| J.404 |
Kapi Jaataka |
Once the Bodhisatva and Devadatta were both born as monkeys. One day a mischievous
monkey sat above a gateway and let excrement fall onto the head and into the mouth
of the kingís chaplain as he passed through the arch. The chaplain swore vengeance
on the monkeys and the Bodhisatva, hearing of it, counselled them to move elsewhere.
His advice was followed by all except the monkey who was Devadatta and a few followers.
Some time later a goat ate rice laid in the sun to dry. It was beaten with a flaming
torch setting it on fire. It in turn set the royal elephant stalls on fire, burning
the elephants. Seizing the opportunity, the chaplain told the king that the elephant
burns could be cured by monkey fat. Five hundred monkeys in the royal gardens were
thereby slain by archers for the sake of their fat. The story was told in reference
to Devadatta being swallowed up by the earth. See also Kaka
Jataka (J.140). |
59/297 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.355ff. |
consideration |