Cūḷasuvajātaka

The Shorter Tale of King Parrot

“Lo! countless trees”—This story the Master dwelling at Jetavana told concerning the Veranja section. When the Master after passing the rainy season at Veranja in due course arrived at Savatthi, the Brethren in the Hall of Truth raised a discussion saying, “Sirs, a Tathagata, a delicately nurtured kshatriya and Buddha, though possessed of supernatural powers, at the invitation of a brahmin of Veranja stayed three months with him, and when owing to the temptation of Mara he failed to receive an alms at the hands of the brahmin, even for a single day, he gave up all covetous ways, and keeping in the same place for three months lived on water and a modicum of the ground flour of roots. [4951 Oh the contented nature of Tathagatas!” When the Master came and on inquiry learned the nature of their discussion he said, “It is no marvel, Brethren, that a Tathagata now has lost all covetousness, seeing that formerly when born in an animal form he forsook covetousness.” And hereupon 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.