Jataka 395: Kāka-jātaka

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"Our old friend," etc.—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a greedy Brother. The occasion is as above.

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Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was a pigeon and lived in a nest-basket in the kitchen of a Benares merchant. A crow became intimate with him and lived there also. Here the story is to be expanded. The cook pulled out the crow’s feathers and sprinkled him with flour, then piercing a cowrie he hung it on the crow’s neck and threw him into a basket. The Bodhisatta came from the wood, and seeing him made a jest and spoke the first stanza:—

Our old friend! look at him!
    A jewel bright he wears;
His beard in gallant trim,
    How gay our friend appears!

[315] The crow hearing him spoke the second stanza:—

My nails and hair had grown so fast,
    They hampered me in all I did:
A barber came along at last,
    And of superfluous hair I'm rid.

Then the Bodhisatta spoke the third stanza:—

Granted you got a barber then,
    Who has cropped your hair so well:
Round your neck, will you explain,
    What’s that tinkling like a bell?

Then the crow uttered two stanzas:—

Men of fashion wear a gem
    Round the neck: it’s often done:
I am imitating them:
    Don't suppose it’s just for fun.

If you're really envious
    Of my beard that’s trimmed so true:
I can get you barbered thus;
    You may have the jewel too.

The Bodhisatta hearing him spoke the sixth stanza:—

Nay, ’tis you they best become,
    Gem and beard that’s trimmed so true.
I find your presence troublesome:
    I go with a good-day to you.

[316] With these words he flew up and went elsewhere; and the crow died then and there.

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After the lesson, the Master declared the Truths and identified the Birth:—After the Truths, the greedy Brother was established in the fruition of the Third Path: "At that time the crow was the greedy Brother, the pigeon was myself."

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Cf. no. 42, vol. i.; no. 274, vol. ii.