Ja 183 Vālodakajātaka The introductory story is varied in Dhp-a VI.8.
The Birth Story about (the Fibrous) Drink (2s)

In the present many householders who attained the paths and fruits live with the Buddha, and attend his meals. These behave properly, but their attendants are loud and rude. The Buddha tells a story of 500 thoroughbreds who were given strong drink but maintained their dignity, and 500 donkeys who, being given the leftovers of that drink, became unruly.

The Bodhisatta = the wise minister (paṇḍitāmacca),
Ānanda = the king (of Benares) (rājā),
the laymen = the 500 Sindh horses (pañcasatā sindhavā),
the poor boys = the 500 donkeys (pañcasatā gadrabhā).

Past Compare: Vin Pār (3.1), Dhp-a VI.8 Pañcasatabhikkhu.

Keywords: Nobility, Sobreity, Animals.

“This sorry draught.” This story the Teacher told while at Jetavana, about five hundred persons who ate leftovers.

At Sāvatthi, we learn, were five hundred persons who had left the stumbling-block of a worldly life to their sons and daughters, {2.96} and lived all listening to the Teacher’s teaching. Of these, some were in the First Path, some in the Second, some in the Third, all had embraced this dispensation. They that invited the Teacher invited these also. But they had five hundred attendants waiting upon them, to bring them toothbrushes, mouth-water, and garlands of flowers; these lads used to eat their leftovers. After their meal, and a nap, they used to run down to the Aciravatī, and on the river bank they would wrestle like very Mallians, The Mallians were a tribe of professional wrestlers. shouting all the time. But the five hundred lay brethren were quiet, made very little noise, courted solitude. [2.66]

The Teacher happened to hear the attendants shouting. “What is that noise, Ānanda?” he asked. “The attendants, who eat the leftovers,” was the reply. The Teacher said: “Ānanda, this is not the only time these attendants have fed on leftovers, and made a great noise after it; they used to do the same in the olden days; and then too these lay brethren were just as quiet as they are now.” So saying, at his request, the Teacher told a story of the past.

In the past, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of one of his courtiers, and became the king’s adviser in all things both temporal and spiritual. Word came to the king of a revolt on the frontier. He ordered five hundred chargers to be got ready, and an army complete in its four parts. Elephants, horse, chariots, infantry. With this he set out, and quelled the rising, after which he returned to Benares.

When he came home, he gave order, “As the horses are tired, let them have some juicy food, some grape juice to drink.” The steeds took this delicious drink, then retired to their stables and stood quietly each in his stall.

But there was a mass of leavings, with nearly all the goodness squeezed out of it. The keepers asked the king what to do with that. “Knead it up with water,” was his command, “strain through a towel, and give it to the donkeys who carry the horses’ provender.” This wretched stuff the donkeys drank up. It maddened them, and they galloped about the palace yard braying loudly.

From an open window the king saw the Bodhisatta, and called out to him. {2.97} “Look there! How mad these donkeys are from that sorry drink! How they bray, how they caper! But those fine thoroughbreds that drank the strong liquor, they make no noise; they are perfectly quiet, and jump not at all. What is the meaning of this?” and he repeated the first verse:

1. Vālodakaṁ apparasaṁ nihīnaṁ,
Pitvā mado jāyati gadrabhānaṁ.
Imañ-ca pitvāna rasaṁ paṇītaṁ
Mado na sañjāyati sindhavānan-ti.

This fibrous water, tasteless, inferior, drinking it, the donkeys became tipsy. Whereas after drinking this fine liquor the thoroughbreds did not become tipsy.

In this connection, this fibrous water means filtered water with fiber.

Inferior means it is inferior with the characteristic of having an inferior taste.

Did not become means the thoroughbreds did not become tipsy. What indeed is the reason? he asks.

And the Bodhisatta explained the matter in the second verse:

Appaṁ pivitvāna nihīnajacco
So majjatī tena janinda puṭṭho.
Dhorayhasīlī ca, kulamhi jāto,
Na majjatī aggarasaṁ pivitvā ti.

Having drunk just a little the low man taking it becomes drunk, leader of men. The patient one, born in good family, drinking the finest drink doesn’t get drunk.

In this connection, taking that ... leader of men, leader of men, supreme king, he who is a low man, having the condition of being a lowborn man by taking that becomes drunk, becomes very drunk.

The patient one, the patient one, endowed with the behaviour of one who bears the burden, of thoroughbred birth.

The finest drink, firstly, having taken a drink of tasty wine, even then he does not get drunk.

When the king had listened to the Bodhisatta’s answer, he had the donkeys driven out of his courtyard. Then, abiding by the Bodhisatta’s [2.67] advice, he gave alms and did good until he passed away to fare according to his deeds.

When this discourse was ended, the Teacher identified the Jātaka as follows, “At that time these attendants were the five hundred asses, these lay brethren were the five hundred thoroughbreds, Ānanda was the king, and the wise courtier was I myself.”

 

last updated: November 2024