Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/67

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Then the Bodhisat, by way of informing them, spake the next gâthâ:—

The drunken Crows.

Very long ago, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, the Bodhisat was re-born as a sea-sprite.

It happened that a certain crow, with his wife, came to the seashore in search of food. At that time folks, after making nâga-offerings on the sea-shore, of milk, ghee, fish, flesh, spirits, &c., went away home.

The crow, on going to that spot where the offerings were left, noticed the milk, and the rest. Having partaken of the milk, he drank a good drop of the spirituous liquors; so both crows got quite drunk. They sat down on the beach and prepared to bathe, saying, "We'll enjoy some sea-sport."

By chance a great wave came, caught the female crow and ingulphed her in the sea. Then a fish seized and devoured her. On this the male crow roared and cried, saying, "My wife is dead." Many crows on hearing the noise of his lamentation flocked together and asked him why he cried so.