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That comes from an ungrateful, ignoble person; Sir, such a one should be avoided from afar. Having spoken, he recounted all the suffering he had experienced through association with an ignoble person. Then the deity said, "Sir, I too, on the occasion of the Teacher's discourse on the Mangala Sutta, was sitting in this very tree. 'Not associating with fools, but associating with the wise; And honoring those worthy of honor, this is the highest blessing.' I heard the fault of the fool in this verse." Pleased with him, he took him to his own celestial mansion, bathed him, adorned him with divine garments and ornaments, gave him divine food and drink, and having shown him great honor and respect, through his own power, had him consecrated as king in that city. While ruling there, he performed meritorious deeds such as giving alms, and at the end of his life, he went according to his deeds. 15. Thus, avoiding the company and association of the unrighteous, And filling oneself with the company of the righteous, pure, and noble; Perfecting various meritorious deeds such as giving, May you attain the glory of heaven and liberation. The seventh story about the thief's friend. 18. In the story of Maruttabrāhmaṇa, this sequential narrative In Jambudīpa, Candabhā Near the Ganges River, there is a village named Homagama. There lived a Brahmin named Marutta. Once, for trade, he went to Takkasila. Returning home, on the way, in a rest house, he saw a dog afflicted with leprosy. Out of compassion, he crushed blue vines and gave it to drink. The dog, its disease subsided, became healthy. Realizing the help done by the Brahmin, it went along with him. Later, the Brahmin's wife conceived. When she was full-term, at the time of delivery, the child was born sideways and died in the womb. Then they cut it into pieces with a knife and took it out. Seeing that, the Brahmin, with a heart full of disgust, abandoned household life and took ascetic ordination, living in the forest. Then his wife, living with another, thinking, "He abandoned me and became an ascetic," with a mind hostile to the Brahmin, plotted with her husband, "Kill the Brahmin!" The dog, hearing their plot, stayed with the Brahmin. Then one day, her husband, thinking, "I will kill the ascetic," took his bow and quiver and went out. At that time, the ascetic had gone to the forest for fruits. The dog stayed right there. The man, watching for the ascetic's arrival, hid in the space between the paths. The dog, seeing his carelessness, bit and severed the bowstring. He made the string whole again and strung it. Thus, he kept biting whatever was strung. Then that wicked man, knowing the ascetic's arrival, went with the bow, thinking, "I will kill him." Then the dog bit his feet, knocked him down, tore his face, weakened him, and barked. Indeed, good people repay the help done to them. It is said: 1. Doing a favor, the dog was grateful; having caused the enemy's destruction, it gave life to the ascetic. 2. Even animals know the good done to them always; thus, having arisen, the wise one, May creatures be grateful. Then the ascetic, going by the dog's sound, seeing that harm done to him, taking him up with compassion, nourishing him in a secluded grove until he gained strength, developing jhana and supernormal powers while living there, at the end of his life, went to the Brahma world. 3. Having heard of the good deed done by the dog, And having heard of the kindness done by the ascetic to Mettiṃdisa; Rightly do good deeds and compassion to others, That will always be the cause of your worldly pleasures. The story of Maruttabrāhmaṇa, the eighth. 19. In the story of the one who gave water, this is the sequence: It is said that in Jambudīpa, in a certain country, a man wandering from country to country, from region to region, gradually reached the bank of the Candabhāgā River, boarded a boat, and went to the other shore. Then another pregnant woman went on that same boat, and when the boat reached the middle of the Ganges, labor pains arose in her. Then, unable to give birth, exhausted, she begged the people, "Give me water, I am thirsty." They, as if not hearing her words, did not give her water, then that villager, feeling compassion for her, took water and poured it into her mouth, at that moment, having regained breath, she gave birth to a child easily, then they reached the shore and after a few days reached their own places. Then, later, that villager, on some business, reached the city where that woman lived, wandering here and there, not finding a place to stay, he went to a hall at the city gate and lay down there. On that very day, thieves entered the city, broke into the royal palace, took valuables, and while fleeing, pursued by the king's men, went and left them in that same hall and fled. Then the king's men came, not seeing the thieves, seeing that villager, thinking "This is the thief," seized him, tightly bound his hands behind his back, and the next day... They showed him to the king. The king, when asked why he committed theft, said, "I am not a thief, O king, I am a traveler." The king, searching for the thieves and not finding them, ordered, "This is the thief, kill him!" As the king's men tightly bound him and led him to the execution ground, that woman, seeing him being led away like that, recognized him, her heart trembling, and quickly went to the king, bowed, and said, "O king, this is not the thief, he is a traveler, release him!" The king, disbelieving her words, said, "If you wish to free him, give wealth equal to his value and ransom him." She said, "O lord, there is no wealth in my house. Moreover, make me a slave along with my seven sons, release him, O king." Then the king said, "You say he arrived just now. For his sake, you sell yourself and your sons into slavery. Is he a relative of yours, or a benefactor?" asking, he said: 1. "What is this man to you, lady? I ask, dispelling doubt; Is he your brother or father, husband or brother-in-law?" 2. "A relative by blood, or a debtor; Or a benefactor, why do you give him life?" Then she said: 3. "This man, O king, is one who has done a kindness before; Helpless and alone, suffering, standing at death's door." 4. "Unable to give birth, a pregnant woman in painful labor; He attended to me with water, then I was happy." 5. "In the waves of the ocean, one crossing the great sea; Leaving the ocean to drink from a well, the thirsty world goes." 6. "Likewise, among existing people, O lord of men, In one's mind alone, goodness stands firmly." 7. "Having struck down a dead elephant, some creatures for flesh and bones; Follow the flesh, a hare running alone." 8. "Likewise, among existing people, O lord of men; They follow the virtuous, a grateful good person." 9. "Therefore, in the virtues of a good person, I am established, O king; Remembering by this, a kindness done before." A benefactor. 10. Both I and my children, Were made happy by this; Even sacrificing life, This one must be freed. Then the king, calling the doorkeeper, Questioned him and knowing the recent arrival, Pleased with her virtuous qualities, Gave great fame to both of them. Having gained fame, from then on, Doing meritorious deeds such as giving, They were destined for heaven. 11. Even women, With minds established in Dhamma, Thus obtain wealth and praise; Reflecting on Dhamma and good conduct, Always live in the Dhamma, pure and virtuous ones. The ninth story is about giving water. 20. In the story of one who gave up his life for a friend, this is the sequential account: After the Blessed One's passing, in Savatthi, there lived two brahmins, Somabrahmana and Somadattabrahmana. There, Somabrahmana usually played dice with Somadattabrahmana. Then, one day, Somadatta, defeating Somabrahmana, took his upper robe and signet ring and, going to his own house, said to Somabrahmana, "Come, friend, let's go home." Then Soma said, "I am not able to go down the street with only one cloth. It is better for me to stay here than to go." When Somadatta said, "If that's the case, friend, take this upper robe," and gave it to him, even when told, "Now, friend, come," he did not come. Again, when asked by him, "Why don't you come, friend?" he said, "Friend, if my wife and children don't see the ring on my hand, they will quarrel with me." Then he, thinking, "When he is able, he will give it to me," gave the ring as well and, taking it, went home. Thus, they were such friends. Later, people, having caught Somadattabrahmana for committing adultery, showed him to the king. The king, seeing his handsome appearance, without punishing him, advised him, "Do not do such a thing again," and released him. The king, as far as Admonishing him a third time, he dismissed them. The fourth time he came, he ordered, "Take this wretch to the execution ground and kill him!" Thus, though repeatedly admonished in various ways, they could not be restrained from evil deeds. Just as it is said: 1. Jackals and dogs, Crows and blue flies, These creatures feed on corpses, And cannot be prevented. 2. Likewise, those intent on killing, Adultery, and liquor, False speech and theft, These beings cannot be restrained. Then the king's men bound him and departed. Seeing Somadatta being led away like that, Somabrahmin, with a trembling heart, went to the king's men and said, "Sirs, do not kill him for a moment, until I inform the king!" Having said this, he went to the king, paid homage, and stood there. "O King, I will give my life for Somadatta the Brahmin. Release him. If you wish to kill someone, kill me!" he said. The king was silent. The king's men released Somadatta and led Somabrahmin to the execution ground and killed him. Alas, gratitude and thankfulness! Here is a verse: 3. Remembering the help done to them, Some people, Give their lives, like Soma, For Somadatta himself.