102. The Bodhisatta – Prince Mahimsasa
Once upon a time Brahmadatta was ruling Benares in Kasi. The Bodhisatta born as king’s son and was duly named Prince Mahimsasa. By the time he could run about, a second son was born to the king, and the name they gave this child was Prince Moon; but by the time he could run about, the Bodhisatta’s mother died. Then the king married another queen, who was his joy and delight. For them another prince was born whom they named Prince Sun. In his joy at the birth of the boy, the king promised to grant her any boon she might ask on the child’s behalf. But the queen treasured up the promise to be fulfilled at her own good time hereafter. Later, when her son had grown up, she said to the king, “Sir, when my boy was born, you granted me a boon to ask for him. Let him be king.”
101. The Bodhisatta – On Luck, Omens And Dreams
Once upon a time there reigned in the city of Rajagaha, in the kingdom of Magadha, a righteous King of Magadha. In those days the Bodhisatta came to life again as a Brahmin of the North west. Growing up, he renounced the world for the hermit’s life, won the Knowledges and the attainments, and went to live in the Himalayas. On one occasion, returning from the Himalayas took up his abode in the King’s chatram; he went on the second day into the city to collect alms. Seeing him, the King had him summoned into the palace and there provided with a seat and with food, extracting a promise from him that he would take up his abode in the chatram. So the Bodhisatta used to receive his food at the palace and live in the chatram.
100. The Bodhisatta – Nimb-Tree Spirit
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to the life as a Nimb-tree spirit in a cemetery grove of that city.
Now one day a robber having been guilty of an act of theft is an outlying hamlet of the city entered the cemetery grove. And at this time two old trees stood there, a Nimb-tree and a Bo-tree the robber placed his stolen goods at the foot of this Nimb-tree and lay down there. Now in these days robbers that were caught were put to torture by being impaled on a stake of the Nimb-tree. So the spirit of the Nimb-tree thought: “If people should come and capture this robber, they will cut off a branch and make a stake from this Nimb-tree and impale him on it. And in that case the tree will be destroyed. So I will drive the fellow away.”
99. The Bodhisatta – Goodness
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was his chaplain. He was a man of charity and other good works, whose mind was set on righteousness, always keeping unbroken the Five Commandments. And the King honoured him beyond the other Brahmins.
Suspecting the Bodhisatta was captured by soldiers and as he was being brought in bonds, he saw some snake charmers were exhibiting a snake, which they laid hold of by the tail and the throat, and tied round their necks. Seeing this, the Bodhisatta begged the them no to do this, for the snake might bite them and cut their lives short. “Brahmin,” replied the snake charmers, “this is a good and well behaved cobra; he’s not wicked like you, who for your wickedness and misconduct are being hauled off in custody.”
