Jataka Vol. I: Book I.--Ekanipāta: No. 97. Nāmasiddhi-Jātaka
No. 97.
NĀMASIDDHI-JĀTAKA.
"Seeing Quick dead."--This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about
a Brother who thought luck went by names. For we hear that a young man of good
family, named 'Base,' had given his heart to the Faith, and joined the
Brotherhood. [402] And the Brethren used to call to him, "Here, Brother Base!"
and "Stay, Brother Base," till he resolved that, as 'Base' gave the idea of
incarnate wickedness and ill-luck, he would change his name to one of better
omen. Accordingly he asked his teachers and preceptors to give him a new name.
But they said that a name only served to denote, and did not impute qualities;
and they bade him rest content with the name he had. Time after time he renewed
his request, till the whole Brotherhood knew what importance he attached to a
mere name. And as they sat discussing the matter in the Hall of Truth, the
Master entered and asked what it was they were speaking about. Being told, he
said "This is not the first time this Brother has believed luck went by names;
he was equally dissatisfied with the name he bore in a former age." So saying he
told this story of the past.
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Once on a time the Bodhisatta was a teacher of world-wide fame at Takkasilā, and
five hundred young brahmins learnt the Vedas from his lips. One of these young
men was named Base. And from continually hearing his fellows say, "Go, Base" and
"Come, Base," he longed to get rid of his name and to take one that had a less
ill-omened ring about it. So he went to his master and asked that a new name of
a respectable character might be given him. Said his master, "Go, my son, and
travel through the land till you have found a name you fancy. Then come back and
I will change your name for you."
The young man did as he was bidden, and taking provisions for the
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journey wandered from village to village till he cane to a certain town. Here a
man named Quick had died, and the young brahmin seeing him borne to the cemetery
asked what his name was.
"Quick," was the reply. "What, can Quick be dead?" "Yes, Quick is dead; both
Quick and Dead die just the same. A name only serves to mark who's who. You seem
a fool."
Hearing this he went on into the city, feeling neither satisfied nor
dissatisfied with his own name.
Now a slave-girl had been thrown down at the door of a house, while her master
and mistress beat her with rope-ends because she had not brought home her wages.
And the girl's name was Rich. [403] Seeing the girl being beaten, as he walked
along the street, he asked the reason, and was told in reply that it was because
she had no wages to shew.
"And what is the girl's name?"
"Rich," said they. "And cannot Rich make good a paltry day's pay?" "Be she
called Rich or Poor, the money's not forthcoming any the more. A name only
serves to mark who's who. You seem a fool."
More reconciled to his own name, the young brahmin left the city and on the road
found a. man who had lost his way. Having learnt that he had lost his way, the
young man asked what his name was. "Guide," was the reply. "And has Guide lost
his way?" "Guide or Misguide, you can lose your way just the same. A name only
serves to mark who's who. You seem a fool."
Quite reconciled now to his name, the young brahmin came back to his master.
"Well, what name have you chosen?" asked the Bodhisatta. "Master," said he, "I
find that death comes to 'Quick' and 'Dead' alike, that 'Rich' and 'Poor' may be
poor together, and that 'Guide' and 'Misguide' alike miss their way. I know now
that a name serves only to tell who is who, and does not govern its owner's
destiny. So I am satisfied with my own name, and do not want to change it for
any other."
Then the Bodhisatta uttered this stanza, combining what the young brahmin had
done with the sights he had seen:--
Seeing Quick dead, Guide lost, Rich poor,
Base learned content nor travelled more.
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His story told, the Master said "So you see, Brethren, that in former days as
now this Brother imagined there was a great deal in a name." And he identified
the Birth by saying, "This Brother who is discontented with his name was the
discontented young brahmin of those days; the Buddha's disciples were the
pupils; and I myself their master."
Next: No. 98. Kūṭavāṇija-Jātaka
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