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A ship was once wrecked in mid ocean and only a man called
Karambiya survived. He was cast upon an island, where he wandered about naked
and destitute. The people thought he was an ascetic and built him a hermitage.
Among his followers were a Garuda king, and also a Nāga king named Pandara (or
Pandaraka). One day, at the instigation of the Garuda, the ascetic wheedled out
of Pandara the secret of how the Nāgas prevented themselves from being carried
off by the Garudas. They swallowed large stones, thus making themselves very
heavy. If the Garudas seized them by their tails, they would have to disgorge
the stones and could easily be carried off. Karambiya betrayed this secret to
the Garuda king who, thereupon, seized Pandara in the right way and carried him
away. Pandara begged for mercy, and the Garuda set him free, warning him never
again to tell his secret. Thereafter the Garuda and Pandara lived as friends.
Pandara cursed Karambiya and his head split in seven pieces.
The story was related in reference to the wickedness of
Devadatta, who is identified with Karambiya.
Pandara was Sāriputta and the
Garuda the Bodhisatta. J. v.75ff.; vi.177.

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