Ja 198 The Story about (the Parrot) Rādha
(Rādhajātaka)
In the present one monk is tempted to go back to the lay life by the sight of a woman in her finery. The Buddha tells a story of how two adopted parrots were asked to keep their eye on a brahmin’s wife when their master was away, how she did wrong, and killed one of the parrots called Poṭṭhapāda, when he questioned her about her behaviour.
1. Pavāsā āgato, tāta, idāni nacirāgato,
Kaccinnu, tāta, te mātā, na aññam-upasevatī ti?
I have come from living abroad, dear, now I came not long ago, I wonder, dear, your mother, does she not consort with another?
This is the meaning: I, dear Rādha, have come from living abroad, now I have come, not long ago, therefore without knowing the story, I ask you: “I wonder, dear, does your mother not consort with another man?”
2. Na kho panetaṁ subhaṇaṁ giraṁ saccupasaṁhitaṁ,
Sayetha Poṭṭhapādo va, mummure upakūthito ti. Upakūthito is m.c., the expected form is upakuthito, but this word with this prefix only occurs here, so it must be added m.c.
This is not a well-said utterance that is connected with truth, you should lie, like Poṭṭhapāda, who was baked on the hot ashes.
In this connection, utterance means a word.
But here this is the meaning: Dear, by a wise one an utterance connected with the truth, as it really is, a significant, sincere word, does not lead out, and is not well-said.
Speaking the truth does not lead out you should lie, like Poṭṭhapāda, who was baked on the hot ashes, just like Poṭṭhapāda lying on scorched ashes, you should lie in the same way.