Category Archives: INDIA
125. The Bodhisatta And His Chaplain
Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born to his chief queen. He came of age, and his father passed away; and then he became king and ruled in righteousness.
The Bodhisatta had a chaplain named Ruhaka, and this Ruhaka’s wife was an old Brahmin woman.
124. The Bodhisatta And Foolish Merchant
Once upon a time in the city of Benares there was a king named Brahmadatta. In those days the Bodhisatta was born into a merchant’s family, and growing up in due course, used to journey about trading with five hundred carts, traveling in four directions. There was also another young merchant, a stupid blockhead, lacking resource.
Now at the time of our story the Bodhisatta had loaded five hundred carts with costly wares of Benares and had got them all ready to start. And so had the foolish young merchant too.
123. The Bodhisatta And Fire God
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin family. When he was about sixteen years old, his father and mother took his birth fire and spoke to him thus. “Son, will you take your birth fire into the woods, and worship the fire there or will you learn the Three Vedas, settle down as a married man, and live in the world?” Hee said, “No worldly life for me. I will worship my fire in the woods, and go on the way to heaven.” So taking his birth fire he went to the forest, where he lived in a hut made of branches and leaves and did worship to the fire.
122. The Bodhisatta And Eight Worldly Conditions
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was reborn in the family of a rich merchant, worth eighty crores. When he was come of age, his parents died. And on their death a brother of the Bodhisatta managed the family estate. And the Bodhisatta lived in dependence on him. By and bye the brother also died of a fatal disease. His relations, friends and companions came together, and throwing up their arms wept and lamented, and no one was able to control his feelings. But the Bodhisatta neither lamented nor wept. Men said, “See now, though his brother is dead, he is not weeping; he is a very hard-hearted fellow. He desired his brother’s death, hoping to enjoy a double portion.” Thus did they blame the Bodhisatta. His kinsfolk too reproved him, saying “Though your brother is dead, you do not shed a tear.”
