn as a tree-dēvī; and the Bōdhisat was her great friend. Now the palace roof was a king-post roof, and the main pillar had grown shaky. The royal carpenters were ordered to replace it with another; but they could find no tree good enough, except the beautiful Wishing-tree. They came to the king and told him that they feared to fell this sacred tree. But he ordered them to set about it at once. So they went to the garden, and made offerings to the tree, meaning to fell it the next day. But the tree dēvī was plunged into the deepest sorrow when she heard their words and knew that her dear tree was to be destroyed. No one of the other forest dēvas could offer help, when at last the Bōdhisat came thither, and being told of the news, answered hopefully, ‘Have no fear, I will see that the tree is not cut down.’