Kāka-Jātaka3

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil
JATAKA No. 395

'''KAKA-JATAKA. (*1)'''

"Our old friend," etc.--The Master told this tale while living in Jetavana monastery, concerning a greedy Brother(Monk). The occasion is as above.

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisattva was a pigeon and lived in a nest-basket in the kitchen of a Benares merchant. A crow became intimate with him and lived there also. Here the story is to be expanded. The cook pulled out the crow's feathers and sprinkled him with flour, then piercing a cowrie he hung it on the crow's neck and threw him into a basket. The Bodhisattva came from the wood, and seeing him made a jest and spoke the first stanza:-

Our old friend! look at him! A jewel bright he wears; His beard in gallant trim, How bright-colored our friend appears!

The crow hearing him spoke the second stanza:-

My nails and hair had grown so fast, They hampered me in all I did: A barber came along at last, And of superfluous hair I'm rid.

Then the Bodhisattva spoke the third stanza:-

Granted you got a barber then, Who has cropped your hair so well: Round your neck, will you explain, What's that tinkling like a bell?

Then the crow uttered two stanzas:-

Men of fashion wear a gem Round the neck: it's often done: I am imitating them: Don't suppose it's just for fun.

If you're really envious Of my beard that's trimmed so true: I can get you barbered thus; You may have the jewel too.

The Bodhisattva hearing him spoke the sixth stanza:-

No, it is you they best become, Gem and beard that's trimmed so true. I find your presence troublesome: I go with a good-day to you.

With these words he flew up and went elsewhere; and the crow died then and there.

After the lesson, the Master explained the truths and identified the Birth:-After the Truths, the greedy Brother(Monk) was established in the fruition of the Third Path(Trance): "At that time the crow was the greedy Brother, the pigeon was myself."

Footnotes:

(1)See no. 42 and no. 274