Jataka 381
Migālopa Jātaka
The Headstrong Bird
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
TThis is a simple cautionary tale about heeding the words of those who are wiser than we.
I am often amazed by how dearly people cling to their opinions and views, even when they have never spent any time truly looking into or exploring a topic. The universe is indifferent to our opinions about it, just as in this story, the wind is indifferent to the arrogance of the young vulture.
“Your ways, my son.” The Master told this story while he was at Jetavana. It is about an unruly monk. The Master asked the monk, “Are you really unruly?” He said, “Yes, lord.” The Master replied, saying, “This is not the first time that you have been unruly. In the past, as well, through your bad behavior you did not abide by the words of the wise, and as a result, you met your death by the Verambha winds.” (“Veramba wind” is named for a sea from which the wind comes.) And he told this story from the past.
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was the King in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as a vulture by name Aparaṇṇagijjha. He lived among a group of vultures in Gijjhapabbata (Vulture Mountain). His son was named “Migālopa.” Migālopa was exceedingly strong and mighty. He flew high above the reach of the other vultures. They told their king that his son flew very far. He called Migālopa and said to him, “Son, they say you fly too high. If you do, you will bring death to yourself,” and spoke three stanzas:
Your ways, my son, to me unsafe appear,
You soar too high, above our proper sphere.
When earth is but a square field to your sight,
Turn back, my son, and dare no higher flight.
Other birds on soaring wings lofty flight ever now have tried,
Struck by furious wind and tempest they have perished in their pride.
Migālopa disobeyed his father and did not do his bidding. So rising and rising, he passed the limit his father had advised him, splitting even the Black Winds when he met them. He flew upwards until he met the Verambha winds in the face. They struck him, and at their mere stroke he fell into pieces and disappeared in the air.
His aged father’s wise commands disdained,
Beyond the Black, Verambha Winds he gained.
His wife, his children, all his household herd,
All came to ruin through that headstrong bird.
So they who heed not what their elders say,
Like this proud vulture beyond bounds astray,
Meet ruin, when right rules they disobey.
Figure: The Verambha winds… a clear winner
After the lesson the Master identified the birth: “At that time Migālopa was the unruly monk, and I was Aparaṇṇa.”
