🧚 Opening, part 5 · page 2

Behold the quail, the crow, the fly, the frog!88 They slew the elephant!89 Behold the hatred of the haters!90

_5.91 Quails and Fowler.92

_In union there is strength.93

Jātaka 33: i. 208-210.94

Then said the Exalted One to those monks: “Monks, be united; do not wrangle.95 For because of a wrangle many thousand quails lost their lives.”96

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn as a quail, and lived in the forest with a retinue of many thousand quails.97 At that time a certain quail-hunter used to go to the haunt of the quails and attract them by imitating a quail’s whistle.98 When he perceived that they had assembled, he would throw a net over them and huddle them all together by trampling the edges.99 Then he would fill his basket, go home, and sell them.100 Thus he made his living.101

Now one day the Future Buddha said to those quails: “This fowler is bringing our kinsfolk to destruction.102 I know a way by which he shall not be able to catch us.103 From this time on, the moment he throws the net over you, let each quail stick his head through a single mesh, lift the net, and carrying it wherever you will, let it down on some thorn-brake.104 This done, we can escape each through his own mesh.”105 They all assented, saying, “Very well!”106

When the net was thrown over them on the following day, they raised the net precisely as the Future Buddha had told them to, dropped it on a certain thorn-brake, and themselves escaped from under.107 Twilight came on with the fowler still busy disentangling the net from the brake, and he went away absolutely empty-handed.108 On the next day, and thereafter also, the quails did the very same thing.109 The fowler also, busy every moment until sunset disentangling the net, got nothing, and went home absolutely empty-handed.110

Now his wife got angry and said: “Day after day you return empty-handed; I suppose there is some other household outside you have to provide for too.”111 Said the fowler: “My dear, there is no other household I have to provide for.112 The fact is, these quails are acting in unison.113 The moment I throw the net, they depart with it and drop it on a thorn-brake.114 But they will not live in unity forever.115 Do not worry.116 When they fall to wrangling, I will return with them all and bring a smile to your lips.”117 And he recited the following stanza to his wife:118

United, the birds go away with the net; But when they fall out, they’ll come into my power.119

Now after only a few days had passed, one quail, lighting on the feeding-ground, accidentally trod on the head of another.120 The other was offended and said: “Who trod on my head?”121 “I did, but accidentally; do not be offended.”122 But the other was offended just the same.123 They bandied words and wrangled with each other, saying, “You alone, I suppose, lift the net!”124

While they wrangled, the Future Buddha thought: “There is no safety for a wrangler.125 From this moment they will not lift the net.126 Then they will come to a sorry end.127 The fowler will get his chance.128 It is impossible for me to live in this place.”129 And he went elsewhere with his own retinue.130

As for the fowler, he came back after a few days, imitated a quail’s whistle, and when the quails had assembled, threw the net over them.131 Then said one quail: “They say that in the very act of lifting the net, you lost the down on your head.132 Now lift!”133 Said another: “They say that in the very act of lifting the net, you lost your wing-feathers.134 Now lift!”135

Even as they said: “You lift!”136 “You lift!” the fowler tossed the net.137 And huddling them all together, he filled his basket, and went home and brought a smile to the lips of his wife.138

And for the second time the Exalted One said this to those monks: “Enough, monks!139 No quarreling!140 No brawling!141 No contending!142 No wrangling!”143

But in spite of this, they paid no attention to his words.144 Thereupon the Exalted One related the following Story of the Past:145

_6.146 Brahmadatta and the Prince.147

_Love your enemies.148

Vinaya i. 342-349.149

In olden times at Benāres, Brahmadatta king of Kāsi was rich, possessed of great wealth, ample means of enjoyment, a mighty army, many vehicles, an extensive kingdom, and well filled treasuries and storehouses.150 Dīghīti king of Kosala was poor, possessed of meagre wealth, scanty means of enjoyment, a small army, few vehicles, a little kingdom, and unfilled treasuries and storehouses.151

Now Brahmadatta king of Kāsi drew up his fourfold army and went up against Dīghīti king of Kosala.152 And Dīghīti king of Kosala heard: “Brahmadatta king of Kāsi, they say, has drawn up his fourfold army, and is come up against me.”153 Then to Dīghīti king of Kosala occurred the following thought: “Brahmadatta king of Kāsi is rich, possessed of great wealth, ample means of enjoyment, a mighty army, many vehicles, an extensive kingdom, and well filled treasuries and storehouses.154 But I am poor, possessed of meagre wealth, scanty means of enjoyment, a small army, few vehicles, a little kingdom, and unfilled treasuries and storehouses.155 I am not strong enough to withstand even a single clash with Brahmadatta king of Kāsi.156 Suppose I were merely to countermarch and slip out of the city!”157

Accordingly Dīghīti king of Kosala took his consort, merely countermarched, and slipped out of the city.158 Thereupon Brahmadatta king of Kāsi conquered the army and vehicles and territory and treasuries and storehouses of Dīghīti king of Kosala, and took possession.159 And Dīghīti king of Kosala with his consort set out for Benāres, and in due course arrived at Benāres.160 And there, in a certain place on the outskirts of Benāres, Dīghīti king of Kosala resided with his consort, in a potter’s dwelling, in disguise, in the guise of a wandering ascetic.161

Now in no very long time the consort of Dīghīti king of Kosala was with child.162 And this was her craving: She desired at sunrise to see a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and to drink the rinsings of swords.163 Accordingly the consort of Dīghīti king of Kosala said this to Dīghīti king of Kosala: “I am with child, O king.164 And this craving has arisen within me: I desire at sunrise to see a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and to drink the rinsings of swords.”165 “Whence are we, wretched folk, to obtain a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and the rinsings of swords?”166 “If, O king, I do not obtain my desire, I shall die.”167

Now at that time the Brahman who was the house-priest of Brahmadatta king of Kāsi was a friend of Dīghīti king of Kosala.168 Accordingly Dīghīti king of Kosala approached the Brahman who was the house-priest of Brahmadatta king of Kāsi.169 And having approached, he said this to the Brahman who was the house-priest of Brahmadatta king of Kāsi: “Sir, your female friend is with child.170 And this craving has arisen within her: She desires at sunrise to see a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and to drink the rinsings of swords.”171 “Very well, O king, we also will see the queen.”172