I deceived you. You are quite welcome to those nice sorts of fruits (you spoke of). You have certainly got a big body, but you lack wit."
In explanation of this he uttered the following gâthas: —
"A fig for your mango and other fine trees
That grow on the Ganges' farther shore.
Udumbara trees are enough for me,
I like them better than most I've seen.
Oh! a precious big body you've got it is true.
Yet little good sense to match it have you.
To cheat me you tried, O false crocodile,
So you have I tricked, now go where you will."
There is a variant of this story in the Vânarinda Jâtaka.* It has much more humour in it than the other. There are four other versions elsewhere:—
For other variants see Mr. Tawney's note in his translation of the Kathâ-Sarit-Sâgara, vol. ii. pt. 7, p. 84.
The Vânarinda Jâtaka.[1]
(A Variant of the Sumsumâra Jataka.)
In days long past, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, the Bodhisat was reborn among the monkey-kind. He grew as big in size as a young horse, and was possessed of great strength. He lived alone on the banks of the river (Ganges). In the middle of that river there was an island in which grew all kinds of fruit-trees, mango, bread-fruit, &c.
On this side of the island, in the middle of the river, there was a ledge of rock rising out of the water; and upon this the monkey, who was able and strong as an elephant, used to alight by taking a spring
- ↑ Jâtaka Book, vol. i. No. 57, p. 278.
