Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2089

v2.c31.2089

Mahāvāṇija Jātaka (No. 493).—A company of merchants once went astray in the forest without food or water, and, seeing a huge banyan-tree with moist branches, they cut off a branch and water poured out, from another branch came food, from another a company of girls, and from the fourth various precious things. Overcome by greed, they wished to cut the tree from its roots in order to get more. Their leader, the Bodhisatta, tried to prevent this, but they refused to listen. Then the Nāga-king, who lived in the tree, ordered his followers to slay all the merchants except the leader. Him the Nāgas escorted to his home with all the treasures.