No. 507.

MAHA-PALOBHANA-JATAKA.

"From Brahma's heaven," etc.--This story the Master told while dwelling in Jetavana, about the defilement of the sanctified. The circumstances have already been given. Here again said the Master, "Women cause defilement even in sanctified souls," and then told this story of the past.

[469] Once upon a time in Benares--here the story of the past is to be expanded as in the Culla-palobhana Birth . Now once again the Great Being came down from Brahma's world as the King of Kasi's son, and his name was Prince Anitthi-gandha, the Woman-hater. In the hands of a woman he would not be; they must needs dress as men to give him the breast; he dwelt in a closet of meditation, and never a woman he saw.

To explain this, the Master repeated four stanzas.

"From Brahma's heaven a god came down, and here upon this earth
As a King's son whose every wish was law, he had his birth.

"To Brahma's heaven no deed of lust, no mention, ever came:
So born into this world, the prince now loathed its very name.

"Within the palace he had made a closet all his own,
Where deep in meditation plunged he passed his days alone.

"The King, grown anxious for his son, laments to know him there:
One only son I have, and he for pleasures will not care."

The fifth stanza describes the king's lamentation:

"O who can tell me what to do! O is there no device?
Who'll teach him joys of love to crave, and who can him entice?"

The next stanza and half a stanza, are those of perfect wisdom:

"A girl there was, of graceful shape, of fair and lovely skin:
She knew a world of pretty songs, and well could dance and spin.
This maiden sought his majesty, and thus she did begin."

[470] The other line is spoken by the young girl:

"I will entice him, if thou wilt in marriage grant him me."

The king made answer to the maid, and thus and thus said he:

"Do but succeed in tempting him, thy husband he shall be."

The king now gave orders that all opportunity should be afforded her, and sent her to attend upon the prince. In the morning, taking her lute she went and stood just without the prince's sleeping chamber, and touching the lute with her finger-tips tried to tempt him by singing in a sweet voice.

To explain this, the Master said:

"The maiden went within the house, and where she stood apart,
Sang ditties sweet and languishing, to pierce a lover's heart.

"There as the maiden stood and sang, the prince, who heard the sound,
Straight fell in fancy, and he asked the servants waiting round--

"What is that sound of melody that comes to me so clear,
Piercing the heart with thoughts of love, delightful to my ear?"