The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha - 41 TO 50

041 - The Story of Kushinagar

Modern Kushinagar or Kusinara (Pali), with the ancient name of Kusaavatii is a place of special significance in the history of the Buddhism, as Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha had his parinibbana  (dicease) there. Further, the place itself has an interesting story for its nomenclature to interest a genuine historian having some appreciation for the rich Pali tradition of ancient India. In fact, the nomenclature of Kusinara has its origin in the legends of king Kusa (Sanskritised: Kusha).  Once, king Okkaka ruled the kingdom of the Mallas. He was a popular king but had no son despite the fact that he had sixteen thousand queens. When reproached several times by the citizens of his kingdom for not having an heir he sent all his queens to public, with the exception of Silavati, to bear a son for him.  These queens amused the people for seven days, yet none could conceive. Again, the honorable citizens reproached him for not having an heir; and insisted that he should send Silavati, too, to participate in such festivities to bear him a son. The queen consort was a loyal and virtuous woman. So, on the seventh day the queen was adorned with best jewels and dress and was carried from the royal palace to the streets. When the city was plunged to such festivities Sakka, the lord of the devas felt his throne being heated. Examining the cause, he noted that Silavati, who was not meant to be treated in an undignified way deserved his intervention as she was a chaste and virtuous lady. Sakka then decided to help her to protect her dignity. So, he descended the earth in the form of an old Brahmin and shoved his way to reach the front of the crowd where Silavati was standing to please the select citizens to bear a son for the king. Many nobles resented the Brahmin’s appearance before them. But before they could speak or act to keep him off, he lifted the queen of the peerless beauty; and flew in the air. Angry and disgusted, the queen, too, made a strong protest because in her opinion the old man was not fit to help her conceive a baby. Nonetheless, Sakka took her to a house, which he built by his own magical power. There, he laid her on the heap of sticks and stroked her gently, which made her swoon instantly. When she opened her eyes, after seven days, she found herself on a soft and elegant couch in the realm of Tavatimsa; and not on those dusty heaps of sticks. When looked around she found Sakka seated on his throne on the foot of a coral tree with all his majesty. Now, she knew the real identity of the old brahmin, who was none other than the lord of the celestial beings, Sakka. She stood up and paid him obeisance. Sakka then said, “I grant thee a boon. Ask whatever you wish to have”. She then spoke out, “Sire ! I would like to have a son”. Sakka said, “I grant thee two sons: one ugly with great wisdom; and the other handsome but a fool. Choose, which one you would like to have first”. She chose to have the baby with great wisdom first. Sakka presented her a piece of kusa grass, a heavenly robe, a sandal wood, a flower of the coral tree and a Kokanada lute. He then transported her to the king’s chamber and laid her down on the same couch where the king was lying and touched her with his right thumb. She instantly knew that she had just conceived. She woke up the king and told her the whole story. First, the king disbelieved her but when he saw those heavenly presents he had to trust her. Soon a celebration for the unborn king began. After ten months of Silavati’s conception the baby was born and was called Kusa. Further, when the baby could walk and run on his own his younger brother, too, was born. The second baby was given the name Jayampati.  By the age of sixteen the wise Kusa attained proficiency in all the liberal arts without any aid. The king in the meanwhile decided to enthrone him in his life-time along with his queen consort. This meant he was to get married. So, his mother Silavati sent the prince a message to choose a bride for himself. Wise Kusa was aware of his ugliness. He also knew that no woman was likely to love or live with him if she happened to see his ugliness. So, he declined the offer. After a few months the queen again sent the same message for his marriage and again he declined. When the queen sent the same message for the third time he thought that a flat refusal would not be proper. So, he made a golden image of a gorgeous nymph and told the messenger that he was ready for the marriage on the condition that they had to find the woman of such beauty. Soon the king’s messengers were sent all over the Indian sub-continent in search of a woman, who resembled the image. The  Madda king of Sagal, had eight princesses. Each had the surpassing beauty comparable with the heavenly nymphs. The eldest among them was Pabhavati, whose body emanated the golden hue of the rising sun. She had a personal attendant, who was an old hunch-backed woman. One day, when the Malla soldiers were moving about the city of Sagala, they found a pond and placed the image on its bank. That day the hunch-backed also came to the pond after conveying the king’s message to Pabhatati that she had to stay in the palace. When she saw the image of Pabhavati standing there, she thought that the princess had not obeyed her father and had sneaked outside. So, she slapped the face of the image, which in turn got damaged. When the soldiers demanded an explanation for her action, she told them that the image resembled her mistress. The soldiers then quickly approached the Sagala king and apprised him of their mission. The king of Sagala was very happy to receive the proposal of Kusa’s marriage with Pabhavati. Soon, they sent messengers to the Malla king to convey the success of the mission. Before the marriage was finalised, Silavati, anticipated the most emergent problem after the marriage. She knew that no bride was likely to live with her ugly son, Kusa. So, she asked the bride not to see her husband until she conceived to follow their family custom. Thus, the two were married and by and by Kusa was enthroned as the king. One day, Kusa expressed his desire to the queen mother to have a glimpse of his consort in a broad day-light. Silavati, then organised Pabhavati’s visit to the elephant stall, where the king was hiding. When the two royal ladies were walking, the king, who was then dressed like a mahout, playfully, hurled the elephant dung on Pabhavati’s back. Incensed, at the ill-behaviour of the mahout, Pabhavati recommended the death-penalty on him but with the intervention of her mother-in-law she was pacified. Silavati in a mock admonition to Kusa for having hurled the elephant-dung on Pabhavati’s back. Pabhavati has turned her back to Kusa. Kusa-Jataka, Bharhut    Pabhavati, Ajanta    Pabhavati in the lotus pond, Ajanta     Pabhavati taking a dip in the lotus pond, Ajanta      Pabhavati taking a dip in the lotus pond (close up), Ajanta Kusa hiding in the lotus pond and watching Pabhavati, Ajanta   Dazzled by her beauty, Kusa’s desire to see her became more intense. Again, the queen mother organised a similar set up in the royal stable. Having seeing the gracious look of Pabhavati, the king playfully, this time, threw the horse dung on her back. Again the queen was furious and again was she pacified by her mother-in-law. One day, Pabhavati, too, had a strong wish to see the king in person. So, she requested the queen mother to show her a glimpse of the king. Silavati then organised a royal procession where the king was seated behind his handsome younger brother Jayampati on a majestic elephant. When Pabhavati was looking at the procession through the palace window, Kusa caught hold of her glimpse.  Again, he playfully made some amorous gesticulations at her to make her fret and fume. But soon it occurred to her that the person was the king as none could act so boldly. So, to ascertain the truth, she sent the hunch backed maid to examine the matter. When Kusa saw the maid approaching close to the procession he sensed something fishy. So, he called her and ordered her not to reveal his identity to her mistress. Upon return, the maid lied to Pabhavati. Thus, Pabhavati believed that she was married to Jayampati, the handsomest among all kings; and was proud of her luck. One day, Kusa again asked his mother to show him his bride. So, the queen mother organised her visit to the royal lotus pond, where Kusa lay chin-deep behind a  large lotus flower. When Pabhavati saw the laughing lotus flowers in the resplendent pond she shed all her clothes and jumped into the pond. Soon she swam to the large lotus behind which the king was hiding. As she looked irresistable with her exuberating and splashing beauty, the latter could not restrain himself longer and caught her by hand. He then whispered, “I am king Kusa, your husband”. The queen thought that she was caught by a goblin and swooned.  The king then let her go. Pabhavati was not a fool. When she regained consciousness and recalled the words of Kusa in the pond, she could easily correlate all the events ever since her first encounter with Kusa in the elephant stall; the stable; the royal procession; and finally in the lotus pond. Now, she knew the identity of the ugly man, who she met several times, and who was none other than her husband. She was terribly shocked. She felt beguiled and cheated. She was married to a man who looked most repulsive. Now, she discovered why was she forbidden to see the ugly man in the day-light. She sobbed but soon she thought that because she was young and pretty; and also a princess why not she should find a better suitor for herself. So, she soon organised a trip to her father’s kingdom and resolved never to return. But Kusa followed her and finally won her back by his wisdom and prowess. See Kusa Jataka Jataka Pali No.531. Cf. Anitthigandha or Chullapalobhana and Mahapalobhana Jataka;  and Sammillabhasini of Ananusochiya Jataka. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 042 - The Virtue of Forbearance Once when a debauch king Kalabu reigned Varanasi, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a wealthy merchant. His name was then Kundaka Kumar.  On the death of his parents he realised the futility of amassing the wealth, because the wealth becomes useless after the death. So he renounced all his riches and went to the Himalayas to lead a life of an ascetic. In course of time he returned to Varanasi to collect salt and vinegar. There he became the guest of the commander-in-chief and was given an abode in the royal park. One day, King Kalabu under the influence of strong drinks visited the royal park surrounded by the female dancers. He laid his head on the lap of one of his favourite women and started revelling in the dance and music. Soon he dozed off. When the women found him sleeping they left him and started frolicking in the park. Discovering the ascetic meditating in the park they requested him to give some sermon. In the mean time the king woke up and enquired about his women. Not finding them around, he looked for them in the park and found them besieging the holy sage.  Sage Kundaka Kumar giving discourses to the king's women, Ajanta Having been infuriated at the sight of his women being attracted to another man, he drew out his sword to kill him. However, when persuaded by the women he stopped. Yet, in his anger he asked the ascetic: “What doctrine you preach, O monk!” “The doctrine of forbearance, sir”, the holy sage replied. “What is this forbearance?”, asked the angry king. “Not to be angry when men abuse you and beat you”, answered the ascetic. “I will test the your forbearance then”, saying the king ordered his men to give the ascetic two thousand stripes with the lash of thorns. When this was done, the king scornfully asked, “what doctrine do you preach, O Monk”! "The doctrine of forbearance, Your Highness”, the unruffled the Bodhisatta replied. “Cut off the head of this spurious ascetic”, the king ordered. This was also done. He then ordered, “off with his feet, too”. His feet were also chopped off. “What do you preach, now”, again the king asked, expecting him to change his view. “I Practise the doctrine of forbearance, sir!” said the ascetic. This further infuriated the king; who got his nose and ears cut off. Then the Bodhisatta said, “my forbearance is seated not on my nose or ears, but is deep inside my heart”. By then the king’s patience had run out and he kicked him on his heart and left the place. By that time the Bodhisatta was steeped in blood. Yet, he uttered: "long live the king whose cruel hands have thus damaged me. Nevertheless, a pure person shall never be angry to practise the virtue of forbearance”. When the king was returning, the earth split into two and devoured him then and there. Some say that the Bodhisatta died on the same day. Some, however, believe that all his wounds soon healed up and he flew back to the Himalayas. [Kalabu is identified with Devadatta; and the lion with Bodhisatta]. See Khantivadi Jataka Jataka Pali No.313; Dhammapada Atthakatha 1.126; Khuddakapatha-Atthakatha 149; Buddhavamsa Atthakatha 51; Ksantivadin Jataka No.28, Jatakamala. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 043 - Matanga – The World’s First Crusader of Untouchability   Once, the Bodhisatta was born in a Chandala family by the name Matanga. Those days the caste-system was very rigid in ancient India and untouchability was rampant. One day, a pretty maiden Ditthamangalika, the daughter of a wealthy and the so-called ‘high-caste’ family was on her way to a park with her friends. Before, she could enter the park, she saw Matanga coming from the opposite direction. Considering his sight ‘inauspicious’, because he was a ‘Chandala’ and ‘untouchable’ according to the social norms of the time and place, she abruptly, recoiled and turned round to go back to her palace. This made her friends furious. They scornfully caught hold of the poor man and thrashed him by calling him “untouchable”. Thus, they punished him for having trodden the path on which they intended to walk. Bruised and hurt, Matanga lay there unconscious and bleeding. When he regained consciousness he vehemently challenged the evil system of untouchability and resorted to the non-violent peace agitation by sitting on a hunger strike in front of the Ditthamangalika’s house for seven days to press his demand of marriage with that girl. Then he looked emaciated and appeared as if he was to die soon. The social evil of the untouchability was so strong those days that the father of the girl decided to get rid of his daughter rather than to let an ‘untouchable’ die on his door-step. So, he pushed his daughter out of his house to marry Matanga. When Ditthamangalika’s pride ebbed away, Matanga decided to honour her. He, therefore, asked her to invite all her kinsmen and make a public announcement that her husband was the ‘Greatest Brahmin’ by way of his righteous karma. When the people assembled to examine the truth, Matanga miraculously appeared before them by breaking the moon’s disc. This restored the honour of his wife and since then she was no longer treated as a pariah or an ‘untouchanble’ in that city. Nonetheless, the evil social custom of untouchability did not die out there. Still some people practised that custom in the city. So, Matanga thought of teaching a lesson to that category of people. He, therefore, one day threw a tooth-pick into the river, which flew and entangled in the hair of a haughty brahmin, whose name was Jatimanta. Furious, the brahmin looked around and found that it was Matang - a ‘low caste man’ -who had thrown the tooth-pick into the river. So, fretting and fuming, he went to him and rebuked and rebuffed him. Further, he threatened him to quit the river-side instantly lest his head would split into seven pieces on the seventh day by the force of the brahmin’s spiritual power. Matanga was least frightened. He accepted the challenge boldly and did not leave the place. He instead demonstrated his power by stopping the sun to rise for seven days. The people then got annoyed with the brahmin, because he had insulted Matanga, who in turn had stopped the sun-rise. So, they caught hold of Jatimanta, and brought him before Matanga and forced him to apologise by bowing his head on latter’s feet. Matanga then forgave him but the People kicked the haughty brahmin out of the city. One day, Matanga visited Mejjha country, where the brahmin had made his abode. Accidentally, the latter saw him there, and decided to avenge his humiliation. So, he conspired with the local king to arrest and kill Matanga by falsely accusing him to be a sorcerer. The foolish king took the advice of the brahmin and sent his men to kill him as and when they could find him. The king’s men detected Matanga in an inn, where he was taking dinner. They suddenly attacked him from behind and slayed him by swords and spears. Thus, came the saga of Matanga, who is often called a ‘legend’, to an end. Nonetheless, his memory shall always remain alive in the hearts of the people to be a perennial source of inspiration because he was the first in the world to have challenged the evil system of untouchability. Matanga’s final story was, however, rewritten by the Nature, which became furious at his horrendous assassination, and showered hot ashes from heavens to completely wipe out the Mejjha kingdom and the history records the event in these words of the bards: The country of Mejjha was destroyed Due to the heinous killing of hero Matanga, Thus they say, The nature swept away the nation in revenge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 044 - The Temptation of Isisanga The old ascetic (top left). The doe drinking water (bottom). The old ascetic nursing the baby Isisanga (centre). Alambusa (right). Once upon a time there lived a young man in an erudite family. He was well-versed in various arts and crafts. Yet, he did not lead a life of a house-holder as he preferred to become an ascetic. So, he built a hermitage on the bank of the river Ganga in the Himalaya and lived there.   One day, a doe drank water in the place where the ascetic had just taken bath. The water there was mingled with the ascetic’s semen. So, no sooner than she drank the water she conceived the ascetic’s baby. The ascetic soon noticed the changes taking place in the doe’s body, and knew what had happened to her. So, he took care of her. In course of time, the doe delivered a male baby, who was called Isisanga. The sage brought him up with fatherly affection and when the boy was young enough to learn he taught him spiritual practices, too. The boy was very receptive. Soon he proved his excellence in meditation and other spiritual pursuits. Realising his abilities and potentialities the sage cautioned him by saying, In this Himalayan region the women are as fair as flowers But they may be devastating if you fall in their powers. After imparting these instructions the ascetic died. By and by, Isisanga became an ardent ascetic and perfected the most arduous penance and virtuousity, which shook the Sakka’s abode. Shaken and frightened by the practices of the young lad, Sakka sent the most gorgeous and voluptuous heavenly nymph to the young ascetic to entice him. Her name was Alambusa. Though a subject of the heavenly king, she pleaded exemption from carrying out such an order as she considered it to be a heinous act. Yet, insisted by her lord, she descended the earth with all her beauty and exuberance to charm and seduce Isisanga. She made a sudden appearance before him when he was walking to the river to have his holy bath. Dazzled at such a heavenly beauty and allured by her elegance he forgot everything but to remember to sing every word of praise for her voluptuous looks right from her hair to her feet. Knowing that she was just about to succeed in her mission, she did not waste a single moment and invited him to follow her by her amorous glance. She then entered his cottage.   The young ascetic, unmindful of all his vows, tailed her inside and plunged into her embrace.  The doe drinking the water where Isisanga had taken a holy dip When the ascetic could arouse from her embrace, three years had elapsed; and all his spiritual achievements had vanished. Thus, realising his irreparable losses he started wailing. The kind nymph then revealed her mission with an apology and shared his mourning. The ascetic wore no malice against her and pardoned her. After the conclusion of her mission, she boarded the golden chariot and flew back to her heavenly abode. When congratulated and commended by Sakka for having accomplished her task so meticulously, she was not pleased to the surprise of the lord of the devas. Further, when Sakka offered her to ask for any boon she said, O Lord of Heaven! If thou desire any boon to bestow Then never ask me to make any saint violate his vow.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 045 - The Flight of Sakka Sakka on Flight with his wife Suja (an asura woman) who accompanies him every where on his travels, Ajanta Once the Bodhisatta was born as Sakka (Indra), the king of the devas (the radiant beings of heavenly abode). Although he was the king of the devas, nonetheless, he ruled the earth and had acquired splendid glory. The danavas (demons), the sworn enemies of the devas since time immemorial, neither liked Sakka nor his growing glories. So, one day they invaded the celestial empire with a large army to usurp power. Sakka boarding his golden chariot drawn by the thousand horses put a stiff resistance with his army ofdevas. But the devas almost lost the battle and began to retreat. When Matali, the charioteer of Sakka noticed the flight of the deva army from the battle-field, he, too, turned his chariot back and flew in the air. When the chariot was going high, Sakka noticed some eagle-nests on some tall trees, which were likely to be hit by the chariot. Further, any change in the direction would have meant his captivity in the hands of the demons. So, the compassionate king of the devas, in order to save the young ones of the eagles ordered his charioteer to turn back to fight the demons. So, he gave a mighty battle-cry and brandished his weapon to strike at the tailing enemies. When the demons saw the king of the devas turning about and ready to fight they fled as they thought that the valiant king, true to his chivalrous reputation had resorted to some fresh battle-strategy with some fresh reinforcements. Soon the devas regained their kingdom; and the young ones of the eagles also survived. Sakka's nymphs The two hand-maids of Sakka, Ajanta  As per the mythology Sakka has 25 million hand-maids and 2500 dove-footed pretty nymphs (kakutapadaniyo). [It was the sight of these which tempted Buddha’s step brother Nanda: see Jataka No.93 Sakka descending to help Guttila, the great musician of Varanasi at the concert Sakka was there poised in the air to help the guru-musician --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 046 - Mahajanaka’s Renunciation   Mahajanaka Jataka, Ajanta When Mahajanaka of Mithila died his eldest son Aritthajanaka became the king and his younger brother Polajanaka became the Viceroy. But some confusion made the younger brother rebellious. Then a war followed in which the elder brother was killed.  But before Polajanaka could usurp the throne the chief queen, who was then in a family way escaped with her unborn son and plenty of gems to a far off land, where she lived with some ascetic like his sister. There, she delivered the prince, who was named after his grandfather. When the prince was sixteen he decided to capture his father’s kingdom. So, to raise money and muster up troops he sailed to the Suvannabhumi (Myanmaar). On the way, the boat capsized and he strove hard to survive on the sea to reach the shore. On the seventh day a celestial nymph named Manimekhala saw him struggling hard to survive and was impressed by his valour and strong determination. So, she gave him the offer to take him to his destination to realise his ambition. When Mahajanaka accepted the offer she tossed him in the air like a flower and held him up in the air and flew to Mithila where she placed him in a mango grove. When being placed there, Mahajanaka was in his deep slumber. The people celebrating the coronation of Mahajanaka, Ajanta King Mahajanaka riding on an elephant, Ajanta That was the time when king Polanajasaka, the king of Mithila died. As he had no son and as he had wished on his death-bed that his successor had to be acceptable to the princess Sivali his ministers had sent a royal chariot accompanied with bands and beating of drums to look for an ideal groom all around. Finally, they located a person sleeping under a tree. The royal chaplain saw the auspicious marks on his feet and recommended him for the royal invitation. Further, when Mahajanaka solved all the riddles to impress the princess and pass the tests to qualify as the king of Mithila. he was married to the the princess. So, he became the ruler of Mithila. Sivali bore him a son named Dighavukumara. Toilet scene of the lady. Sivali is dressing her best to impress Mahajanaka. She looks impatient as she places her legs in an awkward position, Ajanta One day, strolling in the royal mango-grove the king noticed that a fruit-laden mango tree was ravaged by the people, however, a barren tree on the other side was left untouched; and lay in peace. So, the quest for peace in the king became intense in his heart and he resolved to give up all the fruits of riches and worldly life. Since then he led the life of a recluse. Pretty Sivali, however, tried to win him over in many ways. She dressed her best and used the best of the cosmetics to allure him but failed. Detached, the king eventually renounced the royal life and retired as a hermit in a forest. He who does all a man can do is free from guilt towards his kin The lord of heaven acquits him too and he feels no remorse within. (Cowell 36)  So, I will ever do my best to fight through ocean to the shore While strength holds out I still will strive nor yield till I can strive no more. (Cowell 37)   Sivali in her best dress and cosmetics to allure Mahajanaka, Ajanta Mahajanaka looks detached when Sivali is trying to allure him, Ajanta Mahajanaka is identified with Bodhisatta; and Sivali with Rahulamata. This Jataka exemplifies the viriya-paramita (“Perfection of Valour”). Mahajanaka Jataka  Jataka Pali No. 539 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 047 - The Wine-Jar   Once, the Bodhisatta was born as Sakka, the king of the heaven and upheld the values of  compassion and purity; modesty  and self-restraint; benevolence and charity; and the zeal for the good and happiness of others.  Sabbamitta involved in drinking. His dress suggests that he was probably a king of Persia, Ajanta The Thai version Normally, the creatures under the influence of wealth and opulence are unwatchful to the interests of the others. But Sakka, the lord of heaven, was ever watchful of others’ interests as well.  One day, when he was casting his eyes over the world of men he saw king Sarvamitra, drinking alcohol in some bad company. As he was well aware of the evils of drinking he desired to protect the king as he believed: Men are prone to imitate one Who is foremost among them. Good and evil trickle from top And the people rally to partake below. So if the king is cured The good will flow. Thinking thus, the Bodhisatta transformed himself into the figure of a majestic personae with a jar filled up with the best quality of wine and appeared in the court of Sarvamitra when he was enjoying liquor with his friends. The sudden appearance of the Bodhisatta was a surprise and they all stood up to welcome him with reverence. The Bodhisatta then showed his intention to sell the jar of wine by saying: Lo, she is filled up to her neck Flowers laugh around her neck She has dressed in a splendid jar Now who ‘ll  buy this jar. When the king asked his identity, he added, Before you know who am I Buy this jar of mine. As you fear not - The sufferings of the other world - Blended so finely in this wine. Listening to the wine-seller the king wondered, “How on earth this person is making the publicity of the ills of his own product instead of extolling its good qualities?” The king then asked him to state the real virtues of the wine. And the Bodhisatta said, One, who drinks Loses all self-control By the effect of the stupefying intoxicant; Mind becomes numb And no distinction is then done From what is to be eaten and what not. So, buy this jar. If you desire to behave like a brute-beast; And give a chance to your enemy to laugh Thank her for making you dance in an assembly With your mouthful  music. When she dances on your head Even the bashful loses all shame And remembers no dress-restraint Shedding clothes then like naked Nigantthas boldly walk on a highway Such is the merit of jar Which is on sale. Soiled all over You can lie senseless Vomiting on a cross-road To invite the street dogs Lick your face. Such is the bountiful beauty Poured in the jar. Even a woman-addict By its power can fasten her parents on a tree And disgrace her husband No matter he be wealthy like Kubera Thus is the trade of the jar Which is on sale. The noblest of the families And the lords of the devas Have lost their splendour of abodes; And perished Thus is the virtue of the jar on sale. This makes one’s tongue and legs stagger And puts off every check in weeping and laughing; The eyes become dull to make a demon dwell And one becomes a living object of contempt. She lies in this jar To empower one to boldly make falsehood to be true; And make a forbidden act Commitable with pleasure’ To hold one back from what is good; And propel one to that which is not good, As she is Curse-incarnate. O king! if you want to Kill your innocent father And mother And ruin your future You must then buy this liquor filled in the jar. The king was wise. He appreciated the message of Sakka and abjured drinking for good. Even modest folk, intoxicate With wine, will most indecent be And wisest men when drunk will prate And babble very foolishly.   (E.B.Cowell 512.17) See Kumbha.Jataka Jataka Pali No.512; Jataka Mala 17. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 048 - The Sacrifice of Sivi Once Bodhisatta was born in Aritthapura as a king with the name Sivi. He was a pious king reputed for his charity. No one ever returned empty-handed from his court. Yet, he was never satisfied with his alms giving. In the zeal to donate more and more once it flashed on his mind to donate some part of his body if asked by some one. This thought aroused the curiosity of Sakka, the lord of the devas to examine the firmness of his will. So, in the guise of a blind brahmin he arrived at Sivi’s court and begged for his eyes. Despite the shocks and persuasions and oppositions by the courtiers the king agreed to donate his eyes to the beggar. He removed his eyes resembling the petals of a blue lotus with a knife and offered them to Sakka. Surprisingly, those eyes got fixed in the beggar’s face. The Brahmin was then able to see. But the king became blind; and with the loss of the eyes his visage looked like a lotus-pond with no lotus. When the king’s wound healed he visited a secluded floral garden on the bank of a pond. There, he sat on a couch under the trees laden with flowers and thought of his future without eyes. Sakka, watching him from the heaven felt sorry for him. So, he descended there to oblige him with a boon. When the king desired for the restoration of his eyes, he then advised him to perform the sacchakiriya (act of truth) to restore his eyes. Sivi, to Perform the sacchakiriya recited: If the thankful blessings of a beggar Arouse similar pleasure When enunciated before And enunciated after the Act of the donations  O My Eye! Must you then reappear”. And thus his one eye appeared . He then added, If the pleasure in offering the second eye Has given equal pleasure Like the offering of the first eye O My Eye! You must then reappear”. If I was equally pleased to offer The other eye to the person, Who I gave the first Then let the other eye also reappear.” Thus, the second eye of the king also emerged. The earth then trembled in its joy. The oceans crossed their boundaries with the gay effusions. And the songs and music of the celestial beings echoed all over. The celestial nymphets hovered in the sky with their wide-open eyes. Sun emanated its warmth like a winter day and the trees showered their flowers in profusion. Thus it is said: The sole worth of the worthless wealth Is its charitability; As what is given in charity accumulates into the [meritorious] treasury; And what is not used as benefaction Is rather a fruitless consumption.  (Dhanasya nissaralaghoh sa saro yaddiyate lokahitonmukhena / Nidhanato yati hi diyamanamadiyamanam nidhanaekanistam //)  - Jataka-Mala 2.50 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 049 - The Box of the Monster   Samugga-Jataka, Bharhut The monster and the woman, the Thai version Once the Bodhisatta lived as a hermit in the Himalayan foothills. He lived on the wild fruits and had developed great supernatural powers. Not far from his hut there lived a monster, who was attracted to the teachings of the Bodhisatta and often visited him to listen to his sermons. Yet, the influence of the sage did not transform his basic instinct, and he continued to practise killing men and eating them. One day, a gorgeous young lady of Kashi was on her way to her parents. When she entered the forest escorted by her armed men, the monster saw them; and attacked them by assuming a terrible form. No sooner than the lady’s men saw the monster they all fled by dropping their weapons and leaving the lady and her carriage behind. Bewitched by the beauty of the maiden the monster thought of marrying her; and not to kill or eat her. So, he brought her to his cave and made her his wife. Since then, he fed her ghee, honey, husked rice, fish and meat and so on and brought her the costliest dress and ornaments. But he did not trust her loyalty. So, to keep her guarded, he placed her in a box, which he swallowed and kept inside his tummy.  One day, he went to a lake to take bath. So, he spat out the box and threw it on the shore. He then took out his woman and anointed her and bathed her in the lake. Then he dressed her in a pretty dress and let her move freely on the shore to enjoy the fresh breath and went to the lake for a dip. When the monster was off to the lake the woman saw the son of Vayu (Wind), walking through air with a sword tied in his waist. He was a great magician. Attracted to the magician’s personality, she beckoned him for amusement. When the magician came down, she asked him to enter the box  quickly and hide there if he wanted to have fun with her. And before the monster could return, she herself slid inside the box and sat on top of him by covering him with her dress. When the monster returned, he swallowed the box in a routine course and flew to the abode of the hermit to hear his discourse.  The hermit welcomed him and said, “I welcome you three!.” Surprised the monster asked, “Why ‘three’ when I am with my wife only.” The hermit then told him the truth and informed him that the dangerous magician was also sitting inside the box.  Having learnt that the magician was inside his tummy with a sword; and was likely to rip open his belly, he spat out the box instantly and discovered what the hermit had said was true. Luckily, the magician had not fully drawn out his sword by then though he had opened the box. And no sooner than the box was dropped on the ground Vayu Putta, which was the name of the magician, wafted in the air with his sword and dissolved into the air. Had the magician remained a little longer in the belly he would have certainly killed the monster by his sword. Thus saved by the ascetic’s knowledge the monster bowed before him and thanked him for saving his life. The Bodhisatta in turn advised him to set the woman free; and tread the path of virtuousity.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 050 - The Lotus Stalk  Bhisha-Jataka, Bharhut Once the Bodhisatta was born in an illustrious family of scholars. He had six younger brothers and one sister. Having mastered the Vedas and the Upavedas (medicinal science, military science, music and architecture) he became famous for his erudition. Further, he attended to his old and senile parents with great care; and taught his siblings, too. When his parents died; and the funeral ceremony was over, he made a sudden announcement to renounce the worldly life. All his seven brothers and his only sister, too, decided to join him as ascetics. So, they all gave up the worldly belongings and started for the forest. They had two faithful servants, too, one male and one female, who also accompanied them as they loved their masters. They went to a forest, where there was a large blue lake, which in the day-time displayed the resplendency of expanding lotus-beds; and at nights the exuberance of myriad water lilies exposing their calyxes. All the ascetics decided to stay there and built as many huts as they numbered. There, they strictly adhered to their vows and observances and would meet only on every fifth day to listen to the discourse of the Bodhisatta. There lived a yakkha, a monkey and an elephant in the same forest, who also joined the audience to listen to the discourse.   The Bodhisatta giving discourse to his audience, which was also attendend by an elephant and a monkey. The maid servant still served them food. She collected the eatable lotus-stalks out of the lake and divided them in eight equal parts on the large lotus-leaves at a clean place on the lake shore. She would then beat the two pieces of sticks to announce that the food was ready. She would then walk away silently. Each of the mendicants would then come according to the seniority and pick up his or her share and go back to the respective hut. Thus, they avoided talking and interacting with each other as an ascetic practice. Their penance won them great fame. Sakka, the lord of the celestial beings also heard of their reputation and one day when the food was placed in eight places for the eight ascetics and the announcement of the meal-time was made, he pinched the share of the Bodhisatta to examine the seriousness of his austerity. When the Bodhisatta came and saw his share missing, he quietly went back to his hut to continue with his meditation. Others, however, came and went away with their shares without knowing that the Bodhisatta’s share was stolen. Sakka, likewise, stole the Bodhisatta’s share consecutively for the following four days. On the fifth day, when all the ascetics assembled they noticed that the Bodhisatta looked extremely emaciated and his voice, too, was feeble. After a brief investigation it was discovered that he had to live without any food for five consecutive days as his food was stolen. All the mendicants then one by one swore that the thief should go back to the house-hold life and become prosperous. No body showed any malice against anybody. The yaksa, the monkey and the elephant who came to listen to the discourse, also prayed for the welfare of the unknown thief. The prayers and good wishes for the thief made Sakka feel guilty. He then appeared before them and bowed before the Bodhisatta  to praise his virtues and to confess his sin.