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Said Buddha in his sermon:
"Not only in the present, but all along in the past, the truth-finder had demolished the views of others and established truth as discovered by himself".
Source: Jātaka Atthakathā, Mahābodhi Jataka,
528 (Hindi), pp. 312-330
Comment:
Mahábodhi Jataka and texts like that contain such stories as the present one to establish the superiority of Buddha and to run down other leaders of the age.
36. A Peacock and a Crow
In the absence of a qualified person, the mediocre dominates. When a qualified person comes on the scene, the mediocre is coveted no more, Buddha narrated a story.
"In olden times, during the reign of Brahmadatta at Vārānasi, Bodhi sattva was born as a peacock. It grew up and lived to the delight of everybody. Once a company of merchants sailed with merchandice and a directioncrow. They reached another kingdom named Bāberu where there was no bird. When the people saw the crow in a cage, they were surprised, delighted and bought it after much higgling for one hundred standard coins. The crow was reared up with the greatest care. After some time, the merchants came again, but this time with a peacock. The citizens at Bāberu saw the peacock and became mad after it. The new bird sang and danced to the delight of everybody. They bought it for one thousand standard coins, Compared to the crow, the peacock was more beautiful and received greater attention. The crow was henceforth virtually neglected. Needless to add, oh Bhiksus ! at that time I was the peacock and Nigantha Nātaputta the crow".
Source: Jataba Atthakatha, Baberu Jataka, 339
(Hindi), Part III, pp. 289-91
