| J.241 |
Sabbadaa†ha Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once the chaplain to the king of Benares and knew a spell called
Pathavijaya (world subduer). One day he retired to a remote place and was reciting
the spell. A jackal, hiding in a hole nearby, overheard him and memorized the spell
too. When the bodhisatva finished his recital, the jackal appeared before him and
declared ‘Ho! Brahmin! I have learned your spell and ran away.’ The bodhisatva chased
him but in vain. As a result of learning the spell, the jackal subdued all the creatures
of the forest and became their king under the name of Sabbadatha. On the back of
two elephants stood a lion and on the lion’s back sat Sabbadatha and his consort.
Filled with pride, the jackal wished to capture Benares and with his army, beseiged
the city. The king was alarmed, but the bodhisatva reassured him and having learned
from Sabbadatha that he intended to capture the city by deafening everyone by making
all the lions roar together, he gave orders for all the citizens to stop their ears
with flour. The bodhisatva then mounted the watchtower adn challenged Sabbadatha
to carry out his threat. This Sabbadatha did and even the lions on which he rode
joined in the roar. The elephants were so terrified that in their fright they dropped
Sabbadatha who was trampled to death. The carcases of the animals which died in the
tumult covered twelve leagues. The story was related in reference to Devadatta’s
attempts to injure the Buddha, which only resulted in harm to himself. The jackal
is identified with Devadatta and the king with Ananda. see also Mil. p.202. |
57/474 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.242ff. |
knowledge in a fool's hands |