Monthly Archives: January 2014
200. The Bodhisatta And The Monkey
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a Brahmin family in a village of Kasi. When he came of years, he received his education at Takkasila, and settled down in life.
His wife gave birth to a son; and when the child could just run to and fro, she died. The the Bodhisatta performed her obsequies, and then, said: “What is home to me now? I and my son will live the life of hermits.” Leaving his friends and relatives in tears, he took the lad to the Himalayas, became a religious anchorite, and lived on the fruits and roots which the forest yielded.
199. The Bodhisatta And The Monkey Who Lost Pea
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was his Councillor who gave him advice in things spiritual and temporal. There was a rising on the frontier, and the troops there stationed sent the king a letter. The king started, and camped in a park. The Bodhisatta stood before the king. At that moment the people had steamed some peas for the horses, and poured them out into a trough.
198. The Bodhisatta And The Monkey Drop
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a Brahmin family in Kasi village. When he grew of age, married and settled down. Now in those days there was a deep well by the highway in Kasi, which had no way down to it. The people who passed by that way, to win merit, used to draw water by a long rope and a bucket, and fill a trough for the animals; thus they gave the animals water to drink. All around lay a mighty forest, wherein troops of monkeys dwelt.
197. The Bodhisatta And The Monkey Ascetic
Once upon a time, in the reign of Brahmadatta king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a Brahmin family. When he grew up, and his own son was of an age to run about, his wife died; he took the child on his hip, and departed into the Himalayas, where he became an ascetic, and brought up his son to the same life, living in a hut of leaves.
It was the rainy season, and rain poured heavily. A Monkey tormented with the cold, chattering and rattling his teeth. The Bodhisatta fetched a great log, lit a fire, and sat down upon his pallet. His son sat by him, and chafed his feet.
