“I will cut this tree down,” he muttered aloud. “Then I will use this branch to make the handles, the trunk to make the wheels …”

Unfortunately, however, he did nothing.  He just went on muttering about how he would cut down the tree and use its parts, as is typical of a man who does not want to get on with the job.

Now, inside this tree there lived a family of spirits (yakshas) who, upon hearing the man saying that he would destroy their home, were seized with fright and anger.  Indeed, they were so angry at the thought of losing their home that they decided to kill the man.  They resolved to strike at the moment he climbed up the ladder into his house (which was built on wooden pillars, like all the houses at that time).

It was late and the man was returning home, having wasted the day dithering.  But before he arrived at his house, his wife came hurrying out with a bowl of water, knelt, and started to wash his feet.

Seeing this, the spirits realized the wife was accumulating so much swasti  (merit) for the household that killing him would add a particularly heinous crime to their already bad karma.  So the spirits of the tree decided instead to negotiate with the man who had such a meritorious wife.  They appeared to him and spoke in human language:  “Sir, if you will graciously consent not to cut down the big tree in which we live, we will help you find a treasure in the woods.”

“I refuse,” said the lazy man calmly. “I need that tree for my work.”

“Two great treasures then,” said the spirits in despair.

“No,” said the lazy man once again. “I shall want at least four treasures as compensation for losing that valuable tree.  And I want you to help me find those treasures and dig them up.  Otherwise, I may decide to cut the tree down anyhow.”

The spirits agreed, for they possessed many treasures and thought it was worth losing four to save their home. The next day, the spirits led the human couple to the first treasure, which was buried under a tree, and helped them dig.  They found so many gold and silver coins that the man had to buy horses to carry the sacks.  The second treasure was a chest full of precious stones, which the couple sold.