| J.186 |
Dadhivaahana Jaataka |
Once four brothers of Kasi became ascetics in the Himalayas. The eldest died and
was born as Sakka -- he visited the others and gave them respectively: a magic razor-axe
(which could be used as a razor or an axe), a drum (one side of which drove away
elephants, while the other side made friends with them) and a bowl from which a stream
of curd flowed at itís possessorís will. In a beautiful island far away lived a wild
boar who owned a gem which enabled its possessor to travel through the air. A shipwrecked
sailor from Kasi stole this while the boar slept and with it travelled to the Himalayas.
There he met the ascetics and exchanged the gem for their possessions. Later he returned
and killed the ascetics, regaining the gem. He then went to Benares and took possession
of the throne, becoming known as King Dadhivahana, because he drowned all enemies
in a river of curds. In his garden grew a mango tree cultivated from a stone which
had floated down from Lake Kannamunda. He sent fruits from this tree as presents
to the neighbouring kings, but always pricked the mango stone with a thorn so that
it should not bear fruit. Once, an offended king sent to Dadhivahana a gardener whom
he bribed to destroy the flavour of the mangoes. The king gave him employment, but
the gardener by growing bitter creepers round the mango tree, destroyed the flavour
of the fruit. The Bodhisatva, who was the kingís counsellor, discovered the plot
and had the creepers removed. The story was related to illustrate the effects of
evil association. |
57/200 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.101ff. |
associating with fools |