[499] Bhikkhus, formerly two brothers who were sages (isi) dwelt in dependence on the river Gaṅgā. Then, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, having come up out of the river Gaṅgā, approached the younger sage; having approached, he encircled the younger sage seven times with his coils and stood with his great hood spread above the sage's head. Then, bhikkhus, from fear of that nāga the younger sage became thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, his limbs covered with protruding veins. Bhikkhus, the elder sage saw the younger sage thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, his limbs covered with protruding veins, and seeing him, he said this to the younger sage: "Why, sir, are you thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, your limbs covered with protruding veins?" "Here, sir, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, having come up out of the river Gaṅgā, approached me; having approached, he encircled me seven times with his coils and stood with his great hood spread above my head. From fear of that nāga, sir, I am thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, my limbs covered with protruding veins." "But do you wish, sir, that that nāga should not come again?" "I wish, sir, that that nāga should not come again." "But do you see anything, sir, belonging to that nāga?" "I see, sir, a jewel adorning his neck." "Then, sir, beg that nāga for the jewel, saying: 'Give me the jewel, sir; I have need of the jewel.'"
Then, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, having come up out of the river Gaṅgā, approached the younger sage; having approached, he stood to one side. Bhikkhus, as he stood to one side, the younger sage said this to Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king: "Give me the jewel, sir; I have need of the jewel." Then, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, thinking, "The bhikkhu begs for the jewel; the bhikkhu has need of the jewel," went away in great haste. A second time, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, having come up out of the river Gaṅgā, approached the younger sage. Bhikkhus, the younger sage saw Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king coming from afar, and seeing him, he said this to Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king: "Give me the jewel, sir; I have need of the jewel." Then, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, thinking, "The bhikkhu begs for the jewel; the bhikkhu has need of the jewel," turned back from that very spot. A third time, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king was coming up out of the river Gaṅgā. Bhikkhus, the younger sage saw Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king coming up out of the river Gaṅgā, and seeing him, he said this to Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king: "Give me the jewel, sir; I have need of the jewel." Then, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king addressed the younger sage with verses:
My food and drink, abundant and excellent,
arise by reason of this jewel;
that I will not give you—you are one who begs too much—
nor will I come again to your hermitage.
Like a youth with a sword whetted on stone in hand,
you frighten me, begging me for the stone;¹
that I will not give you—you are one who begs too much—
nor will I come again to your hermitage.
Then, bhikkhus, Maṇikaṇṭha the nāga king, thinking, "The bhikkhu begs for the jewel; the bhikkhu has need of the jewel," departed. And having thus departed, he did not come back again. Then, bhikkhus, through not seeing that beautiful nāga, the younger sage became still more thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, his limbs covered with protruding veins. Bhikkhus, the elder sage saw the younger sage still more thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, his limbs covered with protruding veins, and seeing him, he said this to the younger sage: "Why, sir, are you still more thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, your limbs covered with protruding veins?" "Through not seeing that beautiful nāga, sir, I am still more thin, wretched, of bad complexion, yellowish, my limbs covered with protruding veins." Then, bhikkhus, the elder sage addressed the younger sage with a verse:
One should not beg from a man that which one knows is dear to him;
one becomes detestable² through begging too much:
the nāga, begged by the brahmin for the jewel,
went thereupon where he could be seen no more.
For if, bhikkhus, begging is disagreeable, if asking is disagreeable, even to those creatures born as animals, how much more so to those who are human beings?
¹ The word-division is: "selaṃ maṃ yācamāno" (begging me for the stone). [editorial footnote in the Siam Raṭṭha edition]
² In all (other editions) the reading "videsso" occurs. [editorial footnote in the Siam Raṭṭha edition]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.