J 280

{Sutta: J ii 391|J 280|J 280} {Vaṇṇanā: atta. J 280|atta. J 280}

280

Putadusaka-Jataka (Puṭadūsakajātakaṃ)

translated form Pali into English by

W.H.D. Rouse

edited by

E. B. Cowell

2013-2014

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- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -

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Putadusaka-Jataka.

280. PUṬA-DŪSAKA-JĀTAKA.

"No doubt the king," etc.

This story the Master told in Jetavana, about one who destroyed pottles. At Sāvatthi, we learn, a certain courtier invited the Buddha and his company, and made them sit in his park. [391] As he was distributing to them, during the meal, he said, "Let those who wish to walk about the park, do so." The Brothers walked about the park. At that time the gardener climbed up a tree which had leaves upon it, and said, taking hold of some of the large leaves, "This will do for flowers, this one for fruit," and making them into potties he dropt them to the foot of the tree. His little son destroyed each as soon as it fell. The Brothers told this to the Master. "Brothers," said the Master, "this is not the first time that this lad has destroyed pottles: he did it before." And he told them an old-world tale.

°° Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a certain family of Benares. When he grew up, and was living in the world as a householder, it happened that for some reason he went into a park, where a number of monkeys lived. The gardener was throwing down his pottles as we have described, and the chief of the monkeys was destroying them as they fell. The Bodhisatta, addressing him, said, "As the gardener drops his pottles, the monkey thinks he is trying to please him by tearing them up [203]," and repeated the first stanza:

[§_] No doubt the king of beasts is clever In pottle-making; he would never Destroy what's made with so much pother, Unless he meant to make another."

On hearing this the Monkey repeated the second stanza:

[§_] "Neither my father nor my mother Nor I myself could make another. What others make, we tear to pieces: The proper way of monkeys, this is!"

[392] And the Bodhisatta responded with the third:

[§_] If this is proper monkey nature, What's the improper way of such a creature! Be off--it does not matter whether You're proper or improper--both together!"

and with these words of blame he departed.

When the Master had ended this discourse, he identified the Birth: "At that time the monkey was the boy who has been destroying the potties; but the wise man was I myself."

Notes

203 .: Should we read, "... Kātukāmo ti maññe" ti?

Next: No. 281. Abbhantara-Jātaka

Provenance:

1897 W.H.D. Rouse, edited by Prof E. B. Cowell (Pali Text Sociaty)

Last revision: jb, 20 March 2014.

Edition based on the generous transcription of www.sacred-texts.com (J.B. Hare) and further completed and edited in regard of the original (pdf) and cross-links by ZzE (jb) and shared as Dhamma-Dana on ZzE with generous permission of PTS.

2013.

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How to cite this document (one suggested style): 'J 280 - Putadusaka-Jataka', translated by W.H.D. Rouse. Zugang zur Einsicht: edited by jb for Zugang zur Einsicht and republished 25. November 2013 by Zugang zur Einsicht on http://zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/kn/j06/j280_en.html ; retreived on:

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