The Discontented Ox

Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in
Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as an ox, named
Big Red, on the landowner's estate in a certain hamlet.

And he had a younger brother who was known as Little
Red. There were only these two brothers to do all the
draught-work of the family. Also, the landowner had
an only daughter, whose hand was asked in marriage for
his son by a gentleman of the town. And the parents
of the girl, with a view to furnishing dainty fare for the
wedding guests, began to fatten up a pig named Munika.

Observing this, Little Red said to his brother, "All
the loads that have to be drawn for this household are
drawn by you and me, my brother ; but all they give us
for our pains is sorry grass and straw to eat. Yet here is
the pig being victualled on rice ! What can be the reason
why he should be treated to such fare ? "

Said his brother, " My dear Little Red, envy him not ;
for the pig eats the food of death. It is but to furnish
a relish for the guests at their daughter's wedding, that
the family are feeding up the pig. Wait but a little time
and the guests will be coming. Then will you see that
pig lugged out of his quarters by the legs, killed, and in
process of conversion into curry." And so saying, he
repeated this stanza:

Then envy not poor Munika; 'tis death

He eats. Contented munch your frugal chaff,

The pledge and guarantee of length of days.

Not long afterwards the guests did arrive; and Munika
was killed and cooked into all manner of dishes. Said
the Bodhisatta to Little Red, " Did you see Munika, dear
brother?" "I have indeed seen, brother, the outcome of
Munika's feasting. Better a hundred, nay a thousand,
times than such food is ours, though it be but grass, straw,
and chaff; for our fare harms us not, and is a pledge
that our lives will not be cut short."