Sakuṇa Jātaka (No.36, 308)
1. Sakuṇa Jātaka (No.36).– The Bodhisatta was once a bird, leader of a large flock. He lived in a tree, and noticing one day that two of the boughs were grinding one against the other and producing smoke, he warned his flock of the risk of fire and left for elsewhere. The wiser birds followed him, but some remained behind and were burnt to death.
The story was related to a monk whose cell was burnt down. He told the villagers of this, and they continually promised to build him a new one, but failed to do so. As a result the monk lived in discomfort and his meditations were fruitless. When he reported this, the Buddha blamed him for not going elsewhere. J.i.215 f.
2. Sakuṇa Jātaka (No.308).– The Bodhisatta was once a woodpecker, and coming across a lion with a bone stuck in his throat he removed the bone, after having fixed a stick in the lion’s mouth to prevent him from biting off the head of his rescuer. Later, he saw the lion eating the carcase of a buffalo and asked for a boon. The lion refused, saying it was enough for him to have escaped death after putting his head into a lion’s jaws. The lion is identified with Devadatta, and the story was related in reference to his ingratitude. J.iii.25‑7; cp. Jātakamālā No.xxxiv.