and continued to dwell in the Rishi’s head with them in perfect safety.  The learned Jajali saw that when the young birds became equipped with wings they took to the air every evening and returned to his head without having proceeded far.  He still stood motionless on that spot.  Sometimes, after he saw that, left by their parents, they went out by themselves and returned again by themselves.  Jajali still moved not.  A little while after, the young birds going away in the morning passed the whole day out of his sight, but came back in the evening for dwelling in the nest.  Sometimes, after that, leaving their nest for five days at a stretch, they returned on the sixth day.  Jajali still moved not.  Subsequently, when their strength became fully developed they left him and returned not at all even after many days.  At last, on one occasion, leaving him, they came not even after a month.  Then, O king, Jajali left that spot.  When they had thus gone away for good, Jajali wondered much, and thought that he had achieved ascetic success.  Then pride entered his heart.  Firm in the observance of vows, the great ascetic, seeing the birds thus leave him after having been reared on his head, thought highly of himself, and became filled with delight.  He, then, bathed in a stream and poured libations on the sacred fire, and paid his adorations to the rising Sun indeed, having thus caused those chataka birds to grow on his head, Jajali, that foremost of ascetics, began to slap his armpits and proclaim loudly through the sky, ‘I have won great merit.’  Then an invisible voice arose in the sky and Jajali heard these words, ’Thou art not equal, O Jajali, to Tuladhara in point of righteousness.  Possessed of great wisdom, that Tuladhara lives at Baranasi.  Even he is not fit to say what thou sayest, O regenerate one.’  Hearing these words, Jajali became filled with wrath, and desirous of meeting Tuladhara, O monarch, began to roam over the whole earth, observing the vow of silence and passing the night at that spot where evening overtook him.[1140] After a considerable time he reached the city of Baranasi, and saw Tuladhara engaged in selling miscellaneous articles.[1141] As soon as the shop-keeper Tuladhara beheld the Brahmana arrived at his place, he cheerfully stood up and worshipped the guest with proper salutations.[1142]

“Tuladhara said, ’Without doubt, O Brahmana, it is known to me that thou hast come to me.  Listen, however, O foremost of regenerate persons, to what I say.  Living on a low land near the sea-shore thou underwentest very austere penances.  But thou hadst no consciousness of having achieved righteousness or merit.  When thou didst at last attain to ascetic success, certain birds were born on thy head.  Thou tookest great care of the little creatures.  When at last those birds became equipped with wings and when they began to leave thy head for going hither and thither in search of food, it was then that, in consequence of having thus assisted at the birth of those Chatakas, thou begannest to feel the impulse of pride, O Brahmana, thinking thou hadst achieved great merit.[1143] Then, O foremost of regenerate persons, thou heardest in the sky a voice that referred to me.  The words thou didst hear filled thee with wrath, and as the consequence thereof thou art here.  Tell me, what wish of thine I shall accomplish, O best of Brahmanas!’”