Category Archives: JATAKA TALES
249. The Bodhisatta And The Yakkha Makhadeva
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a poor householder; they called his name Sutana. When he grew up he earned wages and supported his parents; when his father died, he supported his mother. The king of that day was fond of hunting. One day he went with a great retinue to a forest a league or two in extent, and made proclamation to all, “If a deer escape any man’s post, the man is fined the value of the deer.” The ministers having made a concealed hut by the regular road gave it to the king. The deer were roused by the crying of man who had surrounded their lairs, and one antelope came to the king’s post.
248. The Bodhisatta And The Worm
Once upon a time, there was a king Assaka reigning in Potali, which is a city of the kingdom of Kasi. His queen consort, named Ubbari, was very dear to him; she was charming, and graceful, and beautiful passing the beauty of women, though not so fair as a goddess. She died and at her death the king was plunged in grief, and became sad and miserable. He had the body laid in a coffin, and embalmed with oil and ointment, and laid beneath the bed; and there he lay without food, weeping and wailing. His parents, kinsfolk, friends and courtiers, priests and laymen, consoled him not to grieve, since all things pass away; they could not move him. As he lay in sorrow, seven days passed by.
247. The Bodhisatta And The Wizard
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was Sakka. At that time a wizard, using his magic, came at midnight and corrupted the chief queen of Benares. Her handmaids knew of this. She herself went to the king and said, “Your majesty, some man enters the royal chamber at midnight and corrupts me.” “Could you make any mark on him?” “I can.” So she got a bowl of real vermilion, and when the man came at night and was going away after enjoyment, she set the mark of her five fingers on his back and in the morning told the king. The king gave orders to his men to go and looking everywhere brings a man with a vermilion mark on his back.
246. The Bodhisatta And The Wicked Prince
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life again as a Brahmin. When he grew up, he first learned the Three Vedas and all learning at Takkasila, and for some time lived a mundane life. But when his parents died he became a recluse, living in the Himalayas, and attained the mystic Attainments and Knowledges. There he lived a long time till need of salt and other necessaries of life brought him back to Benares where he took up his quarters in the royal pleasaunce. Next day he dressed himself with care and pains, and in the best garb of an ascetic went in quest of alms to the city and came to the king’s gate. The king was sitting down and saw the Bodhisatta from the window was impressed.
