The Gâtakamâlâ; Or, Garland of Birth-StoriesAryasura
Religion
The Gâtakamâlâ; Or, Garland of Birth-Stories
Aryasura
Gautama Buddha -- Pre-existence
13. 'It is the fault of such people as are clever in fallacy and possess
the talent of assuming a show of feigned honesty that even those whose
honesty is sincere are looked at with suspicion.
'So then, thou wilt please me by doing as I said.' And the man promised
to do so, and after bowing to the Great Being and circumambulating him,
set out for his home.
Now at that time there lived in that country a queen of some king who
saw true dreams. Whatever extraordinary dream she dreamt was realised.
One time, being asleep she had this dream about day-break. She saw a
ruru-deer of resplendent brilliancy, shining like a heap of jewels of
every kind, standing on a throne and surrounded by the king and his
assembly, preaching the Law in a human voice of an articulate and
distinct sound. Affected with astonishment she awoke with the beating of
drums which were to arouse her husband from sleep[182]. And she took the
first opportunity to go and see the king, who kindly received her not
only with the honour she deserved but also with solicitous affection.
[182] It was the custom to awake the king by the sound of music and
songs. See, for instance, Râmâya_n_a II, sarga 65.
14. Then she, whose bright eyes enlarged with astonishment and whose
lovely cheeks were trembling from gladness, presented her lord with the
account of that marvellous dream as with a gift of homage.
When she had told her wonderful dream to the king, she added this
earnest request:
15. 'Therefore, my lord, pray endeavour to obtain that deer. Adorned
with this jewel-deer, your zenana would be as resplendent as the sky
with the Deer-asterism[183].'
[183] Viz. M_ri_ga_s_iras, corresponding with the head of Orion.
The king, who trusted by experience the visions of her dreams, readily
complied with her desire, partly that he might do something agreeable to
her, partly because he himself was covetous of obtaining that
jewel-deer. Accordingly he ordered all his huntsmen to search for that
deer, and had this proclamation made public in his capital day after
day:
16. 'There exists a deer gold-skinned and spotted with various colours
shining like hundreds of jewels. It is celebrated in the holy texts, and
some have got the sight of it. Whosoever will show that deer, to him the
king gives a very rich village and full ten lovely women.'
Now the man (who had been rescued by the Bodhisattva) heard that
proclamation again and again.
17. As he was poor, the reflection on the sufferings of poverty
afflicted his heart, but on the other hand he kept in mind the great
benefit he had received from the ruru-deer. Distracted by cupidity and
gratitude, he was moved in both directions as in a swing by different
considerations like these:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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