2018년 1월 6일, 국제포교사회 주관으로  자타카 암송대회를 했던 초등학교 5~중학교 3학년용 대본 및 녹음 파일 입니다. 법회에 이용해 보시길 바라는 마음에 올립니다.

Buried Treasure

묻혀 있는 보물

 

Once upon a time, there was an old man who lived in Benares. He had a very good friend, who was known to be wise. Luckily, or unluckily, he also had a beautiful young wife and a lovely son.

One day he thought, "My beautiful young wife cannot always be trusted. When I die, she surely will marry another man, and together they will waste the wealth I have worked so hard for. Later on, there will be nothing left for my son. So I will do something to guarantee an inheritance for my deserving son. I will bury my wealth."

Then he called for his most faithful servant, Nanda. Together they took all the old man's wealth deep into the forest to bury it. He said, "My dear Nanda, I know you are obedient and faithful. After I die, you must give this treasure to my son. Keep it a secret until then. When you give the treasure to him, advise him to use it wisely and generously.“

Before long, the old man died. Several years later, his son completed his education. He returned home to take his place as the head of the family. His mother said, "My son, being a suspicious man, your father has hidden his wealth. I am sure that his faithful servant, Nanda, knows where it is. You should ask him to show you. Then you can get married and support the whole family."

So the son went to Nanda and asked him if he knew where his father had hidden his wealth. Nanda told him that the treasure was buried in the forest, and that he knew the exact spot.

Then the two of them took a basket and a shovel into the forest. When they arrived at the place the treasure was buried, Nanda suddenly became puffed up with how important he was. Although he was only a servant, he had the power of being the only one to know the secret. He said, "You, son of a servant girl! Where would you inherit a treasure from?" The patient son did not talk back to his father's servant. He suffered his abuse, even though it puzzled him. After a short time, they returned home empty handed.

This strange behavior was repeated two more times. The son thought, "At home, Nanda appears willing to reveal the secret of the treasure. But when we go into the forest, carrying the basket and shovel, he is no longer willing. I wonder why he changes his mind each time."

He went to his father's wise old friend and described what had happened. The wise old man said, "Go again with Nanda into the forest. Watch where he stands when he abuses you, which he surely will do. Then send him away saying, 'You have no right to speak to me that way. Leave me.' Dig up the ground on that very spot and you will find your inheritance. Nanda is a weak man. Therefore, when he comes closest to his little bit of power, he turns it into abuse."

With this advice, the son found the buried treasure. As his father had hoped, he generously used the wealth for the benefit of many.