Long time ago there lived two friends in a village. One of them was righteous, and his name was Dharmabuddhi. The fellow named Pappabuddhi was wicked and unvirteous.
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 Pappabhuddi met Dharmabhuddhi, 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'.
Pappabhuddhi sounded wise to Dharmabhuddhi. 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 travelling, 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 as tisfied with their wealth, they thought of leaving the place and return to their home.
They left the kingdom and began journey back to home.
On the way, Pappabhuddhi 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'.
Dharnabhiddhi 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, Papabuddhi went to the forest alone. He dug out the entire treasure and closed the pit as it was before. Pappabhuddhi took the treasure to his home and hid it.
After few days, he went to see Dhatmabhuddhi and said, ' Friend, I have spend 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 Papabuddhi started repentending 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 decieved 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 virteous man and committed no such theft. I have lost my treasure too'.
But Pappabhuddhi was sly. He continued to blame Dhamabhuddhi. 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 Papabuddhi said, 'We can ask the tree to stand witness as we burried the treasure under it. The tree can reveal who stole the treasure'.
The villagers agreed with Papabhuddhi. 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, Papabuddhi went to his father and said, 'Father, Dharmabhuddhi 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 have stealed 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 surpriser to hear his son. He asked him, 'Tell me how can I help you?'.
Papabuddhi 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 unvirtueous man and helped his son in the wrongdoing. He went and his himself in the hollow if the tree before sunrise.
After some hours, Dharmabhuddhi, Papabhuddhi came to the tree along with the village chief and his escorts.
Papabuddhi 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 greatful if you can let us know the thrief'.
When Papabuddhi's father heard this, he replied in a heavy loud voice, 'I stand witness to what happened to your treasure. The treasure was burried together by Dharmabuddhi and Papabhuddhi. But Dharmabhuddhi stole the entire treasure in the viel of night'.
The people around were shocked to hear the tree, while Papabhuddhi 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 flire flared up and the smoke and heat spread in the hollow. Unable to bear it, Papabuddhi's 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?'
Papabhuddhi's father was ashamed. He confessed and revealed the truth.
When villagers came to know the truth, they decided to punish Papabuddhi 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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