38 PADOMĀWATI. [76-77 य CANTO VII. THE MERCHANT. 76. A certain merchant of Citaur went to Sim hala to trade, and there was a very poor Brāhmaṇa who went thither with him when he set forth. From some one did he borrow money in the hope that perchance by going thither he might increase it. The way was hard, and much toil did he pass through, and finally he crossed the ocean and arrived at the Isle. He gazed at the markets, so vast that he could not see the other side, and of every thing was there much and of nothing little. But very high is the trading there. The wealthy man getteth what he wanteth, but the wealthless can only gaze in wonder. Things were sold there by myriads and by millions ; to things worth thousands did not any one bend himself. All (his companions) bought and returned to their home. What would the Brāhmaṇa get there, for very small was the money in his poke. 1 77 (He lamented, saying), 'Dried up do I stand. Why did I come ? I have got no merchandize and naught has remained to me but regret. I came here to market, expecting a profit, and by walking on that road, I have lost even my capital. Why have I learned the lesson of dying? I am come to die, for death was written in my fate. While I had still power to move, I made a foolish bargain. I see no profit, but only the loss of my capital. Did I sow parched grain in a former life, that I am come and have eaten even the savings of my house? The merchant with whom I did my business,-if 1 Gäthi is the knot in a man's waist band in which he carries his money. For săthi, see xxxviii, 9, comm. The word literally means sugarcane. Sathi-näthi, means crushed sugarcane, whence all the juice has been expressed. It'is hence used to mean squeezed ont, hence without wealth. From this idiom sathi has come to mean wealth.' 2 He refers to his karma, or (good) actions in a former birth. These he compares to seed which he then sowed, and of which he should now be enjoying the fruit. He now says, he must have sown parched seed (i.e., have done something to nullify his karma), which has produced no fruit.
