The Ârâmadûsaka Jâtaka.[1]
The stupid Monkeys.
In days of yore, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, a festival was proclaimed in that city. After they had heard the sound of the festival-drum, all the inhabitants of the city went about making preparations for the coming event. At that time many monkeys lived in the royal gardens. The gardener thought to himself—"A festival has been proclaimed in the city, so I'll bid these monkeys water the trees, while I go and enjoy the festival."
Off he went to the monkey-chief, and said, "My good friend, this garden is of great service to you; for here you eat various kinds of fruits and tender shoots. A festival has been announced to take place in the city, and I intend to go and enjoy the festivities. While I am away shall you be able, think you, to water the young trees and saplings in the garden?" The monkey-chief made answer—"Good! I'll water them." Said the gardener—"In that case be very careful as to what you do."
As soon as he had provided the apes with water-bags and water-pots, for the purpose of watering the trees, off he went.
Then the monkey-chief thus addressed his attendants—"monkeys, listen to me, I pray. You must be sparing of this water; so, when you are about to water the saplings, pull each one up and take a look at its root; then give plenty of water to the deeply-rooted trees, and a little to those with stumpy roots. Don't waste any; for we shall find it, after this, difficult to procure water." The monkeys assented, and acted accordingly.
At that time a certain wise man in the royal gardens beheld the monkeys doing as they had been directed, and he said to them—"You monkeys, tell me, I pray, why you pull up the saplings one by one and water them according to the length of their roots." They replied, "Our chief has bidden us water them in this way."
- ↑ Jataka Book, vol. i. No. 46, p. 249.
