Jataka Vol. II: Book II. Dukanipāta: No. 236. Baka-Jātaka
No. 236.
BAKA-JĀTAKA.
"See that twice-born bird," etc.--This story the Master told while staying in
Jetavana, about a hypocrite. When he was brought before the Master, the Master
said, "Brethren, he was a hypocrite of old just as he is now," and told the
following story.
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p. 162
[234] Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta
became a Fish in a certain pond in the Himalaya region, and a great shoal went
with him. Now a Crane desired to eat the fish. So in a place near the pond he
drooped his head, and spread out his wings, and looked vacantly, vacantly at the
fish, waiting till they were off their guard 1. At the same moment the
Bodhisatta with his shoal came to that place in search of food. And the shoal of
fish on seeing the crane uttered the first stanza:--
"See that twice-born 2 bird, how white--
Like a water-lily seeming;
Wings outspread to left and right--
Oh, how pious! dreaming, dreaming!"
Then the Bodhisatta looked, and uttered the second stanza:
"What he is ye do not know,
Or you would not sing his praises.
He is our most treacherous foe;
That is why no wing he raises."
Thereupon the fish splashed in the water and drove the crane away.
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When this discourse was ended, the Master identified the Birth:--"This hypocrite
was the Crane, and I was the chief of the shoal of fish."
Footnotes
162:1 A crane's sleep" is an Indian proverb for trickery.
162:2 dijo is used of a bird as born in the egg and from the egg. It is also
applied to Brahmins, and so conveys an additional notion of piety.
Next: No. 237. Sāketa-Jātaka
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