178. The Bodhisatta And The Golden Bar
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a farmer in a village. One day he was ploughing in a field where once stood a village.
In bygone days, if a wealthy merchant is dead, he will be buried in this field with a huge bar of gold, as thick round as a man’s thigh, and four whole cubits in length. The Bodhisatta’s plough struck the golden piece. Taking it to be a spreading root of a tree, he dug it out; but discovering its real nature, he cleaned the dirt off the gold. After the day’s work, at sunset, carrying the golden block he started home. He could not lift it alone. He wanted to take some rest.
177. The Bodhisatta And The Goblin
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a brahmin’s son of the kingdom of Kasi; and his father was a lawyer. When the lad was sixteen years old, his father gave him a fine jewel into his custody, and they both traveled through town, village after village, until they came to Benares. There they had meal cooked in the gatekeeper’s house; he asked where there any lodging to sleep and take rest? The people told him that there was a building outside the city, but that it was haunted; but however he might lodge there if he liked. The lad said to his father, “Have no fear of any goblin, father! I will subdue him, and bring him to your feet.” So he persuaded his father, and they went to the place together. The father lay down upon a bench, and his son sat beside him, chafing his feet.
176. The Bodhisatta And The Geese
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a tree sprite that lived in a forest. Two young Geese flew down from Mount Cittakuta and perched upon this tree. They flew about in search of food, returned there again, and after resting flew back to their mountain home. As time went on and on, the sprite struck up a friendship with them. Coming and going, they were great friends, and used to talk of religion to one another before they parted.
It happened one day as the birds sat on the treetop, talking with the Bodhisatta, that a Jackal, halting at the foot of the tree, addressed the young Geese:-
Sit and sing upon the tree
If in private you would be.
Sit upon the ground, and sing
Verses to the beasts own king!”
Filled with disgust, the young Geese flew back to Cittakuta. When they were gone, the Bodhisatta repeated:-
“Fairwing here to fairwing sings,
God to god sweet converse brings;
Perfect beauty, you must then
Back into your hole again!”
175. The Bodhisatta And The Garuda King
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of the king by his queen-consort. And when he was grown up, at his father’s death he became the king. Kakate was his chief queen and as lovely as an Apsara.
Now at this time a certain Garuda king came disguised as a man, and played dice game with the king of Benares. Falling in love with the chief queen Kakati, he carried her off with him to the dwelling place of the Garudas and lived happily with her. The king missing her told his musician named Natakuvera to go in quest of her.
