| J.026 |
Mahilaamukha Jaataka |
Once Brahmadatta, king of Benares, owned a state elephant called Mahilamukha who
was gentle and good. One day thieves sat down outside his stable and started talking
of their plans for robbery and murder. Several days in succession this happened until
at last, by dint of listening to them, Mahilamukha became cruel and began to kill
his keepers. The king sent his minister (the bodhisatva) to investigate the matter.
He discovered what had happened and made good men sit outside the stables who talked
of various virtues. The elephant regained his former goodness and gentleness. The
story was related in reference to a monk who was persuaded by a friend to eat at
the monastery of Gayasisa built for Devadatta by Ajatasattu. The monk would steal
off there at the hour of the meal and then return to Veluvana. After some time his
guilty secret was discovered and he was admonished by the Buddha. He is identified
with Mahilamukha and the king with Ananda. see also the Giridanta
Jaataka (J.184) and Manoja
Jaataka (J.397). |
55/299 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.185ff. |
association |