Buddhist Fables
- The Story of Ruru Deer
- The Story of Two Swans
- The Hare on The Moon
- The Story of Chaddanta Elephant
- The Story of Great Monkey
- The Story of The Two Deer
- The Story of a Buffalo
- Silava Elephant
- The Wise Monkey
- The Story of the Golden Swan
- The Story of The Great Ape
- The Mighty Fish
- Story of the Monkey King
- Lion and Jackal
- Somdatta
- The Story of the Crows
- The Monkey Brothers
- The Story of Nigrodha Deer
- Kalbahu
- Nandivisala
- Coronation of Owl
- The Feast of the Dead
- The Heart of the Monkey
- The Story of a Rooster
- The Story of a Tigeress
- The Pigeon and The Crow
- The Story of Romaka Pigeon
- The Story of Khardiya Deer
- The Thankless Monkey
- Can A Fool Ever Act Good!
- The Story of a Tortoise
- Jackal –The Arbitrator
- The Story of a Snake Charmer
- The Leather Garment
- The Giant Crab
- Mahilaimukha Elephant
- The Story of Vinilaka
Buddhist Classics
- The Sacrifice of Vessantara
- The Wisdom of Vidhura Pandita
- Chullabodhi – The Conqueror of Anger
- The Story of Kushinagar
- The Virtue of Forbearance
- Matanga – The World’s First Crusader of Untouchability
- The Temptation of Isisanga
- The Flight of Sakka
- Mahajanaka’s Renunciation
- The Wine-Jar
- The Sacrifice of Sivi
- The Box of the Monster
- The Lotus Stalk
- Kandari – The Handsome Prince
- Ghat: The Virtuous King
- Supparaka – The Ancient Mariner
- Sankhapala: The Naga King
- Champeyya
- The Baveru Island
- The Great Gambler
- The Story of The Dumb Prince
- The Naive House-Holder
- The Jewelled Serpent
- The Mango-Thief
- The Foot-Print Reader
- The Story of Sutasoma
- The Story of Sudasa
- The Little Bowman
- The Envoy of Belly
- Story of a Drummer
- The King, Who Knew The Language Of Animals
- The Happy Man
- Sama: The Good Son
Life and Legends of Buddha
- Gotama Buddha
- Birth Story of Gotama
- Maha Maya’s Dream
- Sage Asita’s Visit
- The Four Sights
- Story of Renunciation
- The Buddha’s Victory over Mara
- The Personality of the Buddha
- Nalgiri Elephant
- Story of Kumara Kassapa
- Dhamma-Chakka-Pavattana-Katha
- The Buddha’s Teaching of Abhidhamma
- Buddha's Visit to Rahula Mata
- The Savatthi Miracles
- The Flying Buddha
- Story of Parinibbana
- Suddhodana
- Sujata
- Sariputta
- Moggallana
- Story of Mara
- Bimbisara
- Nanda
- Janapada Kalyani Nanda
- The Spiritual Journey of Janapada Kalyani
- Phussa Buddha
- Vipassi Buddha
- Sikhi Buddha
- Vessabhu Buddha
- Kakusandha Buddha
- Konagamana Buddha
- Kassapa Buddha
- Metteya
The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha by C. B. Varma Introduction | Glossary | Bibliography
024 – The Story of a Rooster
The rooster on the tree and the cat proposing marriage, Bharhut
Once, the Bodhisatta was born as a rooster and lived in a forest with several hundred kinsmen. In the same forest there lived a wily cat. She had caught and killed many roosters. As the Bodhisatta had foiled all her manouverings to be caught, she decided to take a fresh course of action to catch him. So, one day she came and stopped near a bush, where the Bodhisatta was sitting. She tried to cajole him by praising his look and other features. Finally, she proposed to woo him and remain his faithful wife. So, she mewed,
You have the nice flashy wings, and a graceful crest
Accept me as your wife; I shall serve you the best
So leave the bough and come to me
Enjoy life and be care-free.
The rooster said,
O Cat! You have four feet and I have two
So, Look for other mortal to woo.
Beasts and birds cannot be one;
Try your luck elsewhere as you are winsome.
The cat again repeated her request with the hope that the rooster would be beguiled and come down to him to be an easy prey. But the rooster spoke in dry and candid words,
You have drunk my kin’s blood; and
Destroyed and killed them mercilessly.
Now you propose to be my ‘honoured wife’
When you have no kindness for me.
Having been rejected, the cat never ever dared to meet her eyes with the rooster again; and left for some other place for good.
Kukkuta Jataka Jataka Pali No.383