Monthly Archives: January 2014
96. The Bodhisatta – As Trained White Elephant
Once upon a time when King Magadha was ruling in Rajagaha in Magadha, the Bodhisatta was born an elephant. He was white all over and graced with all the beauty. And because of his beauty the king made him his state elephant.
One festal day the king adorned the city like a city of the devas and, mounted on the elephant in all its trappings, made a solemn procession round the city attended by a great retinue. And all along the route the people were moved by the sight of that peerless elephant to exclaim, “Oh what a stately gait! What proportions! What beauty! What grace! Such a white elephant is worthy of an universal monarch.” All this praise of his elephant awoke the king’s jealousy and decided to kill the elephant. So he summoned the mahout and asked whether it is a trained elephant.
95. The Bodhisatta – As The White Elephant
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was conceived by an elephant in the Himalayas. When born, he was white all over, like a mighty mass of silver. His eyes were like diamond balls, and his mouth was red; his legs were like a pillars as if polished with lac. When he grew up, all the elephants of the Himalayas followed him as their leader. Whilst he was leading his life thus, he became aware that there was sin in the herd. So, detaching himself from the rest, he lived in solitude in the forest, and the goodness of his life won him the name of Good King Elephant.
94. The Bodhisatta – As The King’s Horse
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a thoroughbred Sindh horse and was made the king’s horse fully decorated. He was fed on exquisite three-year old rice. He was given all the comforts.
All the kings round coveted the kingdom of Benares. Once seven kings encompassed Benares, and sent a missive to the king, saying, “Either yield up your kingdom to us or fight.”
93. The Bodhisatta – As The Black Bull
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a bull. And while he was still a young calf, his owners, who had been lodging with an old woman, made him over to her in settlement of their reckoning. She reared him like her own child, feeding him on rice-gruel and rice and on other good cheer. They called him “Granny’s Blackie.” Growing up, he used to range about with the other cattle of the village, and was as black as jet. The village urchins used to catch hold of his horns and ears and dewlaps, and have a ride; or they would hold on to his tail in play, and mount on his back.
