Khuddaka Nikaya - Jataka - Ekanipata - Maccha Jataka

Jataka Vol. I: Book I.--Ekanipāta: No. 34. Maccha-Jātaka



p. 87
No. 34.
MACCHA-JĀTAKA.
"’Tis not the cold."--This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about
being seduced by the wife of one's mundane life before joining the Brotherhood.
Said the Master on this occasion, "Is it true, as I hear, Brother, that you are
passion-tost?"
"Yes, Blessed One."
"Because of whom?"
"My former wife, sir, is sweet to touch; I cannot give her up! "Then said the
Master, "Brother, this woman is hurtful to you. It was through her that in
bygone times too you were meeting your end, when you were saved by me." And so
saying, he told this story of the past.
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Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta became
his family-priest.
In those days some fishermen had cast their net into the river. And a great big
fish came along amorously toying with his wife. She, scenting the net as she
swam ahead of him, made a circuit round it and escaped. But her amorous spouse,
blinded by passion, sailed right into the meshes of the net. As soon as the
fishermen felt him in their net, they hauled it in and took the fish out; they
did not kill him at once, but flung him alive on the sands. [211] "We'll cook
him in the embers for our meal," said they; and accordingly they set to work to
light a fire and whittle a spit to roast him on. The fish lamented, saying to
himself, "It's not the torture of the embers or the anguish of the spit or any
other pain that grieves me; but only the distressing thought that my wife should
be unhappy in the belief that I have gone off with another." And he repeated
this stanza:--
’Tis not the cold, the heat, or wounding net;
’Tis but the fear my darling wife should think
Another's love has lured her spouse away.
Just then the priest came to the riverside with his attendant slaves to bathe.
Now he understood the language of all animals. Therefore, when he heard the
fish's lamentation, he thought to himself, "This fish is lamenting the lament of
passion. If he should die in this unhealthy state of mind, he cannot escape
rebirth in hell. I will save him." So he went to the fishermen and said, "My
men, don't you supply us with a fish every day for our curry?" "What do you say,
sir?" said the fishermen; "pray take away with you any fish you may take a fancy
to." "We don't need any but this one; only give us this one." "He's yours, sir."
p. 88
Taking the fish in his two hands, the Bodhisatta seated himself on the bank and
said, "Friend fish, if I had not seen you to-day, you would have met your death.
Cease for the future to be the slave of passion." And with this exhortation he
threw the fish into the water, and went into the city.
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[212] His lesson ended, the Master preached the Truths, at the close whereof the
passion-tost Brother won the First Path. Also, the Master shewed the connexion
and identified the Birth by saying, "The former wife was the female fish of
those days, the passion-tost Brother was the male fish, and I myself the
family-priest."
[Note. Compare Jātakas Nos. 216 and 297.]



Next: No. 35. Vaṭṭaka-Jātaka