#(Buddha) 13 The Past Life Story Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

In one past life, Buddha was
A young boy of Himalayas.
He was seeking the truth
And the life’s real worth.

He did austere penance.
Lord Indra, knowing this,
Disguised as a Demon came
To his place, to test him.

The Demon whispered like this:

“All is changeable and nothing is constant
This is the law of birth and death.”

The boy searched
And finally traced
It, behind a rock, hiding
And softly whispering.

He asked the Demon
“You spoke only two lines
Without the next two lines?
I wish to hear those lines.”

It showed no interest
And went on with its test,
“When my hunger is killing me,
Those lines, you’re asking me.”

He told, “You’re free
Anytime to swallow me,
But only after telling
The two lines remaining.”

Now you come here,
To satisfy my hunger.
I’ll tell those two lines,
The Demon said like this:

“Extinguishing the cycle of birth and death,
One experiences the joy of Nirvana.”

The boy then requested,
“What you’ve said,
Let me etch on stones
And tree trunks.”

“This should be known,
In future, to everyone.
You can eat me thereafter.
And satisfy your hunger.”

The Demon waited.
The boy then etched
The message in stones
And tree trunks.

In its mouth wide open
The boy jumped down.
Instead of eating the boy
Demon said with joy:

“I’m Lord Indra, in fact
I came here to test
Your will and determination.
In this test, you’ve won.”