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XV. The Story of the Lord of Fishes - SE Quadrant, Upper Register, Reliefs 56 - 57 |
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THE JATAKAMALA The
Tigress |
 
Adapted from the 19th century translation by J. S Speyer "As truly as I do not recollect, however pondering, that I ever did harm to any living being, not even in the highest distress, by the power of this truth may the King of the Devas fill the water-basins with the water of his rains." The designs of those who practice good conduct will be successful and thrive even in this world, how much more in the next. For this reason perfect pureness of conduct ought to be striven after, as will be taught by the following. The Bodhisattva, it is said, was once a chief of fishes living in a certain small lake, the lovely waters of which were embellished with various lotuses and water-lilies--white, red and blue--adorned with couples of swans, ducks, and geese, and covered with the blossoms of the trees that grew on its borders. Yet owing to his constant practice of the virtue of helping others in many previous births, the Bodhisattva was wholly given up to the business of procuring for others what would be good an agreeable to them, even in this very fish-existence.
He restrained them from desiring to injure each other and made their mutual affection grow stronger. Owing to these efforts, as well as his knowledge of every expedient, the Bodhisattva made them forget their habit of feeding in the cruel manner of fishes. Duly protected by him, that shoal of fishes came to great prosperity just as a town, when ruled by a king that acts in the proper manner, enjoys freedom from every kind of mishap. |
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One time, because of the creatures' deficiency of good fortune as well as the neglect of the divine beings who are charged with causing the rain to fall, the rain-god did not produce his due amount. In consequence of the scantiness of rainfall, the lake was no longer filled with new water stained yellow by the expanding blossoms of the nearby kadamba-trees. When the hot season arrived, the rays of the sun, burning more ardently and being, as it were, exhausted with fatigue, drank from that lake day after day. So did the Earth, which was heated by those very rays as well as the Wind, who being, as it were, accompanied by flames, ever longed for refreshment. All three assuaged their thirst in the lake, so to speak, transforming it at last into a shallow pool. Indeed, during the hot season the flaming Sun, the pungent Wind who seems to send forth flames, and a heat-wearied Earth sick with fever dry up the waters as if they would allay their wrath. And so that shoal of fishes passed into a most miserable condition. Not only did crowds of birds haunt the lake's borders, but troops of crows commenced to look upon the stricken fishes as their prey, for the water creatures could do nothing but lie and gasp. Perceiving the affliction and grief of his tribe and moved with compassion, the Bodhisattva entered upon this reflection: "Oh! These wretched fishes, what a calamity has befallen them! The water is decreasing every day as if it vied with the life of mortals. Yet clouds are not expected to come at all for a long time to come. "There is no opportunity of withdrawing; and if there were, who should lead them elsewhere? Besides, our enemies--invited by our calamity--throng together against us. No doubt they do but wait for the remainder of the water to dry up so that they may devour these prostrate fishes under my very eyes. Now, what may be the proper act to be done here?" |
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Thus considering, the Great Being saw but one means for relief: he should avail himself of his veracity. Grieved by compassion and heaving a long a deep sigh, he looked upwards to the sky and spoke the following words: "As truly as I do not recollect, however pondering, that I ever did harm to any living being, not even in the highest distress, by the power of this truth may the King of the Devas fill the water-basins with the water of his rains." As soon as the Great Being had pronounced these very words, a miracle took place, occasioned by the power of his veracity joined to the store of his merit and to the favor shown to him by Devas, Snakes and Yakshas, who put into effect their mighty powers. Though out of season, in all parts of the sky there appeared low hanging rain clouds that were loaded with rain. The deep and soft sound of approaching thunder pealed out of them and flashes of lightning adorned their big and dark-blue tops. As they spread across the sky, it was as if they were heads and arms that were gradually approaching in order to embrace one another.
Then the clouds let loose torrents of rain that fell down to the Earth like pearls that have been loosened from their shells. The dust subsided, and a strong smell was carried about by the wind that had accompanied the thunder shower. Though their power reached their highest degree during the hot season, the Sun's rays were now hidden. Currents of water ran down from the mountains, troubling the banks of the lake with the rows of foam which they had deposited. Again and again a slender figure of lightning illuminated the firmament; these golden-yellow apparitions seemed to perform rejoiceful dances in step with the musical peals of the cloud-instruments. Currents of pale water flowed into the lake from all sides and filled it to the brim. And since the crows and other birds had flown away at the very outset of the thunderstorm, the crowds of fishes recovered the hope of life and rejoiced. Though his heart was pervaded with gladness, the Bodhisattva--fearing lest the rains should cease--spoke to Parganya again and again: "Roar, Parganya, roar a roaring, loud and deep; dispel the joy of crows, pour out thy waters like jewels endowed with the flaming brilliancy of lightning, their companion." When Sakra, the Lord of the Devas, heard this, he became highly astonished and went in person to see what had happened. Eulogizing the lord of fishes, he spoke: "Surely, it is thy power, the effect of thy transcendent veracity, O mighty lord of fishes, that makes these rain-clouds pour out their waters with the lovely noise of thunder, as if they were waterspouts bent down. "But I should incur the lame of great inattention if I neglected to approve of the exertions of such beings as thou, intent on performing such deeds for the benefit of the world. "Therefore, thou must be henceforth no more anxious. I am bound to assist the virtuous in carrying out their designs. Never shall this region, since it is the abode of thy virtue, be visited another time by a similar plague." After thus praising the Bodhisattva in kind terms, Sakra disappeared on the spot. And that lake obtained a very large increase of water. In this manner the designs of those who practice good conduct will be successful and thrive even in this world, how much more in the next. For this reason entire pureness of conduct ought to be striven after. |
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Through the power of long practice, actions good or
wicked become inherent in mankind to such an extent that men will
perform them in a new existence without any effort, even while
sleeping. And so the Great Being had set his heart on those fishes as
if they were his own dear offspring, showing them his favor in various
ways: through gifts, kind words, attending to their interests and the
like.
Like the shadows of mountains projected onto the
mirror of the sky, the black clouds appeared to diminish the very
circumference of the horizon with occasioning darkness of their
rain-filled tops. Then the rumbling noise of the thunderclaps
resounded, which induced the peacocks to utter cries of gladness and to
perform various dancing movements as if they were praising the clouds
above. These accessories, together with the incessant illumination
caused by lightning, seemed to irradiate those cloud-masses with great
mirth and laughter.