Ja 105 The Story about the Rotten Wood
(Dubbalakaṭṭhajātaka)
In the present one monk lives in constant fear of dying. The Buddha tells how, in a previous life as an elephant, he had been sent for training and had been so mistreated, that even when he escaped, he was still constantly in fear for his life (full story).
1. Bahum-petaṁ vane kaṭṭhaṁ vāto bhañjati dubbalaṁ,
Tassa ce bhāyasī, nāga, kiso nūna bhavissasī ti.
Although the wind breaks off many of the weak branches in this wood, if you are fearful about it, elephant, you will waste away.
In this connection, this is the substance of it: the wind divided into the east wind, and so on, breaks this weak branch, in this wood many are found, they are found here and there. If you fear it, being always frightened in this way, after reaching the exhaustion of flesh and blood, you will waste away. In this wood there is nothing for you known as fearful, therefore beginning from now, do not have fear.