Buddhist Fables

  1. The Story of Ruru Deer
  2. The Story of Two Swans
  3. The Hare on The Moon
  4. The Story of Chaddanta Elephant
  5. The Story of Great Monkey
  6. The Story of The Two Deer
  7. The Story of a Buffalo
  8. Silava Elephant
  9. The Wise Monkey
  10. The Story of the Golden Swan
  11. The Story of The Great Ape
  12. The Mighty Fish
  13. Story of the Monkey King
  14. Lion and Jackal
  15. Somdatta
  16. The Story of the Crows
  17. The Monkey Brothers
  18. The Story of Nigrodha Deer
  19. Kalbahu
  20. Nandivisala
  21. Coronation of Owl
  22. The Feast of the Dead
  23. The Heart of the Monkey
  24. The Story of a Rooster
  25. The Story of a Tigeress
  26. The Pigeon and The Crow
  27. The Story of Romaka Pigeon
  28. The Story of Khardiya Deer
  29. The Thankless Monkey
  30. Can A Fool Ever Act Good!
  31. The Story of a Tortoise
  32. Jackal –The Arbitrator
  33. The Story of a Snake Charmer
  34. The Leather Garment
  35. The Giant Crab
  36. Mahilaimukha Elephant
  37. The Story of Vinilaka

Buddhist Classics

  1. The Sacrifice of Vessantara
  2. The Wisdom of Vidhura Pandita
  3. Chullabodhi – The Conqueror of Anger
  4. The Story of Kushinagar
  5. The Virtue of Forbearance
  6. Matanga – The World’s First Crusader of Untouchability
  7. The Temptation of Isisanga
  8. The Flight of Sakka
  9. Mahajanaka’s Renunciation
  10. The Wine-Jar
  11. The Sacrifice of Sivi
  12. The Box of the Monster
  13. The Lotus Stalk
  14. Kandari – The Handsome Prince
  15. Ghat: The Virtuous King
  16. Supparaka – The Ancient Mariner
  17. Sankhapala: The Naga King
  18. Champeyya
  19. The Baveru Island
  20. The Great Gambler
  21. The Story of The Dumb Prince
  22. The Naive House-Holder
  23. The Jewelled Serpent
  24. The Mango-Thief
  25. The Foot-Print Reader
  26. The Story of Sutasoma
  27. The Story of Sudasa
  28. The Little Bowman
  29. The Envoy of Belly
  30. Story of a Drummer
  31. The King, Who Knew The Language Of Animals
  32. The Happy Man
  33. Sama: The Good Son

Life and Legends of Buddha

  1. Gotama Buddha
  2. Birth Story of Gotama
  3. Maha Maya’s Dream
  4. Sage Asita’s Visit
  5. The Four Sights
  6. Story of Renunciation
  7. The Buddha’s Victory over Mara
  8. The Personality of the Buddha
  9. Nalgiri Elephant
  10. Story of Kumara Kassapa
  11. Dhamma-Chakka-Pavattana-Katha
  12. The Buddha’s Teaching of Abhidhamma
  13. Buddha's Visit to Rahula Mata
  14. The Savatthi Miracles
  15. The Flying Buddha
  16. Story of Parinibbana
  17. Suddhodana
  18. Sujata
  19. Sariputta
  20. Moggallana
  21. Story of Mara
  22. Bimbisara
  23. Nanda
  24. Janapada Kalyani Nanda
  25. The Spiritual Journey of Janapada Kalyani
  26. Phussa Buddha
  27. Vipassi Buddha
  28. Sikhi Buddha
  29. Vessabhu Buddha
  30. Kakusandha Buddha
  31. Konagamana Buddha
  32. Kassapa Buddha
  33. Metteya

The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha by C. B. Varma Introduction | Glossary | Bibliography

037 – The Story of Vinilaka

Once, a golden gander paired with a female crow, who gave birth to an offspring. They called him Vinilaka (Dingy), as he was neither golden like his father; nor black like his mother. The gander was also married to a resplendent white goose, who gave birth to two wise, white and comely ganders.

The female crow and her son lived in Mithila. So, the gander often visited her and his son, Vinilaka there. One day, when he returned from Mithila, the two young ganders asked him as to where was he coming from. The father said that he had been to Mithila to visit his other son, who was born of a female crow. As he was his father too, as he was theirs, so he had visited him in Mithila. The two young ones then thought of helping their father. So, they proposed to bring Vinilaka to their abode.

Having obtained the address of Vinilaka and the consent of his father to bring Vinilaka, they flew to Mithila. There, after greeting Vinilaka and introducing themselves, they conveyed their intention to carry him to their father. Vinilaka happily welcomed the invitation. So, the two asked him to perch on a stick, which they could hold by their beaks and fly to their abode.

When Vinilaka was thus being flown, Videha, the king of Mithila was visiting some place on his royal chariot underneath. His chariot had four milky-white horses. Seeing the king being carried by four white horses on the land and he himself being carried by two white ganders in the air he thought that he was greater than the king. So, he shouted, “I am the Greatest. I am superior to king Videha, because he is being carried by the white horses on the land; but I have the subjects, who carry me in the air”. The two ganders were offended and thought of dropping him on the ground. But considering the possible grief of their father they silently brought him before the latter. But they informed him what Vinilaka had uttered on the way. The father gander also considered that Vinilaka was not fit to stay with them. So, he asked him to go back to Mithila. The two ganders again carried Vinilaka and flew to his city. There, they dropped him on the heap of dung and flew back. Since then Vinilika lived there, in the place most suitable to him.

See Vinilaka Jataka Jataka Pali No. 160.