| J.176 |
Ka.laayamu.t.thi Jaataka | Kalaayamu.t.thi Jaataka |
Brahmadatta, king of Benares, once started off during the rainy season to quell a
border rising. He stopped on the way, while his men steamed peas and put them into
troughs for the horses to eat. A monkey came down from a nearby tree, filled its
mouth and hands with peas and escaped back up the tree to eat them. One pea fell
from the monkeyís grasp, and letting all the others fall, the monkey clambered down
the tree to look for the lost one. The Bodhisatva, who was the kingís counsellor,
pointed out to the king how fools spend a pound to win a penny. On hearing this,
the king went back to Benares. The story was told to Pasenadi, who was going on a
similar expedition during the rains, and on his way visited the Buddha at Jetavana.
The king in the story is identified with Ananda. |
57/146 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.074ff. |
losing much to gain little |