Reading Notes: Jataka Tales A
Bibliography: Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt
The Monkey and the Crocodile:
A crocodile's mom wanted to eat a monkey's heart so her son tried to trick the monkey by giving him a ride to another island that has a bunch of fruit. The crocodile was stupid though and he tried to drown the monkey but the monkey told the crocodile he left his heart at the tree. The crocodile went back to the tree and the monkey went straight up the tree so the crocodile can't catch him.
The second day, the monkey crossed to the other island by hopping on a rock. The crocodile then waited until nighttime and hid on top of the rock to try and catch the monkey when he is leaving. The monkey noticed that the rock was a lot bigger than usual and called out to the rock. The crocodile is stupid and responded. The monkey then tricked the crocodile into opening his mouth and hopped back to the other island by hopping on his open mouth. The crocodile then stopped bothering the monkey.
How the Turtle Saved His Own Life
A king created a lake for his sons to play in and he added some fishes. Mixed in with those fish was a turtle and the kids have never seen a turtle before so they thought it was a demon. The king then ordered its execution and while people were throwing around ideas, some wise old guy said to throw the turtle into the lake. The turtle then talked about how someone could be so cruel to throw him in a lake so the king threw him in a lake. Little did they know that that's the turtle's safe spot and he tricked them. He swam back home safe and sound.
The Merchant of Seri
There were two merchants, one who's a decent guy and the other is super greedy. One day, a poor grandmother and her daughter tried to trade their golden bowl, which they didn't know was gold, for some stuff. They first went to the greedy merchant who tried to trick them by saying it's worthless and he wouldn't trade anything for that. Eventually they went to the decent guy who told them this is gold and it's worth more than anything he has. She gave him the bowl for some stuff and that guy lived a decent life. The greedy guy tried to go back for the bowl but the grandma told him that she traded it already and he's big mad.
The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking
Two geese befriend a turtle. They told him they will take the turtle to their hometown if he bites on this stick that they carry. He couldn't talk though or else he'll die. They fly past some villagers and the villagers are like this is so ridiculous. The turtle had to open his mouth and say something so then he fell to his death.
The Ox Who Won the Forfeit
There was an owner of a really strong ox. The owner was super proud of the ox and made a bet with the villagers that the ox can carry 100 wagons. The owner then called the ox a rascal and started whipping it to try and get it to move. The ox was pissed at that so he stood still and the owner lost money. The owner was wondering what's wrong with the ox so the ox said you were rude to me. The owner then apologized so the ox was like ok I'll get your money back. The next day, the owner bet twice the number of wagons for twice the amount of money and praised the ox to try and get him to move. The ox then moved it with ease and everyone was like hey that's a strong ox.
The Sandy Road
These merchants are going through the desert. At last, they are one day away from the city so they threw all their supplies away because they figured they didn't need them anymore. Little did they know, the ox they were riding turned around when they were sleeping so now they are further behind and they have no resources. The men were dehydrated but one of the merchants was like we can't give up so he went to find water. Eventually he ran into a tuft of grass and, realizing that there must be water underneath it, dug until he found water. They found water, realized their mistakes and refilled their canvases. They left a flag to let people know there's water there and made their way to the city.
The Quarrel of the Quails
These quails had a very wise leader. There is this merchant that caught quails and sold them. He would mimic the cries of the leader to get the quails to crowd around him before he threw a net to capture them all. The leader caught on to this and told the quails that next time he throws a net around you guys, poke your head through the little holes and fly away in the same direction. This ended up working. The quails then got into a fight though and started taking sides so when the fowler threw the net on the quails, they kept on fighting to decide who would lift the net away. The fowler caught all the quails and sold them for a lot of money.
The Measure of Rice
A greedy king had an honest Valeur who would set the price for any trades. Since the guy was honest, he would give fair trades but the king thought he could get even richer with a greedier Valeur so he fired his original one and hired some random stupid guy. The guy would randomly give out prices for trades. Some guy tried to trade his horse and the stupid guy said it was worth a measure of rice. The horse guy then was like this isn't fair and went back to the og Valeur. The og then said ask him how much a measure of rice is worth in front of the king. So the horse guy did that and the stupid guy said it's worth the entire kingdom. The king is embarrassed and then fired him.
The Foolish, Timid Rabbit
Some dumb rabbit randomly thought what would happen to me if the world broke up. Right there, a coconut fell and the rabbit thought the noise was the earth breaking. He then started running as fast as he can, soon other animals started joining him when he started spreading the rumor. Eventually, they ran into the lion and he was like are you sure that the earth is breaking. So the lion and the rabbit went to the spot where the rabbit was originally and found a coconut on the floor. The rabbit then realized his mistake.
The Monkey and the Crocodile:
A crocodile's mom wanted to eat a monkey's heart so her son tried to trick the monkey by giving him a ride to another island that has a bunch of fruit. The crocodile was stupid though and he tried to drown the monkey but the monkey told the crocodile he left his heart at the tree. The crocodile went back to the tree and the monkey went straight up the tree so the crocodile can't catch him.
The second day, the monkey crossed to the other island by hopping on a rock. The crocodile then waited until nighttime and hid on top of the rock to try and catch the monkey when he is leaving. The monkey noticed that the rock was a lot bigger than usual and called out to the rock. The crocodile is stupid and responded. The monkey then tricked the crocodile into opening his mouth and hopped back to the other island by hopping on his open mouth. The crocodile then stopped bothering the monkey.
The Monkey and the Crocodile
How the Turtle Saved His Own Life
A king created a lake for his sons to play in and he added some fishes. Mixed in with those fish was a turtle and the kids have never seen a turtle before so they thought it was a demon. The king then ordered its execution and while people were throwing around ideas, some wise old guy said to throw the turtle into the lake. The turtle then talked about how someone could be so cruel to throw him in a lake so the king threw him in a lake. Little did they know that that's the turtle's safe spot and he tricked them. He swam back home safe and sound.
The Merchant of Seri
There were two merchants, one who's a decent guy and the other is super greedy. One day, a poor grandmother and her daughter tried to trade their golden bowl, which they didn't know was gold, for some stuff. They first went to the greedy merchant who tried to trick them by saying it's worthless and he wouldn't trade anything for that. Eventually they went to the decent guy who told them this is gold and it's worth more than anything he has. She gave him the bowl for some stuff and that guy lived a decent life. The greedy guy tried to go back for the bowl but the grandma told him that she traded it already and he's big mad.
The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking
Two geese befriend a turtle. They told him they will take the turtle to their hometown if he bites on this stick that they carry. He couldn't talk though or else he'll die. They fly past some villagers and the villagers are like this is so ridiculous. The turtle had to open his mouth and say something so then he fell to his death.
The Ox Who Won the Forfeit
There was an owner of a really strong ox. The owner was super proud of the ox and made a bet with the villagers that the ox can carry 100 wagons. The owner then called the ox a rascal and started whipping it to try and get it to move. The ox was pissed at that so he stood still and the owner lost money. The owner was wondering what's wrong with the ox so the ox said you were rude to me. The owner then apologized so the ox was like ok I'll get your money back. The next day, the owner bet twice the number of wagons for twice the amount of money and praised the ox to try and get him to move. The ox then moved it with ease and everyone was like hey that's a strong ox.
The Sandy Road
These merchants are going through the desert. At last, they are one day away from the city so they threw all their supplies away because they figured they didn't need them anymore. Little did they know, the ox they were riding turned around when they were sleeping so now they are further behind and they have no resources. The men were dehydrated but one of the merchants was like we can't give up so he went to find water. Eventually he ran into a tuft of grass and, realizing that there must be water underneath it, dug until he found water. They found water, realized their mistakes and refilled their canvases. They left a flag to let people know there's water there and made their way to the city.
The Quarrel of the Quails
These quails had a very wise leader. There is this merchant that caught quails and sold them. He would mimic the cries of the leader to get the quails to crowd around him before he threw a net to capture them all. The leader caught on to this and told the quails that next time he throws a net around you guys, poke your head through the little holes and fly away in the same direction. This ended up working. The quails then got into a fight though and started taking sides so when the fowler threw the net on the quails, they kept on fighting to decide who would lift the net away. The fowler caught all the quails and sold them for a lot of money.
The Measure of Rice
A greedy king had an honest Valeur who would set the price for any trades. Since the guy was honest, he would give fair trades but the king thought he could get even richer with a greedier Valeur so he fired his original one and hired some random stupid guy. The guy would randomly give out prices for trades. Some guy tried to trade his horse and the stupid guy said it was worth a measure of rice. The horse guy then was like this isn't fair and went back to the og Valeur. The og then said ask him how much a measure of rice is worth in front of the king. So the horse guy did that and the stupid guy said it's worth the entire kingdom. The king is embarrassed and then fired him.
The Foolish, Timid Rabbit
Some dumb rabbit randomly thought what would happen to me if the world broke up. Right there, a coconut fell and the rabbit thought the noise was the earth breaking. He then started running as fast as he can, soon other animals started joining him when he started spreading the rumor. Eventually, they ran into the lion and he was like are you sure that the earth is breaking. So the lion and the rabbit went to the spot where the rabbit was originally and found a coconut on the floor. The rabbit then realized his mistake.
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