ram's gestures to get out of its way. Thought he, "Among so many persons I have to deal with, this ram alone discerns my merits." Then the stupid anchorite most respectfully saluted the ram, uttering the following gâtha:—
"This four-footed beast is most charming, I vow,
So good and so kind, so clever and wise;
Distinguish'd is he, and can tell at a glance,
A brâhman well-bred who honour deserves."
At that moment the wise trader (already alluded to), sitting in the bazaar and seeing all this, tried to dissuade the brâhman from acting so foolishly, and spake the following gâtha:—
"O brâhman beware of this butting old ram!
Not long have you known him, don't trust him too far;
He before you retires, but only to give
A mighty hard blow that'll break all your ribs."
But even as the wise trader was uttering these words, the ram, coming on with great speed, struck the brâhman on the thigh, did him great injury, and brought him to the ground. As he lay moaning on the earth the teacher, setting forth the cause of the disaster, uttered the following gâtha:—
"Here lies this old priest, his goods knocked to pieces.
With thigh-bone all broken and load overturned;
His arms he outspreads, and utters loud moans,
Oh! run for the doctor, the brâhman is killed."
Then the old anchorite gave utterance to the following gâtha:—
"Struck down will he lie who honours the base,
And sees not the knave that's seeking his harm;
Like me will he fare, O fool that I am.
Death-stricken to-day, hurled down by a ram."
While the old hermit was thus bewailing his folly he gave up the ghost.
The Kutdûsaka Jâtâka.[1]
The Monkey and the Hoopoe.
In times long since past, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, the
- ↑ Jâtaka Book, vol. iii. No. 321, p. 72.
