261. The Bodhisatta As A Tree Sprite
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was a Tree sprite dwelling in a castor oil plant. And the villagers of those days were superstitious about gods. A festival came round and the villagers offered sacrifices to their respective Tree sprites. Seeing this a poor man showed worship to the castor oil tree. All the others had come with garlands, odours, perfumes, and cakes; but the poor man had only a cake of husk powder and water in a coconut shell for his tree. Standing before it, he thought within himself, “Tree sprites are used to heavenly food, and my Tree sprite will not eat this cake of husk powder. Why then should I lose it outright? I will eat it myself.” And he turned to go away, when the Bodhisatta from the fork of his tree exclaimed, “My good man! if you were a wealthy man, you would bring me dainty manchets; but as you are a poor man, what shall I have to eat if not that cake? Rob me not of my portion.”
260. The Bodhisatta As A Swift Goose
Once upon time, when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Great Being was born as a swift Goose, which lived in Mount Cittakuta in a flock of ninety thousand other such Geese. One day, having along with his flock eaten the wild rice that grew in a certain pool in the plains of India, he flew through the air (and it was as though a golden mat were spread from end to end of the city of Benares), and he flew slowly as in sport to Cittakuta. Now the king of Benares saw him; and said to his courtiers, “You bird must be a king, as I am.” He took a fancy to the bird, and taking with him garlands, went looking for the Great Being.
259. The Bodhisatta As A Monkey Prince
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, Devadatta came to life again as a monkey, and dwelt near the Himalayas as the lord of a tribe of monkeys. Fearing that his male offspring might grow up to oust him from his lordship, he used to geld them all with his teeth. His wife in order to save her unborn progeny, stole away to a forest at the foot of the mountain. In due season she gave birth to the Bodhisatta. And when he was full grown and had come to years of understanding, he was gifted with marvellous strength.
258. The Bodhisatta As A Golden Mallard
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a brahmin. Growing up, he was married to a bride of his own rank, who gave birth th three daughters named Nanda, Nanda vati and Sundari Nanda. At the death of The Bodhisatta, dying, they were taken in by neighbours and friends, while he was born again into the world as a golden mallard endowed with consciousness of its former existences. Growing up, the bird viewed its own magnificent size and golden plumage, and remembered that previously it had been a human being.
Discovering that his wife and daughters were living on the charity of others, the mallard planned to give his wife a golden feather at a time which will enable his wife and daughters to live in comfort.
