The Life Stories of the Monks – 1918 

 

 

first offering. I do not know why!” So he said: “I cannot sell them at this price, 
sir.” When the townsman increased the price, saying: “If you cannot sell them 
for one coin, please take two coins and sell the honey and the curds to me.” The 
villager replied: “I cannot give them to you for two coins either,” in order to 
raise the price. In this way the price became higher and higher until it reached 
1,000 pieces of money. 

Realizing: “It is not fair to prolong the deal on my part. However, I shall ask 
him about his purpose,” the villager said: “The honey and the curds are not so 
valuable, yet you unduly make such an immense payment. Why do you want to 
offer so much?” The townsman told him the purpose: “In this royal city of 
Bandhumatī, friend, the citizens, in competition with their king, gave a grand 
alms giving to Buddha Vipassī. While they were doing so, they did not have 
honey and curds among the items of their offering. So they are trying 
desperately to get them by any means. If they fail to get them, they will lose in 
their competition with the king. Therefore, I would like to have them by giving 
you 1,000 pieces of money.” The villager then asked: “Sir, is such a charitable 
deed to be performed only by the people of the city and not by village folk?” 

The townsman then answered: “No man’s gift, friend, is prohibited, everybody 
whether he belongs to town or village is entitled to give in generosity.” The 
villager then asked further: “Master, now that the citizens are performing deeds 
of giving, is there anyone who gives away 1,000 pieces of money in one day?” – 
“No, friend, there is none.” The villager put still another question firmly: 
“Master, you know that the honey and the curds that I have brought now are 
worth 1,000 pieces of money, do you not?” – “Yes, I do, friend.” – “Master,” said 
the villager, “in that case, go and tell the townsfolk that a rustic man is offering 
these two things: honey and milk curds, but not for money, instead he would like 
to make the offering with his own hands. Please also tell them that they should 
not be restless for wanting them and that they should now be happy as far as 
these two things are concerned. As for you, you should bear witness in person to 
the fact that in this magnificent alms giving, it is I who am the supporter of the 
most expensive item.” 

Having said this, the villager bought five perfume ingredients with his money 
which were meant for his food. He made them into a powder. Then he squeezed 
the curds to extract water from them. Into that water, he put honey by squeezing