Category Archives: INDIA
185. The Bodhisatta And The Jackal
Once upon a time, Brahmadatta was king of Benares, and the Bodhisatta was his chaplain; and he had mastered the three Vedas and the eighteen branches of knowledge. He knew the spell entitled ‘Of subduing the World.’
One day, the Bodhisatta thought that he would recite this spell; so he sat down in a place on a flat stone, and went on reciting it. It is said that this spell could be taught to no one without use of a special rite. It so happened that a jackal lying in a hole heard the spell at the time that he was reciting it, and got it by heart. This jackal in a previous existence had been some Brahmin who had learnt the charm ‘Of subduing the World.’
184. The Bodhisatta And The Impermanence Of Things
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a brahmin family. And when he grew up, he studied all the arts at Takkasila and then returned to his parents. In this Birth the Great Being became a holy young student. Then his parents told him they would look out a wife for him.
The Bodhisatta said, “I have no desire for a married life; When you are dead, I will adopt the religious life of an ascetic.”
183. The Bodhisatta And The Hunter
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Monkey named Nandiya, or Jolly; and lived in the Himalayas; and his youngest brother bore the name of Jollikin. They two headed a band of eighty thousand monkeys, and they had a blind mother in their home to care for.
They left their mother in her lair in the bushes, and went amongst the trees to find sweet wild fruit, which they sent back home to her. The messengers did not deliver it; and, tormented with hunger, she became nothing but skin and bone. The Bodhisatta said to her, “Mother, we send you plenty of sweet fruits; then what makes you so thin?”
182. The Bodhisatta And The Horses
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was his a courtier who advised him on all things, temporal and spiritual. Now this king was of a somewhat covetous nature; and he had a brute of a horse, named Mahasona, or Big Chestnut.
Some horse dealers from the north country brought down five hundred horses; and word was sent to the king that these horses had arrived. Until then the Bodhisatta had always asked the dealers to fix their own price, and then paid it in full. But now the king, being displeased with him, summoned another of his court, to whom he said,”Friend, make the men name their price; then let loose Mahasona so that he goes amongst them; make him bite them, and when they are weak and wounded get the men to reduce their price.”
