Bodhisattvas judgement (Jataka tale)A woman, carrying her child, went to the Bodhisattvas tank to wash. And having first bathed the child, she put on her upper garment and descended into the water to bathe herself.Then a Yaksha, seeing the child, had a craving to eat it. And taking the form of a woman, she drew near, and asked the mother, Friend, this is a very pretty child. Is it one of yours? And when she was told it was, she asked if she might nurse it. And this being allowed, she nursed it a little, and then carried it off.But when the mother saw this, she ran after her, and cried out, Where are you taking my child to? and caught hold of her.The Yaksha boldly said, Where did you get the child from? It is mine! And so quarreling, they passed the door of the Bodhisattvas Judgment Hall.He heard the noise, sent for them, inquired into the matter, and asked them whether they would abide by his decision. And they agreed. Then he had a line drawn on the ground; and told the Yaksha to take hold of the childs arms, and the mother to take hold of its legs; and said, The child shall be hers who drags him over the line.But as soon as they pulled at him, the mother, seeing how he suffered, grieved as if her heart would break. And letting him go, she stood there weeping.Then the Bodhisattva asked the bystanders, Whose hearts are tender to babes? Those who have borne children, or those who have not?The hearts of mothers are tender. They answered in unisonThen he said Who, then, is the mother? She who has the child in her arms, or she who has let go?She who has let go is the mother. The bystanders answered.Then do you all think that the other was the thief? Bodhisattva askedAnd they answered, Sire! We cannot tell.Bodhisattva said, This person is a Yaksha, who stole the child to eat it. Because her eyes winked not, and were red, and she knew no fear, and had no pity, I knew it. And so saying, he demanded of the thief, Reveal who you are!She said: Lord! I am a Yaksha.Bodhisattva asked, Why did you take away this child?The Yaksha said, I thought to eat him, Oh my Lord!Bodhisattva rebuked the Yaksha, saying, Foolish woman! For your former sins you have been born a Yaksha, and you continue to sin! And he laid a vow upon her to keep the Five Commandments, and let her go. But the mother of the child exalted the Bodhisattva, and said, Oh my Lord! Oh great physician! May you live long! And she went away, with her baby clasped to her bosom.Translated by T.W. Rhys Davies (1880). Edited by Elan (2012)