On these words the Yaksha, affected with faithful contentment, amazement, and respect, exclaimed: 'Well said! well said !' and moving his head and shaking his (extended) fingers, magnified the Great Being with kind words such as these:
20. 'How is it possible that beasts should possess a conduct like this? How didst thou come to this degree of regard for virtues? Having assumed with some purpose or other this animal-shape, thou must be somebody practising penance in the penance-forest!'
After thus eulogising him, he threw the wicked monkey off his back, and taught him a preservative charm; after which he disappeared on the spot.
In this manner, then, forbearance deserves this name only, if there exists some opportunity for showing it, not otherwise : thus considering the virtuous appreciate even their injurer, deeming him a profit. (So is to be said, when discoursing on forbearance. And this may also be said: 'In this manner is shown the imperturbable tranquillity of the Bodhisattvas, even when in the state of a beast; how, indeed, should it become a human being or one who has taken the vow of a homeless life to be deficient in it [1]?' This story is also to be told, when praising the Tathâgata and when discoursing on listening with attention to the preaching of the Law.]
XXXIV. The Story of the Woodpecker.
(Cp. the Pâli Gâtaka, No. 308, Fausb. III, 25-27.)
Even though provoked, a virtuous person is incapable of betaking himself to wickedness, having never learnt to do so. This will be taught as follows.
The Bodhisattva, it is said, lived in some place of a forest as a woodpecker distinguished by his beautiful
- ↑ Cp. the conclusion of Story XXV.
