Category Archives: JATAKA TALES
152. The Bodhisatta And The Barber
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, there was a rich merchant in that city named Suciparivara, whose wealth reached eighty crores and who took delight in charity and other good works. His wife and children and all his household and servants down to the calf-herds kept six holy days every month. At that time the Bodhisatta was born in a certain poor family and lived a hard life on workman’s wages. Hoping to get work he came to Suciparivara’s house. He asked the richman to give him a job. When other workmen came to him, the merchant used to say to them, “In this house the workmen keep the moral precepts, if you can keep them you may work for me:” but to the Bodhisatta he made no hint in the way of mentioning moral precepts but said, “Very well, my good man, you can work for me and arrange about your wages.” Then the Bodhisatta did all the merchant’s work meekly and heartily, without a thought of his own weariness; he went early to work and came back at evening. One day they proclaimed a festival in the city. The merchant said to a female servant, “This is a holy day; you must cook some rice for the workpeople in the morning; they will eat it early and fast the rest of the day.” The Bodhisatta rose early and went to his work. No one had told him to fast that day.
151. The Bodhisatta And The Baniyan Tree
Once upon a time, king Bharu was reigning over the kingdom of Bharu. At the same time the Bodhisatta was Teacher of a troop of monks. He was an ascetic who had acquired the Five Supernatural Faculties and the Eight Attainments; and he lived in the region of Himalayas.
He came down from Himalayas to buy salt and seasoning, followed by five hundred ascetics; and they came by stages to the city of Bharu. He went begging through the city; and then coming forth from it, he sat down by the northern gate, at the root of a banyan tree all covered with twigs and branches. There he made a meal, ate and slept there.
150. The Bodhisatta And The Ascetic With Long Matted Hair
Once upon a time Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares. There lived a shifty rascal in the form of an ascetic. He was having long matted hair. The squire of the place had a hermitage built in the forest for him to live in, and used to provide excellent food from his own house. The squire took the matted haired rascal to be a model of goodness, and living. In fear of robbers, the squire brought a hundred pieces of gold to the hermitage and buried them there, bidding the ascetic keep watch over them.
149. The Bodhisatta And Sweet Fig
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin family. He was trained in all the arts, and adopting the ascetic life he developed all the Faculties and Attainments, and took up his abode in a quarter of the Himalayas, living on wild fruits and roots.
At this time the king being anxious to find out his defects, went about inquiring if there was any one who would tell him his faults. And not finding any one to speak to his dispraise, either within doors or without, either within the city or outside it, he wandered about the country side in disguise till he reached the hermitage of the Bodhisatta. After saluting him, and addressing him in a friendly manner he took a seat on one side.
