{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/j3/j3084.htm","path":"bud/j3/j3084.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/j3/j3084.htm","text":"The Jataka, Vol. III, tr. by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil, [1897]\n[265] \"Bird with wings,\" etc.\u2014The Master told this tale in Jetavana, concerning a Brother who longed for the world. The Master asked him, \"Why do you long for the world?\" \"Lord, through passion, for I saw a woman adorned.\" \"Brother, women are like cats, deceiving and cajoling to bring to ruin one who has come into their power,\" so he told an old tale.\nOnce upon a time when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a cock and lived in the forest with a retinue of many hundred cocks. Not far away lived a she-cat: and she deceived\nby devices the other cocks except the Bodhisatta and ate them: but the Bodhisatta did not fall into her power. She thought, \"This cock is very crafty, but he knows not that I am crafty and skilful in device: it is good that I cajole him, saying, \"I will be your wife,\" and so eat him when he comes into my power.\" She went to the root of the tree where he perched, and praying him in a speech preceded by praise of his beauty, she spoke the first stanza:\n I will be your wife for nothing, leave the bough and come to me.\nThe Bodhisatta hearing her thought, \"She has eaten all my relatives; now she wishes to cajole me and eat me: I will get rid of her.\" So he spoke the second stanza:\n Beasts and birds should never marry: for some other husband sue.\n[266] Then she thought, \"He is exceedingly crafty; by some device or other I will deceive him and eat him \"; so she spoke the third stanza:\n Honoured wife or simple slave-girl, at thy pleasure deal with me.\nThen the Bodhisatta thought, \"It is best to revile her and drive her away,\" so he spoke the fourth stanza:\n \"Honoured wife\"! there is no honour in your heart when wooing me.\nShe was driven away and did not endure to look at him again.\nHe that to great occasion fails to rise [267] One prompt a crisis in his fate to see,\n (Compare the cat and cock,) to tempt him try. \n \n \u2019Neath foeman's feet in sorrow prostrate lies.\n As cock from cat, escapes his enemy.\nThese are stanzas inspired by Perfect Wisdom.\nHis lesson ended, the Master declared the Truths and identified the Birth:\u2014after the Truths, the backsliding Brother was established in the fruition of the First Path:\u2014\"At that time the cock was myself.\"\n168:1 See Morris in Folk-lore Journal, ii. p. 332.","title":"The Jataka, Vol. III: No. 383.: Kukku\u1e6da-J\u0101taka.","type":"page"}