Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Religion
Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Jataka stories, English
And Pleasing also changed her form of existence, and was reborn as one
of his attendants. And in consequence of her gift of the pond, there
arose for her a pond under the name of ‘Pleasing.’
But since Well-born had done no act of virtue, she was reborn as a
female crane in a pool in a certain forest. And Sakka said to himself,
“There’s no sign of Well-born. I wonder where she can have got to!” And
he considered the matter till he discovered her.
Then he went to the place, and brought her back with him to heaven, and
showed her the delightful city with the Hall of Piety, and Thoughtful’s
Creeper Grove, and the Pond of Pleasing. And he then exhorted her, and
said--
“These did works of charity, and have been born again as my attendants;
but you, having done no such works, have been reborn as an animal.
Henceforward live a life of righteousness!”
And thus confirming her in the Five Commandments, he took her back, and
then dismissed her. And from that time forth she lived in righteousness.
A few days afterwards, Sakka went to see whether she was able to keep
good, and he lay on his back before her in the form of a fish. Thinking
it was dead, the crane seized it by the head. The fish wagged its tail.
“It’s alive, I think!” exclaimed she, and let it go.
“Good! Good!” said Sakka, “You are well able to keep the Commandments.”
And he went away.
When she again changed her form of existence, she was born in a
potter’s household in Benares. Sakka, as before, found out where she
was, and filled a cart with golden cucumbers, and seated himself in the
middle of the village in the form of an old woman, calling out, “Buy my
cucumbers! Buy my cucumbers!”
The people came up and asked for them.
“I sell,” said she, “only to those who live a life of righteousness. Do
you live such a life?”
“We don’t know anything about righteousness. Hand them over for money!”
said they.
“I want no money; I will only give to the righteous,” was her reply.
“This must be some mad woman!” said they, and left her.
But when Well-born heard what had happened, she thought, “This must be
meant for me!” and went and asked for some cucumbers.
“Do you live a righteous life, lady?” was the question.
“Certainly, I do,” said she.
“It’s for your sake that I brought these here,” replied the old woman;
and leaving all the golden cucumbers, and the cart too, at the door of
the house, she departed.
* * * * *
And Well-born still continued in righteousness to the end of that life;
and when she changed her existence, she became the daughter of a Titan
named ‘The Son of Misunderstanding;’ but in consequence of her virtue
she became exceeding beautiful.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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