Jātaka Tales 413

This verse is not included in this edition.

Dhūmakāri-Jātaka

“The righteous king,” ete—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-comers who were in favour would do so; and the new-comers 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-comers,” and so, at the king’s request, he told an old tale.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Once upon a time in the city of Indapattana, in the kingdom of the Kurus, a king was reigning named Dhanajfijaya, of the race of Yudhitthila. The Bodhisatta was born in the house of his family priest. When he grew up, he learned all the arts at Takkasila. He returned to Indapattana, and at his father’s death he became family priest to the king and his counsellor in things temporal and spiritual. His name was called Vidhirapandita.

This verse is not included in this edition.

a. Wt, 16

This verse is not included in this edition.

King Dhanafijaya disregarded his old soldiers and showed favour to new-comers, He went to fight in a disturbed frontier province: but neither his old warriors nor the new-comers would fight, each thinking the other party would see to the matter. The king was defeated. On his return to Indapattana he reflected that his defeat was due to the favour he had shown to new-comers. One day he thought, “Am I the only king who has ever been defeated through favour shown to new-comers, or have others had the same fate before? I will ask Vidhirapandita.” So he put the question to Vidhtrapandita when he came to the king’s levee.

This verse is not included in this edition.

The Master, declaring the reason of his question, spoke half a stanza:

Dhūmakārijātaka

“Rājā apucchi vidhuraṁ, dhammakāmo yudhiṭṭhilo; Api brāhmaṇa jānāsi, ko eko bahu socati”.

The righteous king Yudhitthila once asked Vidhira wise, “Brahmin, dost know in whose lone heart much bitter sorrow lies”

This verse is not included in this edition.

Hearing him, the Bodhisatta said, “Great king, your sorrow is but a trifling sorrow. Of old, a brahmin goatherd, named Dhimakari, took a great flock of goats, and making a pen in the forest kept them there: he had a smoking fire and lived on milk and the like, tending his goats. Seeing some deer of golden hue who had come, he felt a love for them, and disregarding his goats he paid the honour due to them to the deer. In the autumn the deer moved away to the Himalaya: his goats were dead and the deer gone from his sight: so for sorrow he took jaundice and died. He paid honour to new-comers and perished, having sorrow and misery a hundred, a thousand times more than you.” Bringing forward this instance, he said,

“Brāhmaṇo ajayūthena, pahūtedho vane vasaṁ; Dhūmaṁ akāsi vāseṭṭho, rattindivamatandito.

A brahmin with a flock of goats, of high Vasittha’s race, Kept smoking fire by night and day in forest dwelling-place.

Tassa taṁ dhūmagandhena, sarabhā makasaḍḍitā; Vassāvāsaṁ upāgacchuṁ, dhūmakārissa santike.

Smelling the smoke, a herd of deer, by gnats sore pestered, come To find a dwelling for the rains near Dhimakari’s home.

Sarabhesu manaṁ katvā, ajā so nāvabujjhatha; Āgacchantī vajantī vā, tassa tā vinasuṁ ajā.

The deer have all attention now; his goats receive no care, They come and go untended all, and so they perish there.

Sarabhā sarade kāle, pahīnamakase vane; Pāvisuṁ giriduggāni, nadīnaṁ pabhavāni ca.

But now the gnats have left the wood, the autumn’s clear of rain: The deer must seek the mountain-heights and river-springs again.

Sarabhe ca gate disvā, ajā ca vibhavaṁ gatā; Kiso ca vivaṇṇo cāsi, paṇḍurogī ca brāhmaṇo.

The brahmin sees the deer are gone and all his goats are dead: Jaundice attacks him worn with grief, and all his colour’s fled.

Evaṁ yo saṁ niraṅkatvā, āgantuṁ kurute piyaṁ; So eko bahu socati, dhūmakārīva brāhmaṇo”ti.

So he who disregards his own, and calls a stranger dear, Like Dhimakari, mourns alone with many a bitter tear.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Such was the tale told by the Great Being to console the king. The king was comforted and pleased, and gave him much wealth. From that time onward he showed favour to his own people, and doing deeds of charity and virtue, he became destined for heaven.

This verse is not included in this edition.

After the lesson, the Master identified the Birth: “At that time the Kuru king was Ananda, Dhiimakari was Pasenadi, king of Kosala, and Vidhtrapandita was myself.”