Category Archives: INDIA

333. The Marks Of An Enemy

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was a courtier who advised him on things spiritual and things temporal. At that time, the rest slandered a courtier who was upright. The king seeing no fault in him, asked the Great Being, “Now in what can one tell friend or foe?”

Then the Great Being explained the marks of an enemy:

332. The Man With Four Virtues

Once upon a time, a king named Yasapani, the Glorious reigned at Benares. His chief captain was named Kalaka, or Blackie. At that time the Bodhisatta was his chaplain, and had the name of Dhammaddhaja, the Banner of the Faith. There was also a man Chattapani, maker of ornaments to the king. The king was a good king. But his chief captain was a backbiter; he took bribes, and defrauded the rightful owners.

331. The Lust Of A Woman

Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a Brahmin in the city of Takkasila in the Gandhara country. By the time he had grown up, such was his proficiency in the Three Vedas and all accomplishments, that his fame as a teacher spread through all the world.

In those days there was a Brahmin family in Benares, unto whom a son was born; and on the day of his birth they took fire and kept it always burning, until the boy was five. Then his parents told him, if his heart was set on winning entrance into the Realm of Brahma, then let him take the fire and retire with it to the forest and there to work out his desire by ceaseless worship of the Lord of Fire.

330. The Lion And The Tiger

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was a tree-god in a forest. At that time a lion and a tiger lived in a mountain-cave in that forest. A jackal was in attendance on them, and living on their broken meats began to grow big. And one day he was struck with the thought, “I have not yet eaten the flesh of a lion or a tiger. I must make this lion and tiger quarrel and they will fight to death. Then I will eat their flesh.”