Uluka-Jataka, Mathura
The hostility of an owl and a crow is well known down the ages. What is, however, not known is the traditional animosity of an owl for a crow. Once, when the Buddha was dwelling in the Jetavana in Savatthi he was reported the killings of several crows by an owl. In this context, the Buddha narrated the origin of the animosity between the two species.
During the first cycle of the creation of the world men assembled and chose a handsome, gracious, commanding and a perfect man as the king for themselves. The animals, too, gathered and chose lion as their king. The fishes too chose a large fish named Ananda as their king. Then all the birds, too, gathered to choose their king.
In course of their search, they voted for the owl. Twice they proclaimed, “Here is the bird, who we like”. But when the same announcement was repeated for the third time, the crow made a strong protest against the proclamation. He cried, “Why should an angry-looking owl be made a king, when there are younger and wiser birds around. The owl even without looking angrily pops others like the sesamum seeds when thrown on a hot pot. So, what would happen to us when he be really angry?” Cawing these words the crow flew away and the owl chased him in anger. Since then, the two are at the loggers head.
The birds then crowned a goose as their king, who was none other than the Bodhisatta.
Uluka Jataka Jataka Pali No. 270
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022 - The Feast of the Dead
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Once a brahmin priest decided to sacrifice a goat on the occasion of the Feast of the Dead. So, he had a goat fetched and asked his pupils to bathe it in the river. When being bathed the goat first burst out into laughter but soon began to cry.
When the surprised pupils asked the goat to explain the reason for such behaviour, it promised to oblige them only in presence of the priest. So, the pupils brought the goat before the priest and asked the same question. The goat then narrated the story of its previous birth when it, too, was a brahmin priest and had sacrificed a goat on a similar occasion. As a result of that it had had his head cut off four hundred and ninety-nine times; and the present sacrifice would be its last one. So, it laughed at the prospect of redemption from the guilt. Further, explaining the reason for its cry it said that the brahmin would be doomed for five hundred times in similar way. So, it cried for him out of sheer compassion.
The priest said, “fear not O compassionate goat! I spare your life”.
The goat said, “Sir! You may spare me; but the evil deed of my past life shall not spare me. My head shall be chopped off, today.”
“We shall protect you from being killed”, said the priest.
“No Sir! Weak is your protection; and strong is the force of my evil karma. My head has to be chopped off, today”, said the goat.
The priest then let the goat go loose under surveillance. Soon the goat reached out its neck to browse the leaves of a bush. Just then a thunder-bolt struck the rock above the bush; and its fragment hit the neck of the goat, which tore its head off.
Mataka-Bhatta Jataka Pali Jataka No.18.
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| 023 - The Heart of the Monkey |
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Vanarendra-Jataka, Mathura
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The crocodile
Once, there lived a big and strong monkey on the bank of a river. In the middle of the river, there was an island, which bore seasonal fruits like mangoes and jack-fruits. The island was at a distance of one-leap from a large piece of rock, which lay in between the island and the bank. The monkey often used the rock as a spring-board to jump at the island to enjoy its fruits.
A crocodile also lived in the river with his wife. She was very dear to him. One day, the female crocodile expressed the desire to eat the heart of the monkey. So, she asked the crocodile to catch the monkey and bring her his heart, if he loved her. The crocodile readily agreed and dipped into the river to catch the monkey.
That day, when the monkey was enjoying the fruits in the island, the crocodile went to the lone rock, which the monkey used as a jumping pad to reach the island, and cuddled about it. Upon his return the monkey noticed that the rock looked bigger than its usual size. He instantly suspected that something was amiss. He thought, “Perhaps, some crocodile was hiding behind it!”. To verify the reality, he then spoke to the rock, “Dear Rock ! Why are you silent, today? Why don’t you say hello to me, today?” The crocodile thought that the rock, indeed, was a talking rock. So he responded on behalf of the rock by saying, “Dear monkey, how do you do?” Now, the monkey knew that his suspicion was not unfounded. To further confirm the presence of the enemy, he shouted, “The rocks are not supposed to speak. Now, I know somebody is behind it. Would you come out and reveal your identity?”
The crocodile then came out behind the rock and proudly declared his identity; and also his intention to eat his heart. The monkey was caught into the devil and the deep sea! Staying back in the island was not desirable because the place could hardly provide him enough food to survive there much longer. So, he decided to return to his abode on the bank. So, to devise his escape he bluffed, “Sir! As I cannot escape now; I would like to offer my body to you. Should you open your mouth, I would straight way jump into it”. The monkey was wise, he knew that once a crocodile opened up its jaw, its eyes would be closed. The crocodile agreed and no sooner than he opened up his jaws his eyes were shut. Taking advantage of the situation the clever monkey jumped upon the crocodile’s head and darted on the bank safely.
When the crocodile opened up his eyes and saw the monkey safe on the bank he praised the latter’s wisdom by saying:
O Monkey ! With the combination of the truth, foresight,
Strong determination and fearlessness one always routs the enemy.
See Vanarinda Jataka Jataka Pali No. 56 (Some editions enlist it as No. 57)
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| 024 - The Story of a Rooster
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The rooster on the tree and the cat proposing marriage, Bharhut
Once, the Bodhisatta was born as a rooster and lived in a forest with several hundred kinsmen. In the same forest there lived a wily cat. She had caught and killed many roosters. As the Bodhisatta had foiled all her manouverings to be caught, she decided to take a fresh course of action to catch him. So, one day she came and stopped near a bush, where the Bodhisatta was sitting. She tried to cajole him by praising his look and other features. Finally, she proposed to woo him and remain his faithful wife. So, she mewed,
You have the nice flashy wings, and a graceful crest
Accept me as your wife; I shall serve you the best
So leave the bough and come to me
Enjoy life and be care-free.
The rooster said,
O Cat! You have four feet and I have two
So, Look for other mortal to woo.
Beasts and birds cannot be one;
Try your luck elsewhere as you are winsome.
The cat again repeated her request with the hope that the rooster would be beguiled and come down to him to be an easy prey. But the rooster spoke in dry and candid words,
You have drunk my kin’s blood; and
Destroyed and killed them mercilessly.
Now you propose to be my ‘honoured wife’
When you have no kindness for me.
Having been rejected, the cat never ever dared to meet her eyes with the rooster again; and left for some other place for good.
Kukkuta Jataka Jataka Pali No.383
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| 025 - The Story of a Tigeress |
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Vyaghri-Jataka, Mathura
| Once, the Bodhisatta was born in a respectable family of the scholars; and mastered several Shastras. Soon he was disillusioned with the worldly life and renounced the same for the spiritual uplift. In course of time, he proved his excellence in his pursuit and became the guru of several ascetics. One day, when wandering in a forest along with his disciple Ajita, he saw from the top of a hill that a tigress was lurking to kill and eat her own cubs out of hunger. Moved by compassion he thought of sacrificing his own body to feed the tigress and save the cubs. So, he sent away his disciple in search of some food for the tigress lest he might prevent him from his sacrifice. No sooner than Ajita left the site, the Bodhisatta jumped from the precipice in front of the tigress and offered his body. The noise of the fall caught the attention of the hungry tigress, who in no time scooped over him and tore him off in pieces and feasted upon them with her cubs.
When Ajita returned and did not find his guru in the same place, he looked around and was surprised to see that the tigress was no longer looked hungry. Her cubs were also frolicking. But soon, he was shocked to detect the blood stained rags of his guru’s dress scattered there. So, he knew that his guru had offered his body to feed a hungry tigress and protected her young ones as an act of great charity. Now, he also knew why was he sent away by his guru. |
The Bodhisatta offering his life to save the cubs, the Thai version
He bowed his head out of reverence for his guru who had exemplified the supreme sacrifice.
Pasya samsara-nairgunya mrgyesa svasutanapi /
Langhitasneha maryada bhoktum anvicchati ksudha //18//
(Lo ! The way of the world:
The tigress transgresses all limits of affection
And casts a desiring gaze to devour [her own babies]
To appease her hunger).
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| 026 - The Pigeon and The Crow |
In ancient India people used to hang up straw baskets in various places to give shelter and comforts to the birds. Thus, the cook of the king’s treasurer, too, hung up one such basket to comfort of the birds. Soon a pigeon found his abode in the basket. In the dawn he would fly outside in search of food and return in the evening.
Lola-Jataka, Bharhut
One day, a crow flying over the kitchen smelt the flavour of the fishes being cooked. He developed a strong longing for the dishes. So, he looked for an opportunity to steel some pieces. Soon he noticed the pigeon returning from his usual course of outing. Then it occurred to him to befriend the pigeon to contrive a way to enjoy some pieces of meat.
With this thought in his mind, he approached the naïve pigeon and began conversation in sweet tongue. The pigeon in turn welcomed his friendship; but at the same time cautioned him not to steel anything from the kitchen.
When the cook saw the two in friendship he uttered, “Well, my bird has brought his friend, I must hang up another basket for him, too.” So, he hung up another basket for the crow.
Next day, the cook dressed several kinds of fishes and began cooking them in a pan. He then kept the lid on the pan and kept a colander on top of it and stepped outside to wipe out the sweat from his brow. Just then the crow stuck out its neck and saw the cook out of the kitchen. Giving in to his temptations he found a good opportunity to scoop at a large piece of meat. But when scooping at his target he dropped the colander with a thudding noise. Alarmed, the cook rushed inside the kitchen and saw the crow attempting to pilfer a piece of fish, which he was cooking for his master. Incensed at the crow’s attempt to steel he shouted, “O rascal! You deserve a lesson”, and he went to the door and shut it properly. Next, he caught the crow and plucked out its feather and daubed it in hot spices and salt all over his body and threw him back in a basket, where he lay groaning in agony.
In the evening when the pigeon returned and saw the crow breathing his last, he said, “Look O crow! As you are head strong and not paid heed to the counsels of a true friend you have to perish surely”.
The wise pigeon then changed his abode could foresee that he, too, may incur the wrath of the cook as being a friend of the crow. So, he in no time flew away in search of a new home.
Next morning, when the cook returned to the kitchen and found the crow dead, he hurled him along with his basket upon a heap of dust and garbage.
See Lola Jataka Jataka Pali No. 274.
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| 027 - The Story of Romaka Pigeon |
| Once the Bodhisatta was born as the king of the pigeons in a cave of the hills. His name was Romaka. Close to those hills there lived an ascetic. Romaka visited him time to time to listen to his sermons. But one day, the ascetic left his hut and went to some other place. By and by, a spurious hermit came to live in the same hut.
One day, the villagers served some sumptuous spicy dish to the false ascetic, who in turn relished it much. Having learnt that it was the pigeon’s meat, he developed a strong yearning to eat more of the pigeons’ meat. He then recalled that several pigeons lived close by in the hills, and often visited his hut. So, he planned to kill and cook them.
Next day, he made all preparations to cook the pigeons’ meat. He went outside and brought some rice andghee, spices, salt and pepper to cook the pigeons’ flesh. He then concealed a staff inside his robe and waited at the hut-door for the pigeons. Luckily, that day, the pigeons flew close to the hut under the leadership of Romaka, who before landing ensured the safety of the site. There, he smelt the spicy odour inside the hut and was alarmed. So, he ordered his followers to keep flying and not to descend there.
When the spurious ascetic noted that the pigeons were flying away, he coaxed them in sweet words. Romaka then expressed his distrust in response. When the false ascetic learnt that his plot to kill them was no longer a secret, he angrily hurled the staff upon the pigeon king, which, however, missed him. So, he muttered “Oh! I missed you!”
Hearing so, Romaka shouted back, “Yes, you missed us, but you will not miss the purgatories where you will suffer for ages. Further, if you stay here, in the place of a hermit any longer, I shall reveal your real identity to the villagers, who in turn shall punish you.”
Frightened with the threat, the spurious ascetic left the hermitage for some unknown place.
See Romaka Jataka Jataka Pali No.277.
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| 028 - The Story of Khardiya Deer |
Kharadiya / Tipallatthamiga-Jataka, Bharhut
Once the Bodhisatta was born as a deer and dwelt in a forest. He was as the leader of many hundred deer. One day, his sister came to him with her son and requested him to teach him the deer-tricks for his self-protection. The deer chief readily complied with the request and promised her that he would do the best for his nephew. He asked the young one to visit him on the following day at a particular time to take the lessons. But the young deer was very playful. He did not turn up. The deer chief, however, waited for him. He waited for him on the following day but the nephew did not appear. Thus, seven days elapsed but he did not show his face. On the eighth day, his sister came. She was wailing. She informed him that her son was caught in a snare and she wanted him to be rescued. As she had no apprehension that her son had never visited him to take any lesson, she blamed him, too, by saying that he had not taught her son any deer-trick. The deer chief then said, “Look sister, your son is a rascal. He never wanted to learn; and he had never turned up to take any lesson. Now, nothing could be done to save him.”
Next morning, the hunter came and saw the young deer caught in a snare. He was delighted. He immediately took out a sharp knife and killed the deer and packed his skin and flesh to sell in the market.
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029 - The Thankless Monkey
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Dubhiya-Makkata-Jataka, Bharhut
Once, there lived a gentleman in the outskirt of Varanasi. Close to his house was a highway, where there was a deep well. The travelers often used to drag water by a bucket tied with a rope. Further, they filled a trough for the animals to earn merit. Close to the highway there was a dense forest where lived several monkeys.
One day, it so happened that no traveler passed through the highway. So, no body poured any water into the trough for the animals and it was empty. So, when a thirsty monkey came to the well to look for the water and found the trough empty, he was restless.
By chance the civilised man walked through that road and drew some water for himself and quenched his thirst. Satisfied, when he looked up he noticed the monkey tormented with thirst and jumping up and down to drink water. So, he drew more water from the well and poured it in the trough for the monkey before taking some rest under the tree.
The monkey in no time came to the trough and drank the water to his satisfaction. But after quenching his thirst he started making faces to frighten the man. The man murmured, “o monkey! I helped you by giving water to quench your thirst and you reciprocate nastiness. Can’t you do better than that”. The monkey overheard it and jumped on the tree over his head and said, “Yes I can do better than that;” and he dropped excreta on his head and darted and disappeared into the forest by shrieking, “This is our manner of reciprocity”.
The man again drew water from the well but to wash himself.
Bodhisatta was the civilised traveler those days.
Dubhiya Makkata Jataka Jataka Pali No.174
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030 - Can A Fool Ever Act Good!
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Aramaduksaka-Jataka, Bharhut
Once, the people of Varanasi were holidaying on a religious day. The king’s gardener, too, desired to participate in the religious festivities. As he had obliged the monkeys by giving them shelter in the royal park he approached the monkey king with a request to water the plants in his absence. The monkey king acceded to his request and assured him that he and his mates would do so. When the gardener departed he summoned all the monkeys and instructed them to water the plants. As he owed gratitude to the gardener he warned his followers not to waste water, which the gardener had so diligently harnessed. Further, in order to save the water he advised them to water the plants according to the size of their roots. The monkeys then started pulling out each of the plants to measure the size of the roots to pour water according to their sizes. They poured plenty of water on the plants having large roots; and little water on the plants having small roots. Thus, in minutes they pulled out all the plants to irrigate them according to the size of their roots.
When a passing wise man saw the monkeys acting in a bizarre way he demanded an explanation from them for their foolish actions. The monkeys then said to him that they were acting strictly on advice of their benefactor – the gardener – as he had given them the shelter.
The wise man, however, told them how to irrigate the plants without damaging them. But before leaving, he uttered:
With every desire to do good
A fool only harms others.
See Aramadusaka Jataka Jataka Pali No. 268. |
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कोणत्याही टिप्पण्या नाहीत:
टिप्पणी पोस्ट करा