329. The Lion And The Jackal
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was a Lion living in a cave on the hills. One day he came out and saw floods at the mountain-foot. In the middle of the water, there was a grassy field wherein deers and rabbits were eating the grass. “I will have that deer!” thought the Lion; and with a lion’s leap he sprang from the hillside towards it. But the deer, frightened to death, ran away. The Lion could not stop it; down on the mud he fell, and sank in, so that he could not get out; and there he remained for seven days, his feet fixed like four posts, with nothing to eat.
328. The Lion And The Jackal Friend
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was a lion and living with a lioness had two children, a son and a daughter. The son’s name was Manoja. When he grew up he took a young lioness to wife; and so they became five. Manoja killed wild buffaloes and other animals, and so got flesh to feed his parents, sister and wife. One day in his hunting ground he saw a jackal called Giriya, unable to run away and lying on his belly. “How now, friend?” he said. “I wish to wait on you, my lord.” “Well, do so.”
327. The Lion And The Cow
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as his son, and after acquiring all the arts at Takkasila, on his father’s death, he ruled his kingdom righteously.
At that time a shepherd while tending cattle in the forest, inadvertently left behind a cow. Between this cow and a lioness sprang up a firm friendship. The two animals became fast friends and went about together.
326. The Lion And The Boar
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was a Lion who lived in a mountain cave in the Himalayas. Nearby lived a multitude of Boars by lakeside; and beside the same lake lived a company of anchorites in huts made of leaves and the branches of trees.
One day it so happened that the Lion had brought down a beast; after eating he went down to drink water at this lake. Just as he came out, a sturdy Boar happened to be drinking water.
