62. The Bodhisatta – As A Robber
Once upon a time when Brahadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a village of Kasi in the home of a householder, under the star of a robber. When he grew up to be a man, he gained his living by robbery, and his fame was blazed abroad in the world, as a bold fellow and as strong as an elephant. And no man could catch him. One day he broke into a rich merchant’s house and carried off much treasure. The townsfolk came to the king and said, “Sir! a mighty robber is plundering the city; have him arrested.” The king ordered the governor of the city to seize him. So in the night the governor posted men here and there on detachments, and having effected his capture with the money upon him, he reported it to the king. The king ordered the governor cut off his head. Then the governor had his arms tightly bound behind him, and having tied a wreath of red kanavera flowers about his neck and sprinkled brickdust on his head, had him scourged with whips in every square, and then led to the place of execution to the music of the harsh-sounding drum. Men said, “This rapacious robber who loots our city is taken,” and the whole city was greatly moved.
61. The Bodhisatta – As a Quail
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a quail, and lived in the forest. He was the head of many thousands of quails. In those days a fowler who caught quails came to that place; and he used to imitate the note of a quail till he saw that the birds had been drawn together; when he flung his net over them, and whipped the sides of the net together, so as to get them all huddled up in a heap. Then he crammed them into his basket, go home and sold his prey for his living.
60. The Bodhisatta – As A Pigeon
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a pigeon. The people of Benares, as an act of goodness, used to hang up straw baskets in places of convenience for the shelter and comfort of the birds; and the cook of the Lord High Treasurer of Benares hung up one of these baskets in his kitchen. In this basket the Bodhisatta took up his abode, go out at daybreak in quest of food, and returning home in the evening; and so he lived his life.
59. The Bodhisatta – As A Pig
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was conceived by a wild sow; in due time she delivered two male young pigs. One day she took them and lay down in a pit. And old woman was coming home with a basket-full of cotton from field and tapping the ground with her stick. The sow heard the sound, and in fear of death left her young and ran away. The old woman saw the young pigs, and took them home.
