--- title: Opening, part 5 — The grateful elephant · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 5, «The grateful elephant» by Eugene Watson Burlingame: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The man took them and went and sold them. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/5/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 5 # Opening, part 5 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/5/) **2** Behold the quail, the crow, the fly, the frog\![88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") They slew the elephant\![89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Behold the hatred of the haters\![90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") \_5.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Quails and Fowler.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") \_In union there is strength.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Jātaka 33: i. 208-210.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said the Exalted One to those monks: “Monks, be united; do not wrangle.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") For because of a wrangle many thousand quails lost their lives.”[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn as a quail, and lived in the forest with a retinue of many thousand quails.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time a certain quail-hunter used to go to the haunt of the quails and attract them by imitating a quail’s whistle.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") When he perceived that they had assembled, he would throw a net over them and huddle them all together by trampling the edges.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he would fill his basket, go home, and sell them.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus he made his living.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Now one day the Future Buddha said to those quails: “This fowler is bringing our kinsfolk to destruction.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") I know a way by which he shall not be able to catch us.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") From this time on, the moment he throws the net over you, let each quail stick his head through a single mesh, lift the net, and carrying it wherever you will, let it down on some thorn-brake.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") This done, we can escape each through his own mesh.”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") They all assented, saying, “Very well!”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") When the net was thrown over them on the following day, they raised the net precisely as the Future Buddha had told them to, dropped it on a certain thorn-brake, and themselves escaped from under.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Twilight came on with the fowler still busy disentangling the net from the brake, and he went away absolutely empty-handed.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") On the next day, and thereafter also, the quails did the very same thing.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") The fowler also, busy every moment until sunset disentangling the net, got nothing, and went home absolutely empty-handed.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Now his wife got angry and said: “Day after day you return empty-handed; I suppose there is some other household outside you have to provide for too.”[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the fowler: “My dear, there is no other household I have to provide for.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") The fact is, these quails are acting in unison.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") The moment I throw the net, they depart with it and drop it on a thorn-brake.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") But they will not live in unity forever.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Do not worry.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") When they fall to wrangling, I will return with them all and bring a smile to your lips.”[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") And he recited the following stanza to his wife:[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") United, the birds go away with the net; But when they fall out, they’ll come into my power.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Now after only a few days had passed, one quail, lighting on the feeding-ground, accidentally trod on the head of another.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") The other was offended and said: “Who trod on my head?”[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") “I did, but accidentally; do not be offended.”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") But the other was offended just the same.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") They bandied words and wrangled with each other, saying, “You alone, I suppose, lift the net!”[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") While they wrangled, the Future Buddha thought: “There is no safety for a wrangler.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") From this moment they will not lift the net.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they will come to a sorry end.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") The fowler will get his chance.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") It is impossible for me to live in this place.”[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") And he went elsewhere with his own retinue.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") As for the fowler, he came back after a few days, imitated a quail’s whistle, and when the quails had assembled, threw the net over them.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said one quail: “They say that in the very act of lifting the net, you lost the down on your head.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") Now lift!”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Said another: “They say that in the very act of lifting the net, you lost your wing-feathers.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Now lift!”[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Even as they said: “You lift!”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") “You lift!” the fowler tossed the net.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") And huddling them all together, he filled his basket, and went home and brought a smile to the lips of his wife.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") And for the second time the Exalted One said this to those monks: “Enough, monks\![139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") No quarreling\![140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") No brawling\![141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") No contending\![142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") No wrangling!”[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") But in spite of this, they paid no attention to his words.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon the Exalted One related the following Story of the Past:[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") \_6.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") Brahmadatta and the Prince.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Love your enemies.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") Vinaya i. 342-349.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") In olden times at Benāres, Brahmadatta king of Kāsi was rich, possessed of great wealth, ample means of enjoyment, a mighty army, many vehicles, an extensive kingdom, and well filled treasuries and storehouses.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Dīghīti king of Kosala was poor, possessed of meagre wealth, scanty means of enjoyment, a small army, few vehicles, a little kingdom, and unfilled treasuries and storehouses.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") Now Brahmadatta king of Kāsi drew up his fourfold army and went up against Dīghīti king of Kosala.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") And Dīghīti king of Kosala heard: “Brahmadatta king of Kāsi, they say, has drawn up his fourfold army, and is come up against me.”[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") Then to Dīghīti king of Kosala occurred the following thought: “Brahmadatta king of Kāsi is rich, possessed of great wealth, ample means of enjoyment, a mighty army, many vehicles, an extensive kingdom, and well filled treasuries and storehouses.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") But I am poor, possessed of meagre wealth, scanty means of enjoyment, a small army, few vehicles, a little kingdom, and unfilled treasuries and storehouses.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") I am not strong enough to withstand even a single clash with Brahmadatta king of Kāsi.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") Suppose I were merely to countermarch and slip out of the city!”[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly Dīghīti king of Kosala took his consort, merely countermarched, and slipped out of the city.[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon Brahmadatta king of Kāsi conquered the army and vehicles and territory and treasuries and storehouses of Dīghīti king of Kosala, and took possession.[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") And Dīghīti king of Kosala with his consort set out for Benāres, and in due course arrived at Benāres.[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") And there, in a certain place on the outskirts of Benāres, Dīghīti king of Kosala resided with his consort, in a potter’s dwelling, in disguise, in the guise of a wandering ascetic.[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") Now in no very long time the consort of Dīghīti king of Kosala was with child.[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") And this was her craving: She desired at sunrise to see a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and to drink the rinsings of swords.[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly the consort of Dīghīti king of Kosala said this to Dīghīti king of Kosala: “I am with child, O king.[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") And this craving has arisen within me: I desire at sunrise to see a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and to drink the rinsings of swords.”[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") “Whence are we, wretched folk, to obtain a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and the rinsings of swords?”[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") “If, O king, I do not obtain my desire, I shall die.”[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") Now at that time the Brahman who was the house-priest of Brahmadatta king of Kāsi was a friend of Dīghīti king of Kosala.[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly Dīghīti king of Kosala approached the Brahman who was the house-priest of Brahmadatta king of Kāsi.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") And having approached, he said this to the Brahman who was the house-priest of Brahmadatta king of Kāsi: “Sir, your female friend is with child.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") And this craving has arisen within her: She desires at sunrise to see a fourfold army drawn up, clad in armor, standing in a pleasant place, and to drink the rinsings of swords.”[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well, O king, we also will see the queen.”[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/5/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/5/) - next →: [Opening, part 6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/6/) - ↑ back to [The grateful elephant](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74064/)