Khuddaka Nikaya - Jataka - Ekanipata - Dubbaca Jataka

Jataka Vol. I: Book I.--Ekanipāta: No. 116. Dubbaca-Jātaka



p. 259
No. 116.
DUBBACA-JĀTAKA.
"Too much."--This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about an
unruly Brother whose-own story will be given in the Ninth Book in the
Gijjha-jātaka 1.
The Master rebuked him in these words:--"As now, so in former days wert thou
unruly, Brother, disregarding the counsels of the wise and good. Wherefore, by a
javelin thou didst die." So saying, he told this story of the past.
_____________________________
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born
into an acrobat's family. When he grew up, he was a very wise and clever fellow.
From another acrobat he learned the javelin dance, and with his master used to
travel about exhibiting his skill. Now this master of his knew the four javelin
dance but not the five; but one day when performing in a certain village, he,
being in liquor, had five javelins set up in a row and gave out that he would
dance through the lot.
Said the Bodhisatta, "You can't manage all five javelins, master. Have one taken
away. If you try the five, you will be run through by the fifth and die."
"Then you don't know what I can do when I try," said the drunken fellow; and
paying no heed to the Bodhisatta's words, he danced through four of the javelins
only to impale himself on the fifth like the Bassia flower on its stalk. And
there he lay groaning. Said the Bodhisatta, "This calamity comes of your
disregarding the counsels of the wise and good"; and he uttered this stanza:--
[431] Too much--though sore against my will--you tried;
Clearing the four, upon the fifth you died.
So saying, he lifted his master from off the javelin point and duly performed
the last offices to his body.
_____________________________
His story done, the Master identified the Birth by saying, "This unruly Brother
was the master of those days, and I the pupil."



Footnotes
259:1 No. 427.



Next: No. 117. Tittira-Jātaka