126 FOLK-TALES OF INDIA.
food, went off and betook itself to a dunghill, crying out '* Caw ! Caw!"*
The Mahapingala JAiAKA.f The dead do not return.
In days long since past there reigned at Benares a king named Mahapiwgala, who ruled his kingdom without any regard to justice and equity. He committed sinful actions, and oppressed his people, crushing them like sugar in a sugar-mill, by punishment with the stick, taxes, loss of limbs, exaction of fines, &c. He was harsh, cruel, and violent, and had not even a particle of pity for others. To his wives and children in the house, as well as to ministers, brahmans, nobles, &c., he was disagreeable and unpleasant, like dust in one's eye, like grit in one's rice-pudding, or like a sharp thorn sticking in one's heel. At that time the Bodhisat was reborn as the son of this bad king.
IMahapingala, after a long reign, at last died. At his death all the inhabitants of Benares were highly delighted, and rejoiced with exceeding great joy. They burnt his body in the cemetery, using a thousand cartloads of wood, and extinguished the funeral flames (after the cremation was over) with water from many thousands of jars. They then consecrated the Bodhisat as king, saying, " We have now got a just sovereign." Joyful and glad, they caused a festival to be proclaimed by beating of drums. They adorned the city with flags and banners flying aloft. At each door they erected gay pavilions, the floors of which were decorated with laja-flowers scattered all about, and there they sat too eating and drinking.
The Bodhisat, enjoying great honour, was seated in the midst of a most splendid throne (overhung with the white parasol of state),
- The Commentary makes Buddha himself apply the moral, which is this : —
The crow represents heretical teachers, samanas, and brahmans, who, as long as the Baddha is absent, get rewards and fame. The peacock-king is the Buddha, the king of the law, who preaches the law with a sweet voice, and receives those gifts and distinctions formerly bestowed upon heretics and the rest.
t See Jatalia Book^ vol. ii. No. 224, p. 206; vol. iii. No. 342, p. 133.
