Jataka 357
Laṭukika Jātaka
The Quail
as told by Eric Van Horn
originally translated by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil, Cambridge University
originally edited by Professor Edward Byles Cowell, Cambridge University
This is a story about karma. But it is also a story about how even a tiny quail, using its intelligence, can get the better of a grand elephant. And while I do not want to sanction this kind of revenge behavior (!), you have to admire the ingenuity of the quail.
“Elephant of sixty years.” The Master told this story while he was at the Bamboo Grove (Veluvana). It is about Devadatta. One day they started a discussion in the Dharma Hall, saying, “Sirs, Devadatta is harsh, cruel, and violent. He has not a drop of pity for mortals.” When the Master came in, he asked what the monks were discussing. On hearing what it was, he said, “Monks, not now only, but formerly he was also pitiless.” And then he told them this story from the past.
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was reborn as a young elephant. He grew up to be a fine, handsome beast. He became the leader of the herd with a following of 80,000 elephants, and they lived in the Himālayas.
At that time a quail laid her eggs in the feeding-ground of the elephants. When the eggs were ready to be hatched, the young birds broke the shells and came out. Before their wings had grown, and when they were still unable to fly, the Great Being—with his following of 80,000 elephants—were ranging about for food, and they came to this spot. On seeing them the quail thought, “This royal elephant will trample on my young ones and kill them. Lo! I will implore his righteous protection for the defense of my brood.” Then she raised her two wings, and standing before him repeated the first stanza:
Elephant of sixty years,
Forest lord among your peers,
I am but a puny bird,
You a leader of the herd.
With my wings I homage pay,
Spare my little ones, I pray.
The Great Being said, “Oh, quail, do not be troubled. I will protect your offspring.” And standing over the young birds while the 80,000 elephants passed by, he said to the quail, “Behind us there is a solitary rogue elephant. He will not do our bidding. When he comes, you should entreat him, too, in order to ensure the safety of your offspring.” And with these words he went off.
The quail went forth to meet the other elephant. And with both wings uplifted, making respectful salutation, she spoke the second stanza:
Roaming over hill and dale
Cherishing your lonely way,
You, oh forest king, I hail,
And with wings my homage pay.
I am but a wretched quail,
Spare my tender brood to slay.
On hearing her words, the elephant spoke the third stanza:
I will kill your young ones, quail.
What can your poor help avail?
My left foot can crush with ease
Many thousand birds like these.
And so saying, he crushed the young birds to pieces with his foot. And standing over them. he washed them away in a flood of water and went off loudly trumpeting. The quail sat down on the bough of a tree and said, “Then be off with you and trumpet away. You shall see very soon what I will do. You little know about the difference between strength of body and strength of mind. Well! I will teach you this lesson.” And threatening him in this way, she repeated the fourth stanza:
Power abused is not all gain,
Power is often folly’s bane.
Beast that did my young ones kill,
I will work you mischief still.
And so saying, shortly afterwards she did a good turn for a crow. The crow was highly pleased. And when the crow asked, “What can I do for you?” the quail said, “There is nothing else, sir, to be done, but I would like you to use your beak and peck out the eyes of this rogue elephant.” The crow readily assented.
Then the quail did a service to a blue fly, and when the fly asked, “What can I do for you?” she said, “When the eyes of this rogue elephant have been put out by the crow, then I want you to drop your eggs into them.” The fly agreed. And then the quail did a kindness to a frog, and when the frog asked what it was to do, she said, “When this rogue elephant becomes blind and is searching for water to drink, then croak on the top of a mountain. And when he has climbed to the top, come down and croak again at the bottom of the cliff. This is what I ask you to do.” After hearing what the quail asked, the frog readily assented.
So one day the crow pecked out both eyes of the elephant with its beak, and the fly dropped its eggs in them. The elephant—being eaten up by maggots—was maddened by the pain. And overcome with thirst, he wandered about looking for water to drink. At that moment the frog stood on the top of a mountain and croaked. The elephant thought, “There must be water there,” and he climbed up the mountain. Then the frog descended, and stood at the bottom of the cliff and croaked again. The elephant thought, “There will be water there.” He moved towards the precipice. There he rolled over, fell to the bottom of the mountain, and was killed. When the quail knew that the elephant was dead, she said, “I have seen the back of my enemy.” And in a high state of delight, he strutted over his body. And when the time came, she passed away to fare according to her karma.
Figure: Brains over brawn
The Master said, “Monks, should not incur the hostility of anyone. These four creatures, by combining together, brought about the destruction of this elephant, as strong as he was.
A quail with crow, blue fly and frog allied
Once proved the issue of a deadly feud.
Through them king elephant untimely died.
Therefore all quarrelling should be eschewed.
Uttering this stanza inspired by Perfect Wisdom, he then identified the Birth: “At that time Devadatta was the rogue elephant, and I was the leader of the herd of elephants.”
