Opening, part 11
Opening, part 11 of «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole text, 169 sentences and 2596 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself.
When the little hare said this, the lion went to the foot of the Vilva tree, looked at the spot beneath the cocoanut leaf where the little hare had lain, and observed that a Vilva fruit had fallen on top of the cocoanut leaf.1 And knowing for a fact that the earth had not collapsed, he took the little hare on his back, went quickly, with the speed of a lion, to the assemblage of animals, informed them of all the facts, reassured the throng of animals by saying, “Fear not,” and released the little hare.2
For if, at that time, the Future Buddha had not come to the rescue, they would all have run down into the sea and perished.3 It was through the Future Buddha that they obtained their lives.4
Hearing a Vilva fruit fall,--“rat-a-tat,”--the hare ran.5 Hearing the hare’s words, a host of animals were frightened.6
Those who have not attained consciousness of their portion, Those who follow the voice of others, Those who are given to heedlessness,--the foolish,-- They attain what others attain.7
But those who are endowed with morality, Those who delight in the tranquillity of wisdom, Those who abstain and refrain from worldly delights,--the wise,-- They attain what others attain not.8
(These three stanzas were uttered by the Supremely Enlightened One.)9
When the Teacher had related this parable, he identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the lion was I myself.”10
forward with the speed of a lion.11
_Nobody loves a beggar.14
On a certain occasion the Exalted One reproved the monks for begging.17 Said he:18
In olden times a certain monk dwelt on a slope of Himavat in a certain forest-grove.19 Not far from that forest-grove was a great marsh, a swamp.20 Now a large flock of birds sought food in that swamp in the daytime, returning to that forest-grove at eventide to roost.21 Now that monk, driven away by the noise of that flock of birds, approached me, and having approached, saluted me and sat down on one side.22 And as he sat on one side, I said this to that monk:23
“I trust, monk, that you have suffered no discomfort.24 I trust that you have received sufficient sustenance.25 I trust that you have made your journey without fatigue.26 And, monk, whence have you come?”27
“I have suffered no discomfort, Exalted One.28 I have received sufficient sustenance.29 I have made my journey without fatigue.30 Reverend Sir, on a slope of Himavat is a large forest-grove.31 And not far from that forest-grove is a great marsh, a swamp.32 Now a large flock of birds seek food in that swamp in the daytime, returning to that forest-grove at eventide to roost.33 Thence, Reverend Sir, do I come, driven away by the noise of that flock of birds.”34
“But, monk, do you wish that flock of birds never to come back again?”35 “I wish that flock of birds never to come back again.”36
“Well then, monk, go there, plunge into that forest-grove, and throughout the watches of the night cry out: ‘Let the pretty birds hear me, as many as roost in this forest-grove!37 I want feathers!38 Let the pretty birds each give me a feather!’”39
So that monk went there, plunged into that forest-grove, and throughout the watches of the night cried out: “Let the pretty birds hear me, as many as roost in this forest-grove!40 I want feathers!41 Let the pretty birds each give me a feather!”42
Thereupon that flock of birds, reflecting, “The monk begs feathers, the monk wants feathers,” departed from that forest-grove.43 When they departed, they departed indeed, and never came back again.44
“For, monks, to living beings in the form of animals, begging is said to have been offensive, hinting is said to have been offensive.45 How much more so must it be to human beings!”46
_Nobody loves a beggar.49
_A. Canonical version.50
On a certain occasion the Exalted One reproved the monks for begging.53 Said he:54
In olden times two ascetics, brothers, lived by the Ganges river.55 Now Jewel-neck, a dragon-king, came out of the Ganges, approached the younger ascetic, and having approached, encircled the younger ascetic seven times with his coils and rose and spread his huge hood over his head.56 And the younger ascetic, for fear of that dragon, became lean, dried-up, pale, yellow as ever was yellow, his body strewn with veins.57
The older ascetic saw the younger ascetic lean, dried-up, pale, yellow as ever was yellow, his body strewn with veins.58 Seeing, he said this to the younger ascetic: “Why are you lean, dried-up, pale, yellow as ever was yellow, your body strewn with veins?”59 “While I was here, Jewel-neck, a dragon-king, came out of the Ganges river, approached me, and having approached, encircled me seven times with his coils and rose and spread his huge hood over my head.60 For fear of him I am lean, dried-up, pale, yellow as ever was yellow, my body strewn with veins.”61
“But do you wish that dragon never to come back again?”62 “I wish that dragon never to come back again.”63 “Well, but do you see anything on that dragon?”64 “I see he wears a jewel on his neck.”65 “Well then, ask that dragon for the jewel, saying: ‘Give me the jewel!66 I want the jewel!’”67
Now Jewel-neck the dragon-king came out of the Ganges river, approached the younger ascetic, and having approached, stood aside.68 As he stood aside, the younger ascetic said this to Jewel-neck the dragon-king: “Give me the jewel!69 I want the jewel!”70 Thereupon Jewel-neck the dragon-king, reflecting, “The monk begs the jewel, the monk wants the jewel,” quickly enough departed.71
Three times did the younger ascetic beg the jewel of Jewel-neck the dragon-king, and three times did Jewel-neck the dragon-king depart.72 The third time, Jewel-neck the dragon-king addressed the younger ascetic with stanzas:73
My food and drink, abundant, choice, I get by the power of this jewel.74 This I will not give you,--you ask too much; Nor will I even come back again to your hermitage.75
Like a lad with sand-washed sword in hand, You frighten me, asking for the stone.76 This I will not give you,--you ask too much; Nor will I even come back again to your hermitage.77
Thereupon Jewel-neck the dragon-king, reflecting, “The monk begs the jewel, the monk wants the jewel,” departed.78 When he departed, he departed indeed, and never came back again.79 And the younger ascetic, because he saw no more that dragon so fair to see, became more than ever lean, dried-up, pale, yellow as ever was yellow, his body strewn with veins.80
When the older ascetic saw the younger ascetic altered in appearance, he inquired the reason.81 The younger ascetic told him.82 Then the older ascetic addressed the younger ascetic with a stanza:83
One should not beg or seek to get what is dear to another.84 Odious does one become by asking overmuch.85 When the Brahman asked the dragon for the jewel, Never again did the dragon let himself be seen.86
“For, monks, to living beings in the form of animals, begging is said to have been offensive, hinting is said to have been offensive.87 How much more so must it be to human beings!”88
_B. Uncanonical version.89
On a certain occasion the Exalted One reproved the monks for begging.92 Said he: “Monks, begging is offensive even to dragons, though the World of Dragons wherein they dwell is filled to overflowing with the Seven Jewels.93 How much more so must it be to human beings, from whom it is as difficult to wring a penny as it is to skin a flint!”94 So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:95
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/11/