Jataka Vol. I: Book I.--Ekanipāta: No. 121. Kusanāḷi-Jātaka
No. 121.
[441] KUSANĀḶI-JĀTAKA.
"Let great and small."--This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana,
about Anātha-piṇḍika's true friend. For his acquaintances and friends and
relations came to him and tried hard to stop his intimacy with a certain man,
saying that neither in birth nor wealth was he Anātha-piṇḍika's equal. But the
great merchant replied that friendship should not depend on equality or
inequality of externals. And when he went off to his zemindary, he put this
friend in charge of his wealth. Everything came to pass as in the Kālakaṇṇi
jātaka 1. But, when in this case Anātha-piṇḍika related the danger his house had
been in, the Master said, "Layman, a friend rightly so-called is never inferior.
The standard is ability to befriend. A friend rightly so-called, though only
equal or inferior to one's self, should be held a superior, for all such friends
fail not to grapple with trouble which befalls one's self. It is your real
friend that has now saved you your wealth. So in days gone by a like real friend
saved a Sprite's mansion." Then at Anātha-piṇḍika's request, he told this story
of the past.
_____________________________
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born
a Sprite in the king's pleasaunce, and dwelt in a clump of kusa-grass. Now in
the same grounds near the king's seat there grew a beautiful Wishing Tree (also
called the Mukkhaka) with straight stem and spreading branches, which received
great favour from the king. Here dwelt one who had been a mighty deva-king and
had been reborn a Tree-sprite. And the Bodhisatta was on terms of intimate
friendship with this Tree-sprite.
Now the king's dwelling had only one pillar to support the roof
p. 268
and that pillar grew shaky. Being told of this, the king sent for carpenters and
ordered them to put in a sound pillar and make it secure. So the carpenters
[442] looked about for a tree that would do and, not finding one elsewhere, went
to the pleasaunce and saw the Mukkhaka. Then away they went back to the king.
"Well," said he, "have you found a tree that will do?" "Yes, sire," said they;
"but we don't like to fell it." "Why not?" said the king. Then they told him how
they had in vain looked everywhere for a tree and did not dare to cut down the
sacred tree. "Go and cut it down," said he, "and make the roof secure. I will
look out for another tree."
So they went away. And they took a sacrifice to the pleasaunce and offered it to
the tree, saying among themselves that they would come and cut it down next day.
Hearing their words, the Tree-sprite knew that her home would be destroyed on
the morrow, and burst into tears as she clasped her children to her breast, not
knowing whither to fly with them. Her friends, the spirits of the forest, came
and asked what the matter was. But not one of them could devise how to stay the
carpenters' hand, and all embraced her with tears and lamentations. At this
moment up came the Bodhisatta to call upon the Tree-sprite and was told the
news. "Have no fear," said the Bodhisatta cheerfully. "I will see that the tree
is not cut down. Only wait and see what I will do when the carpenters come
to-morrow."
Next day when the men came, the Bodhisatta, assuming the shape of a chameleon,
was at the tree before they were, and got in at the roots and worked his way up
till he got out among the branches, making the tree look full of holes. Then the
Bodhisatta rested among the boughs with his head rapidly moving to and fro. Up
came the carpenters; and at sight of the chameleon their leader struck the tree
with his hand, and exclaimed that the tree was rotten and that they didn't look
carefully before making their offerings the day before. And off he went full of
scorn for the great strong tree. In this way the Bodhisatta saved the
Tree-sprite's home. And when all her friends [443] and acquaintances came to see
her, she joyfully sang the praises of the Bodhisatta, as the saviour of her
home, saying, "Sprites of the Trees, for all our mighty power we knew not what
to do; while a humble Kusa-sprite had wit to save my home for me. Truly we
should choose our friends without considering whether they are superiors,
equals, or inferiors, making no distinction of rank. For each according to his
strength can help a friend in the hour of need." And she repeated this stanza
about friendship and its duties:--
Let great and small and equals, all,
Do each their best, if harm befal,
And help a friend in evil plight,
As I was helped by Kusa-sprite.
p. 269
Thus did she teach the assembled devas, adding these words, "Wherefore, such as
would escape from an evil plight must not merely consider whether a man is an
equal or a superior, but must make friends of the wise whatsoever their station
in life." And she lived her life and with the Kusa-sprite finally passed away to
fare according to her deserts.
_____________________________
His lesson ended the Master identified the birth by saying, "Ānanda was then the
Tree-sprite, and I the Kusa-sprite."
Footnotes
267:1 No. 83.
Next: No. 122. Dummedha-Jātaka
0 comments:
Post a Comment