No. 28. — 1884.] first fifty jatakas. 



117 



told such as were really of his telling ; and the method 

 having been adopted, was extended to the rest. 



When Buddhism was introduced into Ceylon, about 200 

 B.C., these Jatakas were carried thither in Pali ; and the 

 whole was then translated and preserved in Sirhhalese, 

 (except the verses, which have always remained in Pali,) 

 until some one unknown, in the 5th century, re-translated^ 

 or— and here Mr. Davids' characteristic uncertainty re- 

 appears — compiled the present Jataka Book ! 



Illustrated from the practice of the Jains and Brahmans. 

 —The learned paper of Professor M. M. Kunte illustrates 

 the method and development of the system by the paral- 

 lel cases of the Jains, &c. 



The Jataka an artistic Sermon, Professor Kunt&s paper 

 ( occasionally abridged J.— The system of teaching by stories, 

 and in particular of illustrating stories of the present epoch 

 by stories of the past, seems to be used not only by the 

 Buddhists, but also by the Jains and, in some degree, by the 

 Brahmans. For although the relation between these sects 

 is one of contrast and rivalry, their philosophic stand- 

 points being opposed, yet they have in their life and method 

 of teaching much in common. The broad division of 

 society into monks and householders is common to them 

 all, and it is out of the customs and necessities of a society 



so divided that the method of teaching by " birth-stories" 



may be supposed to have grown. 



On the other hand, the attitude of Buddhism to Jainism 



in respect of its philosophic doctrines was one of hostility ; 



and this appears in the language of the first Jataka, in the 



" moral" of which certain characteristic tenets of the Jains 



are condemned. 



" The gathd, or central stanza, of the 1st Jataka runs 



thus : — 



Apannakam thanam eke dutiyam aim takkika. 

 Etad annaya medhavi tarn ganhe yad apannakam ti. 



Translated : " Some hold to truth, the reasoners declare 

 otherwise j a wise man, knowing this, ought to take that 

 which is truth." 



" And the word-commentary on this stanza identifies the 

 first or true doctrine referred to by calling it, amongst 



b 2 



