Never, in the hands of one who knows not what is good, Does a good undertaking turn out happily. A man who lacks intelligence spoils what is good Like the monkey who worked in the garden. Thus, with this stanza, did that wise man censure the leader of the monkeys. Having so done, he departed from the garden with his followers. 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.” Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the leader of the monkeys was the village boy who spoiled a garden, but the wise man was I myself.” _B. Three-stanza version._ Jātaka 268: ii. 345-347. _If the monkey considered the best of the crowd._ This parable was related by the Teacher in the South Mountain region with reference to a certain gardener’s son. The story goes that the Teacher, after keeping residence for the period of the rains, departed from Jetavana and journeyed from place to place in the South Mountain region. Now a certain lay disciple invited the Congregation of Monks presided over by the Buddha, provided seats in his garden, delighted them with rice-gruel and hard food, and said: “Noble sirs, if you desire to take a walk about the garden, go with this gardener.” And he gave orders to the gardener: “Pray give the noble monks fruits and other such-like edibles.” As the monks walked about, they saw a certain cleared space, and asked: “This space is cleared, without growing trees; what, pray, is the reason for this?” Then the gardener told them: “The story goes that a certain gardener’s son once watered the saplings. ‘I’ll water them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots are large or small,’ thought he. So he pulled them up by the roots and watered them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots were large or small. That’s how this space comes to be cleared!” The monks went to the Teacher and reported that matter to him. Said the Teacher: “Not only in his present state of existence has that youth 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 Vissasena ruled at Benāres, a holiday was proclaimed. Thought the gardener: “I’ll go make holiday;” and said to the monkeys who lived in the garden: “This garden is of great use to you. I’m going to make holiday for seven days. You must water the saplings on the seventh day.” “Very well,” said they, consenting. He gave them little water-skins and departed.