| J.292 |
Supatta Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once a crow named Supatta, king of 84,000 crows. His chief mate
was Suphassaa and his chief companion Sumukha. One day, while Supatta and Suphassaa
were out looking for food, they noticed that the king’s cook had prepared a host
of dishes and had left some of them out in the open to cool. Suphassaa sniffed at
the food but said nothing. The next day, however, she wished to stay behind and taste
some of the king’s food. Supatta consulted his captain, and they went en masse setting
groups of crows round the kitchen. As the cook was taking the dishes on a pingo,
Sumukha, as arranged, attacked him by beak and claw and made him drop them. The crows
ate their fill and flew away with food for Supatta and Suphassaa. Sumukha was caught
and taken before the king, who had seen the incident. When questioned by the king,
the crow told him the whole story and said that he would gladly sacrifice his life
for his king Supatta. The king sent for Supatta and listened to his preaching, thereafter
protecting all creatures and practising a good life. The Jataka was told in reference
to Sariputta who had obtained a meal of fish-flavoured red rice and new ghee from
Pasenadi because he had been informed by Raahula that Raahulamaataa suffered from
gastric trouble and would be cured by such food. The king of Benares is identified
with Ananda, Sumukha with Sariputta and Suphassaa with Raahulamaataa. |
58/366 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.433ff. |
dietary needs |