Two men named Dharmabuddhi (good thinking) and Papbuddhi (sinful thinking) lived in a city. They helped each other and so developed a close friendship.
One day both the friends thought, “We should earn more. We should undertake some business venture abroad. No one could make a fortune unless one travels abroad.” With this thought they left for a foreign country and earned a large fortune and then they decided to return home.
When they were close to their home town, Papbuddhi entertained an evil thought in his mind, “If, by some means, I deprive this fellow of his wealth, I would increase my wealth immensely.” He said to his friend, “Brother, with great difficulty we have earned this fortune, if we take it home, our relatives will demand to share with them and we shall have to part with our wealth. Therefore, let us hide a major portion of this wealth under this tree and carry home only what we presently need. We can always come here and dig out as we need it later on.”
Dharmabuddhi was simple-minded and innocent. He agreed to his friend’s proposal and both of them buried a major portion of their wealth underground near the roots of this tree.
After a while, Papbuddhi got worried about this wealth thinking perhaps, his friend might dig out and take away that wealth. A sinful man’s mind is always under various doubts. One night, he went to that hideout place, dug out all the wealth and filled up the pit as before.
After a few days Dharmabuddhi, feeling a need for the money went to the hideout along with Papbuddhi. On digging, nothing was found. Papbuddhi striking his head against a stone cried and said, “I am ruined. Now what shall I do ? I had all my possessions here. And you came here and stole all my wealth. Return to me my share or else I shall go to the court for justice.”
Dharmabuddhi said: “Oh my friend ! What are you saying ? I would never steal but I feel you may have stolen my wealth. Return my share or else I shall drag you to the court.” But Papbuddhi did not give up. On the contrary, he began to scold Dharmabuddhi. Thus quarreling, both of them approached the judge in the court. The judge, after, hearing both the parties said, “I shall have to rely on mystical evidence in this matter.”
Papbuddhi said: “This is not a proper form of justice. Documentary evidence is the most reliable and then follows oral evidence. In the absence of these two forms of evidences only, the mystical is to be resorted to. In our matter Sylvan God is my witness.” On hearing this plea the judge asked them to come the next morning.
Papbuddhi narrated the entire account to his father at home and he confessed that he did steal the wealth. He also added that with the help of his oral evidence he would succeed in swallowing the whole amount of wealth. His father inquired, “How is it possible ?”
Papbuddhi said, “In that region there is a Khijada tree with a cavity inside the trunk where you could hide. When I arrive there along with the judge, you will be asked by me, “Oh, Sylvan God, you stand as our witness. State, therefore, who could be the thief ?” Then you should say “Indeed, Dharmabuddhi is the thief.”
The father was not so wicked as the son. He said: “This is not proper. I feel this will not lead to any good.” But Papbuddhi compelled his father and added: “If you don’t act so, we shall be doomed. Don’t find fault with me when consequences follow.” A sinful man induces others to commit sin and leads them to calamity.
In the absence of any other alternative the father had to follow the son’s wishes and he lay himself concealed in the cavity of the said tree.
In the morning Dharmabuddhi and Papbuddhi arrived there along with the judge and other officers. The words from the tree resounded meaning that Dharmabuddhi was a thief. The officers were surprised and began to reflect as to what sort of punishment should be inflicted to the culprit.
Here, Dharmabuddhi was immensely embarrassed to find this strange development. He was deeply pained to find himself convicted as a thief considering he was innocent.
Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind. He piled grass round the trunk of the tree from where the voice came and set it on fire. The tree caught fire in no time. A man, partially burned, came out of a tree and he was screaming. The judge was surprised. He asked him, “Who are you ?” and ordered him to tell the truth.
The man said with faltering words: “My wicked son degraded me to this plight.” With these words he fell on the ground and died. The judge was convinced that this was the plan of Papbuddhi to prove Dharmabuddhi as a culprit.
Papbuddhi confessed that he compelled his father to stay in the cavity of the tree and made him utter the words: “Dharmabuddhi is a thief.” So they found Papbuddhi guilty of the theft. They searched his house and found the wealth and gave all of it to Dharmabuddhi. Papbuddhi was punished for the offenses of breach of trust, false representation, cheating and producing false witness.
MORAL LESSON: See what consequences follow when one tries to obtain wealth by sins, injustice or unrighteousness. Papbuddhi lost his wealth, and also got punished. His father died of burn to go along with his culprit son. Remember greediness is a curse.
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