66. The Bodhisatta – As A Sprite Of Kusa Grass
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a Sprite in the king’s pleasaunce, and lived in a clump of kusa grass. Now in the same grounds near the king’s seat there grew a beautiful Wishing Tree (also called the Mukkhaka) with straight stem and spreading branches, which received great favour from the king. Here lived one who had been a mighty deva king and had been reborn a Tree sprite. And the Bodhisatta was on terms of intimate friendship with this Tree sprite.
65. The Bodhisatta – As A Spirit Of The Air
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a Spirit of the Air. In Benares, night festival of Kattika was celebrated and the city was decorated like a city of the gods, and the whole people kept holiday. And a poor man had only a couple of old dresses which he had washed and pressed. But his wife said, “My husband, I want a safflower coloured cloth to were outside and one to wear underneath; wearing those, I want to go the festival hanging round your neck.”
64. The Bodhisatta – As A Singila Bird
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a young singila bird. When he grew to be a big bird, he settled in the Himalayas and built him a nest. When the rain fell without intermission, a monkey sat near the Bodhisatta and his teeth chattering by severe cold. The Bodhisatta, seeing him thus distressed asked, “You are like a human in form; why not build a hut to hide from cold?”
63. The Bodhisatta – As A Royal Peacock
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta. Was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a young peacock. And when he was fully grown, he was exceedingly beautiful and lived in a forest. At that time some merchants came to the kingdom of Baveru, brought a foreign crow. At this time, it is said, there were no birds in Baveru. The natives who from time to time came saw this bird perched on the top of the mast, said, “Mark the colour of this bird’s skin. Look at its beaked mouth at the end of its throat, and its eyes like jewel-balls.” Thus singing the praises of this crow they said to these merchants, “Sirs, give us this bird. We need it, and you can get another in your own country.”
