Monthly Archives: January 2014
176. The Bodhisatta And The Geese
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a tree sprite that lived in a forest. Two young Geese flew down from Mount Cittakuta and perched upon this tree. They flew about in search of food, returned there again, and after resting flew back to their mountain home. As time went on and on, the sprite struck up a friendship with them. Coming and going, they were great friends, and used to talk of religion to one another before they parted.
It happened one day as the birds sat on the treetop, talking with the Bodhisatta, that a Jackal, halting at the foot of the tree, addressed the young Geese:-
Sit and sing upon the tree
If in private you would be.
Sit upon the ground, and sing
Verses to the beasts own king!”
Filled with disgust, the young Geese flew back to Cittakuta. When they were gone, the Bodhisatta repeated:-
“Fairwing here to fairwing sings,
God to god sweet converse brings;
Perfect beauty, you must then
Back into your hole again!”
175. The Bodhisatta And The Garuda King
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of the king by his queen-consort. And when he was grown up, at his father’s death he became the king. Kakate was his chief queen and as lovely as an Apsara.
Now at this time a certain Garuda king came disguised as a man, and played dice game with the king of Benares. Falling in love with the chief queen Kakati, he carried her off with him to the dwelling place of the Garudas and lived happily with her. The king missing her told his musician named Natakuvera to go in quest of her.
174. The Bodhisatta And The Four Monks
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a poor family; when he grew up he made a living by working for wages with a rich man. One day he got four portions of sour gruel from a shop, thinking, “This will do for my breakfast,” and so went on to his farming-work. Seeing four pacceka-buddhas coming towards Benares to collect alms, he thought, “I have these four portions of gruel, what if I were to give them to these men who are coming to Benares for alms?” So he came up and said, “Sirs! I have these four portions of gruel in hand; I offer them to you; please accept them, and so I shall gain merit to my lasting good and welfare.”
173. The Bodhisatta And The Four Brothers
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a potter’s family in a suburb of Benares; when he grew up he became a householder, had a son and daughter, and supported his wife and children by his potter’s handicraft.
At that time in the Kalinga kingdom, in the city of Dantapura, the king named Karandu, saw at the garden-gate a mango tree laden with sweet fruit; he stretched out his hand from his seat on the elephant and seized a bunch of mangoes; then entering the garden he sat on the royal seat and ate a mango, giving some to others. From the time when the king took one, everybody took one and the tree was left mangoless.ministers, Brahmins, and householders, thinking that others should also do so, took down and ate mangoes from that tree. Coming again and again they climbed the tree, and beating it with clubs and breaking the branches down and off, they ate the fruit, not leaving even the unripe.
