-
Kutidūsaka Jātaka (No.321)
A singila-bird, seeing a monkey
shivering in the rain, suggested to him that he should build a nest. The monkey,
in envy, destroyed the bird's nest.
The story was told in reference to a
novice Ulunkasaddaka, who had burnt down
Mahā-Kassapa's hut in a forest near
Rājagaha. At that time Mahā Kassapa had two novices, one serviceable and helpful
and the other ill-behaved. Whatever was done by his comrade the latter would
pretend that he himself had done it. One day, in exasperation, the good novice
heated water for the Elder's bath and then hid it in a back room, leaving only a
little in the boiler. When the other novice saw the steam rising he informed the
Elder that his bath was ready. When asked where was the water, he let a ladle
down into the almost empty boiler and the ladle rattled. When the story became
known he was nick-named Ulunkasaddaka ("Rattle-ladle").
Being found fault with on this and
several other occasions, he bore the Elder a grudge, and one day, having set
fire to the Elder's hut, he ran away. Later he was born first as a peta and then
in Avīci. This incident was reported to the Buddha by monks who came from
Rājagaha.
The monkey of the Jātaka is identified
with the wicked novice. J. iii.71ff.

|