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 5

THE PEACOCK EGG
55.
The next day, the caravan leader Săgaradatta's son, when the night (...as above, sū 52 up to) radiance, went to his peacock egg and afraid, anxious, doubtful, divided, unclear in his thoughts 50 (asked himself) “Shall I be able to play with this peacock chick or not?" Thinking thus he threw the egg up again and again, turned it round, stirred it slightly,so shook it thoroughly, moved it to and fro, made it palpitate, knocked against it, bashed it and made it tick over and over again at his ear. Thereupon the peacock egg became addled." Sāgaradatta, the caravan leader's son, one day (101 a) went to his egg, saw that it was addled and exclaimed: "Helas, now I shall not have a young peacock to play with.” In consequence of this he became dejected and despondent, placed his head between his hands, was overcome by tormenting thoughts and became pensive. . In exactly the same way, venerable monk(s), whosoever of our male or female ascetics parted with his or her hair" in the presence of an ayariya and an uvajjhāya,54 left his family for the life of a religious wanderer and is afraid (...as above up to) unclear in his thoughts as to the five major vows (or) the six groups of soulss in the doctrine of the Jainas, he or she should in this existence be despised, reproached, blamed, censured and treated with contempt by many monks, nuns, male and female lay followers. Moreover, in the next world, 56 such people will undergo many punishments, will often have their hair pulled out, be rebuked, hit, put in irons, be tormented, suffer the death of their parents, brothers and sisters, wife, 57 sons, daughters and daughters-in-law.57 Much poverty, misfortune, association with unpleasant people, separation from loved ones, bad luck and distress will be their share. Again and again they will ert through the jungle of samsāra which has neither beginning nor end, and extends in all four directions. Then Jinadatta's son went to his peacock egg and, not worried about it (...as above), thinking: "It is clear/surely I shall have a young peacock to play with here" he did not throw it up again and again (...as above up to) his ear and the egg, left in peace, one day broke open and out came a young peacock. Jipadatta's son saw it and, glad and joyful, he addressed the peacock-breeders and told them: “You, good people, watch over this young peacock, protect it, raise it by and by with the many things suitable for peacock breeding and teach it to dance." Thereupon the peacock-breeders promised this to Jinadatta's son, took the young peacock, went to their dwelling and raised (...as above up to) dance. The young peacock grew up with auspicious marks, signs and qualities. Its wings and mass of tail feathers were full-sized, it bad a hundred eyes on its many-coloured tail, a blue neck and was able to
45.