--- title: Opening, part 12 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees · page 2 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/page/2/) [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 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/) **2** Thereupon, monks, the monkey and the elephant said this to the partridge: “You, sir, are our elder.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") You will we respect, reverence, venerate, and honor, and in your admonitions will we abide steadfast.”[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly, monks, the partridge prevailed upon the monkey and the elephant to take upon themselves the Five Precepts, and himself also took upon himself the Five Precepts and walked therein.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") They lived in respect and deference for each other, and had a common life.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") After death, upon dissolution of the body, they were reborn in a place of bliss, in a heavenly world.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") This, monks, was called the Holy Life of the Partridge.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Men versed in the Law who honor the aged Have praise even in this life And in the next life are in bliss.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") \_B. Uncanonical version.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 37: i. 217-220.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") On a certain occasion the Teacher admonished a company of monks to show proper respect for their elders.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Said he: “In former times, monks, even animals reflected: ‘But it is not becoming in us that we should live without respect or deference for each other, having no common life.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us find out which one of us is the oldest, and to him let us offer respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy.’[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") And when, after diligent inquiry, they knew, ‘He is our elder,’ to him did they offer respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") And having so done, they departed, fulfilling the Path to Heaven.”[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, on a slope of Himavat, near a certain huge banyan tree, lived three friends: a partridge, a monkey, an elephant.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") They were without respect or deference for each other, having no common life.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") And to them occurred the following thought: “It is not proper for us to live thus.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Suppose we were to live hereafter offering respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy to that one of us who is the oldest!”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") “But which one of us is the oldest?” they considered.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is the way!” said the three animals one day as they sat at the foot of the banyan tree.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") So the partridge and the monkey asked the elephant: “Master elephant, since how long have you known this banyan tree?”[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Friends, when I was a young elephant, I used to go with this banyan sapling between my thighs.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Moreover, when I stood with the tree between my thighs, the tips of its branches used to rub against my belly.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus I have known this tree from the time it was a sapling.”[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Next the other two animals, in the same way as before, asked the monkey.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Friends, when I was a young monkey, I used to sit on the earth, extend my neck, and eat the tips of the shoots of this banyan tree.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus I have known it since it was very small.”[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally the other two animals, in the same way as before, asked the partridge.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Friends, in former times, in such-and-such a place, grew a huge banyan tree.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") I ate its fruits and dropped its seed in this place.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") From that sprang this tree.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus I know this tree from the time when it had not yet sprouted.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore I am older than you.”[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus spoke the partridge.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon the monkey and the elephant said to the wise partridge: “Master, you are older than we.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Henceforth to you will we offer respect, reverence, veneration, salutation, and honor; to you will we offer respectful greeting, rising on meeting, homage with joined hands, and proper courtesy; in your admonitions will we abide steadfast.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") From this time forth, therefore, be good enough to give us admonition and needed instruction.”[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") From that time forth the partridge gave them admonition, established them in the Precepts, and himself also took upon himself the Precepts.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") And those three animals, established in the Precepts, showed respect and deference for each other, and had a common life.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") When their life was come to an end, they attained the goal of a heavenly world.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") The taking upon themselves by these three animals of the Precepts was called the Holy Life of the Partridge.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") “For, monks, those animals lived in respect and deference for each other.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") Why is it that you, who have retired from the world under a Doctrine and Discipline so well taught, do not live in respect and deference for each other?”[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Teacher had thus related this parable, he assumed the prerogative of One Supremely Enlightened and uttered the following stanza:[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") Men versed in the Law who honor the aged Have praise even in this life And in the next life are in bliss.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Teacher had thus extolled the practice of honoring the oldest, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the elephant was one of my disciples, the monkey was another, but the wise partridge was I myself.”[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") \_20.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") The Hawk.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Walk not in forbidden ground.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") \_A. Canonical version.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") Saṁyutta v. 146-148.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus have I heard: Once upon a time the Exalted One was in residence at Jetavana.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time the Exalted One addressed the monks: “Monks!”[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") “Reverend Sir!” replied those monks to the Exalted One.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") The Exalted One said this:[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") In olden times, monks, a hawk attacked a quail with violence and caught it.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, monks, as the hawk was carrying off the quail, the quail thus lamented: “I am indeed unfortunate, I possess little merit,--I who walked in forbidden ground, in a foreign region.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") If to-day I had walked in my own ground, in the region of my fathers, this hawk would not have been equal to a combat with me.”[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") “But, quail, what is your feeding-ground?[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") What is the region of your fathers?”[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") “A field of clods, turned up by the plow.”[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, monks, the hawk, not exerting his strength, not asserting his strength, released the quail.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go, quail\![151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") Even there you will not escape from me.”[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, monks, the quail went to the field of clods, turned up by the plow, and mounting a big clod, stood and called the hawk: “Come now, hawk, I dare you\![153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") Come now, hawk, I dare you!”[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, monks, the hawk, exerting his strength, asserting his strength, flapped both his wings and attacked the quail with violence.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") When, monks, the quail knew: “This hawk is coming for me with a vengeance!” he entered a crack in that very clod.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") And, monks, the hawk struck his breast against that very clod.[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") “For, monks, so it goes with whoever walks in forbidden ground, in a foreign region.[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, monks, walk not in forbidden ground, in a foreign region.[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") If, monks, you walk in forbidden ground, in a foreign region, the Evil One will obtain entrance, the Evil One will obtain lodgment.[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") And what, monks, is forbidden ground, a foreign region?[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") The Five Pleasures of Sense.[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") What are the Five?[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") Pleasurable Sights, Sounds, Odors, Tastes, Contacts.[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") And what, monks, is lawful ground, the region of the fathers?[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") The Four Earnest Meditations.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") What are the Four?[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") Meditation on the Body, on the Sensations, on the Thoughts, on the Conditions of Existence.[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") Walk, monks, in lawful ground, in the region of the fathers.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") If, monks, you walk in lawful ground, in the region of the fathers, the Evil One will not obtain entrance, the Evil One will not obtain lodgment.”[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/12/) - next →: [Opening, part 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/13/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)