So from that time forth, the water-sprite used to ask all those who went down into the water, what were the characteristic signs of divine beings, and if they did not know, he used to eat them up alive. Now Sun Prince went to the pond, and stepped down into it without any hesitation. Then the demon seized him, and demanded of him: “Do you know what is of divine nature?” “Oh, yes! They call the Sun, and the Moon, Gods,” was the reply. “_You_ don’t know what is of divine nature,” said he, and carrying him off down into the water, he put him fast in his cave. But the Bodisat, when he found that he was so long in coming, sent the Moon Prince. Him, too, the demon seized and asked him as before: “Do you know what is of divine nature?” “Yes, I do. The far-spreading sky is called divine.”[267] “You then don’t know what is divine,” said he; and he took him, too, and put him in the same place. When he too delayed, the Bodisat thought to himself, “Some accident must have happened.” He himself, therefore, went to the place, and saw the marks of the footsteps where both the boys had gone down into the water. Then he knew that the pond must be haunted by a water-sprite; and he stood fast, with his sword girded on, and his bow in his hand. But when the demon saw that the Bodisat was not going down into the water, he took to himself the form of a woodman, and said to the Bodisat: “Hallo, my friend! you seem tired with your journey. Why don’t you get down into the lake there; and have a bath, and drink, and eat the edible stalks of the lotus plants, and pick the flowers, and so go on your way at your ease?” And as soon as the Bodisat saw him, he knew that he was the demon, and he said, “It is you who have seized my brothers!” “Yes, it is I,” said he. “What for, then?” “I have been granted all those who go down into this pond.” “What? All!” “Well; all save those who know what beings are divine. The rest are my prey.” “But have _you_ then any need of divine beings?” “Yes, certainly.” “If it be so, I will tell you who are divine.” “Speak on then; and I shall get to know who have the attributes which are divine.” Then the Bodisat said, “I would teach you regarding this matter; but I am all unclean with my journey.” And the water-sprite bathed the Bodisat, and provided him with food, and brought him water, and decked him with flowers, and anointed him with perfumes, and spread out for him a couch in a beautiful arbour. And the Bodisat seated himself there, and made the water-sprite sit at his feet, and said, “Give ear then attentively, and listen what divine nature is.” And he uttered the verse-- The pure in heart who fear to sin, The good, kindly in word and deed-- These are the beings in the world, Whose nature should be called divine. And when the water-sprite heard that, his heart was touched, and he said to the Bodisat--