Ja 255 Sukajātaka
The Birth Story about the (Greedy) Parrot (3s)
In the present one monk dies through overeating. The Buddha tells a story of a greedy parrot who, despite being warned against it, used to fly to an island to get mangoes, and one day drank too much mango juice and fell into the waters and died on his way back to land.
The Bodhisatta = the king of the parrots (sukarājā),
the monk who didn’t know the limit in food = the parrot king’s son (sukarājaputta).
Keywords: Greed, Gluttony, Animals, Birds.
“What time the bird.” This story the Teacher told while dwelling at Jetavana, about a monk who died of over-eating.
On his death, the monks assembled in the Dhamma Hall, and discussed his demerits in this fashion, “Friend, monk So-and-so was ignorant how much he could safely eat. So he ate more than he could digest, and died in consequence.” The Teacher entered, and asked what they talked of now as they sat together; and they told him. “Monks,” he said, “this is not the first time our friend died of surfeit; the same has happened before.” Then he told them a story.
In the past, when king Brahmadatta reigned over Benares, the Bodhisatta became a parrot, and dwelt in the Himālayas region. He was king over several thousands of his kind, who lived on the seaward side of the Himālayas; and one son was his. When his son grew up to be strong, the father parrot’s eyes became weak. The truth is, that parrots fly with great swiftness; wherefore when they be old it is the eye that weakens first. His son kept his parents in the nest, and would bring them food to feed them.
It happened one day that our young parrot went to the place where he found his food, and alighted upon a mountain-top. Thence he looked over the ocean, and beheld an island, in which was a mango grove full of sweet golden fruit. So next day, at the time of the fetching of food, he rose in the air and flew to this grove of mangoes, where he sucked the mango juice,
“My son,” said he, “this is a mango of such and such an island,” naming it. “Even so, father!” replied the young parrot. “Parrots that go there, my son, have not length of life,” he said. “Go not to that island again!” But the son obeyed him not, and went yet again.
Then one day it befell that he went as usual, and drank much of the mango juice. With a mango in his beak
The Teacher, having told this tale, after Fully Awakening, uttered the following verses:
1. Yāva so mattam-aññāsi bhojanasmiṁ vihaṅgamo,
Tāva addhānam-āpādi, mātarañ-ca aposayi.
The bird, who knew the measure in food, for as long as his lifetime lasted, supported his mother.
2. Yato ca kho bahutaraṁ bhojanaṁ ajjhavāhari,
Tato tattheva saṁsīdi, amattaññū hi so ahu.
But because of swallowing food excessively, then he sank down right there, not knowing the measure.
3. Tasmā mattaññutā sādhu bhojanasmiṁ, agiddhatā,
Amattaññū hi sīdanti, mattaññū ca na sīdare ti.
Therefore knowing the measure in food is good, being without greed, by not knowing the measure they sink, knowing it they do not sink.
In this connection, for as long means the bird, knowing the measure in food, for as long as his lifetime lasted.
As his lifetime lasted, means throughout the length of his lifetime, for as long as life is found.
Supported his mother, this is an abbreviated teaching, supported his mother and father, this is the meaning.
But because of means because at that time.
Swallowing food means swallowing mango juice.
Then (untranslated) means at that time.
He sank down right there means he plunged, sank down into the sea, and became food for fish.
Therefore knowing the measure in food is good, through not knowing the measure in food the parrot sank down into the sea and died, therefore being without what is reckoned as greed, and being in the state of knowing the measure in food is good, knowing the measure is good, this is the meaning. Or: With proper discernment he takes his food: “Not for sport, or for showing off, not for ornament, or for adornment, but only to maintain this body, and to carry on, to inhibit annoyance, and to assist in the spiritual life, and so I get rid of any old feeling, and do not produce any new feeling, and there will be support for me, being blameless, and living comfortably.”
Eating fresh and dry food, Thag. 982-983. he should not be over satiated, with belly unfilled, measured in food, the mindful monk should wander. Before having eaten four or five morsels you should drink water, this is enough for a resolute monk living comfortably.
For a person SN 1.3.13 Doṇapākasutta. who is always mindful, who knows the measure to receive in food, his painful feelings are diminished, he ages slowly, protecting his life.
Thus knowing the measure is also praised as good.
Like the child’s flesh Mil Kukkuṭaṅgapañha PTS 367. in the desert, or like the oiling of a wheel, See for instance SN 35.239 Rathopamasutta. so he takes his food, in order to carry on, and not from greed.
So lack of greed is also praised as good. But in the Pāḷi agiddhimā is written, In the mūla of Cst at present this reading is not found, but rather it has agiddhatā, as in the commentary, with a v.l. recorded of agiddhitā. The commentator evidently had access to readings we no longer see. I do not find the form agiddhamā, anywhere else either. but the commentarial reading is better.
By not knowing the measure they sink, those not knowing the measure in food, having done a wicked deed because of craving for tastes, they sink into one of the four downfalls.
Knowing it they do not sink, but those who know the measure in food, they, both in this very life and in the future, do not sink.
When the Teacher had ended this discourse, he declared the Truths at the conclusion of which many persons entered the First Path, or the Second, or Third, or Fourth, and identified the Jātaka, “At that time, the monk who had over-eaten was the young parrot, and the king of the parrots was I myself.”