Category Archives: INDIA
61. The Bodhisatta – As a Quail
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a quail, and lived in the forest. He was the head of many thousands of quails. In those days a fowler who caught quails came to that place; and he used to imitate the note of a quail till he saw that the birds had been drawn together; when he flung his net over them, and whipped the sides of the net together, so as to get them all huddled up in a heap. Then he crammed them into his basket, go home and sold his prey for his living.
60. The Bodhisatta – As A Pigeon
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a pigeon. The people of Benares, as an act of goodness, used to hang up straw baskets in places of convenience for the shelter and comfort of the birds; and the cook of the Lord High Treasurer of Benares hung up one of these baskets in his kitchen. In this basket the Bodhisatta took up his abode, go out at daybreak in quest of food, and returning home in the evening; and so he lived his life.
59. The Bodhisatta – As A Pig
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was conceived by a wild sow; in due time she delivered two male young pigs. One day she took them and lay down in a pit. And old woman was coming home with a basket-full of cotton from field and tapping the ground with her stick. The sow heard the sound, and in fear of death left her young and ran away. The old woman saw the young pigs, and took them home.
58. The Bodhisatta – As A Parrot
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a young parrot. His name was Radha, and his youngest brother was named Potthapada. While they were yet quite young, both of them were caught by a fowler and handed over to a Brahmin in Benares. The brahmin cared for them as if they were his children. But the brahmin’s wife was a wicked woman; there was nobody to watch her.
