{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/j3/j3028.htm","path":"bud/j3/j3028.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/j3/j3028.htm","text":"The Jataka, Vol. III, tr. by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil, [1897]\n\"Fragrant odours,\" etc.\u2014This story was told by the Master while residing at Jetavana, of a certain Brother who regretted having taken orders. On this occasion the Master asked the Brother if it were true that he was discontented, and on his answering, \"Yes, Holy Sir,\" he asked him the reason. The Brother replied, \"By reason of sinful passion.\" The Master said, \"Woman cannot be guarded. There is no keeping her safe. Sages of old placed a woman in mid ocean in a palace by the Simbal\u012b lake 2, but failed to preserve her honour.\" Then he told a story of the olden time.\nOnce upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of the king by his queen-consort. And when he was grown up, at his father's death he bare rule. K\u0101k\u0101ti was his chief queen and as lovely as an Apsara. [91] The old form of the legend will be found set forth in full in the Kun\u0101\u1e37a Birth. 1 Here follows a brief summary of it.\nNow at this time a certain Garu\u1e0da king came disguised as a man, and played at dice with the king of Benares. Falling in love with the chief queen K\u0101k\u0101ti, he carried her off with him to the dwelling place of the Garu\u1e0das and lived happily with her. The king missing her told his musician named Na\u1e6dakuvera to go in quest of her. He found the Garu\u1e0da king lying on a bed of eraka grass in a certain lake, and just as the Garu\u1e0da was on the point of leaving that spot, he seated himself in the midst of the royal bird's plumage, 2 and was in this way conveyed to the dwelling place of the Garu\u1e0das. There he enjoyed the lady's favours, and again seating himself on the bird's wing returned home. And when the time came for the Garu\u1e0da to play at dice with the king, the minstrel took his lute and going up to the gaming board he stood before the king, and in the form of a song gave utterance to the first stanza:\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Breath of fair K\u0101k\u0101ti's love,\n From her distant home conveying\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thoughts my inmost soul to move.\nOn hearing this the Garu\u1e0da responded in a second stanza:\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Didst thou reach my island home?\n Over seven oceans flying\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To the Simbal grove didst come?\n[92] Na\u1e6dakuvera, on hearing this, uttered the third stanza:\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I was borne to Simbal grove,\n And o\u2019er seas and rivers flying\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2019Twas through thee I found my love.\nThen the Garu\u1e0da king replied in the fourth stanza:\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What a booby I have been!\n Lovers best were kept asunder,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lo! I've served as go-between.\nSo the Garu\u1e0da brought the queen and gave her back to the king of Benares, and came not there any more.\nThe Master, his lesson ended, revealed the Truths and identified the Birth:\u2014 At the conclusion of the Truths the discontented Brother attained the fruition of the First Path:\u2014 \"At that time the discontented Brother was Na\u1e6dakuvera, and I myself was the king.\"\n60:1Compare No. 360 infra.\n60:2 On Mount Meru: the Garu\u1e0das live round it.\n61:1 No. 536.\n61:2 Compare Tibetan Tales, XII. p. 231, Su\u015bro\u1e47i.","title":"The Jataka, Vol. III: No. 327.: K\u0101k\u0101ti-J\u0101t...","type":"page"}