Kotisimbali JÄtaka (No.412)
A Garuḷa-king seized a NÄga-king, and when the NÄga coiled himself round a banyan-tree the Garuḷa uprooted the banyan and took it with him. He ate the NÄga’s fat seated on a koá¹isimbali-tree, and threw away the banyan and the NÄga’s carcase. A bird who was in the banyan-tree left it and took up his abode in the simbali. The Bodhisatta, who was a tree-sprite in the simbali, trembled at the sight of the tiny bird, because the sprite knew that from the bird’s droppings huge trees would spring up and kill the simbali. The Garuḷa, seeing the sprite trembling, asked the reason, and on learning it frightened the bird away. It is right to distrust where distrust is proper.
The story was related to five hundred monks who were in danger of being overcome by sinful desires (J.iii.397ff). Cf. the PÄlasa JÄtaka.
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