The Gâtakamâlâ; Or, Garland of Birth-StoriesAryasura
Religion
The Gâtakamâlâ; Or, Garland of Birth-Stories
Aryasura
Gautama Buddha -- Pre-existence
The story of the Brâhman has the appearance of being the clumsy
invention of some monk engaged in giving lessons of morality and in
want of some story to illustrate the sinfulness of theft. I can
scarcely believe it forms part of the old stock of traditional
tales and folklore, as little as the story of the sacrifice (X). In
its parallel in the Pâli _G_âtaka, No. 305, sîlavîma_m_sana_g_âtaka
(Fausb. III, pp. 18, 19), the old teacher's trial of his disciples
is better accounted for.
XIII. THE STORY OF UNMÂDAYANTÎ.
(Cp. Pâli _G_âtaka, No. 529; Fausb. V, 210-227.)
Even when sick with heavy sorrow, the virtuous are disinclined to follow
the road of the low-minded, being prevented from such actions by the
firmness of their constancy[112]. This will be taught as follows.
[112] Compare the note on p. 44.
In the time when the Bodhisattva by the practice of his surpassing
virtues, veracity, liberality, tranquillity of mind, wisdom &c., was
exerting himself for the benefit of the creatures, he was, it is said, a
king of the _S_ibis, behaving like the embodied Righteousness and
Discipline, and being intent on promoting the welfare of his subjects
like a father.
1. Being withheld from sinful actions and put in the possession of
virtues by their king, (who was solicitous of their true happiness) as a
father is of his son's, his people rejoiced both in this world and in
the next.
2. For his administration of justice followed the path of righteousness,
and made no difference between kinsmen and the rest of his subjects. It
obstructed for his people the road of wickedness, and accordingly
became, so to speak, a flowery ladder to Heaven.
3. Perceiving the welfare of the creatures to be the effect of
righteousness, this ruler of men knew no other purpose than this. With
all his heart he delighted in the path of righteousness, and did not
allow others to violate its precepts.
Now in the capital of that king one of the principal townsmen had a
daughter of surpassing beauty, the acknowledged pearl of womanhood. The
ravishing loveliness of her figure and charms made her appear like the
embodied goddess _S_rî or Rati or one of the Apsarasas.
4. No one--except only the passionless--having got the sight of her, was
able to withdraw his looks from her figure, as she fascinated by her
beauty the eyes of all who beheld her.
And for this reason her relations called her Unmâdayantî ('she who makes
mad').
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account