309. The Crane And The Fishes
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Fish in a pond in the Himalayas, and a great shoal went with him. Now a Crane desired to eat the fish. So in a place near the pond he drooped his head, and spread out his wings, and looked vacantly, vacantly at the fish, waiting till they were off their guard. At the same moment the Bodhisatta with his shoal came to that place in search of food. The crane said:
308. The Crane and The Crab
Once upon a time the Bodhisatta came to life as the Tree-sprite of a tree which stood near a lotus pond. Every summer the water used to fall very low in the pond. It is not very big but filled with fish. Catching sight of these fish, a certain crane said to himself, “I must find a way to cajole and eat these fish.” So he went and sat down in deep thought by the side of the water.
307. The Courtier Who Tresspassed Harem
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, a courtier fell into an intrigue in the king’s harem, and an attendant of this courtier did the same thing in the courtier’s house. The man could not endure to be thus affronted. So he led the other before the king, saying, “My lord, I have a servant who does all manner of work, and he has made me a cuckold; what must I do with him?”
306. The Brammadatta And His Minister
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, he appointed a Minister to be headman of a border village. Now in those days the Bodhisatta was making the round of the border villages in the way of trade, and had taken up his house in that very village. And when the headman was marching his men back at evening with beating drums, he exclaimed, “Scoundrel! He waited till the robbers go away. He is having collaboration with the robbers who loot the village. And now, as if nothing has happened, he is strolling with beating drums. And, so saying, he uttered this stanza:-
