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The Book of Nines The Vulture Birth Story (1) 1. A path called Parisaṅkupa, the ancient path of vultures; There, his parents, the vulture nourished, being old; For them, this python's fat, he brought in great abundance. 2. And the father spoke to his son, knowing him to be a high flyer, well-winged, full of strength, glorious, far-ranging. 3. When, my son, you perceive the earth floating around, encircled by the ocean, like a perfectly round wheel, then, my son, turn back; do not go beyond that. 4. He flew up with speed, the mighty bird, chief of birds, looking down with curved body, at mountains and forests. 5. The vulture saw the earth, just as he had heard from his father: encircled by the ocean, like a perfectly round wheel. 6. And having gone beyond that, he went even further; And sharp gusts of wind carried away the mighty bird. 7. The one who had gone too far could not turn back again. The bird met with disaster, having fallen under the power of the Verambha winds. 8. His sons and his wives, and all others who depended on him, all met with disaster, because of the bird who did not heed advice. 9. So too here, whoever does not understand the words of the elders, arrogant, going beyond the limit, like the vulture who ignored the teaching, he indeed meets with disaster, not having followed the elders' instruction. The Vulture Birth Story, the first. The Kosambī Birth Story (2) 10. A great clamor arose among the people, no one thought it foolish. When the Saṅgha was splitting, they thought of nothing else. 11. They are deluded, appearing wise, speaking within the range of words. They desire to stretch their mouths, but do not know where they are led. 12. "He abused me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts, their hatred is not appeased. 13. He abused... "He abused me, he struck me, He defeated me, he robbed me." Those who do not cling to this, Their hatred is appeased. 14. Never by hatred Are hatreds appeased here; By non-hatred are they appeased, This is an eternal law. 15. Others do not understand That we perish in this world; But those who understand this, Their quarrels then subside. 16. Even those who cut off limbs, Who take lives, Who steal cattle and wealth, Who plunder the country— Even they have concord. Why should you not have it? 17. If one should find a discerning companion, One who lives righteously, a wise one, Walking together, Overcoming all dangers, Let one walk with him, joyful and mindful. 18. If one should not find a discerning companion, One who lives righteously, a wise one, Walking together, Then like a king who abandons a conquered realm, Let one walk alone, like an elephant in the forest. 19. Better is a solitary life, There is no companionship with fools; Let one walk alone, doing no evil, With few desires, like an elephant in the forest. The Kosambiya Jātaka, the second. 429. The Mahāsuva Jātaka (3) 20. When a tree is laden with fruit, Birds flocking to it enjoy it; Knowing the tree is depleted of fruit, The birds then fly off in every direction. 21. Go wander, red-beaked one, do not die! Why do you meditate, parrot, on a dry tree? Pray tell me, you who are like spring, Why, parrot, do you not leave the dry tree? 22. Those who are truly friends to their friends, In life's end, in sorrow and joy, swan; They do not abandon them, whether depleted or not, The good remember the way of the good. 23. I am one of those good ones, swan, This tree is my kinsman and my friend; I cannot bear to abandon it for the sake of life, Knowing it is depleted, for this is not the way. 24. Well done, witnessed. is, friendship is intimacy, affection; If you approve this teaching, you are praised by the wise. 25. So, I give you a boon, O bird, winged one; Choose a boon, O crooked-limbed one, whatever your heart desires. 26. If you, O lord, would grant me a boon, may this tree regain its life; May it stand, full of branches, fruitful, well-grown, full of honey, shining brightly. 27. See, friend, that great fruitful tree, may it be yours with the fig tree; May it stand, full of branches, fruitful, well-grown, full of honey, shining brightly. 28. Thus, O Sakka, be happy, with all your relatives; Just as I am happy today, seeing the tree fruitful. 29. Having given a boon to the parrot, and made the tree fruitful; He departed with his consort, to the Nandana grove of the devas. The Great Parrot Jātaka, the third. 430. The Lesser Parrot Jātaka (4) 30. There are trees with green leaves, many trees with various fruits; Why is the parrot's mind devoted to the dry, withered stump? 31. We enjoyed its fruit for many years; Even knowing it to be fruitless, our friendship is as before. 32. Birds leave a happy, withered, fruitless tree; What fault do you see, O bird? 33. Those who associate for fruit, and abandon it when fruitless; Are those who are self-interested, foolish, they are partial. 34. It is well done, truly, friendship is intimacy, affection; If you approve this teaching, you are praised by the wise. 35. So, I give you a boon, O bird, winged one; Choose a boon, O crooked-limbed one, whatever your heart desires. 36. Oh, if only I could see it again, that tree with leaves and fruit; Like a poor man who has found a treasure, I would rejoice again and again. 37. Then, taking the nectar, he sprinkled the great tree; Its branches grew, cool pleasant, delightful. 38. Thus, Sakka, may you be happy, together with all your relatives; Just as I am happy today, having seen the fruitful tree. 39. And having given a boon to Suva, and having made the tree fruitful; He departed with his wife, to the Nandanavana of the devas. The Cūḷasuva Jātaka, the fourth. 431. The Haritaca Jātaka (5) 40. This has been heard by me, Great Brahmā, that Harita enjoys sensual pleasures; Is this saying empty, or do you conduct yourself purely? 41. It is so, Great King, as the saying you have heard; I have gone astray, infatuated by delusive things. 42. What is the use of wisdom, subtle and well-reflecting; By which the arisen passion, the mind does not dispel? 43. These four, Great King, are exceedingly powerful in the world; Passion, hatred, delusion, and ignorance, where wisdom does not penetrate. 44. An Arahant, endowed with virtue, purely conducts himself, Harita; Wise and sagacious, thus he is esteemed by us. 45. Even the wise are harmed, the sage delighting in qualities of Dhamma; By evil thoughts, O King, beautiful, associated with passion. 46. This bodily passion has arisen, defiling your complexion; Abandon it, may there be well-being for you, you are esteemed as wise by many. 47. Those blinding sensual pleasures, full of much suffering, highly poisonous; I will seek their root, I will cut off passion with its bonds. 48. Having said this, Harita, the sage, resolute in truth; Having dispassion for sensual passion, became one who reached the Brahma-world. The Haritaca Jātaka, the fifth. 432. The Padakusalamāṇava Jātaka (6) 49. O learned one, eloquent speaker, the Ganges flows to Pāṭali; O venerable one being carried away, give me one verse. 50. By which they sprinkle the suffering one, by which they sprinkle the afflicted one; In its midst I shall die, fear arisen from refuge. 51. Where seeds grow, beings... where it is established; It crushes my head, fear born from refuge. 52. By which meals are cooked, by which cold is dispelled; It burns my limbs, fear born from refuge. 53. By which food they live, various brahmins and khattiyas; That food, eaten, destroys me, fear born from refuge. 54. In the last month of summer, the wise desire wind; It breaks my limbs, fear born from refuge. 55. Relying on which tree, it now emits fire; Flee in all directions, crooked-limbed ones, fear born from refuge. 56. Whom I brought with joy, adorned with garlands, anointed with sandalwood; She casts me out of the house, fear born from refuge. 57. By whose birth I would rejoice, and for whom I desired existence; He casts me out of the house, fear born from refuge. 58. Let the country folk hear me, and townsfolk gathered together; Where there is water, there is fire, where there is safety, there is fear. 59. The king plunders the realm, and the brahmin, the chaplain; Live self-protected, for fear is born from refuge. 60. May the king be like Indra, eternally ageless and immortal; If you would offer sacrifice, to the sage Lomasakassapa. 61. The earth encircled by oceans, the earth with the ocean as its earring; I would not desire with blame, know this well. 62. Shame on that gain of fame, and gain of wealth, O brahmin; Which livelihood is by ruin, or by unrighteous conduct. 63. Even if taking a bowl, one wanders homeless; That livelihood is better, than seeking by unrighteousness. 64. Even if taking a bowl, one wanders homeless; Harming no other in the world, that is better even than a kingdom. 65. Strength is the moon, strength is the sun, strength are ascetics and brahmins; Strength is the ocean's shore, women are as strong as firebrands. 66. Just as Candavatī, for her father's sake, implored the sage Lomasakassapa, who was radiant and calm, to perform the Vajapeyya sacrifice. 67. That deed, born of greed, bitter, caused by desire— I will seek its root, and cut off craving with its bonds. 68. Fie on many desires in the world! Asceticism is better than sense pleasures, O king. I will practice asceticism, abandoning desires. Let the kingdom and Candavatī be yours! The Lomasakassapa Jātaka, the seventh. 434. The Cakkavāka Jātaka (8) 69. I speak to you, birds in saffron robes, two by two, delightedly moving about. What birth do you, egg-born, praise among humans, egg-born? Tell me that. 70. Among humans, we are called Cakkavākas, who do no harm to humans, following the ancient ways. We are esteemed as good among birds, and move about beautifully in the water.