Peacock Egg A Parable Of Mahavira

SR No.: 269571
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: W B Bolle
Publisher: W B Bolle
Total Pages: 10
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 2 MB

Page 2

THE CLEVER ADULTERESS AND THE HUNGRY MONK
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beautiful dress. [99 a] Then the caravan leaders' sons ascended the carriage with the courtesan Devadattā, drove right across the centre 41 of the city of Campā to the Subhūmi-bhāga park and the Nandā lotus pond, got out of the carriage, went into the pond, plunged into the water, splashed one another, and after bathing in the company of Devadattā went out again and, betaking themselves to the pavilion on posts, entered it. After putting on all their ornaments, taking a rest and recovering on a comfortable seat they tasted, enjoyed, shared and ate the many foods (etc. as supra) and thus stayed in the company of Devadattā. After the meal they enjoyed for a while with Devadattā the many human pleasures of the senses. [100a 2] When they had breakfast and lunch the caravan leaders' sons left the pavilion on posts again holding hands42 with the courtesan Devadattā and stayed in the Subhūmi-bhāga park enjoying the pleasure grove beauty in the many bowers of ālis, bananas, creepers, bowers to abide in (? acchna-ghara),46 scenic bowers, bowers for dressing up (? pasāhana-ghara) labyrinths," bowers of boughs/ Sāl tree bowers, net-like (?) bowers 47 and flowering bowers. Then the caravan leaders' sons proceeded to the māluya thicket. The jungle peahen saw them coming, left the māluya thicket scared and trembling, squawking loudly and repeatedly screaming "kekā” and standing on a branch of a tree remained looking at the caravan leaders' sons and the māluya thicket with steady gaze. The caravan leaders' sons addressed each other saying: “Dear friend, as soon as this jungle peahen saw us coming, she left (...) gaze." There must be a reason for this." With these words they entered the māluya thicket. There they saw two plump (etc. as above in sūtra") peacock eggs, addressed each other and said: “Dear friend, it would be very good for us to have these two jungle peacock eggs placed among the eggs of our own pure-bred fowl. The latter, then, (100 b] shall watch over and protect these eggs with their own feathers which they spread over them and we shall have two young peacocks to play with." With these words they agreed on this point with each other, each sent for his own servants and told them thus: "Go, good people, take these eggs and place them among the eggs (...)." They did so. The caravan leaders' sons, after enjoying for a while the pleasure grove beauty of the Subhūmi-bhāga park in the company of the courtesan Devadattā, ascended their carriage and drove to her house in the city of Campā, entered, gave her a lavish present of money (prīdānam) befitting her social rank, paid their respects and honored her, returned from her house each to his own house and engaged themselves once more in their own business.