Ja 47 Vāruṇijātaka
The Story about Spoiling the Drinks
In the present an apprentice at a tavern notices his clients taking salt for an appetizer, and decides to salt the liquor, thereby driving them away. The Buddha tells how he did the exact same thing in a past life when he was called Koṇḍañña.
1. Na ve anatthakusalena atthacariyā sukhāvahā,
Not with one skilled in harm does the one who lives well find happiness,
Hāpeti atthaṁ dummedho, Koṇḍañño vāruṇiṁ yathā ti.
The unintelligent ruins what is good, just like Koṇḍañña’s liquor.
Tattha,
In this connection, just like Koṇḍañña’s liquor means
yathā ayaṁ Koṇḍaññanāmako antevāsiko:
like this apprectice named Koṇḍañña, thinking:
“Atthaṁ karissāmī” ti, loṇaṁ pakkhipitvā,
“I will create benefit,” after pouring the salt,
vāruṇiṁ hāpesi parihāpesi vināsesi.
he ruined, wasted, destroyed, the liquor.
Evaṁ sabbo pi anatthakusalo atthaṁ hāpetī ti.
Thus everyone skilled in loss neglects benefit.