The Water Demons’s Question
In those days, the king of Baranasi had two sons with the queen. Their names were Prince Mahissasakumara and Prince Chantakumara. After the queen had passed away, he married a new queen and had a new son named Suriyakumara.
At the time new son was born, the king told the queen that she could ask him for anything. The queen asked him to give the throne to her son but the king disagreed with her.
The queen kept asking the king for many times. Unavoidably, the king had to keep his promise. So, he told Mahissasakumara and Chantakumara about this and ordered them to leave the city and come back to reign the throne when he died.
Sawing his brothers leaving the palace sadly, Suriyakumara insist on accompanying with his brothers.
When the three boys went near the Himmapan forest, they had a rest. Suriyakumara was thirsty, so he left his brothers to find some water to drink. Few minutes later, Suriyakumara found a swamp and quickly get into the swamp.
Unfortunately, this swamp was owned by a water demon. This demon was allowed by Wessuwan, the king of ogre, to eat all human who enter the swamp except the one know the Dharma of god.
The water demon appeared and asked Suriyakumara, “Do you know the Dharma of god?”
Suriyakumara answered “Yes, I know. The Dharma of god is the moon and the sun!”
The water demon said that was wrong, so he caught Suriyakumara and imprisoned him.
Thought that Suriyakumara may be lost, Mahissasakumara told Chantakumara to find Suriyakumara.
Chantakumara entered the swamp and was asked the same question. He answered wrong and was caught by the demon also.
Felt that his brothers went too long; Mahissasakumara followed them until he arrived at the swamp. He noticed that there were only footprints that head into the swamp and knew that the swamp must be owned by a water demon.
The water demon transformed into a woodcutter, persuade Mahissakumara to enter the swamp and drink some water. Knew that the woodcutter actually be a water demon, Mahissakumara said “The demon, I know that you have caught my brothers. Where did you imprison my brothers?”
“I keep them in my living place.” the water demon replied.
“Why did you catch my brothers?” Mahissakumara asked.
“I get permission from King Wessuwan that I can eat all human who can’t tell me what the Dharma of god is.” The water demon said.
“If I know what the Dharma of god is, will you release my brothers?” Mahissakumara asked.
“Sure, so tell me what the Dharma of god is” the water demon said.
“Calm nobleman normally has a shame of committing sins, has a fear of committing sins, and persists in moral. Such nobleman has a Dharma of god.” Mahissakumara answered.
The water demon like the answer and release only Chantakumara.
Mahissakumara said “Suriyakumara is my brother of different mother, if I come back with Chantakumara, people will think that I killed Suriyakumara. So that you should release Suriyakumara also.”
Admired by Mahissakumara’s answer, the water demon released Suriyakumara and asked for being a follower of Mahissakumara.
One day, all three brothers heard that the king had died, so they went back to the city with the water demon. At last, Mahissakumara became a king; Chantakumara became a grand regent; Suriyakumara became a prime minister; the water demon became a city guard.
The water demon finally reincarnated as an old monk. Mahissakumara finally reincarnated as the Buddha. Chantakumara finally reincarnated as Saribudra, a famous Buddhist saint. Suriyakumara finally reincarnated as Anon, a famous Buddhist saint.