Category Archives: JATAKA TALES
140. The Bodhisatta And His Wife
Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta reigned over Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as his son. They named him as Prince Paduma, the Lotus Prince. After him came six younger brothers. One after another these seven came of age and married and settled down, living as the king’s companions.
One day the king saw these seven brothers with their followers. He conceived the suspicion that they meant to kill him, and seize his kingdom. So he sent for them, and told: “My sons! you may not live in this town. So go elsewhere, and when I die you shall return and take the kingdom which belongs to our family.”
139. The Bodhisatta And His Ungrateful Wife
Once upon a time, in the reign of Brahmadatta, king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in Kasi as a householder’s son and coming of age he married and settled down. Now his wife was a wicked woman, and she intrigued with the village headman. The Bodhisatta came to understand this, and thought how to put her to test.
At that time all the grain had been carried away during the floods; and afterwards there was a famine. But it was the time when the corn had just sprouted, and all the villagers came together, and sought help of their headman, saying, “Two months from now, when we have harvested the grain, we will pay you in kind” so they got an old ox from him, and ate it.
138. The Bodhisatta And His Teachings On Deeds
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta became a world-renowned teacher at Takkasila, and youths of the warrior and brahmin castes came from all over India, to be taught in the arts by him. The son of the king of Benares too, prince Brahmadatta, was taught the three Vedas by him. Now he was by nature harsh, cruel, and violent. The Bodhisatta, by his power of divination knowing his character, said, “My friend, you are harsh, cruel, and violent, and verily power that is attained by a man of violence is shortlived; when his power is gone from him, he is like a ship that is wrecked at sea. He never reaches haven.
137. The Bodhisatta And His Son’s Lust
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares. On this occasion, the Bodhisatta came with fruits to the hermitage in the evening. Opening the door, he asked his son, “Every other day you will bring wood and victuals, and lit a fire. Why have you not done any of these things to day, but sit sadly here pining away?”
The young man said, “Father! While you were away gathering fruits, there came a women who tried to lure me away. But I would not go with her till you say ‘yes’. I left her in garden; she is waiting for me. And now my wish is to depart.”
