| J.035 |
Va.t.taka Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once born as a quail and before he was old enough to fly, fire
broke out in the forest where his nest was built. Seeing no means of escape, he made
an Act of Truth (saccakiriya) calling to his mind the holiness of the Buddhas and
their doctrines. The fire retreated to a distance of sixteen lengths and extinguished
itself. The Jataka was related in reference to a fire which broke out in the jungle
when the Buddha was travelling in Magadha with a large company of monks. Some of
the monks were frightened and suggested various methods for putting out the fire,
while others suggested they should ask for the Buddhaís protection. This they did,
and the Buddha took them to a certain spot where he halted. The flames came no nearer
than sixteen lengths from where they were standing and in approaching the spot, extinguished
themselves. When the monks marvelled at the great power of the Buddha, he told them
the Jataka and said that owing to his Act of Truth as a quail, that spot would never
be harmed by fire during the whole of this kappa. |
55/381 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.212ff. |
fire, truthfulness |