Jataka Vol. II: Book III. Tika-Nipāta: No. 279. Satapatta-Jātaka
p. 264
No. 279.
SATAPATTA-JĀTAKA.
"As the youth upon his way," etc. This story the Master told in Jetavana, about
Paṇḍuka and Lohita. Of the Six Heretics, two--Mettiya and Bhummaja--lived hard
by Rājagaha; two, Assaji and Punabbasu, near Kīṭāgiri, and at Jetavana near
Sāvatthi the two others, Paṇḍuka and Lohita. They questioned matters laid down
in the doctrine; whoever were their friends and intimates, they would encourage,
saying, "You are no worse than these, brother, in birth, lineage, or character;
if you give up your opinions, they will have much the better of you," and by
saying this kind of thing they prevented their giving up their opinions, and
thus strifes and quarrels and contentions arose. The Brethren told this to the
Blessed One. The Blessed One assembled the Brethren for that cause, to make
explanation; and causing Paṇḍuka and Lohita to be summoned, addressed them: "Is
it true, Brethren, that you really yourselves question certain matters, and
prevent people from giving up their opinions?" "Yes," they replied. "Then," said
he, "your behaviour is like that of the Man and the Crane;" and he told them an
old-world tale.
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Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was
born to a certain family in a Kāsi village. When he grew up, instead of earning
a livelihood by farming or trade, [388] he gathered five hundred robbers, and
became their chief, and lived by highway robbery and housebreaking.
Now it so happened that a landowner had given a thousand pieces of money to some
one, and died before receiving it back again. Some time after, his wife lay on
her deathbed, and addressing her son, said,
"Son, your father gave a thousand pieces of money to a man, and died without
getting it back; if I die too, he will not give it to you. Go, while I yet live,
get him to fetch it and give it back."
So the son went, and got the money.
The mother died; but she loved her son so much, that she suddenly reappeared 1
as a jackal on the road by which he was coming. At that time, the robber chief
with his band lay by the road in wait to plunder travellers. And when her son
had got to the entrance of the wood, the Jackal returned again and again, and
sought to stay him; saying, "My son, don't enter the wood! there are robbers
there, who will slay thee and take thy money!
p. 265
But the man understood not what she meant. "Ill luck!" said he, "here's a jackal
trying to stop my way!" he said; and he drove her off with sticks and clods, and
into the wood he went.
And a crane flew towards the robbers, crying out--"Here's a man with a thousand
pieces in his hand! Kill him, and take them!" The young fellow did not know what
it was doing, so he thought, "Good luck! here's a lucky bird! now there is a
good omen for me!" He saluted respectfully, crying, "Give voice, give voice, my
lord!"
The Bodhisatta, who knew the meaning of all sounds, observed what these two did,
and thought: "Yon jackal must be the man's mother; so she tries to stop him, and
tell him that he will be killed and robbed; but the crane must be some
adversary, and that is why it says 'Kill him, and take the money;' and the man
does not know what is happening, [389] and drives off his mother, who wishes his
welfare, while the crane, who wishes him ill, he worships, under the belief that
it is a well-wisher. The man is a fool."
(Now the Bodhisattas, even though they are great beings, sometimes take the
goods of others by being born as wicked men; this they say comes from a fault in
the horoscope.)
So the young man went on, and by and bye fell in with the robbers. The
Bodhisatta caught him, and "Where do you live?" said he.
"In Benares."
"Where have you been?"
"There was a thousand pieces due to me in a certain village; and that is where I
have been."
"Did you get it?"
"Yes, I did."
"Who sent you?"
"Master, my father is dead, and my mother is ill; it was she sent me, because
she thought I should not get it if she were dead."
"And do you know what has happened to your mother now?"
"No, master."
"She died after you left; and so much did she love you, that she at once became
a jackal, and kept trying to stop you for fear you should get killed. She it was
that you scared away. But the crane was an enemy, who came and told us to kill
you, and take your money. You are such a fool that you thought your mother was
an illwisher, when she wished you well, and thought the crane was a wellwisher
when it wished ill to you. He did you no good, but your mother was very good to
you. Keep your money, and be off!" And he let him go.
p. 266
When the Master had finished this discourse, he repeated the following stanzas:
"As the youth upon his way
Thought the jackal of the wood
Was a foe, his path to stay,
While she tried to do him good:
That false crane his true friend deeming
Which to ruin him was scheming:
"Such another, who is here,
Has his friends misunderstood;
They can never win his ear
Who advise him for his good.
[390] "He believes when others praise--
Awful terrors prophesying:
As the youth of olden days
Loved the crane above him flying 1."
When the Master had enlarged upon this theme, he identified the Birth: "At that
time the robber chief was I myself."
Footnotes
264:1 The word implies a creature not born in the natural way, but taking shape
without the need of parents.
266:1 The scholiast adds the following lines:
The friend who robs another without ceasing;
He that protests, protests incessantly;
The friend who flatters for the sake of pleasing;
The boon companion in debauchery;--
These four the wise as enemies should fear,
And keep aloof, if there be danger near.
Next: No. 280. Puṭa-Dūsaka-Jātaka
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