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The Story of the Great Ape ~ Jatak Tales in English

The story of the Great Ape is about a compassionate and wise monkey who saves a man from a dangerous ravine in a deserted forest. Despite the monkey's kind act, the man attempted to kill the monkey for food. However, the monkey survived and cursed the man for his cruel and sinful behavior. The man later became a leper and lived in the same forest in repent for his misdeeds. The story teaches the lesson of the consequences of one's actions and the importance of compassion and kindness.

The Story of the Great Ape ~ Jatak Tales in English

Once upon a time there used to be a great monkey in the deserted forest of Himwant. Modest, compassionate and reclusive, he always used to live his life with fruits and flowers and satvik diet.

One day a shepherd lost his way in search of his animals and wandered in the same forest. Distraught with hunger and thirst, when he started resting in the shade of a tree, then his eyes fell on a tinduk tree laden with fruits. In the blink of an eye, he climbed that tree. In the agony of hunger, he did not even notice that a root of that tree was emerging from a thin crack in the rocky hill and a spring flowed near it. Soon he reached a branch laden with juicy fruits but that branch could not handle his load and broke down and fell into the flowing spring. The shepherd also fell into the same fall. With the flowing water, he then got trapped in such a ravine, where it was impossible for him or any man to come out by holding on to the smooth rocks.

The screams of that man emanating from the fear of death started echoing in that deserted forest. There was no man there who could hear his call. Yes, that monkey living in the same forest must have heard his cry. Running, he quickly reached there and jumping in a hurry, reached the pit and pulled the man out of the waterfall with great difficulty. Due to the burden of the man, there was immense pain in his limbs. He was in a state of unconsciousness and wanted to sleep for rest. For this purpose, he asked the man to sit near him and guard him, because many violent animals used to roam in that forest.

As soon as the monkey fell into a deep sleep, the man got up and brought a big stone because he thought that he would be able to live on the flesh of that monkey. Thinking like this, he threw that stone on the monkey. The stone definitely fell on the monkey, but it could not cause so much damage that it could die immediately. When the monkey, moaning with unbearable pain, opened his eyes and saw the stones that fell on him and the gestures of that man, he knew everything in a moment. In a voice he cursed the man saying:

O human, you were about to die and go to the other world, I took you out of a deep ditch from the mouth of Kaal, but you fell into another ditch, which is more dangerous (here monkey means the ditch in the form of Sin). Woe to your ignorance which has shown you this cruel and sinful path. On this path you will get only illusions of false hopes. I am not bothered at all that this injury of yours has caused me so much pain, but the pain is immense that because of me you have fallen into this dirty ditch, from where no one can get you out.

The wounded monkey nevertheless drove the man out of the forest, and closed his eyes forever.

Later that shepherd became a victim of leprosy. Then his relatives and the villagers were exiled from the house and the village, he did not find shelter anywhere else, he again started living in the same forest. His deeds had resulted in leprosy, which was causing his body to rot; And his mind in the fire of repentance! If only ! He would not have done that misdeed!

The story of the Great Ape appears to be a traditional Indian tale, known as a Jatak tale. Jatak tales are a collection of Buddhist stories that illustrate the previous lives of the Buddha, and serve as moral lessons for the listeners. The story of the Great Ape is a moral lesson that teaches about the consequences of one's actions and the importance of compassion and kindness.

In the story, the monkey represents the ideal of a virtuous and selfless being, who is willing to help others even at the cost of his own comfort and well-being. On the other hand, the man represents greed and selfishness, as he attempts to kill the monkey for his own benefit. The man's actions result in negative consequences for himself, as he later becomes a leper and lives a life of repentance.

The story is an example of traditional Indian storytelling, and its themes and messages are still relevant today, as they encourage us to reflect on our own behavior and strive to be kind and compassionate to others.

Read More : 10 inspiring quotes by Gautam Buddha

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