Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/371

 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA. 363

for him and listened to his teaching of the truth, and for both of them too he provided food such as he himself ate. For the rest of the crows he caused eleven donas of husked rice to be cooked daily.

He himself, following the injunctions of the Bodhisat, afforded protection to all creatures and observed the five commandments.

The admonition of Siipatta continued in force for seven hundred years.

The Anta Jataka. *

Long ago, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, the Bodhisat was reborn as a tree-sprite in an eranda-tree at the entrance to a certain village. At that time an old ox died in a certain village and they dragged it out and threw it into the eranda-grove.

Now a jackal came there and began to eat the flesh of that ox. A crow passing that way alighted on the eranda-tree, and saw the jackal. " Ha," thought he, " I'll flatter that fellow (by ascribing to him virtues he hasn't got), and get some of that flesh to eat." And thereupon he uttered the following gdthd : —

" All hail to thee, O king of beasts I A lion's strength thou dost possess, And shoulders broad, just like a bull. Perhaps you'll leave a bit for me."

On hearing this the jackal spake the following gdthd : —

" I'uU well doth he, who is of gentle birth, Know how to praise a well-bred gentleman. Come down, dear crow, with neck like peacock's hue; Wait here awhile and eat thy fill of flesh."

The tree-sprite, who had witnessed this affair between the crow and the jackal, uttered the following gdthd : —

Of birds the crow is least esteem'd and praised, Erandas are the trees in order last, And now together come the lowest three."
 * Of beasts the jackal vilest is and worst,


 * JdtaJia Book, vol. ii. No. 276, p. 441,