Khuddaka Nikaya - Jataka - Dukanipata - Dubhiya-Makkata Jataka

Jataka Vol. II: Book II. Dukanipāta: No. 174. Dūbhiya-Makkaṭa-Jātaka



No. 174.
DŪBHIYA-MAKKAṬA-JĀTAKA.
[70] "Plenty of water," etc.--This story the Master told in his sojourn at
Veḷuvana, about Devadatta. One day it happened that the Brethren were talking in
the Hall of Truth about Devadatta's ingratitude and treachery to his friends,
when the Master broke in, "Not this once only, Brethren, has Devadatta been
ungrateful and treacherous to his own friends. He was just the same before."
Then he told them an old story.
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Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born
into a brahmin family in a certain Kāsi village, and when he grew of age,
married and settled down. Now in those clays there was a certain deep well by
the highway in Kāsi-land, which had no way
p. 49
down to it. The people who passed by that way, to win merit, used to draw water
by a long rope and a bucket, and fill a trough for the animals; thus they gave
the animals water to drink. All around lay a mighty forest, wherein troops of
monkeys dwelt.
It happened by a chance that for two or three days the supply of water ceased
which wayfarers used to draw; and the creatures could get nothing to drink. A
Monkey, tormented with thirst, walked up and down by the well looking for water.
Now the Bodhisatta came that way on some errand, drew water for himself, drank
it, and washed his hands; then he noticed our Monkey. Seeing how thirsty he was,
the traveller drew water from the well and filled the trough for him. Then he
sat down under a tree, to see what the creature would do.
The Monkey drank, sat down near, and pulled a monkey-grimace, to frighten the
Bodhisatta. "Ah, you bad monkey!" said he, at this--"when you were thirsty and
miserable, [71] I gave you plenty of water; and now you make monkey-faces at me.
Well, well, help a rascal and you waste your pains." And he repeated the first
stanza:
"Plenty of water did I give to you
When you were chafing hot and thirsty too:
Now full of mischief you sit chattering,--
With wicked people best have nought to do."
Then this spite-friend monkey replied, "I suppose you think that's all I can do.
Now I'll drop something on your head before I go." Then, repeating the second
stanza, he went on--
"A well-conducted monkey who did ever hear or see
I leave my droppings on your head; for such our manners he."
As soon as he heard this the Bodhisatta got up to go. But at the very instant
this Monkey from the branch where he sat dropt it like a festoon upon his head;
and then made off into the forest shrieking. The Bodhisatta washed, and went his
way.
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[72] When the Master had ended this discourse, after ṣaying "It is not only now
that Devadatta is so, but in former days also he would not acknowledge a
kindness which I showed him," he identified the Birth: "Devadatta was the Monkey
then, and the brahmin was I myself."



Footnotes
48:1 Gotama Buddha's son.



Next: No. 175. Ādiccupaṭṭhāna-Jātaka