| J.042 |
Kapotaka Jaataka |
Once the bodhisatva was born as a pigeon and lived in a straw basket hung in the
kitchen of a banker of Benares. A crow, sniffing the savour of food being cooked
in the kitchen and longing to taste it, struck up a friendship with the pigeon in
order to gain admission. In the evening, having searched for his food in the pigeonís
company, he accompanied him home, and the bankerís cook, on seeing him, prepared
a basket for him. One day, seeing some fish being prepared, the crow feigned illness
and stayed behind in his basket, in spite of the warnings of the pigeon, who suspected
his real reason. The cook caught the crow stealing a piece of fish and in order to
punish him, plucked his feathers and soused him in a pickle of ginger, salt and cumin
with sour butter milk. The pigeon returned to find the crow in this state, and having
learned the story, flew away, not wishing to live there any more. The crow died and
was flung on the dust-heap. The story was related in reference to a greedy monk who
was identified with the crow.See also the practically identical Lolaa
Jataka (J.274), Rujira
Jaataka (J.275), Kapotaka
Jaataka (J.375) and Kaaka
| Ma.ni Jaataka (J.395). |
56/016 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.241ff. |
greed |