Category Archives: INDIA
33. The Bodhisatta – As a Bird
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a bird and lived round a giant tree with branching boughs, at the head of a company of birds. Now one day, as the boughs of this tree were grinding one against the other, dust began to fall soon followed by smoke. When the Bodhisatta became aware of this, he thought to himself:- “If these two boughs go on grinding against one another like this, they will produce fire; and the fire will fall and catch hold of the old leaves, and so come to set fire to this tree as well. We cannot live on here; the proper thing to do is to hasten off elsewhere.”
32. The Bodhisatta – And Sense-lacking Maid
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born the son of the Lord High Treasurer, and came to be Lord High Treasurer himself at his father’s death. And he, had a maid servant whose name was Rohini. And her mother was pounding rice. The flies were encircling the flower and so she told Rohini to drive away the flies. Rohini took a pestle and try to hit the flies. In the process she hit her mother and killed her, and began to weep.
31. The Bodhisatta – Act of Truth
Once upon a time in Magadha, the Bodhisatta came to life as quail, once more. Breaking his way out of the shell of the egg in which he was born, he became a young quail. And his parents kept him lying in the nest, while they fed him with food which they brought in their beaks. He had not got the strength either to spread his wings and fly through the air, or to lift his feet and walk upon the ground. Year after year that spot was always ravaged by a jungle-fire; and it was just at this time that the flames swept down on it with a mighty roaring. The flocks of birds, darting from their nests, were seized with the fear of death, and flew shrieking away.
30. The Bodhisataa As A Master Mariner
Once upon a time, a king named Bharu reigned in the kingdom of Bharu. There was a seaport town named Bharukaccha, or the Marsh of Bharu. At that time the Bodhisatta was born into the family of a master mariner there; amiable he was, and of complexion a golden brown. They gave him the name of Supparaka-kumara. He grew up with great distinction; and even when he was no more than sixteen years old, he had gained a complete mastery over the art of seamanship. Afterwards when his father died he became the head of the mariners and plied the mariner’s calling; wise he was, and full of intelligence; with him aboard, no ship came ever to harm.
