Reading Notes: Jataka Tales

Bibliography: Noor Inayat, The Great Sarabha, The Great Sarabha

*There was once a beautiful species of deer, called the Sarabha, that were particularly larger and stronger than a conventional deer.

*They lived deep in the forest, so deep that men rarely saw them at all. Near the forest was a kingdom.

*One day the king and his men were hunting, and went very deep into the forest. They found one of the beautiful large deer there, and decided to hunt it.

*The deer was fast and avoided the king, but the king chased after him as he fled. They ran for a very long time and ran very fast. They eventually lost the king's many guards and servants because they outran them.

*After running quite a bit further, the king came to a chasm that his prey surely leaped over with ease. The king doesn't see it but the horses do and barely stop in time. In doing so, they launch the king into the chasm.

*The deer realizes the king is no longer chasing him, and goes back to check on the king. He finds him laying and moaning in the dust.

*The king sees the deer has come back for him, and says he is in more pain out of guilt rather than physical injury.

*The deer carries the king out, and tells him not the hunt in the forest any more. The king happily accepts and everyone lives happily ever after.

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Image of Two Beautiful Deer at Sunset
Beautiful Deer

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