The monks arose, and accompanied by the gardener, walked about the garden. Seeing a certain bare spot, they asked the gardener: “Disciple, everywhere else this garden has dense shade, but in this spot there is not so much as a tree or a shrub. What, pray, is the reason for this?” “Reverend Sirs, when this garden was planted, a certain village boy watered it. In this spot he pulled up the young trees by the roots, and according as the roots were large or small, watered them plentifully or sparingly. Those young trees withered and died. That’s how this spot comes to be so bare!”
The monks approached the Teacher and reported that matter to him. Said the Teacher: “Not only in his present state of existence has that village boy spoiled a garden; in a previous state of existence also he did naught but spoil a garden.” So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:
In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, a holiday was proclaimed. From the moment they heard the holiday drum, the residents of the entire city went about making holiday.
At that time many monkeys lived in the king’s garden. The gardener thought: “A holiday has been proclaimed in the city. I’ll tell these monkeys to water the garden, and then I’ll go make holiday.” Approaching the leader of the monkeys, he said: “Master monkey-leader, this garden is of great use even to you. Here you eat flowers and fruits and shoots. A holiday has been proclaimed in the city. I’m going to make holiday.” And he asked him the question: “Can you water the young trees in this garden until I come back?” “Yes, indeed, I’ll water them.” “Very well,” said the gardener; “be heedful.” So saying, he gave those monkeys water-skins and wooden water-pots to use in watering the trees, and departed. The monkeys took the water-skins and wooden water-pots and watered the young trees.
“When you water the young trees, pull them up by the roots, every one.”
Now the leader of the monkeys said to the monkeys: “Master-monkeys, the water must not be wasted. When you water the young trees, pull them up by the roots, every one; look at the roots; water plentifully the roots that strike deep, but sparingly the roots that do not strike deep; later on we shall have a hard time getting water.” “Very well,” said the monkeys, promising to do as he told them to. And they did so.
At that time a certain wise man saw those monkeys working away in the king’s garden, and said to them: “Master-monkeys, why are you pulling up by the roots every one of those young trees and watering them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots are large or small?” The monkeys replied: “That’s what the monkey who is our leader told us to do.” When the wise man heard that reply, he thought: “Alas! alas! Those that are fools, those that lack wisdom, say to themselves: ‘We’ll do good.’ But harm’s the only thing they do!” And he uttered the following stanza:
Never, in the hands of one who knows not what is good,
Does a good undertaking turn out happily.