T ane-nui-a-rangi
An information release from Naherangi—the eleventh heaven—reached Tane- nui-a-rangi; that three baskets of knowledge had been made available at Naherangi for the taking. Competition would be intense.
The chances that Tane-nui-a-rangi would win the baskets appeared slight indeed, but of those closely associated with man’s genealogical tree he was the one with the greatest chances of success in that venture. It transpired that Tane-nui-a-rangi was successful notwithstanding fierce harassment by Whiro, lord of one of the infernal regions. Tane-nui-a-rangi has the three baskets with him at the moment in his fourth heaven. The ancient explanation ends.The source of much knowledge, the difficulties that were faced in order to obtain it, the willingness of no less than Tane-nui-a- rangi to face those difficulties, the high motivations required of students before they are considered fit persons to come in contact with knowledge of a superior kind, all these are indications that knowledge should be prized.
(I had thought that the significance of the number three—the number of baskets—would have struck people not in a numerical sense but as representing a balance of knowledge to enable one to live a balanced life. Like the three-fingered hands on many carvings, the three represents a useful, because balanced, piece of anatomy.)