🧚 Opening, part 3 · page 2

Now from the day he was born, the citizens fought with the king of Kosala.79 But because they had no man to lead them in battle, the force, large as it was, gave way little by little in the conflict.80 Ministers reported this fact to the queen, saying: “We fear that if the force continues thus to give way, we shall lose the battle.81 But the state elephant, the king’s friend, does not know that the king is dead, that his son is born, and that the king of Kosala has come to fight.”82 And they asked her: “Shall we let him know?”83 “Yes,” said the queen, assenting.84 She adorned the boy, laid him in a head-coil of fine cloth, came down from the terrace, and accompanied by a retinue of ministers, went to the elephant-stable, and laid the Future Buddha at the feet of the elephant.85 Said she: “Master, your friend is dead.86 We didn’t tell you because we were afraid it would break your heart.87 Here is the son of your friend.88 The king of Kosala has come and has surrounded the city and is fighting with your son.89 The force is giving way.90 Do you either kill your son or get and give him the kingdom.”91

Then the elephant with his trunk caressed the Future Buddha and lifted him up and put him on his shoulders and cried and wept.92 Then he lowered the Future Buddha and laid him in the arms of the queen, and with the words, “I will capture the king of Kosala!” went out of the elephant-stable.93 Then the ministers clad him with armor and adorned him, and unlocking the city-gate, went out in his train.94

As the elephant went out of the city, he trumpeted the Heron’s Call, making the multitude tremble and quake, and frightening them away.95 He broke down the stockade, seized the king of Kosala by the top-knot, and carried him and laid him at the Future Buddha’s feet.96 And when men rose to kill him, he would not let them, but set the king free with the admonition: “Henceforth be careful; do not presume on the youth of the prince.”97

Thenceforth the Future Buddha had complete mastery over all the Land of the Rose-apple.98 No other adversary dared to stand up against him.99 When the Future Buddha was seven years old, he received the ceremonial sprinkling and became known as King Noble-heart.100 He ruled with righteousness, and when his life was come to an end, departed, fulfilling the Path to Heaven.101

When the Teacher had related this parable, he uttered, as Supreme Buddha, the following stanza:102

Relying on Noble-heart, a mighty host, delighted, Captured Kosala alive, dissatisfied with his army.103

_2.104 Grateful Animals and Ungrateful Man.105

_Driftwood is worth more than some men.106

Jātaka 78: i. 322-327.107

_True is this saying of some men of the world.108 _ This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Bamboo Grove with reference to Devadatta’s going about for the purpose of killing him.109 For while the Congregation of Monks, sitting in the Hall of Truth, were discussing Devadatta’s wickedness, saying, “Brethren, Devadatta knows not the Teacher’s virtues, but is going about for the sole purpose of killing him,” the Teacher drew near and asked: “Monks, what is the subject that engages your attention now as you sit here all gathered together?”110 “Such-and-such,” was the reply.111 “Monks,” said the Teacher, “not only in his present state of existence has Devadatta gone about for the purpose of killing me; in a previous state of existence also he went about for the purpose of killing me in the very same way.”112 Then, in response to a request of the monks, he related the following Story of the Past:113

_Prince Wicked.114

In times past Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres.115 He had a son named Prince Wicked, and Prince Wicked was as tough and hard as a beaten snake.116 He never spoke to anybody without either reviling him or striking him.117 The result was that both by indoor-folk and by outdoor-folk he was disliked and detested as much as dust lodged in the eye or as a demon come to eat.118

One day, desiring to sport in the water, he went to the river-bank with a large retinue.119 At that moment a great cloud arose.120 The directions became dark.121 He said to his slaves and servants: “Come, fellows! take me and conduct me to mid-stream and bathe me and bring me back.”122 They led him there and took counsel together, saying: “What can the king do to us!123 Let’s kill this wicked fellow right here!”124 So saying, they plunged him into the water, made their way out of the water again, and stood on the bank.125

As the courtiers returned to the king, they reflected: “In case we are asked, ‘Where is the prince?’ we will say, ‘We have not seen the prince; it must be that upon seeing a cloud arise he plunged into the water and went on ahead of us.’”126 The king asked: “Where is my son?”127 “We do not know, your majesty.128 A cloud arose.129 We returned, supposing: ‘He must have gone on ahead of us.’”130 The king caused the gates to be flung open, went to the river-bank, and caused them to search here and there.131 “Search!” said he.132 Nobody saw the prince.133

As a matter of fact, in the darkness caused by the cloud, while the god was raining, the prince, swept along by the river, seeing a certain tree-trunk, clambered on it, and sitting astride of it, traveled along, terrified with the fear of death, lamenting.134

_Snake, rat, parrot, and man.135

Now at that time a resident of Benāres, a certain treasurer, who had buried forty crores of wealth by the river-bank, by reason of his craving for that wealth, had been reborn on top of that wealth as a snake.136 Yet another had buried thirty crores of wealth in that very spot, and by reason of his craving for that wealth, had been reborn on the spot as a rat.137 The water entered their place of abode.138 They went out by the very path by which the water came in, cleft the stream, and went until they reached the tree-trunk bestridden by the royal prince.139 Thereupon one climbed up on one end, the other on the other, and both lay down right there on top of the tree-trunk.140

Moreover, on the bank of that very river there was a certain silk-cotton tree, and in it lived a certain young parrot.141 That tree also, its roots washed by the water, fell on top of the river.142 The young parrot, unable to make headway by flying while the god was raining, went and perched on one side of that very tree-trunk.143 Thus did those four persons travel together, swept along by the river.144