Nandivisala Jataka The Buddha told this story at Jetavana about the bitter words spoken by a group of Six. When disagreeing with respected monks they used to speak words that taunted, reviled, and belittled them. They heaped ten kinds of abuse on them. This was reported to the Buddha who sent for them and asked them whether this was true. When they admitted they had done evil he admonished them, saying: "monks, harsh words cut even animals; so in bygone days an animal made a man lose a thousand pieces for speaking abusive words to him." Then he told the monks this story from the past. Story of the past Once at Takkasila in the land of Gandhara where a king ruled, the Bodhisatta was born as a bull. While still a tiny calf he was given to a brahmin holy man.
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The brahmin named it Nandi-Visala (Great Joy) treating it with great love and sharing his rice-gruel and rice with it. When the Bodhisatta was full-grown he thought to himself: "The brahmin has brought me up with great care. In all India there is no bull as strong as I. Perhaps I can repay him by giving him proof of my strength." So one day he said to the brahmin: "Go to a merchant with a big herd and wager a thousand pieces that your bull can draw a hundred carts full of goods." Therefore the brahmin went to a merchant and got into a discussion with him on the qualities and strengths of oxen owned by various merchants. He replied: "Oh, so-and so's, or so-and-so's." The merchant then said that no other oxen could compare with his for real strength. "Oh," said the brahmin, "I have an ox who can pull a hundred loaded carts."
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The merchant laughed and said: "Where is such a bull to be found?" "I've got him at home." "Then make a wager." "Agreed," said the brahmin, and he put up a stake of a thousand pieces. Then he loaded a hundred carts with sand, small stones, and tied them together, one behind each other, from axle-tree of the front one to the trace-bar of the one behind. This done, he bathed Nandi-Visala, gave him perfumed rice to eat, put a garland round his neck and harnessed him to the leading cart. Then seated on the pole of the lead-cart he waved his goad and shouted rather carelessly: "Now, then, you rascal! Pull, pull them, you rascal." Upon hearing these words the Bodhisatta thought: "I am not the rascal he is calling me. So he steadied his four feet like posts in the ground and did not move a bit. When Nandi-Visala strolled in and found him on his bed he asked: "Are you taking a nap?"
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"How can I when he has won a thousand pieces from me." "Brahmin, as long as I have lived in your house have I ever caused any damage or created a mess?" "Never, my child," he replied. "Then why did you call me a rascal? It's you who are to blame, not I." Upon hearing these words the brahmin returned to the merchant and wagered two thousand pieces. Just as before Nandi-Visala was prepared and yoked to the first cart. It was done in such a way that a single bull could be used to pull the carts. Seated as before the brahmin stroked Nandi-Visala and said to him in this manner: "Now my fine fellow. Pull them along, my fine fellow." Upon this being said the Bodhisatta tugged with a great single pull and the carts moved till the last stood where the first cart had started from. Thus this time the merchant paid two thousand to the brahmin having witnessed the truth.
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Other folks gave sums of money to the Bodhisatta and this lot passed into the hands of the brahmin. In this manner the latter gained much due to the Bodhisatta. End of story of the past Then, laying down the rule by way of rebuke to the Six that harsh words do not please anyone, the Buddha spoke this way: "Always speak kind words. Never speak harshly. Through kindness much can be achieved." When the lesson ended as to speaking words of kindness the Buddha identified the birth. He said: "Ananda was the brahmin of those days, and I myself was Nandi-Visala."
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