ĀYĀCITABHATTA-JĀTAKA. - The Tree Deva.

This story was told by the Buddha while at Jetavana about the offering of an animal sacrifice under vow to gods. Tradition says that in those days folk when going to journey on business, used to slay living creatures and offer them as a sacrifice to gods, and set out on their way, after making this vow,--"If we come safely back with a profit, we will give you another sacrifice." And when they did come safely back with a profit, the idea that this was all due to gods made them slay a number of living creatures and offer them up as a sacrifice to obtain a release from their vow.

When the Brethren became aware of this, they asked the Blessed One, saying, "Can there be any good in this, sir?"

The Blessed One then told this story of the past.

Once in a time in the Kāsi country the squire of a certain little village had promised a sacrifice to the Deva of a banyan-tree which stood at the entrance to the village. After he returned from his journey, he slew a number of creatures and took himself to the tree to get released from his vow. But the tree Deva, standing in the fork of its tree, repeated this stanza:--

Take thought of life hereafter when you seek

'Release'; for this release is bondage strict.

Not thus the wise and good release themselves;

For this, the fool's release, in bondage ends.

Thenceforth, men refrained from such taking of life, and by walking in righteousness thronged thereafter the city of the Devas.

His lesson ended, the Buddha showed the connection and identified the Birth, by saying, "I was the tree Deva of those days."