257. The Bodhisatta As A God Living In Sal Tree
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta ruled as king in Benares, and observed the Ten Royal Virtues, he thought to himself: “All over India the kings live in palaces supported by many a column. There is no marvel, then, in a palace supported by many columns; but what if I make a palace with one column only to support it? Then I shall be the chiefest king of all kings!” so he summoned his builders, and told them to build him a magnificent palace supported on one column. “Very good, said they, and away they went into the forest.
256. The Bodhisatta As A Fairy
Once upon a time when Brahmatta was king in Benares the Great Bing was born in the region of the Himalaya as a fairy. His wife was named Canda. These two dwelt together on a silver mountain named Canda-pabbata, or the Mountain of the Moon. At that time the king of Benares had committed his government to his ministers, and all alone dressed in two tallow robes, and armed with the five weapons, he proceeded to the Himalayas.
While eating his venison he remembered where was a little stream, and began to climb the hill. Now the fairies that live on the Mountain of the Moon in the rainy season remain on the mountain, and come down only in the hot weather.
255. The Bodhisatta As A Bird
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a bird. Growing up, He became king of the birds and came to the Himalayas with thousands of birds in his train. During their stay in that place, a fierce bird used to go in quest of food along a highway where she found rice, beans, and other grain dropped by passing wagons. In order to keep the others from coming there, she told them as follows:- “The highway is full of peril. In it elephants and horses, wagons drawn by fierce oxen, and such like dangerous things go regularly. By the wink of the eye, one should fly away. As you could not, don’t go there at all.” And because of her warning the other birds didn’t go that way.
254. The Bodhisatta And Woman Entering Fire
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the child of the Queen. When he grew up, he mastered every accomplishment; and when, at his father’s death, he came to be king, he proved a righteous king. Now he used to play at dice with his chaplain, and, as he flung the golden dice upon the silver table, he would sing this catch for luck:-
Tis nature’s law that rivers wind;
Trees grow of wood by law of kind;
And, given opportunity,
All women work iniquity.
