Palāsa-Jātaka2

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil
JATAKA No. 370

PALASA-JATAKA

"The goose said to the Judas tree," etc.--This was a story told by the Master, while residing at Jetavana monastery, concerning the rebuke of sin. The incident that led to the story will be set on in the Panna Birth. But on this occasion the Master addressing the Brethren(Monks) said, "Brothers(Monks), sin should be regarded with suspicion. Though it be as small as a banyan shoot, it may prove fatal. Sages of old too suspected whatever was open to suspicion." And with this he told a story of the past.

Once upon a time in the reign of Brahmadatta, king of Benares, the Bodhisattva came to life as a golden gosling, and when he came to be a full-grown goose, he lived in a golden cave, in the Cittakuta mountain in the Himalaya region, and used to go constantly and eat the wild paddy that grew on a natural lake. On the way by which he went to and fro was a big Judas tree. Both in going and returning, he would always stop and rest there. So a friendship sprang up between him and the divinity that lived in that tree. In due course of time a certain bird, after eating the ripe fruit of a banyan, came and perched on the Judas tree, and dropped its excrement into the fork of it. From there there sprang up a young banyan, which grew to the height of four inches and was bright with red shoots and greenery. The royal goose, on seeing this, addressed the guardian deity of the tree and said, "My good friend, every tree on which a banyan shoot springs up is destroyed by its growth. Do not allow this to grow, or it will destroy your place of dwelling. Go back at once, and root it up and throw it away. One should suspect that which justifies suspicion." And thus conversing with the tree-fairy the goose uttered the first stanza:

The goose said to the Judas tree, "A banyan shoot is threatening you: What you do inyour bosom rear Will tear you limb from limb, I fear."

On hearing this the tree-god, not regarding his words, repeated the second stanza:

Well! let it grow, and should I be A refuge to the banyan tree, And tend it with a parent's love, It will to me a blessing prove.

Then the goose uttered the third stanza:

It is a cursed shoot, I fear, You do withinyour bosom rear. I say goodbye and off I flee, This growth alas! dislikes me.

With these words the royal goose spread out his wings and made straight for mount Cittakuta. From then on he came not back any more. In due course of time the banyan shoot grew up. This tree also had its guardian deity. And in its growth, it broke down the Judas tree, and with a branch the dwelling of the tree-god also fell. At this moment thinking on the words of the royal goose, the tree-god thought, "The king of the geese foresaw this danger in the future and warned me of it, but I did not listen unto his words." And thus mourning, he uttered the fourth stanza:

A spectre grim like Meru's height Has brought me to a fearful plight; contempting the words friend goosey said, I now am overwhelmed with dread.

Thus did the banyan, as it grew up, break down all the Judas tree and reduce it to a mere stump, and the living place of the tree-god wholly disappeared.

Wise men abhor the parasitic thing That chokes the form to which it loves to cling. The wise, suspecting danger from the weed, Destroy the root before it comes to seed.

This was the fifth stanza, inspired by Perfect Wisdom.

The Master here, his lesson ended, revealed the Truths and identified the Birth:-At the conclusion of the Truths five hundred Brethren(Monks) attained Sainthood:-"At that time I myself was the golden goose."