Sasa Jataka

Sasa Jataka

Long ago, in a time when the forest was a realm of wonder and the animals lived in harmonious communities, there dwelled a wise and benevolent hare. This was no ordinary hare; he was a Bodhisattva, a being of immense compassion and foresight, whose heart pulsed with the desire to help all sentient creatures. He lived with his three friends: a monkey, a jackal, and an otter. They were a peculiar quartet, bound by a friendship that transcended their differences in species, united by their shared love for the forest and its bounty.

Every day, the four friends would gather to forage. The monkey, agile and quick, would swing through the trees, gathering fruits. The otter, sleek and adept in the water, would dive for fish. The jackal, cunning and resourceful, would find roots and grubs. And the hare, with his keen senses and gentle nature, would find the sweetest grasses and tender shoots. They shared their findings equally, ensuring that no one went hungry.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a celestial being, the king of the gods, descended to Earth in disguise. He wished to test the virtue and generosity of beings on the mortal plane. He appeared as a poor, old Brahmin, his clothes tattered, his face etched with the weariness of a long journey, and his voice frail as he approached the dwelling place of the four friends.

“Oh, kind creatures,” he called out, his voice barely a whisper, “I have traveled far and am weak with hunger. Could you spare any food for a starving old man?”

The monkey, ever eager to please, immediately scampered up a mango tree. “Venerable sir,” he chattered, “I have some ripe mangoes! Please, take them.” He dropped a pile of the sweetest mangoes at the Brahmin's feet.

The otter, seeing the monkey’s offering, dove into the nearby stream. “Master,” he called, emerging with a plump fish, “this is fresh from the water. I hope it is to your liking.” He laid the fish beside the mangoes.

The jackal, his eyes glinting, trotted off and returned with a small portion of dried fish and some roots he had stored. “Though it is not much, esteemed sir,” he said, presenting his meager findings, “I offer this with a willing heart.”

Finally, the Brahmin turned to the hare, who was quietly nibbling on a blade of grass. The hare looked at the Brahmin with compassionate eyes and said, in his gentle voice, “Wise elder, I have nothing but grass. But if you wish, I can offer you my own body, for I am made of flesh and bone.”

The Brahmin, his disguise beginning to crack, looked at the hare with astonishment. “Noble hare,” he said, his voice now carrying a hint of celestial power, “you are indeed a being of extraordinary compassion. But I cannot accept your life.”

The hare, undeterred, persisted. “Please, sir, do not refuse my offering. For what is this body but a fleeting vessel? To offer it in service to one in need is the highest form of generosity.” He then gently nudged his friends aside and approached the Brahmin, preparing himself.

The Bodhisattva hare then spoke to the Brahmin, “Build a fire, venerable sir, and cook me. Then you may eat.”

The Brahmin, his divine form now fully revealed, with a radiant glow surrounding him, was deeply moved. Tears welled in his eyes. He could not bring himself to harm such a pure being. Instead, he gathered all the grass the hare had gathered, and with his divine power, he wove it into the shape of the hare. Then, he took the hare and imprinted his image onto the moon.

“O virtuous hare,” the celestial king proclaimed, his voice resonating with divine power, “your selfless sacrifice and boundless compassion have touched my heart. Your noble act will be remembered for all time. I shall forever imprint your image upon the moon, so that all beings may gaze upon it and be inspired by your unparalleled generosity.”

And so it is said that on clear nights, when the moon shines brightly, one can still see the silhouette of the noble hare, a timeless testament to the power of selfless giving and the boundless depth of compassion.