Bibliography: Jataka Tales from the Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock
The Crow That Thought It Knew
- Brahma-datta reigned as king in Benares, the Bodhisatta became a marsh crow (Viraka)
- famine in Kasi, no food to feed the crows...they are flying away into the woods
- Savitthaka, who lived at Benares, took with him his lady crow and went to the place where Viraka lived, making his abode beside the same pool
- Viraka let Savitthaka serve him and gave him some of the fish he caught
- Savitthaka let his pride come in the way and said he would catch future fish on his own...Viraka warned that it wasn't for him, but still Savitthaka dove into the water and got caught in the weeds and could not breathe
- Lady crow returns to Benares after learning that her mate has perished
The Judas Tree
- Charioteer takes the 4 sons of the King to show them Judas Tree
- he showed them each separately, thus each had a different version
- "All four of you have seen the tree. Only when the charioteer showed you the tree, you did not ask him, 'What is the tree like at such a time?' or 'at such another time?' You made no distinctions, and that is the reason for your mistake."
River-Fish and the Monkey
- Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a landed proprietor
- younger brother is a thief wanted to keep the money for himself so made a box similar to the one his brother had put the money into and filled is with gravel thinking he wold trick his brother...
- brother fed left overs to river fishes pleasing the river goddess
- she would return the favor and she did that by having a fish swallow the money containing box thrown overboard by the younger brother
- younger brother thought it had been the gravel containing box that was thrown over and so his heart shriveled when he discovered that what he brought home was the gravel box
- fishermen catch the fish, market price is 1000 + 7 annas, for the Bodhisatta on 7 annas
- The Bodhisatta understands the message..goddess says do not give to younger brother, but he still send 500 pieces to his brother
The Dreamer in the Wood
- Sakka comes to woods to test Buddha's will
- Divine being asked to be free of three things: malice, hatred and greed
- Sakka tells him to ask for another boon
- Buddha, "Grant that in the woods where I live alone, no disease may mar my peace, or break my ecstasy."
- boon granted
The Rice Measure
- King was covetous
- wanted a new valuer thinking he would be soon drained of his riches if the current practice continued
- peasant appointed as new valuer
- valued 500 horses as a measure of rice
- bribed by the horse man and now appraised all of Benares as a measure of rice
- laughed at by the people of the court and Bodisat appointed as valuer
The Poisonous Trees
- Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a merchant
- mangoes resembled poisonous trees
- some who had previously journeyed through had died, on this caravan trip leader prevents some from eating and some who have ate he reverses the effects via emetic and 4 fruits
The Well-Trained Elephant
- King Magadha was ruling in Rajagaha in Magadha, the Bodhisatta was born an elephant
- made state elephant because of his beauty
- was white all over
- elephant passed all the tests that the king had wanted to try.. stand on three legs, two fore, two hind, and fly
- all passes the mahout treated elephant like son
- he divided his kingdom into three portions, and made over one to the Bodhisatta, one to the mahout, and one he kept himself
The Wise Physician
- Kisagotami married only son of a wealthy man
- a son who died when he was able to run alone
- goes house to house for a potential medicine - no luck
- The Teacher tells he to get him mustard seeds from a place where no son, husband, parent, or slave has died
- she discovers many have died, few are alive
- she became a disciple and entered the first Path
| The White Elephant |
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