Ayacita bhatta Jataka This story is about the offering of a sacrifice, under a vow to gods. It was told by the Buddha when He was residing at Jetavana. According to tradition, when folks were going on a trip or business trip, they used to offer animal sacrifices to gods, before setting out on a journey with the vow: "If we return safely with a profit, we'll offer another sacrifice." After this, when they did come back safely with a profit, the idea arose that this was all due to the gods. This led to more animal sacrifices to obtain release from their vow. When the monks became aware of this practice, they asked the Buddha: "Lord, can there be any good in this?" So the Buddha told them this story. Story of the past In the far past in the Kasi country, there lived a man of wealth and position in a certain village.
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One day, he made a vow to the spirit dwelling in a banyan tree at the entrance to the village. On his return, he had a number of creatures killed and then offered them to the tree-spirit to get release from his vow. But the tree-spirit appeared to him standing in a fork of the tree and spoke thus: "This release from the vow is a fool's release. There is only bondage in this kind of release." Henceforth, men abstained from the taking of life. Thus, they walked in the path of righteousness, and after they passed away, they filled the heavenly realms. End of story of the past Then the Buddha identified the birth. He said: "I was the tree-spirit of the banyan tree of those days."
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