Ja 19 The Birth Story about the Feasts Following a Vow (1s)

Ja 19 Āyācitabhattajātaka
The Birth Story about the Feasts Following a Vow (1s)

In the present the monks hear about a tradition of making a sacrifice following a journey, after making a vow to the gods, and ask the Buddha if any good can come of it. The Buddha replies that it cannot, and tells a story of someone who wanted to make a sacrifice to a Tree Devatā, only to be reproved by that very same god.

The Bodhisatta = Tree Devatā (Rukkhadevatā).

Keywords: Restraint, Delusion, Devas.

“If you would be released after dying.” {1.169} This story was told by the Teacher while at Jetavana about the offering of a sacrifice under vow to gods. Tradition says that in those days folk when going a journey on business, used to slay living creatures and offer them as a sacrifice to gods, and set out on their way, after making this vow, “If we come safely back with a profit, we will give you another sacrifice.” And when they did come safely back with a profit, the idea that this was all due to gods made them slay a number of living creatures and offer them up as a sacrifice to obtain a release from their vow.

When the monks became aware of this, they asked the Fortunate One, saying: “Can there be any good in this, sir?”

The Fortunate One told this story of the past.

In the past in the Kāsi country the householder of a certain little village had promised a sacrifice to the Devatā of a banyan tree which stood at the entrance to the village. Afterwards when he returned, he slew a number [1.54] of creatures and betook himself to the tree to get released from his vow. But the Tree Devatā, standing in the fork of its tree, repeated this verse:

In this connection, if you would be released after dying, dear fellow, if you would be released, if you desire release.

Released after dying, just as you do not want to be bound in the after life, so you must release others now.

Releasing surely binds you, This is very elliptic and sounds awkward in English, but it means releasing another creature from its life. We can compare the English phrase: relieving someone of life. just as, having slain a living being, you wish to be released, so surely releasing in this way binds you through a wicked deed.

Therefore the wise do not release in this way, whatever wise people there are promise not to release in this way.

What is the reason? Such release is a fool’s bondage, having killed these living beings, what is called release is only a fool’s bondage, this is the Dhamma he taught.

Beginning from then, such people, putting aside deeds such as killing living beings, and living according to Dhamma, filled up the city of the Devas.

Thenceforth, men refrained from such taking of life, and by walking in righteousness thronged thereafter the city of the Devas.