Ja 195Pabbatupatthara Jātaka

– Stories of the Buddha’s Former Births

– Book 2 Dukanipāta

195. Pabbatupatthara Jātaka

“A happy lake,” etc.—This story the Master told while dwelling at Jetavana, about the king of Kosala.

We are told that a certain courtier intrigued in the royal harem. The king inquired into the matter, and when he found it all out exactly he determined to tell the Master. So he came to Jetavana, and saluted the Master; told him how a courtier had intrigued, and asked what he was to do. The Master asked him whether he found the courtier useful to him, and whether he loved his wife. “Yes,” was the reply, “the man is very useful; he is the mainstay of my court; and I do love the woman.” “Sire,” replied the Master, “when servants are useful, and women are dear, there is no harming them. In olden days too kings listened to the words of the wise, and were indifferent to such things.” And he told an old-world tale.

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into a courtier’s family. When he came of age, he became the king’s counsellor in things temporal and spiritual.

Now one of the king’s court intrigued m the harem, and the king learnt all about it. “He is a most useful servant,” thought he, “and the woman is dear to me. I cannot destroy these two. PTS vp Pali 126 I will put a question to some wise man of my court; and if I must put up with it, put up with it I will; if not, then I will not.”

He sent for the Bodhisatta, and bade him be seated. “Wise sir,” said he, “I have a question to ask you.”

“Ask it, O king! I will make answer,” replied the other. Then the king asked his question in the words of the first couplet—

“A happy lake lay sheltered at the foot of a lovely hill,

But a jackal used it, knowing that a lion watched it still.”

“Surely,” thought the Bodhisatta, “one of his courtiers must have intrigued in the harem “; and he recited the second couplet—

“Out of the mighty river all creatures drink at will:

If she is dear, have patience—the river’s a river still.”

PTS vp Pali 127 Thus did the Great Being advise the king.

And the king abode by this advice, and he forgave them both, bidding them go and sin no more. And from that time they ceased. And the king gave alms, and did good, till at his life’s end he went to fill the hosts of heaven. PTS vp En 89

And the king of Kosala also, after hearing this discourse, forgave both these people and remained indifferent.

When the Master had ended this discourse, he identified the Birth—“At that time Ananda was the king, and I myself was the wise councillor.”

The Jātaka, or Stories of the Buddha’s Former Births , edited by E.B. Cowell , published by The Cambridge University Press.

– Vol. 1, translated by Robert Chalmers , 1895.

– Vol. 2, translated by W.H.D. Rouse , 1895 .

– Vol. 3, translated by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil , 1897.

– Vol. 4, translated by W.H.D. Rouse , 1901.

– Vol. 5, translated by H.T. Francis , 1905.

– Vol. 6, translated by E.B. Cowell and W.H.D. Rouse , 1907.

These translations are in the public domain. You are free to do whatever you like with them.

Scanned, proofed and formatted at sacred-texts.com, January 2006–February 2010, by John Bruno Hare and others. Thanks to the Sacred Texts Archive for making these texts available in digital form.