Jātaka Tales 327

This verse is not included in this edition.

Kakati-Jataka

“Fragrant odours,” etc.—This story was told by the Master while residing at Jetavana, of a certain Brother who regretted having taken orders. On this occasion the Master asked the Brother if it were true that he was discontented, and on his answering, “Yes, Holy Sir,” he asked him the reason. The Brother replied, “By reason of sinful passion.” The Master said, “Woman cannot be guarded. There is no keeping her safe. Sages of old placed a woman in mid ocean in a palace by the Simbali lake, but failed to preserve her honour.” Then he told a story of the olden time.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of the king by his queen-consort. And when he was grown up, at his father’s death he bare rule. Kakati was his chief queen and as lovely as an Apsara. The old form of the legend will be found set forth in full in the Kunala Births’, Here follows a brief summary of it.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Now at this time a certain Garuda king came disguised as a man, and played at dice with the king of Benares. Falling in love with the chief. queen Kakati, he carried her off with him to the dwelling place of the Garudas and lived happily with her. The king missing her told his musician named Natakuvera to go in quest of her. He found the Garuda king lying on a bed of eraka grass in a certain lake, and just as the Garuda was on the point of leaving that spot, he seated himself in the midst of the royal bird’s plumage’, and was in this way conveyed to the dwelling place of the Garudas. There he enjoyed the lady’s favours, and again seating himself on the bird’s wing returned home. And when the time came for the Garuda to play at dice with the king, the minstrel took his lute and going up to the gaming board he stood before the king, and in the form of a song gave utterance to the first stanza:—

Kākavatījātaka

“Vāti cāyaṁ tato gandho, yattha me vasatī piyā; Dūre ito hi kākavatī, yattha me nirato mano”.

Fragrant odours round me playing Breath of fair Kakati’s love, From her distant home conveying Thoughts my inmost soul to move.

This verse is not included in this edition.

On hearing this the Garuda responded in a second stanza:—

“Kathaṁ samuddamatarī, kathaṁ atari kepukaṁ; Kathaṁ satta samuddāni, kathaṁ simbalimāruhi”.

Sea and Kebuk stream defying Didst thou reach my island home? Over seven oceans flying To the Simbal grove didst come?

This verse is not included in this edition.

Natakuvera, on hearing this, uttered the third stanza:—

“Tayā samuddamatariṁ, tayā atari kepukaṁ; Tayā satta samuddāni, tayā simbalimāruhiṁ”.

’Twas through thee all space defying I was borne to Simbal grove, And o’er seas and rivers flying "Twas through thee I found my love.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Then the Garuda king replied in the fourth stanza:—.

“Dhiratthumaṁ mahākāyaṁ, dhiratthumaṁ acetanaṁ; Yattha jāyāyahaṁ jāraṁ, āvahāmi vahāmi cā”ti.

Out upon the foolish blunder, What a booby I have been! Lovers best were kept asunder, Lo! [I’ve served as go-between.

This verse is not included in this edition.

So the Garuda brought the queen and gave her back to the king of Benares, and came not there any more.

This verse is not included in this edition.

The Master, his lesson ended, revealed the Truths and identified the Birth:—At the conclusion of the Truths the discontented Brother attained the fruition of the First Path:—“At that time the discontented Brother was Natakuvera, and I myself was the king.”