Migālopa-Jātaka

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil
JATAKA No. 381

MIGALOPA-JATAKA (*1)

"Your ways, my son," etc.--The Master told this tale in Jetavana monastery, of an unruly Brother(Monk). The Master asked the Brother, "Are you really unruly?" He said, "Yes, lord": and the Master saying, "You are not unruly for the first time; formerly too through unruliness you did not the asking of the wise and met your death by the Verambha (*2) winds," told an old-world tale.

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisattva was born as a vulture by name Aparannagijjha, and lived among a group of attendants of vultures in Gijjhapabbata (Vulture Mountain). His son, Migalopa by name, was exceedingly strong and mighty; he flew high above the reach of the other vultures. They told their king that his son flew very far. He called Migalopa, and saying, "Son, they say you fly too high: if you do, you will bring death on yourself," spoke three stanzas:

Your ways, my son, to me unsafe appear, You soar too high, above our proper sphere.

When earth is but a square field to your sight, Turn back, my son, and dare no higher flight.

Other birds on soaring restrain high flight ever now have tried, Struck by furious wind and tempest they have perished in their pride.

Migalopa through disobedience did not do his father's asking, but rising and rising he passed the limit his father told him, faced even the Black Winds when he met them, and flew upwards till he met the Verambha winds in the face. They struck him, and at their mere stroke he fell into pieces and disappeared in the air.

His aged father's wise commands refused, Beyond the Black, Verambha Winds he gained.

His wife, his children, all his household herd, All came to ruin through that disobedient bird.

So they who regard not what their elders say, Like this proud vulture beyond bounds astray, Meet ruin, when right rules they disobey.

After the lesson the Master identified the Birth: "At that time Migalopa was the unruly Brother(Monk), Aparanna was myself."

Footnotes:

(1)See no. 427

(2)A wind so called from a sea of the same name