In a former age Gotama Bodhisat was a man of wealth, and as
he was exceedingly charitable, he afterwards became Sekra. His
descendants for four generations were also charitable, and went to
the same dewa-loka ; but the fifth was a great miser. Sekra there-
fore called these dewas, and informing them that the merit of the
family was now about to pass away, he directed them all to put on
the appearance of brahmans, and go to the door of their former
dwelling to ask alms. The first who went was ordered away ; but
he repeated a stanza, for which he received permission to remain-
The same occurrence happened to them all. Then the rich man
told his slave to give them rice in the husk, but they would not
receive it ; then unboiled rice, but they still refused it ; and after-
wards such rice, boiled, as is given to oxen ; but when they at-
tempted to eat it, it stuck in their throats, and they fell down as
if dead. The master therefore told hb slaves to take the rice awav,
and put in its stead such rice as he himself was accustomed to eat ;
after which he called together the citizens, and said that as he had
given them good rice, it was no fault of his that they were choked.
Then Sekra assumed the appearance of a dewa, and exposed his
deception ; but he also gave him good advice, telling him the merit
of giving alms, by means of which he was induced to become



88 EASTERN M0NAGHI8M.
