BURLINGAME. — BUDDHAGHOSA's DHAMMAPADA COMMENTARY. 491 



would become sole mistress of the household. Accordingly she said to 

 the new wife, "As soon as you 've conceived, let me know." To this 

 the other agreed, and when she conceived, told the barren wife. The 

 latter mixed a drug in her rival's food, and caused an abortion. After 

 this had happened twice, the new wife, on the advice of the women of 

 the neighborhood, held no further communication with her fellow. 

 The latter, suddenly discovering that her rival was great with child, 

 employed the same tactics as before, with the result that she killed 

 both child and mother. (46-7) 



Just before the mother died, she uttered the prayer that she might 

 be reborn as an Ogress, able to devour the children of her persecutor. 

 Thereafter, in three successive existences, the fruitful and the barren 

 wife returned hatred for hatred. (47) 



The Fruitful Wife was first reborn as a Cat. The Barren Wife was 

 reborn as a Hen. The Cat ate the eggs of the Hen, who prayed that 

 in her next existence she might be able to devour the offspring of her 

 enemy. (48) 



The Barren Wife, at the end of her existence as a Hen, was reborn 

 as a Leopardess. The Fruitful Wife, at the end of her existence as a 

 Cat, was reborn as a Doe. Thrice the Doe brought forth young, and 

 thrice the Leopardess went and devoured the Doe's offspring. The 

 Doe prayed that in her next existence she might be able to devour the 

 offspring of her enemy. (48) 



The Fruitful Wife, at the end of her existence as a Doe, was reborn 

 as an Ogress. The Barren Wife, at the end of her existence as a 

 Leopardess, was reborn at Savatthi as an Heiress. The Ogress de- 

 voured the first and the second child of the Heiress • but when the latter 

 was about to be delivered of her third child, she eluded her enemy by 

 retiring to the house of her father. Here she was safely delivered of a 

 son. A few days later, while the mother was sitting in the grounds of 

 the Monastery, suckling the child, she saw the Ogress approaching. 

 The terrified mother, seizing the child in her arms, fled, closely pursued 

 by the Ogress, into the very presence of the Teacher. (48-50) 



When the Teacher learned the circumstances of the quarrel, he said 

 to the Ogress : " Why do you return hatred for hatred ? Love your 

 enemies ; " and he pronounced Stanza 5, at the conclusion of which the 

 Ogress was established in the Fruit of Conversion. (50-51) 



The Teacher said to the mother, "Give your child to this Ogress." 

 " I am afraid to, Venerable sir." " Be not afraid ; you have nothing to 

 fear from her." The mother obeyed. The Ogress kissed the child, 

 caressed him, returned him to the arms of his mother, and began to 

 weep. The Teacher, learning that she had suffered greatly in the 



