Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta And The Quail

214. The Bodhisatta And The Quail

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a young elephant. After growing up, he became the leader of the herd, with a following of eighty thousand elephants, and lived in the Himalayas. At that time quail laid her eggs in the feeding-ground of the elephants. When the eggs were ready to be hatched, the young birds broke the shells and came out. Before their wings had grown, and when they were still unable to fly, the Great Being with his eighty thousand elephant followers, came to this spot. On seeing them the quail thought, “This royal elephant will trample on my young ones and kill them. I will implore his righteous protection for the defense of my brood.”