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like the moon released from Rahu's mouth; Therefore, I observe the Uposatha, may greed not come to me again. 137. In an anthill, ants, you used to crush them before; Enduring hunger and thirst, why, sir, are you observing the Uposatha, O ant? Despising my own home, out of excessive greed, I went to the wrestling village; Then people came out of the village, and beat me with sticks. 139. With a broken head, my body smeared with blood, I returned to my own home; Therefore, I observe the Uposatha, lest excessive greed come to me again. 140. What you asked us, good sir, we have all explained as we know; We too ask you, good sir, why do you, brahmin, observe the Uposatha? 141. Untainted, in my hermitage, a Paccekabuddha sat for a moment; He made known to me my coming and going, and all my name, clan, and conduct. 142. Thus I did not worship his feet, nor did I question him out of pride; Therefore, I observe the Uposatha, lest pride come to me again. The Seventh, the Jātaka of the Five Uposatha Observers. 491. The Great Peacock Jātaka (8) 143. If indeed I am caught by you for the sake of wealth, do not kill me, having caught me alive; But take me, good sir, to the king's presence, I think you will get immeasurable wealth. 144. This arrow is not for your killing today, the razor-tipped arrow set on the bowstring; I will let fall the snare, let the Peacock King go as he pleases. 145. You who have pursued me for seven years, enduring hunger and thirst day and night; Then why do you wish to release me, who am brought into the power of the snare, from bondage? 146. Have you now abstained from taking life, or has safety been given by you to all beings? That you wish to release me, who am brought into the power of the snare, from bondage. 147. Speak of one who abstains from taking life, and who gives safety to all beings. I ask you, O King of Peacocks, this matter: Having departed from here, what happiness does he obtain? 148. I tell you of one abstaining from killing living beings, And who gives fearlessness to all beings: In this very life he obtains praise, And after the breaking up of the body, he goes to heaven. 149. "There are no gods," some say, "Here in this world, the living being perishes." And the fruit of good and bad deeds, And giving, they declare to be a mere convention. Believing the word of these Arahants, Therefore, I torment the birds. 150. The moon and the sun, both so beautiful, Go illuminating the sky. Are they of this world or the other? How do people in the human world speak of them? 151. The moon and the sun, both so beautiful, Go illuminating the sky. They are of the other world, not of this; "Gods," people in the human world call them. 152. Here indeed are those low views refuted, Those who speak of no cause, who do not speak of kamma; And the fruit of good and bad deeds, And those who declare giving to be a mere convention. 153. Indeed, this word of yours is true; How could giving be fruitless? And the fruit of good and bad deeds, And how could giving be a mere convention? 154. What doing, what thinking, what acting, What serving, by what ascetic virtue, Tell me, O King of Peacocks, this matter, So that I may not fall into hell. 155. Whatever ascetics there are on earth, Wearing saffron robes, they are homeless; In the morning they go for alms at the proper time, And the good ones abstain from untimely eating. 156. Go to them at that time, And ask whatever is dear to your mind; They will explain to you, as they know, The meaning of this world and the other. 157. Like a snake shedding its old skin, Like a tree shedding its yellow leaf, This hunter's nature of mine is abandoned, I abandon the hunter's nature today. 158. And whatever birds I have bound, Many hundreds in my dwelling; All of them... I give them life today, and they have attained liberation, gone to their own abode. 159. A cruel hunter with a snare roamed the forest, to harm the glorious Peacock King; Having bound the glorious Peacock King, he was freed from suffering, just as I am freed. The Mahāmora Jātaka, the eighth. 492. The Tacchasūkara Jātaka (9) 160. As we wandered, searching, through mountains and forests; I searched for relatives, and I have found them. 161. Much root and fruit is here, and food is not scarce; These mountain rivers are delightful, it will be a pleasant dwelling. 162. Here I will dwell, with all my relatives; Free from care, without anxiety, sorrowless, fearless from all sides. 163. Search for another cave, for an enemy is here; He kills the wild boars, coming here again and again. 164. Who is our enemy here, who harms our well-united relatives, who are difficult to subdue? Tell me, when asked. 165. A lion with an erect mane, a powerful beast with tusks as weapons; He kills the wild boars, coming here again and again. 166. We have tusks, strength is gathered in our bodies; All united, we will subdue that one. 167. You speak a heart-pleasing, ear-pleasing word, O boar; Even if one were to flee in battle, we would kill him later. 168. Are you abstaining from taking life today? Is safety given to all beings by you? Do you have no tusks for killing beasts, that you, having reached the assembly, lament like a poor wretch? 169. I have tusks, strength is gathered in my body; But seeing my relatives united, therefore I lament alone in the forest. 170. This one They went in all directions before, afflicted by fear, seeking refuge, many; Now they have gathered and dwell together, where they stand, hard to overcome by me today. 171. Endowed with leaders, united, speaking with one voice; They, being united, might harm me, therefore I do not wish for them. 172. One Indra conquers the Asuras, one hawk kills birds by force; One tiger, having reached a herd of deer, kills the best, such is its strength. 173. Neither Indra nor the hawk, nor the tiger, lord of deer; United, allied kinsmen, the tiger does not bring under its sway. 174. Crocodiles and birds, in groups, moving in flocks; Rejoicing together, they fly up and soar. 175. And as they fly, one here strays away; That one the hawk strikes down, that is indeed the way of the tiger. 176. Incited by the ascetic, the hunter with eyes for prey; The tusked one attacked the tusked ones, thinking it was as before. 177. Good are many kinsmen, even trees born in the forest; By united boars, the tiger was killed on a single path. 178. Having killed both the brahmin and the tiger, the boars, Joyful and delighted, they let out a great roar. 179. Then at the root of the fig tree, the boars, well-assembled, Anointed Tacchaka, "You are our king, our lord." The Ninth, the Tacchasūkara Jātaka. 493. The Great Merchant Jātaka (10) 180. Merchants, having formed an assembly, having come from various lands; Carrying wealth, they set out, having made one their leader. 181. They, having reached that wilderness, with little food and no water; Saw a great banyan tree, with cool shade, delightful. 182. And they, having sat there, in the shade of that tree; The merchants pondered, fools enveloped by delusion. 183. This tree is wet, and water flows as if; Come, let's cut its foremost branch, we will cut, merchants. 184. And when it was cut, it gushed forth, clear, undisturbed water; There they bathed and drank, as much as the merchants wished. 185. A second time they thought, fools shrouded in delusion; Come, let us cut the right branch, we merchants. 186. And when it was cut, it gushed forth, much rice and meat; Sweet cakes of little water, and soups of ginger and lentils. 187. There they ate and consumed, as much as the merchants wished; A third time they thought, fools shrouded in delusion; Come, let us cut the western branch, we merchants. 188. And when it was cut, it gushed forth, adorned women; With varied clothes and ornaments, wearing jeweled earrings. 189. Indeed, for each merchant, twenty-five women; Surrounded them on all sides, in the shade of that tree. 190. They were served by them, as much as the merchants wished; A fourth time they thought, fools shrouded in delusion; Come, let us cut the northern branch, we merchants. 191. And when it was cut, it gushed forth, many pearls and lapis lazuli; Silver and gold, carpets and cloths. 192. And Kasi cloths, and woolen blankets; There they tied up their loads, as much as the merchants wished. 193. A fifth time they thought, fools shrouded in delusion; Come, let us cut the root, perhaps we will get more. 194. Then the caravan leader arose, pleading with joined palms; How does the banyan tree offend, merchants, may there be good for you. 195. V The eastern branch is for gifts, food and drink for the south; The western branch is for no gifts, and the north for all desires; Why does the fig tree perish, merchants, may there be good fortune for you. 196. The branch of the tree in whose shade one might sit or lie; One should not break that branch, for betraying a friend is evil. 197. And they, not heeding him, many against one man's word; With sharpened axes, they attacked it from the root. 198. Then twenty-five elephants emerged, armored; Three hundred archers, and six thousand warriors. 199. "Kill them, bind them, do not let them escape with their lives; Except for the caravan leader, reduce them all to ashes." 200. Therefore, a wise person, seeing his own welfare; Should not fall under the sway of greed, he should slay such a mind. 201. Thus knowing the danger, the origin of suffering is craving; Without craving, without clinging, mindful, the bhikkhu wanders. The Great Merchant Jātaka, the tenth. 494. The Sādhina Jātaka (11) 202. A wondrous, hair-raising thing arose in the world; A divine chariot appeared for the glorious Videha. 203. The mighty divine son, Mātali, the charioteer of the gods; Invited the king, Videha, lord of Mithilā. 204. "Come, ascend this chariot, best of kings, lord of the land;