Story 211 - How the Poor Man became Wealthy

IN a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. During the time while they are there, there is an infant [son] of the two persons. After the infant became big they were stricken by a very great scarcity of food.

Having given all and eaten, being without anything, at the time when, doing work at cities and having brought rice dust, they were continuing to eat, a King came, and calling that boy went away [with him].

The King having come again to this boy’s house, said at the hand of the boy’s mother and father,

“How is the manner in which you get a living now ?”

The two persons said,

“Having worked in these cities and brought rice dust [we cook and eat it].”

The King said,

“Can you go with me to my city ?”

.The two persons having said “Ha,” the two went with the King to the King’s city. The King built and gave the two persons a house also (gekut), to be in, and the two, doing work at the city, [after] cooking continue to eat.

All the city spoke of giving a danaya (religious feast) to the Gods and the host who come with the Gods. These two also spoke,

“Let us also give (demu) a danaya.”

Having been there without eating for two or three days, they got together the things for the dana.

When they will give the dana on the morrow, to seek a fish for the dana this man went to the sea quarter. As he is going, the sea fishermen, having drawn their nets ashore, are stringing the fishes together.

Then the fishermen asked,

“Where are you going ?”

This man said,

“I am to give a danaya to the Gods tomorrow. For it I am going to seek a fish.”

The fishermen said,

“We will give it. String these fishes.”

The man having said “Ha,” until it became evening strung the fishes. Afterwards the fishermen gave that man a fish. Taking it, as he was coming a considerable distance he met a widow woman. The woman said,

“Where did you go ?”

Then the man said,

“I went to this sea quarter.- I am giving a danaya to the Gods; I went to seek a fish for it.”

The woman said,

“I also will go,”

and came with the man.

At dawn the widow woman, asking [permission] from those two, cooked the dane for the Gods. One cannot stay in the city on account of the sweet [smell] of that fish having entered it.

Those Gods and their host having come at the time of the dana, all at the city apportioned the whole of the food.^[1] Near these three persons there was no one. So Shakra, [observing it], creating an old man’s appearance, came.

This man called to Shakra,

“Come here, you; there is not a person here for the dane.”

Having spread a single-fold (tani-pota) mat, he gave the dane to Shakra. Shakra having eaten the dane went away. Those Gods and their host then also went.^[2]

As this man was folding the mat which he gave to that Shakra to sit upon, under it silver and golden things had been heaped up.

The man with that silver and gold caused a city to be well built. That King’s sovereignty having been changed, this man’s son obtained the sovereignty. When he had been [there] not much time a very great scarcity of food struck the [former] King of the city, and the people. Doing work at the city of this [formerly] poor man, and having eaten, they remained there.

Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The food was to be eaten by any poor people who came for it. Of course the deities required only the essence.

[2]:

Ara deviyoyi senawayi et giya.