Chiang Mai

Completed on 21 November 2021

Jatakamala Volume II: Story 121-263

Story 83: Story about Kalakanni (Having Bad Luck)

This story was told by the Buddha at Jetavana, regarding Kalakanni, a kindly friend of
Anathapindika. Kalakanni and Anathapindika were friends to each other, and they studied
together with the same teachers and same program. However, Kalakanni was not lucky, and
was in poverty. Hence, Kalakanni had to find Anathapindika to rely on Anathapindika. After
knowing the story of Kalakanni, Anathapindika tried to pacify him, and gave him to become
his manager.

During the time working and living in the house of Anathapindika, Kalakanni often heard
scornful words, such as “Stop walking. Hey, having bad luck”, “Sit down. Having bad luck”,
and “Eat. Hey, having bad luck!”

When other friends and relatives of Anathapindika paid a visit to his house, they all advised
Anathapindika: “Dear great millionnaire! Please, don’t let this unlucky guy live in your house.
He is not equal to you in any aspect. He is poor and destitute. Why do you keep him working
for you, and why do you consider him as your friend?”

Anathapindika: “Dear all. Please don’t consider the characteristics of a person through the
name. The name is the way to identify a person. Wisdom people will not value or look down on
people through their names. Also, please, don’t be confused that lucky or luckless, a person is
not due to the meaning of his name.”

One day, Anathapindika left home for his business in a village where he was appointed as the
manager. The robbers living nearby knew that Anathapindika left home, and they planned to
rob Anathapindiaka’s house. Luckily, Kalakanni predicted that the robbers would arrive that
night, so he did not sleep to wait for the robbers. When the robbers were coming, Kalakanni
woke other staff up, and they tried to beat the drums, blowing the horns loudly.
Hearing the loud noise from Anathapindika’s house, the robbers were threatened to drive back,
and they left behind many robbery tools. In the morning the next day, workers of Anathapindika
found many robbery tools surrounding the house. They praised Kalakanni: “If there was no
manager who is intelligent like you, the millionaire might lose their property to the robbers.”

When Anathapindika returned home, he was informed what happened, and he said: “Dear all.
It was lucky that I did not listen to your suggestions to expel Kalakanni, otherwise, I would
have lost my property to the robbers yesterday. So, be remembered that the meaning of the
name is nothing, but his mind”

Anathapindika decided to pay more salary for Kalakanni, and he went to the Buddha and told
him everything.

Buddha told Anathapindika:” Hey Anathapindika. It is not only today, but in the past, a person
named Kalakanni also saved his friend's property.”

“The story was about the time King Bramadatta was the king of Varanasi. At that time, a person
named Kalakanni also saved the property of his friend, a millionaire. In that period, Kalakanni
was Ananda, and the millionaire was me.”

Story 121: Story of Kasunali or the story of Kusa Grass

This story was told by the Buddha at Jetavana, regarding Kalakanni, a kindly friend of
Anathapindika. Other friends and relatives of Anathapindika all tried to advise him to make
friends with that guy.

They advised him: “This guy is unworthy of being your friend for races, family background,
inherited family fame and property.”

Anathapindika: “A good friendship is not due to anything among those.”

Anathapindika ignored all the suggestions and claims of others on Kalakanni, and he invited
Kalakanni to be the manager for his family. Kalakanni helped to rescue Anathapindika’s
property from the robbers as mentioned in the story No 83 (Story about Kalakanni).

The story of Kalakanni and Anathapindika, afterward, passed on to the Buddha, and the Buddha
said: “Hey! Anathapindika! A real friendship is not able to compare by any normal aspect, but
by the willingness and kindness to protect each other. A real friend is over any kind of property
that you possess, as a real friend is willing to solve all problems that you have encountered.
Today, due to your real friend, Kalakanni, you could save your property.”

Buddha continued: “On this occasion, I am going to tell you all a story about the real friendship
of the deity of Kusa grass and a tree deity.”

“Once upon a time, when the king Bramadhatta governed the county of Varanasi, I was born
as a deity of Kusa grass in the garden of the palace of the king. Not far from my place, there is
a wishing tree which is planted near to the stone-chair that the king often gets to sit there. There
is a deity living in that wishing tree, and this deity was the afterlife of a great king in the past.
I and that deity were close friends to each other.

One day, one of the major pillars which held up for the stand of the palace was ruined, and the
king gathered all the carpenters working in the palace to find a big, solid tree to replace that
ruined pillar.

The carpenters walked toward ten directions to find the suitable tree, and they returned to
inform the king that: “Dear Sir! We already had a look around your garden, and we found out
that the wishing tree is available for use on this purpose.”

The King:” Take it easy! Let's cut it and alternate the ruined pillar. I will order people to plant
the new one.”

Carpenters brought the offerings to the wishing tree, and announced to the deities living in the
tree that they will cut the tree down tomorrow. The female deity, living in the wishing, at that
night, worried for her and her children would have no place to reside. The female deity carried
a child on the back, crying, and it made other deities living around get to pacify her. The deity
of Kusa grass confidently said:” Don’t worry. I will try to save this tree for you.”

The day after that, when the carpenters backed to cut the tree, the deity of Kusa grass manifested
as a gecko, attracting the attention of the carpenters. Then, the gecko moved to the root of the
wishing tree, entering a hole from the root, and appeared from a hole from the body of the tree.
Kusa deity made carpenters think that the wishing tree was hollow.

A carpenter:” Oh, it seems that this wishing tree is hollow, and it does not have a solid core.
So, better. We should find the other one.”
After the carpenters left, all the deities living around gathered to congratulate the deity of the
wishing tree, and on that occasion, the deity of the wishing tree expressed her opinion to others
and to idolized Kusa deity: “Dear all friends. We were born in good places and have more
powers than the deity of Kusa grass. However, we are not as smart as the deity of Kusa grass,
as he could calmly save my house. Therefore, we have to respect all friends who are the same,
higher or lower than us in powers, position or other aspects of life, as a real friend can assist
us to get rid of difficulties when we encounter.”

The deity of the wishing tree continued to sing a verse:

A real friend is overcome all the things

Such as the races, powers and positions

Close friends tend to stay together with us in the difficulties

Similar to the deity of Kusa saved my house

Therefore, no discrimination for a real friend

As their contribution for us is the most important

The deity of the wishing tree and deity of Kusa lived long, and when their lives were exhausted,
they were reborn based on their karma.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the deity of the wishing tree was Ananda, and
the deity of Kusa grass was me.

Story 122: The Story of The Fools (Previous life of Dummedha)

The Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove and the background of the story was related to
the assassination of Devadatta to the Buddha.

In the main-Dharma Hall, monks gathered and talked about the bad actions of Devadatta: “Dear
friends! When Devadatta looked at the Buddha, who has the beautiful face as the beauty of the
full moon on the sky, who has 32 perfection signs and possesses 80 distinctive beauties, who
has the distinctive halo which sparks out continuously in harmony and compassion, he,
Devadatta, was not able to control his jealousy and could not calm his mind when heard the
utter of others praising the perfection of Buddha on wisdom, concentration and disciplinary
acts.”
Then the Buddha arrived at the Dharma-Hall, and he asked the monks: “Monks! What are you
talking about?”

A monk revealed to the Buddha what they talked about, and, then, after knowing the issue of
the monks’ utter, Buddha said:” Not only in this life, but also in the past life, Devadatta already
showed his jealousy to me.”

And the, Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when the king Magadha was ruling the county of Rājagaha, there was born
a white elephant, with all perfect and distinctive signs of beauty. And, king Magadha was
appointed it to be the national king of the elephant in the county.

One day, during the national festival, all the corners of the county were decorated elegantly
and beautifully as the heaven. King Magadha was sitting on the while-elephant, marching
around the county. Wherever the king went through, people stood crowded on both sides of the
road, watching the elegance of the king and the white-elephant.

Many people were surprised by the beauty of the white-elephant that the king rode:” Its traits
are delightful and charming, and graceful were its moves. Such elephants should belong to the
universal king. “

All the praises of people’ utterance to the white elephant extremely made king Magadha raise
up his jealousy, and not being calm, king Magadha thought: “Today I will pull this elephant
down a deep side of the mountain to end its life.”

King Magadha called the elephant-trainer and asked: “Is this elephant well-trained?”

The trainer: “Yes. It was well-cultivated. Sir”

King: “I thought it was not well-training. Was it?”

The trainer: “No. I would say that it already was well-educated”

King: “If it was well-trained, could it climb up Mount Vepulla?”

The trainer: “Sure. It could.”

After taking off from the elephant, the king Magadha asked the trainer to ride the elephant to
climb up the mount Vepulla, and then king Magadha and his officials also climbed up to the
mount Vepulla. Seeing the white-elephant was on the edge of the mount, the king said to the
trainer:” Let it stand on three legs only.”

The trainer showed the signal by hands, making the elephant stand by only three legs, but the
king was unsatisfied. He continuously requested: “Let it stand on two front legs only.”

The elephant successfully stood on two front legs easily. The king said to the trainer:” Well.
Well. Okay. Now. Let it stand on two back-legs only”

The elephant, right after that, stood up calmly with only two back-legs. The king succeeded:
“Okay. Well done! Now let it stand on only one leg. Could it?”

The elephant was well performed, standing on the edge with only one leg. But the king did not
stop his desire to kill the elephant, so he requested:” Great. Great! Now. Let it stay in the air
with no legs supporting”

The trainer, at that time, realized the bad intention of the king, so he bent forward the head of
the elephant, whispering to the ear of the elephant:” Hey Friend. This bad king wants to kill
you by making you fall down from this mount, so if you have power, please take me, heading
to Benares. This king does not deserve to be your owner anymore.”

The elephant, at that time, used its distinctive power to stay in the thin air, and the trainer
happily said to the king Magadha: “Dear King. This elephant has distinctive traits and powers,
and it should not belong to a foolish king, such as you. It should belong to the great king, with
the full cultivation of merit. If a foolish person possessed this elephant, he would destroy its
distinctive characteristics.” And the trainer continued to sing the verse:

If the pools have powers and frames

They generate dangers for themselves

Not only that

Causing danger to others

Then the trainer said to the king:” Okay. It should end here. Goodbye Sir. “Right after that, the
elephant, having the trainer on its back, flew to Benares. When the elephant arrived at the
palace of the king of Benares, it kept in the thin air, in front of the main hall of the palace.

People of Benares were extremely excited, and they talked to each other: “The valuable
elephant flew here, and was waiting for our king.” And some immediately informed the king
about this extraordinary event. King of Benares went out of the palace, heading toward the
elephant and the trainer and said:” If you all came here for the benefits of this country, then
please land off.”

The elephant landed off and the trainer took off the elephant, paying respect to the king of
Benares. King of Benares: “Where are you from?

Trainer:” We are from Rājagaha.”. And the trainer explained everything to the king of Benares.

King of Benares: “Your comings are a lucky sign for our country.”

Then, king Benares ordered people to redecorate the city, and made a ceremony to assign the
white elephant to be the national king elephant of Benares. Not only that, the king, later on,
divided the country into three parts. Two parts were under ruling of the elephant-trainer and
the elephant itself, whereas the king of Benares only ruled the rest one. However, his power
and territory were growing rapidly after the arrival of the elephant, and he soon became the
Emperor of India. For the rest of his life, he stayed focused on cultivating merit by doing
charitable and good works, until passing away.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that in that period, the king of Magadha was
Devadatta, and the king of Benares was Sariputa. The elephant-trainer was Ananda, and the
white elephant was me.

Story 123: Story of Nangalisa (The Handle of the Plow)

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, regarding a monk, Laludayi . Ven. Laludayi was
extremely ignorant that he did not know how to behave rightly in community. For instance, on
the occasions that need to say wishing words, he spoke out unlucky words, or seeing the
funerals, he spoke out lucky and wishing words.
One day, at the Dharma-hall, monks gathered and talked about their annoyance about the case
of venerable Laludayi : “ Dear Venerables. Bikkhu Laludayi really does not learn to behave
well in the community.”

Then, the Buddha arrived at the Dharma-hall, and he asked:” What are you talking about
monks?”

A monk explained their concern to the Buddha, and Buddha calmly said: “Monks. It is not in
the present time, but in the past life, he was that ignorant.” And the Buddha told a story:

When the king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, the Buddha was born in a Brahmin family,
and was well-cultivated at Takkasila. After graduation, he gradually became a famous master
around Varanasi, and was the teacher of 500 men of the city.

Among 500 young students, there was a young man who was extremely foolish, and thus, he
could not develop any of the skills that were taught. That young man was appointed to take
care of the Master, and he diligently worked as a hard-working slave.

One day, after the evening meal, the Master went back to his room to take a rest, and the foolish
man helped to massage his back, hands and legs for a while. Before the foolish student left, the
Master asked him to prop the feed of the bed up. The foolish student found only some tools to
prop the feet of the bed up on one side only, and for the other side, he used his left to prop up
the bed, keeping for the whole night.

In the morning, the Master woke up. He really appreciated the willingness of the foolish student
in serving him, so he intentionally trained him to be an intelligent one. The Master thought of
a variety of ways to help his student to get rid of the stagnation of foolishness, and he thought:
“Okay. I will take it to the forest to take wood and when he comes back, I will ask him what he
has done? And how are the woods? From contemplation to finding the answers for the
questions, he will gradually become smarter.”

Then, the Master talked with the foolish student:” Dear son. From now on, every day, you
should go to the forest to take woods and leaves, and during the way, to and back, whatever
you see, you eat and drink, you should memorize and tell me when you're back.”
And then, the foolish student went to the forest to take woods together with other Brahmin
men, and he saw a snake. When he backed out, he immediately met his Master, and told the
Master that he saw the snake on the way out of the woods.

The Master asked him: “How is the snake?”

The foolish student replied rapidly: “Dear Sir. It looks like a handle of the plow.”

The Master praised him: “You are right Son. The snake is somewhat similar to the handle of
the plow.” And the Master thought that to base on his answer today, it is feasible to train him
to be intelligent.

On another occasion, the foolish student saw an elephant on the way getting woods, and when
he backed, he told the Master. The Master asked him: “Well Son. How is the elephant? Could
you describe it to me?”

The foolish student answered rapidly:” Dear Sir. It looks like a handle of the plow.”

The Master contemplated for a while: “His answer somewhat is appreciated as the trunk and
the tusks of the elephant all are similar to the handle of the plow. This student is still able to be
cultivated to be intelligent.”

The other day, on the way to the woods, the foolish student was given sugarcane, and when he
returned, he quickly met the Master to talk about the event. As usual, the Master asked him:”
It is great, my son. How is the sugarcane? Could you tell me about it?

The foolish student: “It looks like a handle of the plow Sir”

The Master, again, contemplated for a while:” his answer is partially acceptable, so he still can
be better.”

One day after learning, all learners were offered curds and milks, and the foolish student met
the Master to inform him that he ate curds and drank milk today. The Master again asked him;”
It should be delicious, my son. What do they look like? Could you tell me about them?”

The foolish student: “It looks like the handle of the plow Sir.”

The Master, again, contemplated for a while: “He described a snake as similar to the handle of
a plow, or the elephant and the sugarcane as similar to the handle of the plow, all are acceptable.
However, it is not acceptable to describe the curds and milk as similar to the handle of the
plow. So, this person is not able to be trained to be more intelligent.”

And then he song the serve:

The extreme fools are difficult to change

They could not comprehend the curds and milk

Even could not comprehend the handle

So, they considered the curds and milk are similar to handle of the plow

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that in that period, the foolish student was Laludayi,
and the Master was me.

Story 124: The Story about Mango Fruit (Story of Amba)

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding a good Brahmin who was responsible well
for his duties. It was about the son of a businessman living at Shravasti, who paid great faith in
the truths, and who was ordained as a monk. During the monkhood, he took good care of his
Master, his teachers and kept the kitchen, dharma-hall and other places. Generally, he
performed well for not only major tasks but also 80 minor tasks. People living around were so
attracted to his performance and attitude that they often offered 500 portions of meals to the
monks living there.

One day, the monks living in the temple gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about his virtues:”
Dear all friends! Because that monk always performed his duties well, he has brought the
benefits to us.”

Buddha, then, entered the Dharma-hall, and after knowing the story of the young monk, Buddha
said: “It is not today, but in the past life, he also brought benefits to 500 ascetic monks by his
diligence.”

And Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when the king Bradmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a young
man, from a Brahmin family. He was faithfully in the monk-life, so he left home and became
an ascetic monk, living together with other 500 monks at the foot of the Everest Mountain.
One day, there was a serious drought in the area surrounding Everest Mountain. There was
limited water coming out from the mountain, and there were no rains. Not only humans but all
kinds of animals were in danger and suffering from the shortage of water. One of the monks
living there, seeing the sufferings of animals that he could not bear his mind, cut down a big
tree and carved it as a trough. After that, he collected water and poured it into the trough for
animals to drink.

The animals gathered to drink water day by day, and the monk had to pour water into the trough
all the time to avoid running out of water. So, he did not have time to enter the forest to collect
fruit for a living. The animals worried that the monk would get exhausted by having nothing to
eat, so they talked to each other: “Dear friends! Because the monk has to collect water for us,
he may lack food to keep healthy. So, from now on, whichever comes here to drink water
should bring some fruits for this monk.”

And, then, from that day, the animals brought a lot of fruits to the monk, and 500 monks were
full of fruits to eat every day. The monk, afterward, said to others:” By the compassion and
diligence, we can bring benefits to others”

Be diligent, my brothers!

Wisdom men never give up intention

As the consequence of diligence

Fruits are abundant

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the monk who offered water to the animals was
the diligent monk, and the master of 500 monks was the Buddha.

Story 125: The Slave Katahaka

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a booster monk.

 Once upon a time, when the Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a millionaire
who was born into a Brahmin family. One day, his wife gave birth to a son, and interestingly,
a handmaiden working at his house, on that day, also gave birth to a son. These two children
grew up together, and play together. When the son of the millionaire was learning writing, the
son of the handmaiden also was given a chance to study together. Time flies, the son of the
handmaiden grew up quickly, and he was named as Katahaka.

Katahaka was appointed to work as the monitor of the storage house, but he was not
happy about it:” They can’t keep me working as the care-taker of the storage house forever, as
it is dangerous. If I make mistake, they will beat me, tight me, carve on my body and even give
me foods which for slaves. At the same time, there is another millionaire who is a friend of this
millionaire. So, I will get there and pretend to be the son of this millionaire to ask for marriage
with the daughter of that millionaire. Then, my life will be different.”

Then he took a paper and wrote:” I sent my son, namely Katahaka, to you. It will be a
great happiness if we can build up the connection to each other, with the marriage of your
daughter and my son. After the marriage, let him stay there, and when I have free time, I will
pay a visit to you.” After that he put a seal of the millionaire to the letter and brought it to the
house of the millionaire living near the border

The millionaire living near the border asked him: “Hey son. Who are you? And why did you
come here?”

Replied Katahaka: “I am from Varanasi”

“What could I do for you?” Continuously asked the millionaire

Katahak gave the letter to the millionaire and said: “Dear Sir, please read this letter and you
will understand why I am here.”

The millionaire living near the border after reading the letter was happy to organize the
wedding for Katahaka and her daughter. After the marriage, Katahaka was paying full respect,
but he was really arrogant: “What the porridge! What did they cook?” or they often complained
to the weaver:” With the nature of bordering people, they really don’t know how to make
clothes.”
For a long time, having not met with Katahaka, the millionaire living in Varanasi asked people
to seek him:” Hey Servants! Go around and find Katahaka for me.”

A servant went to the border area and saw Katahak, but he did not let Katahaka recognize him
to detect what Katahka did there. After knowing the truth, the servant returned to Varanasi and
told what he knew to the millionaire living in Varanasi.

The millionaire living in Varanasi was angry:” He behaved wrongly. I will get there to take
him back.”

After asking the king to leave Varanasi, the millionaire was heading for the house of his
millionaire friend living near the border. The news about the up-coming of the millionaire was
spread quickly to people living in the border area, and Katahaka was worried about that. But
he was scheming enough to plan to escape from this trouble:” I will go to pick up my boss and
in front of people, I will say that only ignorant people that do not know how to take care of
their parents. The wisdom should take good care of the boss as a slave.”

Then he asked his father-in-law: “Dear father! I hear that my father is coming, so I would like
to go and pick him up.”

The millionaire living near the border: “Good! Very Good! Son!”

Katahalka brought a number of gifts and took some servants to pick up the millionaire. When
he met the millionaire, he offered all the gifts to the millionaire. The millionaire also behaved
friendly to him. The next morning, when the millionaire was having defecation, Kathaka took
water and paper together to serve the millionaire. After that he sat on knees insisting to the
millionaire:'' Dear Sir. I can offer you as much as you want, but please, don’t take off my
current happiness and status.``

Replied calmly:” Don’t worry. There are no risks for you from me.”

The millionaire finally arrived at the house of his friend, and after hearing that his friend already
made weddings for his daughter and Katahaka, he was extremely angry that he could not look
at Kathaka anymore.
After a few days, he called the wife of Kathahaka to help him to take off the lice on his head.
During that time, he asked her:” How do you feel about your husband? Did he behave well to
you?”

The wife of Katahaka:” He is good but often decries foods that others made.”

The millionaire said to her:” Don’t worry. I will teach you a verse that can help you to calm
him down whenever he decries the food. But you have to try to memorize the verse.”

The millionaire stayed a few days more and he decided to return to Varanasi. Katahaka took
various gifts to offer him and was on the way with the millionaire for a distance. When
Katahaka hacked, he thought that everything was fine, so he was more arrogant. One day, his
wife gave him some kinds of food, and as a habit, he immediately decried the food.

Remembered what the millionaire already talked; his wife cites the verse:

Complain too much

When arrived to strange place

That person shall back here

Destroyed everything

So Katahaka

Shall eat this food!

After hearing the verse, Katahaka was threatened that the millionaire would tell everything to
his wife, so, from that on, he never complained about food or anything else.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized the talkable monk was Katahaka, and the
millionaire living in Varanasi was me.

Story 126: Story about the Traits of Swords (Story of

Asilakkhana)

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a Brahmin man who was the expert in knowing the
characteristics of swords at the palace of the king in Kosala. This sword-expert was so excellent
that he only smelled the swords that he could describe in detail the shape and characteristics of
the swords. Furthermore, this sword-expert had a habit to praise the swords of those who often
supported him, and often denounced the swords of those who did not support him.

One day, an alchemist made a good sword, and he intended to give it to the king. So, he put the
sword into a leather-case, and before putting the sword into a leather-case, he put some pepper
powder on the sword. When the king received the sword, he called the sword-expert to predict
the destiny of the sword. The sword-expert took the sword off the leather-case, starting smelling
the sword. Suddenly, he sneezed because of the pepper powder, and, carelessly he made the
sword cut his nose.

The news about the accident of the sword-expert was spread around quickly, and the monks at
Jetavana also were talking about it when they gathered at the Dharma-hall. When they were
talking about the sword-expert, the Buddha entered and asked:” Hey Monks! What are you
talking about? “

After knowing the story, the Buddha said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, he
got this accident.”

And Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when the king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was an excellent
sword-expert from a Brahmin family. One day, due to carelessness, he let the sword cut his
nose down. The king was compassionate and let the surgeons make an artificial one for him.

The king did not have a son, but a daughter and a nephew. His daughter and nephew grew up
together, and thus the king worried that they would fall in love with each other. Hence, the king
assembled all of his officials and said:” I plan to assign my nephew as the successor of the
country. After I give my daughter marriage to someone else, I will make a ceremony to give
him on the throne.”

The king continued:” My nephew was similar to my son, so I will give my daughter to get
married with the other king. Due to this, my descendants will be the leaders of two nations.”

After the meeting with the officials, the king separated his daughter and his nephew, and let
them live in two places that were far from each other. However, at the age of sixteen, his
nephew fell in love with his daughter, and he planned to demolish the plan of the king. He
found a female-wizard and gave her 1000 gold coins:” I want you to help me to do a thing. Can
you?”

The Wizard:” What should I do for you Sir?”

The nephew of the king:” I want to take the princess out of the palace. Could you help me to
fulfill my ambition?”

The Wizard:” Yes Sir. I will meet the king and say that the princess is followed by some
specters, and I will request the king to take the princess to the cemetery where I am going to
prepare a bed, putting a dead body under the bed, and the princess will be on the bed. I will tell
the king that I will use 108 kinds of perfume to get the spirits out of the princess.”

The Wizard continued:” Before we drive the princess to the cemetery, you should arrive in
advance, and pretend to be the dead body. When the princess arrives, I will let her lie down on
the bed, at that time, but you should put some pepper powder into your nose at that time to
make sneezes. After you sneeze, all of us will leave, and you can take the prince home.”

As planned, when the wizard let the princess lie down on the bed, the nephew of the king
immediately sneezed. The wizard shouted loudly and ran away, so were others. The nephew of
the king, after that, took the princess back home. The wizard returned to the palace and told the
king what happened at the cemetery. The king was clever and he knew it was his nephew's
plan:” It is impossible to separate them now.”

The king of Varanasi, afterward, accepted the love of his daughter and let them got married.
Not long after that the king assigned his nephew to be the king of the nation and his daughter
became the queen of the nation.

One day, during the official meeting of the news king and the officials, the artificial nose of the
sword-expert was falling off, and the sword-expert was shameful. The news king pacified him:”
Don’t be a shameful man! Sneezes are harmful to someone but benefit others. You sneezed and
got into an accident, and I sneezed to get the princess.” And the news king sang a verse:

The same things

For someone is good

For other is bad

Neither is good

Not bad for all

The news king after that ruled the kingdom with morality.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized the sword-expert was the present sword-expert and
the nephew of the king Varanasi was him.

Story 127: Story about the Slave Kalanduka

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the occasion in which a booster monk made others
annoyed.

Once upon a time, when the Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a millionaire who was
born into a Brahmin family. One day, his wife gave birth to a son, and interestingly, a
handmaiden working at his house, on that day, also gave birth to a son. When the son of the
millionaire was learning writing, the son of the handmaiden also was given a chance to study
together. Time flies, the son of the handmaiden grew up quickly, he was named Kalanduka.

Kalanduka was not satisfied to work as a slave, but he wanted to be the boss. Therefore, he
planned to change his destiny. Then he took a paper and wrote:” I sent my son, namely
Kalanduka, to you. It will be a great happiness if you can give your daughter to get married
with him. After the marriage, let him stay there, and when I have free time, I will pay a visit to
you.” After completing writing the letter, Kalanduka carefully put a seal of the millionaire on
the letter.

Then, the next day, Kalanduka went to the bordering area with the other millionaire who was
a friend of his boss.

The millionaire living near the border asked him: “Hey son! Who are you? And why did you
come here?”

Replied Kalnduka: “I am from Varanasi”

“What could I do for you?” Continuously asked the millionaire

Katlanduka respectfully gave the letter that he wrote to the millionaire and said: “Dear Sir,
please read this letter and you will
understand why I am here.”

Not long after that, an extraordinary wedding was organized for the marriage of Kalanduka and
the daughter of the millionaire lived near the bordering area. After the wedding, Kalanduka
was paid with all respects from others, so he gradually became arrogant.

A few months later, the boss of Kalanduka in Varanasi worried for Kalanduka, so he ordered
people to go around to find him, but got no news from him. Finally, he let his parrot to find
Kalanduka.

One day, Lakanduka took his wife and other servants to swim at a river nearby their house, and
they brought a number of garlands, fragrances, medical massage and varied kinds of food
together. After sailing on the boat with his wife, Kalanduka drank a glass of special milk which
was arranged by the rich people to avoid the flu when they have to play with water for a long
time. After drinking a sip of milk, Kalanduka felt annoyed, and he took a sip of water to clean
up his mouth from the milk. Arrogantly, he intentionally spouted the water in his mouth on the
head of his wife. At that time, the parrot of the millionaire lived in Varanasi was perched on a
branch of a tree nearby, seeing the arrogant action of Kalanduka, the parrot said: “Hey,
Kalanduka! Please remember your race and your status. Don’t spout dirty water on the head of
your wife, a person was born from a high race family, with full faith and social status.” After
that the parrot sang the verse:

Your status, your race

Even is a bird living in the forest

I know the truth

I can tell people and then they will catch you

Hey Kalanduka!

Calm down your arrogance and drink the milk

Kalanduka recognized the parrot of the millionaire, and worried the parrot would reveal his
secret, Kalanduka said to the parrot:” Hey Parrot. Come here. Where is the boss?”

The parrot thought:” this is not my business. If I get there, he may kill me.” So, the parrot flied
back to Varanasi and told the millionaire lived in Varanasi everything about Kalanduka. The
millionaire was really angry, and he let people capture Kalanduka back Varansi. Kalanduka,
after that, had to serve as a slave for the rest of his life.
After telling the story, the Buddha recognized the booster monk was Kalanduka, and the
millionaire who lived in Varanasi was him.

Story 128: Story about the Cat (Story about Bilara)

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the occasion in which other monks complained about
a deceiving monk, who often deceived others.

After knowing the nature of the complaint, the Buddha said:” It is not today but in the past life,
he also behaved like today.” And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a mouse which
was quite clever, tall and big. The mouse looked like a pig indeed; thus, it was the leader of a
few hundreds of mice living in the forest. Not far from the forest where the herd of mice lived,
there was a jackal. The jackal planned to catch some mice to eat:” I have to deceive these mice
to catch them”.

Then the jackal got to a place which was not too far from the cave which was the house of the
mice, standing on only one leg, heading toward the sun, opening the mouth, breathing in and
breathing out.

Seeing the jackal in that posture for a long time, the leader-mouse thought the jackal was a
morality-practitioner, so it came close to the jackal and asked:” Dear Sir. What is your name?”

Replied calmly the Jackal:” Dharmika (True Dharma)”

Continued asked the leader-mouse:” Why do you have to stand by using only one leg?”

Replied the Jackal smartly:” If I stand by using four legs, the earth cannot stand to carry me.”

“Why do you have to open your mouth?” Asked the leader-mouse

“I eat nothing but the winds.” Deceivably the Jackal

“Why do you have to head toward the sun?” Continuously asking the leader-mouse

“I pay respect to the sun.” Replied the Jackal

The leader-mouse thought:” It really is a morally-practitioner”. From that day, every day, the
leader mouse took his mice to pay respect to the jackal in the morning and evening. After
paying respect to the jackal, the leader-mouse led the mice back home, but he did not know
that the jackal often caught the last one to eat. After eating a mouse, the jackal quickly cleaned
his mouth and continued to stand in the practical posture.

Day after day, the number of mice decreased so quickly that it made the mice worried. They
tried to figure out the reason, but it was impossible to find out any reason, so they told the
leader-mouse about the loss of a tremendous number of mice. The leader-mouse, after knowing
the loss of a varied number of mice, thought the jackal was the one that often captured the mice.
So, in the next morning, after paying respect to the jackal, the leader-mouse led the other mice
back first, and it stayed at the end. Suddenly, the jackal jumped toward the leader-mouse and
tried to grab the leader -mouse to eat, but luckily, with the high attention, the leader-mouse
easily stepped aside to escape from the jackal.

The leader-mouse said calmly to the jackal:” Hey Jackal! Your actions are not of the dharma-
practitioner. By harming and eating others, you are not the real dharma-practitioner.” And,
then, it sang the verse:

Whoever say about true Dharma

But secretly do evil things

Trying to deceive others

Are the scheming acts of the cats!

The leader-mouse, after that, jumped toward the jackal and bit the jackal’s throat to kill the
jackal’ life. From that on, the mice lived fearlessly in the forest,

After telling the story, Buddha recognized the jackal was the deceiving monk, and the leader-
mouse was him.

Story 129: Story about the Fire-Practitioner (Aggika)

The Buddha told this story at Jetanava, on an occasion in which a monk who always deceived
others, and his behavior was informed to the Buddha.

After knowing, the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when the king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a leader-mouse
who lived in the forest with his mice.

One day, the forest caught fire and a jackal was getting stuck in the fire. It had no way to escape
from the fire, so it tried to put its head into a big tree to protect its face. Consequently, the fur
in the whole body was burned out, except for a pot of fur on its head.

One day, when it was drinking water from a small pond on a cliff, it saw its leftover fur on its
head, thinking about using this as an advantage for its living. So, it decided to get close to the
cave which was the house of the mice, standing on it by using only one leg. Its posture caught
the attention of the leader-mouse, so the leader-mouse came close to the jackal and asked:”
Dear Sir. What is your name?”

“My name is Bharahvaja, the fire-practitioner.” The Jackal shamelessly answered

Asked continually the leader-mouse: “Why do you come here?”

“I want to protect all of you” Replied calmly the Scheming jackal

“How do you do it?” Surprised the leader-mouse

“I know how to count. So, I will count the number of your mice, when you go out and back
home.” Quickly answered the jackal

“So do it please.” Happily, the leader-mouse

From the next day, every day, in the morning and the evening, when the mice went out to live
and came back home, the jackal pretended to count from one to the other, and the jackal caught
the last one to eat.

Day after day, the number of the mice decreased rapidly, and I could not find the answer. The
mice told the leader mouse about the trouble. The leader-mouse immediately thought of the
jackal as the main cause for the disappearance of a tremendous number of mice, so the leader-
mouse decided to stay at the end of the mice the next morning. As a habit, after counting to the
last one, the jackal jumped toward the leader-mouse to grab it to eat, but with the wariness, the
leader-mouse smoothly stepped aside and escaped from the grab of the jackal.

The leader-mouse looked toward the jackal and said:” The fur leftover on your head was not
from your true practice, but from your evil desire.” And it sang the verse:

The left-over fur on the head

Not made by the virtue of practice

But the evil of desire

Please stop counting

The deceiver as fire-practitioner

After telling the story, Buddha recognized the jackal was the deceiving monk, and the leader-
mouse was him.

Story 130: Story about the Female Brahmin, Namely Kosiya

The Buddha told this story, on the occasion a wife of a Brahmin often behaved immorally in
the night times, but pretended to get sick in the day time. The Brahmin did not know that his
wife was deceiving him, so he asked:” Dear honey! What happened to you?”

“I have a stroke but don’t worry please.” Calmly answered the wife

More concerned with the sickness of the wife, Brahmin:” What do you want to eat?”

Quickly answered the wife:” I would like to eat fat food, cakes, porridge and oily food.”

The Brahmin cooked everything that his wife wanted, and took good care of her as a slave. But
his wife still pretended to get sick, and whenever the Brahmin was at home, she also tried
getting serious sickness. However, whenever they Brahmin left home, she enjoyed doing sex
with other men.

One day, the Brahmin thought:” the sickness of my wife is not going to end. So, let's pay a visit
to the Buddha and ask him for virtue.” And, the Brahmin bought some garlands and fragrances,
and went to Jetavana to offer the Buddha. After offering the Buddha and paying respect to the
Buddha, the Brahmin sat down in a corner.
The Buddha asked him: “Where did you go man? I did not see you for a long time”

Respectfully replied to the Buddha:'' Dear Sir. My wife, recently often get sick, so I have to
take good care of her that I could not manage time to pay a visit to you.``

The Buddha knew the bad action of his wife, so the Buddha said to the Brahmin:” Hey
Brahmin! Because of ignorance, you could not remember what the wise masters taught you in
the past lives. You have to know a kind of medicine which can heal your wife.”

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when the king Brahmadatta was the ruler of Varanasi, there was a young
man who was born in a Brahmin family. The young man was well-cultured at Takkasila, so
soon after the graduation, he became the most famous Master in Varanasi. The children of royal
families and Brahmin families around Varanasi mostly came to learn with him.

Among a tremendous number of students, he had an excellent student who learned three books
of vedas and 18 kinds of skills with him. And this student, soon, became one of richest men in
Varanasi. Unluckily, the wife of this student was not good, as she often did sexual actions with
other men. Due to having sex with other men at night, she had to sleep all the day time. But
she pretended to get sick, and this student had to take good care of her. This student often paid
a visit to the Master two times a day, but since his wife got sick, he did not pay any visit to the
Master.

One day, this student tried to manage time, buying some garlands and fragrances, to pay a visit
to his Master. After offering the garlands and fragrances to the Master, he explained the reason
that he could not visit him daily as usual. The Master knew the wife of his student was sexual
misconduct, so he said to the student:” Hey my son! From now on, stop providing her with
healthy and delicious foods. Instead, take five kinds of fruit and mix them together with the
dung of a cow. After holding a rattan rob and giving that mixing food to her, you should say
“this kind of food is suitable for your sickness. Stand up to do your work or eat this kind of
food as it is the pay for your actions' '. If she still does not stand up, use the rattan rob to beat
her lightly. Then, she will recover.``

The student thanked the Master and when he returned home, he did exactly what the Master
said to him. When he gave the fruit mixed with cow-dung to his wife, his wife refused to eat
and asked:” Who told you to do this kind of food?”
Quickly answered the husband:” My Master. Dear honey”

The wife still refused to eat the food, and then the husband used the rattan rob to beat her lightly
and said: “Whether to eat this kind of food or you have to do work which is the charge for what
you enjoy here.”

And the husband sang the verse:

Eat this food

Or do what as your duties

Cannot deny both this food or your duties

Dear Kosiya!

The wife, after hearing the verse, knew that the Master of her husband already knew everything,
so she stood up to do her duties as usual.

The Brahmin went back home and told his wife the story that the Buddha told him. The wife
of the Brahmin was worried that the Buddha already knew of her sexual misconduct, so she
stopped having immoral actions.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the husband and the wife were the Brahmin
and his current wife, and the master was him.

Story 131: The Story of Ungrateful Person (Story of

Asampadana)

The Buddha told this story at Bamboo-grove, on the occasion in which some monks gathered
at the Dharma-hall to talk about the ungratefulness of Devadatta:” Dear Venerable! Devadatta
is the kind of person that is not grateful to others; especially, he does not know how to pay the
thanks to the cultivation of the Buddha to him.”

Suddenly, the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall and the Buddha asked:” Dear all venerable!
What are you talking about?”

After hearing the explanation from a monk, Buddha said to the monks:” Students! You should
know that not only this present life, but in the past life, he possessed this habit.”
And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when the king Magadha was reigning the Rajagaha, there was a millionaire
who had a fortune of 800 million, and who was named Sankha. In Benares, there was another
millionaire, namely Pilliya, who also was rich with the fortune valued of 800 million. These
two millionaires were best friends with each other.

One day, unfortunately, Pilliya was having difficulties and all his fortune, including property,
money, lands were lost. At that time, Pilliya thought of his friend Sankha, the millionaire who
lived in Rajagaha, so he took his wife and his children to leave Benares, heading for Rajagaha.

When the millionaire, Sankha, heard Pilliya was heading toward his house, he immediately
went out to pick up his friend, Pilliya. After a few days, Sankha asked Pilliya:” Why did you
come here? Can you let me know?”

Shamefully Pilliya said slowly:” I was getting in serious trouble, and I lost all. Please help me.”

“Do not worry my friend! Stay calm. I will help you for sure.”

Sankha immediately opened his storage house, and took 400 million to give Pilliya. Not only
that, he also separated all other properties into two parts, including lands and animals. Sankha
kept one part for himself, and another part, he offered Pilliya. Therefore, Pilliya could return
Benares to live luxuriously again.

Not long after that, Sankha got into serious trouble, and he lost all his fortune and property.
Quickly Sankha thought of Pilliya, as he already offered him half of his fortune. Sankha did
not take his wife to Pilliya’s house, but let his wife stay at a motel. Alone, he walked toward
the Pilliya’house.

Hearing Sankha arrived at his house, Pilliya was happy to welcome Sankha, but after knowing
that Sankha lost everything, Pilliya rapidly changed his emotion and attitude toward Sankha:”
Dear friend! Here, I have nothing for you, so please take some rice and go to another place to
cook.” After that Pilliya ordered a servant to give Sankha a bowl of rice which was mixed with
husk.

Sankha thought that:” this guy has received my help with 400 million and a huge amount of
property. But, right now, he aims to give me only a bowl of rice. Should I get it?” But quickly
Sankha thought differently:” I should receive the rice to maintain the friendship. If I am
ignorant, I shall destroy our friendship. So, let it be to receive the rice.”

Sankha took the rice and gloomily returned to the motel. Seeing Sankha back, his wife
immediately asked:” What did he promise to help us?”

“Nothing but a bowl of rice” Sankha slowly replied his wife

His wife cried loudly:” Why did you receive a bowl of rice? Whether it is equal to 400 million
that you gave him?

Sankha pacified his wife:” Dear honey! Please calm down. I want to maintain my friendship
with him so that I can receive the rice.” And Sankha sang the verse:

Whoever are

Even have nothing

For ignorant, friendship goes to end

Receiving the bowl of rice

Wishing to maintain the friendship

As I wish our friendship

Maintain forever!

After hearing the verse, Sankha’s wife still cried loudly. At that time a servant that Sankha
gave to Pilliya was going through the motel. Recognizing the voices of old bosses, he
immediately entered the motel to find Sankha and his wife. Seeing Sankha and his wife, the
servant paid respect and asked:” Dear sir! What happened to our family?”

After knowing everything, the servant took Sankha and his wife to his house. He prepared
water with flowers for them to take a bath, and then he cooked for them. And, then, he told
other servants who were given to Pilliya to pay a visit to Sankha and his wife.

A few days later, this servant took all the servants who were given to Pilliya by Sankha to the
palace of the king, and in front of the palace, they drummed loudly to attract the attention of
the king. The king heard the loud noise so he called all the servants into the palace to know the
reason that they made loud noise in front of the palace.

The servant told the king the sad story of their boss, Sakha and Pilliya. The king, then, invited
Sakha and his wife to the palace and asked:” Is it true that you gave your friend Pilliya 400
million?”

Sankha confidently:” Yes Sir. It is true. When Pilliya came to my house to ask for help, I not
only gave him 400 million but also varied property.”

Then, the king called Pilliya to come to the palace and asked Pilliya:” Is it true that Sankha gva
you 400 million and varied property when you asked him for help?”

Piliya was hesitant for a while and shamefully replied:” It is true Sir.”

The king was angry, so he continuously asked:” Why didn't you help him when you came
asking for help?” And “Did you ask the servant to put husk into the bowl of rice that you gave
Sankha?”

Pilliya just kept silently

The king, after that, asked officials how to deal with the issue between Sankha and Pilliya. All
the officials finally agreed that the king would take all property of Pilliya to give Sankha.
However, at that time, Sankha requested that he would receive what he gave Pilliya, and did
not want to take anything belonging to Pilliya.

After receiving back money and property, Sankha took all the servants back to Rajagaha, and
they lived morally all the rest of their lives.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that Pilliya was Devadatta, and Sakha was him.

Story 132: Story of Pancagaru

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the attraction of Mara’s daughters to him, when
he was deeply contemplating under an almond tree of a goatherd. One time, the Buddha spoke
the verse to express his determination in getting rid from the attraction of Mara’ daughters:

With lights shining out, they arrived

Desire, dissatisfaction and greed

The Master blew them away from ten directions

Similarly, the petals of flowers

Being the winds blew away

After the Buddha spoke the verse, the next day, monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking
about the enlightenment of the Buddha:” Dear friends! The daughters of Mara manifested in
thousands of shapes came to attract the Master when he was contemplating, but he did not open
his eyes to see them. It is a great power of contemplation.”

Then the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and Buddha asked the monks: “What are you talking
about, monks?”

After knowing what the monks discussed, Buddha calmly said:” It is a difficult thing to stop
looking at the beautiful and attractive forms of Mara’s daughters as at that time I totally cut
down the three poisonous seeds, desire, hatred and ignorance. “

And on this occasion, Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta reigned Varanasi, there was the young prince, who
was the youngest one among 100 sons of king Brahmadatta. And everything was quite similar
to the story 96 (Story of Telapatta). After the empowerment ceremony, people living in
Takkasila decorated the city as the city of gods, and the palace of the new king as the palace of
the king of gods. When the king entered the city, he was sitting on the throne which was made
of seven kinds of treasures, and on his head, there was a beautiful parasol. The people took
him, following the main lobby which led to the palace. He looked super beautiful and powerful
like the Sakka, king of Gods.

When he sat on the throne of king in the palace, all the officials, Brahmins, royal families and
millionaires, in formal suits, stood solemnly in two lines, paying respects to the new king. After
that, sixteen thousand young female girls, who looked like the citizens of heaven, performed
various kinds of musical instruments and danced various kinds of the show. All the luxurious
things of heaven were presented and performed to him. The new king, seeing the fantastic
performances in front of his eyes, he was really appreciated the advice from the
Paccekabuddha:” On the way getting here, if I was attractive to the illusory beauty of bodies,
sounds and foods from the Yaksha, I would not be able to enjoy this wonderful performance
and could not be able to live in this luxurious palace.” Then the new king spoke the verse:

Follow the good instructions

Be diligent, unchangeable

Keep up the way

Without of the fear

With well-controlled mind

Free from the attachment from Yakshas’ attraction

Then I am safe and have no fear!

Then the new king ruled Takkasila with morality, until he passed away!

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the new king of Takkasila was him.

Story 133: The Story of Ghatasana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who did not know how to behave well
when the cottage which he made for meditation was set on fire. At the beginning of a rainy
retreat, this monk received a meditation method from the Buddha, and then he went to a place,
which was far from the big city, and just near to a small village. He made a small cottage from
the leaves in the forest as the place for living and practicing meditation during the rainy retreat.
However, it was unlucky that his cottage was fired on one day, when he was on the way getting
alms in the morning. Then, he called his supporters to make a new one. His supporters came to
observe his place, and they promised to return soon to make a new one for him. However, three
months passed quickly, and they had not returned to help him.

Due to having no suitable place for residing during the rainy retreat, the monk was not
successful in the contemplation on the meditation method that the Buddha gave him. After the
rainy retreat time, he returned to Jetavana, and told everything that happened to him during the
retreat.
Buddha said to him:'' Monk. The animals and insects know the suitable places to live for a long
time, and they move when they see that those places are no longer safe and suitable. Why didn't
you do that?”

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a bird, which
possessed elegant and super-beautiful fur. Due to its extra-beautiful traits, it was assigned as
the king of the bird in the forest, and it lived with its servants on the biggest tree in the forest.
The tree had luxuriant leaves, and some of its branches grew across a pond. Some birds
defecated into the pond.

In the pond, there was a snake, namely Canada living there. The snake was angry when the
birds defecated into the pond to make it polluted:” These birds have made the water of this
pond polluted, so I have to make fire, sparking from the water to the tree to threaten them,
driving them away.” With uncontrolled hatred, the snake waited until night time, when all the
birds were sleeping, and it spoiled the water. Then, it made the smokes and fire, sparking from
the water to the tree that the birds lived in.

The king of the birds saw the smoke and fire coming to the tree from the water, it immediately
awakened all the birds:” Dear friend! Water is normally used to burn off the fire, but now, the
fire was from the water. So, we cannot continue to live here. It is time to move to other places.”

And the king of birds sang the verse:

At the peaceful place

A snake raised from the pond

Then from the water of the pond

The fire sparking to this tree

The tree, no more suitable to live

Please fly to the suitable places

It is dangerous to continue to stay here!

Then the king of the birds led most of the birds to find another suitable place to live. Some
birds did not follow the advice of their king, so, soon after that, they were fired by the snake.
At the end of the story, the Buddha talked about four Noble truths, and many monks achieved
enlightenment. Then the Buddha recognized that the king of birds was him, and the birds which
followed the bird-king were all the monks who were ordained as Bikkhus with the Buddha.

Story 134: Story of Thanasodhana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the occasion in which Sariputta, at the main gate of
Sankassa, explained in detail a brief teaching of the Buddha.

Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when the king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a famous master
who had thousands of people gathered to study his meditation methods. When he was going to
pass away, he only said to all students:” Neither not having formation nor not of no-having
formation.”

Most of the students could not understand the last teaching of their master, so the big brother
monk helped to explain this teaching in detail. However, most of the monks did not believe in
the explanation of the big brother monk, so the master from the Abhassara realm returned, and
manifested as a shape staying in the thin air, reading the verse:

Whoever still depend on the formation

Still have to born into three lower realms

Those who do not depend on formation

Still have to born into three lower realms

Escaping from these two poles

Achieving peaceful meditation

Without polluted minds

After that the master returned to the Brahma realm. From that on, all monks believed in the
explanation of their big brother monk.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the big brother monk was Sariputta, and the
master was him.
 Story 135: Story of Cadabha

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, after the Venerable Sariputta explained in detail a brief
teaching of him at the main gate of Sankassa.

The Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a famous master
who knew that he was going to pass away. He gathered all his students and said briefly:”
moonlight and sunlight” And the master passed away after his last teaching.

The big brother monk assisted to explain this brief teaching to other monks. However, they
mostly did not believe in the explanation of the big brother monk. So, the master from the
Abhassara appeared in the thin air, and spoke the verse:

Sunlight & moonlight

Whoever with wisdom

Practice this kind of meditation

Will be born in the Abhassara realm

After speaking the verse, the master disappeared in the thin air, returning to the abhassara
realm.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the big brother monk was Sariputta, and the
master was him.

Story 136: Story of Suvannahamsa

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding the desire of the Bikkhuni, Thullananda. One
day, a lay male wanted to offer the garlic to the Bikkhunis, so he talked to the farmer to give
each Bikhuni some branches of garlic. From that day, whenever Bikkhunis needed garlic, they
went to this farmer’ house or his farm to get garlic.

One day, in a national festival, he sold out the garlic that he harvested, so when the Bikkhuni,
Thallunanda and other bhikkhunis arrived to ask for garlic, he told them to get to his farm to
take garlic. However, when Bikkhuni, Dullananda and other bhikkhunis saw the attractive
garlic field, they could not control their desire that they took too much garlic. The farmer, in
the next day, wen to the farm, was really angry due to the over-taking garlics of Bikkhunis:
“Why did the Bikkhunis take too much garlics. Couldn’t they control their desire?”

Bikkhunis were affected by the complaint of the farmer, so they told Bikkhus living nearby
about the issue. Later on, the Bikkhus told the Buddha this complaint. Buddha criticized
Bikkhuni, Dullananda and said:” A person who has great desire, behaves unfriendly to others,
even his parents. He cannot make others increase their faith in him, and cannot maintain the
benefits they have created. Contrary, a person who can control his desire make others believe
in him and can generate more benefits from what have created.``

And Buddha continued:'' Monks! It is not in the present time, but also in the past Thullnanda
already had this greed.``

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was the king of Varanasi, there was a
Brahmin who had three daughters, namely Nanda. When he passed away, his wife and his
daughters had to leave the house to live in another house and had to work for them.

The Brahmin was born as a wandering goose, with golden feathers. When the golden goose
grew up, it was proud of its supper-beauty, so it contemplated:” Where was I from?”. After
deep contemplation, it remembered its past life:'' my wife and my daughters in the past life
were living sufferlessly. So, I shall give them some of my golden feathers so that they shall
have a comfortable life.``

The golden goose flew to the place that his wife and daughters, in the past life, lived there. The
goose parked on the crossbeam of the house, looking down to his daughters.

A daughter asked:” Who are you? Why do you come here?”.

The goose answered calmly:” I am your father. I passed away, and now is this golden goose.
From now on, you don’t have to work hard, as I am going to give my golden feathers to each
of you. You can sell them and live luxuriously.” And the goose let them take off some feathers
and flew back his net. However, sometimes, the goose arrived at the house of past-life-his wife
and daughters to give them some feathers.
One day, his past-life wife discussed with her daughters:” The mind of the animals is
changeable. We could not believe in that goose as it may change its mind in the future. So, why
don’t we take off all of his feathers, and save for the necessary?”

Her daughters all denied joining the plan:” It is harmful to our father, so it is not a good plan.
We won’t join this plan.”

Despite the discouragement from the daughters, the brahmin wife still conducted her evil plan.
Waiting for the goose to arrive as usual, she used two hands to grab the goose, and after that,
she took all the goose off. Unluckily, as the goose was unwilling to give the golden feathers,
all the golden feathers turned white after the wife took them off from the goose. The wife was
angry and frustrated, she threw the goose into a basket. The goose, after that grew his feathers
out quickly, but the feathers were no longer the golden feathers. The goose, after having its
feathers grew up completely, flew back the mountain, and never returned to the house of his
past-life wife and daughters.

After telling the story, Buddha said:” Thullananda was not too greedy in this life, but already
in the past life. Due to too greedy, she lost opportunity to have gold from the goose. And in
this life, due to her greed, not only her but also all Bikkhus lost opportunity to receive the
garlics from the farmer. Therefore, we have to control our desire to maintain the long benefits”

Then the Buddha spoke the verse:

Be satisfied. Not too greedy!

As greed is evil act

Due to grab the golden goose

Chances of having gold disappeared!

And the Buddha prohibited all Bikkhunis continue to eat garlic. At the end, Buddha recognized
that Thullananda was the wife of the Brahmin, and three daughters were three of her sisters.
The goose was the past life of the Buddha.

Story 137: The Story of Babhu

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the occasion the other told him an event in the life of
Kanamatta, the mother of Kana. Kanamatta had already obtained the first stage of the practice
to obtain Arahat, which was called Sotapanna (Entering streamer). As Kanamatta gave her
daughter, Kana, to get married with a man in the nearby village, whenever she had busy work,
she all called her daughter to come for help.

One day, she called Kana to come to help with her busy work for a few days, and as Kana
stayed too long in the mother house, her husband sent a servant to call her back. When Kana
was going back, Kanamatta told her:” You already stayed here for a long time, so you should
take some gifts back home. We have to make some cakes and you shall take them back home.”

Kana and her mother immediately began to use wheat flour to make cakes. When Kana and
her mother had completely made the first batch of cake, a monk arrived. Kanamatta offered
him a full bowl of cake. This monk left, but he told other monks about the offering. The second
monk quickly arrived at the Kanamatta house, and Kanamatta also offered him a full bowl of
cake. As the cake was out, Kana and her mother continued to make a new batch of cakes. Then,
the third monk arrived when the new batch of cakes was ready, so Kanamatta immediately
offered them to the monk. Then, Kana and her mother continuously made a new batch of cake.
When the new batch of cake was ready, the fourth monk arrived, and he also got the full
offering of cake. And, afterward, Kana and her mother continue to make new cakes to let her
bring home.

During the time Kana and her mother were making cakes to offer the monks, her husband
already sent several messengers to Kanamatta house, insisting her back home, otherwise, he
would get the other woman as his wife. When Kana was going back home, she heard that her
husband had already taken another woman home as new wife, so she cried.

The Buddha heard of her sad story, so in the next morning, the Buddha paid a visit to Kanamatta
and pacified Kana. After that, the Buddha returned to Jetavana.

The story about four monks receiving cakes from Kana and her mother that made her husband
to divorce her were discussed between the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall the next day.
And the Buddha entered the Dharma-Hall:” What are you talking about monks?”

A monk told the Buddha what they were concerned about and the Buddha said:” It is not only
in the present time, but also in the past life, they have already disturbed Kanamatta.
And Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a stone-carver
learning in the young ages, and when he grew up as an adult, his skills were excellent.

In the Kasi country, there was a millionaire and his wife lived in a small village. The wife, after
passed away, was born as a mouse carrying the gold coin in her storage room. Later on, her
husband also passed away. The village became solitary, but the mouse still lived there.

One day, the young carver came near to the solitary village to take stones for carving. The
mouse saw the young carver, and thought of using the gold coin to live luxuriously. Hence, it
carried a gold coin toward the young carver, and tried to capture the attention from the young
carver. Seeing the mouse carrying a gold coin, the young carver asked:” Hey friend. What is
the reason for your arrival here with this gold coin?”

The mouse slightly replied:” Dear boss. It is a great deal if I give you the gold coin and you
buy meat for me.”

The carver agreed, and he took half of the gold coin to buy meat to give to the mouse. The
mouse brought the meat back to its cave, and enjoyed the meat. And from that day, every day,
the mouse gave the carver a gold coin in exchange for delicious meat. One day, unluckily, the
mouse was captured by a cat, and while the cat was going to eat the mouse, it negotiated to
share meat to the cat daily: “Hey friend. If you release me. You shall have meat to eat daily.”

The cat released the mouse, and from that time, the mouse had to share half of its meat to the
cat. Then, the other unlucky day, the cat was caught by the other cat, and the similar negotiation
was approved. The mouse had to share its meat in three parts daily. And then, the mouse was
caught by the third and the fourth cat, and after the negotiations, the mouse had to share its
meat into five parts daily. As it did not have enough food to keep healthy, it became thinner.
The carver noticed and asked:” Hey Friend. What happened to you recently?”

The mouse told the carver about the threat from the cats, and the carver pacified the mouse:”
Don’t worry friend! I will help you.”

Then the carver made a cave with the hardest crystal, and let the mouse stay in. When the first
cat came to ask for meat, the mouse said:” Hey evil cat. Why do I have to share meat with you?
Go away.” The cat was extremely angry. It jumped toward the mouse, aiming to grab the mouse
to eat, but it hit the crystal wall, getting injured. So, it drove away. It was similar to the second,
third and fourth cat. From that on, the mouse gave the carver three gold coins, and gradually,
it gave all its fortune to the carver.

After telling the story, Buddha spoke the verse:

From the firs cat

Then the second, third and fourth appeared

All the cats injured and drove away

As they hit the crystal wall

Then the Buddha recognized that four cats were four Bikkhus that received offerings from
Kanamatta, and the mouse was Kanamatta. The carver was him.

Story 138: The Story of Godha

Buddha told this story at Jetevana, on the occasion in which a monk often deceived others
that made others annoyed.

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a gecko living in a
small hill in a forest which was close to the place of an ascetic monk who obtained five extra-
wisdoms. The hill where the gecko lived is located near to the walking meditation path of the
monk. The gecko often went to the cottage of this ascetic monk to listen to the Dharma, and
paid respect to the monk as well.

One day, this ascetic monk left the forest, and the other monk came to live in the cottage of this
ascetic monk. The gecko still kept its habit to come to the cottage to listen to Dharma and to
pay respect to the monk.

In the summer, a storm hit the forest that made the termites that lived under the ground have to
crawl up, and many geckos appeared to eat the termites. The villagers caught some geckos to
make the porridge and offered the new monk. Just putting a few spoons of porridge into the
mouth, the monk was extremely attracted by the taste of the porridge:” What kind of porridge
is it?”

A villager told him: “it is the porridge that we cooked together with gecko meat.”
The monk, at that time, could not control his mind, so he thought:” There is a big gecko which
often comes to pay respect to me. So, I shall catch it and cook.” And then in the next day, the
monk prepared the cookers, stove and ingredients for cooking the gecko. He put them beside
the cottage and calmly sat to wait for the gecko.

When the gecko was coming close to the monk, it saw the face of the monk was different from
other days. The monk was putting too much attention on it, and his eyes were full of desire.
Then, standing under the flow of the wind, the gecko smelt the meat of the gecko from the
monk, so it quickly realized the ambition of the monk:” This monk was offered gecko meat
yesterday, and by the attachment to the taste, he planned to catch me to cook.” So, the gecko
immediately moved to the other place rapidly.

The monk, seeing the gecko turning and moving to another direction, knew that the gecko
already comprehended his desire, but he still was greedy to catch the gecko. He stood up
immediately, to grab the cooking spoon and threw it toward the gecko. However, the spoon
just hit the tail of the gecko.

After entering from a hole in a small hill, the gecko came out from the other hole and said to
the monk:” Hey the braided hair! I thought you were a real practitioner, so I came to pay respect
to you. But, now, you showed that you are a deceiver. You would not be a monk!”

Then the gecko spoke the verse:

With ignorance, people are

Not helpful with braided hairs as monk

Full attachments in the mind

Deceiving as a calm mind!

Then the gecko re-entered the hole of the hill, and the monk right after that left the forest to
move to the other place.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the deceived monk was the immoral monk,
while the ascetic monk was Sariputta. The gecko was him.

Story 140: Story of Kala

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a famous master which is detailed in the Jataka
465, story of Bhadassala.

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a crow living near
the palace of the king, and who was the king of 80 000 crows. One day, the consultant priest
of the palace was on the way back to the palace after taking a bath from a river outside the
palace. The king of crow and his friend are parking on the wall near the main gate entering the
palace. The crow said to the king crow:” I will defecate on the head of this man.”

The king of crow denied the ambition of his friend:” Don’t do it Please! This man has power
and position. Don’t play with those who have power and high position. If he gets angry, he
may try to kill all the crows.”

Despite the advice from the friend, the greedy crow still aimed to carry out his plan. It flew to
the main gate, when the consultant priest was crossing the gate, it defecated on his head. The
consultant priest was extremely angry at the crows.

Not long after that, there was a female servant appointed to keep the newly harvested rice from
the animals. When the female servant was sleeping, a goat came to eat the rice. The girl tried
to dry the goat several times; however, the goat still came again and again. So, the girl used a
rob to beat slightly on the goat to drive it away. Unluckily, when the girl beat the goat, its furs
caught fire, and the goat ran into the house which kept the hay to burn off the fire on its back,
but the fire spread to the hay. After that the fire spread to the elephant barn of the palace to
make all the elephants injured.

All the veterinarians tried hard but could not heal well for all the elephants. The king asked the
consultant priest whether he knew how to heal the elephants’ injuries. The consultant priest, at
that time, told the king:” Dear Sir. We need to get the fat of crows to heal the elephants’
injuries.”

From that day, the crows in the nation were chased and killed to make fat to heal the elephants’
injuries.

The anxious fear was spread over the crows, and they informed the king who lived in a
cemetery with 80000 other crows. The king of crow, after hearing the issue, he recited ten
paramitas, focusing on the compassion paramita. After that it flew to the palace, entering the
room of the king, hiding itself beside the chair of the king. At that time, a servant wanted to
catch the crow, but the king prohibited him.

Then the king of crow flew out of the chair and said to the king:” Dear sir. You should be aware
of what you have done, otherwise, your actions would be harmful to others. For example, the
crows do not have fat. So, please do not follow the wrong advice from the consultant priest, as
he is doing his revenge to us.”

The king ordered the servant to give the king of crow a golden chair for it to stand on, and
asked servants to give the meat to the king of crow. After that, the king asked the crow:``You
said that the crows do not have fat. What is the reason for this?”

The king of crow spoke the verse:

Often be threatened, our minds

Due to hatred of others

So not fats, we have

All kinds of crows

And then the king of crow continued to talk to the king:” Dear King. So please be aware of
your actions, as it may be harmful to others. Please, do not let any kind of beings be threatened.”

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the king Brahmadatta was Ananda, and the king
of crow was him.

Story 141: Story of the Perfidious monk (Story of Godha)

Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove, about a monk who was perfidious.

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a gecko, which lived
in a cave near to a river, and was the leader of hundreds of followers. This gecko-leader had a
son, which often played close with a salamander.
One day, the gecko-leader called his son and explained:” Hey son! You are making friends
with those who do not deserve our position. Salamanders are kind of vile, deceived and greedy.
If you still keep friendship with it, we shall get into trouble soon.”

Despite the serious advice from the father, the son of the gecko-leader still kept close with the
salamander. The gecko-leader continuously advised his son, but he realized that his advice had
not affected his son. So, he tried to find a way to heal the trouble in case it would happen:”
Soon or later, the threat and danger shall happen to our family due to this salamander. So, I
have to plan to escape the danger if it is happening.” And, then, the gecko-leader told his
followers to dig a minor path, which used to escape from the cave when dangers would arrive.
Time flies, the son of the gecko-leader grew up quickly, and it became bigger than the
salamander many times. However, it still kept the habit, holding the salamander to kiss it. One
day, after the son of the gecko-leader held and kissed the salamander, the salamander felt
annoyed as the son of the gecko-leader was too heavy:” If he continues to hold and kiss me like
this, I may die soon. So, I have to find a way to make the hunters kill him and his family.”

Soon the summer came in that region, and one day, a storm hit the region, and many termites
were out of their nests. The geckos came out to eat the termites. On that occasion, a gecko-
hunter took some tools and dogs, walking to find the geckos. The salamander saw the hunter,
and was extremely happy:” Today, my ambition shall be fulfilled.” So, it came close to the
gecko:” Dear Sir! What are you looking for in this forest?”

The hunter was extremely surprised but quickly replied the salamander:” To catch the geckos”
The salamander intensely satisfied:” I know a cave in which hundreds of geckos live. I will
take you there.”

The hunter took straw to put in front of the cave of the gecko-family, and he managed the dogs
surrounding the cave to avoid the escape of any gecko. Then, he burned the straw. The smoke
came into the cave, and made the geckos run out of the cave. At that time, the hunter used the
basket to grab and catch all the geckos running out. Some geckos escaped from him, but soon
they were bitten by the dogs.

The fear was spread around the gecko family, and the gecko-leader led the rest of the geckos
to escape through the minor path that he already arranged. On the way, escaping from the
hunter, the gecko-leader knew that the trouble that his family was encountering was caused by
the salamander, so he talked to others:” We should not build a network with the evils as we
shall be destroyed or killed sooner or later.” And he spoke the verse:

Don’t be friend or communicated with evils

As we tend to live insufferably
As making friend with a salamander
Most of the geckos encountered danger!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the salamander was Devadatta, and the son
of the gecko leader was the perfidious monk. The gecko-leader was him.

Story 142: Story of Sigala

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the occasion monks gathered at the Dharma-hall to
talk about the event in which Devadatta planned to kill the Buddha. After knowing the content’s
talk of the monks’ talk, Buddha said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past life, he
did it.”

And Buddha started telling the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning in Varanasi, there was a jackal who
was the king of all the jackals in the region. The jackal king lived at a cemetery with hundreds
of other jackals. One day, there was a festival organized at Savathi. On this occasion, people
took their wines and meats and gathered on the street to celebrate the festival. At midnight, a
man ran out of meat but still had wine left, so he asked others to exchange his wines and meat.
However, nobody had meat left or nobody wanted to exchange their meat for his wine. So, he
was greedy:” When I am here, there is no way of having no meat. I will kill some of the jackals
living in the cemetery nearby for meat.”

So he took an animal trap, and followed the drain gutter of the city to the cemetery. At the
cemetery, he prepared the trap for the jackals and then lay down near to the trap. At that time,
the king of jackals and other jackals came near the man. With a special nose, the jackal king
could recognise that the man was still alive, so it desired to unscroll the plan of the man. The
jackal king came close to the trap, grabbing the trap with strong teeth and pushing the trap. The
man saw the trap was being pushed by the jackal, so he tried to use hands to hold up the trap.
At that time, the jackal king said to the man:” Hey guy. If you were dead, then you would not
be able to hold the trap. So, please stop cheating. “

And the jackal king spoke the verse:

It is hard to comprehend

Pretending a dead body, the man

As I push the trap

Trying to hold it up, you do

Revealed that your cheat

As I know you are deceiving

The man was angry, and he stood up, throwing a rob toward the jackal king. However, the
jackal king successfully stepped aside to escape from the attack. The man spoke angrily:” Go
away! You only escape from me this time”

The jackal king said calmly to the man:” I escaped from you but you are not going to escape
from the hells.”And the jackal king led other jackals out of the cemetery. The man continued
to wait for other jackals, but there were no jackals walking around him. Finally, the man left
the cemetery and returned to the city.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that the man was Devadatta, and the jackal king was
him.

Story 143: Story of Vairocana

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the event when Devadatta was the master at Gayasisa.

When the mind was polluted, Devadatta was attached with desire. Planning to have more fame
, Devadatta asked the Buddha to add more five precepts to the Sangha rules, but Buddha denied
him as Buddha thought that five precepts that Devadatta suggested are not appreciated to add
as the compulsory to the Sangha.

Devadatta was disappointed, so he led 500 hundred monks to leave the Sangha. Devadatta and
500 monks lived separately to the Sangha of the Buddha.
One day, realizing that it was the right time to call 500 monks back, Buddha sent Sariputta and
Mogallana went to the temple of Devadatta and 500 monks. When Sariputta and Mogallana
arrived, Devadatta was extremely happy, and he spoke to them the whole evening, and
afterward he pretended the way the Buddha often behaved, saying to Sariputta and Mogallana:”
Dear Venerable! All monks are very conscious and not sleepy, so please speak to them.” And
then Devadatta went to take a rest as the Buddha often did.

After Devadatta went away, Venerable Sariputta and Mogallana used their wisdoms and
talented communive skills to awaken the knowledge and wisdom of 500 monks. Before the sun
arose, they led them back to Jetavana.

In the early morning, Kokalika went to the room of Devadatta and complained:’ Hey
Venerable! Do you know that Sariputta and Mogallana already led all the monks back to
Jetavana? What are you doing here?”

Then Kokalika took off the rob of Devadatta and kicked him in the chest with his heel.
Devadatta was injured, with the blood coming out of his mouth.

When Sariputta and 500 monks returned to Jetavana, Buddha asked Sariputta: “ What had
happened when you arrived, and when you left?

Sariputta told everything to the Buddha, and the Buddha said that:” it is not today, but in the
past, he encountered troubles after trying to pretend my actions.”

Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a lion living in a
cave, namely Cancana, located in Himalaya. One day, the lion roared loudly, and ran quickly
to the plain and killed a mountainous buffalo to eat. After eating the buffalo, the lion went to
a pond which contained the super-purified water, to drink water, and then the lion went back
to its cave.

One day, when the lion was standing at the foot of the mountain, a jackal was falling down
from a mountainside close to the lion after being threatened when it saw the lion. The lion was
surprised:” Hey the jackal. What do you want?”

Scheming, the jackal replied: “ Dear Sir. I want to be your servant.”

The lion was extremely happy:'' Haha. Great. Follow me, and I will give you fresh meat after I
eat something.``

And then the lion led the jackal back to live together in the golden cave, and from that day, the
jackal ate the leftover from whatever lion ate. Soon after that, as having enough food, the jackal
became fatter and bigger.

One day, when the jackal was lying in front of the golden cave, the lion was excited to say to
the jackal:” Hey Jackal. Go around and see. What you want to eat just tell me.”

The jackal stepped toward the plain, it saw a young elephant which was in its adulthood, so the
jackal returned and told the lion. Immediately, the lion jumped down to the plain to catch the
elephant to eat, and the jackal enjoyed the leftovers from the lion meal. Day after day, whatever
the jackal wanted to eat, the lion was all satisfied with it.

However, one day, the jackal thought that it looked tall like the lion, so it could do whatever
the lion had done. Hence, it entered the golden cave and said to the lion:” Dear Sir. From now
on, I want to do whatever you have done. So, I sleep inside this cave and whatever you want
to eat just tell me, I will immediately catch them for you.”

The lion calmly replied to the jackal:” Calm down jackal. You are a jackal and you cannot
behave well as a lion.”However, the jackal still insisted on the lion, so the lion agreed to the
jackal. The lion moved out of the golden cave, and let the jackal sleep in its place. In the early
morning next day, the lion strolled around the plain near to the Himalaya, and the lion backed
to the golden cave, telling the jackal that it desired to eat the elephant which was in its adulthood
and was wandering in the plain.

The jackal roared loudly three times, and it ran quickly toward the plain. Seeing the elephant,
the jackal jumped toward and bit on the neck of the elephant. The elephant used its trunk to
push the jackal out of its neck and kicked the jackal at its stomach. The jackal got serious
injuries, and it passed away after that. The lion was standing on a mountainside nearby, seeing
everything happened, it sadly spoke the verse:

Trying to be the lion

The Jackal was killed

By the strong elephant

So, be yourself, in your ways!

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that the jackal was Devadatta, and the lion was him.

Story 144: Story of Nanguttha

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on an occasion in which some monks asked the Buddha
about the ascetic practice of monks of other lineages who lived around Jetavana. Some of them
just squatted all the time, but others preferred to sleep on the rough stuff. A group of them also
paid respect to the fire for getting enlightenment.

Buddha, after being asked about the benefits from these ways of practice, answered that:” These
ways of practice are not the right ways to obtain enlightenment. In the past, some wise men
entered the forest to pay homage to fire in order to enlighten. However, soon after that they
realized that their practices were wrong, so they stopped those wrong ways. With right
contemplations, they soon achieved the levels of meditation and were born in the realm of
Brahma.

Then Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a child in a
Brahmin family in North Varanasi. When the child was just born, his parents burned a fire, and
had kept the fire until he reached 16 years old. On the birthday of sixteen, his parents said
intimately to him:” We have kept this fire for 16 years, and if you desire to obtain the Brahma
realm, then take this fire to the forest to practice. However, if you plan to be reborn in the
human realm, please diligently study three books of Vedas.”

The son replied:” So, I will get to the forest with this fire as it is my ambition in this life.”

Then the son brought the fire in a protected condition, entering a forest to be an ascetic monk.
At the forest, he built up a cottage, and days and nights, he paid respects and homage to the
fire. One day, he was offered a cow by a villager living nearby, and he planned to kill the cow
to do ritual to the deity of fire. However, as he did not have salt, he planned to get to the village
to get some salt.
Before leaving to get salts in the village, he tied the cow into a pillar. Unluckily, when he just
left, some hunters went through his cottage. Seeing nobody but the cow, the hunters killed the
cow and used the fire to grill the cow’s meat. They ate all parts of the cow but the tail, and after
that they left.

When the monk returned to his cottage, he saw only the tail of the cow left, so he contemplated
that:” This fire deity, even, could not protect his possession, so won’t it be able to protect me.
It is likely that I will get nothing if I continue to protect this fire.”

The monk lost his greed to respect and protect the fire, so he threw the tail of the cow into fire,
saying: “Dear deity of fire, if you cannot protect your fire, you are not going to protect me well.
Hence, please eat this tail instead of the cow.”

And he spoke the verse:

The fire of birthday

Useless deity

Offer you, the cow tail only

Is full of my respect

All the good meat

Are not available any more

Please receive this tail

Then the monk used water to burn off the fire. After that he left to seek the right methods of
practice. Soon after that he obtained the levels of meditation and was reborn on the realm of
Brahma.

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the monk was him.

Story 145: Story of Radha

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding the attachment of a monk to his wife which is
detailed in the story 423 (Story of Indriya). The Buddha called the monk and taught him that:
“It is impossible to monitor a woman. Although you arrange to monitor that woman well, you
also cannot keep her beside you. In the past, you already suffered to guard this woman, so why
do you have to do it again.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there were two parrots, which
were two brothers, and which were fed by a rich Brahmin at Kasi. The biggest brother was
named Rothada, while the younger one was named Radha. The wife of this Brahmin enjoyed
having sexual misconduct whenever the Brahmin left home for a few days.

One day, when the Brahmin was going to leave home for a few days, he asked two parrots to
monitor his wife:” Dear two sons. Please help me to monitor my wife, your mother. When she
shall do something immoral, please try to suspend her”

The Rothada replied wisely to the Brahmin:” Don’t worry father. We tend to do it, but we will
keep silent if we cannot.”

After the Brahmin left, his wife immediately invited other men to come to satisfy her sexual
desire. Seeing all that happened, Radha could not bear it, and expressed her thoughts to
Rothada:” As our father asked that whenever our mother had immoral acts, we should suspend
her acts. Now she is doing bad, so we should suspend her from doing it.”

Rothada calmly replied:” Brother. Although the men always take their wives on their back,
they also cannot monitor the desire of the women. So, let it be!”

Then Rothada spoke the verse:

Radha, you don’t know

Men as much as many came at night times

This woman was full attachment

So, she could not keep the wife duty

Then Rothada suspended its brother to say anything to the wife of the Brahmin. When the
Brahmin backed off, Rothada told him anything, and finally, Rothada talked to the Brahmin
sadly:” I already did something that I should not do with the mother, so I cannot continue to
live here.” Then Rothada led his brother to the forest to live in.
After telling this story, Buddha talked about four noble truths, and the monk who was too much
attached to his wife obtained the First Entering Stream level. And then, the Buddha recognized
that Radha was Ananda, and Rothada was him.

Story 146: Story of Kaka

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the habitual actions of old monks that make others
complain to the Buddha.

Old monks were rich men living in Jetavana and they were friends to each other. They were
greedy to cultivate good deeds when they were laymen. After they heard the Buddha talk about
the benefits of the monk life, they decided to give their fortunes to their sons, daughters and
wives, and then they were ordained as monks.

Because they were ordained when they were old, they neither learned the Dharma and Sila well
nor behaved well as monks. They stayed together at one place in Jetavana, and they did not go
to get alms as others but went to their families for food.

One of wives of the monks was the main supporter for all the old monks living in Jetavana, so
all old monks often gathered at her house for eating. One day, this supporter was getting serious
sickness and passed away. Hearing this news, all the old monks gathered to cry for her.

Some young monks came to ask them after hearing their gloomy cries:” Why are you all crying
dismally?”

An old monk sadly replied:” A wife of our friend, the great supporter of us, just passed away.”

These young monks went to the Dharma-hall to talk to the Venerable monks about this issue.

When they were talking about this, The Buddha entered the Dharma-Hal, asking them:” What
has been bothering all of you?”

A venerable monk told the issue to the old monks, and then the Buddha said:” It is not in the
present time, but in the past life, they also cried like this when a crow died.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a sea god who lived
in the sea near to Varanasi.

At that time, there were two crows, living in the forest nearby, who were a couple of each other,
and flew to the seashore to enjoy the water and to search for a living. After people paid respect
to the deity of the snake, two crows came to enjoy the food and they also drank the wine.

After eating and drinking, two crows stepped close to the water sea, and unluckily, a tall and
strong wave came over and the wave pulled the female crow away from the seashore. Right
after that a big fish appeared to sip the female crow into its hungry stomach.

The male crow cried loudly, which made other crows notice, and they flew to the male crow to
comprehend what happened to him: “Hey friend. Why do you cry sadly?”

Gloomily replied to the male crow:” My wife has been pulled to the deep sea already.”

All the crows suddenly cried loudly together, and then they decided to bail all the water from
the sea to find the female crow. They used their mouths to sip sea water and then flew to the
shore to put water out one the shore. They continuously flew in and out until they were all
exhausted and lying on the shore tiredly:” Dear friends. We cannot bail the water in this sea
out by our efforts.”

Then a crow spoke the verse:

Our necks are completely tired

Our mouths are sore

Trying to bail the water in the sea

But no changes in the sea

And the husband of the female crow continued:” What beautiful she is. What an attractive
voice. Why did the sea pull her away to the deep sea?”

At that time, hearing they were in nonsense, the sea god appeared in terrible shape to drive
them away.
After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the wife of an old monk passed away was the
female crow, and the old monk who had passed away was the husband of the crow. The sea
god was him.

Story 147: Story of Puppharata

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who was still attached too much to his wife.

A monk, after being ordained, still remembered his wife all the time, so his issue was told to
the Buddha, and the Buddha asked him:” Is it true that you still are too much attached to others?
Who is that?”

The monk was proud to reply:” My wife. She is beautiful as the moon, and it made me
remember her all the time.

Buddha said to that young monk:” Come on Monk. That woman is harmful to you, and because
of her, you already were killed by a sharp stake. Afterward, you are reborn in hell. So, should
not continue to be too much attached to her”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a forerunner who
lived in the cloud over Varanasi. When the Kattika festival in Varanasi took place during the
full moon week of October, the city was decorated beautifully as heaven. People all went out
to play in their most modern and beautiful clothes. However, there was a poor man, who had
nothing but an extremely old shirt to wear all the time. His wife, during the festival, dreamed
that:” Dear husband. I want to have a shirt with red color made from the Kasumbha tree,
shaking your hands while walking around to play in this festival.”

The husband replied sadly:” We have no money to buy silk made from the Kasumbha tree.
Please wear this clean piece of cloth and enjoy the festival.”

The wife went mad:” There is no cloth made from Kasumbha tree, so there is no festival. You
shall get married with another woman to play at the festival with.”

The husband calmly:” What should we do to have a cloth made from Kasumbha?”
The wife replied confidently:” Dear husband. Whatever people desire. They all can have them.
Is it true that there are a lot of Kasumbha clothes in the palace of the king?”

The husband replied fearfully: “Dear honey. The palace is like the pond which belongs to the
Yaksha. There are too many soldiers there. Don’t be too greedy. Just satisfied with what we
have.”

The wife insisted:” At night time, nobody can stop others to get to the place that they like. So,
please try one time.”

The husband pacified the wife:” Okay. I will try one time.”

When the darkness just arrived, the husband went to the place, trying to get to the storage house
of the palace. Then, he tried to cut the barrier of the storage house for entering to take the
Kasumbha clothes. The soldiers heard the noises from the storage house, so they raided the
storage house from many directions. Finally, they caught the husband and tied him into a pillar.

The early morning the next day, the soldiers took the husband to meet the king, and the king
was extremely willing to let soldiers kill the husband with sharp stakes. The soldiers put the
husband into a criminal trap, and took him to parade around the city. Afterward, they gave him
some sharp stakes. When the husband was going to die, he spoke the verse:

Suffered not by the sharp stakes

But from the worrying for my wife

For not being play together with her

Give her to wear Kasumbha clothes

Shaking hands playing the festival!

After that the husband was reborn in hell with the suffering mind.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the poor couples were the monk and his
wife, and the forerunner was him.

Story 148: Story of Sigala

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the sufficient method to heal with suffering
There were five hundred millionaires living in Savathi, and they were close to each other. After
hearing the teachings from the Buddha, they decided to ordain as monks and lived in the temple
that Anathapindika offered Sangha.

Although living at the temple, they suffered as they remembered the attached things that they
often did as laymen. One night, in meditation, Buddha knew that the new old monks all suffered
as they could not know how to stay in the right practice. So, the Buddha decided to give them
a Dharma talk, helping them to stay peacefully

Then the Buddha went out of the room and called for Ananda:” Ananda, immediately go and
call all the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall.”

After monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, Buddha started speaking:” Hey Monks. Be aware of
all the segments of your thoughts. Don’t run after three kinds of suffering thoughts, desire
thoughts, angry thoughts and seeking thoughts. Please, don’t think that these thoughts are
harmless. They are poisonous. When these thoughts arise, recognize them with awareness, and
let them out immediately. The wise men never let these kinds of thoughts arise in their minds,
so whenever these thoughts arise, they recognize and drive them away immediately.”

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was jackal lived near to
the bank of a river. One day, an old elephant went to the river to drink water and it died there.
The jackal, on the way getting food, saw the elephant’ body, so it was super-happy:” I have a
storage of food for a month.”

The jackal came over the elephant, and tried to bite the trunk of the elephant to eat, but the
trunk was hard as the handle of the plough. The jackal continued to bite the other parts of the
elephant, but all were super-hard, and the jackal could not eat anything. Finally, the jackal bit
the anus of the elephant. It was soft, and the jackal enjoyed eating it. After that the jackal tried
to enter the body of the elephant to eat the kidneys, heart, lungs and so on. Whenever the jackal
was thirsty, it drank the blood of the elephant. So, the jackal decided to stay inside the body of
the elephant.
A few weeks later, the winds carrying salts and supper-sunlight made the skin of the elephant
become extremely hard. After a few weeks, the jackal wanted to get out, but at that time, the
jackal could not as the skin of the elephant was too hard for it to escape.

Luckily, a few days later, a heavy rain fell down in that region, and the skin of the elephant
gradually softened. The skin dilated, and the light came in from the anus of the elephant that
made the jackal extremely happy. It used all its power hitting the anus of the elephant to escape
from the body of the elephant.

Then with threatened mind, it made the verse:

I will never do it again

Stay in the body of the elephant

Whenever seeing the elephant’ body

Really scary, I am

And the jackal ran away rapidly!

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that:” Hey monks, please don’t let your attached
thoughts arise. Be aware of them.” Then, the Buddha talked about four noble truths. During
this talk of the Buddha, 500 old monks achieved Arhathood. Many other monks became
Entering Streamers.

Then Buddha recognized that the jackal was him.

Story 149: Story of Ekapanna

The Buddha told this story at a house in Licchavi, which was near to Vasali, about the wicked
prince of Licchavi.

At that time, Vesali was covered by three layers of walls, and each layer of wall was about one
third of a mile to each other. There were 7707 tribes, and thus there were 7707 kings, with 7707
national systems and the banks.

Among the princes of those kings, there was one prince who was called the wicked prince,
because he tended to use all the cruel punishments for those who made him angry. One day,
his parents took him to meet the Buddha:” Dear Master. Our son was easy to get angry with,
and he tends to be cruel when he gets angry. Please say something to him.”

Buddha slowly and calmly talked to the wicked prince:” As a human, we should not be angry
easily and be cruel to others. When you are angry, you behave badly to all people, including
your parents, brothers and sisters, your mates and friends. The angry person who likes a snake
always tries to attack others, or likes the Yaksha desires to kill others. Angry people are ugly,
although they wear beautiful clothes. So, you have to try to calm your mind and live peacefully
with others.”

Returning from the visit to the Buddha, the wicked prince became friendly and compassionate
to others. He gave up the angry mind, and stopped punishing others.

The rapid change of the wicked prince soon became the breaking news, and it spread to the
monks living in Jetavana. They gathered in the Dharma-hall, talking about the effectiveness of
Buddha’s teaching to the wicked prince:” Venerables! Wicked prince was extremely angry and
cruel to most others, and nobody had been successful to advise him to change but only the
Buddha. The Buddha is the greatest master we have ever seen.”

Then the Buddha entered the Buddha-hall. Knowing what the monks talked about, the Buddha
said that:” It is not only in this life but also in the past life, he changed to be better after only
one time teaching from me.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when the king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a young man
who was born in a Brahmin family located at the North of Varanasi. When he was sixteen, he
was well-cultivated at Takkasila. Soon after that, he was excellent in three books of Vedas and
18 kinds of skills. After learning, he returned to take good care of his parents. After his parents
passed away, he was ordained to be a monk, and soon after that he achieved enlightenment.

One day, he needed some salt, so he left the mountain to get to Varanasi and stayed one night
in the park of the palace of the king. The early morning the next day, he wore the robe made of
phloem of the ascetic monk, and walked around the town to get alms. When he walked through
the main gate of the palace, the king, who was from a window, saw the monk. The king
immediately thought highly of the monk:” This monk looks extremely peaceful, with the
tranquility of five organs, mind and even each of his steps. If peace existed, it would be
presented to this monk.” After that the king said to an official to invite the monk to pay a visit
to the palace.

The official went out of the palace to meet the monk, saying politely:” Dear venerable. My
king wants you to pay a visit to the palace.”

The monk calmly denied:” The palace is not my place; my place is Himalaya.”

The official went back to the palace to tell the king the refusal of the monk, but the king was
greedy to meet the monk, so the king insisted to the official:” Now, the palace does not have a
consultant priest, so please invite the monk to stay here.”

The official, again, met the monk and asked for his visit to the palace. This time, the monk
agreed and paid a visit to the palace. When the monk entered the palace, the king paid homage
to the monk, and invited the monk to sit on his golden chair, with the covering of the golden
parasol. After that the king offered the monk with delicious and luxurious foods.

The king asked the monk:” Where are you from?”

The monk calmly:” I live in the Himalayas.”

The king continued:” Where are you going to do and to go?”

The monk:” I am looking for a place for a rainy retreat.”

The king was happy:” So, please stay at our park. It is comfortable for you.”

The king let people make a cottage for the monk, and the king visited the monks three times a
day.

The king had a son who was easy to get angry with and likely to punish others in extreme cruel
ways. So, the king planned:” I believe nobody on this earth can help my son to change to be
better except for this great monk. So, I should take my son to visit him one time.” So, the king
took the prince to pay a visit to the monk. At the cottage of the monk, the king said slightly to
the monk:” Dear master, my son is too cruel to others. Please help me to change his attitude.”

After that the king left and let the prince stay with the monk. The monk took the prince to have
a stroll around the park. When they arrived at a small Nimba tree, the monk asked the prince
to take a leaf and eat it. The prince took off a leaf of Nimba and put it in his mouth. However,
he immediately vomited it out as it was too bitter.

The monk said to the prince;” This kind of tree is bitter, and when it grows up, it becomes the
poison to kill people.”

After hearing from the monk, the prince took the Nimba tree off and crumpled it.

The monk asked the prince:” Why did you do that?”

The prince quickly answered:” This tree is not good for humans, so we don’t need to keep it.”

The monk at that time calmly said:” It is my prince. As this Nimba tree is harmful to humans,
it is not essential to keep it. Likewise, your behaviors right now are harmful like the trait of this
Nimba tree. Therefore, others thought that you did not deserve to inherit to rule this nation as
you are too cruel to others. Hence, it will be better if you can stop behaving badly to others,
instead behaving in friendly and compassionate ways.”

When the prince returned to the palace, he immediately changed his attitude, and behaved
friendly and compassionate to others. After his father passed away, he ruled the nation with
virtue.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the cruel son of king Brahmadatta was the
wicked prince, and his father was Ananda. The ascetic monk was him.

Story 150: Story of Sanjiva

Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove, and the story surrounded the king Ajatasatthu.

When Devadatta left the Sangha of the Buddha, he advised the king Ajatasatthu to follow him.
King Ajatasatthu killed his father, king Bimbasala who obtained the Entering Stream level, so
king Ajatasatthu, himself, cut down his cause for achieving this practicing level in the nearest
time.

When king Devadatta was swallowed by the earth, king Ajasatatthu worried:” I also shall be
swallowed by the earth like him.” From that time, king Ajatsatathu always worried that he
could not sleep, eat and drink well. He wandered around, with a threatened mind, like the
elephants are punished with sharp stakes. In the thought, Ajasatatthu always saw the earth was
going to crack and swallow him down into the fire hell, so he worried all the time.

The king Ajasatatthu wanted to pay a visit to the Buddha to show the Buddha his penitent
actions and mind, but he could not reach the Buddha place. Therefore, in the Katika festival,
Savathi was decorated as the heaven, and the king Ajasatatthu was on the golden chair on an
elephant, parading around the city. When the king was on the elephant, the king saw Jivaka, an
official of the city, so he planned to take Jivika to meet the Buddha:” I will ask the officials to
pay a visit to the monk or Brahmin that shall make us stay peacefully and happily. It is likely
that Jivika shall introduce the Buddha, so I will take him and other officials to visit the
Buddha.”

So, after parading around the city, king Ajasatatthu asked officials:” Dear officials! Today is
the precious day to pay a visit to a monk or a Brahmin who shall help us to stay peacefully and
happily in this life.”

The officials introduced Purana Kassapa, Makkali Gosala, Ajita Kesakambasala, Kakkudha
Kaccayana Saniaja Belatthiputa, Nigantha Nataputta, but nobody introduced the Buddha. The
king still kept silent, looking toward Jivaka to wait for him, and Jivika turned toward the
direction that the Buddha was in, saying:'' Dear my Majesty. The Arahat. The fully enlightened
one is staying in my mango-grove, together with 135 monks. So, the Buddha is the only one
that we shall visit right now.``

The king Ajasatathu was extremely happy when he heard Jivika’s utterance, so he urged
Jivika:” Let the elephants into the vehicles, and we will ride to the Buddha’ s place.”

When they arrived at the Mango-grove, king Ajasatathu and officials took off the elephants,
and walked slightly toward the Buddha. Seeing the Buddha and 1350 monks sitting in peaceful
condition, the king Ajasatathu felt extremely happy and peaceful. The king paid respect to the
Buddha and the Sangha, and sat down at a corner with all his humility. Then the king asked the
Buddha about the fruit of the monkhood. The Buddha, on that occasion, taught about the
precious fruit of the monkhood. After the Dharma talk of the Buddha, king Ajasatatthu asked
the Buddha to forgive for his crimes and cruel actions. Then, the king, again, paid respect to
the Buddha and Sangha before leaving.
After the king left, Buddha said that:” the king cut his virtue down so that he could not enter
the first Entering Stream level, which he probably could during the lesson that I just gave him.”

The next morning, monks gathered at the Dharma-hall to talk about the cause that prevented
the king Ajasatatthu from obtaining the Entering Stream level:” Dear venerable! Because the
king Ajasatatthu followed Devadatta to do evil things, he could not enter the Entering Stream
level after listening to the talk of the Buddha.”

The Buddha, then, entered the Dharma-hall, hearing the monks talking about the king
Ajasatatthu, Buddha said that:” It is not in this present time, but also in the past life, he followed
evil people and cut down his virtue.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a young man who
was born in a rich Brahmin family. When he was sixteen, he was well-cultivated at Takkasila,
and soon after that he became a famous Master, with hundreds of students.

Among his students, there was a clever young man who was named Sanjiva. The Master taught
Sanjiva a mantra which could make the dead bodies to be alive again. Sanjiva was diligent to
practice, so he was excellent in this skill. Sanjiva often played closely with some friends that
were too arrogant. So, Sanjiva gradually became arrogant too.

One day, Sanjiva and two other students went to the forest to get the woods. One the way back,
they saw a skeleton of a tiger. Sanjiva told his friends:” I will make this tiger revised.”

Two friends: “Really? Can you do that?” Then they climbed up to a tall tree

Sanjiva began to read the mantra and used a piece of the brick to hit the skeleton of the tiger.
The tiger was revised immediately and it rapidly grabbed Sanjiva and killed Sanjiva with a bite
in the neck. After that the tiger was returned as a skeleton.

Two students were threatened by the death of Sanjiva, so they quickly backed to tell the Master.
The Master said:” Because of having an evil mind, and was playing with the evil, so he got that
consequence.”

And the Master spoke the verse:

Whoever build relationship with evil men

Or playing closely with evil men

They shall be in trouble

Like Sanjiva was encountered!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that Sajiva was Ajasatatthu, and the Master in
the story was him

Story 151: Story of Rajovada

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, after the Buddha gave a Dharma-talk to the king
Kosala, the detail is told in the story 512 (Story of Tesakuna).

One day, after being the judge of a complicated court, the king Kosala directly got to
Jetavana to meet the Buddha. The king Kosala paid respect to the Buddha, and sat
down in a corner. Buddha asked the king Kosala:” Why were you from Majesty?”

King Kosala answered calmly:” I was from the court, judging a complicated case for
several days. When the work at the court just completed, I rushed to come here. “

The Buddha talked to king Kosala:” You are cultivating good deeds when you give an
equal and fair judge in the court. It is the way which leads to heaven. It is a great
chance for building up virtue when you can have both being a good judge and being
able to listen to my talks. In the past, the kings listened to the wise men to be good
judges, and they left the evil paths to do good to be reborn in heaven.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a
prince, who was the son of the queen and the king. When the prince reached his 16,
he was sent to Takkasila to study. Soon after that, he was skillful in all that he studied.

After the king passed away, the prince was given on the throne as the new king. The
new king tried to rule the country with fair political laws, so all the officials and the
judges also had to work hard to give equal and fair results for the cases in the courts.
When all the political cases were handled with justice, and the country was ruled with
justice. All the lawsuits in the palace soon were out. All the officials who worked in the
courts waited for the new cases but day after day, no news cases, so they left the
courts. The courts became empty, without people.

The new king saw there were no new political cases for the judges in the courts to
work on, so he thought that he was doing right, with his fair and justice laws. However,
he still tried to get around to hear from people on whether there was something that
needed to innovate. He first asked the people living in the palace, but all people said
that the ruling ways of the king were fair and good. But the king did not satisfy the
replies from people in the palace as he thought that people living in the palace did not
give their real thoughts as they were scared of him. Hence, he went to the regions
around the palace to ask people, but he received similar replies from people.

One day, he gave all the work of the nation to all the officials, and pretended as a
businessman, with only one driver. He went to the bordering areas to ask people about
the ruling way of the king, but the replies all were similar to what he had heard from
the people in the city of Varanasi.

When the new king of Varanasi was on the way back to his palace, his vehicle
encountered the vehicle of king Mallika of Kosala, who was also on the way asking
people around to innovate his national laws. Two vehicles encountered each other on
a super narrow path, so there was only one pass through.

The driver of Varanasi asked:” Please. Step aside. The king of Varanasi is sitting on
this vehicle. “

The other side also requested:” The king Mallika of Kosala is on this vehicle. Please
step aside.”

Then two drivers compared the several factors of two kings to decide who would step
aside. The age, power, fortune, the size of the nation, the beauty of the city were
compared but they soon realized that two kings were equal in these things. Then they
decided to compare the moral behaviors of two kings.

The driver of Kosala spoke the verse:

King Mallika of Kosala

Use violence to heal violence

Use morality to heal morality

Use good to return good

Use evil to pay back evil

It is the behavior of my Majesty

King of Kosala

The driver of Varanasi was surprised:” Are those the traits of the moral behavior of
your Majesty?”

The driver of the Kosala king replied confidently:” Yeah. They are. How about the
behavior of your Majesty?”

The driver of Varanasi king calmly spoke:

My Majesty, king of Varanasi

Use calm to heal angry

Use good to return evil

Use giving to heal with attachment

Use the truth to heal with deceiving

Are the characteristics of my Majesty

King of Varanasi

Please step aside!

The king of Kosala and his driver immediately got off of the vehicle, and led the horses
and vehicle stepped aside the path. After that two-king talked to each other, and after
that they left to return back to their palaces. Returning to the palaces, two kings ruled
the nations with morality.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the driver of king Kosala was
Mogallana, and the Kosala king was Ananda. The driver of king Varanasi was
Suriputta, and the king was him.

Story 152: Story of Sigala

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a barber who was extremely faithful to
the Dharmas of the Buddha. This barber worked in the palace, and he often cut and
designed hairs for the king, the queen, the princes and the princesses of Licchavi.

One day, he took his son to work together in the palace, and unluckily, after seeing
the beauty of a princess of Licchavi, he fell in love with her so that on the way home,
he asked his father:” I desire to get married with that princess, otherwise, I will die.”

The father pacified his son in suitable words:” We belong to the lowest caste in this
society, so it is impossible to have the princess, a person in the royal family, to be your
wife. I shall ask a woman who is in the same cart to be your wife.”

But he denied the advice of his father to lie down on the bed all the time. Then, all his
relatives, such mother, aunt, brothers, sisters, came to advise him to change his mind,
but their advice was ineffective to him. So, time flies, the son of the barber was in
serious sickness, and he passed away.

After making a funeral for the son, the barber bought flowers, scented perfumes and
fragrances to offer the Buddha. When he arrived in front of the Buddha, he offered the
flowers, perfumes and fragrances to the Buddha, and then he paid respect to Buddha
and all monks. Afterward, he sat down in a corner. The Buddha asked him:” Where
did you do my student? I have not seen you for a long time, I did not meet you.”

The barber told the Buddha everything that had happened in that recent time to his
son, and kept silent.

Buddha, after that, said:” It is not today, but in the past life he loved the wrong person,
and suffered.”

And Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a lion
family living in the Himalaya Mountain. This lion family had 7 sons and one daughter.
They all lived in the golden cave on the mountainside of Himalaya. Not far from the
golden cave, there was a crystal cave, and a jackal lived in this cave.
Time flies, the parents of lions soon passed away, and seven male lions often let their
sister stay at home, and they often brought food back for their sister. One day, when
seven male lions had just left, the jackal came to the golden cave to attract the female
lion. Standing in front of the golden cave, it said honestly:'' Dear honey. You belong to
a kind of four legged animal, so do I. I really love you too much, so please get married
to me. We shall live happily forever.``

The female lion, after hearing the words of the jackal, thought:” The jackal is from the
lowest race, and I belong to the royal one. It already consulted me, so should I commit
suicide. However, if I commit suicide now, it is not suitable. So, I will wait for my
brothers back and tell them everything before committing suicide. “

The jackal did not hear any reply from the female lion, so it felt extremely sad. Finally,
it returned to its cave and lay down sadly.

After killing a cow, the first lion backed its cave and gave the food to its sister:” Hey
sister. Please try it.”

The sister lion:” I am not going to eat anything. I am going to die.”

The lion:” A jackal came here during the time you left here. So, I really want to commit
suicide.”

The lion was extremely angry:” Where is the jackal? I will give it a lesson.”

The sister lion:” It is in the sky, on the edge of the silver mountain.”

The lion jumped to the crystal cave with the feed when it grabbed other animals for
living. It hit the wall and fell down to the mountainside.

The second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth lion were in similar conditions, when they tried
to kill the jackal. When the last male lion backed, its sister also told him the same thing
as she told the other brothers. However, this youngest lion was clever:” The jackal is
impossible to live in the sky. It may live in a crystal cave,”

So, the youngest lion jumped down to the mountainside near to the crystal cave,
seeing six of its brothers were dead, it roared loudly. The roaring sound of the lion was
amplified in the crystal cave, and the jackal was threatened when it heard the roar of
the lion so that the jackal died inside the crystal cave.

After that the youngest lion buried its brothers, and went back to the golden cave to
pacify its sister.

The Buddha, after that spoke the verse:

One the mountainside of Himalia

Roared a young lion

Made the soils were shaken

The jackal in the crystal cave

Threatened of the lion roar

Its heart was broken and passed away!

Right after speaking the verse, the Buddha talked about four noble truths. During the
talk, many laymen achieved the Entering Stream level. And, then, the Buddha
recognized that the jackal was the son of the barber, and six brother lions were six
venerable monks. The sister lion was the princess of Licchavi, and the youngest lion
was him.

Story 153: Story of Sukara

The Buddha told this Jetavana, surrounding the arrogance of an old monk. One day,
after the evening Dhama-talk, Buddha stood on the stairs in front of his room as usual
for monks to pay respect to him before he entered his room for taking rest. Seeing the
Buddha, Venerable Sariputta paid homage to the Buddha, and then he returned to his
room. Not long after that Venerable Moggallana led monks to arrive at the room to
invite him to get to the Dharma-hall for the Dharma-discussion.

Whatever Venerable Mogallana asked, Ven Sariputta all answered clearly, completely
and sufficiently. Among monks listening to the discussion of Ven Sariputta and
Mogallana, there was an old monk who was quietly arrogant. He thought:” If I ask a
question which makes Ven. Sariputta cannot give the answer properly and sufficiently,
so all will think highly of me as the wise monk.” Then he stood up and asked:” Dear
Venerable. Please let us know if the truth is reductive or inductive, refused or accepted,
good or bad?”

Venerable Sariputta looked at the old monk for a while:” This monk is full of ignorance
and arrogance, so he cannot understand what I shall tell him. It is better to keep silent.”
Then, Ven Sariputta stood up and left the Dharma-hall for his room.

After Sariputta left, the other monks asked the old monk to explain in detail what he
just asked Venerable Sariputta, but the old monk was ignorant, as he knew nothing
for what he asked. Therefore, he ran away, and carelessly, he fell down to a public
toilet. When other monks saw him in the dirty condition, they left him and went back to
Jetavana. When they came back, they made a loud noise that made the Buddha
awake:” Monks. What are you doing at this time?”

They told the Buddha what happened and the Buddha, after knowing everything, said
that:” It is not only today, but in the past, this old monk was arrogant. Consequently,
he also fell into a toilet, making the body dirty.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Bramadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a lion
which lived in a cave on Himalaya. And, not far from the cave of the lion, there was a
pond, where a boar lived nearby. Not far from the pond, there was an ascetic monk
who lived in a plain cottage.

One day, the lion went down the Himalaya and, at the shore of the pond, killed a water
buffalo for lunch, and after lunch, it slowly moved out of the pond. When it was moving
out of the pond, it saw a fat and tall boar, so the lion decided to prevent it from meeting
the boar as the lion desired to save the boar for eating the other day.

The boar was extremely arrogant when the lion tried to avoid it, so it arrogantly told
the lion:

Hey friend. You are four legs

So, as I am

Please stop running away

Dear lion!

The lion still calmly answered:” Hey boar. I don’t want to have a fight with you right
now, so, please wait here for the fighting between us seven days later.”

The boar returned to the forest and told his relatives about the plan to fight with the
lion. All his relatives and his friends were scared of the lion, so they advised the boar
to find a way to escape.

The boar, after hearing the explanation from his relatives, was extremely afraid:” What
should I do now, dear all?”

A friend of his suggested wisely: “You should immediately get to the toilet of the ascetic
monk who lived nearby, and try to roll over the excrement of the monk over your body
for seven day. On the seventh day, take a bath with the water from the fog, and try to
come before the lion, standing on the flow of the wind. So, when the lion arrives,
smelling the dirty excrement from your body, it will let you live.”

The boar did what his friend suggested, and in the early of the seventh day, it arrived
at the pond earlier than the lion, standing in front of the flow of the wind. When the lion
arrived, it knew that the boar was rolled in the excrement, so it scornfully said to the
boar:” Your wile is extremely wise, as you tried to roll in the excrement. If not, you
would have been my lunch as I cannot bite you with my mouth and my claws. So, I'll
let you live.”

Then the lion spoke the verse:

The furs and the skin are dirty

The boar, you are stinky

If you still desire to fight with me

You are the winner already

Then the lion went back to the pond to find the other animal for its lunch. The boar
backed into the forest and arrogantly told its friend that it had already bit the lion. Its
relatives were extremely worried so they soon left the forest for other places to live in.
After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the boar was the old monk, and the
lion was him.

Story 154: Story of Uraga

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding the arguments between two
martial officials of king Kosala. These two martial officials had arguments whenever
they met each other or whenever they had to work in the same duties. Their story was
spread around, and Buddha also knew their problem.

One day, in the morning, Buddha held the bowl and walked toward the house of one
of two martial officials. Seeing Buddha was standing outside, the martial official quickly
ran out to take the bowl for the Buddha, and then invited the Buddha to visit his house
for an offering. After getting offerings from the official, Buddha talked about benefits of
cultivation of loving-kindness and four noble truths to him. After the talk of the Buddha,
the official obtained the Entering Stream level quickly. Buddha then left his house but
asked him to take his bowl for him. Then the Buddha walked toward the house of the
other martial official, accompanying him, the martial official that obtained the Entering
Stream level.

The other martial official saw the Buddha was in front of his house, so he also ran out
to welcome the Buddha. He also helped to hold the bowl for the Buddha, and invited
Buddha to sit in the most clean and tidy seat. After his offerings, Buddha also talked
about the benefits of practicing loving-kindness and four noble truths to him. After the
utterance of the Buddha, this martial official also achieved the Entering Stream level.
Right after that, two martial officials were sorry to each other in front of the Buddha.
After lunch, the Buddha left back to Jetavana, and two officials bought flowers, scented
perfumes and fragrances accompanied the Buddha to get to Jetavana.

This event in which Buddha assisted two martial officials to change their attitudes to
each other was discussed among monks in the Dharma-hall in the afternoon:” Two
martial officials of Kosala hated each other for a long time, and nobody could change
their attitude to each other but the Buddha. Only in the morning, the Buddha helped
them to be friendly to each other.”
When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, comprehending the discussion of monks
gathered there, Buddha said that:” It is not only in the present time but also in the past
life, they changed their impolite attitude to each other after my talk.”

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, on one festival,
people, deities, deities of snakes and deities of birds also gathered to enjoy the festival.

At one place, while a deity of snake enjoyed the festival, it put a hand on the shoulder
of a deity of the bird. When the deity of the bird turned his head to see who was valiant
to put the hand on his shoulder, it recognized the one standing close to it was a snake.
The deity of the snake was extremely threatened as it was rapidly standing close to a
deity of the bird. So, it flew out of the city and got to a pond to hide under the pond.
The deity of the bird also flew quickly following the deity of the snake, deciding to catch
the snake for lunch.

At the pond, the snake saw an ascetic monk who was going to take a bath under the
pond, so it decided to ask the monk to save its life. So, it immediately manifested as a
pearl in the clothes that the monk put on the shore. When the deity of the bird got to
the pond, seeing the snake in the shape of a pearl in the clothes of the monk, it said
to the monk:” Dear master. Please take the clothes up. There is a snake which I desire
to eat inside the clothes. “

And the bird continued to express its compassion:

Hiding in the clothes of an ascetic monk

The king of the snake

Desiring to free it from the shape of the pearl

As respectful to the Brahmin practice

As I am too hungry, I will eat it.

The ascetic monk, from the pond, praised the bird:

Hopefully, long life you are

Having the support of Brahman

Having food of gods constantly

All needs are fulfilled

As paying respect to the Brahmin practice

Although I was too hungry but not eat the snake.

Then the monk took off the pond, wearing the clothes, and two both, the snake and
the bird to his cottage. Then, the monk talked about the benefits of loving-kindness to
both. From that time, the deity snake and deity bird all live in harmony with each other.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the snake and the bird were two
martial officials and the monk was him.

Story 155: Story of Gagga

The Buddha told this story at Rajakaramado garden which was built up by the king
Pasedani, and which was near to Jetavana.

One day, when the Buddha was teaching at Rajakaramado, he sneezed three times.
All the students, at that time, sounded loudly:” Long life master. Long life, the blessed
one. “

The Buddha then asked the monks:” Monks. When a person sneezes and I say that
long life, does it affect the life of that person or not?”

Monks together answered loundly:” Dear master. No, it does not affect the life of that
person.”

The Buddha calmly:” Monks. So, if a person sneezes, please don’t say long life to
him.”

From that time, whoever said long life to the monks when they sneezed, they all kept
silent. One time, some lay men said long life to monks when they sneezed, and the
monks still kept silent. Lay men were angry to complain: “ It is impolite to keep silent
when others wish you to live longer.”

The monks were upset and they told the Buddha what they encountered, so the
Buddha allowed the monks to reply to the laymen when they wished them to live
longer: “ So, from now on, you all can reply politely to layment whenever they wish you
to live longer.”

The monks continuously asked the Buddha about the history of the people's custom
of wishing long lives to others.

Buddha then told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a young
man, who was born in a Brhamin family at Kasi. As the father of the young man was a
business, when the young man turned into sixteen, his father took him to accompany
him on business, giving him a wonderful pearl. When they arrived at Varanasi, after
the dinner, they could not find the empty room for taking a rest. So, the father asked
the waiter:” If there is no available room, where to stay for those who arrive late?”

The waiter calmly answered:” There is one deserted house which is not too far from
here, and they often stay there. But , be careful as there is a deity living in that house.
If you don't care about the deity, get there to take a rest.``

The son of the businessman confidently said to his father:” Let us get there to take a
rest. Don;t need to worry about the Yaksha, as I will make it to sit on knees to pay
respect to you.”

The son insisted the father come to the deserted house, and arriving at the house, the
father immediately lay down on the bed, while the son helped to massage the father.
At that time, a Yaksha, which already served 12 years under the king Vesavanna,
appeared. This Yaksha was allowed to eat those who sneezed but would not say “long
live”. From the main pillar of the house, the Yaksha thought:'' I will make these two
people sneeze, and if they don’t say long life, I will eat them. “

By its power, it made a wind to blow up the dusts on the bed, and the businessman
immediately sneezed after breathing the dusts in. At that time, none of them said they
would live long, so the Yaksha, from the ceiling of the house, moved down the pillar
to eat them. When the Yaksha was moving down, the son of the businessman saw it,
and the immediately spoke the verse:

Wish you live 100 years

And a addition of 20 years

Hope the Yaksha does not eat my, father

Long Live father!

The Yaksha thought:” He already said long live, so I cannot eat the son but the father
only.”

The Yaksha, then, moved rapidly toward the businessman. Seeing the Yaksha moving
toward hi, the father wisely knew that he would reply his son to avoid the Yaksha to
catch and eat him:

Wish you also live 100 years

With addition of 20 years

The Yaksha may eat poison

But long live my son!

The Yaksha, after hearing the reply verse from the father, quickly moved back, as it
could not eat both of them for they already said long live. When the Yaksha was
moving away, the son asked the Yaksha:'' Dear Yaksha. Why do you eat all the people
who stay in this house?”

The Yaksha proundly:” I had served the King Vessavana for 12 years, and I can eat
all people, except those who say Long Live.”

The son compassionately:”Because you cultivated bad deeds, you were born as a
Yaksha. If you continue to kill people, you will turn from this terrible to other unwanted
conditions. So, please stop harming others.”

Then the son of the businessmen explained the sufferings in the hells to the Yaksha.
The Yaksha, after that, decided to be the servant of the son of the businessman. The
early morning next day, people came to the house to see whether the businessman
and his son were still alive. When they saw the Yaksha, they comprehend that the
Yaksha was taming them, so they reported to the king:” Dear my Majesty. There is a
young man who already tamed the evil Yaksha in the deserted house.”
The king called the businessman and his son to the palace, and appointed the son as
the general for the military. The king also listened to the advice of the son of the
businessman to cultivate good deeds.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that the king was Ananda, and the
businessman was Mahakassapa. The son of the businessman was him.

Story 156: Story of Alinacitta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, which related to the practice of a monk that lost his
determination in his practice. The detail of this monk is indicated in the Jataka 462 (Jataka of
Samvara).

When other monks complained about his case to the Buddha, the Buddha compassionately
asked him:” My son. Is it true that you lost your patience in monkhood?”

The monk:” Dear master. I am really losing my patience in monkhood practice.”

The Buddha looked at the monk for a while and calmly encouraged him:” My son. In the past,
with patience, you could possess the city which was about 12 miles from Varanasi, and you
could compassionately give the city to another man. So, why do you lose your patience in this
life?”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a small village
which was not far from Varanasi, and which was the town of 500 excellent wood carpenters.
These carpenters often sailed the boats along the river to get to the forest, and they cut down
the tree, carve the trees to make the frame of the houses as people ordered them to make. After
making the frame at the forest, they took off all the woods and carried them to Varanasi to
make houses for people there.

One day, when they were working in the forest, an elephant walked through a small path near
their workplace, and unluckily, the elephant stepped on a woodchip of an acacia tree. Thus, its
leg was injured and tumid. The elephant suffered too much, and it was free from suffering when
it heard the voices of the carpenters nearby:” It is lucky for me, so I will ask the carpenters to
help me to heal this injury.”

The elephant walked by three legs toward the carpenters, and then it lay down in suffering and
crying. The carpenters saw the elephant suffering, so they came over curiously to observe what
happened to the elephant. Then, they helped the elephant to take off the woodchip, the leg of
the elephant, and, not only that they used their medicines to put on the injury of the elephant
and took care of the elephant until its injury was totally recovered.

After recovery, the elephant made friends with the carpenters, and the elephant assisted the
carpenters with hard work, such as moving the woods to put on the boats or moving the cutting
tree to the suitable places for carving. The elephant was happy and patient to do these works as
the way to return what carpenters helped it. Every day, five hundred carpenters all gave food
to the elephant, so the elephant had 500 portions of food daily.

Time flew by, the elephant was getting old, and it thought:” Now. I am old, so I am not healthy
enough to help the carpenters. It is best to introduce my son to work for them.”

Choosing a suitable time, the elephant took his son to introduce to the carpenters:” He is son.
From now on, he will replace me to work for you all.”

Then the elephant turned to his son, saying with compassion:” Dear son. They already saved
my life, so it is your duty, continuing help them with heavy work.” Then the old elephant went
to the forest rapidly, leaving his son there.

The young elephant, from that time, began to do hard work for carpenters, and in leisure time,
it went to the river to play with the children of the carpenters. At that time, for horses, cows
and elephants, they were tamed, not having urination and defecation into the water of any river.

One day, unluckily, a dried defecation of the young elephant fell down to the river, and the
defecation drifted to the city of Varanasi, getting stuck at the root of a tree near to the palace
of the king. When the elephant caretakers of the king led 500 elephants to the river to take a
bath, all the elephants suddenly ran back to the shore. Elephant-caretakers knew that the water
of the river might pollute, so they tried to oversee part of the river which surrounded the palace.
Finally, they found the defecation of the young elephant, so they told the king.
The early morning the next day, the king ordered people to sail the boats along the river to find
out the reason that 500 elephants of the palace were threatened. When the delegate of the king
saw the carpenters working nearby the shore, they berthed their boats at the shore. The
carpenters, curiously, gathered at the shore to welcome the king, when they heard the loud
noise of drum sounds of the king delegate from far distance. A carpenter welcomed the king:”
Dear Majesty. It is our honor to have your arrival to our workplace. What can we do for you
now?

The king looked around, and he saw the young elephant. He was attracted by the beauty of the
young elephant: “I got here to take this elephant to the palace. Is it fine for all of you?”

The carpenters: “Yes my Majesty. It is our honor and pleasure to serve you. Please take this
elephant to your palace.”

However, the elephant was reluctant to follow the king, so the king asked the elephant:” What
should I do to have you follow me back to the palace Dear elephant?”

The elephant confidently answered: “Please give money to these carpenters as they all fed me
for a long time”

The king asked his servant to take 5000 gold coins and give them to the carpenters. However,
the elephant still did not want to follow the king, so the king curiously asked it:” So now. What
happened dear my friend?”

The elephant looked around the children of carpenters with compassion:” Please give clothes
and more money for the wives and children of these carpenters.”

The king ordered his servants to give clothes and more gold coins to the carpenters, and then
he returned to the palace. At the palace, he, soon, made a ceremony to give the elephant on the
throne of all elephants in the nation. Also, the king shared his nation with the elephant, and
with the help of the elephant, his territory gradually became larger and his nation became richer.

Time flies, the king passed away when the queen was getting pregnant. At that time, the servant
of the king worried that the elephant would die following the king, so they were reluctant to
announce the death of the king to the elephant. Soon after the death of the king of Varanasi,
the king of Kosala intended to occupy Varanasi, so the king of Kosala led his army to attack
the city of Varanasi. At that dangerous moment, an official of Varanasi said to the king of
Kosala:” Dear Sir. Our queen is getting pregnant, and shall give birth to a prince within seven
days. If not, we will open the door to welcome you. So, please wait for seven days.”

The king of Kosala agreed to wait as he would lose nothing but would gain Varanasi if the
queen of Varanasi would not give birth within seven days. On the seventh day, the queen gave
birth to a prince who was predicted as the loving-kindness prince of the nation. Right after the
birth of the prince, officials told the queen that no one could suspend the attack of king Kosala,
unless having the help of the king of elephants.

The queen took the newborn prince, following the officials to get to the palace of the king of
elephants. Putting the newborn prince in front of the elephant, the queen calmly and slowly
said to the elephant:” Dear Sir. Your friend, our great king, has already passed away, and we
did not announce it to you as we worried that you would die following him. Now the king of
Kosala is attacking our nation with strong and powerful force. Nobody can suspend his spread
now, unless having your help. Therefore, please help us to support the independence of the
nation, otherwise, you shall kill the son of your friend.”

The elephant cried loudly after hearing the death of his friend, but, in a moment, it stayed calm
again, putting the newborn prince on its back, saying to the queen:” Don’t worry. I will help
this prince to keep the nation.”

Right after that, people wore the armor for the elephant, and opened the door of the city. The
elephant used his great power to threaten all the soldiers of the king of Kosala, and caught the
king of Kosala sitting on his knees in front of the newborn prince. Some soldiers wanted to kill
the king of Kosala, but the elephant quickly stopped them:” Please, stop killing and release
him.”

When the newborn prince turned seven years old, he was given the throne of the king of
Varanasi. With the help of the elephant, his nation was the most powerful throughout India.

After telling the story, the Buddha spoke the verse:

With loving-kindness
Making all people to follow

Enable to catch king of Kosala

Who is fulfilled with great desire!

Make all people stay peaceful

Similar, Hey my son! The bhikkhu!

Be patient to cultivate good actions

Reducing the desire

Staying safe and happy forever

Escaping from all negative segments of mind!

Right after speaking the verse, the Buddha talked about four noble truths, and the monk who
lost his patience in practice obtained Arhat Hood after the talk of the Buddha.

Finally, the Buddha recognized that the young elephant was the monk who lost his patience in
practice, and its father was Sariputta. The queen and the king of Varanasi were the queen Maya
and king Sudhodana. The newborn prince was him.

Story 157: Story of Guna

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the receiving of 1000 sets of clothes
from Venerable Ananada.

It was on an occasion in which Venerable Ananda spoke Dharma in the palace of king
Kosala. At that time, a person offered the king 1000 sets of clothes which valued 1000
gold coins for each set. The king kept for himself 500 sets of clothes, and he gave the
queen and his maidens five hundred sets of clothes. However, the queen and the
maidens of king Kosala in the afternoon, took all 500 sets of clothes to offer Venerable
Ananda. So, the next morning, the queen and other maidens still wore old clothes to
have breakfast with the king. The king was surprised, as his queen and maidens often
wore new clothes whenever they had, so the king asked his queen and maidens:” Why
don’t you wear the clothes that I gave you yesterday?”
The queen and maidens all calmly replied:” We all offered those clothes to Ven.
Ananda yesterday.”

The king surprisedly asked:” Did Ven, Ananda receive all of your offering?”

A maiden replied quickly:” Yes. He received all 500 sets of clothes that we offered.”

King rapidly said: “ The Master just allows monks to keep a set of clothes, so Ven.
Ananda may think of doing business with those sets of clothes.”

The king was extremely angry so that after the breakfast he immediately rushed to get
to Jetavana to meet Ven. Ananda. When the king met Ven. Ananda, he still paid
respect to Ven. Ananda before sitting in a seat and asked:” Were my queen and other
maidens came here to listen to your Dharma yesterday?”

Ven. Ananda quickly replied to the king:” Yes my Majesty. They came here and
listened to what would be suitable to listen to.”

The king rapidly asked:” So did they offer 500 sets of clothes to you and you received
all of them?”

Ven. Ananda replied calmly:” Yes Sir. They offered me 500 sets of clothes and I
received all.”

King showed his anger to Ven. Ananda:” Sorry to say this, but the Master just allows
monks to keep a set of clothes. So, you are doing wrong with the master teaching?”

Ven. Ananada understood the mind of the king, so he slowly answered:'' Yes Sir. The
master just allowed us to keep a set of clothes, but the Master didn’t put a ban on how
many sets of clothes we can receive. Hence, with 500 sets of clothes, I shall give to
whom that their clothes have been old.``

King still wondered:” When the monks received the new clothes from you. What should
they do with the old ones?”

Ven. Ananada rapidly answered:” They can utilize them as the bed sheets.”

King continued to ask:” How about their old bed sheets?”

Ven.Ananda still calmly:” They can utilize their old bed-sheets to use as the carpets.”

King still tried to comprehend more:” How about their old carpets Dear Venerable?”

Ven. Ananda still answers with patience:” They can use their old carpets as the foot
towels dear Majesty.”

The king still has to ask more questions:” How about their old foot towels?”

Ven. Ananda still gave the answer to the king calmly:” They can cut them into varied
pieces and mix with soil to make the walls for their cottage. We don’t throw away
everything that we have offered us.“

The king was extremely satisfied with the answers of Ven. Ananda, so he offered Ven.
Ananada 500 sets of clothes that he kept for himself. After the king Kosala left, Ven.
Ananada gave 500 sets of clothes to 500 monks whose clothes were too old, and he
gave 500 sets of clothes to a young monk who often took good care of him. The young
monk, later on, shares all 500 sets of clothes to other monks. These monks were
surprised by the action of Ven. Ananda, so they came to the Buddha and asked:” Dear
Master. Does a person who already obtained the Entering Stream level give something
to people based on their emotion?

The Buddha calmly answered them:” A person who already obtained the Entering
Stream level never gives something to others due to his emotion.”

A monk curiously asked the Buddha:” So why? Our teacher Ven. Ananada gave 500
sets of clothes to a young monk, and this young monk shared those clothes with us?”

Buddha compassionately smiled:'' Ven. Ananda is not the kind of person who gives
something to others based on their emotion. That young monk already has taken good
care of his teacher, and with his contribution, he deserved to receive those 500 sets
of clothes. Ven. Ananda gave 500 sets of clothes as the way to return what the young
monk contributed to him. The wise men in the past also did the same.``

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a lion
that lived in a cave on the mountainside of Himalaya, and there was a pond which was
nearby the cave that the lion lived in. The lion often catches the animals that come to
drink water in the pond for its lunches.

One day, when the lion jumped to catch a deer which was drinking water at the pond,
the lion got stuck in the thick mud of the pond, and it could not move for seven days.
On the seventh day, a jackal came to the pond to drink water. Seeing the lion, the
jackal tended to run away. However, the lion called the jackal for helping him to escape
from the mud:'' Dear Jackal. Don’t be feared. I have been stuck here for seven days,
without eating and drinking anything. So, please save me from this mud.``

The jackal wanted to help the lion but it worried for its safety:``Is it safe for me after
saving you from the mud?”

The lion promised determinedly:” Don’t worry. I will not eat you but help you with
various benefits afterward. Please try the best way to save me from this mud.``

The jackal tried to dig the muds around the legs of the lions, and then it used its head
to pull the body of the lion toward. At the same time, the lion used all his power to jump
out of the mud. Finally, the lion was saved from the mud, and immediately the lion ran
into the water to take a bath. Right after that the lion killed a buffalo for lunch, after
eating, the lion used its claws to cut a piece of meat to give the jackal:'' Dear friend. It
is for you.``

The jackal ate half of the piece of meat, and kept helf. It made the lion curious:” Why
didn’t you eat all the meat Jackal?”

The jackal calmly: “ I have a wife, and I need to support her. So, it is for her.”

The lion, later on, took the couple of jackals to live in a cave which was near to its
cave, and everyday the lion and the jackal together went out for a living. The female
jackal and the female lion stayed at the caves.

Time flies, the jackal family and lion family all had two children. The young jackals and
the young lions still played together as best friends. However, one day, the wife of the
lion was jealous :” Why did my husband want to keep the couple of jackals to stay here
for a long time? Does he fall in love with the wife of the jackal?I have to find the way
to chase them away.``
The next day, after the lion and the male jackal left for a living, the wife of the lion
asked the wife of the jackal:” Why do you have to stay here together with us? Why
don’t you move to live in other places?”

The wife of the jackal was threatened, so it told the jackal to move to another place to
live. The jackal, in the next morning, said to the lion:'' Dear sir. We have lived together
with you all for so long. Whoever lives together for so long will lose their respect for
each other so that your wife asked my wife to move to another place. It is good time
to say goodbye to you.``

The lion, after hearing the utterance from the jackal, turned to its wife:” Dear honor.
Do you know the reason that last time, I went out for a living for seven days?”

Its wife curiously replied:” My husband. I really don't know what happened to you. Can
you tell me about it?”

Then the lion told his wife about the accident of getting stuck in the mud for seven
days, and the jack was its benefactor. And it spoke the verse:

Although they are lower than us

The friendship is vital

As having this jackal

My life was saved from the mud!

To comprehend the issue between its husband and the couple of jackals, the wife of
the lion changed its attitude toward the jackal family. From that time, they lived in
harmony together for seven generations.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about four noble truths to the monks. There
were many monks obtained the Entering Stream level, one-returner, non-returner level
and Arhat. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the jackal was Ananda, and the lion
was him.

Story 158: Story of Suhanu

The Budha told this story at Jetavana, about two monks behaving cruelly. One lived in Jetavana,
while other lived outside of Jetavana. One day, the cruel monk, lived outside Jetavana, came
to the temple for a important work. On that occasion, the young novices were happy to see two
cruel monks to argue each other, so they planned to take the cruel monk who lived outside
Jetavana to the room of the cruel monk lived in for taking a rest.

However, everything was not as they desired, as two cruel monks were pleasant to see each
other so they even massaged each other. The next morning, when monks gathered at the
Dharma-hall, they talked about this miracle event between two cruel monks:” Dear venerables.
It is super curious that these two monks often behave ugly to others but behave nicely to each
other.``

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall and comprehended the discussion of monks,
Buddha said :” It is not only in the present time but also in the past time, they behaved badly
to others but were nicely associated with each other.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was an official who
often served close to the king. The king had a cruel horse which was too aggressive, and which
was named Mahasona. One day, there were businessmen who often sold the horse to the king
of Varanasi, bringing 500 strong and elegant horses to sell to the king. The king knew that his
close official often paid with high price without asking for discount, so the king called the other
official to do the negotiation with the businessmen:” My servant. Please release Mahasona
among the horse to make 500 horses of the businessmen get injuries. After that try to ask for
discount from the businessmen.”

The official did everything as the king suggested to him, and this made all the businessmen
feel uncomfortable. They came to met the official that close to the king and told him everything.
The official that was close to the king asked them:” Do you have an aggressive like Mahasona?
If you do have, please take it together for the next time.”

A Businessman confidently answered:” We do have one. It is named Suhanu. It is super

aggressive. “

The next time, when the businessmen brought the horses to sell to the king of Varanasi, the
king again ordered people to release his horse Mahasona to run around the horses of
businessmen. Seeing the horse entering, the businessmen immediately released their aggressive
horse, Suhanu. When Sona and Suhanu met each other, they immediately stopped in a corner
and sipped the bodies of each other with love. The king wondered:'' Why do these two
aggressive horses behave cruelly to other horses but they behave nicely to each other?”

The official who often worked close to the king calmly answered:” It is the characteristics of
animals. They tend to love those that have similar characteristics with them. Then the official
spoke the verse:

Animals love their similar traits

Sona and Suhanu are similar

Both aggressive and cruel

They are in harmony to each other

So evil and evil are partners to each other

Then the official advised the king : “ Dear Majesty. We should not be too greedy to gain more
benefit for us. “ Then the official gave the suitable money to the businessmen. The businessmen
were pleased to receive the suitable money that deserved the value of their horses.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that two aggressive horses were two cruel monks.
The king was Ananda, and the wise official was him.

Jataka 159: Story of Mora

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a young monk who lost his diligence in practice.
When some monks complained to the Buddha, Buddha asked him:” Dear venerable! Is it true
that you have already lost your diligence?”

Shyly answered the young monk: “Dear Master. It is true. I am losing my diligence in practice.”

The Buddha was further concerned about him: “What is the reason for that?”

The young monk hesitantly replied to the Buddha:” Dear master. Due to my attachment to a
beautiful girl.”

The Buddha: “It is not surprising that the beauty of women is highly attracted to those people
like you. The wise people, in the past, although they had practiced for 700 years without
committing any discipline, were still attacked by the beauty and the voice of the women. The
men who obtained the highest glory in society could be demolished their glories easily by the
women. It is easy for a person who still has full attachment like you to overcome the beauty of
women.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a peacock which
was born from a golden egg, with the color of Karnikara flower. The peacock grew up quickly,
and it became the most beautiful peacock, with elegant feathers, with colorful wings. In the
morning, when the peacock flew for a living, after it flew over three mountains, the peacock
often took off on the mount of Dandaka to take a rest. It waited until the sun arise to read a
verse to pay respect to the sun before flying around to find food:

Arising. Come on the sun

The only king, with the greatest eye

With brightest of light with yellow

Lightening all the earth and the sky

And paying respect to you

The lightening of the earth

Please protect me all day long!

Then the peacock continued to speak the second serve to pay respect to all the enlightened
ones:

All greatest ones, all blessing ones!

With full wisdom of all phenomena

I pay respect to all of you

Please protect me all day long

Heading toward enlightened ones

Heading toward liberated ones

Then the peacock flew for earning food, and in the afternoon, the peacock also stood on the
edge of the highest mount, praying to the sun and enlightened ones:
Coming down the sun

The only king, with the greatest eye

With brightest of light with yellow

Lightening all the earth and the sky

And paying respect to you

The lightening of the earth

Please protect me all night long!

Praying to the enlightened ones:

All greatest ones, all blessing ones!

With full wisdom of all phenomena

I pay respect to all of you

Please protect me all night long

Heading toward enlightened ones

Heading toward liberated ones

After praying, the peacock went to sleep. Day after day, the peacock kept this practice for every
day.

One day, a hunter, who went to the Himalaya to hunt animals, seeing the beauty of the peacock,
was attracted by the beauty of the peacock, so he talked with his son, planning to catch the
peacock.

Not long after that, the queen, who was named Khema, dreamed of a yellow peacock which
could speak the dharma to her, so awakening, she insisted the king seek the yellow peacock for
her. The king then asked the officials to find the yellow peacock, and the officials asked the
Brahmins for help. The Brahmins recommended the king to ask the hunters across the nation
about the yellow peacock. Then the king gathered the hunters to obtain the information of the
yellow peacock:” I just wonder whether one of you knows something about the yellow
peacock.”
The son of the hunter who saw the yellow peacock rapidly replied:” We have ever seen the
yellow peacock living on Mount Dandaka.”

The king:” So, please don’t kill that peacock, but catch it for me.”

The hunters went to Himalaya to catch the peacock, carrying with them some traps. However,
the traps were not able to catch the peacock. Time flew, seven years passed, day after day, the
hunters still waited for the peacock getting into the traps, but even though the peacock stepped
over the traps, those traps did not shut off to hold the peacock up. Then the hunters passed
away, and so did the queen. The king of Varanasi was extremely angry, so he planned to force
people to kill the peacock. The king ordered people to make a gold leaf, and wrote on the leaf
the message:” There is a yellow peacock on the mount of Dandaka. It is lucky for those who
can eat the peacock as they will maintain their longevity forever. “Then the king ordered people
to put the leaf into a golden box.

Not long after doing this task, the king also passed away. The new king, after ruling the nation
for a few years, saw the golden box, and the new king was attracted to the message written on
the gold leaf. The new king called people to get to the Himalaya to catch the peacock. However,
the hunters still were not able to catch the peacock. Time flew, the new king also passed away.
Gradually, six kings were on the throne of Varanasi, and they all wanted to catch the peacock.
Unluckily, they also passed away without being able to eat the yellow peacock.

The seventh king was on the throne of Varanasi, and he also wanted to eat the yellow peacock.
The king called a hunter to get to the Himalaya to catch the yellow peacock. This hunter was
clever. When he got to Dandaka, after preparing the traps, waiting for the yellow peacock to
enter. Seeing the peacock was safe after stepping into the traps, the hunter knew that the
peacock might have virtue to protect it, so the hunter went back to the town, buying a beautiful
female peacock, training the female peacock to sing and dance. After that, the hunter brought
the female peacock to the Dandaka mount. The hunter put the female peacock into the trap,
waiting for the yellow peacock to come. When the yellow peacock heard the voice and saw the
beauty of the female peacock that the hunter brought to the mountain, it could not maintain the
power of the virtue that it had practiced for hundreds of years. It came over the female peacock,
and was rapidly trapped.

The hunter took the yellow peacock to the palace to give to the king. At the palace, the peacock
asked the king:” Dear Sir. Why did you order people to catch me?”
The king calmly said:” I heard that eating you will be able to live forever. So, that is the reason
that I called the hunter to catch you.”

The peacock worried:” So, I shall be killed soon, shall I not be me?”

The king shyly replied:” As you have special feathers of yellow, it is lucky to those who can
eat you as they shall live forever.”

The yellow peacock sadly answered:” There is a reason for me to have these yellow feathers.
A long time ago, I was the universal king who ruled all this world. During the ruling time, I
kept five precepts. After passing away, I was born in the thirty-third realm of heaven. After
passing away from heaven, due to a bad deed, I was born in the shape of a peacock, and due to
good virtue cultivated from keeping five precepts, I have this beautiful feather.”

The king wondered:``You told me that you were the universal king of this world, and due to
the virtue of keeping five precepts, you have these yellow feathers. But can you give me any
evidence on this?”

The yellow peacock confidently replied to the king:” When I was the universal king, I often sat
in a vehicle made of silver and gold moving around. My vehicle is still in the ground, under
the bottom of the lake in your garden.``

The king ordered people to dig the bottom of the lake to find the vehicle, and finally, they found
the vehicle as the yellow peacock described. Then the yellow peacock said to the king:” There
is only Nibbana, permanent or existing forever. All other phenomena are changing and
demolished by impermanence. All other things are ruined by time.” Then the yellow peacock
talked about the benefits of keeping five precepts to the king. The king was extremely happy
that wanted to offer the nation to the yellow peacock, but the yellow peacock denied this idea
of the king. The yellow peacock flew on the thin air, heading toward Dandaka.

After telling this story, Buddha talked about four noble truths. At the end of the talk, the young
monk who lost his diligence in practice completely achieved Arhathood. Then, Buddha
recognized that the seven king was Ananda, and the yellow peacock was him.

Jataka 160: Story of Vinilaka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the accident of Devadatta when he tried to follow
the actions of the Buddha. It was the time when Venerable Mongallana and Suriputta went to
Gayasisa to talk Dharma to 500 young monks who followed Devadatta to leave Bamboo-
Grove. When Mongallana and Sariputta arrived at Gayasisa, Devadatta talked happily with
them, and then, Devadatta followed the Buddha action, leaving to take a rest and giving the
monks to Sariputta and Mongallana to talk with them. After two Sariputta and Mongallana led
500 left Gayasisa, Devadatta was kicked to the chest by the founder of Gayasisa.

When Sariputta and Mongallana backed to Jetavana, Buddha asked them:” When you arrived
and left, what had Devadatta done?”

Venerable Sariputta slowly replied:” Devadatta tried to follow Master’s actions and he got in
trouble.”

The Buddha said calmly:” It is not in the present time but also in the past, Devadatta tried to
follow my actions and got in trouble.”

And the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Videha was ruling Mithila, there was born a prince who was the
son of the queen and the king. The prince grew up quickly, and when he was sixteen, he went
to Takkasala to study. When he completed his study not long, his father died, so he was give
non the throne as the new king of Mithila.

In the nation, there was born a duck which was the son of the king of duck and a female crow,
and it was named Vimilaka. Vimilaka neither assembled his father nor looked like his mother,
but its feathers were dark-green. Although Vimilaka looked different from his father, his father
often paid a visit to him.

The king of ducks also had two other sons, who looked beautiful like their father. Seeing their
father often flying out of the mountain, one day, they asked their father:” Dear father. We
noticed that you often fly out of the mountain for the plain, so what do you do there?”

The father duck:” You have a younger brother who is the son of me and a crow, so I often get
to Mithila to visit him.”

A son asked the father duck:” Where do they live, father?”

The father duck slowly:” They lived in the nation of Mithila and living on the branch of a palm
tree, and this palm tree is named Tala and is not far from the palace of king Videha.”

A son duck quickly asked their father:'' Dear father. Entering the land of humans is dangerous,
so please stop lying there. Please let us get there and bring him to this mountain.``

The father duck agreed and two son ducks quickly flew toward Mithila, the palace of king
Videha. It was difficult for them to reach the palm tree on which their brother Vimilaka lived.
After a brief greeting to each other, they used their mouths to keep a small stick of wood, and
let their brother Vimilaka sit on the stick of wood. On the way flying through the palace of king
Videha, seeing the king was on the vehicle which was hauled by four strong horses, Vimilaka
thought:'' I and king Videha are quite similar. The king is sitting on the vehicle hauling with
four horses, and I am sitting on this stick carrying by two ducks, so it was so excited to make
a verse:

Like the king Videha

Is on the vehicle hauling by strong horses

Running through the town of Mithila

Likewise, Vimilaka

Carrying by two ducks

Flying on the vast air of the sky

Two ducks which were carrying Vimilaka were disappointed about the thought of Vimilaka,
so they intended to throw Vimilaka down, but they thought of their father, so they calmed their
minds down and continued to fly back to the mountain. When they backed the mountain, the
two ducks told their father about the utterance of Vimilaka. The father was upset and angry:''
Dear Vimilaka. Do you think that you are more important than your brothers? Why did you
consider you are the king and your brothers are similar to horses carrying vehicles for you? So
this place is not suitable for you to live in. Please back to live with your mother.``

The father duck also spoke the verse:

Vimilaka! My son

Living here is not suitable to you

Deserving to live at the gate of the market

Where your mother waiting you

Quickly back there my son!

And the father duck asked two sons to carry Vimilaka back to Mithila.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that Vimilaka was Devadatta, and two other sons
of the king duck were Mongallana and Sariputta. The king of duck was Ananda, and the king
Videha was him.

Jataka 161: Story of Indasamanagotta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a willful monk. The story of this willful monk is
detailed in the Jataka 427. When Buddha knew his problem, Buddha said to him: “In the past,
due to your willful characteristics, you did not listen to the wise masters, and consequently you
were killed by an aggressive elephant.”

Then Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Bramadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a man in a
Brahmin family. When this man reached adulthood, he left his family, being an ascetic monk,
and went to live in Himalaya. Soon after that, he became the master of hundreds of monks
living around the Himalaya. Among monks living around the Himalaya, there was a monk,
namely Indasamanagotta, and he was too tenacious that he did not listen to the right and suitable
ideas of others. One day, the Master called him over and asked: “My Son! Is it true that you
are feeding an elephant?”

Indasamanagotta quickly replied:” Yes Master. I am feeding an infant elephant, as its mother
has already passed away.”

The Master:” You should not continue to feed it as the elephant tends to kill those who feed it
when it grows up.”

Indasamanagotta rapidly answered: “I know but I cannot survive without this elephant.”

The Master again warned Indasamanagotta:” If you don’t listen to me, you shall see the
unwanted consequence soon.”
The elephant was well fed, so it grew up quickly. After a few years, the elephant became a tall,
strong and fat elephant. One day, as a daily routine, all monks went to the forest to collect the
fruits for living, and the elephant was appointed to stay home to monitor the property of monks.
However, due to the effect of southerly monsoon, the elephant changed its characteristics, being
aggressive and cruel. So, it planned to kill its owner for freedom:” I shall demolish the cottage,
break the bed, the chair into two, kill this ascetic monk before leaving for other places.” And
then, the elephant hid itself beside the bush of trees, and waited for Indasamanagotta.

As usual, Indasamanagotta backed with a lot of fruits, for him and for the elephant.
Indasamanagotta, took a sum of fruits for the elephant as usual; however, when
Indasamanagotta just came over, the elephant ran rapidly toward Indasamanagotta, using its
trunk to lift Indasamanagotta up before throwing him away to kill Indasamanagotta. After that,
the elephant ran quickly to the forest.

When the other monks returned, seeing the terrible death of Indasamanagotta, they immediately
informed the master of Indasamanagotta to the Master. The Master said to them: “Don’t make
friends with the evil or cruel ones.” And then, the Master spoke the verse:

Not making friends with evil ones

Not communicating with the cruel ones

Wise people, comprehend clearly

Tendency of the evil, cruel ones

As soon or later

The evil, cruel ones shall do their evil acts to us

Similar to the elephant and Indasamanagotta

Classify friends among people

Who are wise, friendly and compassionate!

As they are reliable to associate with

Living together with these people

We always get flourishment for goodness and happiness!

Master advised all the monks to live as the verse he spoke, and he made the funeral for
Indasamanagotta. Afterward, the Master focused on practicing four elements of immeasurable
for the rest of his life until passing away.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the Indasamanagotta was this willful monk,
and the Master was him.

Jataka 162: Story of Santhava

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the respect of the fire. The background of this
story is quite similar to the Jataka 144. Students of the Buddha saw monks of other sects,
practicing in an ascetic way, so they asked the Buddha:” Dear Master! We saw that the braided-
haired monks have practiced in a suffered way of the ascetic. Are there any benefits from those
ways of practice?”

The Buddha calmly: “There is no benefit from those ignorant ways. In the past, the wise people
also practiced in those ways, but soon, they recognized there were no benefits from those
practices. Finally, some worshipers of fire even used water and branches of tree to burn off the
fire, and left to seek the right ways of practice.”

Then Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
Brahmin family. When the boy turned into sixteen, he was given the fire that his parents had
kept from his birthday:” If you want to be reborn in the realm of Brahman, then take this fire
to the forest and pay homage to it daily. However, if you want to have a normal life, please
learn three books of Vedas.”

The young man decided to leave home for being a monk to worship fire:” The normal life is
not suitable to me, so I shall go to the forest to worship the fire to be able to be reborn into the
Brahman realm.”

Then the young man left his family, entering a forest, making a cottage to stay for the worship
of the fire. Time flew, and the young man had been an ascetic monk for a few years. He paid
homage and worship to the fire daily. One day, from the morning alms-collection, he got some
butter and milk soup from people, so he planned to offer these things to the deity of fire. When
he returned to his cottage, he put the butter and poured the soup into the fire. Unluckily, the
fire caught the butter, so the fire emitted tremendously. Consequently, the fire spread to the
walls and the ceiling of the cottage, and the cottage was totally destroyed. The monk ran out of
the cottage, when the fire just spread to the ceiling, so he was safe. However, he was extremely
upset:” I should not communicate with evil. The cottage that I had to spend time and energy on
was burned out totally.”

The he spoke the verse:

The most harmful thing

Associating with the evil and cruel ones

Flourishing with butter and milk-soup

The fire burned out the cottage

Which I spent time and energy making!

Then the ascetic monk used water and branches of trees to burn off the fire. After that he left
to head to the other forest near to Himalaya. At one place, when he stopped to take a rest, he
saw a deer using his tongue to sip the faces of a tiger, a leopard and a lion. He realized that they
really had a good friendship. So, he spoke the verse:

The most blessing thing

Playing with good and friendly ones

Like the deer and the tiger, leopard and lion

Then the young monk went deep into the forest for a true practice of the monkhood, and he
reborn into the Brahman realm after passing away,

After telling the story, Buddha recognized that the ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 163: Story of Susima

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the arbitrary giving of alms to monks. It was known
that at Savathi, people sometimes offered alms to Buddha and his students, but sometimes they
gave alms to monks of other sects. Sometimes, a group of people gathered offerings together
to give alms to monks, but sometimes, people in a region or in the whole town gathered together
to make the offerings to monks. One time, people in the town gathered their stuff together to
offer to the monks. However, there were arguments between them, as they separated into two
groups with distinct offering intentions. One group wanted to offer their stuff to the Buddha
and his students, but the other group desired to give alms to the monks of the other sects. As
people gathered wanted to offer alms and offerings to Buddha and his students rather than the
monks of other sects, they finally decided to invite the Buddha and his students to the central
of their town, and they offered foods and the other stuffs to Buddha and the monks for seven
days. After the offering, the Buddha gave the Dharma talk to people, and then the Buddha led
the monks back to Jetavana.

In the afternoon, after backing Jetavana, the monks gathered at Dharma-hall to talk about the
arguments of two groups of people and the great offerings to the Buddha:” Dear Venerable. It
was great that due to the great virtue of the Buddha, most people wanted to give alms to the
Buddha and us instead of giving alms to monks of other sects. The believers of other sects
could not suspend the offerings to the Buddha and us”

When Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue the monks discussed about, the
Buddha said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, believers of other sects tried to
suspend the offering to me. However, afterward, all people still desired to give their offerings
to me.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Susima was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy who was
the son of one of the priests of the palace. When he just turned sixteen, his father passed away.
When his father was alive, he often took duty for the ceremony of the elephant festival, so all
the offerings on the elephants after the ceremony all belonged to his father. His father could
earn about 10 million gold coins after each elephant ceremony.

Therefore, after his father just died, the other priests came to ask the king to give them the
opportunity to be the celebrant of the elephant ceremony:” Dear Majesty. The elephant festival
is coming, and the son of the former celebrant of the elephant festival is still young. His son
even has not studied three books of Vedas, and his son also does not know everything about
the elephant. Hence, please let us be the celebrants of the elephant festival.”

King Susima agreed with their suggestion, and they were extremely happy:” We shall gain a
lot of money from being the celebrants of the elephant festival.”
Time flew, when four days left from the elephant festival, the mother received this news from
the servant of the king, so she cried loudly:” Seven generations of our family have been the
celebrant of the elephant festival, but this job is out of us now. We are losing benefits for
living.”

The son worried about asking his mother:” Dear mother. What is the reason that you are crying
sadly?”

The mother explained the reason to the son, but he confidently said to his mother: “Don’t worry
mum. I shall be the celebrant of the elephant festival.”

The mother was surprised:” But you have not studied three books of Vedas and the knowledge
about elephants as well.”

The son asked his mum without worry:” Dear mum. How many days left for the festival?”

The mother rapidly answered:” Only four days”

The son continued to ask his mum:” Dear mum. Where do they live all the masters that know
clearly three books of Vedas and the knowledge of elephants”

The mum replied to her son without hope:” They all lived in Takkasila of Gandhara. It cost
2000 miles from here to Takkasila.”

The son confidently replied to his mum:” Don’t worry mum. I can get there within one day,
and shall learn three books of Vedas and knowledge of elephants within one night. After that I
shall immediately come back here, and be able to be the celebrant of the elephant festival in
time.”

Then he prepared his stuff and left for Takkasila. Within one day, he had already arrived at
Takkasila, and went to meet the most famous master at Takkasila for learning. After paying
respect to the Master, the master asked him:” Where were you from, son?”

The young man:” Dear Master. I am from Varanasi”

The Master:” What is your purpose for reaching here?”

The young man:” Dear Master. I want to study three books of Vadas and knowledge of
elephants.”
The master pacified him:” Great. I shall teach you everything.”

The young man rapidly explained his desire to the Master and put 1000 thousands of gold coins
on the table of the Master:” Dear master. I spent only one day getting here, so it is suitable for
me to study everything only at night.”

After getting acceptance from the Master, the young man used water to wash the legs of the
Master, then he started to learn Vedas and knowledge of elephants with the master. Within one
night, he already remembered everything. So in the early morning, he asked the master:” Dear
master, is there something left on these?”

The master rapidly replied;” Dear Son. There is nothing left. You already learned all from me.”

Then when the sun just rose up from the East, the young man hurriedly paid respect to the
Master, and within one day, he arrived at his house. On the day of the elephant festival, 100
elephants were wearing luxurious jewels and clothes for the festival. While the other priests
were extremely happy as they thought that they would obtain a lot of jewels and money from
the offerings of people to the elephants, the young man was in an elegant suit, coming in front
of the king and asked :” Dear Majesty. Is it true that you already ended the job as the celebrant
of the elephant festival of our family for seven generations, and you gave this job to another
priest?”

Then the young man spoke the verse:

100 hundreds of black elephants

With white tusks

Wearing golden net on the body

All offering to you, my Majesty

Do you remember

The contributions of my ancestors!

The king spoke the other verse:

100 hundred black elephants

Wearing with golden net on the body

With beautiful, brightest tusks

I shall give you all1

I remember clear

Contributions of your ancestors!

The young man slowly asked the king:” Dear Majesty. If you remember the contribution of my
ancestor, why do you give our job to the other priests?”

The king replied quickly:” I heard that you have never learned three books of Vedas and have
never got the knowledge of elephants. So, it is better to pass this job to others.”

The young man confidently replied to the king:” Dear majesty. If there is any Brahmin who
can recite one of three books of Vedas and the book of elephants, please let them stand up. I
believe in this country, only I have properly learned three books of Vedas and the book of
elephants to organize the elephant festival.”

The young man asked many times, but there was not any Brahmin who could clearly remember
three Vedas and books of elephants. So, finally, the young regained the job as the celebrant of
the elephant festival to his family, and organized the elephant festival successfully. Afterward,
he took back home a lot of jewels and money from offerings of people to the elephants.

After telling this story, the Buddha talked about four noble truths. During the talk of the
Buddha, a number of monks obtained entering stream level, one-returning level, non-returning
level and Arhethood. Then the Buddha recognized that the parents of the young man were
Mahamaya and Suddhodana. The Master taught the young man was Sariputta, and the young
man was him.

Jataka 164: Story of Gijiha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding a filial monk who took good care
of his mother, and this full account on this monk is detailed in the Jataka 532 (Jataka
of Sama). As Buddha did not allow monks to support lay people, so when his story
was spread to the Buddha, Buddha called him and asked:” My Son. Is it true that you
are supporting a lay woman?”

The monk, a little bit shyly:” Dear Master. It is true. “

Buddha compassionately:” What is the relation between you and that person?”
The young monk slowly:” Dear Master. She is my mom!”

Buddha compassionately pacified the young monk:'' Good job! Good job my son. Don’t
be guilty! The wise men, in the past, also supported the people that were not their
relatives for cultivating good deeds. It is great action, in this case, as you are
supporting your mother.``

Then Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born an
eagle which lived on the mount Gijihakuta with its parents. The eagle took good care
of its parents daily.

One day, a storm hit the region of Gijihakuta, with heavy rain, and the eagles living on
the mount of Gijihakuta could not endure this terrible weather. Therefore, they left
Gijihakuta for heading to Varanasi. Upon their arrival at Varanasi, they were shaky
heavily on the wall near the main gate of the city as they were too cold. In the morning
of the day that the eagles arrived at Varanasi, there was a millionaire getting to the
river nearby for taking a bath. Seeing the eagles were getting cold, he ordered his
servants to attract the eagles to a safe place, and ordered his servants to get to the
cows-slaughterhouse to get discarded cows’ meat for the eagle to eat.

After a few days under the great support of the millionaire, the eagles recovered their
health rapidly, and they flew back to mount Gijihakuta. At the mount Gijiha, they
gathered for a special meeting on how to pay back what the millionaire in Varanasi
helped them:” We were saved by the millionaire lived in Varanasi, so from now on,
whoever that see the jewels or gold coins have to pick them up and throw into the
garden of the millionnaires.``

From that meeting, the eagles often pick up the valuable clothes and jewels of other
people, and then they throw them into the garden of the millionaire that helped them.
The millionaire did not use any of the things that the eagles wanted to give him, but he
ordered people to save them in a specific place.

The eagles, gradually, could not find the valuable things on the roads or forests, so
they turned to steal clothes and jewels from people to offer the millionaires who saved
them. Their actions annoyed people that they informed the king, so the king ordered
the soldiers to catch the eagles.

One day, the eagle which supported his parents on the mount of Gijihakuta was
caught, and it was carried to the palace of the king. On that day, the millionaire also
came to the palace to meet the king. The king asked the eagle:'' Hey eagle. Why have
you stolen the property of people in this town? What is the purpose for that?”

The eagle replied without fear:”Dear Sir. We stole those things to offer to the millionaire
who saved our lives.”

The king curiously put the other question toward the eagle:”The eagles can see the
dead bodies from a distance of 100 miles, so why don't you see the traps which are
not that long?”

Then the king spoke the verse:

Able to see the death bodies

From far distance of 100 miles

Why don’t you see the traps

Dear Eagle!

The eagle confidently replied the king:

When you are in danger

The life is threatened every time

Mind is not as conscious as normal

Getting into the traps is normal

Then the king turned to the millionaire and asked him for the truth:” Is it true that the
eagles threw all the things that they have stolen into your garden? Dear servant?”

The millionaire calmly:” Dear Majesty. It is true. They have done so.``

The king curiously:” Where are those things?”

The millionaire replied calmly:” Dear sir. I have stored them into a safe place, and shall
return them to their owners soon. However, can you give me a flavor, releasing this
eagle?”

The king agreed with the requirement of the millionaire to release the eagle, and the
millionaire ordered his servant to give back the things that eagles offered him to
peeple.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about four noble truths, and the filial monk
achieved the Entering Stream level at the end of this talk. Finally, the Buddha
recognised that the king was Annada, and the millionaire was Sariputta. The filial eagle
was him.

Jataka 165: Story of Nakula

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the relationship between two martial
officials of Varanasi. These two officials often argued with each other whenever they
met, and nobody could help them to get rid of their unfriending of each other. Finally,
the Buddha assisted them to change their unfriendly views to each other after teaching
them the benefits of practicing loving-kindness. From that day, they became close
friends with each other. The detail surrounding these two martial officials is told in
Jataka 154 ( Story of Uraga).

Buddha said to the monked gathered at the Dharma-hall:” It is not in the present, but
also in the past, I helped them to be good friends to each other.”

Then Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a
young man who was the son of a Brhmin family living in a small village of Kasi. The
young man grew up rapidly, and he went to Takkasila to study when he turned sixteen.
After completing the study, the young man left his family to be an ascetic monk, and
lived in a forest near Himalaya. For long after the ordaining time, he obtained some
levels of meditation practice and was well-cultivated with loving-kindness.

Not far from the cottage of the young monk, there was a mouse living in a termite nest,
and there was a snake living in a hole of a tree which was not far from the termite nest
of the mouse. This mouse often caught the small snakes to eat, and this snake often
caught the mice for survival. Therefore, they are often scared of each other for their
safety.

Seeing the worries of the snake and the mouse as they always feared of the attack
from the other side, the monk advised them to live in harmony with each other, and
taught them the benefits of practicing loving-kindness.

However, the mouse was still worried about the attack from the snake, so it always
monitored the snake so that it went to sleep after the snake went out for a living. The
monk knew the threat of the mouse, so he advised:

Hey the animal

Birth from the fetus

Already made friend with animal

Birth from the egg

Shall not worry any more

About the attack of your friend!

The mouse slowly and fearly replied to the monk:” Dear Master. It is not a careless act
if we always are careful of our enemy.”

The monk compassionately pacified the mouse:'' You should not worry any more as I
already advised the snake to stop attacking you. From now on, you can sleep well
without worry.``After advising the mouse, the monk spent the rest of his time cultivating
loving-kindness until he passed away.

When the story ended, the Buddha recognised that the mouse and the snake were
two martial officials, and the monk was him.

Jataka 166: Story of Upasalha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the discrimination of a Brahmin in selecting the
places for burry him after he passed away. This Brahmin lived near Jetavana, but he did not
have good views toward Buddha and the monks. He often talked with his son:” Dear Son. After
I pass away. Please don’t burn my body in the cemetery of the lower race people, but shall burn
my body in the palace that is totally pured.”

The son worried that he may not find a suitable place:'' Dear Daddy! I really don’t know where
it is totally pure as you requested, so it is a good choice if you can take me to the place that you
like to burn your body after you pass away.”

The Brahmin, then, took his son to Gijihakuta, claiming on the top of the mount. At the top of
the mountain Gijihakuta, the Brhmin said to his son determinedly:” Dear son. I see this place
is totally pure, and it shall be the place that you burn my body after I pass away.”

On that day, the Buddha, from the power of meditation, knew that the Brahmin and his son
were able to obtain Entering Stream level, so the Buddha took his bowl, walking toward the
only path for getting on and down the mount Gijihakuta, waiting for them.

On the way down from the Mount, the Brahmin and his son saw the Buddha was sitting at the
roadside, so they paid respect to the Buddha. The Buddha calmly asked them:” Hey Brahmins.
What are you doing here? And where are you going to go?”

The son of the Brahmin told the Buddha the reason that they got to mount Gijihakuta, and the
Buddha said that:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, your dad also required to
select this place to bury him after passing away.”

And then upon the requirement of the son, the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, there was a rich Brahmin who lived at Savathi, and he was called
Upasalhaka. The Brahmin, Upasalhaka, was getting older and he required his son to find a
totally pure place to burn his body after he would die. The son requested Upasalhaka to take
him to find the place that his father really liked for his intention. So, they went around, and
finally got to the top of Mount Gijiha, and Upasalhaka decided to be burned at the top of Mount
Gijiha. On the way down from the top of the Gijiha mount, they went through the cottage of
an ascetic monk, who was born in Maggadha and well-cultivated at Takkasila before ordaining
as an ascetic monk lived in Himalaya. This ascetic monk, for convenience in getting food,
moved from Himalaya to live on the mountainside of the mount Gijiha.

When the Brahmin Upasahalka and his son met the ascetic monk, they also revealed their plan
to burn the body of Upasalhaka at the top of the mount Gijiha as it was totally pure. The ascetic
monk asked them to take him on the top to see the place that they already selected.

Seeing the place that they pointed as the pure place the ascetic monk said calmly:” Dear friends.
This place is not a totally pure place. In the past, your father was burned here, and he had been
burned here 1000 times. There is no total purity on this earth, and there is no place that is
without burning or burying the dead bodies in the past. “ Then the ascetic monk spoke the
verse:

At this mount of Gijiha

1000 people, namely Upasalhaka

Being burned here in different times

There is no places on this earth

Without the burning or burying of dead bodies

Only places that cultivate and practice of true Dharma

Of loving-kindness and true wisdom

Those places are the residue of enlightened ones

And death cannot enter!

Then the ascetic monk talked about the practice and benefits of practicing, compassion, loving-
kindness, empathetic joy and equanimity to them.

After telling the story, the Buddha taught about Four Noble truths to the Brahmin and his son,
and they all obtained Entering Stream level at the end of the talk. Finally, the Buddha
recognised that the ascetic monk was him, and Upasalhaka and his son were the Brahmin and
his son who met the Buddha.

Jataka 167: Story of Samiddhi

The Buddha told this story at Savathi, surrounding a monk who was named Samiddhi.
Samiddhi was a hard practitioner. One night, he did not sleep but practiced well until
the morning. In the morning, he took a bath, then held the clothes under the sunlight
to dry them. The body of Samidhhi, at that time, looked like a beautiful golden statue.

Being attracted by Samidhhi, a deity lived nearby tried to ensnare him:” Dear monk.
You are so young, and your life-span is still too long. Why don’t you enjoy life as a
layman before reordaining as a monk again in the old ages of your life?”

The monk, Samidhhi, talked calmly to the deity:” I don’t really know when I shall die. I
have no power to know about this. Hence, I have to utilize my time to practice well in
order to free myself from the suffering of rebirth.”

The deity could not ensnared Samiddhi, so she disappeared into thin air. Samidhi,
after that, went to the Buddha and told the Buddha about the temptation of the deity
to him. Buddha looked at him, smiling compassionately:'' Monk! It is not in the present
time, but also, in the past, the deities also often tried to ensnare the monks.``

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a
young man in a Brhmin family. When he turned adulthood, he went to study skills and
knowledge at Takkasila. After graduation, he decided to leave home and became an
ascetic monk who lived on the mountainside of Himalaya.

One night, after the whole night of practice, in the morning, the young monk took a
bath, and stood under the sunlight to dry up his clothes. At that time, a deity was
attractive by his handsome, so she ensnared the monk:

Monk who live sufferedly by givings of others

It it not the joyful life

Why don’t you enjoy the life of laymen

And then returning the ascetic life

You are so young

Don’t waste your time

The ascetic monk spoke the verse to reply the deity:

The death comes at any times

My death is when, I don’t know

Spending time practicing hard

Getting rid of sufferings of rebirth

It is not a waste of time!

The deity, after hearing the verse, disappeared into thin air.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the deity in the story was the deity
that enhanced the Samiddhi, and the ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 168: Story of Sakunagghi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the skills in training the birds of Venerable
Sakunovada.

One day, the Buddha called all the monks living in Jetavana to gather, teaching that:” Dear
monks. Whenever you go out for alms, please remember to walk in the regions that are familiar
to you.``

The Buddha paused for a while, and continued:”In the past, the birds and insects which left
their regions and tried to find food in the regions that belonged to others, encountered dangers.
Luckily, due to wisdom and skills, they escaped from their enemies easily.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a quail, which
lived and sought food on the farm fields of the farmers. One day, the quail left its familiar farm
fields for seeking food in the far regions that are near to the forest. Seeing the quail, an eagle
rapidly flew down and caught the quail by its strong claws, and then the eagle flew back to its
nest. The quail tried to find a way to escape from the eagle, so it pretended to cry loudly:”
Unlucky for me! Unlucky for me! I went to a region belonging to others to find food, so I was
caught easily. If I was in my familiar place, the place that my ancestor had lived, this eagle
could not catch me, and could not even fight against me.”
The eagle was surprised:” Hey small quail. Where is your familiar place ? Where is the place
that your ancestor had lived?”

The quail happily replied:” My familiar place is the farm fields where there are mounds of soil
that my farmers.”

The eagle loosened its holding force to release the quail:” Go the small quail. Even getting
there, you shall not be able to escape from me.”

The eagle was extremely angry, it flew down rapidly, trying to catch the quail again. However,
the quail stepped behind the mounds of soil to escape from the attack of the eagle quickly, as
the quail was familiar with this way of living. The eagle hit into a mound of soil, getting injured.
So, it flew up and disappointedly went back to its nest.

Then the Buddha talked to all the monks:” Dear monks. When the birds get to the regions that
they are not familiar with, they may catch them easily, but if they live and find food in their
familiar places, they may defeat their enemies easily. Likewise, monks! If you get to the regions
that do not belong to you, you may be defeated by Mara. Where is the region that is not familiar
to you? It is the attachment from the eyes, ear, nose, tongue, and mind. These are not regions
for you, the monks.``

Then the Buddha talked about Four Noble Truths, and many monks obtained Entering stream
level, one-returning level, non-returning level and Arhathood. Finally, the Buddha recognised
that the eagle was Devadatta, and the quail was him.

Jataka 169: Story of Araka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the cultivation of loving-kindness.

One day, Buddha taught the monks:” Hey Monks. If loving-kindness is cultivated, practiced,
enriched, making-solid, being the foundation, accumulated, being the blessing to reside in, then
the practitioners shall gain ten great benefits. What are ten benefits?

Firstly, no pressure, no nightmare in sleeping. Secondly, Awakening in a good mood.3. Having

love from others. 4. Having support from non-humans. 5. Often supported and protected by
gods. 6. No harm from poison. 7. No harming from swords or similar things. 8. The mind is
concentrated. 9. The face looks bright. 10. Being aware at the time of passing away. 11. Reborn
in the Brhaman realm if still unable to obtain Arhat.”

The Buddha paused for a while, then continued to teach:” As monks, you have to use loving-
kindness to behave with all kinds of being, even no requirement from others. Hence, as monks,
you don’t need to wait for requirements or suggestions from others to use loving-kindness to
behave with others, but you should do it as a way of living. Likewise, compassion, empathic
joy and equanimity also should be practiced in this way. If you can do so, you shall be reborn
into the Brahmin realm, even if you have not achieved Entering Stream level. The wise men,
in the past, were able to be born and live in the Brahmin realm for seven circles of beginning
and easing of this universe.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, there was a young man who was born in a Brahmin family. When he reached
adulthood, he left his family to be an ascetic monk and lived in a plain forest near to Himalaya.
He spent time cultivating four immeasurables, loving-kindness, compassion, empathic joy and
equanimity, and was successful in these practices. Not long after that, he became the Master of
hundreds of monks living in the region, and his students often prefered him as Araka.

He often talked about four immeasurables to his students:”As monks, you have to diligently
cultivate four immeasurables, loving-kindness, compassion, empathic joy and equanimity, as
these articulations can assist you all reborn into the Brahmin realm.”

The he spoke the verse:

Who cultivate loving-kindness

Behave with loving-kindness to all beings

In ten directions, in every realm

Use loving-kindness to behave with all

With unlimited of loving-kindness

It is great practice for monks!

The Master lived with loving-kindness for the rest of his life, and was reborn and lived in the
Brahma realm for seven circles of beginning and easing of this universe.
After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the monks of Araka were students of the
Buddha, and Araka was him.

Jataka 171: Story of Kalyana-Dharma

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the mother-in-law of a millionaire who lived in
Savatthi. This mother-in-law of the millionaire was hard of hearing, so she often confused the
utterances from others. One day, when the millionaire was paying a visit to Jetavana to offer
flowers, fragrances and perfumes to the Buddha, his mother-in-law visited his house. During
lunch time, his mother-in-law had nothing to talk about, so she asked her daughter about her
life:” Dear daughter! How do you feel about your husband?”

Her daughter calmly and slowly replied:” Why did you ask this question? I would tell you that
my husband is fantastic and moral-behaved. He, even, behaves better than some ordaining
monks.”

Her mother, as being hard of hearing, could not catch up all the words from her utterance, but
she only recognized the phrase “ordaining monks.”. Hence, she shouted loudly:” Oh Dear. My
wonderful son-in-law is already ordained as a monk?”

Some servants of the millionaire who were sitting in the corner for lunch heard that utterance
from the mother-in-law of the millionaire, all surprised and shouted loudly:” Oh Goodness. My
boss already went to Jetavana to be ordained as a monk!”

At that time, some people sitting, selling and buying things on the roadside in front of the house
of the millionaire, heard the utterance of the servants’ millionaire. They started to gossip about
it, and not long after that the news about the ordination of the millionaire was spread around
the town rapidly.

In the afternoon, after listening to the Dharma-talk from the Buddha, the millionaire left
Jetavana to return to his house. When he was about to reach his house, he met one of some of
his servants who were on their way to do business, and they asked him:” Dear my boss. We
heard that you are already ordained as a monk. Didn’t you? Your wife and all other servants
are crying at home after hearing this news.”

The millionaire at that time thought that:” It is a good idea. Living as a monk is also my wish,
so I should take this news as an advantage.” Then he turned back to Jetavana, and paid a visit
to the Buddha again. The Buddha compassionately asked him:” My Son! I saw you already
after this afternoon's talk was over. So, what is the reason for you to come back here again?”

The millionaire talked to the Buddha that he would utilize the rumor of his ordination to leave
family to be a monk, and in that afternoon, the millionaire officially became the ordaining
student of the Buddha. Not long after the day of ordination, he obtained Arhathood due to a
limitless determination in practice.

After his achievement of Arhathood, the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall to talk about his
surprising events:” Dear Venerable! The millionaire who often came here to listen to the talks
from Buddha ordained as he did not want the good rumor about him to disappear, and with
limitless determination, he obtained Arhathood quickly.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knew the concern of the monks, Buddha said:”
The wise men, in the past, also utilized the good rumor to ordain the monks.”

Then Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a young man
in a rich Brahmin family. When he grew up, his father passed away, and he inherited all the
fortune of his father and the job of his father in the palace. One day, when he was in the palace
working for the king, his mother-in-law paid a visit to his house, and as being hard of hearing,
during the conversation with her daughter during the lunch time, she was confused that her
son-in-law was already ordained as monk:” My goodness! My son-in-law already ordained as
a monk.``

Her utterance was spread to their family servants and soon after that passed to the people living
in the region, so when seeing him back from the palace, one of his neighbors was surprised:”
Dear friend! We heard that you are already ordained as a monk, so your wife and your servants
are crying loudly for this news.”

The young millionaire was extremely surprised about this rumor, but he wanted to utilize this
good rumor for being a monk as being a monk had been his desire. Immediately, he went back
to the palace to ask permission from the king. The king wondered:” Dear servant! Why do you
back down so quickly? What can I do for you?”
The young millionaire: “Dear Majesty. I have not been a monk, but people rumored that I was
ordained. I desire to utilize this news to satisfy my wish, being a monk. Please let me leave my
job to become a monk.”

Then he spoke the verse:

Dear Majesty, the boss!

Being gossip with good rumor

The wise should utilize the news

Being gossip being a monk

I desire to fulfill this rumor

Being a monk

Leave all the attachment of laymen!

The king agreed with the strong determination of the young millionaire, and soon after that, the
young millionaire went to Himalaya to live as an ascetic monk. Quickly, he obtained levels of
meditation practice, and was reborn in the Brahma realm after passing away.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the king in the story was Ananda, and the
young millionaire was him.

Jataka 172: Story of Daddara

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, related to the events surrounding the monk, namely
Kokalika. At Monalika, all young monks were talented and diligent, so they could remember
thousands of books properly. Among monks living at Monalika, there was a young monk,
namely Kokalika, who was quite ignored in learning and memorizing, so he could not
remember even two sentences of a book. However, Kokalika was not shy but he often went to
the group of monks and arrogantly said:” As nobody invites me to talk, so I keep silent,
otherwise, I shall talk perfectly about these things.”

One day, after Kokalika was arrogant to talk highly of himself, the monks of a discussion group
invited Kokalika for a talk: “Dear Venerable Kokaliaka. Could you please say something to the
monks today?”

Too arrogant and ignorant, Kokaliaka agreed:” Yes Sir. It is my honor.”

Time flew, the sunset was approaching, and the monks invited Kokaliaka to the board for the
talk. Wearing the inner cloth of mixed yellow and green, and the outer cloth of white color,
Kokalika stepped toward the board to pay respect to the elderly monks, and then he sat on the
chair which was decorated elegantly under a colorful parasol. Holding a fan palm which was
made of peanut leaf, Kokaliaka intended to read a verse. However, at that time, the swears of
Kokalika came out constantly, as he was threatened for remembering nothing. After reading
the first sentence of the verse, Kokalika could not remember the second sentence, so Kokalika
shyly took off the board, rapidly running back to his room.

One day, at the Dharma-hall, monks gathered and talked about the inane knowledge of
Kokalika:” Dear all venerables. If Kokalika was silent, nobody could measure his inane
knowledge. But recently, he showed us his inane knowledge. “

When Buddha entered the Dharma-hall and knew the issue of the talk of monks, Buddha said;”
It is not in the present time, but in the past, he also wanted to show up his inane knowledge by
boosting his ego.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a family of lions
that lived in a golden cave of Daddara on the mountainside of Himalaya. Not far from the cave
of the lion family, there was a cave which was the house of the jackal family.

One day, when it rained heavily for a long time, all the animals could not get out for activities.
Feeling bored, the lion father roared loudly to play with its children. Not only that, the lion
father also taught his children how to roar impressively. Hearing the roars of the lions, a jackal
also tried to roar loudly.

The lion's father stopped roaring after hearing the roar of the jackal, and it advised its children
to do so. A son of the lion asked his father:”

Which kind of animal roared loudly!

Made us, the lions have to keep silent

Why don’t we roar back

To play with them!

The lion father explained to its children:

It was the jackal

Roared following us

It was from lowest race of birth

Not in the same race with us

Should not roar back to play with it!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the jackal was Kokalika, and the lion's son
was Rahula. The lion's father was him.

Jataka 173: Story of Makkata

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a wily monk. Full account of this monk is detailed
in the Jataka 487 (Story of Uddala). When the behavior of this wily monk was informed to the
Buddha, the Buddha said that:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past life, this monk
was cheated to take fire when he was a monkey.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy from
a Brahmin family at Kasi village. When the boy turned sixteen, he went to Takkasila to study.
Upon his graduation, he got married to a beautiful girl. They had a son after years of marriage,
but unlucky, his wife passed away when their son was a few years old.
After the funeral of the wife, he was upset that he led his son to Himalaya for being
monks:” Life is short, so it is time for me to be a monk for cultivation of the spirit.” After the
welfare with friends and relatives, the young Brahmin took his son to Himalaya, and at
Himalaya, they harvested fruits and collected some roots of some kinds of trees for a living.
One day, it turned cold, and the young Brahmin burned a big fire with wood, putting a
board of wood on the fire but kept the board in safe distance from the fire. The Brahmin and
his son lay down on the board to sleep as a way to keep warm.
 From a tree that was not far from their cottage, there was a monkey which was
extremely cold, and the monkey desired to get into the house of the Brahmin to keep warm.
However, the monkey threatened the Brahmin and his son to chase it away, so it planned:” If I
come to their house right now, they may chase me away. But if I pretend to be an ascetic monk,
and ask them to live there one night, they shall agree with me.”
Then the monkey ran to the cottage of a monk who passed away a long time ago. It
wore the robe made by the barks, and it held a stick, walking toward the cottage of the young
Brahmin and his son. The son of the young Brahmin, seeing the monkey in the robe of the
monk, thought it was an old monk, so he talked to his father:

There is one man suffered outside

Standing under the palm tree
Let me call him to come
To warm up with the fire

The Brahmin was surprised when he heard the suggestion of the son as he knew that all monks
would know how to keep them warm:

It is not a monk, my dear son!

The monkey, wearing the bark robe only
It is not good idea to call it up
As it may make this cottage messy

Then the Brahmin talks to the monkey:” Please leave the monkey. I know you are not an ascetic
monk.” The monkey, after hearing the utterance of the young Brahmin, took off the robe and
ran away. The young Brahmin and his son spent the rest of their lives practicing four
immeasurable, which are compassion, loving-kindness, empathic joy and equanimity.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the monkey was a wily monk. The young
Brahmin was him, and the son of the Brahmin was Rahula.

Jataka 174: Story of Dubhidamakkata

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about Devadatta’s cheating characteristics. It was one
day in which monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the betrayal of Devadatta to his
friends. Then Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the figure of the discussion of monks,
Buddha said that:” It is not in the present time, but also, in the past, he did it.``

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
Brahmin family in a small village, namely Kasi. When the boy grew up, he got married, and
had a happy family.

At that time, on the main road of Kasi, there was a well located on the roadside, and passengers
often used a long rope to hold with a bucket to drag water up to pour into a trough for animals
to drink. Near to the well, there was a region that the monkeys lived in.

On one occasion, the water in the trough already ran out but nobody crossed through this well,
so the animals did not have water to drink for a few days. Among the thirsty animals, there was
a monkey which was extremely thirsty, so it suffered too much. Luckily, at that time, the young
Brahmin went through the well. Feeling thirsty, the young Brahmin dragged water from the
well to drink, and he was compassionate to drag water to pour into the trough for animals to
drink. The monkey, seeing the water was filled in the trough, immediately ran to the trough to
drink full of the stomach.

At that time, the young Brahmin was happy because of his kind work, so he lay down on the
roadside to watch the monkey drinking water. The monkey, after satisfying its thirsty, turned
to the young Brahmin to threaten him. The young Brahmin was angry:” Oh Dear. Hey Monkey.
I dragged water from the well for you to drink, so you would be grateful to me. But, right now,
you tried to threaten me. It is harmful to help those with evil minds.” Then he spoke the verse:

Dragging water from the well

Giving to you, the monkey

Help you to get rid of suffering

For long time, having no water

In return, trying to threaten me

It is good idea to stop

Helping those with evil minds!

The monkey replied rapidly:” I am not only threaten to you, but gonna defecated on your
head.”Then it spoke the verse:

Whoever ever seen us

Monkey, having morality

Defecating on your head

As the grace to you as we often do!

The young Brahmin immediately stood up and rushed to get away. However, the monkey
quickly jumped up a tree, climbing from branch to branch. Finally, it defecated on the head of
the young Brahmin and ran away. The young Brahmin had to take a bath before going home.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that the monkey was Devadatta, and the young
Brahmin was him.

Jataka 175: Story of Adicupatthana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a fraudulent monk.

The Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy who
was well-cultivated at Takkasila when he grew up. After completion of his study at Takkasila,
he left his family for a monk life on the mountainside of Himalaya. With highly-motivated
diligence, he soon obtained meditation fruition, and became the Master of hundreds of monks
who also lived around the Himalaya. He lived on the mountainside for a long time, but
gradually, he became weaker. Therefore, he moved down to live in a forest edge which was
near to a small village for easiness in getting salts and foods, and following him, other monks
also moved to live nearby his cottage.

One day, in the morning, when the monks all left for getting alms in the morning, there was a
monkey appeared, and the the monkey made their cottages extremely messy, destroying all the
keeping water-bottle and taking off the water pines from the mountain. So, when the monks
backed out, they were disappointed and decided to leave the village to return to Himalaya:” It
is the ripening of flowers and fruits on Himalaya, so we should go back to Himalaya.” Hence,
they informed the villagers that they were going back to Himalaya.

A villager, on behalf of others, desired to offer some stuff to the monks, before they left:” Dear
venerables! We intend to offer you all some stuff before you leave here, so we shall bring the
stuff to your places tomorrow morning.”

The next day morning, when villagers were about to arrive to the cottages of monks for offering
before they left, the monkey which made the cottages of the monks messy tried to attract the
villagers to give food to it:” I have to pretend to be a practitioner, so the villagers shall give me
some foods.” Then, from a branch of the big tree near to the cottages of the monks, the monkey
stood up on only one leg, heading toward the sun as it is paying respect to the sun.

A villager who saw the monkey in the special posture, talked to others:” I heard that those
animals which lived near to the monks gradually also became practitioners, so we should give
some food to this practicing monkey.” And he spoke the verse:

Hearing that all kinds of being

Be able to practice the Dharma

As this monkey on the tree

Standing on one leg

Paying respect to the sun!

The Master of monks, from his cottage, heard the villagers spoke highly of the monkey, he
spoke loudly to warn the villagers:

Having no ideas about its nature

Have been cheated by the monkey

Destroying all the keeping-water-containers

Making the stuff in the cottages messy!

The villagers heard the caution from the Master, they threatened to drive the monkey away,
and they entered the cottages of the monks to offer stuff. After receiving the offerings from
villagers, the monks all returned to Himalaya. At the Himalaya, they practiced without laziness,
and soon achieved the fruits of meditation practices.
After telling the story, the Buddha said that the monkey was this fraudulent monk, and the
student monks of the Master were monks living at Jetavana. The Master was him.

Jataka 176: Story of Kalaya-Mutthi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the king Kosala. One day in the rainy season,
there was an attack on the nation of Kosala from the bordering area. The soldiers who were
deployed there could not suspend the spread of the invaders, so king Kosala intended to lead
the army to fight with the invaders. On the way that the king of Kosala led his soldiers to the
bordering area, they crossed the road that led to Jetavana, so the king Kosala thought of asking
the Buddha for help:” Moving the soldiers to the bordering area during this time is terrible and
difficult as the roads are slippery and as the roads are flooded. I am near to the Buddha, so it is
better to pay a visit to the Buddha. When Buddha asks, I shall reply to lead soldiers to the
bordering area for depense. If there are difficulties, the Buddha shall warn me, otherwise, it is
fine to lead the soldiers to the border right now.”

Then, king Kosala paid a visit to the Buddha. After paying the respects to the Buddha, the king
sat down to prepare and kept silent. The Buddha asked him:” Why did you arrive here too
early, Majesty?”

The king Kosala rapidly answered:'' I am on the way leading my soldiers to the bordering area
to defend. After this visit, I will immediately get ready for my journey.``

The Buddha compassionately:” In the past, the kings who listened to the wise masters did not
move the army during the unsuitable time.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was an official who
worked as the consultant of the king. The official gave ideas to the king for almost all important
things that happened to the nation. One day, there was a rebellion in the bordering area, and
the border guards could stop the rebellion. Hence, they wrote a letter to ask for help from the
king. The king Brahmadatta quickly moved the soldiers from the palace to solve the issue in
the border area. When they left the capital for a few days, they stopped at the forest for a rest
and for the soldiers to cook for living. When the soldiers were just finished cooking the red
beans for the king, a monkey from a high branch of a tall tree ran down rapidly, taking a hold
of red beans.

The monkey was sitting on the top of a tree, starting to eat the red beans that it stole from the
soldiers. While it was eating, it dropped a red bean seed down, and immediately as the habit, it
threw away all the red beans that it was holding to climb down to seek for the dropping seed.
The monkey got the dropping seek, but when it backed to the top of the tree, it was upset as
having no more red beans to eat. The king saw the action of the monkey, and he wondered to
ask the official:” How do you feel about the action of the monkey?”

The official calmly and slowly said to the king:”The ignorant ones are often careless of the
major benefits to gain the minor ones.” Then he spoke the verse:

Dear Majesty, my great boss

The ignorant monkey without wisdom

Throwing away all the beans

Seeking for only the dropping one

And he spoke the second verse:

We, humans, are similar

Due to the greed, we lost our calm and wisdom

Dear my Majesty, my boss

Losing major benefits for getting minor ones

Similar to the monkey seeking for the dropping one!

The king Brahmadatta, after hearing the utterance of his official, immediately ordered soldiers
to back the capital. At that time, all the rebelled ones who attacked the bordering area, also ran
out of the area as they feared the king would take the soldiers to attack them.

King Kosala, after hearing the story, stood up to pay great respect to the Buddha, and then he
took the soldiers back to the capital. At that time, the invaders also stopped attacking the
bordering area after hearing the king was on the way to fight against them.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that the official of king Brahmadatta was him, and
the king Brahmadatta was Ananda.
 Jataka 177: Story of Tinduka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the ultimate power of wisdom paramita. The
background of the story is detailed in Jataka 528 ( Story of Mahabodhi) and Jataka 538 ( Story
of Ummagga).

Buddha said to the monks: “ It is not in the present time, but also, in the past, I already obtained
the wisdom paramita.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a monkey which
was the leader of 80 thousand monkeys that lived around the Himalaya. There was a small
village near to the region that the monkeys lived, but the village was sometimes without people
to live in. In the village, there was aTinduka tree, which often blossomed with sweet fruits and
which had luxuriant branches and leaves. When the village was empty of people, the monkeys
often came over to eat the fruits of the Tinduka.

In one fruit-blossomed season, the monkeys came to the village to harvest the Tinduka fruit.
However, there were villagers living there, so they returned to inform their king:'' Dear Majesty.
There are lots of people living in the village, so we could not enter to get the Tinduka fruit.``

The king of monkeys:” If there are people living there, please stop going there to get fruit, as
humans are dangerous.”

A monkey insisted:” Dear Majesty. Please let us enter the village to get the Tinduka fruit during
the night times as at that time, people shall be sleepy.”

The king of monkeys agreed to enter the village at night time, so in the afternoon, all the
monkeys got down Himalaya and waited behind a big cliff. When villagers were about to sleep,
they ran toward the Tinduka trees to get the fruit. Unlucky, there was a villager going out of
his house at that time, and seeing the monkeys were collecting the fruits, he silently went
around to inform other villagers to prepare the method to catch all the monkeys. Villagers got
up and rounded up the monkeys, holding them with archries, sticks and robes. The monkeys
were extremely threatened by the humans, so they turned to their king to ask for solution:
Holding the archers and quivers

Having sharp swords and knives

Rounding up us from ten directions

What shall we do to get rid of them?

Their king calmly spoke the verse:

Don’t worry too much

Humans are busy with works

They shall separate soon

Enjoy the Tinduka fruit!

After pacifying the monkeys, the king of monkeys gathered all the monkeys to find the best
solution. When they were counting their number of monkeys, one monkey noticed that they
lacked Senaka, the nephew of their king, so they immediately informed their king:” Dear
Majesty. Senaka did not come with us.”

A light of hope was burned in the mind of the king of monkeys:” If Senaka is not here, he shall
be our savior.”

Senaka was sleeping when all other monkeys got down from entering the village, so Senaka
was free from the rounding up of the villagers. In the midnight, Senaka did not see any monkey
back home, so it stepped forward the footprint of the monkeys to find them. When he arrived
at the village, seeing the monkeys were rounded by villagers, Senaka went to the house of a
villager. It took a fire torch to fire at the cottage. Seeing the cottage was on fire, the villagers
left the monkeys and ran toward the fire cottage to rescue the people and to turn off the fire.
Before leaving, each monkey took some Tinduka fruit to bring back to the Himalaya.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that Senaka was Mahanama, and 80 thousand
monkeys were students of the Buddha. The king of monkeys was him.

Jataka 178: Story of Kacchapa

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding a person who was rescued from cholera.
One time, the cholera came to some families in Savatthi, and in a family, the parents talked to
their only son:” Dear son! The cholera is spread around this town, so you have to escape from
this town from breaking a hole in the back wall. After the cholera is over, please come back
here and dig out the proof of this house. We hid all of our fortune here, so it is available for
you to rebuild the future. “

The son followed the advice of his parents, so he broke the back wall to run away. Time flew,
he returned to his house, and used the money that his parents hid under the proof house to build
up his career. After that he got married and had some children. One day, he brought cheese,
oil, clothes and warm coats to Jetavana to offer the Buddha and monks living there. After
paying respect to the Buddha, he sat in the seat prepared for him. Buddha looked at him, and
concerned :'' My student. We heard that your family was spread by cholera, so why could you
escape from the cholera?”

The son told the Buddha about his running away, when the cholera just spread to his region, so
he escaped from the cholera. The Buddha said to him compassionately:” In the past, many
people were attached to their fortunes and houses that could not leave them, so they were dead
when the dangers arrived. While there were others who were not attached to their houses and
fortunes, enabled to escape from the dangers.``

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
ceramic making family, and when the boy grew up, he became a potter to support his wife and
his children.

The young potter often went to the biggest lake near to the biggest river of Varanasi to get clay
for making the ceramics. When it was heavily rainy, the lake and the river were connected to
each other by water. The fishes and turtles living in the lake could predict the weather well for
several years. So, in one rainy season, most of the fishes and turtles moved to the river as they
knew that the coming year would be droughted. However, there was a turtle which got stuck
in the severe drought of the coming year, as it was attached to the lake. The turtle tried to hide
itself in the wet clay, and when the young potter used the hoe to dig out the clay, he carelessly
dug on the back of the turtle. The turtle who suffered shouted loudly:” As I attacked this place,
so I have to encounter extinction.
The turtle tried to speak the verse:

At this lake, I was born

I have lived in the mud and clay of this lake

The enlightened ones!

Please listen to my voice

Wherever we live, forest or the town

Is safe and peaceful

For the wise, is their hometown

Wherever that is safe for life

Move to live there

Instead of living in the familiar

But full of dangers!

After speaking the verse, the turtle passed away, the young potter took the turtle to the village
and said to the villagers:”Look at this turtle! When all the fishes and other turtles moved to the
big river for survival, it still tried to stay at this lake. And, consequently, it encountered a severe
drought. Not only that, it hid in the clay, and it was injured by my hoe and passed away before
speaking the vital verse. So, please don’t be attached to the form, the voice, the taste, the smell
and the emotional touching. Please, leave all the attachment to the desire, forms and formless
things. “

The teaching of the young potter was spread around India for 700 years, and his teaching had
benefited many people.

The Buddha talked about Four Noble truths when the story was over, and the young son
achieved the first Entering Stream Level. Then, the Buddha recognised that the turtle was
Ananda, and the young potter was him.

Jataka 179: Story of Satadhamma

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about 21 kinds of jobs that monks should not do. The
background of the story was from the wrong livelihoods of monks, who worked as doctors,
posters, communicative senders, news providers and exchanged-foods. These kinds of job are
detailed in the Jataka 237 ( Story of Saketa).

When the Buddha knew their wrong livelihoods, the Buddha said to the monks:” Today, there
are lots of monks who have wrong livelihoods which do not lead them to the enlightenment,
but alternately lead them to the rebirth in three lower realms. So, with the compassion, I shall
warm them.``

Then the Buddha called for the summit of monks for a talk:” Dear monks. You should not do
21 kinds of jobs for a living. Getting foods for survival by doing these jobs is similar to
receiving the poisons, the high temperature-red steel, and the foods obtained from doing these
jobs have been rejected by all the enlightened ones. In my Sangha, the foods obtained from
oding these jobs are similar to foods for the lowest cart.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasis, there was a young Brahmin,
namely Satadhamma. One day, he left his house for a business journey. However, he did not
take any kinds of food together. On the way, he met the other young man, who belonged to the
lowest cart of society. The young man in the lowest cart brought together many kinds of
delicious foods. They met each other in the early morning, when the sun had not risen.

They walked together until the sun rose up, and they sat down to take a rest. At that time, the
young man who belonged to the lowest cart, opened boxes of food to eat. Looking at
Satadhamma who had no food, the young man in the lowest cart shared his food into two parts
and gave Satadhamma one part. However, Satadhamma rejected the offering from the young
man of the lowest cart.

After breakfast, they continued their journey, and they walked constantly until sunset. They
stopped at a river, and both jumped to the river to take a bath. After taking shower, the young
man belonged to the lowest cart, opened the rest of the foods to eat, and this time, he did not
invite Satadhamma for eating together. Satadhamma was extremely hungry, so he hoped that
the young man belonging to the lowest cart would invite him, but the young man belonging to
the lowest cart did not invite him for eating. Due to the extreme hunger, Satadhamma suddenly
grasped the food that the young man belonging to the lowest cart was eating. Satadhamma
threw away part of the food that the young man belonging to the lowest cart had bitten, and
Satadhamma ate the rest of the food.

However, after satisfying the hungry, Satadhamma felt guilty of his action, as he ate the leftover
food of the man from the lowest cart of society, so he tried to vomit all the just eating food out.
He, constantly cried loudly:'' by uncontrolled mind, I insulted my family who belonged to the
royal family, eating the leftover from a man of lowest cart.I already made a wrong livelihood
today”Then, Satadhamma went to the deep forest, and passed way after days of feeling upset.

After telling the story, Buddha said to the monks:” like Satadhamma who ate the leftover of
the man from lowest car and could not feel comfortable and peaceful, the monks who do these
kinds of job for living should not be comfortable and peaceful for obtaining foods from doing
these job.”

Afterward, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and many monks obtained Entering
level, one-returning level, non-returning level and Arhat. Finally, the Buddha recognised that
the young man belonged to the lowest cart.

Jataka 180: Story of Duddada

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the offerings of people to Buddha and Sangha.
At Savatthi, there were two young Brahmins, who were the sons of the richest men in Savatthi.
They often called for the donations of people around, then they organized 7 day offerings to
invite Buddha and all monks living in Jetavana to come for their offerings. From the first to the
sixth day, they offered the Buddha and monks with delicious and well-cooked foods and
beverages, and then on the seventh day, they offered the Buddha and monks all the stuff that
they gathered from the donation of people.

On the seventh day, they invited the oldest man to express their ideas before offering all the
stuff to the Buddha and monks. The oldest man paid respect to the Buddha and monks, and
then he sat down and talked to Buddha and monks:” Dear Master and venerables! We have
tried our best, but the offering is still limited. However, we wish that this offering ceremony
shall bring virtue to all people who joined this ceremony.”
The Buddha said to him and all the people gathered:” Dear all! It is the great cultivation of
virtue that you organized this offering and invited me and all the monks to receive the offerings.
The wise men, in the past, also organized the great offerings to the great monks with careful
utterance while offering.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a boy born in a
Brahmin family in Kasi, and when he turned sixteen years old, he went to Takkasila to study
skills and knowledge. After graduation, he left his family to be an ascetic monk, and not long
after the hard practice, he became the master of hundreds of monks. They all lived in the forest
nearby Himalaya. One day, they all lacked salt and vinegar, so he led his students down to the
town of Varanasi to get salts and vinegar. At Varanasi, they slept in the park of the king, and
in the early morning the next day, they went to a village which near to the main gate of Varanasi
to get alms, and from the second day, villagers gathered together and donated their money and
stuff for making the offering ceremony to the monks. At the end of the offering ceremony, they
gave the oldest man to talk to the monks and asked for virtue and benefits.

The master of the monks calmly replied to them:”Whenever you make offerings with happy
and pleasant minds, your offerings all gain big results.”

Then he spoke the verse:

Offerings what is difficult to offer

Cultivating the virtue that normal people cannot do

The evil cannot follow

The actions of moral ones

Hence, moral and evil are seperated

The evil shall reborn in three lower realms

The moral ones shall be reborn in three higher realms!

After the offerings, the monks continued to live in the park of the king for the rainy retreat of
three months, and when the rainy time was over, they returned to Himalaya to continue their
hard practice.
When the story was over, the Buddha recognised that the master of the monk was him, and all
the monks were monks living in Jetavana.

Jataka 181: Story of Asadisa

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the great beneficiary of being a monk.

On one occasion, Buddha talked to the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall:'' Monks! It is not
in the present time, but in the past, I left my powerful throne to be a monk for fulfilling the
enlightenment.``

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there were born two princes,
who were the children of the king and the queen. The older prince was named Asadia, and the
younger prince was named Brahmadatta. When they turned 16, they went to Takkasila to study
Vedas and skills with the most popular master in Takkasila. In archery, Asadisa was the most
excellent, and nobody could surpass him. When they completed their studies, they returned to
Varanasi. Not long after that, their father king passed away, and testament of their father king,
Asadisa would be the new king and Brahmadatta would become the assistant of the king.
However, Asadisa did not attach to the power, so he gave his brother the throne of power.

However, although Asadisa did not want power and the throne, he lived luxuriously, and his
ways of living made others jealous so that they informed king Brahmadatta that Asadisa wanted
to be the king of the nation. Being blind by ignorance, king Brahmadatta ordered people to
catch his brother, Asadisa. So, Asadisa left Varanasi to live in another nation.

In front of the palace of the king of the other nation, Asadisa asked soldiers to inform the king:”
I am the most excellent in archery, and I want to work for your Majesty, with payment of 100
thousands gold coins per year. “

The soldiers informed the king of the nation that Asadisa fled to, and the king called Asadisa
to enter the main shrine of the palace to see whether Asadisa would be able to work for him.
Seeing the extraordinary traits of Asadisa, the king immediately agreed with the requirement
of Asadisa. From that time, Asadisa became the archer of the king, but he was jealous of the
other archers as his salary was many times over theirs.
One day, the king paid a visit to the garden of the palace, and he sat down under a mango tree.
Seeing the mango fruit from far away, on the top of the mango tree:” It is hard to order people
to climb up the tree to get the ripened mangoes on the top of this tree, so it is better to call for
the archers to shoot them down.”

When the archers of the place had already gathered, the king asked them curiously:” Could you
use the arrows to shoot those mango fruits down for me?”

The archers all said to the king:” this is not a difficult task for us, but the new archer has
received more than us. Please call him for doing this task.”

The king called Asadisa and wondered to ask:” Dear my beloved archer. It is time for you to
show your skills. Could you please shoot those mango fruits down for me?

Asadisa calmly replied:” Dear Majesty! If I stand from a suitable place, I can do it easily.?

The king wondered:” Where is the suitable place that you can stand to shoot the mango fruit
down?”

Asadisa rapidly:” It is the place that you are sitting?”

The king ordered people to move the chair to another place to make the place empty for Asadisa
to stand. Asadisa asked the king to give him a cloth cottage to change clothes as the suits that
he was wearing were not suitable for practical performance. The clothing cottage was quickly
arranged for Asadisa to change his clothes. From the clothing cottage, Asadisa appeared
extraordinary, with golden armor and a big bow made of goat horns. Asadisa confidently asked
the king :” Dear Majesty! Do you want me to shoot the mango fruit by shooting up or shooting
down?”

The king curiously asked:” You are making me silly. I have never seen archers who can shoot
anything by shooting them down. Hence, it is wonderful if you can perform for us now?”

Asadisa shot the first arrow in the sky, and quickly shot the second one with stronger force.
When the first arrow just passed the heaven realm of Chaturmahārājikā, the second arrow
reached its tail, so the first arrow turned its direction down. When the first arrow was flying
down, it generated a loud sound, like the sound of thunder, yet all of the people standing there
were afraid of the arrow. So, Asadisa pacified them:” Don’t worry. The arrow will never make
anybody here injured.``

The first arrow finally backed to shoot the mango fruit down, and Asadisa quickly stepped
forward to take both the mango fruit and the arrow in his hands. The watchers all shouted
loudly:'' Fantastic! We have never seen any wonderful performance like your
performance.?”All watchers , right after that, gathered money together, and gave Asadisa 1
million of golden coins, and the king also gave him various valuable things. Asadisa lived
happily and comfortably in the fleeing nation.

Not long after that, seven nations together attacked Varanasi, and the king Brahmadatta was
threatened by the army force of seven nations, so he asked his servant:” Where is my brother,
Asadisa? If he is here, our enemies have to withdraw their arms.”

A servant rapidly replied:” We heard that your brother is working as an archer for the king of
a nation which is not far from our nation.”

King Brahmadatta rapidly urged:” Please get there immediately and on my behalf, say sorry to
my brother, and invite him back to save the nation.”

When Asadisa backed Varanasi, he first pacified his brother, and he ordered people to carve
the messenger of the arrow “ I am Asadisa, and I already backed. With only one shot of an
arrow, I can kill all of you. Hence, if you want to save your live, immediately withdraw the
arms.” Then Asadisa shot the arrow to the table of seven kings who were having lunch together.
Seven kings quickly took their armies back.

After they withdrew their armies, Asadisa just looked at his brother for the last time, and he
left the palace to be an ascetic monk. With hard practice, Asadisa obtained fruition of
meditation levels quickly.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that Brahmadatta was Ananda, and Asadisa was
him.

Jataka 182: Story of Sangamavacara

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the events in which Venerable Nanda left the
palace to be an ascetic monk.
When Buddha backed Kapila for the first time, the prince Nanda helped to hold the bowl of the
Buddha. When Nanda was getting out of the palace, holding the bowl of the Buddha, his new
wife was standing on the second floor and shouted toward him:” Dear Husband! I hope that
you can return early.”

On the way, Nanda just hoped that the Buddha would take his bowl soon. However, Buddha
did not take his bowl until he arrived at Jetavana. And, at Jetavana, Buddha asked Nanda:”
Dear my brother. Do you want to be a monk in my Shanga?” Nanda immediately replied:” Yes
master.” From that time, Nanda officially became a monk. However, he always missed his new
marriage wife

The Buddha knew his suffering, so he came over to the room of Nanda and asked:” Have you
ever been to the Himalaya? My brother?”

Nanda:” Dear Master. I have never.”

Buddha continued:” Have you ever been to the palace of the heaven of the 33rd realm?”

Nanda curiously rapidly replied:” I have never had any concept about it? As I have no power
to travel to that place.”

Buddha:'' I will help you to get to these places with my power.” Then the Buddha used his
power to take Nanda together to get to the top of Himalaya. On the way, they saw a female
monkey which was killed by fire in a forest. The Buddha asked Nanda to remember this female
monkey. Then the Buddha took Nanda to the 33rd realm. King of the thirty third realm, Sakka,
paid respect to the Buddha and ordered one million of his maidens to dance to offer the Buddha.
While they were watching the performance, Buddha asked Nanda:” How do you feel about
these heaven maidens? What if we compared them with your new married wife?”

Nanda was attacked by the extreme beauty of the heaven maidens, so he rapidly:” Cannot
compare dear master. But if we try, my wife is like the female monkey in the forest in
comparison with these maidens of king Sakka. “

Nanda paused a second and then he asked shily: “How can I have them all dear master?”

Buddha looked at Nanda compassionately:” If you can practice the monk-livelihood, you shall
be the owner of these maidens.”
Nanda immediately agreed with the Buddha, and then they returned to Jetavana. When they
just backed, Nanda immediately ran to his room and diligently practiced the monk-livelihood,
without any second of laziness.

Buddha, then, called Sariputta:'' Sariputta! Do you know that my brother Nanda wants to be
the owner of one million of heaven maidens, so he has practiced so hard.”Right after that, this
news was spread to almost all monks living in Jetavana. One day, Sariputta came to the room
of venerable Nanda and asked:'' Is it true that you have practiced hard in order to be the owner
of one million beautiful maidens of king Sakka?”

Sariputta stopped for a while, then continued:”If you do so, your practice is like working for a
salary. It shall lead to suffering.”

Not only Sariputta, but 80 other elderly monks also came to advise Nanda in the same way.
Their advice made Nanda feel guilty, so he stopped his attachment to the maidens of king
Sakka. He returned to the real practice and real livelihood of monks, and soon after that Nanda
obtained Arhatthood.

Right after that, Nanda went to meet the Buddha:” Dear master. It is not important any more
for you to keep the promise to help me to be the owner of heaven maidens.”

Buddha compassionately:” Don’t worry Nanda. When you obtained Arhathood, my promise is
over”

The next morning, monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the special events related
to Nanda:'' Venerable Nanda who was full of attachment to women, but with the advice of 80
elderly venerables, he felt guilty and turned to the right view. Finally, he obtained Arhathood.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the discussion of monks, Buddha said:”
It is not in the present time, but in the past, he also changed his mind after listening to such
advice from others.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in an
elephant-training family. When the boy grew up, he articulated all the knowledge and skills in
training elephants, and he served for a nation which was the enemy of Varanasi. The young
elephant-trainer was given the elephant of the king for training.

One day, the king of this nation led an army to attack Varanasi, and the young elephant-trainers
were together with the strong army of the king. The enemy king of Varanasi sent a message to
the king of Varanasi:” Surrender and give the nation or fight?”

The king of Brahmadatta and all officials wanted to fight instead of surrender, so the enemy
king of Varanasi wore the golden armor on, riding on the strong elephant to attack the main
gate of Varanasi. On the higher side of the wall, the soldiers of Varanasi threw big rocks and
wood down to the elephant, so the elephant was threatened to go back. At that time the young-
elephant-trainer came close to the elephant and said: “ My son! You are the hero who is familiar
with fighting, so if you ran away, it would be terribly embarrassing.”

Hearing the encouragement from the trainer, the elephant regained his confidence. The
elephant stepped back and used his trunk to take the pillar off, and it hit the main gate of the
town of Varanasi. With a strong attack of the elephant, Varanasi soon after that was totally in
the control of the enemy king of Varanasi.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the elephant was Nanda, and the trainer was
him. The enemy king of Varanasi was Ananda.

Jataka 183: Story of Valodakka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about 500 people who survived by eating the
leftovers from others. There was one occasion, 500 richest men, who lived near
Jetavana, and who left all busy work for their wives and children to live together and
to practice Dharma together. One day, from a talk of the Buddha, most of them
obtained Entering Stream level, One-returning level and non-returning level.

Whenever there were offering ceremonies for Buddha and monks, these lay men were
invited to join the festival. Often, they all brought together a servant who kept and took
care of the properties for them. These servants often ate the leftovers from their
bosses. One day, on an occasion in which people offered the Buddha and monks,
these 500 men arrived with their servants. While these lays were silently listening to
the teachings of the Buddha, their servants got to the river nearby to play and shout
loudly.

Their noises made the Buddha wonder, so the Buddha asked Ananda:” Who are
making those noises?”

Ananda stepped out to see and returned to inform the Buddha:” Dear master. These
noises are from the playing of servants of these lay men. While their bosses were
here, they have free time, so enjoying with each other on the shore of a river nearby.``

The Buddha calmly said:” It is not only in the present time, the people who survive by
eating leftovers of others are likely to make loud noises, while their bosses are likely
to keep silent and calm, but in the past, they did the same.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a Brahmin who was
the consultant of the king for almost all issues, important and not important.

One day, the bordering area was attacked by invaders, so the king took 500 Sindh horses and
four kinds of armies to calm the bordering area. When the king backed down, he ordered
servants to let the Sindh horses drink special water and food. After eating and drinking, the
Sindh horses kept silent and went sleepy.

There were lots of leftovers from the foods and drinking water of the Sindh horses, so the king
requested servants to repurify them to take water for the donkeys to drink. After drinking this
water, the donkeys got drunk, so they ran around the yard and shouted loudly. The king opened
the window and asked the consultant:” How do you feel about these donkeys? They just drank
the water made from the leftovers of special water which was for the Sindh horse, but they
were happy, while the Sindh horses all kept silent.``

The consultant spoke the verse to answer the king:

Those who have inferior quality

Although eating leftovers from others
Are satisfied and happy
Those with noble-minded quality
Enable to keep their minds calm
Although they are given to drink
Superior class of expensive wines!
Then the king let servants drive the donkeys into the stable. The king spent the rest of his life
ruling the nation with the right livelihood.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that 500 Sindh horses were 500 lay men sitting
here, and 500 donkeys were their servants. The king was Ananda, and the wise consultant was
him.

Jataka 184: Story of Giridanta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about one monk who associated with evil men. The
background of this story is detailed in the Jataka 26 ( Story of Mahilamukha).

The Buddha, related to this monk, said to the other monks:” My students! It is not in the present
time, but also in the past, this person is also associated with evil men.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Sama was ruling Varanasi, there was born a boy who was the
child of an official of the king. When the boy grew up, he became the major consultant of the
king, about the major or minor things across the nation.

In the palace, there was a valuable horse, namely Pandava, and this horse was given to a horse-
trainer who was crippled. When this trainer took the rope to take Pandava, he walked with
limping steps, and the horse, Pandava, tried to follow the action of the trainer. Gradually, the
horse, Pandava, was not able to walk as normal horses, but it walked with limping steps.

Seeing the valuable horse, Pandava, walking with limping steps, the king called all
veterinarians of the town to come to diagnose the sickness of Pandava. However, they could
not find out the reason for the sickness. The king called his consultant to ask the reason. The
young consultant looked at Pandava, and said to the king:

The valuable Pandava

Belonging to the king Sama

Giving up his superior traits

To follow the limping steps of Giridanta

Its cripped trainer!

The king curiously asked :” So, what should we do to make it recover its superior nature?”

The consultant calmly replied to the king:” We have to change the trainer for Pandava. Please,
select a trainer who has not crippled injuries. Gradually, Pandava will recover.”

The king followed the instruction of his consultant, and not long, Pandava totally recovered its
superior traits. The king valued the knowledge of the consultant, so he gave the consultant lots
of benefits.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the trainer, Giridanta was Devadatta, and
the horse, Pandava, was the monk who associated with the evil men. The king was Ananda,
and the consultant was him.

Jataka 185: Story of Anadhirati

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about one young Brahmin. This Brahmin was excellent
in three books of Vedas, and he had been a well-teaching master of other Brahmin and
Kshatriya children until he got married. After his marriage, he totally focused on enhancing the
number of servants, clothes, jewels, lands, animals and his beautiful wife that he could not
remember the Vedas properly. One day, he brought flowers and fragrances to Jetavana to offer
to the Buddha. After offering and paying respect to the Buddha, the Brahmin sat down on the
seat for him and kept silent.

The Buddha looked at him and asked:” Brahmin! You were the teacher of Vedas, so can you
properly remember all of the things written in the books?”

The young Brahmin shamely replied to the Buddha:” Dear master. To be honest, I was excellent
in books of Vedas. However, after getting married, I cannot remember them properly.”

Then the Buddha talked to him:” It is not only in the present time, but also in the past that you
could remember holy books properly before your mind was attached with desire. After
fulfilling attachment, you no longer can remember holy teaching properly.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
rich Brahmin family. When the boy turned 16, he went to Takkasila to study skills and
knowledge of holy books. Soon after his graduation, he became a famous master, teaching for
Bramin and Kshatriya children of the nation.

Among his students, there was a young man, who could remember properly and sufficiently all
the words of the holy books that he taught to him. This young man, after graduation, got married
and was so busy with doing business that he could not properly remember holy teachings.

One day, the master of this young man paid a visit to his family, and they talked about many
things. Finally, the master asked him:” Dear son! Do you still remember all the holy words that
I taught you?”

The student slowly replied :” Dea master! I cannot remember the holy words properly after I
got married.”

The master compassionately looked at the face of his student who was full of desire:” When
our minds are polluted by desire, we tend to forget all the holy words, even if we have studied
hard.”

Then the master spoke the verse:

Similar to polluted water with mud

Without fish, scallops and mussels in
Likewise, the mind is polluted
Unaware of benefits for us and others

When water is purified, without mud

Fish, scallops and mussels enable to live in
Those with aware and purified minds
Enable to benefits themselves and others
After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the young Brahmin
obtained the first Entering Stream level. Then the Buddha recognised that this young student
in the story was the young Brahmin, and the master was him.

Jataka 186: Story of Dadhivahana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who associated with evil people.

The Buddha said:'' Monks. Association with evil ones is harmful to us. Why do I have to be
concerned about the harm and danger of association and making friends with cruel ones? As in
the past, mango blossomed the fruits which were sweet and delicious as the food of gods.
However, when it associated with a Nimba tree, it turned to blossom the fruits with bitter
taste.``

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta, in Kasi, there was a Brahmin family in which four
children all left the family to live as ascetic monks when they grew up. They made plain
cottages made of forest leaves in the Himalaya mountain.

Time flew, the oldest brother passed away, and he reborned as the king of gods and goddesses,
Sakka. After 7 days, Sakka was able to remember his previous life in which he cultivated merit
to be able to be reborn as the king Sakka, so he appeared to be a visitor to communicate with
his brothers who still lived and practiced in Himalaya. One day, Sakka paid a visit to the oldest
monk in Himalaya. In the form of a visitor, he paid respect to the monk, and then he sat down
in the seat that was prepared for visitors. He calmly looked at the monk and asked:” Dear
venerable! Can I do any flavor for you?”

The monk thought for a while and said:” I need fire everyday. That is all.”

Then Sakka gave this monk a hammer and a knife. The monk took on the hammer and the knife
and worried:” They are useless for me as nobody will help me to take wood and fire.”

Sakka rapidly replied:” Don’t worry! Don’t worry! Whenever you need fire and woods just
hold these tools and say I need fire. These tools shall automatically take wood over and make
fire for you.”

Then Sakka went to visit the other brother monk. Sakka also asked the monk:” Dear Venerable!
What do you want me to do for you?”

The monk thought for a while and said:” My cottage is near to the path in which the elephants
often go through. I want to drive them away.”
Sakka gave this monk a drum and said:'' This drum has two sides. If you beat on this side, your
enemy will run away, whereas if you beat on this side, your enemies will become your
servants.”

Then Sakka walked toward the cottage of the youngest monk:” Dear venerable! What should I
do for you?”

This younges monk thought for a while and said:” I need nothing but milk.”

Sakka gave this monk a container of milk and said:” When you turn this milk-container up-
side-down for a long time, it can make a river of milk.”

After helping his former brother monks, Sakka returned to his realm, and the three monks
started to live happily with the tools that Sakka gave them.

Not long after these monks received the super powerful tools from Sakka, there was a lazy
man, who was expelled from home, and had to live as a servant on a boat for a living. One day,
the boat was sunk, but the lazy man was lucky to survive, holding a piece of wood floating to
the shore of an island. At the island, awakening, the lazy man saw a pig flew over the forest
and landed off at a big tree to sleep. The lazy man waited for the pig to get to sleep and he came
over to steal the pearl which gave super power to the pig.

The lazy man flew up to the sky, and when he was traveling, he saw the monks living on the
Himalayas. Hence, he took off to visit them. However, after seeing the superpower of the tools
that three monks were using, the lazy man was scheming to steal those tools, and right after
that he went to Varanasi to defeat the king with the support of the super tools of the monks.

When the lazy man was given the throne of power, people caught a special mango from a river
to offer him, and as the mango taste was super special, the new king ordered people to get the
seed to plant it. The seed grew up gradually and after three years, it began to blossom. The new
king also offered the mango fruits to the kings of neighboring nations. However, as he did not
want others to have this special mango tree, he ordered his servants to demolish the embryos
of the seeds of mango fruit before giving it to other kings.

One king of a neighboring nation, after several times planting the mango seeds but failed to
have mango trees, was angry and asked his garden-taker :” Dear servant. You are excellent
about planting. I just wonder, can you destroy the special taste of the mango tree of the king of
Varanasi?”
The garden-taker:” Sure. It is easy for me. I can do it for sure.”

This king gave 100 golden coins to the garden-taker and asked him to get to Varanasi to work
in the palace and find a way to destroy the special taste of the mango tree of the king of
Varanasi. The garden-taker arrived at the palace of Varanasi and asked to work in the garden.
With special skills in planting, this garden-taker was accepted to work in the palace easily.
With his special skills, he tried to make all the trees and flowers in the garden of the king green
and colorful with flowers and fruits, so the former garden-taker of Varanasi was fired. From
the time having full control of the garden, this garden-taker planted lots of Nimba trees around
the mango tree of the king, and not long after that, the roots of the Nimba made the soils
polluted. Consequently, the mango gradually changed its nature, from sweet to bitter. When
the plan was successful, the garden-taker ran away immediately.

Mango season came, and the king was happy to taste the special mango. However, the king
was surprised after eating the first mango fruit as it was terribly bitter. So, he quickly called the
consultant of the palace to ask:” What has happened to my special mango? Why does it taste
bitter?”

The consultant got to the garden to have a look, and then went back to the palace to inform the
king:” Dear Majesty! There are lots of Nimba trees planted around this mango tree, and the
mango tree has been affected by the bitter nature of the Nimba trees.”

Then the consultant advised the king to cut down all the Nimba trees around the mango tree,
flourishing the mango tree with milk and fragrant water. Not long after that, the mango tree
continued to blossom fruit with special taste.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the wise consultant was him.

Jataka 187: Story of Catumatta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about one elderly monk. It was one day while two most
venerable monks, Sariputta and Moggallana, were sitting together to talk about Dharma, then
a elderly monk walked through their sitting place. The delderly monk took a seat to participate
with them. The edderly monk was arrogant:'' Dear two venerables. We shall discuss about these
topics, and if you cannot answer, I will help you.``
Two venerable monks did not say anything but calmly left. The young monks who sat nearby
to listen to the discussion of two venerable monks were upset to leave, and they went to meet
the Buddha to express their discomforts.

The Buddha, after knowing the issue, slowly said:” It is not in the present, but, in the past,
Sariputta and Mogallana were also uninterested in that elderly monk.”

Then Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a deity of a big
tree in a forest of the nation. As the tree was lush and greenery, there were two geese which
often parked on the tree for taking a rest before backing to Cittakuta mountain whenever they
flew to Varanasi for a living. Gradually, the deity of the tree and two geese became close friends
to each other, and they often talked about the holy words and practices to each other.

One day, when two geese and the deity of the tree were talking about holy words, a jackal
appeared, heading toward two geese, saying:

Staying on the high branch of tree

Singing to each others
Getting down here to sing
For the king of animals to listen to!
To hear the utterance of the jackal, two geese were disappointed, so they immediately flew
back to their nest on the mountain of Cittakuta. The deity of the tree, then, spoke a verse to
reply to the jackal:

Beauty comes together beauty

Heaven comes together the heaven
Without these superior traits
Why staying here to roar loudly
Please come back home, jackal!
After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that two geese were two venerable monks,
Sariputta and Mogallana, whereas the jackal was this elderly monk, and the deity of the tree
was him.

Jataka 188: Story of Sihakotukka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the ignorant monk, Kolalika. The background of
the story is detailed in Jataka 172 ( Story of Kokalika). After Kokalika sat on the chair of the
lecturer, but was not able to remember the second sentence of a holy verse, Kokalika was upset
to go back to his room.

His issue was quickly comprehended by the Buddha, and the Buddha said:” It is not in the
present time, but, in the past,Kokalika showed his incompetent traits to the public when he tried
to raise up his ego.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a lion which lived
on the Mount Himalaya. One time, due to uncontrol of desire, the lion had sexual conduct with
a female jackal, and the consequence was the rebirth of a son which assembled its father, but
its roar was extremely like its mother, a jackal.

One day, during the rainy season, the lions gathered together to play and roar. All the lions
enjoyed roaring loudly and enjoyed listening to the roars of others. However, when the lion
which was the son of the lion and the jackal tried to roar, it made all the lions silent as its roar
was like the jackal. A brother of this lion curiously asked their father:”

The shape and the claws

All are the nature of the lion
Nevertheless, its roar is totally different from us
Its roar is the sound of the jackal!
The lion's father calmly said:” Dear son. Your brother’s mother is a jackal, so it likes us for its
shape but has the voice and the roar of the jackal.”

And the lion's father turned to the son which had the roar of a jackal:” Dear son. From now on,
please stop roaring, as your roar reveals that you have the blood of a jackal.”

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the lion which was born by a jackal was
Kokalika, and the lion son which was totally similar to lion ws Rahula. The lion's father was
him.

Jataka 189: Story of Cihacamma

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the ignorant of Kokalika when he tried to show
his incompetent ability to others.

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
farm family. When the boy grew up, he became an excellent farmer. One time, there was a
businessman who often carried his stuff by a donkey. When he arrived at the suitable place for
selling, he took the feather of the lion and put on the donkey. Then he released the donkey to
eat rice and wheat from the farms. Because the donkey looked like a lion, the farmers often
threatened and they ran away.

The businessman also did the same when he and his donkey arrived at the village of the young
excellent farmer. A farmer saw the donkey eating the wheat, but he thought it was a lion. Hence,
he ran back to the village to call people to help to drive the lion away. Villagers came over the
lion. However, they were threatened as they thought the donkey was a real lion. The villagers
just stood in the far distance, making noise with their sticks and long knives to drive the lion
away.

To hear the loud noise from the villagers, the donkey was extremely feared, so it shouted
loudly. The young excellent farmer, heard the roar of the donkey, said to the others:

This roar sound is not of the lion or tiger

But from a normal animal
Wearing the feather of the lion only
It is a horse or donkey!
Then the villagers made the donkey injured and took away the feather of the lion. When the
businessman got to his donkey, seeing the donkey was injured by villagers. He spoke the verse:

Long time often eat rice and wheat

Without worry as having the shape of a lion
By its roar, it revealed its nature
Got injured by the villagers
After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the donkey was Koklika, and the young
excellent farmer was him.
 Jataka 190: Story Silanisamsa

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a layman who had strong belief in the Buddha.
One day, a young man wanted to cross the Aciravati river to get to Jetavana to listen to the
teachings of the Buddha. However, there were not any boats available as all the boat-sailors
arrived at Jetavana to listen to the Dharma , so the young man constantly thought of the Buddha
and stepped over the water. It was a miracle that his steps did not sink into the deep water, but
it was similar to walking on the ground.

When the young man arrived at the other bank of the river, he immediately got to Jetavana.
After paying respect to the Buddha, the young man sat down in the seat for laymen and kept
silent. The Buddha looked at him with compassion:” My student! Was it hard for you to get
here?”

The young man was happy:” Dear master. No. No. Actually, no. I thought of the master who
is full of loving-kindness, so I could walk on the surface of water like I walked on the ground.”

The Buddha said to him:” It is not only you getting benefits from remembering the virtue of
the Buddha, but, in the past, people who got into accidents on the sea were rescued by thinking
of the virtue of the Buddhas.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, during the time of Kassapa Buddha, there was a young Buddhist who
obtained the first Entering Stream level, and who traveled on the sea together with a rich barber.
Their ship was on the way traveling on the sea for one week, and then the ship was wrecked
and sunk. Luckily, they were able to hold a wood-board which gradually drifted to an empty
island. At the empty island, the barber tried to catch fish and birds for a living. However, the
young Buddhist did not care about eating. He thought:” In this empty island, there is nobody
who can rescue me except for the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. So it is better to pray for the
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.”

The young Buddhist constantly thought of the virtue of the Buddha. While the young Buddhist
was contemplating the virtue of the Buddha, a miracle snake which already had super-power,
appeared as a ship, with the perfect sails. And the god of the sea appeared as the ship-captain.
The ship-captain anchored the ship and stepped on the island:” My ship is getting to India, so
who wants to get back to India?”
The young Buddhist was extremely happy:” We do. We want to follow you back to India.”

The ship-captain rapidly said:” You are okay, but not for that man as he does not have enough
virtue to get on this ship.”

The young Buddhist looked at the barber and quickly replied to the captain:” I would like to
give all the virtue that I have cultivated to this man, so he can get on the ship.”

The captain looked at the young Buddhist and then the barber, saying calmly:” It’s okay. I will
let two of you get on the ship.”

The ship quickly arrived at Varanasi, and with the power, the god of the sea made the houses
of the young Buddhist and the barber became luxurious and elegant, with enough valuable
things. Then the god of the sea said to them:”We should communicate and associate with the
virtuous men as they shall bring benefit to us.” Then the god of sea spoke the verse to praise
the virtue of the young Buddhist:

With power of belief, morality and giving

The snake appeared as the ship

Carrying the virtuous men
Should communicate and associate with the wise
Should make friends with the virtuous ones
As they tend to bring benefits to us
Similar to the barber who was rescued by the young virtuous man!
Then the god of sea and the king of snakes flew on the sky to go back to the sea.

At the end of the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the young man obtained
the first Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the young Buddhist
obtained Arhat in that life. The king of snakes was Sariputta, and the god of sea was him.

Jataka 191: Story of Ruhaka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who was still attached to the beauty of
his wife.
When the Buddha comprehended his issue, the Buddha said to him:” In the past, this woman
was harmful to you. She insulted you in front of the king and other officials, and you expelled
her from home.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born a boy who was
the son of the queen and the king. When he grew up, he was given the throne as the king of
Varanasi. The king had a celebrant named Ruhaka. Ruhaka also was excellent in doing
ceremonies but quite ignorant about the other things.

One day, the king gave Ruhaka a beautiful horse and a set of decorative things for this horse.
From that day, Ruhaka often rode this horse to get to the palace and back home. When Ruhaka
rode this horse getting to the palace or back home, people who stepped aside the roads often
praised the horse. One day, when Ruhaka came back home, he told his wife that his horse was
beautiful, so most people like to look at it.

His wife was evil-minded, so she talked to her husband:” Do you know that your horse has
been wearing beautiful jewels for the horse, so it is attractive to people. Therefore, if you want
to have people to speak highly about you, you have to wear those jewels of the horse.”

The next morning, Ruhaka followed the scheming advice of his wife, so people looked at him
derisively: “ You look elegant, master!”

When the celebrant got to the palace, the king was extremely not satisfied, so the king
commented:” Are you crazy? Those are for the horses only, not for humans.”

At that time, the celebrant was ashamed, so he thought that:” She already made me lost all
praise in front of the public, so she should be expelled from the house.”

Seeing the husband returned with a red face, the wife of the celebrant, from the back door, went
to the palace of the king to reside for 5 days. When the king knew about her issue, the king
summited both of them and said:

Bowstring even though was cutting into parts

Still be able to connect each other

Please make peace with your wife

Don’t let the hatred controlled your mind

The Celebrant slowly answered the king:

The new tring is still better

Compared to the prepared one

It is comfortable to find the new wife

Who is full of moral and virtuousness!

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the monk who was still
attached to his wife obtained the first Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognised
that the wife of the celebrant was the former wife of the young monk who was too attached to
his wife, and the celebrant was that young monk. The wise king of Varanasi was him.

Jataka 193: Story of Culapaduma

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who lost his determination in Dharma
practice. The background of the story is detailed in Jataka 527.

When the Buddha knew his issue, the Buddha asked:” Dear son! Is it true that you are already
lost in Dharma practice?”

The monk shyly answered the Buddha:” Dear master. I saw a beautiful girl, and I have been so
attached to her beauty that I am losing my determination in Dharma practice.”

The Buddha looked at the monk and calmly said:” All the women are ungrateful. In the past,
the ignorant men who had done many dangerous things and had given various precious gifts to
the women, but they still were not able to hold the hearts of their women.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a prince who
was the son of the king and the queen, and who was named Paduma. After the prince Paduma,
the queen also gave birth to six other boys. They all grew up in the palace and still lived in the
palace after their marriages.

One day, the king was standing on the highest floor of the palace, and seeing his children with
many of the servants together, the king worried that their children would make a coup. Hence,
the king called all seven princes to say:” Dear sons! You all grew up. You all should get to
other places rather than this town for a living to build up the experience for better ruling in the
future. Please go and stay at your favorite places until I pass away.”

The next morning, they prepared food and water, and left the palace together in a big carriage
which was pushed by four strong horses. They moved to an empty place which was near to a
forest, and soon after that they ran out of food and water. So, they killed the horses for food.
Finally, they intended to kill the wife of the prince Paduma for food.
However, the prince Paduma gave the rest of the food that he saved to them, and in the middle
of the mid-night, he took his wife to escape.

While they were running to escape, the wife was thirty and they could find water to drink, so
the prince Paduma used the knife to cut on his leg. The blood was coming out quickly and he
called his wife:” Dear honey! It is hard to find water here in the deep forest, so please drink my
blood to help you to get rid of thirty. “ After drinking the blood from the prince, Paduma, his
wife was totally recovered from tiredness. They continued to run to a bank of a river, and then
they decided to stop to make a cottage to live in. At the bank of the river, it was easy to find
food and water to drink, and their lives were floating smoothly.

One day, from the way of food, the prince saved a man who had legs hindicapped due to the
punishment of the king. Prince Paduma put the hindicapped man to stay on his bed and take
good care of him daily. When the wife of prince Paduma first saw this handicapped man, she
spat on the face of the hindicapped and went away. However, day after day, when they lived
together, the wife of the prince Paduma often had sexual misconduct with the handicapped
man, and due to strong attachment to the hindicapped man, the wife of the prince Paduma
decided to kill the prince Paduma to be able to live forever with the hindicapped man.

One day, as planned, she talked to Prince Paduma:” Dear husband. I already promised to the
god of the highest mountain in this forest that I would do a ceremony to offer him if we could
be safe. So, it is time for me to fulfill my promise. Could you please come over with me to the
top of the highest mountain tomorrow?”

The prince Paduma:” Dear honey. For sure.”

The next morning, they took flowers, fruits and fragrance to the top of the highest mountain
nearby. When they got to the top, the wife of the prince pretended to put flowers, fruits and
fragrances out to worship the god. However, when the prince Paduma was standing to look at
the vast gulf of the mountain, his wife, from the back, pushed him down to the gulf, shouting
loudly:'' I could see the back of my enemy.”

Luckily, the prince Paduma dropped on a luxuriant branch of tree which was not far from the
top of the gulf. However, the prince Paduma was not able to climb up, so he just stayed on the
branch of the tree, eating the fruit of the tree for living. A few days later, a big iguana came
over and asked:” Hey man. Why do you stay here?”

The prince Paduma told everything to it, and the iguana helped the prince Paduma to escape
from the deep gulf. After escaping from the gulf, the prince went to a small village nearby to
live, and time flew, when he heard that his father king passed away, he immediately went back
to Varanasi to be on the throne of power. Right after having the power of the king, Paduma
applied ten royal dharmas into the ruling of the nation. He also built up six big halls which
were the places for rich people to gather to give their donations to the people in need. The new
king, himself, donated about 16000 coins to the poor.

About his wife, after pushing the prince Paduma down to the deep gulf, she carried the
hindicapped man around to ask for a living, and they had lived as the beggers for years before
hearing the great offerings of the new king. Seeing the great love of her to the hindicapped
husband, people strongly advised her to get to Varanasi to recieve help from the new king. As
she did not know her former husband was the new king, she joined with some villagers to enter
Varanasi.

When they arrived at Varanasi, the new king was on the elephant to back the palace from his
daily offerings to people. From a far distance, the new king was able to recognise his evil wife
who was carrying the hindicapped husband, so he took off the elephant to ask:” Who are they?
They look terrible and lamentable.``

A villager replied quickly:” Dear Majesty. They are the beggars who come from other regions.
She is a faithful wife who has taken good care of her hindicapped wife. Her husband is her
cousin. As he was injured, she assisted to live as wife with him”

The new king came over to his former wife:” Is it true that your current husband was given to
you by your relatives?
His former wife could not recognise him, so she answered quickly without shyness:” Yes
Majesty.”

The new king, at that time, said:” You are lying as if you are the daughter of a king, and your
former husband was the prince of Varanasi who became the current king of Varanasi. “

The king stopped for a while to calm his anger and said to all:” Dear my people and my
officials. This was my former wife. When me and six of my brothers lived in a place that was
without food, they intended to kill her for food. So, I took her to run away, and protected her
with all of my effort. However, after I saved this man from the Ganges river, they were attached
to each other, and they pushed me down to the gulf of the highest mountain.”

Then in extreme anger, the new king ordered people to give death to his former wife and the
hindicapped man. However, in a short time after that, he changed his mind, and called soldiers
to release them but expelled them from Varanasi forever.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the former wife of prince Paduma was Cinca,
and the hindicapped man was Devadatta. Six brothers of the prince Paduma were six venerable
monks of the Buddha, and the prince Paduma was him.

Jataka 194: Story Manicora

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the event in which Devadatta desired to kill the
Buddha.

On the occasion in which monks gathered at the Dharma-hall to talk about this event, the
Buddha said to the monks :” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, he also had failed
to kill me.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
rich family in the town. When the boy turned to adulthood, he got married with a Brahmin
woman. His wife was beautiful like a goddess, and his wife was named Sujata. Sujata was
totally faithful to her husband, and always completed all the duties of the wife to the husband.
Hence, the couple lived in harmony to each other
One day, Sujata insisted her husband pay a visit to her parents, so they prepared food, water
and gifts for heading to visit Sujata's parents. Sujata was sitting in the back of the vehicle
looking at their properties, and her husband was driving the horses. When their vehicle just
crossed Varanasi, the king of Varanasi was on an elephant, parading around the town. Seeing
the beauty of Sujata, the king of Varanasi could not control his sexutal attachment, so the king
ordered servants to ask whether Sujata was single.

The servant replied :” Dear Majesty. She is Sujata, and she already got married. Her husband
is driving the horse, heading toward the house of Sujata’s parents.”

The king of Varanasi could not calm his desire toward Sujata, so he thought:” I have to kill the
husband and take Sujata to be one of my maidens.”

So the king of Varanasi called a servant and gave him a pearl taken from his crown:” Take this
pearl and put it into the cart of that couple.”

After the servant successfully put the pearl into the cart of Sujata and her husband, the king
shouted loudly:'' I have lost a valuable pearl from my crown. So, close all the doors and have
to catch up to the thief. “

The soldiers who were monitoring the gates immediately closed all the gates, and some soldiers
followed the instruction of the king to stop the cart of Sujata for detection. When they detected
the cart, the soldier who put the pearl into their cart, quickly found the pearl:” The pearl that
the king lost is here. This man is the thief.``

Then they took the husband’s Sujata to the king. The king did not even look at him, ordering:”
Give him the death for stealing my pearl.” When the soldiers took Sujata’s husband in front of
the gate to kill him, Sujata ran following and crying:” Probably. There is no god in this world
who could suspend this cruel action from the men who want to kill the moral ones.”

Then she prayed:

No any gods in this world appear

Probably all are absent and busy

Nobody dare protect the moral ones

From the cruel ones who want to do everything

As they want to do.

Because she is a moral and faithful wife, her praying made the chair of the Sakka hotter, so the
Sakka used his power to see what happened:”King Varanasi is cultivating bad deeds, killing
the moral one. So, I have to interfere in this action.”

When the soldiers were about to use the sharp sword to kill Sujata’s husband, Sakka used his
power to alternate Sujata’s husband with a wood. Then Sakka appeared, used his power to give
Sujata’s husband, wearing the clothes of the king, sitting on the elephant. Everyone was
surprised:” This is a new king who was given the throne by Sakk. It is great honor to us.``

Then from the thin air, Sakka said:” This is the new king of Varanasi, and this new king is
about to rule the country with ten royal dharmas. When the king rules the country with wrong
dharmas, then it shall be rainy at the wrong time, and not only that three troubles shall appear
to the nation, famine, disease and war. “

Then Sakka returned to his realm, and the new king ruled the country with ten royal dharmas.
After passing away, he reborned on the heaven.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the cruel king was Devadatta, and the Sakka
was Anurudha. Sujata was the mother of Rahula, and the king who was given the throne by
Sakka was him.

Jataka 195: Story of Pabbatupathara

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the trouble of king Kosala after knowing that his
major official and a maiden had sexual misconduct to each other. King Kosala really felt
uncomfortable in solving this issue, so the king came to seek the advice from the Buddha:”
Dear master. What should I do with them?”

The Buddha looked at the king, compassionately:” Is that official contributing benefits to you
and the nation? And do you still love that woman?”

The king contemplated for a while and replied:” Yes Master. The official is greatly contributing
to me and the nation, and I still love that maiden.”
The Buddha then said to the king Kosala:” If the servants are greatly helpful to you and you
still love that woman, you cannot harm them. The kings, in the past, listened to the advice of
wise men, so they forgave the mistakes of others.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, he was born as a son of an
official of the king. When he grew up, he soon became the major consultant of the king for
almost everything in the palace and the nation.

The palace was peaceful. However, one day, the sexual misconduct between a maiden of the
king and an official were unrolled in the public. The king thought: “ The official is grateful to
the nation, and I still loved the maiden, so I cannot punish them. I need to get consultation from
the consultant before giving the decision on punishment of them.”

When the consultant was in the hall of the palace, the king asked him:

On the beautiful mountain

Having a lake with purified water
Having protection from a lion
One day, having a jackal to drink the water!

The consultant rapidly comprehended:” It should be the sexual misconduct between an official
and a maiden of the king. So, I have to give effective advice for not harming anybody.” Then
he spoke the verse:

All the animals

Drinking water from the big and long river
River is still river, although animals trying to drink
Having values, so should be calm and forgiven.

The king, then, followed the instruction of the consultant to forgive the official and the maiden.
However, I threatened them not to do the wrong thing again.
After hearing the story from the Buddha, the king Kosala forgave his official and his maiden.
Then the Buddha recognised that the king in the story was Ananda, and the wise consultant
was him.

Jataka 196: Story of Valahassa

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who lost his determination in practice.
When the Buddha comprehended his story, the Buddha asked him:” Is it true that you have lost
your determination in practice?”

The Buddha compassionately asked:” What is the reason for?

The monk said shyly:” I have been attracted by the beauty of a woman, and have not been able
to return to the practice.”

The Buddha compassionately:” Monks! The women, with beautiful shape, elegant voice, and
smoothing touch, are successful in attracting the men. However, after their success, they try to
demolish the virtue and property of the men by evil actions. So, the women are similar to the
Yakshas.”

The Buddha kept silent for a while, then continued to say:” In the past, the yakshas often
appeared in the beautiful shape to attract the businessmen. They made the businessmen have
to do everything that they wanted. Then, seeing the new businessmen arrived, they killed and
ate the old ones cruelly.``

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, the island of Sihanka, namely Tambapanni, was the hometown of yakshas.
The Yakshas often appeared beautifully to attract those men who were unlucky to walk on the
island. To make the businessmen feel normal, they often used their power to make a town in
which the women, the men, the animals were playing and doing activities.

Then they came over to the businessmen and invited the men to eat and drink the special foods
and waters. When the men were attached to their beautiful shape and voices, they requested the
men to come to their town to be their husbands, and thus, they would kill the old husbands if
they could find the new husbands.
One day, a ship carrying 500 men was wrecked, and 500 men were lucky to drift to the island
of Tambapanni safely. The Yakshas immediately came over to them, and with their beautiful
shape, nice voices and tasty foods and beverages, they easily attracted these 500 men to agree
to be their husbands.

As usual, they tied the old husbands and put them into the jail for eating gradually, and the
captain of the ship became the husband of the queen of Yaksha. In the night time, after having
sexual act with the captain, she went to the jail to eat the men there, and when she came back,
her body was too cold. With wisdom, the captain comprehended that she was a Yaksha, so in
the next morning, when he gathered all his people:” Last night, I discovered that we are on an
island of Yakshas, and all of the women here are Yakshas. They tend to kill us, when they find
new businessmen. So, it is better to escape from this island today.”

Right after convincing others, the captain ran away from the town of the Yakshas, and 250
other businessmen followed him to run away from the danger. However, there were 250
businessmen and sailors who refused to follow them, as they were too attached to the beauties
of their Yakshas wives.

When the captain and 250 businessmen were finding the way to get out from the island of
Tambapanni, they met a horse, which had super power, and which often flew to the island to
eat the rice around the lakes of the island. Seeing people, the horse, with compassion, often
spoke out in human voice:” Who wants to go back to their hometown?”

The escaping businessmen were extremely happy, so they insisted on the horse:” Dear sir. We
really want to go back to our hometown. Please, help us to get rid of this island.”

The horse agreed, and some sat on its back, while others held its tail, its legs and even held
each other. With super power, the horse, in a short time, carried the captain and 250
businessmen back to their hometown quickly. Then, it returned to its home. About 250
businessmen who decided to stay with the Yakshas were killed after the Yakshas found new
husbands.

After telling the story, the Buddha said:'' Like the captain and 250 businessmen who followed
the white horse and finally escaped from the danger. Those who follow the teaching of the
Buddha, gradually born into three superior destinations, the heavens, Brahma realm and even
obtaining Nirvana. Those who do not follow the advice from the Buddha are likely reborned
in the three lowest realms and are suffered in the hells.``

Then the Buddha spoke the verse:

Who listen to the Buddha teachings

Always stay safe and happy

Like those businessmen were rescued by the white horse

Brought them back to their hometown!

Then the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths. The monk who lost their determination in
practice of Dharma and many of other monks obtained the First Entering Stream level, one-
returning level, non-returning level and Arhat. Finally, the Buddha recognised that 250
businessmen who followed the white horse were the monks living at Jetavana, and the white
horse was him.

Jataka 197: Story of Mitamita

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who stole the things of his master before
asking for permission to use them.

A young monk used a piece of cloth of his master to make a wallet to contain the shoes. When
his master knew, his master was extremely angry:'' Why did you use that piece of cloth? And
did you ask me to use it?”

The young monk shyly:” Dear master. I believed that I used this cloth then would ask you later.
You shall not get angry.”

The master of the monk hit the young monk and said:” There is nothing trusted between you
and me.”

The issue between the young monk and his master was spread around Jetavana quickly, and it
was discussed in the Dharma hall the next morning. When the Buddha entered the Dharma-
hall and comprehended the issue, the Buddha said:” It is not in the present time, but in the past,
he also lost his trust in the others who lived together with him.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
Brahmin family in Kasi. When the boy grew up, he left his family for the ascetic monkhood in
Himalaya. With diligence in practice, he soon obtained the meditating fruits, and became the
master of hundreds of monks who lived around.

Among students of him, there was a young monk who did not listen to his advice well. One
day, he paid a visit to the cottage of this student, and seeing the student was feeding a elephant,
he advised the student to release this elephant immediately, as this elephant would be dangerous
when it would be an adult elephant. Nevertheless, this monk did not listen to his advice, and
when the elephant grew up, the elephant killed this monk.

After making the funeral for this monk, some students informed this sad news to their master.
The master sadly spoke the verse:

When look at it, it does not smile

It does not enjoy meeting people

Does not even look at us

Try to do annoying actions

With all those actions

The wise men know clearly

Would not keep it as a friend!

Then the master of monks spent the rest of his life to practice four immeasurables, and reborned
on the Brahma realm after passing away. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the monk who
fed the elephant was the young monk, and the elephant was his master. The master of monks
was him, and the student monks were monks in Jetavana.

Jataka 198: Story of Radha

Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding a monk who lost his determination in Dharma
practice after seeing a beautiful woman.

The Buddha, after comprehending his issue, called him over and compassionately asked:” Dear
son. Is it true that you have lost your determination in the practice of Dharma.?”

The monk slowly and shyly replied to the Buddha:” Dear master. I was attached by the beauty
of a woman that could not continue to focus on my practice.``

The Buddha calmly talked to him and others: “It is impossible to monitor a woman. Although
you are able to have them, you are not able to keep them aside for long.”

And the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there were two parrots, which
were two brothers, and which were fed by a rich Brahmin at Kasi. The biggest brother was
named Rothada, while the younger one was named Radha. The wife of this Brahmin enjoyed
having sexual misconduct whenever the Brahmin left home for a few days.

One day, when the Brahmin was going to leave home for a few days, he asked two parrots to
monitor his wife:” Dear two sons. Please help me to monitor my wife, your mother. When she
shall do something immoral, please try to suspend her”

The Rothada replied wisely to the Brahmin:” Don’t worry father. We tend to do it, but we will
keep silent if we cannot.”

After the Brahmin left, his wife immediately invited other men to come to satisfy her sexual
desire. Seeing all that happened, Radha could not bear it, and expressed her thoughts to
Rothada:” As our father asked that whenever our mother had immoral acts, we should suspend
her acts. Now she is doing bad, so we should suspend her from doing it.”

Rothada calmly replied:” Brother. Although the men always take their wives on their back,
they also cannot monitor the desire of the women. So, let it be!”

Then Rothada spoke the verse:

Radha, you don’t know

Men as much as many came at night times

This woman was full attachment

So, she could not keep the wife duty

Then Rothada suspended its brother to say anything to the wife of the Brahmin. When the
Brahmin backed off, Rothada told him anything, and finally, Rothada talked to the Brahmin
sadly:” I already did something that I should not do with the mother, so I cannot continue to
live here.” Then Rothada led his brother to the forest to live in.

After telling this story, Buddha talked about four noble truths, and the monk who was too much
attached to his wife obtained the First Entering Stream level. And then, the Buddha recognized
that Radha was Ananda, and Rothada was him.

Jataka 199: Story of Gahapati

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, surrounding a young monk who lost his effort in
Dharma practice due to a woman.

At the Dharma-hall, Buddha said to this young monk and others:” Even if you have women,
you are not able to hold their heart forever, as women shall do everything to cheat their
husbands.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
rich family at Kasi. When the boy grew up, he got married to a beautiful woman. However,
unlucky to him, his wife was a erotic woman, so she often had sexual conduct with others when
he was not at home.

In the rainy season, it was raining heavily, so the villagers could not harvest their ripened rice.
Consequently, most of the villagers were in shortage of food, so they came over to the home
of the leader to borrow some food:” We all ran out of food. Please let us borrow some food and
we shall return it to you two months later.” The village-leader gave them an old cow, and they
killed the cow and shared the cow meat to each other.

One day, the young man went out for business. The village-leader who had sexual misconduct
with his wife, immediately entered his house to enjoy with his wife. However, unlucky, the
young man returned home earlier than the time that he informed his wife, so the village-leader
and his wife were worried to find a way to escape from the issue. The erotic woman said to the
village-leader:” I will stand in the rice storage, and you just stand here. When he is about to
enter the house you just say “ return me the food”, and I shall say “ there is no rice to return.”

They did similar to what they planned, but as a wise man, the young man immediately
comprehended the issue, so he talked to the village:'' Hey village-leader. We borrowed food
from you and promised to return after two months. Now, 15 days have passed. So, it is not
suitable that you come here asking for the return of the rice but should be for having immoral
acts with my wife.”

Then the young man grasped the hairs of the village-leader to push him out of the front yard,
saying:” You are the village-leader, but you are doing wrong with the wife of others.” For the
wife, the young man was extremely angry, so he bit on his wife and threatened strongly. From
that time, the village-leader did not dare look at his wife, and his wife did not dare invite any
men to their house.

At the end of the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the young monk
achieved the first Entering Stream level. Then the Buddha recognised that the young man who
was the husband of the erotic wife was him.

Jataka 200: Story of Sadhusila

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a Brahmin who selected the husband for his
daughters.

There was a lay student of the Buddha who lived near Jetavana. When he got older, he wanted
to give his daughters to have families, so he announced to have suitable men to come for
marriages with his daughters. After his announcement, four men came over, and they had
different traits. The old Brahmin could not decide well, so he entered the Jetavana to ask the
Buddha:” Dear master. It is hard for me to select one of them.”

The Buddha looked at him and calmly said:” In the past, you already asked this question with
wise men, but due to the reincarnation, you cannot remember.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
Brahmin family. When the boy turned sixteen, he went to Takkasila to study skills and
knowledge. After graduation, he soon became a popular master, with thousands of students.

One day, an old Brahmin who had four daughters, and there were four men came to ask for
marriage with these daughters. A man was too strong and handsome, while a man was too old
but rich. The third man was from a rich and noble family, and the fourth man was a moral one.
The old Brahmin asked the master:

One is strong and handsome

Second is rich but old

Third one is from noble family

The fourth one is having morality

Who shall be suitable to be the husband of my daughters?

Dear master. Please help us!

The master quickly replied:” The men who are handsome, strong and rich but have no morality
are not likely good choices. I prefer men who are morality-cultivated.”

The old Brahmin listened to the instruction of the master to give his daughters to get married
to the man who was moral-cultivated.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the old Brahmin
obtained the first Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the old Brahmin
in the story was this old Brahmin, and the master in the story was him.

Jataka 201: Story of Bandhanagara

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the prison. There were many people who were
put into prison for their cruel actions, such stealing, killing and robbery.

One day, thirty monks who lived in a rural area went to Jetavana to pay respect to the Buddha.
In the next morning, they went to get alms and on the way, they saw the prison which contained
those with cruel actions. In the afternoon, they paid respect to the Buddha and asked the
Buddha:” Dear master. Today, on the way to get alms, we saw the prison in which the criminals
were tied with steel strings and not able to escape. We just wonder whether there is something
that fastens people stronger than the prison and the steel rob?”

The Buddha talked to the monks:” Dear sons! It is the binding of the body, and it is still not the
most terrible binding. However, the string of attachment to property, wife, children, glory and
power is more terrible and powerful than the prison and the steel strings. Nevertheless, although
difficult, those attached strings still were cut down by the wise when they decided to leave their
family to be ascetic monks to live in the Himalaya.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a man in a
poor family. When the man turned into adulthood, he got married to a beautiful girl. But, the
family life was not what he preferred in this life, so when his mother just passed away, he said
to the pregnant wife: “Dear honey! From now on, please take good care of yourself and the
coming born child. I will leave the family to be a monk.”

The wife looked at her husband, saying with a nice voice:” Dear husband. I am getting
pregnant, so please give birth to the child. At that time, you are available to leave for a
monkhood.”

When his wife just gave birth to a child, he again talked to his wife:” Dear honey. You already
gave birth to our child, so tomorrow, I will leave for a monk life.”

The wife again insisted:” Dear husband. It is not good for me to take good care of me and the
newborn child, so please wait for the child to walk.”

The young man waited until his newborn child knew how to walk properly, but he thought
that:” If I again talk to my wife about my plan, she may find the reason to hold me to stay in
the family life, so it is better to leave secretly.”

So, in the night time, he left his family, the beautiful wife and the new born child, to enter
Himalaya for a monk life. With strong determination, he soon obtained meditative fruits of
practice, and he thought:” with strong determination, I already cut down on all the
attachments.”

Then he spoke the verse:

The wise men already said that

Iron and wooden shackles

With all kinds of strings

Are not strongest prison

But the attachment to jewels and properties

With relatives, wife and children

Are the most solid prison

The wise comprehend these things

Smoothly tie us to sufferings

The wise men are able to cut them down

Getting rid of all kinds of attachment

Then, he spent the rest of his life practicing without laziness, and was reborn on the Brahma
realm after passing away.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and during the talk, many
monks obtained Entering Stream level, one-returning level, non-returning level and Arhat.
Finally, the Buddha recognized that the wife of the young man was the mother of Rahula, and
the son was Rahula. The young man was him.

Jataka 202: Story of Kelisila

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the morality of Venerable Lakuntaka. Venerable
Lakuntaka was one of 80 brother monks in the Sangha of the Buddha. Ven. Lakuntaka was a
wise monk, having a nice voice, having competent eloquence and obtaining full enlightenment.
However, Ven. Lakuntaka was short and slim, so he looked similar to a child of 12 or lower
age.

One day, Ven. Lakuntaka went to Jetavana to pay respect to the Buddha, and at the same time,
there were thirty other monks who were from rural area, came to meet the Buddha. When they
arrived at the gate of the Dharma-hall, seeing Ven. Lakuntaka, they thought Ven. Lakuntaka
was a novice, so they touched his head, shook his hands, pinched his nose and ears. Then these
monks put their bowls in one side, entering the Buddha -hall to pay respect to the Buddha.
After they asked the Buddha:” Dear master. We heard that Ven. Lakuntaka was extremely wise,
nice-voiced- spoken, and talent-eloquent, so where is him now?”

Buddha calmly looked at the monks:” My sons! Do you want to meet Ven. Lakuntaka?”

All the monks together said:” Yes master. It is our honor to meet him.”

The Buddha then slowly said:” The person who you touched his head, shook his hands and
pinched his nose and ears was Ven. Lakuntaka.”

The monks were surprised:” We heard that those who obtained Arhathood and achieved
enlightened wisdom should be great ones. So why Ven. Lakuntaka doesn't look that great?”

The Buddha said:” Because of the evil actions in the past.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the king disliked what
looked like old and old-aging animals and people. He could not bear his mind looking at the
old-aging elephant, horse or cow, so whenever he saw those old-aging animals, he forced
servants to drive them away. When the king saw the old carts, he immediately ordered soldiers
to demolish them. When the king saw the old people, he called soldiers to force them to roll on
the roads, on the ground.

Sometimes, when the king knew which family in which there were old people, the king forced
the soldiers to take the old people in those families to the palace for entertainment. Gradually,
his servants also followed his bad attitudes, so the citizens of the hell, hungry ghost realm and
A-Tu-La realm were increased but the citizens of heaven were decreased. So, Sakka, the king
of Gods, used his power to comprehend the reason, and the bad actions of king Brahmadatta
was the major cause.

One day, in Varanasi, there was a national festival, and the king was on a strong and well-
decorated elephant, parading around the town. At that time, Sakka appeared as an old man who
wore old clothes, sitting on the old cart, carried by two old cows, and the cart carried two big
blocks of cheese. When the king saw Sakka in the form of an old man, driving the old cart,
carried by two old cows, he could not afford to calm his mind, so he called soldiers to drive
Sakka out of the town. However, the soldiers could not see Sakka, but only the king.
Sakka made the cows and the cart flew over the head of the king, and then Sakka made the
cheese melted on the head of the king. Seeing the king was extremely threatened, Sakka
stopped his play, appearing in his own form, saying to the king:” Hey guy. Do you think that
you shall not get old? Why have you punished the old people? Due to your bad actions, people
of the nation cannot take good care of their parents, and thus, they tend to be reborn in lower
realms. If you don’t stop your play, I shall return to punish you.

After that Sakka talked about the merits and benefits of taking good care of parents and
respecting the old-aging people. Then Sakka returned to his realm. The king of Varanasi, from
that time, stopped his play with the old-aging people.

After telling the story, the Buddha spoke the verse:

Swans, storks and peacocks

Elephants and deers

All threaten of the lion

Although their shapes are big or small

Likewise, the people who small but with wise

Better than those with big and tall shapes

But totally ignorant to everything!

And then the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and during the talk, many monks obtained
Entering Stream level, one-returning level, non-returning level and Arhat. Finally, the Buddha
recognized that the king of Varanasi was Ven. Lakuntaka, and the Sakka was him.

Jataka 203: Story of Kandha-Vatta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about one monk who was bitten to death by a snake.
One day, this monk was sitting in front of the bathroom to rip the woods, and then a poisonous
snake came over to bite him on his big toe. He died after that.

His death spread to monks living in Jetavana quickly, and in the next morning, they gathered
at the Dharma-hall to talk about his death. Then the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and
knowing the issue of the discussion of monks, the Buddha said:” Dear monks. If that monk
cultivated the loving-kindness to the snakes, he would not be killed by the snake. In the past,
the wise men cultivated loving-kindness to four lineages of snakes, and they escaped from
dangers from the snakes.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
Brahmin family in Kasi. When he grew up, he decided to leave his family for a monk life. With
strong determination, he rapidly obtained meditation fruitions and became the master of
hundred monks.

At that time, the monks who lived in the region between the Ganges River and the hill of
Himalaya were often bitten by poisonous snakes, and most of the monks died after being bitten
by the poisonous snakes. The monks, afterward, informed the issue to their master, and their
master said to them:” If you cultivate the loving-kindness to four kinds of snakes, so they shall
not threaten any of you. Hence, from now on, please practice loving-kindness to all kinds of
snakes.”

Then the master spoke the verse:

I cultivate my loving-kindness

To Virupakkha

I cultivate my loving-kindness

To Erapatha

I cultivate my loving-kindness

To Chabbyaputta

I cultivate loving-kindness

To Kanhagotama

Then the master taught the monks:” If you can cultivate loving-kindness to these four kinds of
snakes, the snakes shall stop to attack all of you.”

Then the master continued to speak the second verse:

To all kinds of beings which do not move by legs

I cultivate my loving-kindness to all of you

To all kinds of beings which have two legs

I cultivate my loving-kindness to all of you

To all kinds of beings which have four legs

I cultivate my loving-kindness to all of you.

To all kinds of beings which have more than four legs

I cultivate my loving-kindness to all of you

Then the master spoke the third verse:

To all beings which do not move by legs

Please stop hurting me

To all beings which have two legs

Please stop hurting me

To all beings which have four legs

Please stop hurting me

To all beings which have more than four legs

Please stop hurting me.

Then the master continued:

Wishing to all beings on this universe

Having chance to cultivate good deeds

Stop cultivating bad deeds

Then the master taught the monks:” Please cultivate loving-kindness to all beings without
limitlessness.”

Then the master praised the virtue of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and said to his monks:”
Dear sons. The virtue of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are limitless. Please pay respect always
to these three jewels.”
Then the master continued: “Wishing that all of us are protected by the virtues of these three
jewels, so please recall the virtue of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha all the time.”

Then the master continued to speak the verse:

Now I am protected

Dear all beings which want to harm me

Please step away from me

I pay respect to the current Buddha,

And seven Buddhas in the past

From that time, all the monks tried to cultivate their loving-kindness to all beings, and they
also cultivated their respect to Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha. The master spent the rest of his
life practicing loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity, and he was reborn
in the Brahma realm after passing away.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the master was him, and the students of the
master were the monks of the Sangha.

Jataka 204: Story Viraka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the incident of Devadatta when he tried to follow
the actions of the Buddha.

The Buddha said to Ven. Sariputta and monks gathered at Dharma-hall:” It is not only today,
but also in the past, Devadatta tried to copy my actions and got into trouble.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a crow which
lived near to a lake which was under the hill of Himalaya, and which was named Viraka.

One time, the county of Kasi was in an extreme famine where people had no food to give to
the crows or offerings to Yakshas and snakes. Almost all crows left Kasi to enter the forests
and the mountains for a living. At that time, a couple of crows arrived at the lake in which the
crow Viraka lived. The male crow was named Savithaka.

Seeing Viraka was able to fly under the water to catch the fish, Sivathaka thought:” I shall
follow him to get enough food for a living.” So,Vivathaka came close to Viraka and asked:”
Dear sir! Could you please let me serve as the servant for you?”

Viraka agreed:” Okay. So, if you serve me, you shall get enough food for survival.”

From that day, every day, after eating enough fish, Viraka left the rest to Sivathaka to eat, and
Sivathaka , after eating enough, took the rest for his wife. Day after day, the life of the three
crows passed smoothly. However, one day, Sivathaka felt that he was offended:” Viraka is
back, and so am I. I totally assembled him, so why do I have to depend on him to survive? “

So, Sivathaka talked to Viraka:” Hey friend. From tomorrow, I will start to catch fish under the
water.”

Viraka tried to suspend the crazy idea of Sivathaka:” You are not the kind of crow which can
enter the water, so it is harmful to follow me.”

Despite the advice from Viraka, Sivathaka still tried to enter the water of the lake to catch fish,
and consequently, it was stuck into the water and passed away. In the afternoon, the husband
of Sivathaka came over the lake to ask Viraka about her husband:

Dear Sir, Viraka

Have you seen a crow?

With a nice voice

And nice neck of peacock

Is it my husband? Namely Sivathaka

Viraka looked at the wife of Sivathaka and saidly replied:

Kind of crows

Which can live on the ground and in water

Can catch fish to eat easily

Sivathaka tried to copy those crows

Getting stuck in the seaweed

Passing away already!

The wife of Sivathaka, after hearing the verse, cried loudly and immediately went back to
Varanasi.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that Sivathaka was Devadatta, and Viraka was
him.

Jataka 205: Story of Gangeyya

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about two young monks, who did not focus on
contemplation of impermanence and impurity of phenomena, but were attached to their
handsomeness. They often talked about their handsomeness everywhere.

One day, they argued about the handsomeness of each other, and none of them agreed to lose
each other. Hence, they asked an old monk who was sitting nearby:” Dear sir! Can you give us
the idea that who among us is more handsome?”

The old monk said to them:” Dear two venerable monks! I shall be more handsome than the
two of you.”

Two young monks were extremely angry about the reply of the old monk, so they insulted the
old monk before leaving. Their issue was spread quickly among Jetavana, and the monks, who
gathered at Dharma-hall the next morning, talked about their issue:” Dear all venerable monks!
Two monks insulted an old monk after getting an unsatisfactory answer to their question.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of their talk, Buddha said that “
It is not in the present time, but also in the past, they often talked about their handsomeness.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a deity living in
a tree on the shore of the Ganges River. One day, at the intersection of the Ganges River and
Yamuna River, there were two fishes that met each other. One was from the Ganges River, and
the other was from the Yamuna River. They argued about their beauty. None of them accepted
that the other was more handsome, so they asked an old turtle which was moving near to their
location.

The old turtle calmly replied:” The fish from Ganges is beautiful, and so is the fish from
Yamuna River. However, I am the most handsome among the three.”

Then the turtle spoke the verse:

The fish from the Ganges is beautiful

So is the fish from the Yamuna River

However, this four legs animal

This turtle, with the rounded neck, is the most beautiful!

Two fishes got angry with the replies of the old turtle, so they insulted the old turtle and left.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that two fishes were two young monks, and the
old turtle was the old monk. The deity of the tree who observed this event was him.

Jataka 206: Story of Kurungamiga

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about Devadatta’s intention to kill the Buddha. When
the Buddha comprehended that Devadatta was planning to assassinate him, the Buddha said:”
Dear monks. It is not in the present time, but also, in the past, he had tried to kill me.``

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a deer which
lived in a luxuriant tree nearby a lake. On another tree which was also near the lake, there was
a nest of a woodpecker, and there was a turtle living under the lake. So, these three animals
were close friends to each other.

One day, a hunter came close to the lake, and he put a trap, waiting for theder. The deer, as
usual, went to the lake to drink water, and unlucily, it got into the trap. When the deer was
stuck into the trap, it shouted loudly for the turtle and the woodpecker to come to rescue:” Dear
friends. Please come to save me from this trap.”
The woodpecker and the turtle immediately got to the trap in which the deer was stuck in. The
woodpecker said to the turtle:” Dear turtle. Could you please try to bite the strings of the trap
off as you have sharp teeth, and I shall get to the hunter to suspend him to get here.”

Then the turtle began to bite the leather strings and the woodpecker flew to the cottage of the
hunter and waited. When the sun was not up, the hunter went out with a knife to check the
trap; the woodpecker quickly flew over the hunter’s head to attack him. The hunter was
attacked and thought:” In the early morning, a woodpecker attacked me, it is not the lucky
symbol, so I should go back and get out from the back door. “ Then the hunter backed his
cottage again and went out the back door.

The woodpecker was clever, and it knew that the hunter would get out from the back door, so
it rapidly flew to the back door of the cottage to threaten the hunter again. The hunter, again,
thought:” It is unlucky to get out this time as the woodpecker attacked me two times, so it is
better to wait for the sun to rise up. “ Then the hunter backed his cottage and waited for the sun
to rise up.

When the sun rose up, the hunter went out, heading to the trap. The woodpecker, this time, flew
rapidly back to the lake to inform the turtle and the deer. When the hunter came close to the
trap, the leather strings of the trap were bitten off, and the deer used all its energy to escape
from the trap. The woodpecker , at that time, flew back and hid in its nest. But, the turtle was
too slow to escape, so it was put into the bag by the hunter.

Seeing the turtle was caught and put into the bag, the deer decided to go back to save the turtle.
It ran back and attracted the attention of the hunter, and it pretended that it was exhausted. The
hunter saw the deer which looked exhausted, so he put the bag which kept the turtle down and
chased the deer. The deer ran slowly to the forest, and when it got the hunter to run far away
from the bag which kept the turtle, it ran rapidly to escape from the hunter. From the circle, the
deer ran back to the lake quickly and the deer saved the turtle from the bag easily.

After saving the turtle, the deer said to the turtle and the woodpecker:'' Dear friends! The hunter
shall come back, so we cannot continue to live here. Dear woodpecker! You have to lead all of
your children to fly to the other place to live, and dear turtle! You have to quickly run to the
lake. I will run to the deep forest.``
Then they did as quickly as the plan. When the hunter backed to the lake, seeing the broken
bag, he was extremely angry to leave. After the hunter left, these three animals returned to the
lake to continue their peaceful lives. And they kept close to each other until they all passed
away.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised the hunter was Devadatta, and the woodpecker
was Sariputta. The turtle was Mogallana, and the deer was him.

Jataka 207: Story of Assaka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, related to a monk who was still attached to his former
wife. When the Buddha knew his issue, he was compassionate to ask him:” Dear son. Is it true
that you are attached to your former wife?”

The monk shyly answered:” Yes master. I still have an attachment to my former wife, so my
mind is not calm enough to focus on the practice.”

The Buddha slowly said to him:” Dear son. It is not only in the present time, but also, in the
past, you were attached to this woman so that you got in trouble.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Assaka was reigning the town Potali, the queen, namely Ubbari,
was extremely loved by the king, as she was super lovely and beautiful. The king Assaka loved
the queen more than other maidens, so when the queen passed away, the king was extremely
shocked and suffered. The king ordered people to put the dead body of the queen into a coffin,
and used some fragrances and chemicals to preserve the dead body. The king did nothing but
stayed behind the dead body of the queen to cry, and he also ignored eating and drinking.

Seeing the king in extreme suffering, the officials all came over to pacify the king:” Dear
Majesty. Life is impermanent, so you should not suffer that much.” But they couldn't calm the
king, and the king continuously cried and suffered for seven days.

On the seventh day, a monk, who lived in Himalaya, and who obtained the fruition of
meditation practice, knew the suffering of the king, so he decided to assist the king to get rid
from the sufferings. From Himalaya, he flew over the palace and landed off to the garden of
the palace, sitting in the meditation posture. A young man went to the garden of the king, and
seeing the monk, he sat down to listen to the monk’s teachings. After discussion with the young
man, the monk asked him:” How do you feel about the king of Potali? Is he a good king? And
has he ruled the country with fair and justice?”

The young man replied quickly:” Dear Venerable. Our king is a good king, and he has ruled
the nation with fairness and justice. However, as the queen just passed away, the king has been
in extreme sufferings. Could you please help our king to get rid of this suffering?”

The Himalaya monk calmly answered:”I don’t know you king, but if he comes here, I shall
show him where his queen is.”

The young man was happy to reply:” Could you please wait for me here? I shall take the king
here to listen to your instruction.”

Soon after that, the young man was successful in leading the king to meet the Himalayan monk,
and the king immediately asked:” Is it true that you can help me to see and know where my
beloved queen is?”

The monk looked at the king and calmly said:”Your queen, due to the attachment to her beauty,
reborn as an eating fecticated-worm in this garden.”

The king was surprised:” No. I don’t believe it.”

The monk used his power to call the worms in the cow-shit nearby:'' Two eating defecated
worms. Please come in front of the king.” When two worms in the cow-shit moved in front of
the king, the Himalayan monk pointed to one of two worms, saying:” Dear majesty! This worm
was your beautiful queen, Ubbari. Now, it is the wife of an eating defecated worm.``

The king still wondered:” I still doubt this. Could you please give me some evidence?”

The monk calmly looked at the king:” I will make it talk to you.”

Then the monk used his power to talk about one of two worms:” Hey. Ubbari. Please reply to
me.``

One of the two worms quickly answered:” Yes sir. I am Ubbari.”

The monk continued to order:” Could you please tell us about your previous life?”
One of the two worms quickly said:” Yes sir. I was the queen Ubbari, the queen of king Assaka.
I often had strolls with the king in this garden.”

The monk continuously asked:” Hey Ubbari! Do you love the king Assaka or your current
husband?”

The worm said rapidly:” Of course my current husband. Although I was the wife of king
Assaka, in this life, I have no emotion with him, and even I can cut the neck of king Asska to
take his blood for my husband to drink.”

After the king Assaka heard the replies from the worm which was the afterlife of his queen, he
ordered people to make the ceremony for the dead body of the queen. Soon after that, he got
married to a beautiful girl and gave her the throne of queen of the nation. The king spent the
rest of his life ruling the nation in accordance with royal dharmas.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the monk who was
attached to his former wife obtained Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognised that
the queen Ubbari was the former wife of the young monk, and the king Assaka was the young
monk. The young man who listened to the Himalayan monk was Sariputta, and the Himalaya
monk was him.

Jataka 208: Story of Sumsumara

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the plan of Devadatta to assassinate the Buddha.

The Buddha talked to the monks at the Dharma-hall:” Dear monks! It is not in the present time,
but also, in the past life, he failed to kill me.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta wareigning Varanasi, there was a monkey which
was born and grew up in the Himalayas. When the monkey turned into adulthood, it looked
robust and energetic.

This monkey often went to the Ganges river to drink water, and a female crocodile desired to
eat the monkey's heart too much. The female crocodile talked with its husband:” Dear husband.
I really want to eat the heart of this monkey.”
The crocodile husband pacified his wife:'' Dear honey. He lives and find for living on the
ground, and we live and find for living under the water, so it is pretty hard to catch him.``

The crocodile's wife still insisted:” If I can’t eat the heart of this monkey. I shall die soon.”

The crocodile husband rapidly pacified its wife:” Okay. Don’t worry. I will find a way to catch
the crocodile for you to eat.”

One day, seeing the monkey come to drink water, the crocodile husband tried to come close to
the monkey, saying:” Dear venerable monkey! I would suggest you to get to the other bank of
the river, as that side is full of trees with diverse and blossomed fruits.”

The monkey was curious: “ Hey crocodile. Thanks very much for your suggestion, but how
can I get to the other bank of this river as it is too wide and deep?”

The crocodile was pleasant:” Don’t worry! Don’t worry! You can stand on my back, and I will
drive you to the other bank.”

Then the monkey jumped on the

back of the crocodile, and the crocodile started to swim toward the central of
the river. Then, when the crocodile arrived at the central, it rapidly dove
down to the water. The monkey was surprised to ask:” Dear crocodile! Is it not

that you are driving me to the other bank of the river right?”

The crocodile slowly said:” Dear monkey! As my

wife wants to eat your heart, I have to cheat you to drive you here.”

The monkey rapidly said to the crocodile:” It is good that you let me know your plan, but too
sorry, we don’t often carry out our hearts together, otherwise, when we jump from tree to tree,
our hearts may be broken up.”

The crocodile rapidly asked the monkey:” So, where are your hearts my friend?”

The monkey used the index finger to show toward the fig tree:” Do you see that tree? It is the
place that we hang our hearts. Could you please drive me there? And I shall show my heart to
you.”
The crocodile rapidly drove the monkey back and got close to the fig tree. Then the monkey
jumped down from the back of the monkey, saying:” Dear crocodile! Do you think that we, the
monkeys, put our hearts on the branches of fig trees? I cheated you to drive me back. You can
keep these fig trees as a souvenir.”

The crocodile knew that it was cheated by the monkey, so it felt like it lost thousands of coins.
With unpleasant emotion, it rapidly drove back to the river.

After telling the story, Buddha recognised that the male crocodile was Devadatta, and the
female crocodile was the girl, Cinta. The monkey was him.

Jataka 209: Story of Kakara

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the young monk who was the assistant of
venerable Sariputta. This young monk did not eat the foods which were too hot or too cold, and
he did not often get out as he worried the changes of weather might affect his body. His careful
attitude was quickly spread around Jetavana, and the monks, soon gathered at Dharma-hall,
discussed his positive attitude:” Dear Venerables. The assistant of venerable Sariputta is
excellent in taking good care of himself.”

When the Buddha knew the issue of the discussion of the monks, the Buddha said that :” It is
not in the present time, but also, in the past, this person was excellent in taking good care of
himself.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a deity who lived
in a big tree in the deep forest. One day, there was a hunter who entered the forest to catch the
birds. This hunter brought a decoy bird, traps and strings which were made of hairs.

When the hunter saw an old bird, he started to release the decoy bird to attract that bird, and at
the same time, he put a number of traps and the strings around the decoy bird. Then he hid
under the luxuriant branches, waiting for the bird entering the trap. However, the old bird knew
that there were some traps nearby the decoy bird that the hunter released, so the old bird just
flew up and down to avoid getting into the strings or the traps as well. Then the old bird spoke
the verse to the hunter:
I have seen the luxuriant trees

Like A-sa-kan-na trees

Those trees are not moving

As you are doing!

Then the old bird flew into the deep forest. The hunter was upset, and he tried to get what he
could utilize for his life in the forest. Afterward, he returned to his town.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the hunter was Devadatta, and the old bird
was the young monk who was excellent in taking good care of himself. The deity of a tree was
him.

Jataka 210: Story of Kandagalaga

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, on the occasion when Devadatta tried to copy the
actions of the Buddha and consequently Devedatta got into trouble.

The Buddha talked with monks at the Dharma-hall:” It is not in the present time, but also, in
the past, he tried to copy my actions and got into trouble.”

Then the Budda told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a woodpecker
which lived around the Himalaya mountain, and this woodpecker often went to a acacia forest
to find foods for survival, so it was named Khadiravaniya ( The woodpecker in the acacia
forest). Khadiravaniya had a close friend, a fruit bird which lived and found food in a forest
with lots of fruits, and this bird was named Khandagalaka.

One day, Khandagalaka paid a visit to Khadiravaniya, and Khadiravaniya took Khandagalaka
to the acacia forest, using its strong rostrum to dig into the hole of the acacia trees. Then when
the worms from the holes got out, Khadiravaniya invited Khandagalaka to eat.

Staying a few days with Khadiravaniya, Khandagalaka was invited to eat worms everyday, so,
Khandagalaka was ashamed :'' I am also a bird. So, why do I have to eat what he give me.``

So, Khandagalaka talked with Khadiravaniya:'' Tomorrow, I will find the worms myself. You
don’t have to work for me.``
Khadiravaniya rapidly suspended its friend:” Dear friend. You are not kind of a woodpecker,
so don’t try to follow me.”

Khandagalaka did not listen to Khadiravaniya, and it flew quickly to a acacia tree, using its
rostrum to dig into a hole. Consequently, its rostrum was injured, and it fell down on the
ground. Laying on the ground, Khandagalaka asked Khadiravaniya:

Dear friend, Which tree is it?

Having oval leaves and thorns

Digging in only one time

My rostrum was heavily injured

Khadiravinaya looked at Khandagalaka and slowly said:

Dear friend! You are fruiting bird

Living from the fruits and the ruin woods

Digging into a acacia tree

Kind of trees has solid core

Made you injured heavily!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that Khandagalaka was Devadatta, and
Khadiravaniya was him.

Jataka 211: Story of Somadatta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, related to the nature of venerable Laludayi, a monk who
was too cowardly so that he could not keep calm to talk in front of a group of three people or
more.

The monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the characteristics of the venerable
Laludayi. When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the discussion of
the monks, the Buddha then said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past life, he was
too cowardly.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a boy who was
born in a Brahmin family. When he turned sixteen, he went to Takkasila to study skills and
knowledge. However, when he completed his studies, his family was in severe poverty. Hence,
he decided to rebuild the fortune for his family.

Then he felt his hometown to apply for a job at the palace of the king. With skills and
knowledge, he was loved by the king. One day, his father paid a visit to him and said:” Dear
son. We have two cows to serve for plowing for a living. However, unlucky, one cow of ours
was dead, so could you please ask the king to give us a cow.?”

The young Brahmin calmly said to his father:” Dear dad! I have just worked here, so it is better
that you ask for the cow from the king.”

The father said to the young Brahmin:'' I was cowardly when talking to strangers. It is challenge
to me to talk with the king.``

The young Brahmin rapidly said to his father:” Dear Dad! Don’t worry! I will teach you
carefully what you should say.”

Then the young Brahmin taught his father the verse:” Dear majesty. Having two cows to plow
as a way for living. Then one of them died already. Could you please give me one cow?”

The young Brahmin then assisted his father to speak wisely in front of the king, and the father
spent one year practicing. Finally, he was ready to meet the king. But, when he met the king,
he forgot what he had practiced:” Dear majesty. I had two cows to plow for a living, but one
of them died. Could you please take the other?”

The king listened carefully to the verse, and he smiled as he knew that the farmer was cowardly
to read the verse wrongly. But, to be joking, he asked the young Brahmin:” Dear Somadatta! It
seems that your family is enriched with lots of cows?”

The young Brahmin, Somadatta, wisely replied:” Dear majesty. If so, it is the giving from you.”

The king was totally pleased with the cleverness of the young servant, so the king gave his
father 16 strong cows and lots of jewels. Not only that, the king ordered people to use the
luxurious vehicle to drive the young Brahmin and his father back to the village. Sitting inside
the luxurious vehicle which was pulled by the white Sindh horses, the young Brahmin said to
his father:

Trying to memorise

Concentrated without distracted mind

Spent one year long to practice

As the odorous bunch of grass

When stood in front of the king and officials

Forgetting all that I had practiced!

His father calmly replied:

Dear my son, Somadatta!

The goal was satisfied

Although my utterance was clussy

Having cows and jewels from the kings!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the father of Somadatta was Luladayi, and
Somadatta was him.

Jataka 212: Story of Uchithabhata

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the attachment of a monk to his former
wife. When the Buddha knew the monk's problem, the Buddha said to the monk:” Dear
son. In the past, that woman already made you get in trouble that you even ate the
leftovers of her sweetis.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a
boy in a poor family. His family was inherited in acrobatic dance, and when he grew
up, he continued to prolong this job. However, as having less income, he had to beg
for a living.
One day, from the seat on the pavement, he observed the sexual misconduct of the
wife of a rich Brahmin with a man, when the rich Brahmin got out for his business.
After having intimacy with the young lover, the wife of the rich Brhamin cooked for his
young lover a delicious meal. While her young lover was eating, she stood at the front
door, overlooking the arrival of her husband. When her lover was eating half of the
food on the plate, her husband backed off. Hence, she told her young lover:” Oh dear.
My husband is getting here soon, so you have to hide in the storage room.``

When the rich Brahmin entered the house, his wife immediately put more rice and food
on the leftover of her lover, and invited her husband to eat. The rich Brahmin noticed
that half of the food in his plate was cold and the rest was still very hot, so he thought
:'' This meal is likely the leftover of others.” Hence, he asked his wife:

Half of food was cold

While half was hot

So dear my honey!

Why are they so different from each other?

The rich Brahmin tried to ask many times, but his wife still kept silent. The beggar saw
the rich Brahmin was too suffering, so he came over, saying with the rich Brahmin:” I
think you can find the man who stays in your storage room, and you shall comprehend
the issue.”

Then the beggar entered the storage room of the rich Brahmin, taking out the lover of
the Brahmin’s wife. Then the beggar calmly said to the young lover of Brahim's wife:”
Please stop this immoral action, as your action is harmful to the happiness of others.
Then the beggar rapidly went away. Afterward, the rich Brahmin ordered people to
punish them and forced them to stop their immoral acts.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the rich Brahim was the monk who
was attached to his former wife, and the wife of the Brahmin was the former wife of
the Brahmin. The beggar was him as in Bodhisattva way.

Jataka 213: Story of Bharu

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the bribery of king Kosala. During the time the
Buddha stayed at Jetavana, king Kosala often offered foods, medicals and necessary stuff to
the Buddha and the monks of the Buddha. Monks of other lineages were worried that they
would lose their benefits, so they gathered to find the solution. Finally, they decided to build a
temple near Jetavana. Before starting their construction, they took 1000 golden coins as the
bride for the king and said to the king:” Dear majesty! We desire to build a temple which is
next to Jetavana, so please keep silent in case the monks of Jetavana ask you to stop us.”

When they began to build their temple, they made noise loudly, so the Buddha asked the
monks:” My sons! What is the noise from?”

Ananda quickly replied to the Buddha:” Dear master!Monks of other lineages are constructing
a temple which is next to us.”

The Buddha calmly said to monks:”Monks of other lineages often make loud noises, and it will
be trouble for us and for them as well when they complete their construction. Hence, you have
to inform the king to suspend their construction.”

Some monks followed the instruction of the Buddha, so they went to the palace of the king
Kosala. However, the king refused to meet the monks of the Buddha as the king Kosala already
took bride from the monks of other lineages. When the monks backed Jetavana to inform the
Buddha, the Buddha continued to send Venerable Sariputta and Venerable Moggallana to meet
the king. Nevertheless, the king still tried to avoid meeting Venerable Sariputta and Mogallana.

When two venerable Sariputta and Mogallana backed to inform the Buddha of the refusal of
king Kosala in meeting them, the Buddha, himself, took 500 monks to the palace of king
Kosala. When the Buddha and 500 monks arrived, king Kosala immediately left the palace to
welcome the Buddha and 500 monks, holding the bowl for the Buddha and inviting the Buddha
and monks to enter the palace.

When the Buddha sat on the special seat prepared for him, king Kosala started to offer Buddha
and monks with foods, cheese and porridge. Then, the king sat down to listen to the talk from
the Buddha. The Buddha calmly said to the king:'' Dear majesty. Many kings, in the past, took
brides from others and generated the conflicts between the monks and panditas. Consequently,
they lost control of the nations.”
Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Bharu was ruling the nation of Bharu, there lived a monk ,who
obtained all the Abhijanati ( wisdoms to be free from attachments) and frutions of
concentration, on Himalaya. The monk soon became the master of hundreds of other monks in
the region.

One day, to collect the salts and other ingredients, the master took 500 other monks to the
nation of Bharu to get alms. After getting alms from people, they left the Bharu town, and not
far from the northern gate, near to a big eagle tree, they settled for 15 days. At the same time,
a group of other monks also went to Bharu to get alms, and they left the Bharu town from the
southern gate, near to a big eagle tree, where they settled for 15 days. Afterward, they left for
the Himalaya.

Next time, the group of monks who settled in front of the southern gate, again, got to the town
of Bharu to get alms, and when they left they intended to settle near to the eagle tree in front
of the southern gate. However, unlucky, the eagle tree withered, so they moved to the northern
gate to settle near to the eagle tree. Not long after that, the group of monks who settled at the
northern gate also got back to Bharu to get alms, and after they left the town, they also settled
near to the eagle tree in front of the northern gate.

Two groups of monks argued over the possession of the place and the eagle tree in front of the
northern gate of the town of Bharu. Finally, they all took each other to meet the king of Bharu
for justice. However, the king was not able to give a solution to solve the conflict between two
groups of monks as the king decided the eagle tree belonged to the group of monks who arrived
first. So, the other group, with the power of meditation, saw a valuable vehicle, so they found
it and gave it to the king as a bribe and said:” Dear majesty! Please give us become the owners
of that eagle tree.``

The king then decided the eagle tree belonged to two groups of monks. Then, the other group
of monks tried to find another valuable vehicle to offer the king, saying:” Dear majesty! Please
let us become the owners of that eagle tree.” The king, again, decided this group of monks were
the owners of that eagle tree. Afterward, two groups of monks realized that they were wrong
to try to possess the eagle tree, so they shyly returned to the Himalaya.
After the monks left, the deities throughout the nation were angry as the king made moral
people to argue with each other, so they made water come to demolish the town of Bharu.
Consequently, all the town of Bharu was completely under the deep water.

Then the Buddha spoke the verse:

Hearing that king Bharu

Made monks to argue each other

Obtaining danger himself and all people of the town

The wise people, without attachment

All say the truth!

Then the Buddha calmly said to the king:”Dear majesty! Due to the attachment, making two
groups of monks argue each other is an evil act.”

Then the Buddha recognised that the master who obtained Abhijanati and fruitions of mediation
was him. After the Buddha and monks left, king Kosala ordered the soldiers to suspend the
construction of the temple of monks of other lineages.

Jataka 214: Story of Punna-Nadi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the liberated wisdom.

One day, monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the wisdom of the
Buddha:” Dear all venerable! The enlightened one has great wisdom, which
comprehends fully and sufficiently all the phenomena, all skills and knowledge.”

Then the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of monks, the
Buddha said that:” It is not only in the present time, but also, in the past, I already the
wisdom which assisted me to comprehend full skills, knowledge and phenomena.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a
boy who was the son of a consulted celebrant of the king. When he turned sixteen, he
was well-cultivated at Takkasila, and upon graduation, he became the consultant for
the king after his father passed away.

After a few years, he was jealous of the other officials, so they alluded to his problems
to the king. Hence, the king expelled his family from the town Varanasi. He took his
wife and his children to live in a small town, namely Kasi.

Time flew, and the king realized that he was wrong to punish his consultant, so he
tried to find a way to invite the consultant back to the palace. However, as having
shame and high-ego, the king thought:” If I send servants to invite the consultant back,
It is shameful to me. So it is better to write a verse and attach to the crows. When the
crows arrive at the consultant, the consultant shall read it and return, if he is really
wise. However, after reaching this message and he still could not understand my
message, it is time to find a new consultant.”

Then the king ordered people to write the verse in a piece of white cloth:

Which thing on this world is comprehended

Enable to drink water from the big and glorious river

What is covered and protected by wheats?

What makes the passenger go away?

That thing is now arrived

Please enjoy it! Brahmin!

After reading the verse on the coverage of the crow’ meat, the consultant immediately
knew that the king wanted to meet him. Hence, in the next morning, he prepared a
vehicle to take his wife and children back to the palace. The king was extremely
pleased when he saw his consultant back, so the king gave him his former position as
the consultant of the nation.

After telling the verse, the Buddha recognised that the king was Ananada, and the
consultant was him.

Jataka 215: Story of Kachpa

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the monk Kokalika, a person who was in trouble
by his utterance. The background of the story is detailed in Jataka 481 ( Story of Mahakatara).

The Buddha, on the occasion that the monks talked about the troubles of Kokalika, said to the
monks who gathered at Dharma-hall:” Dear monks. It is not in the present time, he is in trouble
because of his utterance, but in the past, he was.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in a
family of an official of the king. When the boy grew up, he became the consultant of the king
for the holy and normal issues around the nation. The king was a talkative person, so the king
often talked too much so that all officials just could do nothing but listen to the king. The
consultant planned to assist the king to stop this behavior, but he had not found the chance.

Near the place of the king, there was a turtle which was near a lake, and one day, this turtle
made friends with two geese. They often gathered for eating and talking. One day, two geese
invited the turtle to visit their nest on the top of the Mount Himalaya:” Dear turtle. We are
likely to invite you to visit our nest on the top of the Mount Himalaya. Would you like to pay
a visit to us.?”

The turtle worried: “ Many thanks to all of you, but I am a turtle, an animal which lives on the
ground only. How can I fly up to visit your nest?”

Two geese pacified the turtle:” Don’t worry turtle. We will take a wood stick and you just hold
the stick by your mouth. By this way, wwe shall bring you to our nest easily. But, please don’t
talk during the journey, otherwise, you shall lose your life.”

The turtle agreed and two geese used their feet to hold two sides of a woody stick. The turtle
was in the middle of the tree, holding the stick with its mouth. When the geese were flying
through the palace of Varanasi, the children, seeing the geese carrying the turtle, shouted loudly
with surprise:” Wow. A turtle is flying in the sky, carried by two geese.” When the turtle heard
the loud utterance of the children, it could not calm its mind, so it opened up its mouth to reply
to the children. Consequently, the turtle was dropped from the sky to the yard in front of the
palace, with terrible injury.
When the turtle dropped at the yard of the palace, it made a loud noise, so the king and all
officials who were in the main shrine of the palace ran out quickly to oversee what happened.
Seeing the turtle dropped from the sky, with terrible injury, the king rapidly asked the
consultant of the palace:” Dear consultant. Can you please explain to me what has happened
here with the turtle?”

The consultant looked at the sky, seeing two geese carrying a stick, and he immediately
comprehended:” It is my opportunity to assist the king to get rid of his talkative tendency. This
turtle might make friends with those geese, and they might invite this turtle to visit their nest.
By the desire to talk, this turtle harmed itself.”

Then the consultant said to the king:” Dear majesty. By the talkative behavior, this turtle was
dropped from the sky.” Then the consultant continued to speak the verse:

The turtle tried to speak out

Then it harmed itself

As it was holding stick

When I opened the mouth, it dropped down!

The wises are comprehended

Dear Majesty! Please talk enough

Be careful with all the utterances

Otherwise, shall encounter the dangers

As this turtle encountered!

The king wondered to ask the consultant:” Dear consultant. Did you want me to change to give
me these utterances?”

The consultant respectively said to the king:”Dear majesty. It is not about you, but all people
who are talkative tend to get in trouble sooner or later.” From that time, the king changed his
attitude, and he seldom talked too much.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the turtle was Kokalika, and two geese were
Sariputta and Moggalana. The king was Ananda, and the consultant was him.

Jataka 216: Story of Maccha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a young monk who was thinking of his former
wife.

When the Buddha comprehends the issue, the Budha asked him:” Dear son. Is it true that you
already lost your determination in practice? Who made you lose your determination in
practice?”

The young monk:”Dear master! It is true that my mind is attached too much to my former wife
so that I cannot focus on the practice.”

The Buddha said to the young monk:” Dear son! In the past, due to this woman, you were in
danger, and were about to be killed. However, you were lucky to be saved by the wise.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was a wise man who
worked as the consultant for the king.

One day, on the shore of the river which was near to the palace, there were two fishermen who
caught a big fish from the nets that they prepared for days. After taking the fish out of the net,
two fishermen put it on the hot sandy shore, and they burned on a fire to grill the fish to eat.
When the fish was about to be killed, it cried loudly:

I am not suffered by the fire

Neither suffered by the sticks

But from the worry about my wife

Who shall be suffered

As thinking I am with the other female fish to play

This attachment is burning me

Please release me!

When the fish was crying, the consultant went across the river, and hearing the suffering cry of
the fish, the consultant interfered to make two fishermen release the fish back to the river.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and during the talk of the
Buddha, the young monk obtained the Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognised
that the female fish was the former wife of the monk, and the young monk was the stucking
fish. The consultant was him.

Jataka 217: Story of Seggu

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a man who sold the fruits. The background of
this story is detailed in Jataka 102. When the fruit-seller paid a visit to the Buddha, the Buddha
asked him:” My son! How have you been up to? For a long time, I did not see you.”

The fruit-seller replied quickly to the Buddha:” Dear master! It is not only in the present time,
but also, in the past, your daughter was moral and faithful, and you also challenged her before
giving her to be married to a noble man.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a deity who lived
in a big tree in the forest.

At Varanasi, there was an old man who had a moral daughter, and he wanted to give her to
marry a noble man. However, before giving her to marry the noble man, he tried to challenge
her.

One day, he took his daughter in the forest for a stroll, and at the forest, he pretended as wanting
to have sex with her. His daughter was threatened to cry loudly, and he said calmly to his
daughter:

All humans are like sexual attachment

Have you ever tried to do it

Or have you still been a virgin woman

Give me the answer

Dear my daughter!

The daughter was afraid to reply to her father:” Dear father. I have no idea about sexual
attachment.” And she spoke the verse:

The one who have protected me

From suffering and dangers

Are you, my father

Now, having evil thought with me

At the deep forest without people

So, to whom should I ask for help?

Hearing the answer from the daughter, the father told her that he just wanted to challenge her,
so he took her daughter back and gave her to marry with a moral man.

After telling the story, the Buddha taught about Four Noble truths, and the fruits-seller obtained
the Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the daughter was the daughter
of the fruits-seller, and the father in the story was the fruits-seller. The deity of the tree was
him.

Jataka 218: Story of Kutavanija

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a cheated businessman. There were two
businessmen who lived in Savatthi. One was too honor and innocent, while the other was too
scheming. However, they were close friends with each other, and gathered money to do
business together. They bought products from Varanasi, with 100 vehicles, and went across the
nation to sell the products. Afterward, they decided to back Varanasi.

One the way back to Varanasi, the innocent businessman talked with the scheming friend:”
Dear friend. We are about to get to Varanasi, so it is better that we have to divide our product,
as I want to back home soon.``

However, the scheming businessman still was reluctant to divide the products and thought:”
My friend is too tired as have traveled for several days, so when he returns, he shall eat a lot of
food and be dead. So, afterward, all the products will belong to me.``

Day after day, the scheming businessman tried to postpone from dividing products. However,
the innocent businessman continuously insisted, so they finally divided their products into two
parts. After having his own products, the innocent businessman rapidly returned home, and
afterward paid a visit to the Buddha.

The Buddha looked at him and compassionately asked: “ What did you do Brahmin? Long time
no see!”

The innocent businessman told the Buddha everything related to the business trip and also the
plan of his scheming friend as well, and the Buddha talked to the innocent businessman
slowly:” It is not in the present time, but also, in the past, that man was scheming.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy who
was the son of an official of the king. When the boy grew up, he was well-cultured and was
given as the magistrate.

At that time, there were two businessmen who were close to each other. One lived in a small
village, while the other lived in the town. One day, after making 500 plows, the businessman
who lived in the small village sent them to his friend, the businessman who lived in the town
for selling.

The businessman who lived in the town helped his friend to sell out all 500 plows. However,
he did not give the money from selling plows to his friend, but kept it as his own. Also, he put
the defecation of the mice into the storage room where they stored 500 plows. When the
businessman who lived in the small village came to ask for money, the businessman who lived
in the town just took his friend to the storage room saying:” Your plows were eaten out by the
mice, so I have to way to give you money as I had not sold anything.”

The businessman who lived in the small village kept silent, and after lunch time, he took the
son of the businessman who lived in the town to the river to take a bath. After taking a bath, he
gave the child to the other friend, and told him to take good care of the child. Then he went
back to the house of the businessman who lived in the town. His friend did not see his son back
together with the businessman who lived in the small town, so he asked:” Dear friend. Where
is my son?”

The businessman who lived in a small village calmly replied:” Dear friend. So sorry. When I
was underwater taking a bath, an eagle came and took your son away.”
The businessman who lived in the town was extremely angry, so he said to the businessman
who lived in the small village:” Oh. Cruel. How could an eagle take a child away? Please give
my son back, otherwise, we shall meet in the court.``

The businessman who lived in a small village confidently said:” It is okay. Just do whatever
you want.”

Then two of them went to the court for justice. When they arrived, the businessman who lived
in the town immediately told the magistrate :” Dear Sir. Please force him to give my son back,
as he is human-trafficking.``

The magistrate asked the businessman who lived in a small village:” Dear sir. Could you please
explain what happened to the child?”

The businessman who lived in a small village slowly replied:” It is true that the child was
caught by an eagle dear si!”

The magistrate rapidly denied the answer from the businessman who lived in a small village:”
How could an eagle catch a child? It is impossible”

The businessman, at that time, said to the magistrate:” Yes Sir. It is impossible to have an eagle
catch a child, but how could the mice eat 500 plows made of steel?”

The magistrate , at that time, comprehended all the issue related to two businessmen, so he
spoke the verse:

Use scheming to deal with scheming

It is reasonable way to do

If agree that the mice ate out all the plows

Why don’t agree an eagle can catch up a child

It is cheating to fight again cheating

Return back the plows, the one who lost the son

And give the son back to your friend, the one who lost plows!

Then the businessman who lived in a small village gave the son back to his friend, and his
friend gave all the money from selling the plows to him.
After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the scheming businessman in the story was
the scheming businessman who wanted to take all the products, and the businessman who lived
in a small village was the businessman who lost plows. The magistrate was him.

Jataka 219: Story of Garahita

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who was not able to focus on
contemplation and even lost his determination in practice.

The monks suggested he meet the Buddha, when he was in front of the Buddha, the Buddha
asked him:” Is it true that you have lost your determination in practice?”

The monk said to the Buddha:” Dear master. Yes. I am.”

I am losing my determination in practice, as my mind attaches too much on the property as

laymen.”

The Buddha looked at the monk, and said with a compassionate voice:” In the past, even
animals also tried to give up their attachment to these things. Right now, you are in this great
dharma practice, so why don’t you try hard to give them down.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was a monkey which
was the king of all monkeys that lived around the Mount Himalaya. One day, due to the lack
of notice, the monkey king was stuck into a trap, and it was given to the king.

At the palace, the monkey king behaved well, and his actions were well-controlled as moral
people. The monkey king could do everything that the king ordered sufficiently, and the king
was really satisfied with the monkey king. Hence, after a few years, the king released the
monkey back to nature.

When the monkey king just came back, all the monkeys in the region gathered together to hear
information related to human society from the monkey king. A monkey curiously asked their
king:” Dear majesty! Where did you live for that long time? “

The monkey king rapidly:” I was caught in the palace of Varanasi, and I lived as the slave of
the king. I often assisted the king to entertain.”
Some monkeys curiously asked:” Could you please tell us about the life of the humans? We
are extremely curious about them?”

The monkey king looked around the monkeys and said:” Don’t ask me about the humans as
their lives are things that should not be comprehended.”

Some monkeys insisted:” Dear Sir. Could you kindly tell us just some key information about
human life.”

The monkey king calmly said:” The humans, even the lowest cart, Brhamins or noble people,
all love their properties so much that they attach to the properties too much. They are ignorant
to know that those things are impermanent, and their properties cannot last forever.”

The the monkey king spoke the verse:

The golds are mine

The Jewels are mine

They claim all the time loudly

As they are extremely ignorant

Having no knowledge about the true Dharma

In a family, there are two bosses

One is female, with long hair

And is the one to suffer others!

All the monkeys altogether shouted loudly:” Dear majesty. Enough! Don’t need to talk about
humans any more. We already heard what does not deserve to be listened to.”

So, they immediately left that palace, and from that time, the cliff where they gathered and
listened to the story about humans was comprehended as the criticized cliff.

After telling the story, the Buddha continued to talk about Four Noble truths, and the monk
who lost their determination in practice, obtained the Entering Stream level. Finally, the
Buddha recognised that the monkey king was him, and the monkeys were monks of the Sangha.

Jataka 220: Story of Dhammadhaja

The Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove, about the plan to kill the Buddha of Devadatta.

The Buddha said to the monks:” Dear sons! It is not in the present time, but also, in the past,
Devadatta tried to kill me, but in the end, he even could not make me fear.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time when king Yasapani was ruling Varanasi, there was a marital official, named
Kalaka, and there was a consultant official, namely Dhammadhahaja. There was also a barber,
namely Chattapni, who often took good care of the hair for the king and other royal members.

The king ruled the nation with moral and fairness. However, Kalaka was too greedy, and he
often took brides from others. At the court, he often gave those who gave him brides to win,
without justice.

One day, one man who was given a failing in the court of Kalaka was on the way back home,
but seeing Dhammadhahaja was serving the king nearby, he quickly ran close to
Dhammadhahaja and asked for help. Dhammadhahaja required him to tell him everything
related to the lawsuit, and then Dhammadhahaja said confidently:” Don’t worry! Follow me .
I shall give justice to you.”

Dhammadhahaja took the man back to the court, and he was able to give the win to the man
with fairness and justice in front of crowds. The crowds, then, shouted loudly, and the noise
from the people made the king, who was in the palace, concerned:” My servants! What noise
is that?”

A servant talked with the king:'' Dear majesty. People are cheering for the justice of the
consultant Dhammadhahaja after he assisted a man to regain his fortune with fairness and
justice.”

The king then called Dhammadhahaja into the palace, and the king said to Dhamadhahaja:” I
am very pleased to hear that you were able to judge a lawsuit with fairness and justice. So, from
now on, please continue to be the major magistrate of the town.”

Dhamadhahaja denied many times, but the king still insisted him to work as a magistrate, so
Dhamadhahaja, finally, worked as the major magistrate of the town. Dhammadhahaja judged
all the lawsuits with fairness and justice, and his fame was popular around the nation. Whereas,
Kalaka was not concerned any more, and he lost benefits from having brides. Unsatisfied,
Kalaka talked to the king:'' Dear majesty! Dhammadhahaja wanted to take control of the nation.
If you don’t believe, just look at him with his followers from the court.``

The king, at first, did not believe in the utterance of Kalaka, but, after he saw the crowds
following Dhammadhahaja, he asked Kalaka:” Kalaka! What should we do with
Dhammadhahaja?”

Kalaka rapidly:” Kill him, otherwise, you shall lose the nation.”

The king said to Kalaka:” But, Dhammadhahaja has not committed any crime. How can I give
death to a person without any crime.?”

Kalaka talked to the king:” Please require him to make a garden within one day. If he cannot
do it, it is reasonable to kill him.”

The king called Dhamadhahaja and ordered him to make a garden within one day, otherwise,
Dhamadhahaja would be given death. Dhammadhahaja knew that Kalaka tried to force the king
to kill him, but he had to agree to the king, otherwise, he could not be alive.

When he returned to his house, he lay down and thought constantly about the method to make
a garden within a day. At that time, the seat of Sakka became hot, and Sakka comprehended
the difficulty of Dhamadhahaja. Then Sakka appeared in the room of Dhamadhahaja, asking:”
Dear Sir! What are you worrying about?”

Dhamadhahaja told the king of gods, Sakka about his trouble, and Sakka promised to help him
to make a beautiful garden within a day. In the next morning, Dhammadhahaja saw the garden
was ready to show the king, so they invited the king to come to observe the garden. However,
Kalaka consulted the king to force Dhammadhahaja to make a lake with seven kinds of jewels,
a house with the tusks and a big pearl which could spark lights out. Luckily, Sakka helped
Dhammadhahaja to complete those things quickly.

Finally, Kalaka talked with the king:” Dear majesty! It is likely to have a god who has helped
Dhammadhahaja to do these things. Next, we force him to find a person who has four moral
values to keep the garden, otherwise, we give him death. God cannot even generate a person
with four moralities.”
The king called Dhamadhahaja and again challenged him with a new demand, finding a person
who had cultivated four moralities to keep the garden. Dhamadhahaja, after hearing the request
of the king, returned home to take a rest. The next morning, he thought:” Sakka has helped me
to do lots of things. However, Sakka, even, cannot make a person who has cultivated four
moralities. So, it is better to get to the forest to end life there, rather than waiting for the king
to offer death. So, Dhammadhahaja went to the forest and sat down under a big tree to wait for
death.

At that time, Sakka appeared as a jungler, and came over Dhamadhahaja to ask:” Dear Sir. It
looks like you are a noble man, so why did you come here? And why do you sit here?”

Dhamadhahaja looked at the jungler, and he told the jungler:” the king required me to make a
person who is full of four moralities, so it is an impossible task. Sakka has helped me, but
Sakka also cannot generate a person with four moralities.”

The jungle, at that time, appeared in the form of Sakka, saying to Dhamadhahaja:” Don’t worry!
I cannot help you to make a person with four moralities, but Chattapani, the barber of the king,
is full of four moralities. Please take him to the king and then your task is complete.”

Dhamadhahaja went to the palace immediately, and seeing Chattapani was walking in the
garden, he asked Chattapani:” Dear sir. Is it true that you are full of four moralities?”

Chattapni looked at Dhammadhahaja:” Who said that to you?”

Dhammadhahaja rapidly:” Sakka told me.”

Chattapni:'' Yes Sir. I have cultivated four moralities.``

Then Dhammadhahaja took Chattapani to the king:” Dear majesty. I cannot make a person who
is full of four moralities. However, I found a person who is full of four moralities, and is suitable
to keep your garden.”

The king looked at Chattapani and wondered:” Is it true that you have cultivated four
moralities? Which kinds of moralities have you cultivated?”

Chattapani replied calmly:” Dear majesty. It is true that I have cultivated four moralities. I am
not jealous. I am not angry. I don’t drink alcohol, and I have no sexual attachment. These are
four kinds of my moralities.”
The king asked:” Why did you cultivate not to be jealous?”

Chattapani slowly replied:” In the past, as the king, I ordered to catch the consultant celebrant,
but in return, my celebrant advised me to stay with true Dharma. Hence, from that time, I have
tried to not be jealous.”

The king continued:” Why did you decide to not drink alcohol?”

Chattapani calmly:”Dear Sir! In the past, I was so drunk that I even ate my son, so I decided to
stop drinking.”

The king was curious:” So why did you cultivate to be free from sexual attachment?”

Chattapani replied:'' I was the king Ki-ta-va-sa, and my son broke the bowl of a PrakkaBuddha
so that he was dead immediately. Due to his death, I tried to free myself from sexual
attachment.”

The king wondered:” Why did you cultivate to be free from anger?”

Chattapani slowly:'' In the past, my name was Araka, and I spent seven years practicing loving-
kindness. After that I lived in the Brahma realms for seven rebirths. Due to these reasons, I am
not angry.``

Then the king commended Chatapani and Dhammadhahaja, and then the servants and officials
took Kalaka to be expelled from the palace. Then, the king spent the rest of his life ruling the
nation with morality.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that Kalaka was Devadatta, and Chattapani was
Sariputta. Dhammadhahja was him.

Jataka 221: Story of Kasava

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about Devadatta.

At the Buddha's time, Venerable Sariputta lived with 500 monks at Bamboo-Grove, while
Devadatta lived with a group of monks at Gayasisa.
At that time, people of Savatthi often organized the gathering offerings. They often gathered
monkeys and things together to offer the monks. One day, a businessman from another place
came to Savatthi, and he gave a golden cloth with fragrance to the offering organization.

The businessman said:” Please let me offer this golden cloth to the monks.”

Then, the offering ceremony was organized and all the stuff, valuable and invaluable things
were given to the monks, but there left the golden cloth of the businessman offered. Then the
leaders of the offering ceremony wanted to offer this valuable golden cloth to either Venerable
Sariputta or Devadatta:” Dear sirs and madams! We have only a golden cloth left, and should
we offer it to Venerable Sariputta or Devadatta.?”

A citizen of Savatthi suggested :” Venerable Sariputta just lives here for a few days, and he
shall leave here soon. Venerable Devadatta lives here together with us, and he has shared the
happiness and troubles with the citizens of this town. Hence, it is better to offer this valuable
cloth to Venerable Devadatta. “

Then they offered the golden cloth to Devadatta, and Devadatta often wore it on. After that
event, 30 monks from Savatthi paid a visit to the Buddha, and they told the Buddha :” Dear
master! We think that Devadatta does not deserve to wear that golden cloth, as it is for the
Arhat.”

The Buddha said to the monks:” Dear sons. It is not in the present time, but also in the past life,
Devadatta wore on the cloth that he did not deserve to.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, there was born an elephant in
Himalaya, and when this elephant grew up, it became the king of 80 other elephants which
lived near Himalaya.

At Varanasi, there was a poor man, and this poor man wanted to take the ivories from the
elephants to sell to the ivory maker. Hence, he came and asked the ivory makers:” If I have
ivories, is it possible to sell them here?”

The ivory-makers:” Yes Sir! We do buy the ivories from everyone.”

Then the poor man wore a golden cloth and a wig bun, pretending as a PreyaBuddha with
braided hair. He stood in the path that the elephants often went through, and with the prepared
weapon, he killed the last elephant when the elephants crossed over him. After killing the
elephant, he took the ivories and sold them to the ivory-makers at Varanasi. Then, when he ran
out of money, he, again, pretended to be a PrekaBuddha to kill the elephant. After a time, the
elephant king noticed that the number of elephants was reduced rapidly, and thought:” It is
likely that the man who wore the robe as a PrekaBuddha was gradually killed by elephants. I
have to find out the truth.``

Then from the next day, the elephant king decided to walk behind all the elephants, and when
the poor man jumped over with a sharp weapon to kill it, it rapidly stepped aside to escape and
used its trunk to hold the poor man. The elephant king , at first, wanted to kill the poor man;
however, he changed his mind:” I cannot kill this man, as he is wearing the robe of an Arhat.”

So the elephant uses the human voice to ask the poor man:”Why do you wear the robe which
is the symbol of Arhat?”

Then it spoke the verse:

Whoever with full of attachment

Wearing the robe which is symbol of enlightened ones

No respect to the truth and comprehend the truth

No deserved to wear the enlightened robes!

Whoever fulfill with true wisdom of free from attachment

Reside in the disciplines

Well-controlled the mind

Comprehend the truth of phenomena

Deserved to wear the enlightened robs!

The elephant king threatened the poor man: “ Go away, and if you return with intention to kill
my elephants, you shall be killed.”
After telling this story, the Buddha recognised that the poor man who killed elephants was
Devadatta, and the elephant king was him.

Jataka 222: Story of Culanandiya

The Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove, about Devadatta. One day, monks
gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the plans of Devadatta in harming the
Buddha:” Dear friends! Devadatta was evil and cruel. At first, he planned to use the
robber to kill the Buddha, and then, he pushed the big rock from high position down to
kill the Buddha. Finally, he made the aggressive elephant, namely Naalagiri, to kill the
Buddha. However, the Buuddha was safe from all of those plans.``

When the Buddha entered the Buddha-hall, knowing the issue of the discussion of
monks, the Buddha said to all monks there:” It is not in the present time, but also in
the past, Devadatta was evil and cruel to try to kill me.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there were two
monkeys which lived around the mountain Himalaya. One monkey was named
Nandiya, and the younger one was named Cullanandiya. They were the leaders of
another 80 thousands monkeys, and they were good at taking good care of their blind
mother.

Nandiya and Culanandiya, on occasion, took other monkeys to the deep forest to
collect fruits and foods for a living, and they often sent fruits and foods back to their
mother. However, somehow, the monkeys did not give the fruits and foods to their
mother. Hence, when they returned, they saw that their mother was very unhealthy,
so they decided to leave the monkeys in order to take good care of their mother. Then
they moved their mother down Himalaya, and near to the bordering area, under an
eagle tree, they made a small nest as the place for their mother to reside.

At that time, there was a Brahmin man who was born at Varanasi, but was well-
cultured at Takkasila. When he paid respect to his master to leave, his master knew
that his student was cruel, so he advised:” Dear student! Those who do cruel things
shall gain terrible troubles, so you should suspend all the cruel actions.”

The student returned to Varanasi, and he got married and had children rapidly.
However, it was difficult for him to support his family, as he had no certain job, so he
decided to go to a village which was near to the bordering area for hunting as the way
of living. Everyday, he went to the deep forest to hunt animals, and when he returned,
he sold the animals to the market to earn money to support his family.

One day, he went to the forest to hunt, but he got nothing. On the way back, he saw
the eagle tree which was decorated as the nest, so he was curious to come over to
see. Seeing the mother of Nandiya and Cullanandiya lying there, the young Brahmin
decided to kill the mom of Nandiya for food to support his children. At that time,
Nandiya and Cullanandiya were hidden nearby, and seeing the hunter was about to
kill their mom, Nandiya talked with Culanandiya:” I will alternate our mom, so please
take good care of our mom.”

Then Nandiya jumped out, appearing in front of the Brahmin hunter, saying:” Dear sir!
Please don’t kill my mom. I will take your life but please kindly let my mom live.”

The hunter agreed, but after killing Nandiya, he continuously planned to kill the mom
of the Nandiya monkey. At that time, Cullanandiya thought:'' I shall alternate my mom
to die, and my mom can live longer.” Then Cullanandiya also jumped out, saying to
the Brahmin hunter:'' Dear sir. Please let my mom alive, and kill me instead.``

The Brahmin hunter again agreed to Cullanandiya, but after killing Cullanandiya, he
cruelly killed his mom. Then he tightened three monkeys into a stick to bring back
home. When he was on the way back, the thunders were sparking down to his house
and burned out his wife and his children.

When he got to the gate of his village, a villager informed him about the horrible deaths
of his family members. He was extremely sorrowful , and throwing away the monkeys
and hunting tools, he rapidly ran into his fire-catching house to have a look at his wife
and his children. At that time, the ground, where he was standing, was broken into
two, and the fire from the Avici hell caught and pulled him down. When he was going
to die, he remembered the last teaching of his master:

The teaching of master Pa-ra-sa-ri-ya

Don’t do the cruel things

As it will return as the rule of Karmic

Do harmful shall gain harmful

Do good deed shall obtain good deed

Similar to plant the tree, and shall gain that fruit!

When he just completed reading the verse, the ground swallowed him into the Avici
hell.

After telling this story, the Buddha recognised that the Brahmin hunter was Devadatta,
and the mother of Nandiya and Culanandiya was Mahapajapati. The master of the
Brahmin hunter was Sariputta, and the Culanandiya and Nandiya were Ananda and
him respectively.

Jataka 223: Story of Putta-Bhatta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a millionaire who lived in Savatthi. This
millionaire often had business with the other businessman who lived in a small village. The
businessman who lived in a small village was in debt to the millionaire who lived in Savatthi.
One day, he took his wife together to ask for the return of debt from the businessman who lived
in a small village. However, they could not get anything as the businessman who lived in a
small village was extremely out of money.
They angrily returned Savatthi, and on the way back, although they were tired and hungry, they
did not stop for eating and drinking as the millionaire was too tight-fisted. Luckily, on the way
back, they met a friend, and this friend gave them a bowl of rice. The millionaire wanted to
have the bowl of rice eaten by himself only, so he forced his wife to go forward:” Dear honey!
This region is well-known for robbery. Hence, you should go ahead, and I shall be able to
protect you from behind.”

When his wife walked forward, he began to eat the bowl of rice, and when he ate out, he showed
the empty bowl to his wife, saying:” Dear honey! They just gave me an empty bowl.” The wife
of the millionaire, although well-understanding of the costive nature of her husband, still was
too sorrowful for the actions of her husband.

When they arrived at Jetavana, to save money, they entered the temple to ask for water. When
they just entered Jetavana, they saw the Buddha was standing there. The Buddha invited them
to drink water, and then, at the Dharma-hall, they paid respect to the Buddha before sitting
down, waiting for the talk from the Buddha.

The Buddha looked at two of them, and slowly asked the wife of a millionaire:” Dear female
Brahmin! How has your husband treated you?”

The wife of the millionaire rapidly and shyly replied:” Dear master! I love him with all of my
heart, but I think he does not care about my concern and my love for him. For example, today,
on the way back, he hid a bowl of rice to eat alone.”

The Buddha said to her compassionately:” Dear female Brahmin! If the wise can wake up the
compassion and concern as you have done to your husband, he shall behave morally to you.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in an
official family, and when the boy grew up, he was well-cultivated before becoming the
consultant for the king. At that time, the king was scared of the coup of the prince, so he
expelled the prince out of the town and forced the prince to live in a small village, namely Kasi.

When the king passed away, the prince prepared to back Varanasi to be on the power of the
throne. One the way back, a villager gave them a bowl of rice, but the prince did not share it
with his wife, eating the rice himself alone. When the prince was given on the throne of power,
he gave his wife on the throne of the queen, and that was all his love to his queen, as from that
time, he had not concerned any more about his queen.

One day, seeing the suffering of the queen, the consultant of the king came over to her and
asked:” Dear queen! You should give old servants something as gifts for their works for you.”

The queen looked at the consultant, sadly said:” Dear master! How can I give them something
if I even have nothing? The king had not given anything to me, and he even hid the bowl of
rice to eat alone on the way back from Kasi when a villager gave us a bowl of rice.”

The consultant compassionately said to the queen:” I will help you to gain the concern from
the king, but you should get to the main shrine to meet the king today.”

Then the consultant went to the main shrine of the palace to serve the king, and not long after
the arrival of the consultant to the main shrine, the queen also arrived. When the queen just
arrived, the consultant immediately asked:” Dear my queen! I think you should give the old
servants something to show your concern for their works to you.”

The queen replied rapidly:” How could I give them something when I have nothing? as the
king has not given anything to me.”

The consultant continued to ask:” Whether you the official queen of the nation?”

The queen sadly replied:” Being a queen, but not gaining the concern and respect of a queen,
so it is not a pleasure at all. The king has not given anything to me, and even on the way back,
the king did not share the food with me.”

The consultant looked at the king and carefully asked:” Dear majesty! All what the queen said
are true, aren’t they?”

The king shyly kept silent but he nodded his head to show that all what the queen said were
true. At that time, the consultant slowly said to the queen:” Dear queen! Although you have
been too much to the king, the king has not concerned anything to you. You should not continue
to stay here as it is an extreme suffering to you.”

The consultant silently for a while continued:” All beings should live close to those who know
to share and concern them, and should leave when others lack the love and concern to them.
The world is large, and there are lots of people who know how to share love and concern with
each other.”

The consultant spoke the verse:

Paying respect to those who know to respect us

Sharing love and benefits to others

Who also shares love and benefits to us!

Don’t share love to those who are not sharing love to us

Having concern and love together

As the way for a harmony life together

When the birds know that

The trees have not fruited any more

They shall fly to other places for a living!

The world is large to live and survive!

After the teaching of the consultant, the king changed his attitude to his queen, and they lived
happily together for the rest of their lives.

When the story ended, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths to the millionaire and his
wife, and during the talk of the Buddha, they obtained the Entering Stream level. Finally, the
Buddha recognized that the king and the queen in the story were the millionaire and his wife,
and the wise consultant was him.

Jataka 224: Story of Kumbhila

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the evil plan of Devadatta to the Buddha. The
background of this story is detailed in Jataka 57.

The Buddha taught the verses:

Whoever can cultivate four kinds of virtues

Dear king of all the monkeys

Acting with the truth and acting with right livelihood, right speech and right thoughts
Persistence in Dharma-practice and development of giving and forgiveness

Those people can easily pass over all the wrong views and wrong thoughts

Whoever cannot cultivate these found kinds of virtues

Acting with truth and behaving with right livelihood, right speech and right thoughts

Persistence in practice and constantly development of giving and forgiveness

They are not able to pass over wrong views and wrong thoughts.

Jataka 225: Story of Khanti-Vannana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the patience of king Kosala. One day, the king
Kosala discovered his major official often had sexual misconduct with a maiden in the palace.
However, as the official was greatly helpful to the nation and as the king still loved the maiden
too much, the king kept silent as a way of patience. However, one day, he could not calm his
mind, so he went to Jetavana to get consultation from the Buddha.

The Buddha just pacified the king:” In the past, the wise kings also kept patient to calm the
nation.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was an official who
worked very close to the king. One day, in his house, they discovered a male servant often had
sexual misconduct with a maiden. This official could not calm his mind, so he went to the
palace to get advice from the king:” Dear majesty. I have a male servant who has done many
things in my house, but he often had sexual misconduct with one of my maidens. What should
I do with him?”

The king spoke a verse to reply his official:

Myself is in the similar situation

My servant is standing here with me

However, the good and excellent servants are difficult to find

So, it is best to be patient and forgave!

When the official heard the verse of the king, he immediately knew that the king had already
discovered his crime, as he also often had sexual misconduct with a maiden of the king. From
that time, he stopped having sexual misconduct with the maiden of the king and he also forgave
his servant.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the king Varanasi at that time was him.

Jataka 226: Story of Kosiya

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the moving of soldiers of king Kosala in
the rainy season.

At that time, there were attacks by insurgents at the border area, and the king Kosala
decided to move his army to suspend the rebels. However, as the path leading to the
border area was floating, the king wanted to go back, but he still wondered about his
idea. Therefore, he paid a visit to the Buddha to get advice from the Buddha.

The Buddha told a story to demonstrate his advice to the king Kosala

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, on one occasion,
the king took some officials and servants to have a picnic at the forest of the palace.
At that time, there was an owl flying to a luxuriant tree to hide itself from the attack of
the crows. Right after the owl arrived, a flock of crows arrived and waited for the owl
to come out. The owl was not patient, as it moved out from the luxuriant tree when the
sun was not set yet, so it was attacked by the crows. It fell down on the ground.

The king saw this event, and was curious to ask his consultant:” Dear master! Why did
the crows attack this owl?”

The consultant slowly replied:” Dear majesty! Whoever or whichever move out of the
residing places in not appreciated time, they shall be in danger and troubles.”

The consultant spoke a verse:

Great safety if moving in appreciate time

When moving in not appreciate time

With many people or just one person

Shall be in danger and trouble

Similar to the owl

Was attacked by the crows

The wise know clearly the suitable time for moving

Shall be resided in great happiness!

The king Kosala, after listening to the story from the Buddha, decided to withdraw the
army back to the capital. Then the Buddha recognized that the king was Ananda, and
the wise consultant was him.

Jataka 227: Story of Guthapana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, based on the background event of a young monk who
was aggressive to attack an aggressive layman.

At that time, at a small town which was about 1 mile away from Savatthi, there was a man who
worked dividing the food to people who had bamboo stamps. This man was too aggressive,
and he often asked receivers :” Who is eating? Who is chewing?”

Those people who could not give the answers often were insulted by him, and many people did
not come to take food as they were scared of him. One day, a young monk came to the place
which delivered bamboo stamps and asked:” Dear sir. Is it true that this place provides the
bamboo stamp, so I can take food to the nearby town?”

A man replied:” Dear sir. It is true. We do provide the bamboo stamp to people, so they can
get food in the town nearby. However, recently there was a food provider who was too
aggressive, so many people have refused to come to take food there.?”

The young monk said calmly and confidently:” Dear sirs. Please give me a bamboo stick to
receive the food there, and I will overpower that man.”
When the young monk arrived at the food storage, the aggressive man came out quickly,
asking:” Who are eating?”

The young monk calmly said:” Please wait! After I take my breakfast and come back here to
eat, I will answer your question.”

When the young monk returned with breakfast, the man again came to ask the same question,
and the young monk remained calmly:” Please wait! After I complete my meal, clean this room
and take the lunch, I will tell you the answer.”

The young monk completed breakfast, cleaned the room, took his lunch, and gave the food to
the man to hold, saying:” Please take it and follow me! I shall tell you the answer.”

When they left the town, the young monk took the food from the man and punched on his nose,
taking bullshit nearby to put on the man’s face, saying:”From now on, if you continue to ask
any monks who arrive at the store for food, I will punch to your nose again.”

This event spread to Jetavana quickly, and monks gathered at Dharma-hall, talking about this
event. When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the monk's talk of
monk, Buddha said :”It is not in the present time, but also, in the past, this monk also punched
on the nose and put the dirty on the face of others.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, people of Anga and Maggadha often associated with each other. One day,
people of two nations gathered at the stores at the bordering area of two nations for eating and
drinking. When they left, a dung eating bug arrived, and seeing alcohol, it flew to drink alcohol,
it flew on the bugs nearby to take a rest. When it was in the bug, a tiny bug dropped on its body,
so it shouted loudly:'' The world cannot support my body.”

At that time, an aggressive elephant came over, and smelling the bug into the alcohol, the
elephant returned. The dung saw the elephant ran away, it thought that the elephant was scared
of it, so it talked to the elephant:”

Hero fight the hero

Power against the power

Please return here the elephant

Have a flight with me

Showing to people of Anga and Maggadha

The elephant came back to look close to the dung, and it said confidently: “ I will not fight with
you with my ivories, my trunk or my legs, but with my shit.” Then the elephant defecated on
the dung, and ran away.

After telling this story, the Buddha recognised that the dung was the aggressive man, and the
elephant was the young monk. The deity who lived in the tree nearby, seeing this story, was
him.

Jatka 228: Story of Kamanita

The Buddha told this story, about a Brahmin who was named Kamanitta. The background of
this story is detailed in the Jataka 467.

The Buddh told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta, the king had two princes. When the king passed
away, the oldest prince was given the throne of power, and the younger prince became the
assistant consultant of the king. The new king of Varanasi was attached too much to sexual
desire, property and the victories.

At that time the king of Gods, Sakka, knew that the new king of Varanasi was greedy, so Sakka
planned to assist the new king og Varanasi to change. Then the Sakka appeared as a young man
and came to meet the new king. The king asked him:” My boy. What is the reason for you to
come here to meet me?”

The young man:” Dear majesty. There are three big cities, Uttarapancala, Indapatta and
Kekaka. These cities are wealthy and peaceful. But, I can occupy these three cities with a small
number of troops. “

The king was happy:” It is great. When will we do it?”

The young man:” Tomorrow. Dear Majesty.”

The king said to the young man:” Great. So, back home and tomorrow return here.”

The next morning, the king gathered all the officials, and had the army ready to go to ocupy
the three wealthy cities, but the king could not find the young man. Hence, the king called the
officials to find the young man. An official asked:” Dear majesty! Where is the place that the
young man stayed? Whether you gave him a stay in the palace or in a hotel ?”

The king slowly said:” No. I did not give him a place, so I have no idea about where he is now.”

The king could not find the young man to help him to occupy three cities, so he was sorrowful
and got sick. All well-known doctors in the town were invited to the palace to heal the king.
However, they all failed to heal the sickness for the king.

After four days, Sakka appeared as a wandering doctor and knocked on the door of the palace,
saying with the gate-taker:” Dear sirs! I am a doctor and I heard that the king is getting serious
sickness. Hence, I got here to help the king. “

However, the Sakka was denied by the king:” All well-known doctors in the town could not
heal my sickness, so it is likely a wandering doctor shall not be able to heal my sickness.”
Nevertheless, Sakka continuously insisted and finally the king agreed to let him diagnose him.
When Sakka entered the palace, seeing the king:” Dear majesty. Please let me know what is
the cause of your sickness?”

The king slowly and sorrowfully said:'' I cannot occupy three wealthy cities as the young man
who promised to help me went away as I did not give him a place. I think he already met the
other kings and helped the other kings to occupy those cities. Hence, I was sorrowful to get
sick.``

Sakka at that time talked to the king:” Dear majesty. Your sickness is not the kind of sickness
that can use medical tables or herbs to heal, but should use the right views to heal.”

Then the Sakka spoke a verse:

There are medicines

Healing with sickness of poisons of snake

The wise people are able to to heal

Those who get the obsession of deity and ghosts

But nobody can heal with the attachment

Then Sakka continued to advise the king:” If you can occupy those three cities, you also cannot
stay in four palaces at the same time. Moreover, you also cannot sit on the power thrones of
four cities at the same time. You have been controlled by your great attachment. Your
attachments have led you to this sickness, and furthermore, have led you to the sixteen hells to
suffer with punishment.”

After that Sakka taught the king about true Dharmas, and then Sakka returned to his realm.
The king of Varanasi, after listening to the teachings from Sakka, automatically got rid of
illness, and he spent the rest of his life ruling the nation with royal Dharmas.

After telling this story, the Buddha recognised that the king of Varanasi in the story was the
greedy Brahmin, and the Sakka was him.

Jataka 229: Story of Palayi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the monk of another lineage, namely Palayi.
Palayi traveled around India to discussions and arguments on the practice, and he had met
nobody who could argue against him. One day, he arrived at Savatthi, asking people: “ Dear
sirs and madams. I just wonder if there are some people here in this town who can have
discussions and arguments with me on the practice or not?”

A Savatthi citizen rapidly praised the wisdom of the Buddha:” Dear venerable. There is the
enlightened one who can defeat all the monks who came to meet him for arguments on the
practice or something else. Like all the waves reaching to the shore automatically disappeared,
all the monks who came to meet the Buddha for arguments could not reach to his heel. “

The monk Palayi wondered to ask:” Where is the Buddha now?”

A Savatthi citizen:” Dear venerable. Right now, the Buddha lives in Jetavana.”

Palayi confidently:” Okay. I will meet him and knock him down with my arguments.”

Then Palayi, together with the crowds of Savatthi citizens, arrived at Jetavana. Seeing the
external gate which was constructed under the support of the prince Jeta, Palayi was
curious:”This is the resident place of the monk Gotama.?”
A Savatthi citizen who knew clearly about Jetavana:” No. This is the outer gate only, and the
external living rooms of the monks and the Budda are located inside.”

Palayi thought:” A monk who is supported with great offerings. Even the external gate is
luxurious, and the living rooms should be more luxurious. Gotama should be excellent in
arguments.”

Then Palayi tried to escape from the crowd, and the crowd of people were angry and shouting
loudly. Then they paid a visit to the Buddha. The Buddha looked at them compassionately:”
Why do you come here with the crowd and shout loudly outside?”

They told the Buddha everything about the monk Palayi, and the Buddha calmly said to them:”
Dear all. It is not in the present time, but also in the past, when he saw the outer gate of my
place, he was threatened to go away.``

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, at Gandhara, Bodhisattva was the king of Takkasila, and the king
Brahmadatta was the king of Varanasi. One day, king Brahmadatta wanted to occupy
Takkasila, so he moved his great army to attack Takkasila. When they arrived near the border
area, they settled at the place which was not far from the town Takkasila.

Then the king of Varanasi ordered his soldiers:

With elephants moving forward

Like the rain from the sky

With all great horses moving

Like the garland of flowers

With vehicles moving like the waves

With the arrows shooting like the rain

With swords on the hands of each soldiers

Moving forward to attack Takkasila

Until they are defeated totally

Likewise, the king of Varanasi shouted this verse constantly while he and his army moved
toward Takkasil. When the king and his army arrived at the main gate of Takkasila, the king
asked:” This is the palace of the king of Takkasial?”

A soldier captain rapidly replied to the king:” Dear majesty. No. This is the main gate of
Takkasila and those are the stupa of the gate only.”

The king of Varanasi was curious:” So, how is the palace of the king of Takkasila?”

The soldier captain:'' Dear majesty. The palace of king of Takkasila looked like the Vejayanta,
the palace of the king Sakka.”

The king of Varanasi said:'' I shall not be able to defeat a country with this wealth” Then the
king of Varanasi decided to withdraw his army back to Varanasi. After telling this story, the
Buddha recognised that the king of Varanasi was the monk, Palayi, and the king of Takkasila
was him.

Jataka 230: Second Story of Palayi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the monk of another lineage, namely Palayi.
Palayi traveled around India to discussions and arguments on the practice, and he had met
nobody who could argue against him. One day, he arrived at Savatthi, asking people: “ Dear
sirs and madams. I just wonder if there are some people here in this town who can have
discussions and arguments with me on the practice or not?”

A Savatthi citizen rapidly praised the wisdom of the Buddha:” Dear venerable. There is the
enlightened one who can defeat all the monks who came to meet him for arguments on the
practice or something else. Like all the waves reaching to the shore automatically disappeared,
all the monks who came to meet the Buddha for arguments could not reach to his heel.”

Palayi together with the crowd of Savatthi citizens to arrive at Jetavana for discussion with the
Buddha, and when Palayi was about to reach to the Dharma-hall, seeing the Buddha with the
extraordinary beauties of king of gods, Palayi was threatened:” Looks peaceful, wise and
enlightened with all the signs of the Brahma realm gods. Nobody can surpass him.”
Then Palayi hid himself in the crowd and ran away. Some people followed Palayi to
comprehend the issue, and when they returned Jetavana, they entered the Dharma-hall to tell
the Buddha everything about Palayi.

The Buddha calmly said to Savaatthi citizens and monks gathered at the Dharma-hall:” It is not
only in the present time, but also, in the past, when he saw my extraordinarily beautiful signs,
he ran away.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when Bodhisattva was the king of Takkasila, the king of Gandhara wanted
to occupy the town of Takkasila. Then the king of Grandhara moved his great army, with
elephants, horses, vehicles and energetic soldiers to the border area of Takkasila.

Sitting on the horse, gathering with a great army, the king of Grandhara was arrogant to say
that:” With this great army, great force, nobody can suspend me to occupy Takkasila.” Then
he spoke the verse:

With great army

Nobody can fight against me

Similar to the great mountain

Which cannot be blow down by winds or storms

My force is similar

No other army can surpass my army!

The king of Takkasila, heard the arrogant verse from the king Grandhara, appeared in the
public, and replied to the king of Gandhara:” Too arrogant and ignorant. I shall defeat your
army, similar to the way an elephant demolishes the reed trees forest. “

When the king of Grandhara heard the voice from inside the gate of Takkasila to threaten him,
he immediately looked up to see who was brave enough to threaten him with his great force.
Seeing the face, the whole body of the king of Takkasila with extraordinarily beautiful signs,
the king of Grandhara was extremely feared, and quickly withdrew his army back to Grandhara.
After telling this story, the Buddha recognised that the king of Ghrandhara was Palayi, and the
king of Takkasila was him.

Jataka 231: Story of Upahana

The Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove, about the assassination of Devadata to the
Buddha.

When the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the assassination of Devadatta to
the Buddha, then the Buddha entered the Dhamma-hall, and knowing the issue of the
discussion, the Buddha said to the monks:” Dear all monks. It is not in the present time, but
also in the past, Devadatta was against his master and wanted to kill his master.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there was born a boy in an
elephant-training family, and when the boy grew up, he was excellent in elephant training. His
skills in training elephants were well-known so that a young man, who was from a small village
of Kasi, came to become a student of his. During the time he was training for the young man
from Kasi, he did not hide any skills but tried to transfer all skills to his student. Time flew by,
the young man from Kasi already studied all the skills in elephant training from his master, and
he planned to get to the palace to work there. He asked his master:” Dear master. Now, I want
to get to the palace to work for the king.”

The master:” Great. Let me prepare for your work.”

Then the master in elephant-training came to meet the king:” Dear majesty. My student wants
to work for you in this palace. Is it possible for him to work here?”

The king was happy:” Great. Let him work for me, but he cannot get that much salary that you
often receive. He can only get half of your salary.”

The master of elephants returned and told his student about his salary, but the student refused
to work with that much of a salary:” Dear master. I already got all skills from you, and I can
do everything that you can do. So, if the king pay me half of your salary, I will not work for
him.”
The master again talked to the king, and the king agreed that if the elephant training master’s
student could do all the skills as the elephants-training master, the salary of him would be
similar to his master.

The elephant-training master at that time thought:” My student is too arrogant, so should give
him a lesson.” So, in the evening, he went to the palace to pick up an elephant and trained to
do what was contrary to his constructions. Such as, when he wanted it to get forward, it stepped
back.

The next morning, the elephant-training master and his student all sat on elephants and rode to
the stadium of the palace, and there were lots of people gathered to watch the performance of
two elephant trainers. The student could do everything that his master did. But, when his master
required the elephant to do what was contrary to the instructions, the student could not do that.
Then the crowds gathered to shout at the student:” Too arrogant. How can you think that your
skills are excellent for your master.?” Then they kicked him and drove him away.

Then the elephant-training master took off the elephants and stepped in front of the king,
Saying:” Dear majesty. People study skills in order to get suitable jobs, but some people after
learning skills become arrogant. These people often bring harm to themselves. Similar to the
broken shoes bring suffering to people who wear them.”

The king nodded his head to agree and gave the elephants-training master a lot of benefits.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the student was Devadatta, and the elephant-
training master was him.

Jataka 232: Story of Vinathuna

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a girl who was daughter of a millionaire in
Savatthi.

She was innocent about everything, and when she saw the servants in her house take good care
of a male cow, he was curious to ask a maiden:” Dear maiden. Why do you take good care of
this cow?”

The maiden looked at her and replied:” Dear my boss. This is the king of the cow, so we have
to take good care of it.”
One day, standing on the high floors of her house, seeing a hunchback man was walking. She
thought:” A cow with a big huch, so it is the king of the cow. This man has a big hunch on his
back. So, he tends to be the king. I have to get married to this man, so in the future, I should be
the queen.”

Then she asked the servant to stop the hunchback man, and then she took money and jewels
and disguised to make nobody able to recognise her. Then she followed the hunchback man to
have a family life.

Her story was quickly spread around Varanasi, and the monks at Jetavana, gathered at Dharma-
hall to talk about her:” Dear venerables. Do you know that the daughter of a millionaire in
Savatthi already left her house to have family life with a hunchback man.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of monks, the Buddha
said slowly:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, she loved the hunchback man.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a millionaire family of the town. When Bodhisattva grew up, he got married and had two
children, a son and a daughter. When his son grew up, he asked the daughter of a millionaire
friend for his son. Two families already agreed for the marriage of two children.

The daughter of the millionaire who was a friend of Bodhisattva, one day, saw the servants
take good care of a cow, she wondered to ask a maiden:” Dear maiden. Why do we have to
take good care of this cow?”

The maiden rapidly replied:” Dear my boss. This cow is the king of the cow, so we have to
take good care of it.”

The daughter of the millionaire friend of Bodhisattva was confused about this issue, so when
she saw a hunchback man, she thought :” He should be the king of humans. So she disguised
and took all jewels to follow the hunchback man.``

When Bodhisattva prepared the luxurious vehicles and crowd of servants to arrive at the house
of his millionaire friend to take his daughter-in-law, he was surprised as he heard his friend
informed that his daughter had already followed a hunchback man. So, he took his servants
back home, and on the way back, he saw a hunchback man was curled up at the sideroad and
his daughter-in-law was sitting behind. He spoke the verse:

Dear my daughter!

As you are ignorant

So stay with a man

who was not deserved to you

His daughter-in-law rapidly replied:

Thinking he is the great one

Hence, loving to follow him

It is revealed that he is not

Curling up as the string of the harp is broken up!

The Bodhisattva knew that she was ignorant to follow the hunchback man, so he ordered
servants to assist her daughter-in-law to take shower and make-up. Then he took her back to
have a wedding with his son.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the daughter of the millionaire in the story
was the girl who followed a hunchback man, and the millionaire who lived in Varanasi was
him.

Jataka 233: Story of Bikannaka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who lost their determination in the
practice. At the Dharma-hall, the Buddha asked the monk:” Is it true that you already lost your
determination in Dharma practice? What is the reason for that?”

The monk shyly replied to the Buddha:” Dear master. I cannot control my attachment, so it is
hard to me to focus on the practice.”
The Buddha slowly and compassionately:” My son. Attachment is similar to the arrow which
is penetrating to your heart. When it is in your heart, it can kill you like a hunter can kill a
crocodile easily.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, Bodhisattva was the king of Varanasi, and he ruled the nation with royal
Dharmas.

One day, the king took some officials and servants to have a stroll in the biggest lake in the
town to watch people perform singing and dancing. The fishes and the turtles in the lake also
had interests in listening to the music, so they also gathered near the performance podium to
listen to the music.

The king saw the fishes which were crowded, so the king asked the officials:” What is the
reason for the fishes to gather here?”

An official replied quickly:” Dear majesty. The fishes are following you.”

The king was pleased with the official's answer, so the king ordered servants to give food to
the fishes in the lake every day. At first, there were just some fishes gathered to eat the foods
given by the servants of the king, and then the king ordered the servants to ring the gongs
whenever they gave the foods to the fishes.

Gradually, the fishes were habitually gathering to eat when they heard the sounds of the gongs,
and a crocodile also came over to eat the fishes whenever the fishes gathered for eating. The
servants talked with the king about this issue, and the king ordered the servants to shoot the
crocodile with the arrows which had barbs.

Then, as usual, when the servants gave the food to the fishes, the crocodile also came to eat the
fish, and as waiting for it, a servant, who was sitting on a boat, shot the crocodile with the arrow
having barbs on its back. The crocodile was threatened and hurt, so it ran away quickly.
However, as the arrow had barbs, the crocodile could not take it out easily. The crocodile died
after its injury became more terrible.

Then the Buddha spoke the verse:

All the animals in this world

Are attached by desire

Are not able to get rid of their attachment

They shall be died

Similar to how the crocodile died!

Then the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths, and the monk who lost his determination in
practice obtained the Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognized that the king of
Varanasi was him.

Jataka 234: Story of Aistabhu

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a woman who obtained the Entering Stream level
due to the unhappy family life.

At Savatthi, there was a young woman who was given to marry to a man of a good family.
However, her husband was not concerned about her, and her husband often enjoyed other
activities. The young woman gave up all the boredom, and she often invited venerable Sariputta
and Moggallana to teach Dharma to her, and finally, she obtained the Entering Stream level.
Not only that, but she decided to leave the family life to ordain as a Bikkhuni, and she was able
to achieve the Arhat Hood.

Her story, after that, was spread around Jetavana, and the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall,
talking about her success in the Dharma-practice:” Dear venerables. The young woman who
was neglected by her husband often invited Venerable Sariputta and Moggallana to teach
Dharma to her, and finally, she left her family life to be a Bikkhuni and obtained Arhat-hood.

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said:” It is not in the present time but also in the past life she also left her family life
to seek for enlightened wisdom.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was an
ascetic monk at Himalaya, and Bodhisattva obtained enlightened wisdom and fruitions of
meditation practice. At that time the king of Varanasi expelled his only son out of the town as
the king worried that the prince would make a coup to take the power from him.

The prince took his wife Asitabhu to live in the forest in Himalaya. At Himalaya, they made a
cottage to reside and survive by the fruits and animals. One day, seeing the beauty of the deity
of the bird, the prince tried to follow the deity of the bird and neglected his wife.

Asitabhu was sorrowful, so she went to meet Bodhisattva to study how to meditate to get rid
of suffering. Soon after the practice, Asitabhu obtained the fruits of meditation and enlightened
wisdom, and then she returned to the cottage. At the same time, her husband was chasing the
deity of birds, and finally, he was really sorrowful as he could not follow the deity of birds.
Then he returned to the cottage to find his wife, but when he had just arrived, his wife used her
power to fly in the sky, saying to him:” Dear husband. Due to your behavior, I have already
obtained the enlightened wisdom and fruits of meditation.”

Then she spoke the verse:

Due to your neglection

I get rid of suffering and impurity

I am free from all the attachments

As the ivory is broken into two parts

It is impossible to make them into one again.

The Asitabhu flew to another place. At that time, her husband was extremely suffered, and he
spoke the verse:

Due to the greedy mind

The mind is ignorant

Losing all the virtue

Losing honey wife!

Then he continued to live in the forest until his father passed away, and he returned to Varanasi
to take on the throne of power.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the prince and his wife were the woman who
obtained Arhat-hood and her husband, and the ascetic monk was him.
 Jataka 235: Story of Vaccha-Nakka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about Roja, a close friend of venerable Ananda and a
man of Malla tribe.

Roja , one day, sent the invitation to Venerable Ananda to pay a visit to his house, and after
asking for permission from the Buddha, venerable Ananda went to the house of Roja. During
the talk, Roja showed up his fortune and lands to venerable Ananda, saying:” Dear friend. I
have lots of properties and lands. So, I will divide these into two parts, one for you and one for
me. Please, return to the life of a lay man and enjoy life.”

Venerable Ananda explained to Roja the dangers of attachments, and then he returned to
Jetavana. When venerable Ananda arrived at Jetavana, he paid respect to the Buddha and sat
in a prepared seat. The Buddha asked him:” Ananda. Did you meet your friend Roja?”

Ananda rapidly replied to the Buddha:” Dear master. Yes. I already met Roja and he invited
me to disrobe and enjoy the family life as he is doing.”

The Buddha looked at Ananda and compassionately said:” It is not in the present time, but also
in the past life, he also invited monks to enjoy the family life.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was an ascetic
monk at Himalaya. One day, due to a lack of salts and oil, he went to Varanasi to get alms. At
Varanasi, the Bodhisattva stayed at the park of the palace.

A millionaire of the town, seeing the beautiful signs from Bodhisattva wisdoms, he invited
Bodhisattva to pay a visit to his house. He gave Bodhisattva to stay in the garden of the
millionaire, and the millionaire also took good care of Bodhisattva. Gradually, they became
close friends with each other.

One day, the millionaire thought that:” The monk's life is suffering as monks often lack
everything. So, it is better to insist my friend to leave the monk life and enjoy the family life
as I am doing.”
Then he met his friend and said:” Dear venerable Vaccha-nakka. The monk's life is suffering
as you lack everything. The family life is happy. So, please, disrobe and I shall share half of
my fortune to you. We shall have a happy life together.”

The monk. Vacchanakka, looked at his friend and compassionately said:” Dear friend. Family
life is not a comfortable life for me as the family life is full of ignorance and untruth.”

Then Vacchanakka spoke the verse:

The family life is suffered

As we have to tell lie to others

As we have to cheat others

As we have to try to get benefits from others

As we have to punish others

All the sinks are from the family life

So, I don’t enjoy the family life

Then Vaccanakka returned to his cottage to continue his practice.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the millionaire of Varanasi was Roja, and
the ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 236: Story of Baka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who habitually cheated others.

When the Buddha knew the issue of the cheated monk, Buddha said that:” It is not in the present
time, but also in the past life, he was likely to cheat others.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was the king
of all fishes which lived in a lake in Himalaya.

There was a stork also living in the Himalaya, and this stork often found for a living in the lake.
The stork often parked on a branch of tree which grew up on the shore of the lake to wait for
the fishes. The stork often spread its wings and when the fishes were in the target, it flew down
to grasp the fishes with its feeds rapidly.

One day, the king of fishes in the lake, went to the tree in which the stork often parked. A fish
looked at the stork and praised highly of the beauty of the fishes:

With white color of purity

The bird which is born by egg

Similar to the lotus flower

Spread its wings and contemplate

As a meditation practitioner!

The king of fishes quickly cautioned the fishes:

What the bird is doing

You may not know about

This bird which was born from egg

Waiting to catch fishes to eat

Spreading its wings to wait

Concentrating to catch us!

To hear the danger of the stork, the fishes tried to spark the water to the stork and then swam
to other places to find food.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the stork was this cheated monk, and the
king of fishes was him.

Jataka 237: Story of Saketa

The Buddha told this story at Saketa, about the reason for the raising of attachment among
people. The background of the story is detailed in Jataka 68.

One day, the Buddha and monks moved to the Anjana, near to Saketa, an old Brahmin who
was about to leave the town, saw the Buddha, and he immediately walked close to the Buddha,
saying:” Dear son! Long time no see. Where have you been?”
Then the old Brahmin took the Buddha to his house. When the Buddha arrived at the house of
the old man, an old woman rapidly ran out and bent down to the ankle of the Buddha, crying:
“Dear my son. Where have you lived? Is it true that when we are old, we need your support?”

Then the old couple called all their children to pay respect to the Buddha, and they offered
Buddha and monks special foods and beverages. After the meal, the Buddha talked about the
benefits of old age, and they all obtained the Entering Stream level after listening to the talk of
the Buddha. Then the Buddha and the monks left their house to enter the Anjana forest.

At the forest, the monks discussed this event:” Dear venerable. The old couple even knew that
Suddhodana was the father and the queen Mahamaya was the mother of the Buddha, but they
still considered the master as their son, and it is mysterious that the Buddha accepted their
calls.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, the monks wanted to know the cause of the
emergence of attachment:” Dear master. What is the cause of attachment?”

Then they asked by the verse:

Dear master, the enlightened one!

What is the reason?

In which some people have great attachment

With some people

But Neglected others?

The Buddha answered by the other verse:

Due to their relationship built up in the past

Sharing the benefits together in the present

So, attachment arises

Similar to lotus rise in the water!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the couple of Brahmins were the husband
and the wife in the present time, and their son was him.
 Jataka 238: Story of Ekapada

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the son of a millionaire of Savatthi. One day, the
son of the millionaire sat on his thighs to play, and when his son looked at the door, his son
asked:” Daddy! Can you tell me the meaning of this door?”

The millionaire could not give the answer to his son, so he said:” Nobody in this world can
give the proper answer to your question, so, we shall pay a visit to the Buddha.”

So, the next day, the millionaire took his son to pay a visit to the Buddha, and after paying the
respect to the Buddha, the millionaire said to the Buddha:” Dear master! My son, when sitting
on my thighs to play, asked me about the meaning of the door, so I could not give the proper
answer to him. Could you please help me with this?”

The Buddha calmly said to the millionaire:” This child is seeking for the ideal of life. In the
past, he also sought for the ideal of life, and he asked this question to many wise men. Due to
the effect of the rebirth, he cannot remember about it.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a millionaire family. When Bodhisattva grew up, he got married, and when his father passed
away, he inherited the fortune of his family.

One day, when he was playing with his son, his son was sitting on his thighs, asking:” Dear
daddy! Please let me know a word, but it has various meanings. “Then his son spoke a verse to
explain:

Daddy, please tell me word

Carrying many meanings

With that word

We shall comprehend the ideal of life!

The Bodhisattva looked at his son and calmly spoke the second verse:

A word that is respectful

A word is carrying various meanings

It is wisdom

Relating to the cultivation of virtue

Connecting to the patience

It enables you to assist friends

Enable you to get rid of the enemy!

Then, the Bodhisattva gave a proper answer to his son, and his son utilized the answer to find
out the meaning of life.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about the Four Noble truths, and the millionaire and
his son achieved the Entering Stream level. Finally, the Buddha recognized that the son of the
millionaire in the story was the son of the millionaire in Savatthi, and the wise millionaire was
him.

Jataka 239: Story of Harita-Mata

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the king Ajantasttu.

When the king Panesadi gave his princess to get married with the king Bimbasara, the king
Pasenadi gave the town of Kasi as the gift to his princess. Then when Ajantasttu killed his
father, Bimbasara , his mother was extremely sorrowful and passed away.

The king Pasenadi wanted to take back the town Kasi, so he took his army to attack to regain
the control of Kasi. The town of Kasi, sometimes, belonged to Kosala, but sometimes it was
under the control of Magadha. When Ajantasttu defeated his uncle, he was extremely happy,
and ordered people to hang flags to celebrate his victory, but when he lost, he kept silent.

His story was quickly spread to Jetavana, and the monks gathered at Dharma-hall to talk about
the king Ajantasttu:” Dear venerables. When the king Ajantasttu won, he was extremely happy,
but when he lost, he was sorrowful.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said calmly:” It is not in the present, but also, in the past, when people win, they are
joyful, but when they lose, they are depressed.”
Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was ruling Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born as a
frog. At that time, in some regions of the river, people often put some fishing net to catch fish.
One day, a school of fishes were stuck into a net, and so was a snake. Consequently, the snake
was attacked by the fishes and got injured. The snake threatened to jump out of the net and hid
beside a shore of the river.

Not long after that, a frog jumped into the net, and the snake rapidly asked the frog:

Dear frog. Can you give justice?

When I got into the net

They attacked me terribly

Do you agree with their actions?

The frog slowly replied to the snake:” it is normal, as when they get into your place, you shall
catch them to eat. When you are in the place of the fishes, they tend to win you. We are weak
when we stay in a place that is not familiar to us.”

The frog spoke the second verse to reply the snake:

Some people often rob from others

As they are happy as having benefits

When other rob their properties

They are sorrowful!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the snake was Ajantasttu, and the frog was
him.

Jataka 240: Story of Mahapingala

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the death of Devadatta.

After Devadatta tried to find many ways to kill the Buddha, he was swallowed by the ground
into Avici hell. The people who lived around Jetavana, due to the hatred to the evil actions of
Devadatta, were pleased when they heard that Devadatta was dead.
The monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, saying:” Dear venerable. Due to the hatred to the cruel
actions of Devadatta to the enlightened one. the people who live around here felt pleasant when
they heard the death of Devadatta.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said calmly:” Due to the evil actions, not only in the present time but also in the past,
when he was dead, people were also pleasant.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Mahapingala was ruling Varanasi, the king used unfair and unjust
rule to rule the nation. The king put high taxes on people, and not only did he prefer to use
terrible punishments to force people to follow him. At the palace, the king also behaved terribly
and cruelly to his queen, maidens, his children, officials and all the servants.

When the king Mahapingala passed away, all the people of Varanasi were extremely happy.
They celebrated the death of the king instead of feeling sorrowful. And then, the prince of the
king Mahapingala was given the throne of power. The new king tried to rule the country with
royal dharmas and virtues instead of punishment and unfairness like his father, so most of the
people were pleasant.

One day, the new king was given the throne. He saw all people were happy and pleasant but
only a soldier, who was the palace gate-taker, cried loudly. The new king was surprised, so he
came close to the solder, asking:” Dear my servant. When my father passed away, all people
are pleasant and happy. Only you cried for him. Did he give you some flavors when he was
alive?”

The soldier rapidly replied:” No. No. Dear majesty, Similar to others. I am pleased when your
father passed away. When your father was alive, whenever he got up or got down from the
higher floors, he hit my head eight times. I worry that when he gets to hell, he will knock on
the Yama deity, and hell shall send him back here.”

The new king pacified the soldier:” When we die, we shall follow the karma that we cultivate.
Hence, my father will be reborn based on his karma, and should not be able to return here.
Don’t worry my servant.”
From that time, the soldier who monitored the gate got rid of worry, and the new king ruled the
nation with royal dharmas until he passed away.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognized that the king Mahapingala was Devadatta, and
the prince was him.

JataKa 241: Story Sabbadattha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about Devadatta. After getting the faith of the king
Ajantasttu, Devadatta was given great respect and benefits. However, after Devadatta forced
the elephant, namely Nalagiri to attack the Buddha, he lost all the benefits and respects that he
had.

One day, the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about this issue:” Dear venerables.
Devadatta was successful in cultivating respect and benefits, but he could not hold those things
for long.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of monks, Buddha
said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, he lost all benefits he had tried to
accumulate in a short time.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, The Bodhisattva was the
consultant of the king. He was excellent in vedas and 18 kinds of kills. The Bodhisattva had a
mantran which was named The Mantra for Victory of the World.

One day, the Bodhisattva was sitting on a cliff on a mountainous area to recite this mantra.
Before the Bodhisattva recited the mantra, he already looked around to ensure nobody and no
animals would hear the mantra. However, during his recitation of the mantra, a jackal, which
was living in the cave under the cliff that Bodhisattva sat on, heard and remembered all of the
mantra.

When Bodhisattva finished reciting the mantra, he left the cliff, and at that time, the jackal
walked out the cave, saying to the Bodhisattva:” Dear sir. I believe that I can remember this
mantra better than you do.”
The Bodhisattva ordered his servants who were standing far away:” Catch this jackal. Come
on.``

The Bodhisattva and his servants tried to chase the jackal, but they were not able to catch up
with the jackal. The jackal ran into the deep forest, and it used the power of the mantra to
control all the animals which lived in the forest. Then the jackal became the king of all animals
in the forest, and it took a female jackal to be its queen.

Time flew, the jackal was not satisfied with its current status, and it desired to be the king of
Varanasi. Hence, it gathered all animals in the forest to attack Varanasi. The animals which
followed the jackal were crowded in a 12 miles square in front of the main gate of Varanasi.

The jackal and its queen were sitting on a lion, and the lion was sitting on a board which was
carried by two elephants. The jackal was too arrogant to shout loudly:” Give me the nation or
we shall have a flight?”

All citizens and soldiers were threatened, and they closed all the gates of the town, standing
inside the town to worry. At that moment, the Bodhisattva came over to the king who was
standing scarily, saying calmly and confidently:” Dear majesty. Don’t worry. Let me flight
with this jackal, as I am the only one who can defeat it.``

Then, standing in a watchtower of the main gate, the Bodhisattva shouted loudly toward the
jackal:'' Hey Sabbadatha. What will you do to occupy this town?”

The jackal confidently said quickly:” I will order all the lions to roar loudly to threaten all
people of Varanasi, and I shall take control of this town easily.”

As planned, the Bodhisattva ordered the soldiers to beat the drums loudly to order people who
lived within 12 miles from the main gate to use the rice powder to cover their ears. Then, when
the lions roared loudly, nobody could be injured by the sounds of lions’ roars. Then the
Bodhisattva again asked the jackal:'' Hey Sabbadatha. What will you do next to take control of
this town?”

The jackal still confidently answered:” I will again order all the lions to roar louder to make all
the people of this town die due to threat and fear.”
Bodhisattva calmly:” You cannot do it again. Lions are kind of noble animals, and they will
not listen to the lower cart animals like you.”

The jackal was extremely angry:”I can not only order all the lions which are standing in front
of me, but also the lion that I am sitting on.”

The Bodhisattva continued to arouse the jackal:” Okay. Do it if you can! Don’t just talk.”

The jackal used its legs to order the lion that it was sitting on to roar:” Hey. Please roar loudly.”

The lion roared loudly three times, and its roars made the elephants scary. Hence, the elephants
ran away to drop the lion and the jackal down. When the jackal was down, it got injured by the
other animals, when they scarily ran around too. Finally, the animals scarily ran back to the
forest, and a large number of animals were dead and heavily injured when they stepped over
each other to find the way to escape.

Faterward, the citizens took off the rice powders from their ears, and some took animal dead
bodies for eating, while some tried to bury the animal dead bodies.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the jackal was Devadatta, and the king of
Varanasi was Ananda. The consultant was him.

Jataka 242: Story of Sunakha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a dog which was fed by good food at a motel
which was near to the main gate of Ambala.

The dog was feeded by the water carriers, who brought it from somewhere. The dog grew up
quickly, and it became a big and tall dog. One day, a rich man came to the motel, and the rich
man gave the water carriers a piece of cloth and coin. Then, the rich man used a rope to tie
around the neck of the dog, and he took it away. On the way, the dog showed that it was docile
to the new owner. When the man gave food, the dog immediately ate, and it strictly followed
the man closely.

Hence, the man thought that the dog was familiar to him, so he released the dog from the rope.
Waiting for the rope to be opened, the dog immediately ran back to the motel to meet its former
owners. The story of this dog was spread around, and monks, who gathered at Dharma-hall,
also talked about it:” Dear venerables. That dog pretended to be docile to its new owner, and
then when the rope was unfastened, it ran back to its former owners.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the discussion of monks, the
Buddha said :” It is not in the present time, but also, in the past, it was clever to escape from
the attachment.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a rich family in Kasi. When he grew up, he got married and had his own family.

At Varanasi, there was a man who had a dog, and the dog looked nice and strong. Hence, a rich
Brahmin gave the man a piece of cloth and a coin to buy the dog. Then the rich Brahmin used
the leather rope to fasten around the neck of the dog, and took it away.

When the rich Brahmin arrived at the edge of the forest, he entered a cottage to take a rest, and
tied the dog beside the cottage. When the Bodhisattva went through the cottage, seeing the dog
was suffering, he spoke the verse:

Too ignorant is the dog

Why not biten the leather rope

Escape from this attachment

Return to your familiar house!

The dog spoke the second verse:

I already have it in my

I wait for the night comes

That time is suitable to me

Cut this rope down and escape!

Then, it waited until night came, and it cut the leather rope down and escaped.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the dog escaped from the rich man, and the
man who gave the idea to the dog was him.
 Jataka 243: Story of Gutila

The Buddha told this story at Bamboo-Grove, about Devadatta. When Devadatta wanted to
leave the Sangha, the monks talked with Devadatta:” Dear Venerable. Devadatta. Due to the
guideline of the enlightened one, you all comprehended well with wisdom-discourses and
achieved four fruits of meditation. Now, you turn to be the enemy of the enlightened one is not
suitable.”

Devadatta said confidently:” Dear all venerable. Gautama is not my master, and he did not
guide me to achieve anything, but myself, by my effort, I learned three wisdom discourses and
achieved four fruits of meditation.”

And the Devadatta decided to leave the Sangha for his own establishment of a new monk
school. Not long after that Devadatta encountered danger. Then the monks gathered at Dharma-
hall, talking about this issue. When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knowing the
figure of the discussion of monks, Buddha said:” It is not in the present time only but also in
the past, Devadatta left me, became my enemy and encountered danger.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was born in a
musician family, and he was named Guttila. When he grew up, he was excellent in most kinds
of musical instruments and music, but he did not get married, spending all his leisure time to
take good care of his parents.

One day, the businessmen who were from Varanasi arrived at Ujjeni for business, and they
gathered to have a party together. They invited some popular musicians to come to play some
kinds of musical instruments for them to entertain. They invited Musila to come to play for
them, but they were not satisfied with the performance of Musila.

Musila was disappointed to ask them:” Why do you feel bored with my performance of Pipa?
My performance is terrible or you all don’t know how to enjoy the Pipa sounds?”

A businessman replied quickly:” Sorry. We often listen to the performance of Pipa from
Guttila, the popular musician of Varanasi, and to compare him, your performance is inferior to
his performance indeed.”
Musila was surprised to ask:” I don’t believe that there is a musician who can play Pipa better
than me, so I will not take money for this performance but please take me to Varanasi when
you get there as I want to hear the performance from Guttila.”

The businessmen agreed with Musila, and when they returned to Varanasi, they took Musila
together. When they arrived at Varanasi, the businessman took Musila to the home of Guttila
for a visit. Musila entered the house of Guttila and paid respect to the parents of Guttila:” Dear
sir and madam! I would like to meet the master. Just wonder whether he is at home now?”

The mother of Guttila curiously asked:” Who are you? And Why do you want to meet Guttila?”

Musila rapidly replied:” I am here to ask the master to learn music from him.”

Then Musila had waited until Guttila returned, and Musila asked Guttila to be his student.
However, at first, Guttila denied having Musila as his student. After that, Musila asked Guttila's
parents to help him to insist Guttila. Consequently, Guttila, to satisfy his parents, agreed to
have Musila as his student.

Time flew, Musila already learned all skills from Guttila and he wanted to work in the palace,
so he talked with Guttila to help him:” Dear master! I already obtained all the skills from you,
so could you help me to work in the palace?”

Guttila happily replied:” Great my son! I will ask the king to give you a position.”

When Guttila talked with the king about the intention of Musila, the king agreed to have Musila
as the new staff of the palace, but he just received half of Guttila's salary. Then, when Guttila
shared the idea of the king to his student, Musila, his student refused to work with such a low
salary. Therefore, Guttila had to again tell the king the ambition of Musila, and the king calmly
said:” It is okay. If your student’s skills are equal to yours, so I shall give him such salary that
you have received. However, to comprehend his skills, we need to conduct a contest between
you and your student. Is it okay for you?”

Guttila agreed to the king and returned to tell his student Musila. Musila was extremely happy
for the contest. However, Guttila was extremely worried as he did not want his student to lose
for him, and as he feared that he would lose for his student. Therefore, he went to the forest to
prepare for the death there, and within six days, he constantly worried about the contest
happening. His worry made the seat of the king king god, Sakka, become hot, so Sakka
appeared in the forest to help Guttila:” Hey sir! Why do you stay here in the deep forest to
worry about something?”

Guttila rapidly asked:” Who are you? And why do you stay here too?”

Sakka:” I am Sakka, the king of god. I came here to help you. I know what you are worrying
about. So, take it easy. Return and join the contest. When you play the Pipa, cut the strings but
with this magical chopstick, when you play, still have the sounds. With this way, you can win
your student with great honor. Afterward, you throw the chopstick on the sky, 3000 goddesses
shall appear to dance in the sky.”

Then Guttila returned to Varanasi, and he was confident to come to the contest. At the contest,
Guttila, firstly cut down one string of the harp, but he still could make miracle sounds with the
help of the magical chopstick. However, his student, Musila, was not when he tried to cut down
one string as his master. Continuously, Guttila cut second string, third string, fourth string, fifth
string and sixth string, but he still could make miracle sounds. Not only that, finally, he threw
the chopstick into the sky, and immediately 300 goddesses appeared to dance in the sky. When
Guttila threw the chopstick the second time, 300 other goddesses appeared to dance.

At that time, citizens of Varanasi were extremely angry with Musila, so they complained terrily
and expelled him from the town. After the contest, Guttila was given various benefits and
honors from the king.

After the contest, Sakka returned to his palace, and his gods and goddesses required him to
give them an opportunity to listen to the music of Guttila. So, Sakka sent the god Matali to
drive the heaven vehicle to take Guttila to visit his palace in heaven.

When Guttila arrived at the palace of Sakka, king Sakka requested Guttila:” Dear Guttila.
Please play some songs for us to listen to as goddesses and gods desire to listen to the magical
sounds from your play.”

Guttila calmly requested:” I am a musical player, so could I request payment for my

performance. I don’t require everything but the stories in which your citizens cultivated good
deeds in order to be reborn here.”

Goddesses all agreed to tell their cultivation of good deeds to rebirth in heaven to Guttila after
they listened to the music's playing by Guttila, and Guttila played music for six days. On the
seventh day, Guttila stopped listening to the stories of the goddesses. There were 37 goddesses
who shared their cultivation of good deeds to Guttila. A goddess offered a set of clothes to the
monk, while another offered food to monks. A goddess cultivated good deeds by taking good
care of her parents-in-law and kept the mind away from anger. Some cultivated good deeds by
sharing food with others, while others tried to calm their minds from anger and arrogance.

After heard the stories from 37 goddesses, Guttila was extremely happy, speaking the verse:

It is my luck to be here

Like seeing the sun rise

Seeing the goddesses

Elegant and virtue

Listen to the true dharmas

I shall follow their cultivations

Cultivating good deeds

Doing givings and saying truths

Be controlled and ascetic

I will be reborn in the place

Without sufferings!

After the seventh day, Sakka ordered Matali to drive Guttila back to Varanasi. When Guttila
returned, he tried to tell people what he observed and heard from the goddesses. Not only that,
he tried to cultivate good deeds as well as encouraged others to do so.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that Musila was Devadatta, and the king of
Varanasi was Ananda. The Sakka was Anurudha, and Guttila was him.

244: Story of Viticha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about an arrogant monk who ran away when he saw the
Buddha.

This monk was excellent in arguments so that he easily beat others with utterances. One day,
he arrived at Savithri ,arrogantly saying to people:'' Who dare argue with me in this town?”
People of Savatthi introduced him to meet the Buddha, and he went to Jetavana with the crowd
of Savatthi citizens. At Jetavana, he asked the Buddha a question, and the Buddha gave him
the answer properly. In return, the Buddha asked him a question, and he could not give the
answer. Therefore, he was ashamed to run away. The crowd said to the Buddha:” It is miracle
and great, master could beat him down with only one question.``

The Buddha calmly said to the crowd of people:” It is not only in the present time, but also in
the past time, I could beat him down with only one question.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a Brahmin family. When he grew up, he gave up the family life, entering the forest in
Himalaya to practice as an ascetic monk. After years of living on the mount Himalaya, he
decided to get down to live in a region that is next to the Ganges river and near to a small town.

One day, an arrogant monk who was excellent in arguments arrived at this town and challenged
people:” In this town, who dares have arguments with me?”

People of the town introduced the Bodhisattva to him, and the arrogant monk arrived at the
cottage of the Bodhisattva with a crowd of people. Bodhisattva invited the arrogant monk to
have a seat, and when the arrogant monk already sat down, the Bodhisattva asked him:” Have
you ever drunk the Ganges water with various kinds of fragrances?”

The arrogant monk asked the Bodhisattva:” What do you think is Ganges? Sands? This side of
the bank or the other side of the bank?

Bodhisattva calmly replied:”If we put the sands, water, this side of the bank and other side of
the bank aside, what is the Ganges river?”

The arrogant monk could not give the answer to the Bodhisattva, so he immediately stood up
and left. After he left, the Bodhisattva spoke the verse:

Does not accept what he can see

Finding to know what cannot see

Traveling for long time

But with the greedy mind

His mind always think of winning others

I respect those who leave the all the attachments

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the arrogant monk was the arrogant one who
met the Buddha, and the ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 245: Story of Mulapariyaya

The Buddha told this story in the forest of Subhaga near Ukkattha, about Mulapariyaya.

There were 500 Brahmins who were ordained in the Sangha of the Buddha, and they were
excellents in three vedas. Due to their knowledge about Vedas, they were too arrogant, so they
left the Sangha and settled in a place with a crowd of monks as the Snagha of the Buddha.

One day, the Buddha paid a visit to their temple and the Buddha gave the teaching about the
basics of practice and eight kinds of achievements in practice. During the talk of the Buddha,
they could not understand everything, so they changed their minds :” We used to think that we
are the best, and nobody could surpass our knowledge. However, the knowledge of the master
is over us indeed.” From that on, they behaved humbly to everyone.

After the Buddha left Ukkattha, the Buddha arrived at Vesali, and stayed at the Gotama temple.
At Gotama temple, the Buddha talked about Gotama sutta, and those Bikkhus obtained
Arhathood.

One day, the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about this issue:” Dear venerables.
The wisdom and power of the Buddha are great. Those Bikkhus who were too arrogant, but
with the talks of the Master, dismissed their arrogance and finally achieved Arhathood.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said calmly:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past time, these people lived
with full of arrogance, and I also stopped their arrogances with talks.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a Brahmin family. When he grew up, he was well-cultivated and soon became a popular
master. There were 500 young men who came to study with him, and they became arrogant
after they were excellent in three discourses of veda.

Not only that, but they thought that their knowledge was similar to their master, so they stopped
paying the visit, respect and other duties of students to master. One day, seeing their master
was sitting under an apple tree, they came close to their master, and trying to mock their master,
knocking on the apple tree, they asked their master:” This tree does not have the core indeed!”

The master calmly said to the student:”My students. I want to ask you all a question. Is it
possible?”

The students confidently replied:” Sure. Just ask and we will try to give the answer properly.”

The master asked the student through verse:

The time destroy everything

Destroy even itself

Who is able to win the time?

Who can surpass time and other beings?

After hearing this question, none of the students could give the answer, and at that time, the
master told them:” My students. You are arrogant to think that you already know everything
that I know, but you are not. So, I give all of you seven days. Please return and contemplate on
this question and shall give me the answer.``

The students returned to think for seven days, and they could not find the answer properly.
Therefore, they returned to their master to pay respects, and they sat silently to listen to the
master. The master calmly looked at them, saying:” Do you be able to give me the answer, my
students?”

The students all shyly replied:” No master!”

The master complained them by a verse:

Humans with heads

The hairs grow on the heads

How many heads have ears?

All the students just kept silent and the master said to them calmly:” You are ignorant! Your
ears don’t have wisdom but have holes only.”

All the students, after that, sorried to their master and dismissed their arrogance. Also they paid
visit and respect to their master again.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that 500 students were these 500 monks who
dismissed their arrogance and achieved Arhathood, and the master was him.

Jataka 246: Story of Telovada

The Buddha told this story at the Chamber of Vesali, about the general, Simha-Senapati. It was
the day in which the general Simha-Senapati became the student of the Buddha, he invited the
Buddha to have a meal with meat. The Niganthas knew about this offering, on this occasion,
they decried the Buddha:'' Gotama knew that the foods were impuried but still tried to eat.”

Then the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about this issue:” Dear venerables.
Niganthas went around to tell people that the Buddha, although knew that the meal was impure,
still tried to eat. They have tried to decry the Buddha.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, the Buddha said compassionately:” It is not in the
present time, but also in the past time, the Niganthas tried to tell me that I ate the meat that was
made purposely for me.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a Brahmin family, and when he grew up, he left family life for the ascetic monk life. One
day, he got down and went to Varanasi for salts.

One rich man invited the monk to pay a visit to his house. However, this man desired to destroy
the virtue of the ascetic monk, so he intentionally killed some animals to cook for the monk.
After the monk completed the meal, the rich man told the monk in a decried manner:” Dear
venerable. Because of you, I killed chickens and fishes to make these foods, so all the sinks
generated for this meal belong to you, not us.” Then he spoke the verse:

The evils are not able to control the mind

Asking for killing to cook for meal

Who ate this meal

Are stained by the evil mind!

The ascetic monk calmly spoke the verse to reply the layman:

If people who are ignorant

Killed their wives and children to invite others

The eaters have no faults

As they even eat but they are not attached to the stained mind!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the lay man who offered meals to the monk
was Nigantha, Nattaputa, and the ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 247: Story of Padanjali

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the venerable Laludayi.

One day, when two brothers monks, Sariputta and Moggalana talked about the Dharma, all the
monks who listened to their discussion all spoke highly of them but excepting, venerable
Laludayi. Venerable Laludayi said loudly:” How can they know what I know!”

After hearing the arrogant utterance of venerable Laludayi, two venerables, Sariputta and
Moggalana stood up and went away. Right after that the crowd of monks was dismissed. The
next morning, the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall to talk about this issue:” Dear venerable!
Venerable Laludayi criticized two venerables, Sariputta and Moggallana, and after being
criticized, two venerables just left.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall and knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said calmly:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past time, Laludayi just knew
to criticize others, but knew nothing.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a Brahmin family, and when he grew up, he became the consultant for the king about all the
holy and ordinary issues. The king had only one prince, namely Padanjali.

After the king passed away, the funeral of the king was organized sufficiently. After the funeral,
all the officials gathered and they planned to give the prince Padandayi the throne of power.

They had a meeting and most of the officials wondered:” The prince is extremely ignorant. Is
it right if we give him the throne of power?”

Then they decided to organize a court case and invited the prince Padandayi to join. During the
court case, they tried to generate unfair results, giving the win to the person who committed
the crime. Then they asked the prince:” How do you think of the result of this court case?

The prince Padandayi just pouted but said nothing. The consultant of the palace thought that
the prince was wise but pretend to be ignorant, so he spoke the verse:

The wisdom of this prince

Is surpassed others

He pouted to show that

He knows the unfair result of this court case!

The next day, the officials of the palace organized another court case and the prince was invited
to join the court case again. In this court case, they tried to give a fair result, and again asked
the prince Padandayi about the result. The prince again pouted but said nothing. The consultant
was sorrowed to speak the verse:

This person is extremely ignorant

Unable to comprehend the wrong, right, true and untrue

Excepting to pouting

He knows nothing else!

The officials knew that Padandayi was extremely ignorant, so they decided to give the
consultant on the throne of power. So, after the enthronement ceremony, the consultant became
the king of the nation.
After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that Padandayi was Laludayi, and the wise
consultant was him.

Jataka 248: Story of Kimsukopama

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about Kimsukopama sutta.

One day, four monks came over to the Buddha to ask for the subjects for their practices, and
the Buddha told them to practice Salayatana ( six internal & external objectives). After
receiving the subjects for practice, they returned to their places to practice, and they, soon,
achieved Arhathood, although they realized different aspects of the Salayatana. One
comprehended deeply the six internal & external objectives, while one other obtained that five
aggregates are non-self. One understood 4 elements and the rest comprehended 18 dharmas.

When these four monks presented their enlightenments to the Buddha, one monk wondered to
ask the Buddha:” I am wondering that four monks accessed different aspects of the Salayatana,
but how could they all obtain Arahood?”

The Buddha compassionately talked to the monks:”It is like four brothers all see the Kimsuka
tree.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Bramadatta was reigning Varanasi, the king had four sons. One
day, they wondered about the Kimsuka tree, so they asked the driver of the palace to bring
them to see the kimsuka tree:” Hey servant. Could you please take me to see the kimsuka tree?”

The driver replied rapidly:” Yes. It is okay.”

Then the driver took four princes to see the kimsuka tree, but he did not show the same kimsuka
tree to four princes. The driver took the oldest prince to the forest and showed the prince the
new born kimsuka tree, with new born-branches, whereas the driver brought the second oldest
prince to see a kimsuka tree with green leaves. The third oldest prince was taken to the kimsuka
tree which was in the blossom time, and the four prince was brought to see a kimsuka tree
which was fruitioned.
When the four princes sat together, they discussed the shape of the kimsuka tree. The oldest
prince said:``The kimsuka tree looks like fire wood.”

The second oldest prince said:``The kimsuka tree is like the eagle tree.”

The third prince said:” The kimsuka tree looks like a piece of meat.”

The final prince said:” The kimsuka tree looks like an acacia tree.”

They could not agree to the idea of each other, so they all went to meet the king to ask for
justice. The king, after hearing the explanation, said:” You all were shown the kimsuka tree,
but you did not comprehend that in which stage, the kimsuka tree that you saw was in, and in
which season you saw the kimsuka tree. Not only that, where did you see the kimsuka tree?”

Then the king spoke the verse:

All of you, my sons!

Have seen kimsuka tree

But why still wonder about it?

Why didn’t you ask the driver

Clearly about it?

Then the Buddha said to the monks:” Like four princes who saw the kimsuka but not
comprehended deeply about it. You who have wondered about the Salayatana as you have
never contemplated deeply on it.”

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the king of Varanasi was him.

Jataka 249: Story of Salaka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, related to a popular venerable monk.

This popular venerable monk had a young man ordained as his student, and he often
abused this young monk so that the young monk could not endure the abuse, so he
disrobed to leave the monkhood. Not long after that, the venerable monk constantly
insisted the young man to reordain.
After several times of insisting, the young man could not bear his mind under the
enticement of the utterances of the venerable monk, so he again reordained as a monk
under the instruction of the venerable. However, not long after his reordination, his
master again abused him constantly, and he could not endure the abuse so that he
again disrobed to return to the layman life. Again, the venerable monk came close to
insist the young man to be his ordained student, but this time, in spite of the attractive
enticement from the master, the young man refused to be his student.

One day, the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the issue related to
this young man and his master:” Dear venerable. The young man was clever, so he
refused to reordain as the student of the venerable after comprehending the attitude
of his master.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knowing the issue of the talk of the
monks, the Buddha compassionately said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the
past, this young mas was clever to recognise that the evil mind of his master that he
refused to continue to be his student.”

Then the Buddha told the story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva
was born in a rich family, and when he grew up, he became a rice-seller.

At Varanasi, there was a man who earned a living from entertainment for others. This
man had a monkey, and he forced the monkey to drink medicine to heal with the poison
in order to let the monkey play with the snakes to entertain people. On one occasion,
this man wanted to join the festival, so he gave the monkey to his friend, the rice-seller,
to take care of the monkey. This man enjoyed the festival for seven days, and then he
returned to the house of the rice-seller to take the monkey. When he arrived at the
gate of the rice-seller's house, the monkey ran out the gate to see him, but the man
was not pleased with the monkey. Hence, the monkey used the bamboo stick to hit on
the back of the monkey. Then, the man used a rope to tight the monkey into a pillar
before he went to sleep.

Waiting for the man to sleep, the monkey tried to escape from the tightened rope, and
the monkey climbed up to a mango tree. After eating out the mango fruit, it threw the
mango seeds into its owner. The man was suddenly woken up, and tried to persuade
the monkey to return to work for him by a verse:

You are my only son

Soon became the owner of the family

Please get down my son

Return home together with me

The monkey replied by a verse:

You already know my mind

Contributed to you only

However, beating me by a bamboo tree

Enjoying to live from the mango trees

With the ripen mango fruits

Return home alone please!

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the young man was the monkey,
while the owner of the monkey was the venerable monk who was the master of the
young man, and the rice-seller was him.

Jataka 250: Story of Kapi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a cheated monk. The cheated action of this monk
was known by the other monks, so one day, other monks gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking
about the cheated actions of him.

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall and knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said slowly:” It is not only in the present time, but also in the past, he was likely to
cheat others. When it was a monkey, to desire to be able to warm up near the wooding fire, it
cheated others.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a Brahmin family in Kasi. When he grew up, he got married and had a son. However, his
wife passed away when his son just started walking. The death of his wife made him severely
suffer, so he decided to lead his only son to Himalaya to live as a monk.

Time flew, the young Brahmin and his son had been in the monkhoods for years, and they
knew how to survive well in the deep forest of Himalaya. In the rainy season, the weather was
extremely cold, so the young monk often burned woods to keep warm in the evening. One day,
a monkey which lived nearby the cottage of the young monk wanted to enter the cottage to
warm up, but it knew that the young monk would drive it away when it would enter the cottage.
So, the monkey wore a piece of cloth of a monk who passed away, pretending to be an ascetic
monk. Walking slowly toward the cottage of the young monk.

The son of the young monk saw the monkey in the robe of the monk, so he thought it was an
old monk. To raise his compassion, he talked with his father to allow the monkey to enter the
cottage:” Dear father! There is an old monk who is standing under a peanut tree, and he is
shocked due to the cold weather. It is better if we invite him to come in to warm up.”

The young monk, after hearing the utterance from his son, looked at the monkey carefully, and
he could recognise that it was a monkey. Therefore, he spoke the verse to reply his son:

It is not the ascetic monk

Calmly and happily

It is a monkey

Living on the trees

Belonging to the angry and greedy ones

Letting it to enter this cottage

It shall make this cottage messy!

With wisdom, the young monk tried to practice hard, and soon he achieved the fruits of
meditation. After that, he guided his son to obtain what he did. They all reborned in the Brahma
realm after passing away.
The Buddha talked about Four Noble truths after telling the story, and many monks obtained
Arhat Hood during the talk of the Buddha. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the monkey was
the cheated monk and the son of the young monk was Rahula, while the young monk was him.

Jataka 251: Story of Sankappa

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who lost their determination in practice.

At the Buddha's time, there was a young man who believed in the Dharma of the Buddha, so
he decided to ordain to be a monk in the Sangha of the Buddha. However, one day, when he
went to Savatthi to get alms, he met a beautiful girl, and when he returned, he could not stay
focused on his practice.

When venerable monks knew the problem of these young monks, they tried to give advice on
helping him to get back his ambition on the dharma practice. However, they failed to do so, so
they desired to take the young monk to meet the Buddha to let the young monk receive the help
from the Buddha.

At the Dharma-hall, the Buddha, after knowing the issue of the young monk, said :” Dear
monks! In the past, the monks who with hard practices were able purified their minds
sufficiently, but they, afterward, were still stained by the women, so it is not a big surprise that
you who are attached with desire. Due to the beauty of the women, the purified men lost turned
back to the attached minds, and the men who were in high positions lost their benefits and
positions. How do you think a wind which can blow the sumeru mount to fall down, is it able
to shake all the falling leaves on the ground. All the enlightened ones, by their strong
determination, were able to overpass the desire. Those without a certain determination shall be
affected by the beauty of the women.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a Brahmin family, and when he turned 16, he went to Takkasila to study all the skills and
knowledge. Upon graduation, he returned to Varanasi and soon got married with a beautiful
girl.

Soon after his marriage, his parents gradually passed away. Looking at the fortune which he
had inherited, he realized human life is short, so he decided to leave the family life to enter the
Himalaya to live as an ascetic monk. After years of hard practice, he obtained fruits of
meditation, being able to calm the mind from the attachment.

One day, he decided to get down to town to get salt and vinegar, and for people to cultivate
good deeds from paying respects to him. When he arrived at the park of the palace of the king
of Varanasi, the sun already set, so he decided to spend one night sleeping in the park of the
king. The next morning, after personal hygiene, he put on the rope and went around getting
alms. When he walked through the palace of the king, standing on the high floor, the king was
attractive when he first looked at the monk, so the king ordered servants to invite the monk to
the palace for the offerings.

When a servant of the king expressed the invitation of the king to the monk, the monk refused.
However, with the insisted invitation of the king, the monk agreed to get to the palace to receive
offerings from the king. During lunch time, the king asked the monk many spiritual questions,
and the monk all could give the answers properly to the king. The king wanted to keep the
monk to live in the palace, so he asked the monk:” Where will you plan to get to Venerable?”

The monk calmly:” I am finding a place for the rainy months.”

The king was happy:” Great! You can stay in the garden of the palace. “

Then the king ordered servants to make a cottage in the garden for the ascetic monk to stay in.
The king took good care of the monk, and he paid a visit to the ascetic daily. One day, he had
to get to the bordering area to calm a rebel, and he talked to the queen to take good care of the
ascetic monk:” Dear my queen. When I am not here, please take good care of our master, the
ascetic monk.”

When the king went away, the queen invited the ascetic monk to the palace to have lunch every
day, and the monk often flew to the palace through the window. One day, the monk arrived
late, and due to the weariness of waiting, the queen lay down the board for a nap. When the
ascetic monk flew through the window to enter the palace, the sound caused when the robe of
the monk abraded to the window woke the queen up, and when she stood up, incidentally, she
dropped the wearing clothes on her beautiful and elegant body. The ascetic monk, after seeing
the naked body of the queen, immediately lost all his puried mind so that when he got to the
table, he could not eat everything. Finally, the queen had to prepare the food into a bowl for
him to take back. Taking the bowl of food, the monk could not use his power to fly through the
window to return to his cottage as usual, but he had to walk down the stairs as normal people.
Looking at the change of the monk, the queen realized that the monk was already attached to
her beauty so he lost all his power.

When the monk already returned back to the cottage, he put away the bowl of food and lay
down on the bed, thinking about the beautiful shape of the queen. Likewise, he spent one week
just laying on the bed to constantly suffer due to the attachment to the beauty of the queen:”
Oh. How beautiful the queen is. How attractive the queen is. How elegant the queen is.``

After one week, the king returned to the palace from the bordering area, and the king
immediately paid a visit to the cottage of the monk. When the king arrived at the cottage, seeing
everything around was messy, the king thought that the monk had already left as the monk was
used to keeping the cottage always clean. However, the king was surprised, when he entered
the cottage and saw the monk was on the bed, extremely suffering:” Dear master. What
happened to you?”

The monk suffered to reply to the king:” I was injured terribly by an arrow.”

The king was worried for the monk as he thought that his enemy could not attack him, so they
turned to attack those he loved:” Dear master. It is likely that you were attacked by my enemy.
Let me see your injury. “

The monk, at that time, tried to sit certainly in the lotus posture again, and calmly said to the
king:'' Dear majesty! Nobody shot me but myself.” Then the monk spoke the verse:

There is no person who shot me by the archery

There are no arrows

Which made of fur of birds

Which decorated beautifully by the bow-maker

It was my mind

Which was trained to get rid from desire

By my determination and wisdom

The desire generates the injury

And burns up all parts of the body

Similar to the power of the physical fire

I was not careful to control the desire

Made my mind got stained by desire

It was myself not others

Made me suffered and injured

Then, by the strong determination, the monk tried to contemplate on the meditation again and
he could easily control his mind again. Immediately, he used his power to sit in the thin air,
talking to the king:” Dear majesty. Now, I have to return to the Himalayas.”

The king tried to insist the monk change his mind to continue staying at the palace:” Dear
master. Could you please maintain your stay here as I still have many things to learn from you.”

Despite the insisting invitation of the king, the monk gradually flew up and said to the king:”
Dear majesty! I was stained by desire when I stayed here in the palace, so it is better for me to
return to the mountain.” Then the monk disappeared into thin air to go back to Himalaya
mountain.

After telling this story, the Buddha continued to talk about Four Noble Truths, and the young
monk who lost determination in practice obtained Arhathood during the talk, while many other
monks achieved the Entering Stream level, one-returning and none-returning level. Finally, the
Buddha recognised that the king was Ananada, and the ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 252: Story of Tilamuthi

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who was easy to get angry with. Although
others said nothing to him, he was still easily angry.

One day, at the dharma-hall, the monks gathered to talk about his issue:” Dear venerable. That
young monk is easy to get angry with, and he often angrily shouted loudly when he was out of
mind-control. Not only that, he often grit his teeth. Although he stays in monkhood but is not
able to calm his mind.”
When the Buddha knew the issue of the talk of monks, the Buddha calmly said:” It is not in the
present time but also in the past, he was easy to get angry.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the king had only one
prince. Then, when the prince turned sixteen, the prince was sent to Takkasila to be trained
with skills and knowledge, although there were lots of pandits in Varanasi, as the king wanted
the prince to be trained to behave well with others. When the prince was about to leave Varanasi
for Takkasila, the king gave the prince a pair of shoes, an umbrella and 1000 coins:” Dear my
son. Those are all that you can bring to Takkasila to study. Now, it is time for you to leave and
learn new things.”

The prince arrived at Takkasila quickly, and he went to meet the most popular master in
Takkasila to be his student. After paying respect and showing the intention of learning, the
prince gave the master 1000 coins as the tuition fees for the course. As the prince already paid
the tuition fees, he was able to be the assistant of the master, and he often followed the master.

One day, he followed the master to get to a public bathroom to take a shower. On the way to
the bathroom, there was a woman overlooking the sesame which she spread on the tarp for
drying. The prince saw the white sesame, and used his alm to take a handful of sesame to eat.
The woman who oversaw the sesames did not say a word, even she saw the stealing ation of
the prince. A few days later, the prince and his master also got to the public bathroom to take
a bath again, and the prince took a handful of sesames to eat. In this time, the woman, who
oversaw the sesames, did not keep silent, but immediately complained to the master. The
master calmly said to her:” Dear madam! Take it easy please. I will give you the money in
return for the sesames that my student already ate.”

The woman still insisted:” Dear sir! I won’t take any money but please tell him to stop stealing
my sesames again.”

The master tried to calm the woman down:” Okay. I will punish to caution him to stop stealing
your sesames.”

Then the master used a bamboo stick to hit on the back of the prince three times. During the
punishment of the master, the eyes of the master turned red and he got extremely angry with
the master so that he vowed to kill his master in the future :” I will kill him when I have the
chance. I shall not forgive what he did to me today.”

Time flew, and finally, the prince obtained all the skills and knowledge from his study at
Takkasila. When he paid respect to the master before returning to Varanasi, he wanted to lead
the master to his town to kill him, so he said to his master:” Dear master! On the occasion,
when I shall be given the throne of power of Varanasi, please come to enjoy the congrat-party.”

The master:” Sure. Dear son! My best student! It is my honor!”

After the prince returned from Takkasila, the father king wanted to see how the prince would
rule the nation, so he, soon, gave his son, the prince on the ruling throne of power. When the
prince already became the king, he quickly ordered servants to invite his master to his palace
as he always kept his revenge-mind to his master. However, upon the first invitation, the master
refused to come to Varanasi:'' The prince is too young and it is not the right time for me to
change his mind. So, it is better to wait until the suitable time.``

Time flew, when the new king of Varanasi was in the middle age, the master living at Takkasila
decided to pay a visit to his former student, the king of Varanasi. The master did not wait for
the invitation from the king of Varanasi, but he, himself, arrived at the palace of Varanasi.
When a soldier who oversaw the main gate of the palace informed the king that his former
master, from Takkasila, was waiting outside, the king was happy and excited to avenge his
master, so he ordered the soldier to take the master to the palace immediately. When the master
of the king just arrived at the main hall of the palace, the king was excited to talk loudly:'' Dear
all my officials! Here is my former teacher, and today, he came here to die. I have waited for
this moment for a long time.``

Then the king spoke the verse:

I remember what you have done for me

Punished me terribly due to a handful of sesames

Tightened me with ropes

Hitting me on the back with the bamboo stick

Dear Brahmin! My former teacher

What did you think at the time?

Tightened me with ropes

Hitting me heavily three time

Why did you dare come here?

The master calmly spoke the second verse:

The wises punish others with stick

As they want his students to get rid of bad behaviors

Their actions are not due to anger

But from the loving kindness

All the wises know that there is not sinks from those

Then the master of the king continued: “ Dear majesty! It is not a big issue that you have to
worry about and memorize for years. If I did not punish you at that time, you would develop
your stealing behaviors. From stealing sesames, you might turn to stealing other things.
Consequently, you would enjoy the stealing actions and become a thief instead of a wise king.”

After the teacher of the king ended his explanation for the punishment to the king in the past,
all the officials advised the king to forgive for the action of the master:” Dear majesty! We
comprehend that the punishment of the master was helpful to you, so you shall not give him a
punishment to death.”

At that moment, the king realized all the virtues of his teacher, so he stepped down to his
teacher:” Dear master! Now I understand you clearly. Please take this nation and rule it with
your virtue.”

The teacher of the king rapidly refused the offering of the king, but finally, he accepted to be
the consultant of the king. The king ordered the servants to get to Takkasila to take the family
members of his new consultant to Varanasi, and gave them lots of benefits. Under the
consultation of his teacher, the king ruled the nation with virtues and he also diligently
cultivated good deeds.
After telling the story, the Buddha continued to talk about Four Noble Truths, and the young
monk who was easy to get angry obtained a non-returning level. Many of the other monks
achieved First-Entering level, one-returning and non-returning level. Finally, the Buddha
recognised that the prince of Varanasi was the young monk who was easy to get angry with,
and the teacher of the prince was him.

Jataka 253: Story of Manikantha

The Buddha told this story at Aggalava temple in Alavi, about the rule to construct the house
or residing places for Bikkhus.

At the Buddha's time, the monks who lived in Alavaka often inquired of lay Buddhists to satisfy
their desire when they made the cottages for living in. They did not require it directly, but they
suggested the lay Buddhists send more people to help them. The requirements of the monks
made lay Buddhists annoyed so that they often tried to avoid meeting the monks.

One day, venerable Sariputta got to Alavaka for work, and he went around to get alms in the
morning. It was a big surprise to him as people of the town tried to avoid meeting him, instead
of being happy to offer him. Therefore, after having lunch, venerable Saripputa called the
monks who lived in Alavaka to ask to comprehend what happened in Alavaka:” Dear monks.
What has happened here at Alavaka? People of Alavaka seemed to try to avoid meeting me
when they saw me from a far distance?”

When the monks who lived in Alavaka revealed the cause of the issue to the venerable
Sariputta, the venerable Sariputta immediately went to the Aggalava temple to meet pay respect
to the Buddha and to tell the Buddha the problem of the monks in Alavaka. When the Buddha
knew the issue of the monks in Alavaka, the Buddha said to them:” In the past, even the snakes
which have all kinds of seven jewels, but -over-asking also made them annoyed.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, there were two sons born in
a Brahmin family, and Bodhisattva was the oldest brother. They were cultivated well by their
parents, and lived peacefully together. However, their parents passed away, when they just
turned into adulthood, and the loss of their parents made them realize the impermanence of life
so that they decided to leave the family life for the ascetic life as monks in the forest.
They made their cottage at a shore of the Ganges river, and the younger man made his cottage
close to the water, while the older man had his cottage made little far from the cottage of his
younger brother.

One day, the king of snakes, nanely Manikantha, got out of his palace to travel, and seeing the
cottage of the younger man, Manikantha manifested himself in the shape of a young man to
pay a visit to the cottage of the younger monk. The first visit to the cottage of the younger mnok
made Manikantha excited, so he paid the visit to the younger monk daily. Gradually, they
became close friends with each other, and it appeared that they seemed to be bored if they could
not meet each other daily. One day, due to the uncontrol of the attachment, the king of the
snake, Manikantha appeared in his form of snake to roll around the younger monk for a while
before leaving. After the king of snakes left, the younger monk was extremely feared, worried
and scared, so he paid a visit to the cottage of his brother. The older monk, after knowing the
problem of his younger brother, calmly said:” If you want to stay away from that snake, it is
not difficult. Did you see him wearing something whenever he paid visits to you?”

The young monk replied rapidly:” Dear brother! Yes, he did wear a pearl on his neck.”

The older brother, then, calmly said:” So, when he just comes. Don’t wait for it to sit down,
and you have to ask for the pearl that he is wearing several times. By this way, he shall never
pay a visit to you again.”

The younger monk then returned to his cottage, and in the early morning, he stood at the gate
door, waiting for his friend to come. When the king of the snake jumped out of the water and
stepped into the lobby of the cottage, the younger monk quickly said:” Dear my friend! The
pearl ,which you are wearing, is beautiful. Can you kindly give it to me?”

When the king of the snake heard the asking of the younger monk, he immediately returned
back to the water. The next day, again, the younger monk tried to ask for the pearl of the snake,
when the king of the snake again returned to visit him. The day after tomorrow, the younger
monk, again, asked for the pearl from the king of snakes when the king of snakes again paid a
visit to him. The king of the snake, in this time, spoke the verse explain to the younger monk:

All foods and drinks

Have never lacked

Due to this miracle pearl

Bring all what I want to me

You re asking what is not suitable to ask

I will not continue to come here

Paying visit to you

Like a innocent child

Holding a smooth stone

You make me scary

As insisting to ask for this pearl

Your ask is impossible

To be satisfied

I will not never pay a visit to you

Then the king of the snake rapidly dived into the water to return to his palace, and he would
never get back to visit the younger monk again. A short time later, the younger missed his close
friend, the king of snakes, so he got serious sickness. For a long time, the older monk paid a
visit to the cottage of his younger brother, as he did not see his brother pay a visit to him. Seeing
his younger brother monk was in serious sickness, he wondered:” What happened to you, my
brother? Does the king of snakes still come here to disturb you?”

The younger brother monk sadly said:” No. No, brother. I asked for his pearl several times, and
he has stopped coming here. As I lost a close friend, I am so sad about this.”

The older monk quickly spoke the verse:

Don’t inquire people

Who we love too much

As over-asking makes them annoyed

They considered us as the disturbed ones

The Brahmin man

Constantly asked for the pearl from the king of snake

It should be annoying about

Shall never return here to visit!

Then the older monk pacified his younger brother to overcome the sorrow to continue the
practice, and soon, they all obtained levels of wisdom and meditation fruits. They all reborned
into the Brahma realm when they passed away.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the younger monk was Ananda, and the
older monk was him.

Jataka 254: Story of Kundhala-Kucchi-Sindhava

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about venerable Sariputta.

It was the time that after a rainy retreat, and after the Buddha turned around to talk Dharmas to
people, the Buddha returned to live in Jetavana. Local inhabitants tried to organise the offerings
to the Buddha and monks lived in Jetavana, and the local inhabitants invited a monk who
worked as the manager for the offerings. He managed the number of monks who joined the
offering, as well as the procedure of offering.

One day, there was an old woman who came to Jetavana temple, and she wanted to offer for
only one monk as she could not bear to offer more than one monk. She went to meet the
management-monk:” Dear venerable. I want to offer for a monk in this temple. Could you
please help me with that?”

The management-monk rapidly replied:” Dear madam. Thanks very much for your kindness.
However, all the monks in the temple are arranged to receive offerings from others. But, they
left the venerable Sariputta only. It is great and suitable if you want to offer it to the venerable
Sariputta.”

The old woman happily replied:” It is a great honor to me.”

Then the old woman stood at the gate of the Jetavana to wait for venerable Sariputta to get out
for alms. When she saw the venerable getting out, she rapidly paid respect to venerable
Sariputta and showed her will to offer the meal to venerable Sariputta. After the venerable
Sariputta agreed, the old woman happily received and held the bowl for the venerable Sariputta,
and she led the venerable Sariputta to her house.
Some devout Buddhists such as king Pasedani, Anathapindika and his younger brother and
Visakka all sent money and food to the old woman for preparing well for the offerings to
venerable Sariputta. They all sent 1000 gold coins, a beautiful coat and first class ranking foods
to the old woman, while other devout Buddhists, each sent 100 or 200 gold coins to the old
poor lady. Thus, on the day the old woman offered the Venerable Sariputta, she received 100
000 gold coins.

Not only that, after having lunch, venerable Sariputta tried to pacify the old lady, and
encouraged her to continue to cultivate good deeds and then venerable Sariputta taught the old
lady dharmas so that she obtained the first- entering stream level. The next morning, the monks
gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about the great virtue of the venerable Sariputta who could
help the old lady to get rid of poverty and obtain the first Entering Stream level.

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of the monks, the
Buddha said:” Dear all my students. It is not in the present time, but also in the past, Sariputta
was the great refuge for people to rely on.``

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the Bodhisattva was born
in a business family in the North of India. At that time, there were 500 businessmen who often
took their horses to Varanasi to sell.

One day, Bodhisattva went to a small town which was not too far from Varanasi, and he rented
a big house, which was the house of the richest man in the town, to stay and to take care of 500
horses. Just a few days after staying at the house, a female horse of the businessman gave birth
to a pony. The pony was too extractive so that the old woman who took good care of the house
insisted the businessman sell the pony to her:” Dear Sir! Could you please deduct some money
from the payment for the renting of the house, and instead give me the newborn-horse?”

The businessman smiled happily:” Sure. Dear madam, From now on, it belongs to you.”

After the businessman left, the old lady fed the pony with special foods, the flour of red rice
mixed together with newly grass and minced meat. The old lady took good care of the horse as
her child. Time flew, and the pony turned out to be a strong and beautiful adult horse. And,
when the businessman desired to take his horses to rest in the horse of the old lady again, all
his horses were threatened to enter the house.

As a wise man, the businessman knew that there was a special horse in the house, so all his
horses were threatened to enter the house. Thus, he asked the old lady:” Dear madam. Is it
likely that there is a special horse in this house?”

The old lady:” No. No. There is just the horse that you gave me.”

The businessman:” Where is it?”

The old lady:” It went out to eat grass and it shall be back soon.”

When the horse which was fed by the old lady came back, it surprised the businessman as it
looked like the king of horses, with its special steps and shape. The businessman wondered:”
Which kind of food have you used to feed it?”

The lady slowly:” I have fed it with a mixture of red rice, grass and minced meat.”

The businessman really loved the horse which was fed by the old lady, so he asked:” Dear
madam. Is it possible if I want to buy this horse?”

The old lady:” How Come I sell the child that I have fed?”

The businessman understood the love of the old lady to the horse, so he calmly said:” Don’t
worry, I will just it all what better than you have given to it, from foods, water to the residing
places.”

Then the businessman put six boxes in front of the horse, and each box contained 1000 gold
coins. Then, the businessman gave the old lady a valuable coat. The horse, at that time, cried
as it did not want to leave the old lady. Understanding the emotion of the horse to her, the old
lady pacified the horse:’ Dear my son! I already got a lot of money from the businessman. So,
from now on, please follow and work well for this new owner.”

When the businessman took the horse back home, he tried to give the red porridge as the old
lady often did to the horse, but the horse did not eat, and it spoke the verse:

For those who are ignorant

About the origin of the horses

They feed them by red porrish

As this food is superior to as they think

But you are different

As you know my origin well

So, it is not suitable that

I have to eat the red porrish

The businessman heard the verse from the horse, he knew that the horse was not a normal one,
so he ordered servants to make special foods to give to the horse. One day, the businessman
brought his horses to sell to the king of Varanasi. At night time, the businessman had to prepare
a special tent for the special horse to sleep, so his action made the king curious. Therefore, the
king asked him:” Is it a special horse?”

The businessman rapidly replied:'' Yes Majesty. It is a special horse. It has special skills and
power.”

The king was curious to ask the businessman to take the special horse to perform for him to
see. The businessman called the special horse, and he sat on his back. Then, he forced the horse
to run around the stadium of the palace. The horse ran too fast so that people saw its shape
covered around the stadium. After the performance, the businessman took off the horse, and he
put a hand toward the horse. The horse walked toward the businessman, and stood lightly on
the hand of the businessman.

The king was too excited and pleased with the performance as well as the talent skills of the
horse, so he decided to give half of the nation to the business man. Not only that, the king made
a special ceremony to give the special horse on the throne of the king of the horses of the nation.
Under the assistance of the special horse and the businessman, the kingdom of Varanasi was
spread over India. The king and businessman ruled the nation with royal dharmas, and they
loved to cultivate good deeds so that they all reborned to heaven when they passed away.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble truths. During the talk of the
Buddha, a number of monks obtained Entering Stream level, one-returning level, none-
returning level and Arhathood. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the special horse was
Sariputta, and the king of Varanasi was Ananda. The businessman was him.

Jataka 255: Story of Suka

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who died due to indigestion as
he ate too much. After the death of this monk, the monks gathered at the Dharma-hall,
talking about the cause of his death:” Dear venerables! That monk did not control his
desire, so he ate too much that he died due to the indigestion of the food. “

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, knowing the issue of the talk of the monks,
the Buddha said :” Dear my students. It is not in the present time, but also in the past,
he died due to the indigestion of food.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahamadatta was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was
born as a parrot which lived in the forest of Himalaya. The Bodhisattva, soon, became
the king of thousands of parrots in the region, and soon, had a son. When the son of
the Bodhisattva turned into adulthood, the king of parrot and its wife were weakened,
and they could not fly to find food for a living as they used to do. Hence, their survival
totally was based on the support from their only son.

The parrot-son often took fruits for his parents. One day, from the top of the Himalaya
mountain, the parrot-son saw an island in which there were lots of mango trees, with
the ripening of the mangoes. The parrot-son immediately flew to the island to eat the
mangos, and after a satisfying time of eating the mangos, the parrot-son took a mango
back to its nest to give to his parents. After eating the mango, the father of the parrot-
son said to his son with a concerned voice:'' I guess that you took this mango from an
island which is not far from here. But, from now on, please stop getting there to take
foods as most of the parrots, which went to the island, could not return.``

Despite the caution of the father, the parrot-son still tried to get to the island the next
day, and unable to control his desire, he enjoyed eating the mangos. The parrot-son
flew from tree to tree to eat the mango, and he ate until he could not eat more. Finally,
he took a mango and tried to fly back to the mainland, to his nest. However, as it ate
too much, it could not fly smoothly. Just half of the way back to the mainland, the
parrot-son gradually flew down to the sea, and finally, it was caught by a giant fish.

Waiting for a long time but hearing no news from the only son, the parents of the
parrot-son knew that their son all died on the sea, so they were extremely gloomy.
They soon died as they had no food to survive.

Then the Buddha spoke the verse:

When the birds eat to much

Without the control of the desire

The birds sink into the sea

Shall never appear again

Then, it is vital to control the desire

Trying to free from the greed

Without the desire, the birds were sunk

With well control of desire, the birds had no trouble

After speaking the verse to summarize the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble
Truths, and many monks achieved First Entering Stream level, one-returning level and
none-returning level. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the parrot-son was the monk
who died due to the indigestion, and the king of parrot was him.

Jataka 256: Story of Jarudapana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the businessmen of Savatthi.

These businessmen bought products at Savatthi, and before heading to other regions
to sell their products, they paid a visit to the Buddha to receive the blessings from the
Buddha. Before they left Jetavana, they all promised to pay a visit to the Buddha when
they would return Savatthi:” Dear master. Now, we have to go for business, and we
shall pay a visit to you when we return to Savatthi.”
Then they left Savatthi to sell products in other regions. After selling out the products,
they returned to Savatthi, and on the way back, in a drought region, they had no water
to drink, so they suffered terribly. At that time, they saw an old well, but the well had
no water. Therefore, they decided to dig out to seek water. After they digged and took
off some soil, many jewels appeared from the bottom of the wells. They took off all the
jewels and shared them with each other before heading back to Savatthi.

When they arrived at Savatthi, they were extremely happy to immediately pay a visit
to the Buddha. During the visit, after offerings to the Buddha and monks, they sat down
and told the Buddha all what they encountered during the way back to Savatthi.

The Buddha looked at them and calmly encouraged them:” Dear men! You are well
controlled by desire, so you live happily. Those who are not well-controlled and even
don’t follow the instructions of the wise, often encounter troubles and dangers.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadattva was reigning Varavasi, Bodhisattva was
born in a business family, and he soon became the leader of the businessmen in the
town.

One day, on the way carrying the products to sell to other regions, they went through
a region which was extremely drought, and they saw old wells, without water. With a
desire to drink water, they tried to dig out the wells. Luckily, after taking off the surface
of the soils, they saw a lot of jewels, and they shared equally to each member.

When the leader of the business delegation forced people to hurry to return, other
businessmen, due to the attachment, tried to dig more to find more jewels. Their
digging actions, somehow, made the soils and stones fall down to the palace of the
snakes. The king of snakes was angry to blow the poison up to kill the businessmen,
but not the leader of the businessmen. Then the king of snakes ordered his servants
to drive the leader of businessmen with jewels back to Varanasi.

At Varanasi, the leader of the businessmen used his property to help people who were
poor, in need. He also tried to behave with morality and virtue.

Then the Buddha spoke the verse to summarize the story:

The businessmen who desired to have water

Digging out an old wells

Having a lots jewels

But due to the great greed

They continued to dig the wells

Made the snakes angry to kill them

Hence, be controlled your minds

With appropriate actions, there is lots of benefits

Over desire, they bring harmfulness!

After that the Buddha recognised that the king of snakes was Sariputta, and the leader
of the businessmen was him.

Jataka 257: Story of Gamani-Canda

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the laudation of the supreme wisdom of the
Buddha.

One day, at the Dharma-hall, the monks gathered to praise the wisdom of the Buddha:” Dear
venerables. The wisdom of the Buddha is great, and his wisdom has surpassed the human and
heaven realm.”

When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knowing the issue of the talk of monks, the
Buddha calmly said that:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, I already obtained
this kind of wisdom.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Janasanda was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was born as the
prince of the king, and she was given birth by the queen. The prince had the supreme beauty
which ordinary people did not have. His face looked purified and looked like the golden mirror,
so people often called him as the Adasa-Mukka ( The prince has the face as the mirror.”)
When the prince turned 16, the king invited the great masters to the palace to teach the prince
about Vedas and the duties which he had to do in life. After 7 years of learning, the prince
obtained all the skills and knowledge from his masters; however, at that time, he encountered
the suffering of the loss of his father. The officials held the ceremony for the king for 7 days,
and on the seventh day, an official said:” The prince is too young, and we have to challenge
him to know whether he is able to sit on the chair of power or not?”

They planned to invite the prince to come to the court for justice. At the court, they left money
which was well-trained to wear the robe of master, and the money pretended to be the great
master who was excellent about feng shui. And, the officials introduced the money to the
prince:” This is the great master of Feng-Shui, and he knows clearly where should or where
should not build up the house. Even though there are some disadvantages under the earth, he
also could comprehend. With his assistance, the palace was well-constructed. Hence, please
give him an job in the palace.``

The prince looked at the money wearing the robe, and he immediately recognised it was money.
Therefore, he spoke the verse:

It knows nothing about making house

As it is a money

Money cannot help to do construction

But it is likely to destroy all

The officials agreed to the prince, and they took the money back. Two days later, they wore
luxurious clothes for the money, and invited the prince to the court again. At the court, they
pointed at the money and said to the prince:” Dear the prince. In the time of your father king,
this man was a judge, so please appoint him to continue to work as a judge.”

The prince looked at the money wearing luxurious clothes, and he could recognise quickly it
was amoney. Therefore, he spoke the verse:

This is full of hairs

And lacking of wisdom

It is a animal

Cannot became a judge

As my father king talked

It knows nothing!

The officials were pleased when the prince recognised the money, but they did not stop their
challenge to the prince. They brought the money back, and the next day, they tried to make up
for the money. They again took it to meet the prince and said:” Dear prince! In the time of your
father king, she was the excellent maiden of the palace who served well to you parents. Please
receive her to work in the palace.”

The prince looked at the maiden, and he could rapidly recognise it was money, so the prince
said:” It is just money, and it cannot serve everyone.”

All the officials approved of the wisdom of the prince, and they soon organized the ceremony
to give the prince on the throne of power. During the time of ruling the nation, the new king
tried to rule the nation with royal dharmas so that his reputation was spread around India
rapidly.

During the rule of the new king, a servant of the king, namely Gamani-Canda decided to leave
the palace as he thought that the king was young and would have young people to work with
him. Canda left the palace and went to a rural area to live as a cow-taker for a rich family in
the region. The life of Canda in the rural area was smooth for years before the trouble came to
find him. One day, the owner of Canda lost all the cows, and they doubted that Canda stole the
cows, so they decided to take Canda to the palace to meet the king.

The cow-owner tried to take Canda to the palace, and on the way, due to the hunger, Canda
insisted the cow-owner let him pay a visit to his friend for food. With the agreement of the
cow-owner, Canda went to the house of his friend for a visit; however, his friend was not at
home, but the wife of his friend. Seeing Canda was hungry, the wife of Canda’ friend invited
Canda for meal, so she tried to climb up to a ladder to take the rice on the ceil of the house to
cook. Unluckily, she fell down and the fetus in her stomach was broken. At that time, his friend
just arrived at the gate of the house, and seeing his wife was in danger, he did not ask to
comprehend the issue but tried to take Canda to the palace to meet the king.

Then two men tried to take Canda to the palace for justice. When they just left, a horse ran
close to them, and a man required Canda to use something to make the horse run back. Canda
looked around, but he did not see everything, accepting a stone. Canda picked the stone up and
threw it toward the horse. Unluckily, as the force that Canda used to throw the stone was too
strong so that the stone broke a leg of the horse. So, the horse-owner also decided to take Canda
to the palace for justice.

When Canda and three other men were walking through a mountainside, Canda was threatened
as he had no money to pay for them in case the king forced him to pay for them. Hence, Canda
decided to jump down from the mountainside. However, Canda did not die as he fell on the
back of an old man who was making a mat at the hill of the mountain. But it was not the luck
of Canda, as the old man died after Canda fell on his back. The son of the old man cried loudly
and his cry attracted three other men to come. Finally, the son of the old man wanted to join
the group to the palace.

One the journey to the palace, Canda and other men met a former village leader. After knowing
that Canda would get to the palace, the former village leader asked Canda to help him to ask
the king a question:'' Dear Canda! I used to be a rich man, a healthy and beautiful man.
However, now I am too weak and poor. What is the reason for this? Please ask the king and let
me know the answer.

Canda agreed to help the former village leader to send a question to the king. Other people who
knew that Canda would help them to get wise answers from the king for their troubles, they
came to meet Canda to ask.

A prostitute asked Canda:” Dear Canda! Could you please help me to ask the king the reason
why when I was young, there were lots of men who tried to find and see me. I had many benefits
at that time. However, when I turned old, I lost everything.``

A young woman suffered to ask Canda for help:” Dear Canda! Right now, I cannot live happily
in my parents’ house as well as the house of my husband. What is the reason for this?”

A snake asked Canda to satisfy its wonder:'' Dear Canda. Could you help me to ask the king
the reason why when I am hungry but my body is not heavy, I have to try hard to move out to
find food. But after eating, my body becomes heavy but I can move very fast.``

A deer asked Canda:” Could you kindly help me to ask the king the reason why I cannot eat
grass in other regions, excepting the grass in this area.?”
A partridge asked Canda to help:'' Could you please help me to ask the king the reason why
when I park on the termite nest, I can sing with elegant and attractive sounds. Nevertherless, I
cannot make elegant and attractive sounds when I park on other places?”

A deity of a tree asked Canda:” Could you please help me to ask the king the reason why in
the past I had lots of benefits, but right now I have nothing.”

A king of snakes which lived under a lake asked Canda:'' Dear Canda! Could you please help
me to ask the king that why the water in this lake was pure in the past time, but right now it is
too polluted.?”

A ascetic monk ask Canda to help:”Can you generously ask the king the reason why the trees
in this garden were blossomed with sweet fruits, but recently the fruits taste too bitter.?”

A Brahmin who lived near the main gate of the palace asked Canda:” My friend. Can you
generously ask the king the reason why in the past, we studied suttas very fast and could
comprehend clearly the meaning of all suttas; however, recently, we cannot study suttas that
fast and cannot comprehend the meanings of suttas.”

Thus, Canda promised to bring 14 questions to meet the king for the answers. When Canda and
four other men entered the main shrine of the palace, the king, who was sitting on the high
chair, immediately recognized Canda, so the king asked:'' Dear Canda. Long time no see.
Where did you live? And what have you done? Why didn't you continue to live and work in
the palace?”

Canda told the king all that he had happened to him and the reason why he was at the palace.
The king, after comprehended all the issues surrounding the troubles of Canda, called the cow-
owner and asked him:'' Did you see Canda take the cows back to the trap?”

The cows-owner rapidly replied:” No. Dear majesty, no.”

The king looked at the cows-owner for a while and continued to ask:” You are lying to me.
Please remember that I have a face like a mirror.”

The cows-owner finally said:” Dear majesty. Yes. I did see Canda take the cows back to the
trap already.``
Then the king said:” Okay. So Canda was careless to make the cows lost, so he has to pay for
the cows. Nevertherless, as you saw the cows back to the trap, but you were lying to not see,
so you shall be Canda to punish with your eyes.``

The cows-owner worried for his eyes, so he said to Canda:'' Dear Canda. I will not get the
money from you, so please forgive for me.``

Then the king asked the Canda’s friend who his wife’s fetus was broken:” What is the issue
between you and Canda?”

The Canda’s friend said:” Dear majesty! He beated my wife so her fetus was broken.``

The king turned into Canda:” Is it true that you beated his wife?”

Canda rapidly:” No. No. Dear Majesty. I did not.``

The king then turned into Canda’s friend:” What do you want him to return to you?”

Canda’s friend said: “ I just want a son.”

The king turned to Canda and smiled:” Canda. Althoug you did nto beat his wife, but his wife
tried to cook for you, soshe had to cimb to the ladder and afterward she fell down. Now, his
wife wants a son. You have to take her back to your house, and try to help her to have a son.”

After hearing the justice from the king, Canda’s friend gave Canda some golden coins and
said:” It is okay. The problem between you and me is over here.``

Then the king asked the horse-owner:” Is it true that you required Canda to use something to
threaten your horse to run back?”

At first the horse-owner denied, but when the king asked the second time, he had to accept that
he required Canda to do so. Hence, the king judged that:” Canda, you broke the leg of his horse,
you have to return him 1000 golden coins. I will lend you this money. In turns of this man, he
was lying to me, so please cut his toungue down.”

The horse-owner was extremely worried, so he gave Canda some money and ran away. Then,
the king turned into the son who had father died:” What do you want Canda to return to you?”

The young son of the old man:” Dear majesty! I just want Canda to give my father back.``
The king turned into Canda:'' Dear Canda! This young boy needs a father, so if you get married
with his mom, you shall be his father. It is the best way for you to return to his requirement.``

The son of the old man worried, so he gave Canda some money and immediately ran away.
Then Canda asked the king:'' Dear majesty! I have some questions on behalf of others to ask
you. Could you kindly help them to answer them?”

The king looked at Canda and calmly said:” Dear Canda. It is fine. I will give the answers to
all the questions that you are going to give me.``

Then Canda tried to ask questions that others asked him to help. Canda did not start the question
of the former village leader, but he began with the question of the Brahmin and the question of
the former village leader was the last question which was given to the king.

For the question of the Brahmin, the king said :” In the past, in their house, there was a male
chicken which crowded in time, and when this chicken crowed, all the people woke up to study,
so they could remember the suttas clearly. But, recently, the new male chicken crowned
wrongly, as it crowded earlier or later, so the people often woke up earlier or later, and they
could not focus on the study well. This is the reason why they could not remember the suttas
well.”

To relate to the question of the ascetic monk, the king said:” Before, the monks who lived in
the garden practiced the Dharmas well and they lived with the right livelihood. However,
recently, they lived with the wrong livelihood. They gave the fruits to the servants. So, when
they return to the right livelihood and right practice, the fruits will turn to be sweet again.”

To the question of the king of the snake, the king said:” Because the kings of snakes which
lived under the lake often fight each other. Their fighting has made the water polluted. If they
stop fighting and live in harmony with each other, the water will return to be pure and clean
again.

To the question of a deity of the tree, the king said:” In the past, this deity often protected the
people who entered the forest for work, so people often offered food to her. But, recently, she
stopped doing that work, so nobody offered anything to her.”

To the question of the partridge bird, the king said that:” Inside the termite nest which the
partridge often parks on to sing, there are lots of jewels.”
To the question of the deer, the king said:” On the tree where the deer often get to eat grass,
there is a nest of bees. The honey often falls down to the grass, and the deer often eat this kind
of grass. For a long time, the deer is addicted to this kind of grass, and the deer cannot eat the
other kind of grass.”

Relating to the question of the snake which lived in a termite nest, the king said:” The snake
tried to protect the jewels inside the nest, so it is hard for the snake to leave the nest to find
food. But, after eating, as the attachment to the jewels, it can move very fast.”

To the question of the young woman, the king said:” Between the house of her husband and
her parents’ house, there is the house of her lover. She often lived with her lover for a few days
before paying a visit to her parents, and vice versa. Please tell her that the national law strictly
punished this wrong behavior. Tell her to stop her wrong action.”

To the question of the prostitute, the king said that:” In the past, she often stayed together with
only one man, so the man was like to pay for her. But, recently, she changed her principle, as
she did not continue this principle of life. She is likely to receive money from others when she
still has to serve others. So, for time, the men do not want to pay for her.”

To the question of the former village leader, the king said:” In the past, he was a justice judge,
so people loved to give him lots of benefits, such as money and gifts. However, recently, he
was corrupted so much that people hated him. “

So, with the great wisdom, the king gave answers to all the questions of Canda. After that,
Canda transferred the answers of the king to those who asked him to seek the answers from the
king. The king gav Canda lots of benefits, such as gold coins, clothes and properties, and the
king also gave Canda to be the leader of his villager. All Canda and the king used the rest of
their lives to cultivate virtue, and they reborned into heaven after passing away.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble Truths, and a number of monks
obtained Entering Stream level, one-returning level, none-returning level and Arhathood.
Finally, the Buddha recognised that Gamani-Canda was Ananda, and the king with great
wisdom was him.

Jataka 258: Story of Mandahata

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who lost his determination in
practice. One day, the monk went out for work, and he saw a beautiful girl. When he
got back, his mind was attached to the beauty of the girl so that he could not get back
to his practice.

The issue of this young monk was rapidly spread around Jetavana. When the monk
was brought to meet the Buddha, the Buddha calmly said to him and others:” Dear
monks! Desire is limitless. When you were in family life, were you even satisfied with
your desire? The desire is like the ocean, and it is difficult to satisfy it. Even the Dharma
king, Cakkavatti, who controlled all four continents, or even the Sakka, king of all gods
and goddesses, also have never satisfied their desire. Hence, how come you can
satisfy your desire?”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Mahasammata was the first king of the world, the king
had a son, namely Roja. Roja had a son, namely Vararoja, and Vararoja had a son,
namely Kalyana. Kalyana had a son, which was named Varakalyana, and Varakalyana
had a son, namely Uposatha. Uposatha has a son, namely Madhata. Madhata was
the Cakkavatin of the world, and he had enough 7 jewels, together with four great wise
officials to support him.

The king Madhata had great virtue and power, so whenever he wanted, he could make
the rain of jewels. And, he ruled four continents with limitless time. One day, he was
sorrowful and the officials asked him:” Dear Majesty! What happened to you? You look
sorrowful.”

The king rapidly wondered:” In this world, where is the place that is suitable to my
virtue?”

An official replied quickly:” Dear majesty. It would be heaven.”

So, the king used his powerful vehicle, together with his servants, to get to the heaven
Catumaharajika. Four kings of four directions of the Catumaharajika came to welcome
the king, and gave him to be the king of the Catumaharajika heaven. The king Madhata
ruled the Catumaharajika heaven for a very long time, and he began to feel bored, so
he asked his officials:” Is there another place which is more beautiful than this place?”

The officials said to the king:’ Dear majesty. There is the 33rd heaven where the
Sakka, king of gods and goddess are ruling. The realm of Sakka is more beautiful than
this realm.”

The king Madhata used his powerful vehicle, and together with his servants flew up to
the 33rd heaven. The Sakka, king og gods and goddess, came out to welcome him,
and gave him half of his nation. Madhata lived together with the Sakka until the Sakka
passed away, when he reached 36 millions years old. Also, 36 kings of gods and
goddesses passed away, but Madhata was still alive. One day, he desired to kill Sakka
to control all the 33rd heaven. Due to his bad thoughts, his body turned old rapidly, but
as he was a normal person, he could not die in heaven. Therefore, he fell down to the
earth, in the garden of the palace.

A worker who took care of the garden recognised the king Madhata, so she informed
the current king which was the son of Mandhata. The relatives of king Madhata
immediately arrived at the garden to meet the king Madhata, and seeing the king was
too weak, they asked:” Dear Majesty. What shall you give us before you pass away?”

The king calmly looked at his relative and said:” Dear all. After I die, please inform all
people that everything is impermanent. Even I had ruled this world for long time before
I became the king of the Catumaharajika heaven and even I have lived long with the
time of 36 king of Sakka lived, now, I am getting to die soon.”

After telling the story, the Buddha said that:” Desire is limitless. Even the king Madhata
ruled half of the 33 rd heaven, he was not satisfied with his desire. So, only trying to
get rid of the desire is a superior way of living.”

Then the Buddha continued to talk about Four Noble Truths, and the monk who lost
his determination in practice and many other monks obtained the first Entering Stream
level during the talk. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the king Madhata was him.

Jataka 259: Story of Virita-Vaccha

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the event in which Venerable Ananda
was offered 1000 valuable pieces of cloth. 500 were from the queen and maidens of
the king Kosal, and 500 pieces of cloth were offered to venerable Ananda by the king
Kosala, himself.

On this occasion, the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was
born in a Brahmin family in Kasi, and he was named Tirita-Vaccha. When Tirita turned
16, he went to Takkasila to study, and upon his graduation, he got married and had
his own family. However, after his parents passed away, he realized that life is
impermanent, so he left his family for the ascetic practiced life in the forest near to the
bordering area. For years, he supported himself by fruits and vegetables in the forest.

One day, the king led his army to fight the rebels in the bordering area, and the king
was lost in a battle with the rebels. However, luckily, the elephant carrying the king
rapidly ran into the forest, with the king on his neck. The elephant walked to the cottage
of Vitira, but Vitira left the house to get food. The king took off the elephant and went
to the wells to get water to drink. However, he could not find the bucket and the rope
to take water out from the deep wells, so he took off the seat bell on the elephant too
tight with his upper-cloth to make a long rope to climb down to the wells. However, the
rope that he made was not long enough for him to take the water from the wells, so,
in the extreme thirst, he jumped down to the wells to satisfy his thirst.

After satisfying the thirst, the king encountered the new trouble that he could not get
up from the wells. The elephant was well-trained, so it just stood near the well to wait
for the king. In the afternoon, Virita returned to his cottage, and seeing the elephant of
the king standing by the wells, he knew that the king was in the wells. Immediately, he
walked close to the wells to save the king. The ascetic monk used a ladder for the king
to climb up and he used oil to massage the king.

When the king left, the king insisted on having the monk return the capital together
with him. At the capital, the king ordered servants to make a cottage for the monk in
the garden and let the monk get into the palace to eat the special foods arranged for
him.
Day by day, other servants and officials were jealous about the special treat of the king
to the monk, so they went to meet the prince who was the vice-ruler of the nation to
show their emotion. The prince agreed to them, and the prince went to meet the king
with the verse:

I see this person

Have no wisdom actually

Are not our relatives

Or our close friends

Why this ascetic monk?

Namely Virita-Vaccha

Have nothing, no benefits

But giving special treats here!

The king looked at the prince and calmly said:” Did you remember that one time, I went
to the bordering area to fight against the rebels, and I got lost in the forest for two
days.?”

The prince rapidly replied:” Dear dad. I remember well.”

Then the king slowly said:” This monk saved my life when I got into trouble in the
forest, so if he agrees I can give him all this nation. Even though he accepted to take
this nation, his help to me is still too great to return to him.”

Then the king continued to talk about the virtue of the ascetic monk as he tried to make
the moon appear beautifully in the sky. From that time, the virtue of the ascetic monk
was comprehended by all people in the nation. The prince and other servants of the
king also changed his attitude to pay great respect to the ascetic monk. The king used
the rest of his life to rule the nation with royal dharmas under the advice of the ascetic
monk.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the king was Ananda, and the
ascetic monk was him.

Jataka 260: Story of Duta

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a monk who was too greedy in eating.

When this greedy monk came to meet the Buddha, the Buddha calmly talked to him:”
Dear my student! In the past, due to greed, you were in danger, so now, you should
be able to control your desire.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was
born as the prince of the king. When the prince turned 16, he was well-educated in
Takkasila, and a few years after his graduation, his father passed away, and he was
given the throne of power of the nation.

The new king of Varanasi was a food lover, and he loved to eat all kinds of luxurious
foods. Therefore, people often called him the King of Food Lover. Because the king
only ate the special and luxurious foods, it cost about 100 golden coins to prepare
each meal for him. Not only that, the king loved to show the people of Varanasi about
the foods that he had eaten, so he ordered servants to make a luxurious house at the
center of the town. At the center of this luxurious house, there was a special table and
chairs where the king and his princesses often gathered for meals.

During the time the king and his princesses came to have meals at the special house
in the center of the town, one day, there was a glutton who came to observe the
luxurious meals of the king. Seeing the delicious foods on the table, this glutton could
not control his desire, so disguised as a postman in order to come close to the king.
After disguising as a postman, he shouted loudly:” Please step aside. I am the
message sender.”

To hear the loud voice of the glutton, the crowd rapidly stepped into two sides to give
the way for the glutton to enter. The glutton walked quickly toward the table on which
there were various kinds of delicious foods. When the glutton was close to the table,
he did not care for the king, but rapidly took the foods on the table to eat. A soldier
who stood beside the king tended to take out his sword to kill the glutton. However,
the king rapidly used his hand to give the signal to stop the soldier.
The king waited until the glutton was totally full, and then the king invited the glutton
to drink water and to eat betel nut. Afterward, the king calmly asked:” Dear servant!
Who sent you here to meet me? And What are you gonna tell me?”

The glutton used all his courage to say to the king:” Dear majesty. I am the messenger
of desire. The desire sent me here to meet you.” Then the glutton spoke the verse to
express his idea:

Due to the stomach

People have to do everything

Even associate with enemies

To receive the benefits

I am the messenger of my stomach

Please, kindly to me

Dear great Majesty

As nights and day time

All people on this earth

Being controlled by the stomach

The king agreed with the explanation of the glutton, so he stood up and talked loudly
toward the crowd:” He is right. He is the messenger of his stomach. To serve the
stomach, people have to work hard.”

Then the king spoke the verse to express his thought toward the glutton:

Dear Brahmin, the wise

Giving you one thousand female cows

Together one thousand male cows

As the gift between the messengers

As you and I all are the messengers of the stomach

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble Truths, and during the talk
of the Buddha, the monk who was greedy to eat obtained none-returning level. A
number of other monks achieved Entering Stream level and One-Returning level.
Finally, the Buddha recognized that the glutton was the monk who was greedy to eat,
and the king who was a lover of luxurious foods was him.

Jataka 261: Story of Paduma

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about the events in which some monks tried to offer
flowers to the Bodhi-tree- Ananda which was planted at the front gate of Jetavana by Venerable
Ananda.

The event in which Venerable planted a Bodhi tree at the main gate of Jetavana was spread
around India, and some monks from rural area, one day, paid a visit to Jetavana, purposingly
to offer flowers to the Bodhi-tree of Venerable Ananda. When they arrived at Jetavana, they
went to a flower store nearby Jetavana to buy flowers to offer the Bodhi-tree. However, they
were not successful in buying flowers, as the sellers did not want to sell the flowers to them.
So, they suffered to return Jetavana to meet Venerable Ananda to explain their trouble:” Dear
Venerable. We want to offer flowers to the Bodhi-tree that you planted, so we went to the stores
selling flowers nearby but they did not sell flowers to us.”

Venerable Ananda pacified them:” Don’t worry. Just wait here. I will get flowers for all of
you.”

Then Venerable Ananda went to the stores selling flowers, and just a moment later, Venerable
Ananda returned, holding lots of blue lotus flowers. Venerable Ananda shared the lotus flowers
to all the monks in order to let them have flowers to offer Bodhi-tree before returning to their
residing place.

The news about this event rapidly spread around Jetavana, and the next morning, the monks
gathered at the Dharma-hall, talking about this miracle power of Venerable Ananda:” Dear all!
Some venerable monks from rural areas came to Jetavana, and they could not get flowers to
offer the Bodhi-tree. However, in the same direction, Venerable Ananda went there, and got
lots of lotus flowers.”
When the Buddha entered the Dharma-hall, and knowing the issue of the discussion of monks,
the Buddha said:” It is not in the present time, but also in the past, those who were well-behaved
in communication were easy to get flowers and other things.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadattva reigned in Varanasi, Bodhisattva was a millionaire
who lived in the town. In the town, there was a giant lake which was planted with beautiful
lotus flowers, and a man, who was injured in the nose, had the responsibility to take good care
of the lake and the flowers as well.

The millionaire had three sons, and on an official festival of the nation, the three young men
wanted to have lotus flowers in order to make garlands to wear to enjoy the festival. Then, they
decided to pay a visit to the lotus lake. When they saw the taker of the lake, a young man
rapidly said:

As the hairs and beards

Grow again after cutting

Wish your nose will recover soon

Please let us some flowers

The taker of the lotus lake was extremely angry, and he refused to give them any flowers. Then
the second man tried to convince to taker of the lotus lake with the other verse:

Similar to the seeds

Planting in the soil

Soon grow up the new trees

Likely your nose is

Please give us some flowers

The taker turned his face red, and still refused to give them any flowers. Then the last man tried
to convince the taker by the other verse:

These two are not honored

They desire to have lotus flowers

Saying without logics

The nose is not similar to those

Dear friend! Please give us some flowers

The taker of lotus lake agreed to what the last man said:” Dear friend! You are honored, so I
shall give you some lotus flowers as you deserve for this.” Then the taker harvested some lotus
flowers to give to the man who was honored in talking.

After telling the story, the Buddha recognised that the son of a millionaire who obtained the
lotus flowers from the lake-taker was him.

Jataka 262: Story of Mudupani

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a young monk who lost his determination in
practice. When the young monk went to meet the Buddha, the Buddha asked him:” Dear
student! What has made you lose your determination in practicing Dharma?”

The young monk shyly replied to the Buddha:” Dear master! The beauty of a young girl has
attracted me, and I cannot continue to focus on my practice.”

The Buddha calmly said to the monk:” It is hard to control the desire of women, so you cannot
control them to run following their attachment. Even the wise men, in the past, also could not
control their daughters to run following the desire. Even when their father still took their hands,
they still could run following their lovers.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, Bodhisattva was born as the
prince who was the son of the king and the queen. When the prince grew up into an adult, he
was well-educated in Takkasila, and after he completed his study, he returned to Varanasi to
continue to rule Varanasi after his father passed away.

The new king had a daughter and his princess sister had a son, so the two kids played and grew
up together. One day, the king said to all officials:” Dear servants! After I die, my nephew will
be the new king of the nation, and my daughter, the only princess, shall be the queen of the
nation.”
A few years later, the king changed his mind, so he said to the officials:” Dear servants. I
already thought properly, and decided to give my daughter to get married with a prince of
another nation, and my nephew to get married with a princess of another nation. Due to these
actions, my relatives shall be increased.”

All the officials again agreed with the king:” Dear majesty! Your idea is great.”

But it was difficult to carry out his plan, as his daughter and his nephew already fell in love
with each other. So, the king decided to send his nephew to stay out of the palace until he died.
His daughter had to live in the palace and could not leave the palace for any reasons.

When the nephew of the king lived outside of the palace, he extremely missed the princess, hsi
lover, so he tried to contact a maiden who had taken good care of him and the princess. The
nephew of the king sent the message to the princess that he missed her too much, but he had
no way to take her out of the palace.

When the maiden let the princess to know the message of her lover, she spoke a verse and
required the maiden transfer this verse to her lover:

With a soft hand

A well-trained elephant

In a dark time

Suitable time to do it!

After hearing the verse, the nephew of the king rapidly understood the plan that the princess
desired him to do, so he tried to find a young man with soft hands and a well-trained elephant.
The nephew of the king waited for days, and one day, the bakc clouds covered the sky, with
heavy rain. The nephew of the king put the young man with soft hands on the elephant and
moved toward the palace, standing near the room of the princess.

Standing at the window, the nephew of the king tried to inform his lover, the princes, that he
had already arrived. So, the princess asked the king to take a shower. At night time, to worry
that the princess would escape to follow her lover, the king always monitored all actions of the
princess. When the princess asked to take a shower at night time, the king took the hand of the
princess to the bathroom, and the king stood outside to wait for the princess. During the time,
when the princess entered the bathroom, the nephew of the king tried to force the young man
with soft hands to enter the bathroom from the window, and the princess took off all her
wearing jewels to give the young man to wear. Then, the young man wore the clothes of the
prince before getting out of the bathroom. In the dark, the king took the soft hand of the young
man, but he did not recognize it. The king took the young man to the room and returned to his
room to take a rest. The princess waited for a while, and then she escaped from the window to
follow her lover.

The next morning, when the king paid a visit to the room of her daughter, he was surprised as
there was no princess in the room but a young man. The young man threatened to tell the king
the plan of the princess and the nephew of the king. The king then thought:” The women are
difficult to control, as I tried to hold her hand, but she still could escape to follow her lover.”

Then the king agreed for her daughter and his nephew to get back to their love. The marriage
of the prince and his nephew was soon organized, and they soon became the king and the queen
of Varanasi.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble Truths, and during the talk of the
Buddha, the young monk who lost his determination in practice obtained First Entering Stream
level. Finally, the Buddha recognised that the clever king in the story was him.

Jataka 263: Story of Culla-Palobhana

The Buddha told this story at Jetavana, about a young monk who lost his determination in
practicing Dharma because he was attached to the beauty of a girl.

When the Buddha knew the issue of the monk, the Buddha called him and said:” The women
are likely to stain the minds of the wise men. So, you should be able to escape from their
attachment.”

Then the Buddha told a story:

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta was reigning Varanasi, the king did not have any
prince, so he organized a ceremony in which he and all his wives prayed to the gods to assist
them to have a son.

The prayer of the king was accepted by a god who lived in the Brahma realm. The god, who
was going to end his lifespan in the Brahma realm, decided to be born as the son of the queen
and the king. When the prince was born, he cried loudly when the maiden held him, but he
immediately kept silent when he was given to a male servant. From that time, the prince was
taken care by male servants in the palace, and until he turned 16, he still could not get close or
see women. The king made a special house for the prince to stay in.

However, the king was not happy and worried:” I have only one prince, but he is not attached
to the normal life, so he will not be able to rule this nation when I die. It is better to help him
to get rid of his practice and return to normal life.”

The king, in the town, ordered servants to find an elegant and beautiful girl who was excellent
in singing and dancing. The king promised to this girl:” If you can attract the prince to return
to normal life, you shall be the queen of the nation when my son is on the throne of power.”

The next day, she stood near the house of the prince to sing a song. Her elegant voice really
attracted the prince. And, the prince required her to stand in front of his house to sing a song.
Soon, the prince required her to enter his house to sing. Finally, the prince was in love with this
singer. All the emotional thoughts of the normal men raised in his mind. The prince worried
that the other men would take his lover, so he used a sword to threaten all the men who came
close to this singer.

But, feeling that, living in the palace with a crowd of men was threatening his love, so he took
the singer to the forest. They survived by the fruits and leaves in the forest. In the morning, the
prince often went to the deep forest to collect food, while his wife stayed at home to cook
meals.

One day, when the prince just got out for food, an ascetic monk was flying in the sky, seeing
the smoke coming out from the deep forest. The monk landed for food. The wife of the prince
saw the ascetic monk, she was happy and said:” Dear master! Please wait for a while. I am
cooking, and the food shall be ready for you.”

The ascetic monk sat down to wait, and when he looked at the wife of the prince, her beauty
attracted his mind. The mind of the ascetic monk was stained with desire. When the meal was
ready, the prince returned to the cottage. Seeing the ascetic monk, the prince held the sword
and shouted loudly, while running rapidly toward the monk. The monk was scared of the prince,
and he tried to fly up but he could not as all his power disappeared. Hence, he ran toward the
gulf to escape. When he arrived at the gulf, and seeing the prince still running following him,
the monk used all his courage to jump down to the deep gulf.

When the prince ran close to the gulf, and recognised the robe of the monk of the jumping man,
the prince immediately knew:” He should be a monk who flew here by power of mediation.
Unfortunately, he was attached to the beauty of my wife and lost all his power. So, I have to
save him.``

Then the prince spoke the verse:

With power of mediation

You came here for alms

In the early morning

Associated with the beautiful woman

You lost all power

You now fell down to the sea

The beauty of women are not impermanent

The beauty shall be disappeared by time

The wises understand this truth

Shall be liberated from attachment!

Hearing the verse from the prince, the ascetic monk rapidly recovered his power of meditation
and flew up to return to his place. The prince, based on this experience, knew that attachment
is tightening people's suffering, so when he returned to the cottage, he took his wife back to the
town of Varanasi. Then, he went to the deep forest to live as an ascetic monk. Soon, he obtained
the fruits of meditation.

After telling the story, the Buddha talked about Four Noble Truths to the young monk who lost
his determination in practice, and the young monk obtained the First Entering Stream Level.
Finally, the Buddha recognised that the prince in the story was him.