🧚 Opening, part 12 · page 2

Thereupon, monks, the monkey and the elephant said this to the partridge: “You, sir, are our elder.88 You will we respect, reverence, venerate, and honor, and in your admonitions will we abide steadfast.”89

Accordingly, monks, the partridge prevailed upon the monkey and the elephant to take upon themselves the Five Precepts, and himself also took upon himself the Five Precepts and walked therein.90 They lived in respect and deference for each other, and had a common life.91 After death, upon dissolution of the body, they were reborn in a place of bliss, in a heavenly world.92 This, monks, was called the Holy Life of the Partridge.93

Men versed in the Law who honor the aged Have praise even in this life And in the next life are in bliss.94

_B. Uncanonical version.95

Jātaka 37: i. 217-220.96

On a certain occasion the Teacher admonished a company of monks to show proper respect for their elders.97 Said he: “In former times, monks, even animals reflected: ‘But it is not becoming in us that we should live without respect or deference for each other, having no common life.98 Let us find out which one of us is the oldest, and to him let us offer respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy.’99 And when, after diligent inquiry, they knew, ‘He is our elder,’ to him did they offer respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy.100 And having so done, they departed, fulfilling the Path to Heaven.”101 So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:102

In times past, on a slope of Himavat, near a certain huge banyan tree, lived three friends: a partridge, a monkey, an elephant.103 They were without respect or deference for each other, having no common life.104 And to them occurred the following thought: “It is not proper for us to live thus.105 Suppose we were to live hereafter offering respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy to that one of us who is the oldest!”106 “But which one of us is the oldest?” they considered.107 “This is the way!” said the three animals one day as they sat at the foot of the banyan tree.108

So the partridge and the monkey asked the elephant: “Master elephant, since how long have you known this banyan tree?”109 He said: “Friends, when I was a young elephant, I used to go with this banyan sapling between my thighs.110 Moreover, when I stood with the tree between my thighs, the tips of its branches used to rub against my belly.111 Thus I have known this tree from the time it was a sapling.”112

Next the other two animals, in the same way as before, asked the monkey.113 He said: “Friends, when I was a young monkey, I used to sit on the earth, extend my neck, and eat the tips of the shoots of this banyan tree.114 Thus I have known it since it was very small.”115

Finally the other two animals, in the same way as before, asked the partridge.116 He said: “Friends, in former times, in such-and-such a place, grew a huge banyan tree.117 I ate its fruits and dropped its seed in this place.118 From that sprang this tree.119 Thus I know this tree from the time when it had not yet sprouted.120 Therefore I am older than you.”121 Thus spoke the partridge.122

Thereupon the monkey and the elephant said to the wise partridge: “Master, you are older than we.123 Henceforth to you will we offer respect, reverence, veneration, salutation, and honor; to you will we offer respectful greeting, rising on meeting, homage with joined hands, and proper courtesy; in your admonitions will we abide steadfast.124 From this time forth, therefore, be good enough to give us admonition and needed instruction.”125

From that time forth the partridge gave them admonition, established them in the Precepts, and himself also took upon himself the Precepts.126 And those three animals, established in the Precepts, showed respect and deference for each other, and had a common life.127 When their life was come to an end, they attained the goal of a heavenly world.128 The taking upon themselves by these three animals of the Precepts was called the Holy Life of the Partridge.129

“For, monks, those animals lived in respect and deference for each other.130 Why is it that you, who have retired from the world under a Doctrine and Discipline so well taught, do not live in respect and deference for each other?”131

When the Teacher had thus related this parable, he assumed the prerogative of One Supremely Enlightened and uttered the following stanza:132

Men versed in the Law who honor the aged Have praise even in this life And in the next life are in bliss.133

When the Teacher had thus extolled the practice of honoring the oldest, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the elephant was one of my disciples, the monkey was another, but the wise partridge was I myself.”134

_20.135 The Hawk.136

_Walk not in forbidden ground.137

_A. Canonical version.138

Saṁyutta v. 146-148.139

Thus have I heard: Once upon a time the Exalted One was in residence at Jetavana.140 At that time the Exalted One addressed the monks: “Monks!”141 “Reverend Sir!” replied those monks to the Exalted One.142 The Exalted One said this:143

In olden times, monks, a hawk attacked a quail with violence and caught it.144 Now, monks, as the hawk was carrying off the quail, the quail thus lamented: “I am indeed unfortunate, I possess little merit,--I who walked in forbidden ground, in a foreign region.145 If to-day I had walked in my own ground, in the region of my fathers, this hawk would not have been equal to a combat with me.”146

“But, quail, what is your feeding-ground?147 What is the region of your fathers?”148

“A field of clods, turned up by the plow.”149

Then, monks, the hawk, not exerting his strength, not asserting his strength, released the quail.150 “Go, quail!151 Even there you will not escape from me.”152 Then, monks, the quail went to the field of clods, turned up by the plow, and mounting a big clod, stood and called the hawk: “Come now, hawk, I dare you!153 Come now, hawk, I dare you!”154

Then, monks, the hawk, exerting his strength, asserting his strength, flapped both his wings and attacked the quail with violence.155 When, monks, the quail knew: “This hawk is coming for me with a vengeance!” he entered a crack in that very clod.156 And, monks, the hawk struck his breast against that very clod.157

“For, monks, so it goes with whoever walks in forbidden ground, in a foreign region.158 Therefore, monks, walk not in forbidden ground, in a foreign region.159 If, monks, you walk in forbidden ground, in a foreign region, the Evil One will obtain entrance, the Evil One will obtain lodgment.160 And what, monks, is forbidden ground, a foreign region?161 The Five Pleasures of Sense.162 What are the Five?163 Pleasurable Sights, Sounds, Odors, Tastes, Contacts.164 And what, monks, is lawful ground, the region of the fathers?165 The Four Earnest Meditations.166 What are the Four?167 Meditation on the Body, on the Sensations, on the Thoughts, on the Conditions of Existence.168 Walk, monks, in lawful ground, in the region of the fathers.169 If, monks, you walk in lawful ground, in the region of the fathers, the Evil One will not obtain entrance, the Evil One will not obtain lodgment.”170