Kacchapa-Jātaka3

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by W.H.D. Rouse
JATAKA No. 273

KACCHAPA-JATAKA

"Why you are begging," etc.--This story the Master told during a stay in Jetavana monastery, how a quarrel was made up between two high officials of the king's court in Kosala (*1). The circumstances have been told in the Second Book.

Brahmadatta once reigned in Benares. Bodhisattava was born in a priests family in the kingdom Kasi. Growing up he arrived in the Taxila city for studies. After completion of studies, with the sensuality suppressed, he lived alone as a hermit near the bank of the Ganges river in Himayalays region with a hut made from the branches of trees. With the practice of meditation he used to enjoy the bliss of trance states. So he dwelled in peace, self absorbed, patiently.

He used to sit in meditation for long times quietly. A naughty monkey used to visit that place and did its antics & used to create nuisance, but Bodhisattava never lost his peace of mind and remained undisturbed. A tortoise used to come out of water there and used to sleep with mouth open in order to catch some sun. Once that impudent monkey tried to insert its genital into the mouth of the tortoise for pleasure. But then the tortoise snapped its mouth and caught hold of it tightly and in pain monkey caught hold of the Tortoise in its hands. The monkey was in so much pain that it felt as if its member was going to be sliced in half. The monkey pleaded tortoise to release it in order to be freed from pain but without avail. The monkey held the shell of Tortoise like a begging bowl(*2).

When Bodhisattava arrived there, the monkey asked him for help.

Bodhisattava asked:

"Why you are begging now".

Monkey said pleadingly "I wanted to amuse myself, but that was wrong, I in my craziness did all that, save me please".

So Bodhisattva addressed them:

"O,Monkey,Tortoise species is different one; Tortoise should copulate with tortoise,  And monkey to copulate with monkey only,   This is the nature's righteous way,  Follow the righteousness to keep harm away"

By hearing these words tortoise was delighted. Tortoise released the monkey and monkey released the Tortoise and both went their ways. The Monkey never disturbed anyone from then on. Later Bodhisattva, who after living his life as a hermit, at end passed away and was born in the realm of Brahma(ArchAngel) upper heaven.

When this discourse was ended, the Master explained the truths and identified the Birth: "The two high officials were the Monkey and Tortoise, and I was the hermit."

Footnotes:

(1)Compare Nos. 154, 165.

(2)The tortoise looked like a begging bowl.