The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13
Karma----A Tale With a Moral.

Pandu. a wealthy jeweler of the rahma
caste. was travelling with a servant in a
carriage on some lucrative business to
varanasi, and overtaking on mis- way a
monk of venerable appearance who was
walking in the same direction, he thought
TO himself; This shramana looks noble
and sanity. Companionship with good men
brings luck; should he also be going to
yaranasi, i viii invite him to ride with me
in my carriage" Having saluted the shra-
mana he told him whittier he was driving
and at what inn he intended to stay in
Varanasi. Learning hat the shramana,
whose name was Narada, also was travel
ing to Varanasi. he asked him to accept a
seat in his ge. II am obliged to you
for your Kindness" said the shramana to
the Brahman. ''for 1 am quite worn out
by the long journey. Having no possessions
In this world. l cannot repay you in money,
but it may happen that i can reward you
with some spiritual treasure out of the
wealth of the information 1 have received
while following S~hakyamuni, the blessed
one, the great Buddha, the teacher of man
kind
Both Travelled together in the carriage
and Pandu listened with pleasure to the
instructive discourse of Narada. After
about an hours journey they came to a
place where the road had become almost
impossible by a washout caused by a re-
cent rain, and a farmers cart with a
broken wheel prevented further progress.
Devala. the owner of the cart, was on his
way to yaranasi to sell his rice, and was
anxious to reach the Town before the dawn
of the next morning. If he was delayed
a day or two longer the rice merchants
might have left town or bought all the
stock they needed.
n - - s--.r -. .
proceed on his way unless the farmers
cart was removed he began to grow angry
and ordered Mahaduta, his slave, to push
the cart aside. so that his carriage could
pass by. The farmer demonstrated because.
1t being so near the slope of the road, it
would imperil his cargo; but the Brallman
his servant overturn the rice cart and push
1t aside. Mahaduta, an unusually strong
man. who seemed to take delight in the in
Jury of others, obeyed before the shramana
could interfere. When Padua was about
to continue his travel the shramana jumped
out of the carriage and said: Excuse me.
sir. Tor leaving you here. l am under obli-
cations for your kindness in giving me
tired when You picked me up on the road
but now, thanks to your courtesy, l am
rested. and recognizing In this farmer an
not repay your kindness better than by as
eisting him in his troubles"
in amazement. ..That farmer, you say, is
an incarnation Of one Of my ancestors? That
II know" replied the shramana. ..that
you are not aware of the numerous impor-
tant relations which tie your fate to that
OF the farmer. But the blind man cannot
harm to yourself and I shall try to pro-
tect 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, although uttered
with great Kindness contained a SfinQinp
reproach,. babe his servant drive on without
further delay.
She shramana saluted Devala, the farmer,
and began to help him repair his cart and
load up the rice, part of which had been
and Devala thought: This shramana must
De a. holy man: invisible devas seem to as
s,ist him. ! will ask him how l deserved the
Ill treatment at the hands Of the proud
Brahman.'' And he said:
Venerable sir. can you tell me why I suf-
have never done any harm?"
And the shramana said:
My dear friend, you do not suffer an In
Justice, but only receive in your present
Aate OF existence the same treatment which
lie, sis5te 4 q ! am i mot 1 mistaaen an IN a r fermer
the thoughts of your mind, 1 should say
that you would, even to-day. have done the
your place, and If you had had such a strong
slave at your command as he has, able to
The farmer confessed that if he had had
the power he would have felt little COM
Function m treating another man who had
treated by the Brahman, but thinking Of
the retribution attendant upon unkind
in the future with his fellow.bedngs. iate
The rice was loaded and both travelled
horse jumped aside. IA snake, a snake"
shouted the farmer. But the shramana
looked closely at the object at which the
horse shuddered, jumped out of the cart
and saw that it was a purse full of gold.
and the idea struck him:
cam mo SaS one ios else tn, but the wealthy jeweler
GARNER. said:
Take this purse, and when you come
10 varanasi drive up to the inn, which I
snail point out to you; ask for Pandu, the
BRAKEMAN, and deliver the purse.
HE Will excuse himself for the rudensss
with which he treated you, but tell him
that you have forgiven him and wish him
Succ tas i'm In all his Undertakings. For, let
better you will prosper; your fate depends
IN many respects upon his fate. Should
him to the WHARF. where he shall find me
ready to assist him with advice in case he
may reel the need of it,"
Fandu, In the meantime, arrived at Var.
q rich banker.
IAN 40 no business with you unless I can
puy a cart of the best rice for the kings
raple. Inere is a rival banker in varanasi,
VINO, learning. that I had made a contract
with the royal treasurer to deliver the rice
tomorrow morning, and being DESTROYS to
pring about my destruction. has bought
up all the rice in Varanasi. The royaI
treasurer must have received a bribe. for
ne VIII not release me from my contract
ana tomorrow / shall be q ruined man I'm,
Tess krishna will send an angel from
While Mallika was still Iamentinr tho
poverty to which his rival would reduce
h nm Pandu missed his purse. Searching
MS carriage without being able to find it,
ne suspected his slave M~ahaduta. and call,
ing, tne police accused him of theft. and
nad MIN bound and cruelty tortured 70
extort a confession. The slave in his
egonles cried: Il am innocent. let me 90
Tor cannot. stand this pain; / am o,iite
innocent, at least of this crime. and s,,ffar
now for other sins. Oh. that / could hos
the farmers pardon whom, for the sake
or my master, / wronged without anv
cause! This torture. / believe, IS a nun.
ishment for my rudeness.''
While the police officer was still an,lv,pe
the lash to the back of the slave. fhe
farmer arrived at the inn, and, to the ereat
establishment of all concerned, delivered the
purse. The slave was at once released from,
the. hands of his t~orturer. But, being dis
satisfied with his master, he secretly left
and Joined a band of robbers in the noun
tafns. who made him their chief on account
or MS great strength and courage. When
Alallika heard that the farmer had the
best rice TO sell, fit for delivery to the
royal table, he bought at once the whole
carload for treble the price tina the farmer