Jataka Restyled - A King's Fitting End
There once was a happy royal couple living in a kingdom far, far away. The king was happy with his life - he loved his kingdom, he loved his wife, and for the most part, he loved his court. He had no children but did not particularly desire having children, despite the pleadings from his wife, and thus remained content with his life.
There once was a happy royal couple living in a kingdom far, far away. The king was happy with his life - he loved his kingdom, he loved his wife, and for the most part, he loved his court. He had no children but did not particularly desire having children, despite the pleadings from his wife, and thus remained content with his life.
One day, an acclaimed prophetess visited the kingdom. The king wasn't particularly enthused about receiving such a woman in his palace, but his wife insisted, wanting to hear about her future.
One day, an acclaimed prophetess visited the kingdom. The king wasn't particularly enthused about receiving such a woman in his palace, but his wife insisted, wanting to hear about her future.
As soon as the king received the prophetess into his court, she went into a trance - predicting his demise at the hands of one of his children. He was instantly furious and had his guards throw her out of his palace and chase her out of his kingdom.
As soon as the king received the prophetess into his court, she went into a trance - predicting his demise at the hands of one of his children. He was instantly furious and had his guards throw her out of his palace and chase her out of his kingdom.
His wife had been asking him about having children for several years, but the king had always refused, since he did not want any. Several weeks after this incident, the king appeared to have cooled down, and so the queen decided to bring up the idea of having children again, due to her great desire to have children. When she broached the subject again, he became extremely enraged and also had his guards kick her out of the palace and out of his kingdom. He vowed then to not have any children, for he loved ruling his kingdom greatly.
His wife had been asking him about having children for several years, but the king had always refused, since he did not want any. Several weeks after this incident, the king appeared to have cooled down, and so the queen decided to bring up the idea of having children again, due to her great desire to have children. When she broached the subject again, he became extremely enraged and also had his guards kick her out of the palace and out of his kingdom. He vowed then to not have any children, for he loved ruling his kingdom greatly.
His wife went to a nearby kingdom, and a couple weeks later, realized she was, in fact, pregnant. An elderly couple with no children of their own took pity on her, and let her move in with them. Seven months later, she gave birth to a healthy, baby boy.
His wife went to a nearby kingdom, and a couple weeks later, realized she was, in fact, pregnant. An elderly couple with no children of their own took pity on her, and let her move in with them. Seven months later, she gave birth to a healthy, baby boy.
Years passed, and the son grew into an adult who loved his mother dearly but still had no contact with his father. In fact, his mother had refused to let him know who his father was. He heard whispers from his neighbors, pointing to his father being the king of a nearby kingdom. He then went to his mother and told her what he had heard, and she reluctantly confirmed the rumors. He was shocked and despite his mother's protests, prepared for a journey there.
Years passed, and the son grew into an adult who loved his mother dearly but still had no contact with his father. In fact, his mother had refused to let him know who his father was. He heard whispers from his neighbors, pointing to his father being the king of a nearby kingdom. He then went to his mother and told her what he had heard, and she reluctantly confirmed the rumors. He was shocked and despite his mother's protests, prepared for a journey there.
He managed to get as far as the palace gates before his father’s guards stopped him. They told him that, if he wanted to get an audience with the king, he would first need to cross the moat surrounding the palace without using the drawbridge. There were dozens of half-starved crocodiles lazing around in the moat, keeping watch for any signs of a possible meal. The son thought and thought about a solution to get across. Such was his determination that he decided to use a sturdy rope and then loop it around a turret and swing across. His incredibly risky plan worked! The rope did not snap, and he managed to narrowly stay out of the crocodiles’ way.
He managed to get as far as the palace gates before his father’s guards stopped him. They told him that, if he wanted to get an audience with the king, he would first need to cross the moat surrounding the palace without using the drawbridge. There were dozens of half-starved crocodiles lazing around in the moat, keeping watch for any signs of a possible meal. The son thought and thought about a solution to get across. Such was his determination that he decided to use a sturdy rope and then loop it around a turret and swing across. His incredibly risky plan worked! The rope did not snap, and he managed to narrowly stay out of the crocodiles’ way.
After his guard informed him of this development, the king decided to go near the edge of the moat to meet this daring stranger. Unfortunately, unlike his son, he went a little too close to the edge of the moat and the jaws of a crocodile quickly snapped up the hem of his royal robe, and before anyone could blink, the crocodile dragged him into the moat and bit off his head.
After his guard informed him of this development, the king decided to go near the edge of the moat to meet this daring stranger. Unfortunately, unlike his son, he went a little too close to the edge of the moat and the jaws of a crocodile quickly snapped up the hem of his royal robe, and before anyone could blink, the crocodile dragged him into the moat and bit off his head.
The guards told everyone in the kingdom what had occurred, and they insisted on making the son the new king. He and his mother moved back to that kingdom, and the kingdom continued harmoniously. As had been predicted so long ago, the king’s demise had been at the hands of his progeny, despite his efforts to prevent such an event.
The guards told everyone in the kingdom what had occurred, and they insisted on making the son the new king. He and his mother moved back to that kingdom, and the kingdom continued harmoniously. As had been predicted so long ago, the king’s demise had been at the hands of his progeny, despite his efforts to prevent such an event.
Bibliography - "The Monkey who Gathered the Lotuses" translated by Robert Chalmers. Web Source
Author's Note - This story was based on my favorite jataka from this week - the Monkey who Gathered the Lotuses. Jatakas are stories that originated in India, and they all include an incarnation of the Buddha in it. This incarnation usually displays a virtue of some sort, and so jatakas are structured similarly to fables as they both have a message.
Author's Note - This story was based on my favorite jataka from this week - the Monkey who Gathered the Lotuses. Jatakas are stories that originated in India, and they all include an incarnation of the Buddha in it. This incarnation usually displays a virtue of some sort, and so jatakas are structured similarly to fables as they both have a message.
Brief synopsis of the original - A monkey wants to meet his father. His mother warns against it, as his father is afraid that his children will usurp his position as king of the monkeys. He meets his father, who is worried that his son will take his position, and so he tells the son to go to the lake and gather lotuses, knowing that there is an ogre there who will probably eat him. The son decides to jump from bank to bank, gathering lotuses as he jumps, and the ogre decides to help him carry his lotuses to the king, because he is impressed with the son's wisdom. When the king sees the son alive and accompanied with the ogre who is carrying the lotuses, he is so alarmed that he dies. The son then becomes king.
Brief synopsis of the original - A monkey wants to meet his father. His mother warns against it, as his father is afraid that his children will usurp his position as king of the monkeys. He meets his father, who is worried that his son will take his position, and so he tells the son to go to the lake and gather lotuses, knowing that there is an ogre there who will probably eat him. The son decides to jump from bank to bank, gathering lotuses as he jumps, and the ogre decides to help him carry his lotuses to the king, because he is impressed with the son's wisdom. When the king sees the son alive and accompanied with the ogre who is carrying the lotuses, he is so alarmed that he dies. The son then becomes king.
I decided I wanted to restyle the jataka by making all the characters into people, adding a prophecy, and sort of adapting into a fairy tale style. I was inspired to do the fairy tale style, since fairy tales are written about royalty. I decided to add in a self-fulfilling prophecy type theme, because the original jataka almost reminded me of the story of Oedipus.
I decided I wanted to restyle the jataka by making all the characters into people, adding a prophecy, and sort of adapting into a fairy tale style. I was inspired to do the fairy tale style, since fairy tales are written about royalty. I decided to add in a self-fulfilling prophecy type theme, because the original jataka almost reminded me of the story of Oedipus.
I did try to keep the same message and moral from the Monkey who Gathered the Lotuses, as well as what I hope is a satisfactory ending [poetic justice you might say].
I did try to keep the same message and moral from the Monkey who Gathered the Lotuses, as well as what I hope is a satisfactory ending [poetic justice you might say].
A Crown Fit for a Worthy King [source]