INTRODUCTION

On the bank of the Godavari River is a kingdom called the Abiding
Kingdom. There lived the son of King Victory, the famous King
Triple-victory, mighty as the king of the gods. As this king sat in
judgment, a monk called Patience brought him every day one piece
of fruit as an expression of homage. And the king took it and gave
it each day to the treasurer who stood near. Thus twelve years
passed.

Now one day the monk came to court, gave the king a piece of
fruit as usual, and went away. But on this day the king gave the
fruit to a pet baby monkey that had escaped from his keepers, and
happened to wander in. And as the monkey ate the fruit, he split it
open, and a priceless, magnificent gem came out.

When the king saw this, he took it and asked the treasurer: "Where
have you been keeping the fruits which the monk brought? I gave
them to you." When the treasurer heard this, he was frightened and
said: "Your Majesty, I have thrown them all through the window.
If your Majesty desires, I will look for them now." And when the
king had dismissed him, he went, but returned in a moment, and
said again: "Your Majesty, they were all smashed in the treasury,
and in them I see heaps of dazzling gems."

When he heard this, the king was delighted, and gave the jewels to
the treasurer. And when the monk came the next day, he asked
him: "Monk, why do you keep honouring me in such an expensive
way? Unless I know the reason, I will not take your fruit."