In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The Bodhisatta was once an elephant in the Himalaya, head of a herd of eighty thousand. His name was Silava. One day he saw a forester of Benares who had lost his way, and, feeling compassion for him, took him to his own dwelling, fed him with all kinds of fruit, and then, taking him to the edge of the forest, set him on his way to Benares. The wretched man noted all the landmarks, and, on reaching the city, entered into an agreement with ivory workers to supply them with Silavas tusks. He then returned to the forest and begged Silava for a part of his tusks, pleading poverty and lack of livelihood. Silava allowed the ends of his tusks to be sawn off. The man returned again and again, until, at last, Silava allowed him to dig out the stumps as well. As the man was on his way back to Benares, the earth opened and swallowed him up into the fires of hell. A tree sprite, who had witnessed all this, spoke a stanza illustrating the evils of ingratitude.

The story was related in reference to Devadattas wickedness; he is identified with the forester and Sariputta with the tree sprite (J.i.319-22; the story is referred to in the Milinda Panha, p.202).

The birth as Silava is mentioned among those in which the Bodhisatta practised sila paramita to perfection. E.g., MA.ii.617.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Jataka.

Full-text: Silava.

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