The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-05
STORY.
Karma, an Oriental Tale.

servant in "a carriage on some lucrative
business to Varanasi, and overtaking on
bis way monk of venerable appear
ance who was walking in the same di-
rection he thought to himself: "This
shramana looks noble and sanity.
Companionship with good men brings
nick. Should he also be going to Vara-
pasi l will invite him to ride with me
In my carriage"
Having saluted the shramana, he told
him whittier he was driving and at
what inn he intended to stay in Vara-
nasi. Learning that the shramana,
whose name was Narada, also was trav-
aling to Varanasi, he asked him to ac-
sept a seat in his carriage
II am obliged to you for your kind
ness" said the shra mana to the Brah-
man, "for | am qui worn out by tho
long Journey LAWN no possessions in
lhis world, l cal not pay you i'll money,
but it may happen tlat | can reward
you with some spiri ,ual treasure out of
she wealth of the Information ] have
received while folio wing Shakyamuni,
bbe blessed one, the great Buddha, the
keacher of mankind.
Both travelled together in the car
dage, and Pandu listened with pleasure
30 tho instructive discourse of Narada.
After an hour journey they came to
place where the roal had become almost
impossible ly washout caused by
seccnt rain, and farmers cart with a
broken wheel prevented farther prog.
eess. Devala, the owner of the cart,
was on his way to Varanasi to sell his
doe and was anxious to reach the town
before the dawn of the next morning.
II he was delayed day or two longer,
khe rice merchants might have left town
DE- bought all the stock they needed.
When the jeweler saw that he could
not proceed on his way unless the farm
m's cart was removed, he began to grow
angry and ordered Mahaduta, his slave,
to push the cart aside so that his car
dage could pass by. The farmer re-
monstrated, because, it being so near
che slope of the road, it would imperil
his cargo, but the Brahman would not
listen to the farmer and babe his serv-
ant overturn the rice cart and push it
aside. Mahaduta, an unusually strong
man, who seemed to take delight i'll the
Injury of others, obeyed before the shra-
udId COulu lnbtIltIt. w ucu uuuu
was about to continue his travel, the
Rhramana jumped out of the carriage
and said:
Excuse me. sir, for leaving you
here. l am under obligations for your
Kindness in giving me an hours ride in
your carriage l was tired when you
picked me up on the road, but now,
thanks to your courtesy, / am rested,
and recognizing in this farmer an in
oarnation of one of your ancestors can
not repay your kindness better than by
assisting him in his troubles "
The Brahman looked at the shramana
I'm amazement "That farmer, you say,
La an incarnation of one of my ances-
tors? That is impossible.
81 know" replied the shramana,
that you are not aware Of the numer
GUS important relations which tie your
bate to that of the farmer. But the blind
man cannot be expected to see, so l re-
greet that you do harm to yourself, and
l shall try to protect you against the
wounds which you are about to infict
upon yourself.
The wealthy merchant was not accus-
toned to be reprimanded, and feeling
that the words of the shramana al
though uttered with great kindness,
contained singing reproach babe his
servant drive on without further delay.
The shramana saluted Devala, the
Farmer, and began to help him repair
his cart and load up the rice part of
which had been thrown out. The work
proceeded quickly, and Devala thought:
ssTbio uhrarnana no hn1xy N
Invisible devas seem to assist him.
will ask him how l deserved the i'll
treatment at the hands Of the proud
Brahman. And he said:
Venerable sir, can you tell me why
1 suffer an Injustice from man to
whom have never done any harm?"
And the shramana said:
my dear friend, you do not suffer
An injustice, but only receive in your
present state the same treatment which
you visited upon the jeweler in for
mer life, and if | am not mistaken In
reading the thought of your mind |
should say that you would, even today,
have done the same thing unto the
jeweler if he had been in your place and
II you had such strong slave at your
command as he has, able to deal with
you at his pleasure.
The farmer confessed that if he had
had the power he would have felt little
bompunction in treating another man
who happened to impede his way as he
lad been treated by the Brahman, but
blinking Of the retribution attendant
hpon unkind deeds he resolved to be
more considerate in the future with his
fellow beings.
The rice was loaded, and both travel
sd on to Varanasi, when all Of sudden
ke horse jumped aside, "a snake, a
make" shouted the farmer But the
khramana looked closely at the object at
which the horse shuddered, jumped out
of the cart and saw that 1t was purse
full of gold, and the idea struck him:
''No one else but the wealthy jeweler
san have lost this purse. -
He took the purse, and handing it to
L.. F..