| J.048 |
Vedabbha Jaataka |
There was once a brahmin who knew the Vedabbha charm which, if repeated at a certain
conjunction of the planets, caused seven precious things rain down from the sky.
The bodhisatva was his pupil, and one day when journeying in the forest, they were
attacked by 500 robbers called ëdespatchersí (pesankacoraa) who when taking two prisoners
would keep one and send the other for ransom. The robbers kept the brahmin and sent
the bodhisatva for the ransom. The bodhisatva knew that that night the awaited conjunction
of the stars would occur and warned his teacher not to make use of the charm. However,
when the night came, the brahmin called down a rain of jewels, delighting the robbers
and obtaining both their freedom. The robbers set off with their many treasures and
the brahmin travelled with them -- however, on the way they were hijacked by a second
band of robbers. These were told that the brahmin could make jewels fall from the
sky -- therefore the first band of robbers were set free and only the brahmin withheld.
On being told that they must wait for one year for the necessary conjunction of the
planets, they were angry, and sliced the brahmin in two. They pursued the first band
of robbers and destroyed them completely. unable to agree on the division of the
spoils obtained, the second band fought among themselves until only two were left.
These took the treasure and hid it in a jungle near the village. One guarded it while
the other went to the village for rice. When he returned he cooked the rice, ate
his share and put poison in the rest hoping thus to rid himself of his companion.
The latter however killed him, then ate the rice and died himself. The bodhisatva
returned with the ransom and finding all the dead bodies in various places, realized
what had happened. He took the treasure to his own house. The story is told in reference
to a self-willed monk who is identified with the Vedabbha brahmin. |
56/041 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.253ff. |
stubbornness |