293. The Bodhisatta On Bad Company
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, four Brahmin brothers of Kasi, left the worldly lusts and became hermits; they built themselves four huts in a row in the highlands of the Himalayas, and there they lived.
The eldest brother died, and was born as Sakka. Knowing who he had been, he used to visit the others every seven or eight days, and lend them a helping hand.
292. The Bodhisatta Murdered By His Father
Once upon a time when Mahapatapa was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of his queen Canda and they named him Dhammapala. When he was seven months old, his mother had him bathed in scented water and richly dressed and sat with him. The king came to the queen’s place. And as she was playing with the boy, being filled with a mother’s love for her child, she omitted to rise up on seeing the king. He thought, “Even now this woman is not paying respect to me and if the boy grows up, she will take no notice of me. I will have him put to death at once.” So he returned home, and sitting on his throne summoned the executioner. He came and asked the king, “What is you pleasure, Sire?”
291. The Bodhisatta In The Form Of Goblin
Once upon a time, when king Kasi was reigning over the realm of Kasi, in Surundha. He had no son or daughter. So he asked his queens to offer prayer for sons. Then the Bodhisatta, passing out of Brahma’a world, was conceived in the womb of his chief queen. He was named as Udayabhadda, or Welcome. At the time when the lad could walk upon his feet, another being came into this world from the world of Brahma, and became a girl child in the womb of another of this king’s wives, and she was named with the same name, Udayabhadda.
290. The Bodhisatta In Heaven
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a musician’s family. His name was Master Guttila. When he grew up, he mastered all the branches of music, and under the name of Guttila the Musician he became the chief of his kind in all India. He did not marry, but maintained his blind parents.
At that time traders of Benares made a journey to Ujjeni for trade. A holiday was proclaimed; they all clubbed together and celebrated. They cried, “Pay the hire, and fetch a musician!”
