Long time ago there lived two friends in a village. One of
them was righteous, and his name was Dharmabuddhi (the right minded). The
fellow named Pappabuddhi (the evil minded) was wicked and immoral.
Pappabuddhi was poor and could not think of any means to earn
money. So he decided to convince Dharmabuddhi and take him to another village
where he intended to use his skills to earning living.
Next day, when Pappabuddhi met Dharmabuddhi, he told the
later, 'Friend, years are passing quickly. No sooner we will marry, have family
and then grow old. But we do not have any good means if earning in this
village. I think we should travel to another kingdom where we can work to earn
well'.
Pappabuddhi sounded wise to Dharmabuddhi. He was convinced
and they both decided to leave the village.
They took blessings of their parents and preacher and set on
for the journey.
After months of traveling, they reached a kingdom which was
prosperous. They settled there and began working. Over a period of time, they
earned a lot due to knowledge and skills of Dharmabuddhi's intelligence, skills
and knowledge. One day when they felt satisfied with their earning, they
thought of leaving the place and return to their home.
They left the kingdom and began journey back to home.
On the way, Pappabuddhi said, 'Friend, we have so much money
with us. It is not safe to carry it this way. Besides, we are nearing our
village and if our friends and relatives see this money they will ask us for
it. I think we should hide the money here in forest. We can burry it somewhere
here and then take small amount with us. We can come here and take money as and
when we need it'.
Dharmabuddhi trusted his friend. He agreed with him and they
worked together to burry their treasure beneath the three. They went home with
some money.
Few days passed and one night, Pappabuddhi went to the forest
alone. He dug out the entire treasure and closed the pit as it was before.
Pappabuddhi took the treasure to his home and hid it.
After few days, he went to see Dharmabuddhi and said, '
Friend, I have spent all the money I returned with on family needs. I wish to
bring money from the treasure we hid in the forest. Lets go'.
So, they went to together to the forest. After digging they
found that the treasure was missing.
Seeing this, the sly Pappabuddhi started repenting for
trusting Dharmabuddhi. He blamed him for stealing the money and asked for the
money, 'No one expect you knew that we hid the treasure here. You have deceived
me and stole the entire treasure. Give back my money or will approach the
village head for justice. You have breached my trust'.
Dharmabuddhi was shocked to hear what his friend said. He
defended him and said, 'Friend, you should not suspect or blame me for this
lose. I am a virtuous man and committed no such theft. I have lost my treasure
too'.
But Pappabuddhi was sly. He continued to blame Dharmabuddhi.
The two men started quarrelling and decided to see the village head. The
village head asked the men to pledge before the Fire God.
But Pappabuddhi said, 'We can ask the tree to stand witness
as we buried the treasure under it. The tree can reveal who stole the
treasure'.
The villagers agreed with Pappabuddhi. But they retained, if
the tree fails to reveal the truth, they would ask the two men to pledge before
the Fire God.
Hearing this, Pappabuddhi went to his father and said,
'Father, Dharmabuddhi and I earned a huge amount by working in the far kingdom.
On our way to home, we hid the treasure in a pit below a tree in the forest. I
stole the entire money and hid it. Now, Dharmabuddhi has taken the matter to
the village chief. I need your help to save me and the money'.
The father was surprised to hear his son. He asked him, 'Tell
me how I can help you?’
Pappabuddhi said, 'I have asked the village chief to approach
the tree where we hid the treasure for justice. The tree has a hollow in that
tree. You have hide in the hollow before the day break and when we come there
asking for truth, you have to talk in guise of tree spirit and let the people
that Dharmabuddhi stole the treasure'.
The father was equally immortal and helped his son in the
wrongdoing. He went and his himself in the hollow if the tree before sunrise.
After some hours, Dharmabuddhi and Pappabuddhi came to the
tree along with the village chief and his escorts.
Pappabuddhi pretended to be righteous and wise. He said, 'O
mighty tree! We bow to you. Let your spirit talk. We hid a treasure here under
your vast spread. The treasure has been stolen. We have come here to know the
truth. We will be grateful if you can let us know the thief'.
When Pappabuddhi’s father heard this, he replied in a heavy
loud voice, 'I stand witness to what happened to your treasure. The treasure
was buried together by Dharmabuddhi and Pappabuddhi. But Dharmabuddhi stole the
entire treasure in the veil of night'.
The people around were shocked to hear the tree, while
Pappabuddhi smiled pleasingly and victoriously. The chief and his escort agreed
with the tree's word.
But Dharmabuddhi suspected that something was wrong. He
thought for a while and then heaped dried leaves and twigs in front of the
hollow. The pile was set on fire.
Soon the fire flared up and the smoke and heat spread in the
hollow. Unable to bear it, Pappabuddhi father escaped from the hollow. He was
burned and suffocated.
The villagers were surprised to see him and ask him, 'What
were doing in the hollow?'
Pappabuddhi’s father was ashamed. He confessed and revealed
the truth.
When villagers came to know the truth, they decided to punish
Pappabuddhi by hanging him on the tree under which the treasure was once hidden
by two of them. Dharmabuddhi was praised for his presence of mind and wit.
Moral: Keep company of good and wise.
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