Jātaka Tales 424

This verse is not included in this edition.

Āditta-Jātaka

“Whateer a man can save,” etc.—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.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Once upon a time a king named Bharata reigned at Roruva in the kingdom of Sovira. He practised the ten royal virtues, won the people by the four elements of popularity, stood to the multitude like father and mother and gave great gifts to the poor, the wayfarers, the beggars, the suitors and the like. His chief queen Samuddavijaya was wise and full of knowledge. One day he looked round his alms-hall and thought, ‘My alms are devoured by worthless greedy people: I don’t like this: I should like to give alms to the virtuous paccekabuddhas who deserve the best of gifts: they live in the Himalaya region: who will bring them here on my invitation and whom shall I send on this errand” He spoke to the queen, who said, “O king, be not concerned: sending flowers by the force of our giving suitable things, and of our virtue and truthfulness, we will invite the paccekabuddhas, and when they come we will give them gifts with all things requisite.” The king agreed. He made proclamation by drum that all the townspeople should undertake to keep the precepts; he himself with his household undertook all the duties for the holy days and gave great gifts in charity. He had a gold box brought, full of jasmine flowers, came down from his palace and stood in the royal courtyard, There prostrating himself on the ground with the five contacts, he saluted towards the eastern quarter and threw seven handfuls of flowers, with the words, “‘I salute the saints in the eastern quarter: if there is any merit in us, shew compassion on us and receive our alms.” As there are no paccekabuddhas in the eastern quarter, they did not come next day. On the second day he paid respects to the south quarter: but none came from thence. On the third day he paid respects to the west quarter, but none came. On the fourth day he paid respects to the north quarter, and after paying respects he threw seven handfuls of flowers with the words, “May the paccekabuddhas who live in the north district of Himalaya receive our alms.” The flowers went and fell on five hundred paccekabuddhas in the Nandamula cave. On reflection they understood that the king had invited them; so they called seven of their number and said, “Sirs, the king invites you; shew him favour.” These paccekabuddhas came through the air and lighted at the king’s gate. Seeing them the king saluted them with delight, made them come up into the palace, shewed them great honour and gave them gifts. After the meal he asked them for next day and so on until the fifth day, feeding them for six days: on the seventh day he made ready a gift with all the requisites, arranged beds and chairs inlaid with gold, and set before the seven paccekabuddhas sets of three robes and all other things used by holy men. The king and queen formally offered these things to them after their meal, and stood in respectful salutation. To express their thanks the Elder of the assembly spoke two stanzas:—

Ādittajātaka

“Ādittasmiṁ agārasmiṁ, yaṁ nīharati bhājanaṁ; Taṁ tassa hoti atthāya, no ca yaṁ tattha ḍayhati.

Whate’er a man can save from flames that burn his dwelling down, Not what is left to be consumed, will still remain his own.

Evamādīpito loko, jarāya maraṇena ca; Nīharetheva dānena, dinnaṁ hoti sunīhataṁ”.

The world’s on fire, decay and death are there the flame to feed; Save what you can by charity, a gift is saved indeed.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Thus expressing thanks the Elder admonished the king to be diligent in virtue: then he flew up in the air, straight through the peaked roof of the palace and lighted in the Nandamila cave: along with him all the requisites that had been given him flew up and lighted in the cave: and the bodies of the king and queen became full of joy. After his departure, the other six also expressed thanks in a stanza each:—

“Yo dhammaladdhassa dadāti dānaṁ, Uṭṭhānaviriyādhigatassa jantu; Atikkamma so vetaraṇiṁ yamassa, Dibbāni ṭhānāni upeti macco.

He who gives to righteous men, Strong in holy energy, Crosses Yama’s flood, and then Gains a dwelling in the sky.

Dānañca yuddhañca samānamāhu, Appāpi santā bahuke jinanti; Appampi ce saddahāno dadāti, Teneva so hoti sukhī parattha.

Like to war is charity: Hosts may flee before a few: Give a little piously: Bliss hereafter is your due.

Viceyya dānaṁ sugatappasatthaṁ, Ye dakkhiṇeyyā idha jīvaloke; Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni, Bījāni vuttāni yathā sukhette.

Prudent givers please the Lord, Worthily they spend their toil. Rich the fruit their gifts afford, Like a seed in fertile soil.

Yo pāṇabhūtāni aheṭhayaṁ caraṁ, Parūpavādā na karoti pāpaṁ; Bhīruṁ pasaṁsanti na tattha sūraṁ, Bhayā hi santo na karonti pāpaṁ.

They who never rudely speak, Wrong to living things abjure: Men may call them timid, weak: For’tis fear that keeps them pure.

Hīnena brahmacariyena, khattiye upapajjati; Majjhimena ca devattaṁ, uttamena visujjhati.

Lower duties win for man, reborn on earth, a princely fate, Middle duties win them heaven, highest win the Purest State.

Addhā hi dānaṁ bahudhā pasatthaṁ, Dānā ca kho dhammapadaṁva seyyo; Pubbeva hi pubbatareva santo, Nibbānamevajjhagamuṁ sapaññā”ti.

Charity is blest indeed, Yet the Law gains higher meed: Ages old and late attest, Thus the wise have reached their Rest.

This verse is not included in this edition.

So they also went with the requisites given them.

This verse is not included in this edition.

The seventh paccekabuddha in his thanks praised the eternal nirvana to the king, and admonishing him carefully went to his abode as has been. said. The king and queen gave gifts all their lives and passed fully through the path to heaven.

This verse is not included in this edition.

After the lesson, the Master said, “So wise men of old gave gifts with discrimination,” and identified the Birth: “At that time the paccekabuddha reached nirvana, Samuddavijaya was the mother of Rahula, and the king Bharata was myself.”