In The Jātaka, No. 386 (vol. iii, p. 175), a Nāga King gave a King of Benares a spell which enabled him to understand all sounds. One day he heard ants conversing regarding the food that had fallen on the ground; on another occasion he heard flies talking; on a third he overheard more ant talk. As he laughed each time, the Queen pestered him about it and wanted to know the spell, to give which the Nāga had warned him would ensure his instant death. When he was about to yield, Śakra saved him by advising him to beat his wife as the usual preliminary before repeating the spell to her; this effectually checked her curiosity.
[1] A plum-like fruit, of pleasant flavour, but astringent, which grows on a tall forest tree, Nephelium longanum. [↑]
No. 169
The Gamarāla and the Cock
In a certain country a Gamarāla was continually quarrelling with his wife. In the Gamarāla a disposition was manifested for ascertaining the motives of others.
At the Gamarāla’s house there were twelve hens for one cock. One day, the two old people quarrelling while the Gamarāla is on the raised veranda, the cock says to the hens, “Anē! What a fool this Gamarāla is! I am keeping in order twelve wives; my master is unable to keep in order one wife. Should my wives make a disturbance I will beat the whole of them well,” he said.
The Gamarāla having understood the motive for which the cock said it, and shame having been produced, went into the house and beat his wife well. After that, the woman and the Gamarāla without a quarrel dwelt excellently [together].
Although this Gamarāla can ascertain the motive in the minds of others, he does not tell it at any time to anybody. One day, the Gamarāla and his wife having gone to the cattle shed (gawa maḍuwa), while they were [there] an ass asked a bull that having ploughed from morning was brought and tied [there], “Friend, is that work very difficult?” The friend to that remark says, “At present I have not strength to walk,” he said.