Reading Notes: Babbitt: Jataka Tales, Part B

This is a summarization of the second half of the Jataka Tales told by Ellen C. Babbitt. Part B also features images and simple explanation for children to understand.

Jataka Tales illuminated manuscript. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Wise and Foolish Merchant

A thrifty merchant visits a great city and buys a bunch of goods. The goods were going to be sold as he traveled throughout the country. There was another merchant who was a young and stupid merchant buying goods in the same city. Since the men were selling goods in the same place, the thrifty merchant thought he should ask the young merchant who wanted to sell first because he did not want to tire his men and oxen, while the young merchant one only thought of his own personal gain. The young merchant went first because he thinks getting the first touch of everything is helpful, while the old man thinks the young merchant going first will be more beneficial for him in the long run. A demon sees the young merchant in the desert and disguises himself to overtake him. The foolish merchant emptied his water jars and all the men and oxen suffered. One by one in the night the demons carried them off. Almost two months later the wise man goes down the same path and encounters the demon, but knows he is a demon because he does not have a shadow. He explained to his men the trick the demon was trying to play on them. The men carried on and saw the foolish merchant's stuff and took the remainder of what was in his carts. The men sold their goods and returned home safely.

The Elephant Girly-Face

Once upon a time, a king had an elephant named Girly-face. The elephant was the kindest and gentle creature, hence where his name came from. One night some robbers were talking outside of the courtyard talking about killing anyone they see and showing no pity. Girly-face overhead and began acting out. The next morning Girly-face slammed his keeper into the ground killing him. Another keeper ran to see what had happened. Girly-face continued to show evil and hate towards people. The king wondered what happened and figured his elephant had overheard the robbers talking bad. So the king sent some of his best men to stay in the courtyard talking good about being kind and gentle for Girly-face to hear. From there on Girly-face returned to his normal self and was tame.

The Banyan Deer

There lived a beautiful golden deer with eyes like round jewels, white-silver horns, hard hoofs, and a bright red mouth that resembled the color of a flower. This Banyan deer was a king that ruled over five hundred other Banyan deer. There was another deer king named the Monkey King who ruled over another five hundred deer. The king of the town where Monkey Deer King lived loved to hunt deer and eat their meet. The townspeople made a park and drove the deer into it because they did not like leaving their jobs and duties to hunt deer with the King. The two deer Kings did not like how their herds were being killed, so one day they decided to take turns sending a deer to be taken by the King so that they would lose less deer. The time came for a mother deer with a small child to go but she did not want to abandon her offspring. She asked Monkey Deer King to spare her and send another deer but he would not listen. The mother deer asked Banyan and he sent himself in her place to the block. The King and his cook were shocked because he had granted the two golden deers' life. The Banyan deer explained why he was sacrificing himself and the King became joyful and his heart big. He vowed to never kill any deer in the forest or park anymore.

The Princess and the Water-Sprite

A king has three suns whom he loves very much. Out of his graciousness for having three wonderful sons, he grants the queen any boon she wishes. She waits until her last son is grown up before asking for her boon. She asks the king to make the youngest Sun Prince the king, but he refuses because the oldest child is the birthright ruler. The queen grew very angry and the King became deeply afraid of what her anger might encourage her to do. So he sent off Prince of the Stars and the Moon Prince tor reside in the forest until his death so the oldest may be the ruler. Although saddened with his choice, he figures it is the only way. The Sun Prince sees his brothers going away and asks for their reason. He then goes along with them and is sent down to the pond to bathe and drink. When the youngest does not return, Moon Prince goes down to the pond to find a water-sprite has captured him for answering her question wrong. He tries to crack the answer but fails and the Prince of the Stars goes to look for both of his brothers. When he realizes what has happened, he tells the water fairy the answer to her question and she says she will only allow one brother free. So he chooses the Sun Prince and the water-sprite is pleased so she releases both of the brothers. The three princes live in the forest until their father perishes and they rule as kings' together.

The King's White Elephant

Carpenters that live on the riverbank are cutting down trees to make into lumber when they see a very large elephant limping on three feet to them. The elephant had gotten a splinter, so the men pulled it out and washed it carefully to help the wound heal quicker. The elephant returned gratitude by helping the carpenters pull trees, roll logs, and carry their tools. The elephant grew old and had a white son whom he loved very much. He told his son what the kind carpenters had done for him and asked his son to take over helping them. So his beautiful son would play with the carpenters' children and help the men. One day the King sees the great white elephant and longed for him. The King pays the carpenters a great price for the elephant. He takes care of the beautiful elephant and it lives long.

The Ox Who Never Envied the Pig

There is an Ox named Big Red and an Ox named Little Red who cart on a large farm. The farmer had one daughter and for her upcoming wedding, his wife had ordered the pig to be fattened for the feast. Little Red notices how the pig that is lazy is getting his choice of feed and complains to his big brother. Big Red assures his little brother that he should be happy they are only eating grass and straw because they are fattening the pig up to kill and cook. Shortly thereafter, the pig is killed and cooked for the wedding feast. Little Red is thankful Big Red informed him about what was going on.

Grannie's Blackie

One day a rich man gave a baby elephant to a woman. The baby elephant was called Grannie's Blackie by the children. The woman became very fond of him and took great care of him. All the children in the village would be carried on his back and the kids would feed him goodies. Blackie never worked but granny always had to. One day he wanted her to come into the woods with him, but she could not because of work. He saw she was growing old and feeble so he tried to think of a plan to help granny out so she could work less. Blackei went to the forest and saw a man that needed help pulling wagons. He agreed to help the man if he paid him two pieces of silver for each wagon he pulled. Blackie did as he agreed, but the man tried to pay him only half of his earnings so Blackie stood his ground and would not let the man pass until he paid him the full amount. As soon as the man paid him all his earnings, he ran straight back home to Granny and gave her the money. From then on Blackie worked and Granny rested and they both were very content.

The Crab and the Crane

A Crane is sitting upon a river bank and notices how dried up the pond is. He worries for the fish that live in it. A fish asks him what he is doing just looking at the pond. The crane talks about how he knows of a pond where he can carry the fish one by one on his back and drop them in. The fish thinks the crane is lying and just wants to eat him. Some other fish overhear and one volunteers to go with the crane. One by one the crane takes a fish but he takes them to the woods instead and eats all of them. He goes back to see if any are left and there is only a crab. He asks if he wants to be taken to the pond too, but the crab only agrees if the crane will let him hold him by the neck. The crane agrees because he is so hungry. When they reach their destination, all the crab sees are fish bones. The crane tells the crab he is next, so the crab pinches the neck of the crane so hard his head snaps off. The crane is left with the bones of the fish he deceived.

Why the Owl Is Not King of the Birds

Once upon a time the people who lived together when they were young took a certain man for their king. The four-footed animals and fish also took someone for their king. but the birds could not decide. So they gathered together and suggested the owl be their king. But the old crow disagreed and whined. He flew away and the owl flew after him causing bad blood between the crows and owls then on. So the birds chose a Turtle Dove as their king and they all flew away to their homes. 

Babbitt. Jataka Tales.

Author: Ellen C. Babbitt

Web Source: Babbitt: Jataka Tales Part B