| J.154 |
Uraga Jaataka |
The king of Benares once held a festival so wonderful that it attracted the inhabitants
of other planes of existence. A naga in the crowd, not noticing that his neighbour
was a garuda, laid a hand on his shoulder. Discovering his mistake, he was frightened
to death and ran away, pursued by the garuda. The naga came to a river where the
bodhisatva, an ascetic, was bathing. The naga hid in the bodhisatvaís bark garment.
The garuda would not attack the naga out of respect for the ascetic. The latter took
both back to his hermitage, and made them mutual friends by preaching the blessings
of loving kindness. The story was related in reference to two soldiers who were in
the habit of quarrelling whenever they met. Not even the king could reconcile them.
The Buddha visited them at their homes and, having made them both sotapanas, took
them to see each other. Thenceforth they were the best of friends, and marvelled
at the Buddhaís power. |
57/022 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.012ff. |
loving kindness, friendship |