--- title: Opening, part 12 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees description: Opening, part 12, «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Let all creatures that live,--let all creatures that breathe,-- Let all creatures that exist,--one and all,-- Let all meet with prosperity! --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/) / Opening, part 12 # Opening, part 12 Opening, part 12 of «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole text, 170 sentences and 2565 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/page/2/) Let all creatures that live,--let all creatures that breathe,-- Let all creatures that exist,--one and all,-- Let all meet with prosperity\![1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Let none come unto any adversity\![2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Infinite is the Buddha\![3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Infinite is the Doctrine\![4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Infinite is the Order\![5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Finite are creeping things,--snakes and scorpions, centipedes, spiders and lizards, rats and mice\![6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") I have wrought defense for myself\![7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") I have wrought protection for myself\![8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Begone, living beings\![9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") I here do homage to the Exalted One And to the Seven Supreme Buddhas\![10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") \_B. Uncanonical version.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 203: ii.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") 144-148.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") \_There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain monk.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The story goes that while he was splitting wood at the door of the room where the monks took hot baths, a snake came out of a hole in a rotten log and bit him on the big toe.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") He died on the spot.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The news of his death and of how he came to die spread throughout the monastery.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") In the Hall of Truth the monks began to discuss the incident: “Brethren, such-and-such a monk, they say, while splitting wood at the door of the room where the monks take hot baths, was bitten by a snake and died on the spot.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The Teacher drew near and inquired: “Monks, what is the subject that engages your attention as you sit here all gathered together?”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “Such-and-such,” said they.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “Monks,” said the Teacher, “if that monk had cultivated friendship for the four royal families of snakes, the snake would not have bitten him.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") For even ascetics of old, before a Buddha had arisen, cultivated friendship for the four royal families of snakes, and thus obtained deliverance from the perils that arose through those royal families of snakes.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in the kingdom of Kāsi in the household of a Brahman.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") When he reached manhood, he renounced the pleasures of sense, retired from the world and adopted the life of an ascetic, and developed the Supernatural Powers and the Attainments.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") By supernatural power, in the region of Himavat, at a bend in the Ganges, he created a hermitage, and there he resided, surrounded by a company of ascetics, diverting himself with the diversions of the Trances.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time, on the bank of the Ganges, reptiles of various kinds wrought such havoc among the ascetics that many of them lost their lives.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Ascetics reported that fact to the Future Buddha.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha caused all of the ascetics to be assembled, and said to them: “If you would cultivate friendship for the four royal families of snakes, the snakes would not bite you.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore from this time forth, cultivate friendship for the four royal families of snakes in the following way.”[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he recited this stanza:[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") There is friendship ’twixt me and Virūpakkha snakes, There is friendship ’twixt me and Erāpatha snakes, There is friendship ’twixt me and Chabyāputta snakes, There is friendship ’twixt me and Black Gotamaka snakes.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Having thus pointed out to them the four royal families of serpents, he said: “In case you are successful in cultivating friendship for these, reptiles will not bite you or annoy you.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he recited the second stanza:[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings without feet, There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with two feet, There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with four feet, There is friendship ’twixt me and living beings with many feet.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Having thus set forth Cultivation of Friendship in the usual form, he next set it forth by way of prayer, reciting this stanza:[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Let no living being without feet injure me\![38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Let no living being with two feet injure me\![39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Let no living being with four feet injure me\![40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Let no living being with many feet injure me\![41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Next, setting forth Cultivation of Friendship without respect of persons, he recited this stanza:[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Let all creatures that live,--let all creatures that breathe,-- Let all creatures that exist,--one and all,-- Let all meet with prosperity\![43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Let none come unto any adversity\![44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") “Thus,” said he, “cultivate friendship for all living beings without respect of persons.”[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Having so said, he spoke once more, to bid them meditate on the virtues of the Three Jewels.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Said he: “Infinite is the Buddha\![47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Infinite is the Doctrine\![48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Infinite is the Order!”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Future Buddha had thus pointed out that the virtues of the Three Jewels are infinite, he said: “Meditate on the virtues of these Three Jewels.”[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Having so said, in order to point out that living beings are finite, he continued: “Finite are creeping things,--snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, lizards, rats and mice!”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Having so said, the Future Buddha declared: “Since lust, ill-will, and delusion, which exist in these creatures, are the qualities which make creatures finite, therefore these creeping things are finite.”[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said: “By the supernatural power of the Three Jewels, which are infinite, let those of us who are finite, obtain protection for ourselves both by night and by day.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said: “Thus meditate on the virtues of the Three Jewels.”[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Having so said, in order to point out what more must yet be done, he recited this stanza:[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") I have wrought defense for myself\![56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") I have wrought protection for myself\![57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Begone, living beings\![58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") I here do homage to the Exalted One And to the Seven Supreme Buddhas\![59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Future Buddha: “In the very act of rendering homage, meditate on the Seven Buddhas.”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the Future Buddha composed this protective charm for the company of ascetics and gave it to them.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") From that time on the company of ascetics, abiding steadfast in the admonition of the Future Buddha, cultivated friendliness, meditated on the virtues of the Buddhas.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Even as they thus meditated on the virtues of the Buddhas, all of the reptiles disappeared.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") As for the Future Buddha, through the cultivation of the Exalted States, he attained the goal of the World of Brahmā.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") \_19.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Partridge, Monkey, and Elephant.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Reverence your elders.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") \_A. Canonical version.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Vinaya ii.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") 161-162.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") On a certain occasion the Exalted One admonished a company of monks to show proper respect for their elders.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Said he:[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") In former times, monks, on a slope of Himavat, grew a huge banyan tree.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") Near it lived three friends: a partridge and a monkey and an elephant.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") They lived without respect or deference for each other, having no common life.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, monks, to these friends occurred the following thought: “If only we knew which one of us was the oldest, we would respect, reverence, venerate, and honor him, and we would abide steadfast in his admonitions.”[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly, monks, the partridge and the monkey asked the elephant: “How far back, sir, can you remember?”[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") “Sirs, when I was a youngster, I used to walk over this banyan tree, keeping it between my thighs; the little tips of the shoots would just touch my belly.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") As far back as that, sirs, can I remember.”[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Next, monks, the partridge and the elephant asked the monkey: “How far back, sir, can you remember?”[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") “Sirs, when I was a youngster, I used to sit on the ground and eat the little tips of the shoots of this banyan tree.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") As far back as that, sirs, can I remember.”[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally, monks, the monkey and the elephant asked the partridge: “How far back, sir, can you remember?”[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") “In yonder open space, sirs, grew a huge banyan tree.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") I ate one of its fruits and dropped the seed in this place.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") From that sprang this banyan tree.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time also, sirs, I was the oldest.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/11/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)