146
Nîti Literature of Burma.
17.
Indeed, in former times, the ox Nandivisâla overcame by a thousand the Brahman who spoke in a displeasing way.[1]
18.
Ignorance is displeasing; a man, verily, of little knowledge does not really know what should or should not bespoken.
19–20.
In former times, a Brahman, on one of his two oxen dying, having learnt repeatedly during one year the way of making a request, on his having to ask the king, "Give me one ox," spoke differently, saying, "Take one."[2]
21.
It is said, besides, that a fool, from ignorance, is afraid of what does not occasion fear: a worm and also a jay, a heron and Dhammika Brahman[3]—these, who comprise
- ↑ Gotama in a previous existence was a bull known as Nandivisâla. He came into the possession of a Brahman, and in order to do his master a kindness, he one day asked him to make a bet of a thousand that his bull would move a hundred carts well laden. The bet was made with a squire. A hindred carts were laden with sand, stones, &c. When Nandivisâla was yoked to the foremost cart, he was ruged on by the Brahman with shouts of "brute" and "wretch." This amde him stubborn, and he would not move an inch. The Brahman lost his bet, but when he came to know that it was on account of the harsh language he employed, he commenced to speak to the animal in sweeter tones. At the instance of the bull, he then laid a wager of two thousand. A hundred carts were laden as before, and Nandivisâla was yoked to the foremost. When he was urged on this time, his master used the expressions, "Go on, my beauty," "Drag them, my beauty;" and so giving a vigorous pull, he won the wager. See Jâtaka, Bk. i. 28.
- ↑ The reference here is to the story of Lâludayi, the simpleton, to be found in the Somadatta Jâtaka. The moral of the legend is that no amount of training will make up for a want of brains. Lâludayi was for one year taught by his father how to ask for an ox from the king, yet, when he went to make the request, he lost his presence of mind, and spoke in a contrary way. See Jâtaka,, Bk. ii. 7.
- ↑ Dhammika Brahman was a heretical teacher, to whom reference is often made in Buddhist writings.
