Category Archives: INDIA
57. The Bodhisatta – As A Monkey
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a Monkey, and with a troop of eighty thousand monkeys he lived in Himalayas. There was a village, sometimes inhabited and sometimes empty. And in the midst of this village was a tinduka tree, with sweet fruit, covered with twigs and branches. When the place was empty, all the monkeys used to go there and eat the fruit.
56. The Bodhisatta – As A Marsh Crow
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta reigned as king in Benares, the Bodhisatta became a marsh crow, and lived by a pool. His name was Viraka, the Strong.
There arose a famine in Kasi. Men could not spare food for the crows, nor make offering to goblins and snakes. One by one the crows left the famine stricken land, and went into the woods.
55. The Bodhisatta – As A Man Born On Low Caste
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of a man of the lowest caste. When he grew up, he took the road for some purpose, taking some rice grains in a basket.
At that time there was a young fellow in Benares, named Satadhamma. He was the son of a Brahmin. He also took the road for some purpose, but he did not carry anything for his food. The two met upon the highway.
54. The Bodhisatta – As A Lizard
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a young lizard, and when he grew up, he lived in a forest. And a wicked ascetic built a hut of leaves, and took up his abode near him. The Bodhisatta, in ranging about for food, saw this hut of leaves and thought to himself, “This hut must certainly belong to some holy ascetic,” and he went there and after saluting the holy man returned to his own place of abode.
