Khuddaka Nikaya - Jataka - Ekanipata - Litta Jataka

Jataka Vol. I: Book I.--Ekanipāta: No. 91. Litta-Jātaka



No. 91.
LITTA-JĀTAKA.
"He bolts the die."--This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about
using things thoughtlessly.
Tradition says that most of the Brethren of that day were in the habit of using
robes and so forth, which were given them, in a thoughtless manner. And their
thoughtless use of the Four Requisites as a rule barred their escape from the
doom of re-birth in hell and the animal world. Knowing this, the Master set
forth the lessons of virtue and showed the danger of such thoughtless use of
things, exhorting them to be careful in the use of the Four Requisites, and
laying down this rule, "The thoughtful Brother has a definite object in view
when he wears a robe, namely, to keep off the cold." After laying down similar
rules for the other Requisites, he concluded by saying, "Such is the thoughtful
use which should be made of the Four Requisites. Thoughtlessly to use them is
like taking deadly poison; and there were those in bygone days who through their
thoughtlessness did inadvertently take poison, to their exceeding hurt in due
season." So saying he told this story of the past.
_____________________________
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born
into a well-to-do family, and when he grew up, he became a dice-player. With him
used to play a sharper, who kept on playing while he was winning, but, when luck
turned, broke up the game by putting one of the dice in his mouth and pretending
it was lost,--after which he would take himself off. [380] "Very good," said the
Bodhisatta
p. 222
when he realised what was being done; "we'll look into this." So he took some
dice, anointed them at home with poison, dried them carefully, and then carried
them with him to the sharper, whom he challenged to a game. The other was
willing, the dice-board was got ready, and play began. No sooner did the sharper
begin to lose than he popped one of the dice into his mouth. Observing him in
the act, the Bodhisatta remarked, "Swallow away; you will not fail to find out
what it really is in a little time." And he uttered this stanza of rebuke:--
He bolts the die quite boldly,--knowing not
What burning poison thereon lurks unseen.
--Aye, bolt it, sharper! Soon you'll burn within.
[paragraph continues] But while the Bodhisatta was talking away, the poison
began to work on the sharper; he grew faint, rolled his eyes, and bending double
with pain fell to the ground. "Now," said the Bodhisatta, "I must save the
rascal's life." So he mixed some simples and administered an emetic until
vomiting ensued. Then he administered a draught of ghee with honey and sugar and
other ingredients, and by this means made the fellow all right again. Then he
exhorted him not to do such a thing again. After a life spent in charity and
other good works, the Bodhisatta passed away to fare thereafter according to his
deserts.
_____________________________
His lesson ended, the Master said, "Brethren, the thoughtless use of things is
like the thoughtless taking of deadly poison." So saying, he identified the
Birth in these words, "I was myself the wise and good gambler of those days."
(Pāli Note. "No mention is made of the sharper,--the reason being that, here as
elsewhere, no mention is made of persons who are not spoken of at this date.")



Next: No. 92. Mahāsāra-Jātaka