78. The Bodhisatta – As An Elephant
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into this world as an Elephant in the Himalayas. He lived as the head of eighty thousand wild elephants in the forest.
A poor man who lived in Benares, seeing the workers of ivory in the ivory bazaar making bangles and all manner of ivory trinkets, asked them would they buy an elephant’s tusks, if he should get them. To which they answered, Yes.
77. The Bodhisatta – As An Antelope
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became an Antelope, and lived within a forest, in a thicket near a lake. Not far from the same lake, sat a Woodpecker perched at the top of a tree; and in the lake dwelt a Tortoise. And the three became friends, and lived together in amity.
76. The Bodhisatta – As An Acrobat
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as one of a family of poor acrobats, that lived by begging. So when he grew up, he was needy and squalid, and by begging he lived.
There was at the time, in a village of Kasi, a Brahmin whose wife was bad and wicked, and did wrong. And when the brahmin was away, and her lover watching this went to brahmin’s house. After she had received him, he said, “I will eat a bit before I go.” So she made ready the food, and served up rice hot with sauce and curry, and gave it him, requested him eat. She herself stood at the door, watching whether the brahmin is coming. And while the lover was eating, the Bodhisatta stood waiting for a morsel.
75. The Bodhisatta – As A Vulture
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a young Vulture on the Vulture Hill, and had his mother and father to nourish.
Once there came a great cyclone. The Vultures could not withstand; half frozen, they flew to Benares, and there they sat near the wall and near the ditch, shivering with the cold.
