Jātaka Tales
Vānara-Jātaka
This verse is not included in this edition.
Vānara-Jātaka
“Have I from water,” ete—This story was told by the Master, when dwelling in the Bamboo Grove, concerning the going about of Devadatta to kill the Buddha. The incident that led to the story has been already given in detail.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a young monkey in the Himalaya region. And when fully grown he lived on the banks of the Ganges. Now a certain female crocodile in the Ganges conceived a longing for the flesh of the Bodhisatta’s heart, and told it to her husband. He thought, “I will kill the Bodhisatta by plunging him in the water and will take his heart’s flesh and give it to my wife.” So he said to the Bodhisatta, “Come, my friend, we will go and eat wild fruits on a certain island.”
This verse is not included in this edition.
“How shall I get there” he said.
This verse is not included in this edition.
“I will put you on my back and bring you there,” answered the crocodile.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Innocent of the crocodile’s purpose he jumped on his back and sat there. The crocodile after swimming a little way began to dive. Then the monkey said, “Why, Sir, do you plunge me into the water”
This verse is not included in this edition.
“T am going to kill you,” said the crocodile, “and give your heart’s flesh to my wife.”
This verse is not included in this edition.
“Foolish fellow,” said he, “do you suppose my heart is inside me”
This verse is not included in this edition.
“Then where have you put it”
This verse is not included in this edition.
‘“‘Do you not see it hanging there on yonder fig-tree”
This verse is not included in this edition.
“T see it,” said the crocodile. “But will you give it me”
This verse is not included in this edition.
“Yes, I will,” said the monkey.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Then the crocodile—so foolish was he—took him and swam to the foot of the fig-tree on the river bank. The Bodhisatta springing from the crocodile’s back perched on the fig-tree and repeated these stanzas:
Vānarajātaka
“Asakkhiṁ vata attānaṁ, uddhātuṁ udakā thalaṁ; Na dānāhaṁ puna tuyhaṁ, vasaṁ gacchāmi vārija.
Have I from water, fish, to dry land passed Only to fall into thy power at last?
Alametehi ambehi, jambūhi panasehi ca; Yāni pāraṁ samuddassa, varaṁ mayhaṁ udumbaro.
Of bread fruit and rose apples I am sick, And rather figs than yonder mangoes pick.
Yo ca uppatitaṁ atthaṁ, na khippamanubujjhati; Amittavasamanveti, pacchā ca anutappati.
He that to great occasion fails to rise "Neath foeman’s feet in sorrow prostrate lies:
Yo ca uppatitaṁ atthaṁ, khippameva nibodhati; Muccate sattusambādhā, na ca pacchānutappatī”ti.
One prompt a crisis in his fate to know Needs never dread oppression from his foe.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Thus did the Bodhisatta in these four stanzas tell how to succeed in worldly affairs, and forthwith disappeared in the thicket of trees.
This verse is not included in this edition.
The Master, having brought his lesson to an end, identified the Birth: “At that time Devadatta was the crocodile, and I myself was the monkey.”