Ja 217 The Story about (Daughter) Seggu
(Seggujātaka)
In the present a layman doesn’t visit the Buddha for a long time while arranging his daughter’s marriage. The Buddha tells a story of a greengrocer in the past who tested his daughter Seggu before giving her in marriage to a suitable young man. Cf. Ja 102 Paṇṇikajātaka.
1. Sabbo loko attamano ahosi,
Akovidā gāmadhammassa, Seggu,
Komāri ko nāma tavajja dhammo?
Yaṁ tvaṁ gahitā, pavane parodasī ti.
All the world has delight in lovemaking, you are unskilled in village ways, Seggu, child, how is this thing known to you today? Having grabbed you, you cry out in the woods.
In this connection, all the world has delight in lovemaking, dear, the whole world of beings has delight in sexual intercourse.
You are unskilled in village ways, Seggu, Seggu, this is her name. But through this, dear Seggu, you are unskilled in village ways, you are unskilled in the ways of the village, the ways of the low caste, this is what is said.
Child, how is this thing known to you today? Dear child, how is this practice known to you today?
Having grabbed you, you cry out in the woods, because of wanting sexual intercourse with you in the woods, having grabbed you by the hand, you cry out, and do not agree, is this your practice, what kind of young woman are you? he asks.
2. Yo dukkhaphuṭṭhāya bhaveyya tāṇaṁ, This verse, and the word commentary, are a repetition of Ja 102 Paṇṇikajātaka.
So me pitā, dubbhi vane karoti,
Sā kassa kandāmi vanassa majjhe?
Yo tāyitā, so sahasaṁ karotī ti.
The one who should shelter me from suffering, my father, is treacherous inside the woods, to whom will I cry out amidst the woods? he who protects me, offers violence.
In this connection, the one who should shelter me from suffering means the one who should be established as a protector, a strong protector, from feeling suffering in the body and mind.
My father, is treacherous inside the woods means my father who protects against suffering, in the woods, such a one does this deed like one who is teacherous to his friends, thinking to transgress against his own daughter by birth, this is the meaning.
To whom will I cry out means to whom will I wail? Who will be my support? this is the explanation.
He who protects me, offers violence means he who is my protector, guarding me, worthy to be my helper, my father, does a deed of violence, this is the meaning.