58. The Bodhisatta – As A Parrot
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a young parrot. His name was Radha, and his youngest brother was named Potthapada. While they were yet quite young, both of them were caught by a fowler and handed over to a Brahmin in Benares. The brahmin cared for them as if they were his children. But the brahmin’s wife was a wicked woman; there was nobody to watch her.
57. The Bodhisatta – As A Monkey
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a Monkey, and with a troop of eighty thousand monkeys he lived in Himalayas. There was a village, sometimes inhabited and sometimes empty. And in the midst of this village was a tinduka tree, with sweet fruit, covered with twigs and branches. When the place was empty, all the monkeys used to go there and eat the fruit.
56. The Bodhisatta – As A Marsh Crow
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta reigned as king in Benares, the Bodhisatta became a marsh crow, and lived by a pool. His name was Viraka, the Strong.
There arose a famine in Kasi. Men could not spare food for the crows, nor make offering to goblins and snakes. One by one the crows left the famine stricken land, and went into the woods.
55. The Bodhisatta – As A Man Born On Low Caste
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of a man of the lowest caste. When he grew up, he took the road for some purpose, taking some rice grains in a basket.
At that time there was a young fellow in Benares, named Satadhamma. He was the son of a Brahmin. He also took the road for some purpose, but he did not carry anything for his food. The two met upon the highway.
