“who among you will take up the duty of feeding the hungry?” lord buddha asked his followers when famine raged at shravasti.

ratnākar, the banker, hung his head and said, “much more is needed than all my wealth to feed the hungry.”

jaysen, the chief of the king’s army, said, “i would gladly give my life’s blood, but there is not enough food in my house.”

dharmapāl, who owned broad acres of land, said with a sigh, “the drought demon has sucked my fields dry. i know not how to pay king’s dues.”

then rose supriyā, the mendicant’s daughter.

she bowed to all and meekly said, “i will feed the hungry.”

“how!” they cried in surprise. “how can you hope to fulfil that vow?”

“i am the poorest of you all,” said supriyā, “that is my strength. i have my coffer and my store at each of your houses.”