Reading Notes: Jataka Anthology
My summaries and notes for the following stories in the anthology:
The Foolish, Timid Rabbit
A rabbit is spooked by a falling coconut and believes the world is ending. This rabbit then begins a panic among the other rabbits that spreads to the deer and the elephant. The lion stops the stampede and interrogates the first rabbit. They go to the place to see where the earth was breaking and lion sees the coconut and realizes the rabbit's foolishness. This is the Indian version of Chicken Little.
Two Turtle Jatakas
Two young princes are scared of a turtle. To kill the turtle, they decide to throw it into a river. (Very ironic). In another tale, a turtle is holding on to a stick that is carried by two sticks. He talks which results in him falling to his death
The Cunning Crane and the Crab
A crane tricks fish into letting him eat them. He tries to trick a crab, but the crab has more sense and instead tricks the crane, resulting in its beheading.
The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart
A crocodile tells her husband that she will die if she does not eat the heart of the monkey. The crocodile-husband agrees that they will capture the monkey even if they have to trick him. The crocodile befriends the monkey and promises to carry him across the Ganges to luscious fields of the fruit trees. Instead he tries to drown him. The monkey is too cunning and tells the crocodile that he stores his heart in a fig tree for safe keeping. The monkey escapes and then mocks the crocodiles small wit.
The Crocodile in the River
This another version of the previous story. Instead of drowning the monkey, the crocodile pretends to be a rock. The monkey tricks the crocodile by jumping on his head and across the river.
The Monkey Who Gathered Lotuses
Buddha comes to life as a monkey who is strong and willing to fight his bloodthirsty father. The father is too weak to kill his monkey-son himself so he demises a plan to have a water demon kill the monkey instead. The monkey is too clever and leaps over the water to skim the lotuses off of the top. This impresses the water demon and he declares that the monkey is dexterous, brave, and resourceful.
Unruly Monks
A self-willed deer is caught in a snare and killed. An untrained rooster is killed because he crows at midnight and during the day.
Goblin City
Rakshasas are human-eating, shape-shifting goblins. A city of she-goblins forces men to marry them and then eats them when they are bored. A magical fairy with a golden horse carries the men away to safety.
Bibliography: Jataka Anthology compiled by Laura Gibbs
The Foolish, Timid Rabbit
A rabbit is spooked by a falling coconut and believes the world is ending. This rabbit then begins a panic among the other rabbits that spreads to the deer and the elephant. The lion stops the stampede and interrogates the first rabbit. They go to the place to see where the earth was breaking and lion sees the coconut and realizes the rabbit's foolishness. This is the Indian version of Chicken Little.
Two Turtle Jatakas
Two young princes are scared of a turtle. To kill the turtle, they decide to throw it into a river. (Very ironic). In another tale, a turtle is holding on to a stick that is carried by two sticks. He talks which results in him falling to his death
The Cunning Crane and the Crab
A crane tricks fish into letting him eat them. He tries to trick a crab, but the crab has more sense and instead tricks the crane, resulting in its beheading.
The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart
A crocodile tells her husband that she will die if she does not eat the heart of the monkey. The crocodile-husband agrees that they will capture the monkey even if they have to trick him. The crocodile befriends the monkey and promises to carry him across the Ganges to luscious fields of the fruit trees. Instead he tries to drown him. The monkey is too cunning and tells the crocodile that he stores his heart in a fig tree for safe keeping. The monkey escapes and then mocks the crocodiles small wit.
The Crocodile in the River
This another version of the previous story. Instead of drowning the monkey, the crocodile pretends to be a rock. The monkey tricks the crocodile by jumping on his head and across the river.
The Monkey Who Gathered Lotuses
Buddha comes to life as a monkey who is strong and willing to fight his bloodthirsty father. The father is too weak to kill his monkey-son himself so he demises a plan to have a water demon kill the monkey instead. The monkey is too clever and leaps over the water to skim the lotuses off of the top. This impresses the water demon and he declares that the monkey is dexterous, brave, and resourceful.
Unruly Monks
A self-willed deer is caught in a snare and killed. An untrained rooster is killed because he crows at midnight and during the day.
Goblin City
Rakshasas are human-eating, shape-shifting goblins. A city of she-goblins forces men to marry them and then eats them when they are bored. A magical fairy with a golden horse carries the men away to safety.
Bibliography: Jataka Anthology compiled by Laura Gibbs
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| The Crane and the Fish. Web Source. |
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