Khuddaka Nikāya — The Minor Collection – page 21

Ja 381: Migalopa Jātaka

“Your ways, my son”—The Master told this tale in Jetavana, of an unruly Brother. The Master asked the Brother, “Are you really unruly?” He said, “Yes, lord”: and the Master saying, “You are not unruly for the first time; formerly too through unruliness you did not the bidding of the wise and met your death by the Verambha winds,” told an old-world tale.

Tha Ap 381: Sumanadāmadāyaka

Ja 382: Sirikalakanni Jātaka

“Who is this”—The Master told this tale in Jetavana concerning Anathapindika. From the time when he was established in the fruition of the First Path he kept all the five first commandments unbroken; so also did his wife, his sons and daughters, his hired servants and his workpeople. One day in the Hall of Truth they began to discuss whether Anathapindika was pure in his walk and his household also. The Master came and was told their subject: so he said, “Brethren, the wise men of old had pure households,” and told an old tale.

Tha Ap 382: Kāsumāriphaladāyaka

Ja 383: Kukkuta Jātaka

“Bird with wings”—The Master told this tale in Jetavana, concerning a Brother who longed for the world. The Master asked him, “Why do you long for the world?” “Lord, through passion, for I saw a woman adorned.” “Brother, women are like cats, deceiving and cajoling to bring to ruin one who has come into their power,” so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 383: Avaṇṭaphaladāyaka

Dhp 383–423: 26. Brahmins

Ja 384: Dhammaddhaja-Jataka

“Practise virtue”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, of a deceitful Brother. He said, “Brethren, this man is not deceitful now for the first time”: so he told an old-world tale.

Tha Ap 384: Labujaphaladāyaka

Ja 385: Nandiyamiga Jātaka

“Will you go to the King’s Park”—The Master told this in Jetavana, of a Brother who supported his mother. He asked the Brother, “Is it true that you support lay folk?” “Yes, lord.” “What are they?” “My father and mother, lord.” “Well done, well done, Brother: you keep up the rule of the wise men of old, for they too even when born as beasts gave their life for their parents,” and so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 385: Udumbaraphaladāyaka

Ja 386: Kharaputta Jātaka

“Goats are stupid”—The Master told this tale in Jetavana, concerning temptation of a Brother by his former wife. When the Brother confessed that he was longing for the world, the Master said, “Brother, this woman does you harm: formerly also you came into the fire through her and were saved from death by sages,” so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 386: Pilakkhaphaladāyaka

Ja 387: Suci Jātaka

“Quickly threaded”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning the perfection of wisdom. The occasion of the tale will be given in the Mahaummagga. The Master addressed the brethren, “This is not the first time the Tathagata is wise and skilled in devices,” and so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 387: Phārusaphaladāyaka

Ja 388: Tundila Jātaka

“Something strange to-day”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a brother who feared death.

Tha Ap 388: Valliphaladāyaka

Ja 389: Suvannakakkata Jātaka

“Gold-clawed creature”—The Master told this tale when dwelling in the Bamboo-grove, of Ananda’s dying for his sake. The occasion is told in the Khandahala Birth about the hiring of bowmen, and in the Cullahamsa Birth about the roar of the elephant Dhanapala. Then they began a discussion in the Hall of Truth: “Sirs, has the Elder Ananda, Treasurer of the Law, who attained all the wisdom possible to one still under discipline, given up his life for the Perfect Buddha when Dhanapala came?” The Master came and was told the subject of their discussion: he said, “Brother, in former times also Ananda gave up his life for me:” and so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 389: Kadalīphaladāyaka

Ja 390: Mayhaka Jātaka

“Did we joy”—The Master told this while dwelling in Jetavana, of a stranger merchant who did not enjoy his wealth himself nor give it to others.

Tha Ap 390: Panasaphaladāyaka

Ja 391: Dhajavihetha Jātaka

“Noble of face”—The Master told this while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning his going about for the whole world’s good. The occasion will appear in the Mahakanha Birth. Then the Master said, “Brethren, this is not the first time the Tathagata has gone about for the world’s good,” and so told an old tale.

Tha Ap 391: Soṇakoṭivīsa

Ja 392: Bhisapuppha Jātaka

“You were never”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a certain Brother. The story is that the Brother had left Jetavana and dwelt in the Kosala kingdom near a certain wood: one day he went down into a lotus-pool , and seeing a lotus in flower he stood to leeward and smelt it. Then the goddess who dwelt in that part of the forest frightened him saying, “Sir, you are a thief of odours, this is a kind of theft.” He went back in a fright to Jetavana, and saluted the Master and sat down. “Where have you been staying, Brother?” “In such and such a wood, and the goddess frightened me in such and such a way.” The Master said, “You are not the first who have been frightened by a goddess when smelling a flower; sages of old have been frightened in like manner,” and at the Brother’s request he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 392: The Rags of Previous Karma

Ja 393: Vighasa Jātaka

“Happy life is theirs”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in the East Garden, concerning some Brethren who were given to amusement. The great Moggallana had shaken their dwelling and alarmed them. The Brethren sat discussing their fault in the Hall of Truth. The Master being told this said to them, “They are not given to amusement for the first time,” and so told an old tale.

Tha Ap 393: Pilindavaccha

Ja 394: Vattaka Jātaka

“Oil and butter”—The Master told this while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a greedy Brother. Finding that he was greedy the Master said to him, “This is not the first time you are greedy: once before through greed in Benares you were not satisfied with carcases of elephants, oxen, horses and men; and in hopes of getting better food you went to the forest;” and so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 394: Sela

Ja 395: Kaka Jātaka

“Our old friend”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a greedy Brother. The occasion is as above.

Tha Ap 395: Sabbakittika

Ja 396: Kukku Jātaka

“The peak’s a cubit,” etc—The Master told this while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning the admonition of a king. The occasion will appear in the Tesakuna-Birth.

Tha Ap 396: Madhudāyaka

Ja 397: Manoja Jātaka

“The bow is bent”—The Master told this while dwelling in the Bamboo Grove, concerning a Brother who kept bad company. The occasion was given at length in the Mahilamukhata Birth. The Master said, “Brethren, he is not keeping bad company for the first time,” and told an old tale.

Tha Ap 397: Padumakūṭāgāriya

Ja 398: Sutano Jātaka

“The King has sent”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a Brother who supported his mother. The occasion will appear in the Sama Birth.

Tha Ap 398: Bakkula

Ja 399: Gijjha Jātaka

“How will the old folks”—The Master told this when dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a Brother who supported his mother.

Tha Ap 399: Girimānanda

Ja 400: Dabbhapuppha Jātaka

“Friend Anutiracari”—The Master told this while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning Upananda, of the Sakya tribe.

Tha Ap 400: Salaḷamaṇḍapiya

Ja 401: Dasannaka Jātaka

“Dasanna’s good sword”—The Master told this, when living in Jetavana, concerning the temptation of a Brother by his wife when a layman. The Brother confessed that he was backsliding for this reason. The Master said, “That woman does you harm: formerly too you were dying of mental sickness owing to her, and got life owing to wise men,” and so he told a tale of old.

Tha Ap 401: Sabbadāyaka

Ja 402: Sattubhasta Jātaka

“Thou art confused”—The Master told this when staying in Jetavana, concerning the Perfection of Wisdom. The occasion of the story will appear in the Ummagga-Birth.

Tha Ap 402: Ajita

Ja 403: Atthisena Jātaka

“Atthisena, many beggars”—The Master told this when dwelling in the shrine called Aggalava near Alavi, concerning the regulations for the building of cells. The occasion was told in the Manikantha Birth above. The Master addressed the Brethren, saying, “Brethren, formerly before Buddha was born in the world, priests of other religions, even though offered their choice by kings, never asked for alms, holding that begging from others was not agreeable or pleasant,” and so he told the tale of old time.

Tha Ap 403: Tissametteyya

Ja 404: Kapi Jātaka

“Let not the wise man”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning Devadatta being swallowed up by the earth. Finding that the Brethren were talking about this in the Hall of Truth, he said, “Devadatta has not been destroyed with his company now for the first time: he was destroyed before,” and he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 404: Puṇṇaka

Ja 405: Baka-Brahma Jātaka

“Seventy and two”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning the brahma Baka.

Tha Ap 405: Mettagu

Ja 406: Gandhara Jātaka

“Villages full sixteen thousand”—The Master told this when dwelling in Jetavana, concerning the precept on the storing up of medicines.

Tha Ap 406: Dhotaka

Ja 407: Mahakapi Jātaka

“You made yourself”—The Master told this while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning good works towards one’s relatives. The occasion will appear in the Bhaddasala Birth. They began talking in the Hall of Truth, saying, “The supreme Buddha does good works towards his relatives.” When the Master had asked and been told their theme, he said, “Brethren, this is not the first time a Tathagata has done good works towards his relatives,” and so he told a tale of old time.

Tha Ap 407: Upasīva

Ja 408: Kumbhakara Jātaka

“A mango in a forest”—The Master told this when dwelling in Jetavana, concerning rebuke of sin. The occasion will appear in the Paniya Birth. .

Tha Ap 408: Nanda

Ja 409: Dalhadhamma Jātaka

“I carried for the king”—The Master told this when dwelling in the Ghosita forest near Kosambi, concerning Bhaddavatika, king Udena’s she-elephant. Now the way in which this elephant was adorned and the royal lineage of Udena will be set forth in the Matanga Birth.

Tha Ap 409: Hemaka

Ja 410: Somadatta Jātaka

“Deep in the wood”—The Master told this while dwelling at Jetavana, about a certain old Brother. The story was that this Brother ordained a novice, who waited on him but soon died of a fatal disease. The old man went about weeping and wailing for his death. Seeing him, the Brethren began to talk in the Hall of Truth, “Sirs, this old Brother goes about weeping and wailing for the novice’s death: he must surely have neglected the meditation on death.” The Master came, and hearing the subject of their talk, he said, “Brethren, this is not the first time this man is weeping for the other’s death,” and so he told the old tale.

Tha Ap 410: Todeyya

Ja 411: Susima Jātaka

“Heretofore the hairs”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, about the Great Renunciation. The Brethren were sitting in the Hall of Truth, praising the Buddha’s renunciation. The Master, finding that this was their topic, said, “Brethren, it is not strange that I should now make the Great Renunciation and retirement from the world, I who have for many hundred thousand ages exercised perfection: of old also I gave up the reign over the kingdom of Kasi, three hundred leagues in extent, and made the renunciation,” and so he told the old tale.

Tha Ap 411: Jatukaṇṇika

Ja 412: Kotisimbali Jātaka

“I bore with me”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning rebuke of sin. The incident leading to the tale will appear in the Panna Birth. On this occasion the Master, perceiving that five hundred Brethren were overcome by thoughts of desire in the House of the Golden Pavement, gathered the assembly and said, “Brethren, it is right to distrust where distrust is proper; sins surround a man as banyans and such plants grow up around a tree: in this way of old a spirit dwelling in the top of a cotton-tree saw a bird voiding the banyan seeds it had eaten among the branches of the cotton-tree, and became terrified lest her abode should thereby come to destruction:” and so he told a tale of old.

Tha Ap 412: Udena

Ja 413: Dhumakari Jātaka

“The righteous king”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning the Kosala king’s favour to a stranger. At one time, the story goes, that king showed no favour to his old warriors who came to him in the usual way, but gave honour and hospitality to strangers coming for the first time. He went to fight in a disturbed frontier province: but his old warriors would not fight, thinking that the new-corners who were in favour would do so; and the new-corners would not, thinking that the old warriors would. The rebels prevailed. The king, knowing that his defeat was owing to the mistake he had made in showing favour to new-comers, returned to Savatthi. He resolved to ask the Lord of Wisdom whether he was the only king who had ever been defeated for that reason: so after the morning meal he went to Jetavana and put the question to the Master. The Master answered, “Great King, yours is not the only case: former kings also were defeated by reason of the favour they showed to new-corners,” and so, at the king’s request, he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 413: Bhaddāli

Ja 414: Jagara Jātaka

“Who is it that wakes”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a certain lay-brother.

Tha Ap 414: Ekachattiya

Ja 415: Kummasapinda Jātaka

“Service done”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning queen Mallika. She was the daughter of the chief of the garland-makers of Savatthi, extremely beautiful and very good.

Tha Ap 415: Tiṇasūlakachādaniya

Ja 416: Parantapa Jātaka

“Terror and fear”—The Master told this while dwelling in the Bamboo-grove, concerning Devadatta’s going about to kill him. They were discussing it in the Hall of Truth, “Sirs, Devadatta is going about to kill the Tathagata, he has hired bowmen, thrown down a rock, let loose Nalagiri, and uses special means for the destruction of the Tathagata.” The Master came and asked the subject of their discussion as they sat together: when they told him, he said, “Brethren, this is not the first time he has gone about to kill me: but he could not even make me afraid, and gained only sorrow for himself:” and so he told the tale of old.

Tha Ap 416: Madhumaṁsadāyaka

Ja 417: Kaccani Jātaka

“Robed in white”—The Master told this tale while dwelling at Jetavana, concerning a man who supported his mother.

Tha Ap 417: Nāgapallavaka

Ja 418: Atthasadda Jātaka

“A pool so deep”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning an indistinguishable terrific sound heard at midnight by the king of Kosala. The occasion is like that already described in the Lohakumbhi Birth. At this time however, when the king said, “Lord, what does the hearing of these sounds import to me?” the Master answered, “Great king, be not afraid: no danger shall befal you owing to these sounds: such terrible indistinguishable sounds have not been heard by you alone: kings of old also heard like sounds, and meant to follow the advice of brahmins to offer in sacrifice four animals of each species, but after hearing what wise men had to say, they set free the animals collected for sacrifice and caused proclamation by drum against all slaughter”: and at the king’s request, he told the old tale.

Tha Ap 418: Ekadīpiya

Ja 419: Sulasa Jātaka

“Here is a golden necklace”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a female servant of Anathapindika.

Tha Ap 419: Ucchaṅgapupphiya

Ja 420: Sumangala Jātaka

“Conscious of an angry frown”—The Master told this tale while dwelling at Jetavana, concerning the admonition of a king. On this occasion the Master, at the king’s request, told the tale of old.

Tha Ap 420: Yāgudāyaka

Ja 421: Gangamala Jātaka

“The earth’s like coals”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning the keeping of the weekly holy days. One day the Master was addressing the lay-brethren who were keeping the holy days and said, “Lay-brethren, your conduct is good; when men keep the holy days they should give alms, keep the moral precepts, never show anger, feel kindness and do the duties of the day: wise men of old gained great glory from even a partial keeping of the holy days: “ and at their request he told the tale of old.

Tha Ap 421: Patthodanadāyaka

Ja 422: Cetiya Jātaka

“Injured Right can injure sorely”—The Master told this tale while dwelling at Jetavana, concerning Devadatta’s being swallowed up by the earth. On that day they were discussing in the Hall of Truth how Devadatta had spoken falsely, had sunk into the ground and become destined to the hell Avici. The Master came and, hearing the subject of their talk, said, “This is not the first time he sank into the earth,” and so he told the tale of old.

Tha Ap 422: Mañcadāyaka

Ja 423: Indriya Jātaka

“Who through desire”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning temptation by the wife of one’s former days.

Tha Ap 423: Sakiṁsammajjaka

Ja 424: Aditta Jātaka

“Whate’er a man can save”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning an incomparable gift. The incomparable gift must be described in full from the commentary on the Mahagovindasutta. On the day after that on which it had been given, they were talking of it in the Hall of Truth, “Sirs, the Kosala king after examination found the proper field of merit, and gave the great gift to the assembly with Buddha at its head.” The Master came and was told what the subject of their talk was as they sat together: he said, “Brethren, it is not strange that the king after examination has undertaken great gifts to the supreme field of merit: wise men of old also after examination gave such gifts,” and so he told a tale of old.

Tha Ap 424: Ekadussadāyaka

Ja 425: Atthana Jātaka

“Make Ganges calm”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a backsliding Brother. The Master asked him, “Is the story true, Brother, that you are backsliding?” “Yes, lord.” “What is the cause?” “The power of desire.” “Brother, womankind are ungrateful, treacherous, untrustworthy: of old wise men could not satisfy a woman, even by giving her a thousand pieces a day: and one day when she did not get the thousand pieces she had them taken by the neck and cast out: so ungrateful are womankind: do not fall into the power of desire for such a cause,” and so he told an old tale.

Tha Ap 425: Ekâsanadāyaka

Ja 426: Dipi Jātaka

“How fares it with you”—The Master told this tale while dwelling in Jetavana, concerning a certain she-goat.

Tha Ap 426: Sattakadambapupphiya

Ja 427: Gijjha Jātaka

“Formed of rough logs;”—This story the Master told at Jetavana concerning a, disobedient Brother.

Tha Ap 427: Koraṇḍapupphiya

Ja 428: Kosambi Jātaka

“Whene’er the Brotherhood”—This story the Master, while dwelling in the Ghosita park near Kosambi, told concerning certain quarrelsome folk at Kosambi.

Tha Ap 428: Ghatamaṇḍadāyaka

Ja 429: Mahasuka Jātaka

“Wherever fruitful trees”—This story the Master dwelling at Jetavana told concerning a certain Brother. The story goes that he lived in a forest near a border village in the Kosala country, and received instruction in forms of meditation from the Master.

Tha Ap 429: Ekadhammasavanīya

Ja 430: Cullasuka Jātaka

“Lo! countless trees”—This story the Master dwelling at Jetavana told concerning the Veranja section. When the Master after passing the rainy season at Veranja in due course arrived at Savatthi, the Brethren in the Hall of Truth raised a discussion saying, “Sirs, a Tathagata, a delicately nurtured kshatriya and Buddha, though possessed of supernatural powers, at the invitation of a brahmin of Veranja stayed three months with him, and when owing to the temptation of Mara he failed to receive an alms at the hands of the brahmin, even for a single day, he gave up all covetous ways, and keeping in the same place for three months lived on water and a modicum of the ground flour of roots. [4951 Oh the contented nature of Tathagatas!” When the Master came and on inquiry learned the nature of their discussion he said, “It is no marvel, Brethren, that a Tathagata now has lost all covetousness, seeing that formerly when born in an animal form he forsook covetousness.” And hereupon he told a story of the past. The whole story is now to be related in detail in exactly the same way as in the preceding tale.