The Monster of Lotus Lake: A Jataka Tale
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Authors
Nestorowich, Sherri
Issue Date
2004
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Type
Book, Whole
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Abstract
The brothers Moon and Peace set out with their stepbrother Sun from their father's royal palace with heavy hearts. Sun's mother has tried to claim the succession for him in answer to an earlier promise from the king. The king urges Moon and Peace to go to the woods to hide out until he dies. Sun sees them leaving and joins them. They arrive near a lake that belongs to Kuber, the god of wealth. Kuber has given the lake to a monster to live in; he may eat anyone who enters into the lake and does not know right and wrong. The monster asks anyone he catches What is right and what is wrong? He gobbles up anyone who cannot answer correctly, but secretly he longs to hear the answer. The monster imprisons Moon and then Sun, who give only partially correct answers. Peace sees through the monster, acts warily with him, gives him good answers, and so rescues his brothers. When they learn of the father's death, they return and Peace rules in harmony. The monster gives up eating people and has a special place near the palace. Even the queen is reconciled to the arrangement and lives out her days in peace. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the art is the depiction of the lizardlike green monster.
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Publisher
Dharma Press
Dharma Publishing
Dharma Publishing
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Identifier
5341 (Access ID)