| J.208 |
Su.msumaara Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once a young monkey living on a river bank. A female crocodile
longed to eat his heart and her husband persuaded the monkey to be carried from one
side of the river to the other on his back in search of wild fruits. In midstream
he began to sink and revealed his purpose. The monkey, undaunted, said that monkeys
did not keep their hearts in their bodies for fear of their being torn to pieces
on the trees, but that they hung them on trees, and pointing to a ripe fig tree,
showed the crocodile what he said was his heart. The crocodile took him to the tree
and the monkey jumped ashore and laughed at him. The story was told in reference
to Devadatta’s attempt to kill the Buddha. The crocodile is identified with Devadatta
and his wife with Ci~nca. See also Vaanara
Jataka (J.342). |
57/310 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.159ff. |
wits |