Category Archives: INDIA
177. The Bodhisatta And The Goblin
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a brahmin’s son of the kingdom of Kasi; and his father was a lawyer. When the lad was sixteen years old, his father gave him a fine jewel into his custody, and they both traveled through town, village after village, until they came to Benares. There they had meal cooked in the gatekeeper’s house; he asked where there any lodging to sleep and take rest? The people told him that there was a building outside the city, but that it was haunted; but however he might lodge there if he liked. The lad said to his father, “Have no fear of any goblin, father! I will subdue him, and bring him to your feet.” So he persuaded his father, and they went to the place together. The father lay down upon a bench, and his son sat beside him, chafing his feet.
176. The Bodhisatta And The Geese
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a tree sprite that lived in a forest. Two young Geese flew down from Mount Cittakuta and perched upon this tree. They flew about in search of food, returned there again, and after resting flew back to their mountain home. As time went on and on, the sprite struck up a friendship with them. Coming and going, they were great friends, and used to talk of religion to one another before they parted.
It happened one day as the birds sat on the treetop, talking with the Bodhisatta, that a Jackal, halting at the foot of the tree, addressed the young Geese:-
Sit and sing upon the tree
If in private you would be.
Sit upon the ground, and sing
Verses to the beasts own king!”
Filled with disgust, the young Geese flew back to Cittakuta. When they were gone, the Bodhisatta repeated:-
“Fairwing here to fairwing sings,
God to god sweet converse brings;
Perfect beauty, you must then
Back into your hole again!”
175. The Bodhisatta And The Garuda King
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of the king by his queen-consort. And when he was grown up, at his father’s death he became the king. Kakate was his chief queen and as lovely as an Apsara.
Now at this time a certain Garuda king came disguised as a man, and played dice game with the king of Benares. Falling in love with the chief queen Kakati, he carried her off with him to the dwelling place of the Garudas and lived happily with her. The king missing her told his musician named Natakuvera to go in quest of her.
174. The Bodhisatta And The Four Monks
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a poor family; when he grew up he made a living by working for wages with a rich man. One day he got four portions of sour gruel from a shop, thinking, “This will do for my breakfast,” and so went on to his farming-work. Seeing four pacceka-buddhas coming towards Benares to collect alms, he thought, “I have these four portions of gruel, what if I were to give them to these men who are coming to Benares for alms?” So he came up and said, “Sirs! I have these four portions of gruel in hand; I offer them to you; please accept them, and so I shall gain merit to my lasting good and welfare.”
