--- title: Opening, part 4 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 4, «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: _The Future Buddha befriends animals and man. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/4/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 4 # Opening, part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/4/) **2** With the seventy crores of gold, causing those three animals also to be carried along, he went to the city.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") And ascending to the grand floor of his magnificent palace, he caused that wealth to be stored and guarded.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") For the snake to live in, he caused a golden tube to be made; for the rat, a crystal cave; for the parrot, a golden cage.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") For the snake and the parrot to eat, he caused every day sweet parched grain to be given in a vessel of gold purified with fire; for the rat, grains of perfumed rice; he gave alms and performed the other works of merit.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus those four persons, one and all, dwelt together in unity and concord all their days, and when their days were come to an end, passed away according to their deeds.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Teacher: “Monks, not only in his present state of existence has Devadatta gone about for the purpose of killing me; in a previous state of existence also he went about for the purpose of killing me in the very same way.”[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") \_3.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Elephant and Ungrateful Forester.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") \_The whole earth will not satisfy an ungrateful man.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 72: i. 319-322.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") \_To an ungrateful man.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Bamboo Grove with reference to Devadatta.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") The monks, seated in the Hall of Truth, were saying: “Brethren, Devadatta the ungrateful knows not the virtues of the Teacher.”[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") The Teacher drew near and asked: “Monks, what is the subject that engages your attention now, as you sit here all gathered together?”[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") “Such-and-such,” was the reply.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") “Monks,” said the Teacher, “not only in his present state of existence has Devadatta proved to be ungrateful; in a previous state of existence also he was ungrateful just the same.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") At no time soever has he known my virtues.”[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, in response to a request of the monks, he related the following Story of the Past:[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in the region of Himavat as an elephant.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") When he was born, he was pure white, like a mass of silver; moreover his eyes were like globules of jewels, and from them shone forth the Five Brightnesses; his mouth was like a crimson blanket; his trunk was like a rope of silver, ornamented with spots of ruddy gold; his four feet were as if rubbed with lac.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus his person, adorned with the Ten Perfections, attained the pinnacle of beauty.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Now when he reached the age of reason, elephants from all over Himavat assembled and formed his retinue.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus did he make his home in the region of Himavat, with a retinue of eighty thousand elephants.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") After a time, perceiving that there was contamination in the herd, he isolated himself from the herd and made his home quite alone in the forest.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Moreover, by reason of his goodness, he became known as Good King Elephant.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Now a certain resident of Benāres, a forester, entered the forest, seeking wares whereby to make his living.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Unable to distinguish the directions, he lost his way, and terrified with the fear of death, went about with outstretched arms lamenting.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha, hearing those profound lamentations of his, thought: “I will free this man from his suffering.”[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") And impelled by compassion, he went to him.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") The instant that man saw the Future Buddha, he fled in fright.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha, seeing him in flight, halted right where he was.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") The man, seeing that the Future Buddha had halted, himself halted.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha came back.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") The man fled a second time, but halting when the Future Buddha halted, thought: “This elephant halts when I flee, and approaches when I halt.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") He has no desire to do me harm, but without a doubt desires only to free me from this suffering.”[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") And summoning up his courage, he halted.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha approached him and asked: “Why, Master man, do you go about lamenting?”[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") “Master, because I couldn’t distinguish the directions, lost my way, and was afraid of death.”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Future Buddha conducted him to his own place of abode, and for a few days gladdened him with fruits and other edibles.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said the Future Buddha: “Master man, don’t be afraid: I’ll conduct you to the path of man.”[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") And seating him on his back, he proceeded to the path of men.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") But that man, that betrayer of friends, even as he sat on the back of the Future Buddha, thought: “If anybody asks me, I must be able to tell him where this elephant lives.”[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") So as he went along, he noted carefully the landmarks of tree and mountain.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the Future Buddha, having conducted that man out of the forest, set him down on the highway leading to Benāres, and said to him: “Master man, go by this road; but as for my place of abode, whether you are asked or not, say nothing to anybody about it.”[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he took leave of him and went back to his own place of abode.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") Now that man went to Benāres, and in the course of his walks came to the street of the ivory-carvers.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") And seeing the ivory-carvers making various kinds of ivory products, he asked: “But, sirs, how much would you make if you could get the tusk of a real live elephant?”[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are you saying, sir\![132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") The tusk of a live elephant is far more valuable than the tusk of a dead elephant.”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well\![134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") I’ll fetch you the tusk of a live elephant.”[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly, obtaining provisions for the journey and taking a sharp saw, he went to the place of abode of the Future Buddha.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Future Buddha saw him, he asked: “For what purpose have you come?”[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") “I, sir, am a poor man, a pauper, unable to make a living.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") I came with this thought in my mind: ‘I will ask you for a fragment of one of your tusks; if you will give it to me, I will take it and go and sell it and with the money it brings make a living.’”[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let be, sir\![140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") I’ll give you tusks, if you have a sharp saw to cut them off with.”[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") “I brought a saw with me, sir.”[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well, sever the tusks with your saw and take them and go your way.”[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, the Future Buddha bowed his knees together and sat down like a cow.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") The man actually cut off his two principal tusks\![145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") The Future Buddha, taking those tusks in his trunk, said: “Master man, not with the thought, ‘These tusks are not dear to me, not pleasing to me,’ do I give you these tusks.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") But dearer to me than these a thousand times,--a hundred thousand times,--are the Tusks of Omniscience, which avail to the comprehension of all things.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") May this gift of tusks which I here bestow enable me to attain Omniscience!”[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, as it were sowing the Seed of Omniscience, he gave him the pair of tusks.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/4/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/4/) - next →: [Opening, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/5/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)