It happened once upon a time that a merchant was carrying a heavy bundle of rolls of cotton on his back, walking from one village to another. Worn out from the exertion, he stopped to rest in the shade of a large standing Buddha, and there he fell asleep.

When the merchant awoke, his rolls of cotton had been stolen. The merchant went to the police and reported the matter, and a judge was appointed to investigate.

After the judge heard what the merchant had to say, he declared, “The stone Buddha must have stolen the rolls of cotton. “He is supposed to care for the welfare of the people, but he has failed to perform his holy duty. Arrest him.”

Accordingly, the police went, arrested the stone Buddha, and carried it into the court. All the people of the village followed, chattering to each other, for they were curious to see what was happening, and what kind of sentence the judge would impose on the Buddha.

When the people came crowding in, the judge looked at them sternly. “By what right do you come laughing and joking into this court? You are in contempt of court, and I must impose a fine and imprisonment.”

The people all hastened to apologise, but the judge said, “I shall have to impose a fine in any case, but I will remit the fine for whoever brings a roll of cotton to the court within three days. Anyone one who fails to do this will be arrested.”

Within a short time, all the villagers had brought a roll of cotton to the court, and when the merchant recognised one of his rolls, the thief was caught and the merchant’s goods were restored.