Verses on Dhamma 2.1.p19

2.1.p19

Kāḷī gantvā seṭṭhinā pucchitā taṃ pavattiṃ ācikkhitvā, ‘‘gaccha, naṃ puna sahassaṃ datvā ānehī’’ti vuttā tathā akāsi. Atha naṃ so āha – ‘‘idāni naṃ āmakasusānaṃ netvā gacchantare nipajjāpehi, tattha sunakhādīhi vā khādito, amanussehi vā pahaṭo marissati, mātāmatabhāvañcassa jānitvāva āgaccheyyāsī’’ti. Sā taṃ netvā tattha nipajjāpetvā ekamante aṭṭhāsi. Taṃ sunakho vā kāko vā amanusso vā upasaṅkamituṃ nāsakkhi. ‘‘Nanu cassa neva mātā na pitā na bhātikādīsu koci rakkhitā nāma atthi, ko taṃ rakkhatī’’ti? Sunakhakāle paccekabuddhe sinehena pavattitabhukkaraṇamattameva taṃ rakkhati. Atheko ajapālako anekasahassā ajā gocaraṃ nento susānapassena gacchati. Ekā ajā paṇṇāni khādamānā gacchantaraṃ paviṭṭhā dārakaṃ disvā jaṇṇukehi ṭhatvā dārakassa thanaṃ adāsi, ajapālakena ‘‘he he’’ti sadde katepi na nikkhami. So ‘‘yaṭṭhiyā naṃ paharitvā nīharissāmī’’ti gacchantaraṃ paviṭṭho jaṇṇukehi ṭhatvā dārakaṃ khīraṃ pāyantiṃ ajiṃ disvā dārake puttasinehaṃ paṭilabhitvā, ‘‘putto me laddho’’ti ādāya pakkāmi.

Kāḷī went back to the treasurer and in answer to his question told him what had happened. Said the treasurer, "Go to the caravan-leader, give him a thousand pieces of money, and bring the child back to me again." When she had so done, he said to her, "Now carry him to the burning-ground and lay him in the bushes. There he will either be eaten by dogs or attacked by demons, and he will die. As soon as you know whether or not he is dead, return to me."

She took the child, laid him in the bushes, and stood at one side. But neither dog nor crow nor demon dared to approach him. (Pray, if he had neither mother nor father nor brother nor other kinsman to protect him, what was it that did protect him? All that protected him was his howling for love of the Private Buddha in his former existence as a dog.)

Just then a goatherd passed on one side of the burning-ground, leading several thousand goats to pasture. A certain she-goat made her way into the bushes eating leaves and grass, and seeing the boy, knelt down and gave him suck. The goatherd called, "He! he!" but she did not come out. Thereupon he said to himself, "I will beat her with my stick and bring her out." So saying, he made his way into the bushes. And there he saw the she-goat on her knees, giving suck to the boy. He immediately took a fancy to the boy, and saying to himself, "I have gained a son," picked him up and carried him off.

Kāḷī went back to the treasurer and in answer to his question told him what had happened. Said the treasurer, "Go to the goatherd, give him a thousand pieces of money, and bring the child back to me again." When she had so done, he said to her, "Good Kāḷī, take this child with you, climb the mountain that is known as Robbers' Cliff, and throw him down the precipice. He will strike against the sides of the ravine and be dashed to pieces when he reaches the bottom. As soon as you know whether or not he is dead, return to me."