J 236

{Sutta: J ii 234|J 236|J 236} {Vaṇṇanā: atta. J 236|atta. J 236}

236

Baka-Jataka (Bakajātakaṃ)

translated form Pali into English by

W.H.D. Rouse

edited by

E. B. Cowell

2013-2014

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- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -

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Sanjiva-Jataka.

236. BAKA-JĀTAKA.

"See that twice-born bird," etc.

This story the Master told while staying in Jetavana, about a hypocrite. When he was brought before the Master, the Master said, "Brethren, he was a hypocrite of old just as he is now," and told the following story.

°° [234] Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Fish in a certain pond in the Himalaya region, and a great shoal went with him. Now a Crane desired to eat the fish. So in a place near the pond he drooped his head, and spread out his wings, and looked vacantly, vacantly at the fish, waiting till they were off their guard [131]. At the same moment the Bodhisatta with his shoal came to that place in search of food. And the shoal of fish on seeing the crane uttered the first stanza:--

[§171] "See that twice-born [132] bird, how white-- Like a water-lily seeming; Wings outspread to left and right-- Oh, how pious! dreaming, dreaming!"

Then the Bodhisatta looked, and uttered the second stanza:

[§172] "What he is ye do not know, Or you would not sing his praises. He is our most treacherous foe; That is why no wing he raises."

Thereupon the fish splashed in the water and drove the crane away.

When this discourse was ended, the Master identified the Birth:--"This hypocrite was the Crane, and I was the chief of the shoal of fish."

Notes

131 .: A crane's sleep" is an Indian proverb for trickery.
132 .: dijo is used of a bird as born in the egg and from the egg. It is also applied to Brahmins, and so conveys an additional notion of piety.

Next: No. 237. Sāketa-Jātaka

Provenance:

1895 W.H.D. Rouse, edited by Prof E. B. Cowell (Pali Text Sociaty)

Last revision: jb, 20 March 2014.

Edition based on the generous transcription of www.sacred-texts.com (J.B. Hare) and further completed and edited in regard of the original (pdf) and cross-links by ZzE (jb) and shared as Dhamma-Dana on ZzE with generous permission of PTS.

2013-2014.

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How to cite this document (one suggested style): 'J 236 - Baka-Jataka', translated by W.H.D. Rouse. Zugang zur Einsicht: edited by jb for Zugang zur Einsicht and republished 25. November 2013 by Zugang zur Einsicht on http://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/kn/j05/j236_en.html ; retreived on:

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