Kosiya-Jātaka2

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by W.H.D. Rouse
JATAKA No. 226

KOSIYA-JATAKA

"There is a time," etc.--A story told by the Master at Jetavana monastery, about the king of Kosala. This king started to subdue a border rising at a bad season of the year. The circumstances have been described already (*1). The Master as before told the king a story.

Once upon a time, the king of Benares having started for the field of war at an unseasonable time, set up a camp in his park. At that time an Owl entered a thick vegetation of bamboos, and hid in it. There came a flock of Crows: "We will catch him," said they, "so soon as he shall come out." And they compassed it around. Out he came before his time, nor did he wait until the sun should set; and tried to make his escape. The crows surrounded him, and pecked him with their beaks till he fell to the ground. The king asked the Bodhisattva: "Tell me, wise sir, why are the crows attacking this owl?" And the Bodhisattva made answer, "They that leave their living before the right time, great king, fall into just such misery as this. Therefore before the time one should not leave one's living place." And to make the matter clear, he uttered this pair of verses:

"There is a time for every thing: who on from home will go One man or many, out of time, will surely meet some suffering;  As did the Owl, unlucky bird! pecked dead by many a crow.

"Who masters quite each rule and rite; who others' weakness knows; Like wise owls, he will happy be, and conquer all his rivals."

When the king heard this, he turned back home again.

This discourse ended, the Master identified the Birth:-"Ananda was then the king, and the wise courtier was I myself."

Footnotes:

(1)See no. (176)