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Kummāputta-Chariam
121
'Well, good man, with what motive have I been worshipped by you ??. He said “This my effort is directd, O Goddess, to the acquisition of the Desire-yielding-gem.' (80)
Then the Goddess said—Well, dear boy, your store of action is not in fact such an one as is conducive to your welfare; because, gods, too, bestow wealth upon men in accordance with their action.' (81)
Then he said 'If I had a store of meritorious actions, where was the necessity to adore you? You therefore, give me, please, the gem, then come what may.' (82)
Then she gave to that merchant of gems the Desire-yieldinggem and he, pleased at heart, embarked the ship for sailing homeward. (83)
Seated on the deck of the ship when he came well-nigh in the middle of the sea, the moon of the full-moon-night rose on the eastern horizon. (84)
When he saw the moon, that merchant thought in his mind as to whether the refulgence of the gem was superior or that of the moon. (85)
With this thought he took in his hand the Desire-yieldinggem and carefully observed with his eyes the moon again and again and the gem over and over. (86)
While he was observing it in that way, as his ill-luck would have it, there slipped from the palm of his hand into the sea that extremely delicate priceless gem. (87)
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