A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s2.49

v2.c19.s2.49

“Long ago, O Bhikkhus, there was a great banyan tree on the lower slopes of the Himālaya range; and near it there dwelt three friends—a partridge, a monkey, and an elephant. And they dwelt together without mutual reverence, confidence, and courtesy. Then, O Bhikkhus, it occurred to those friends, ‘Come now, let us find out which of us is the oldest by birth; and let us agree to honour and reverence and esteem and support him, and by his counsels let us abide.’ So, Bhikkhus, the partridge and the monkey asked the elephant,

“How far back can you, friend, remember?”

“Friends! when I was little I used to walk over this banyan tree, keeping it between my thighs, and its topmost twig brushed my stomach. So far back, friends, can I remember.”

Then, O Bhikkhus, the partridge and the elephant asked the monkey (the same question).

“Friends, when I was little, sitting once on the ground, I gnawed at the then topmost twig of this banyan. So far back can I remember.”

Then, O Bhikkhus, the monkey and the elephant asked the partridge (the same question).

“Friends! there was formerly a lofty banyan tree in yonder open space. One day after eating one of its fruits, I voided the seed here; and from that this banyan tree grew up. So I must be older than either of you.”

Thereupon, O Bhikkus, the elephant and the monkey said to the partridge, “You, friend, are the oldest of us all. Henceforth we will honour and reverence and esteem and support you, and by your counsels will we abide.”