"What for, then?"
"I have been granted all those who go down into this pond."
"What? All!"
"Well; all save those who know what beings are divine. The rest are my prey."
"But have you then any need of divine beings?"
"Yes, certainly."
"If it be so, I will tell you who are divine."
"Speak on then; and I shall get to know who have the attributes which are divine."
Then the Bodisat said, "I would teach you regarding this matter; but I am all unclean with my journey." And the water-sprite bathed the Bodisat, and provided him with food, and brought him water, and decked him with flowers, and anointed him with perfumes, and spread out for him a couch in a beautiful arbour.
And the Bodisat seated himself there, and made the water-sprite sit at his feet, and said, "Give ear then attentively, and listen what divine nature is." And he uttered the verse —
The pure in heart who fear to sin,
The good, kindly in word and deed —
These are the beings in the world,
Whose nature should be called divine.
And when the water- sprite heard that, his heart was touched, and he said to the Bodisat —
"O, Wise Teacher, in you I place my trust. I will give you up one of your brothers. Which shall I bring?"
"Bring me the younger of the two."
