Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Religion
Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Jataka stories, English
he, offering up himself, acquired the Supreme Perfection, called the
Perfection of Goodness.
In like manner there is no limit to existences--as, for instance, in
the times when he was the prince Somanassa, and the prince Hatthipāla,
and the wise man Ayoghara--in which, forsaking his kingdom, he
fulfilled the Perfection of Renunciation. So, certainly, in the
Cūla-Sutasoma Birth, according to the words,
261. The kingdom, which was in my power, like spittle I rejected it,
And, rejecting, cared not for it, such is my Perfection of
Renunciation,
he, renouncing the kingdom for freedom from the ties of sin,[170]
acquired the Supreme Perfection, called the Perfection of Renunciation.
In like manner, there is no limit to the existences--as, for instance,
in the times when he was the wise man Vidhūra, and the wise man
Mahā-govinda, and the wise man Kuddāla, and the wise man Araka, and the
ascetic Bodhi, and the wise man Mahosadha--in which he fulfilled the
Perfection of Wisdom. So, certainly, in the time when he was the wise
man Senaka in the Sattubhatta Birth, according to the words,
262. Searching the matter out by wisdom, I set the brahman free from
pain,
There is no one like me in wisdom; such is my Perfection of
Wisdom,
he, pointing out the snake which had got into the bellows, acquired the
Supreme Perfection called the Perfection of Wisdom.
So, certainly, in the Mahā-Janaka Birth, according to the words,
263. Out of sight of the shore, in the midst of the waters, all men
are as if dead,
There is no other way of thinking; such is my Perfection of
Resolution,
he, crossing the Great Ocean, acquired the Supreme Perfection called
the Perfection of Resolution.
And so in the Khantivāda Birth, according to the words,
264. Even when he struck me with a sharp axe, as if I were a
senseless thing,
I was not angry with the king of Kāsi; such is my Perfection
of Patience,
he, enduring great sorrow as if he were a senseless thing, acquired the
Perfection of Patience.
And so in the Mahā-Sutasoma Birth, according to the words,
265. Guarding the word of Truth, and offering up my life,
I delivered the hundred warriors; such is my Perfection of Truth,
he, offering up his life, and observing truth, obtained the Perfection
of Truth.
And in the Mūgapakkha Birth, according to the words,
266. Father and mother I hated not, reputation I hated not,
But Omniscience was dear to me, therefore was I firm in duty,
offering up even his life, and being resolute in duty, he acquired the
Perfection of Resolution.
And so in the Ekarāja Birth, according to the words,
267. No man terrifies me, nor am I in fear of any man;
Firm in the power of kindness, in purity I take delight,
regarding not even his life while attaining to kindness, he acquired
the Perfection of Good-will.
So in the Somahaŋsa Birth, according to the words,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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