Devadatta

At that time, in an ancient city in India, there was a prince named Ajatasattu.

Ajatasattu, he followed the counsel of Devadatta.

Anyone know who's Devadatta? He's like an evil monk in the Sangha.

He tried to kill the Buddha.

He just tried to ruin everything the Buddha did.

Yeah, he was always in opposition with the Buddha.

And this evil monk Devadatta tried to influence Prince Ajatasattu to kill his father Bimbisara.

so he could take over the throne earlier.

Thus, and in no other fashion, did Buddha sit in the old days when Ananda asked questions, and the Dreamer began to dream of the lives that lay behind him ere the lips moved; and, as the chronicles say, he told a tale.

This would be the way he began, for dreamers in the East tell something the same sort of tales today: "Long ago, when Devadatta was King of Benares, there lived a virtuous elephant, a reprobate ox, and a king without understanding." And the tale would end, after the moral had been drawn for Ananda's benefit: "Now the reprobate ox was such an one, and the king was such another; but the virtuous elephant was I myself, Ananda." Thus, then, he told the tales in the bamboo grove.

And the bamboo grove is there today.

Little blue and gray and slate-robed figures pass under its shadow, buy two or three joss-sticks, disappear into the shrine—that is, the body of the god—come out smiling, and drift away through the shrubberies.

And when the great teacher, Gautama the Buddha, told this tale, he used to add.

Now at that time, the lion was Devadatta, the traitor, but the white crane was I myself.

End of chapter one.

Chapter two of Indian Fairy Tales.

The earth is all one censer, and myriads of frogs are making up the haze ring.

It is too warm to do more than to sit on a stone and watch; the eyes that having seen all things see no more—the down dropped eyes, the forward droop of the head, and the colossal simplicity of the folds of the robe over arm and knee: thus (and in no other fashion) did Buddha sit in the old days when Ananda asked questions and the Dreamer began to dream of the lives that lay behind Him ere the lips moved,—"And," as the chronicles say, "He told a Tale." This would be the way He began, for dreamers in the East tell something the same sort of tales today: Long ago, when Devadatta was King of Benares, there lived a virtuous elephant, a reprobate ox, and a king without understanding...

And the tale would end, after the moral had been drawn for Ananda's benefit, Now the reprobate ox was such an one, and the king was such another; but the virtuous elephant was I myself, Ananda! Thus then He told the tales in the bamboo grove; and the bamboo grove is there today.

Little blue and gray and slate robed figures pass under its shadow, buy two or three joss-sticks, disappear into the shrine [that is] the body of the God, come out smiling, and drift away through the shrubberies.

Better softly withdraw from him, neither envying nor abusing." As having thus spoken, the crane flew away.

And when the great teacher, Gautama the Buddha, told this tale, he used to add, "Now at that time, the lion was Devadatta the traitor, but the white crane was I myself." End of chapter one.

Chapter two of Indian Fairy Tales.

This is a LibriVox recording.

Then it belongs to your eldest brother Yudhishthira, was a quiet reply, and according to custom and law, the beautiful princess became the wife of the wise Yudhishthira, while to Arjun remained the pure honour of the victory.

Part 3 It was indeed a victory which brought good fortune to the whole family, for the alliance with King Draupad reminded Duryodhana that it would be well for him to come to terms with his five cousins.

It was arranged, therefore, that the kingdom in dispute should be divided into two portions.

Duryodhana, in the name of his father Dhritarashtra, kept the eastern and richer part which was watered by the sacred Ganges, while the five tall sons of Pandu were given the western portion on the river Jamuna, which was then, for the most part, forest and wilderness.