[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Literature, language and dating](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature) › [A History of Indian Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927) › v2.c19.s3.t2.352 # A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.352 A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.352 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c19.s3.t2.352](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.352) 15. The last book of the Khuddakanikāya is the Cariyāpiṭaka.¹ This is a collection of 35 Jātakas in verse, pursuing the express purpose of showing which Pāramitās or "perfections "² the Bodhisatta possessed in various of his previous existences. Each of the first two perfections, those of generosity and virtue, claims a whole chapter, consisting of ten stories each, while Chapter III contains 15 stories as examples of five further Pāramitās.³ It is Buddha himself who is supposed to tell the stories. He records the event in brief, scanty words, sometimes only hinting so barely that a knowledge of the story is evidently already assumed, in fact, to a certain extent, the intention is merely to recall it. Most of the stories are such as appear also in the Jātaka book; but in this work only what is essential to illuminate some Pāramitā is told. Every trace of poetry is wiped away, every touch of humour is avoided, as though intentionally. The stories are often garbled, in order to make them into examples of some "perfection." Compare, for instance, the fable of the crocodile which is tricked by the monkey.¹ In Jātaka No. 208 (as in the Pañcatantra) it is humorously related how the crocodile, whose wife had a craving for a monkey's heart, lies in wait for the monkey, entices it in order to kill it, and is outwitted by the monkey, which says that it has not its heart with it, but has hung it up on a tree by the bank. The version of the same fable in Jātaka No. 57 is somewhat less humorous; but every vestige of humour is eradicated in Cariyāpiṭaka III, 7, where the Buddha relates: - [Previous: v2.c19.s3.t2.351](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.351) - [Next: v2.c19.s3.t2.353](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.353) - [Up: v2.c19.s3.t2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2) ## Linked texts (3) - [Cariyāpiṭaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.cariyapitaka.3.7) — Pāli - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka) — Pāli - [Pañcatantra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.short_stories.pancatantra) — Viṣṇuśarman, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.352](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.352) · Pramāṇa