In the ancient times of Varanasi, during the reign of King Brahmadatta, the Bodhisatta was born into a noble merchant family. As he reached adulthood, he took over the family trade, commanding five hundred bullock carts. He would journey to distant lands, traveling from the east to the west, laden with precious merchandise.
In the same city of Varanasi lived another merchant. He was foolish and impulsive, lacking the wisdom to judge the circumstances he faced.
Two Merchants and the Path of Prudence One day, the Bodhisatta prepared his caravan for a long journey. He soon learned that the foolish merchant was also ready to set out for the same destination with his five hundred carts.
The Bodhisatta realized that two massive caravans traveling together—one thousand carts and two thousand oxen—would be disastrous. The roads would be destroyed, and food and water for the men and beasts would become scarce. He approached the foolish merchant and gently explained the situation. “Friend,” he said, “traveling together will be difficult for both of us. Think carefully—would you like to go first or follow?”
The foolish merchant thought that by going first, he would have an unbroken road, fresh grass for his oxen, and the first choice of fruits for his men. He even believed he could set the market prices as he wished. Driven by ego, he chose to lead. The Bodhisatta, however, saw wisdom in following. He knew that the heavy carts ahead would level the rough roads, his oxen would eat the tender new grass that grew after the old was consumed, and they could use the wells dug by the first group.
The Yaksha’s Illusion in the Desert A few days after the foolish merchant departed, the Bodhisatta began his journey. Meanwhile, the foolish merchant entered a vast, desolate wilderness spanning sixty yojanas. Aware of the water scarcity, they carried large jars of water.
A group of bloodthirsty Yakshas lived in that forest. Seeing the caravan, the Yaksha King devised a cruel plan to make the travelers discard their water so they would grow weak from thirst. He used his magic to create a beautiful carriage and appeared with wet hair and lotus garlands, looking as if he had just come from a refreshing rain-soaked region.
Intercepting the caravan, the Yaksha King said sweetly, “Where are you coming from? There is heavy rain just ahead, and the lakes are filled with lotuses. Why carry these heavy water jars? Break them and lighten your load.” The foolish merchant believed the deception and ordered all the water to be thrown away. The Yakshas retreated to their lair, and as the travelers progressed, they found only dry sand. Weakened by thirst and hunger, they fell into a deep sleep, only to be devoured by the Yakshas in the dead of night.
The Victory of Wisdom and Truth A month and a half later, the Bodhisatta reached the same wilderness. He carried an abundance of water and warned his followers, “Do not touch any unknown water or fruit without my permission.”
The Yaksha King appeared again with the same lie. However, the Bodhisatta noticed that the stranger’s eyes were blood-red, his demeanor fierce, and he cast no shadow on the ground. Realizing it was a Yaksha, the Bodhisatta spoke firmly, “Begone, evil one! We are merchants; we do not discard our water until we see a well with our own eyes.”
The Bodhisatta explained the logic to his men: “If it were raining, there would be a cool breeze and clouds in the sky. Have you seen any such signs?” His men understood the deception. Soon, they came upon the remains of the foolish merchant’s caravan. They remained vigilant through the night and continued their journey the next day, taking the valuable goods left behind. The Bodhisatta sold his merchandise for immense profit and returned safely to his homeland.
Moral: The foolish easily fall for illusions and deceptive promises, leading to their downfall. However, the wise always verify the truth through reason, which protects them from the greatest perils.