The Sinner

During the rule of Brahmadutta in Benaras, there lived in that city a very rich merchant who had a son called Mitravindaka. He was wicked and a nonbeliever.



After his father's death, his mother tried to persuade him to distribute alms, practise virtue and follow Dharma. The boy turned a deaf ear to his mother and refused to change his way of life. On a full-moon day, the mother told Mitravindaka, "Son, it is a holy day. There'll be a discourse all through the night. Take the vows, go to the cloister and listen to the lecture. When you come back, I will give you a thousand coins".


For the sake of money, Mitravindaka consented. He went to the cloister, but instead of listening to the discourse, he lay down in a corner and slept. In the morning, he went home.


The mother, who was expecting her son to return along with the elder who gave the lecture, prepared food and awaited them. She was disappointed to see her son coming alone.


 "Why didn't you bring the preacher with you?" she asked.


"No preacher for me, mother", replied Mitravindaka. He ate his food, took the thousand coins from his mother and went about his business. Soon he gained in trade two million coins. He speculated, "With this money, I shall buy a ship and carry on trade across the seas and make more money!"



He bought a ship, loaded it with cargo, and went to his mother to tell her that he was going to the seas. "You're my only son," she said. "You've so much money. Why do you want more?"



Mitravindaka, however, insisted on going. The mother entreated him to stay. But he was soon on his way.



The ship sailed for seven days without any hitch. However, on the eighth day in mid-ocean, it became immovable. A lot was taken to find out who on board was the cause of the mishap. Mitravindaka's name appeared. The lot was taken three times, and all three times his name appeared.



"Let's not perish for the sake of one", the sailors told Mitravindaka. "You're the cause of trouble. So, leave the ship!"



They gave him a raft and cast him adrift on the sea. Then the ship moved forward and was gone.
The raft took Mitravindaka to an island. There he found a crystal palace in which four female spirits of the dead lived. The female spirits would spend seven days happily and the next seven days in sorrow.