The King Who Understood Animals: A Jataka Tale

Title

en_US The King Who Understood Animals: A Jataka Tale

en_US Jataka Tales Series

en_US Dh24

Description

en_US Adapted by Dharma Publishing editorial staff

Creator

en_US No Author See all items with this value

Contributor

en_US Duran, Magdalena

Date

2016-01-25T19:37:50Z

en_US 2004-12

en_US 2002

Date Available

2016-01-25T19:37:50Z

Date Issued

en_US 2002

Abstract

en_US Senaka, King of Benares, protects a snake attacked by some boys. This snake is actually a naga, He visits Senaka and offers him a secret spell that allows him to understand the speech of animals. But he must never reveal the spell to anyone; if he does, he must die. When he does understand animals around a picnic he is having with the queen--and when he laughs over what he hears--the queen becomes angry and thinks he is laughing at her. He finally admits his gift to her, and she comes to desire it deeply. He finally agrees to tell her the magic words. Shakra appears to Senaka in the form of a goat and lets Senaka know how selfish the queen is to allow his death for her own gain. His people will suffer at her hands. Senaka soon tells his wife that the price for getting the secret spell is to withstand one hundred blows from a bamboo stick. After a few, she gives up. He upbraids her: she would not take a small bit of suffering but was willing to let him die and the people suffer without him. She leaves the kingdom and never returns. From then on, he avoided foolish promises. With Shakra's help, he rules long and well. The art is notable for its emphasis on almond-shaped eyes, akin to those in some very early Greek statues.

Identifier

en_US 0898003180 (pbk.)

en_US 5339 (Access ID)

uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/80884

Language

en_US eng

Publisher

en_US Dharma Press

en_US Berkeley, CA

Subject

en_US BQ1462.E5 K57 2001 See all items with this value

en_US Title Page Scanned See all items with this value

Type

en_US Book, Whole