| J.087 |
Ma"ngala Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once an udicca-brahmin, who having entered the ascetic life, lived
in the Himavanta forest. One day he visited Rajagaha, and the king invited him to
stay in the royal park. While he was there, a brahmin who believed in omens shown
on clothes (dussalakkhana brahmana) found a garment in his chest that had been gnawed
by mice, and fearing disaster wished to have it thrown out into the charnel ground.
unwilling to entrust the job to anyone else, he gave the clothes to his son to throw
away. The bodhisatva picked up the garment, in spite of grave warnings, saying that
no wise man should believe in omens. The Jataka was told in reference to a superstitious
brahmin of Rajagaha who had his clothes thrown away in the manner related above.
The Buddha was waiting in the charnel ground and picked up the garments. When the
brahmin protested, he related the Jataka and preached to him on the folly of paying
heed to superstitions. At the end of the sermon, father and son became sotapannas.
The characters in both stories are the same. |
56/303 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.371ff. |
superstition |