166. The Bodhisatta And The Elephant
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born of a brahmin family. On growing up he left his worldly home and took to the religious life, and in time became the leader of a company of five hundred anchorites, who all lived together in the Himalayas.
Amongst these anchorites was a headstrong and unteachable person named Indasamanagotta. He had a pet elephant. The Bodhisatta sent for him when he found this out, and asked if he really did keep a young elephant? Yes, the man said, he had an elephant which had lost its family. The Bodhisatta said, “Well! when elephants grow up they kill even those who foster them; so don’t keep it any longer.” “But I can’t live without him, my Teacher!” was the reply. “Oh, well,” said the Bodhisatta, “you’ll live to repent it.”
165. The Bodhisatta And The Elephant Festival
Once upon a time, king Susima ruled Benares; and the Bodhisatta was came to the worls as the son of his chaplain. The father was Master of the Ceremonies in the king’s elephant festivals. He alone had right to all the trappings and appointments of the elephants which came into the place of festival. By this means he gained as much as ten millions at each festival. When he was sixteen years old, his father died.
At the time of our story the season for an elephant festival came round. And the Brahmins all flocked to the king, with these words. “O great king! The season for an elephant festival has come, and a festival should be made. But chaplain’s son is very young; he knows neither the three Vedas nor the lore of elephants. Shall we conduct the ceremony?” To this the king consented.
164. The Bodhisatta And The Eight Sounds
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a Brahmin family worth eighty crores. When he grew up he learned the arts at Takkasila. After his parents’ death he reviewed all their treasures, got rid of all his wealth by way of charity, forsook desires, went to the Himalaya and became an ascetic and entered on mystic meditation.
163. The Bodhisatta And The Effect Of Liquor
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a northern Brahmin family in Kasi; and when he grew up, he renounced the world for the hermit’s life. He won the Higher Knowledges and the Attainments, and dwelt in the enjoyment of the bliss of insight in the Himalayas, with five hundred pupils around him. Once, when the rainy season had come, his pupils said to him, “Master, may we go to the village and bring back salt and vinegar?” “For my own part, sirs, I shall remain here; but you may go for your health’s sake, and come back when the rainy season is over.”
