317. The Gardener Who Threw Away His Spade
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life again as a gardener, and grew up. ‘Spade Sage’ was his name. With his spade he cleared a patch of ground, and grew pot herbs, pumpkins, gourds, cucumbers, and other vegetables. By selling them, he made a sorry living. Except the spade he had nothing in the world!
316. The Frog And The Snake
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Green Frog. At the time people set wicker cages in all pits and holes of the rivers, to catch fish. In one cage were a large number of fish. And a Water snake, eating fish, went into the trap himself. A number of the fish thronging together bit him, until he was covered with blood.
315. The Fox And The Greedy Brahmin
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a Tree sprite in a cemetery grove. In those days a festival was proclaimed in Benares, and the people resolved to sacrifice to the ogres. So they strewed fish and meat about courtyards, and streets, and other places, and set out great pots of strong drink. At midnight a jackal came into the town by the sewer, and ate the meat and liquor. Crawling into some bushes, he was fast asleep when morning dawned.
314. The Fowler And The Bird
Once upon a time, in the reign of Brahmadatta, king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Tree spirit in a forest. A fowler, with a decoy bird, hair noose, and stick, went into the forest in search of birds. He began to follow one old bird which flew off into the woods, trying to escape. The bird would not give him a chance of catching it in his snare, but kept dodging.
