Ja 67 The Story about the Lap
(Ucchaṅgajātaka)
In the present three men are picked up suspected of robbery. They are the husband, son and brother of the same woman. When brought before the king she chooses to save her brother because a husband and a son can be easily replaced, and in this way she manages to save all three. The Buddha then tells how a similar thing happened in a past life (full story).
1. Ucchaṅge deva me putto, pathe dhāvantiyā pati,
Tañ-ca desaṁ na passāmi yato sodariyam-ānaye ti.
King, I can bring a son to my lap, and a husband from the path, but I don’t see the country from which I can bring back a brother.
In this connection, king, I can bring a son to my lap, king, I can bring a son to my lap. Just as, after going to the wilderness, making a bag, The word commentary plays on the two meaning of ucchaṅga, as the lap, and as a bag. and picking vegetables, in that bag where the vegetables were thrown it is certainly easy to find, so for a woman it is easy to find a son, like finding vegetables in a bag. Because of this she said: king, I can bring a son to my lap.
A husband from the path, having mounted a path, going along by herself, a woman easily makes him a husband of one she has seen. Because of this: a husband from the path is said.
But I don’t see the country from which I can bring back a brother, since I have no mother and father, therefore I do not see any other place now that can be reckoned as a mother’s womb. When born from the same stomach he is reckoned a brother, Sa-udariya (same-womber) is used to explain the Pāḷi form sodariya, meaning brother. and a brother should be brought home. Therefore you must give me my brother.