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The Bodhisatta was born as a brahmin in Benares
and became an ascetic. In the course of his wanderings he once travelled with a
merchant caravan. The caravan halted for the night, but while the merchants
slept, the ascetic spent his time pacing up and down. Robbers, coming to plunder
the caravan, were prevented from so doing by the watchfulness of the ascetic.
The next day the merchants, discovering what bad happened, asked him if he had
felt no fear at the sight of the robbers. "The sight of robbers causes what is
known as fear only to the rich. I am penniless, why should I be afraid?" he
answered.
After death he was born in the Brahma world.
The story was told to an upāsaka of Sāvatthi who had likewise prevented a
caravan from being robbed. "In guarding himself a man guards others; in guarding
others he guards himself." J. i.332-4.

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