Category Archives: JATAKA TALES
44. The Bodhisatta – As A Golden Goose
Once upon a time in the reign of Brahmadatta, king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a golden gosling, and when he came to be a full-grown goose, he lived on a golden cave, in the cittakuta mountain in the Himalaya region, and used to go constantly and eat the wild paddy that grew on a natural lake. On the way by which he went to and fro was a big Judas tree. Both in going and returning, he would always stop and rest there. So a friendship sprang up between him and the divinity that dwelt in that tree. By and bye a certain fowl, after eating the ripe fruit of a banyan, came and perched on the Judas tree, and dropped its excrement into the fork of it.
43. The Bodhisatta – As a Golden deer
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a deer. At his birth he had golden color; his eyes were like round jewels; the sheen of his horns was as of silver; his mouth was red as a bunch of scarlet cloth; his four hoofs were as though lacquered; his tail was like the yak’s; and he was as big as a young foal. Attended by five hundred deer, he dwelt in the forest under the name of king Banyan Deer. And another deer by name Branch Deer dwelled nearby with 500 attendants and he was also golden colored.
42. The Bodhisatta – As A God
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta become a god in the heaven of the Thirty-three. Now at this time there was a great festival at Benares. A crowd of Nagas and Garuda birds and terrestrial deities came and watched the festival. And four divine beings from the heaven of the Thirty-three, wearing a wreath made of heavenly kakkaru flowers, came to see the festival.
41. The Bodhisatta – As A Garuda King
Once upon a time king Tamba reigned in Benares, and his queen named Sussondi was a woman of surpassing beauty. At that time the Bodhisatta came to life as a young Garuda. Now the Naga Island was then known as Seruma island, and the Bodhisatta lived on this island in the abode of the Garudas. And he went to Benares, disguised as a youth, and played dice with king Tamba.
