๓๒

One day, the Chief Park Tender brought to the King many different kinds of fruit of many sizes and various kinds of flowers. Seeing all these, King Mahajanaka was very happy; he congratulated the Park Tender and said: “Look here, Chief Park Tender, we wish to see the Royal Park; go and prepare it.” The Chief Park Tender acknowledged the royal wish, took action accordingly and informed the King. The Great Being, riding on the neck of the royal elephant, left the city with a long retinue and arrived at the Park. Near the gate, there were two mango trees with resplendent green foliage. One of these had no fruit; the other had many. The fruit was extremely sweet. Nobody could pick the fruit from that tree because the King had not yet eaten the tasty fruit. Seated on the neck of the elephant, the Great Being picked one fruit and tasted it. As it touched the tip of the Great Being’s tongue the fruit seemed like nectar. The Great Being thought: “We shall eat our fill on the way back,” and entered the Royal Park.