Monthly Archives: March 2014
269. The Bodhisatta As Golden Deer
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, a great merchant who possessed a fortune of eighty crores, had a son born to him; and he gave him the name of Maha-dhanaka, or Moneyaman. But never a thing he taught him; for said he, “My son will find study a weariness of the flesh.” Beyond singing and dancing, eating and feasting, the lad knew nothing. When he came of age, his parents provided him with a wife meet for him, and afterwards died. After their death, the youth surrounded by profligates, drunkards, and dicers, spent all his substance with all manner of waste and profusion.
268. The Bodhisatta As Dhammapala
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was King of Benares there was in the kingdom of kasi a village named Dhammapala, and it took that name because the family of one Dhammapala lived there. From his keeping the Ten Paths of Virtue this Brahmin was know where he dwelt as Dhammpala, or the Lawkeeper. He gave alms, and observed virtue, and kept the holy day.
At that time the Bodhisatta came to life in that household, and to him they gave the name of Dhammapala-Kumara, or Lawkeeper the Younger. So soon as he came of age, his father gave him a thousand pieces, and sent him to study at Takkasila. There he went, and studied with a world famed teacher, and became the chief pupil in a company of five hundred youths.
267. The Bodhisatta As Dhamma
Once upon a time, when Brahamadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into the word of sense as one of the gods, and was named Dhamma, or Right, while Devadatta was called Adhamma, or Wrong.
As on the fast-day of the full moon, in the evening when meals were done, men were sitting in enjoyment each at his own house-door in village and city and royal capital, Dhamma appeared before them, poised in the air, in his celestial, chariot mounted, and adorned with celestial array, in the midst of a multitude of nymphs, and thus addressed them:
266. The Bodhisatta As Chaplain
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was chaplain, and a wise, learned man was he. One day, he went into his park to disport him, and seeing a beautiful lady, fell in love with her, and took up his abode with her. He got her with child, and when she perceived it she said to him: “Sir, I am with child; when he is born, and I am to name him, I will give him his grandfather’s name.” but he thought, “It can never be that the name of a noble family should be given to a slave-girl’s bastard.” Then he said to her. “My dear, this tree here is called Uddala, and you may name the child Uddalaka because he was conceived here.” Then he gave her a seal-ring, and said, “If it be a girl use this to help bring her up; but if a boy, bring him to me when he grows up.”
