Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “jataka of the bird that broke a net” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
Jātaka of the bird that broke a net
Note: Unidentified Jātaka.
Once (bhūtapūrvam) the Bodhisattva was a bird (pakṣin) living in the forest. He saw a man sunk in the deep water, a place not frequented by people. The man [308a] had been caught in the net (jāla) of the deity of the waters (udakadevatā). Now whoever is taken by this net does not escape. The bird knew the means to liberate him. He went to the Perfumed Mountain (gandhamādana), took a medicinal plant (oṣadhi) and spread it over the net; the mesh of the net broke and the man was able to escape.