Nakula Jātaka
Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia is now 14 years old
Our Encyclopedia recently received a wonderful opportunity for a major renewal on its 14th birthday . After many years of growing our Encyclopedia had become bit slow and sometimes even decided not to answer when people knocked on the door.
A very big thank you and blessings to Dmytro Rudiy (rudiy.nl) for his great work in upgrading the server, website and all of the infrastructure and helping make TBE fast and reliable again for everyone!
We kindly ask our readers to help us cover the cost of this important upgrade and also help with the ongoing costs of keeping the Encyclopedia alive and freely available.
or card
Every little donation helps and every one is deeply appreciated. 🙏🙏🙏
OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM 🙏🙏🙏
May blessings shower down on all of yous 🙏🙏🙏
Nakula Jātaka (No. 165)
The Bodhisatta was once an ascetic in the Himalayas. Near his walk lived a mongoose and a snake who were always quarrelling. He preached to them the virtues of amity and dispelled their suspicions of each other.
The story was related to two of Pasenadi's officers, who were always quarrelling. For details see the Uraga Jātaka (No. 154). The two noblemen are identified with the two animals. J. ii. 52 ff.
Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a certain village as one of a brahmin family. When he came of age, he was educated at Takkasila; then, renouncing the world he became a recluse, cultivated the Faculties and the Attainments, and dwelt in the region of Himalaya, living upon wild roots and fruits which he picked up in his goings to and fro.
At the end of his cloistered walk lived a Mongoose in an ant heap; and not far off, a Snake lived in a hollow tree. These two, Snake and Mongoose, were perpetually quarrelling. The Bodhisatta preached to them the misery of quarrels and the blessing of peace, and reconciled the two together, saying, "You ought to cease your quarrelling and live together at one."
When the Serpent was abroad, the Mongoose at the end of the walk lay with his head out of the hole in his ant hill, and his mouth open, and thus fell asleep, heavily drawing his breath in and out. The Bodhisatta saw him sleeping there, and asking him, "Why, what are you afraid of?" repeated the first stanza:
"Creature, your egg born enemy a faithful friend is made;
Why sleep you there with teeth all bare? Of what are you afraid?"
"Father," said the Mongoose, "never despise a former enemy, but always suspect him" and he repeated the second stanza.
"Never despise an enemy nor ever trust a friend
A fear that springs from unfeared things uproots and makes an end."
"Fear not," replied the Bodhisatta. "I have persuaded the Snake to do you no harm; distrust him no more." With this advice, he proceeded to cultivate the Four Excellences, and set his face toward Brahma's heaven. And the others too passed away to fare hereafter according to their deeds.