Khuddaka Nikaya - Jataka - Dukanipata - Telovada Jataka

Jataka Vol. II: Book II. Dukanipāta: No. 246. Telovāda-Jātaka



p. 182
No. 246.
TELOVĀDA-JĀTAKA.
"The wicked kills," etc.--This is a story which the Master told while staying in
his gabled chamber near Vesāli, about Sīhasenāpati.
It is said that this man, after he had fled to the Refuge, offered hospitality
and then gave food with meat in it. The naked ascetics on hearing this were
angry and displeased; they wanted to do the Buddha a mischief; "The priest
Gotama," sneered they, "with his eyes open, eats meat prepared on purpose for
him."
The Brethren discussed this matter in their Hall of Truth: "Friend, Nāthaputta
the Ascetic 1 goes about sneering, because, he says, 'Priest Gotama eats meat
prepared on purpose for him, with his eyes open'." Hearing this, the Master
rejoined:--"This is not the first time, Brethren, that Nāthaputta has been
sneering at me for eating meat which was got ready for me on purpose; he did
just so in former times. And he told them an old-world tale.
_____________________________
Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a
brahmin. When he came of age he embraced the religious life.
He came down from Himalaya to get salt and seasoning, and next day walked the
city, begging alms. A certain wealthy man designed to annoy the ascetic. So he
brought him to his dwelling, and pointed out a seat, and then served him with
fish. After the meal, the man sat on one side, and said,
"This food was prepared on purpose for you, by killing living creatures. Not
upon my head is this wrong, but upon yours!" And he repeated the first stanza:--
"The wicked kills, and cooks, and gives to eat:
He is defiled with sin that takes such meat."
[263] On hearing this, the Bodhisatta recited the second stanza:--
"The wicked may for gift slay wife or son,
Yet, if the holy eat, no sin is done 2."
p. 183
And the Bodhisatta with these words of instruction rose from his seat and
departed.
_____________________________
This discourse ended, the Master identified the Birth: "Nāthaputta, the Naked
Ascetic was this wealthy man, and I was the ascetic."



Footnotes
182:1 He is one of the six titthiyas (Heretics), and generally called Nātaputta
(which is probably the right spelling here). The 'naked ascetics' were probably
the Jains.
182:2 "..Ṭhose who take life are in fault, but not the persons who eat the
flesh; my priests have permission to eat whatever food it is customary to eat in
any place or country, so that it be done without the indulgence of the appetite,
or evil desire." Hardy, Manual, p. 327.



Next: No. 247. Pādañjali-Jātaka