Jataka 430
Cullasuka Jātaka
The Small Parrot
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 basically the same story as Jātaka 429, but it has some different and lovely poetry. Enjoy.
“Lo! countless trees.” The Master told this story when he was living at Jetavana. It is about his time in the village of Verañjā. After passing the rainy season at Verañjā, the Master in due course arrived at Sāvatthi. The monks in the Dharma Hall started a discussion saying, “Sirs, a Tathāgata, a delicately nurtured kshatriya and Buddha, though possessed of supernatural powers, at the invitation of a brahmin of Verañjā stayed with him for three months. And when he was tempted by Māra, he failed to receive alms at the hands of the brahmin, even for a single day. He gave up all covetous ways, and staying in the same place for three months, he lived on water and a modicum of the ground flour of roots. Oh the contented nature of Tathāgatas!”
When the Master arrived and asked the nature of their discussion, he said, “It is no marvel, monks, that a Tathāgata has lost all covetousness, seeing that formerly—when born in an animal form—he forsook covetousness.” And thereupon he told a story of the past. The whole story is now to be related in detail in exactly the same way as in the preceding tale.
Lo! countless trees are here, all green and fruitful see!
Why, parrot, do you cling to this poor withered tree?
Long years we have enjoyed the luscious fruit it bare,
And tho’ it now has none, it still should claim our care.
Nor leaves nor fruit it yields, alas! the tree is dead.
Why blame your fellow-birds, that they should all have fled?
They loved it for its fruit, and now that it has none,
Poor selfish fools! their love and gratitude is gone.
Your gratitude I own, your true and constant love,
Sure virtue such as this the wise will all approve.
I offer you, O bird, whate’er you will for choice,
Tell me, I pray, what boon would most your heart rejoice?
Would that this tree alight bear fresh leaves and fruit again,
I would be glad as they that treasure trove obtain.
Then was the tree by Sakka with ambrosia sprinkled o’er,
And boughs sprang up with cooling shade, as lovely as before.
May Sakka and all loved by Sakka blessed be,
As I today am blest this joyous sight to see.
Thus was the tree made fruitful by the parrot’s grateful choice,
And Sakka and his queen in groves of Nandana rejoice.
Figure: The tree is fruitful once again
In order to illustrate this story, these stanzas inspired by Perfect Wisdom were added at the close:
Soon as king parrot wisely made his choice,
The tree once more put forth its fruit again.
Then Sakka with his queen did fly amain
To where in Nandana the gods rejoice.
The Master, his lesson ended, said, “Thus, brother, sages of old, even though they were born in animal forms, were free from covetousness. Why then do you, after being ordained under so excellent a dispensation, follow greedy ways? So go and live in the same place.” And he gave him a form of meditation, and then he identified the Birth. The monk went back, and through spiritual insight, he attained to Arahant-hood. “At that time Sakka was Anuruddha, and I was the parrot king.”
