Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources)

by W. R. S. Ralston | 1906 | 134,175 words

This page related the story of “the jackal hanged by the ox” from those tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) found in the Kah-gyur (Kangyur or Kanjur). This represents part of the sacred Tibetan canon of Buddhist literature. Many of such stories correspond to similar legends found in the West, or even those found in Polynesia.

Chapter 37 - The Jackal hanged by the Ox

[Source: Kah-gyur, iv. f. 293.]

In long-past times, there lived in a certain hill-town a householder, who possessed an ox marked with signs. Śramaṇas, Brahmans, kinsmen, the poor, the helpless, the needy, and the sick provided it with sustenance, and it could wander about at its pleasure. One day, as it was roaming about, it got into a certain swamp. Towards sunset came the householder, who had heard of this, and was looking for it. As he could not get it out at the moment, he determined to do so next morning. But the ox said, “Fling me a noose, and then go away. If a jackal comes, I will pick up the noose with my horns and throw it over him. The householder flung a noose in front of the ox and went away.

In the course of the night up came a jackal, and said, “Who is it that is tearing up these lotus roots and white lotuses?”

The ox replied, “It is I. Here I am, stuck fast in the swamp.”

The jackal thought it had found a feast, and prepared to do the ox an injury. The ox said, “Get away from here; harm and disgrace might come upon you.” But as there was no driving away the jackal, and he was still bent upon injuring as before, the ox uttered this verse—

“No lotus roots do I tear up, nor white lotuses either. If thou wishes! for food mount upon my back, there wilt thou find food.”

Full of gluttony, the jackal got on the back of the ox. But the ox flung the noose with its horn, caught the jackal round the neck, and let him hang in the air. The ox uttered this verse—

“Art thou Jakara the dancing-master, or art thou one who is learning to dance? In the forest are no fees paid; arts are taught in cities.”

The jackal also uttered a verse in reply—

“Not the dancing-master Jakara am I, nor one who is learning to dance. As Śakara has provided a ladder, I betake myself to Brahma’s world.”

The ox rejoined likewise in verse—

“Śakara has not provided a ladder; still less is there any question about going to Brahma’s world. As thou hast been laid in the fetters of contrivance, thou wilt never see thyself saved.”

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