Ja 83 Kālakaṇṇijātaka
The Story about the Unlucky Man
In the present Anāthapiṇḍika has a childhood friend with the unfortunate name Kāḷakaṇṇi (Unlucky). He is urged to dismiss him, but refuses to, saying it is only a name. Later the friend does a great service protecting his property. The Buddha tells how the same things played out in a previous life also.
1. Mitto have sattapadena hoti,
He is certainly a friend with seven steps,
Sahāyo pana dvādasakena hoti,
But with twelve he is a companion true,
Māsaḍḍhamāsena ca ñāti hoti,
With a month or a fortnight he is (like) kin,
Tat-uttariṁ attasamo pi hoti,
More than that he is just the same as my self,
Sohaṁ kathaṁ, attasukhassa hetu,
How would I, the cause of my own happiness,
Cirasanthutaṁ Kāḷakaṇṇiṁ jaheyyan-ti?
Abandon my long time friend Kāḷakaṇṇi?
Tattha,
In this connection, certainly, is merely a particle. Meaning it is inserted m.c., but it seems to me it adds emphasis, hence the translation.
Mettāyatī ti mitto, mettaṁ paccupaṭṭhāpeti, sinehaṁ karotī ti attho.
Being friendly he is a friend, he establishes friendliness, he is loving, this is the meaning.
So panesa sattapadena hoti,
But with seven steps,
ekato sattapadavītihāragamanamattena hotī, ti attho.
he takes at least seven strides on his journey as (though) one, this is the meaning.
Sahāyo pana dvādasakena hotī ti,
But with twelve he is a companion true,
sabbakiccāni ekato karaṇavasena,
because of doing all of his duties together,
sabbiriyāpathesu saha gacchatī, ti sahāyo.
he goes together in all postures, thus he is a companion. There is a play of words between saha, together, and sahāyo, a companion.
So panesa dvādasakena hoti, dvādasāhaṁ ekato nivāsena hotī, ti attho.
But with twelve, because of living together for twelve days, this is the meaning.
Māsaḍḍhamāsena cā ti māsena vā aḍḍhamāsena vā.
With a month or a fortnight means with a month or with a fortnight.
Ñāti hotī ti ñātisamo hoti.
He is (like) kin means he is like kin.
Tat-uttarin-ti tato uttariṁ ekato vāsena attasamo pi hoti yeva.
More than that means because of dwelling as one for more than that he is just the same as my self.
Jaheyyan-ti: “Evarūpaṁ sahāyaṁ kathaṁ jaheyyan?”-ti
Would ... abandon means: “How would I abandon such a companion?”
Mittassa guṇaṁ kathesi.
He spoke of his friend’s virtue.
Tato paṭṭhāya puna koci tassa antare vattā, nāma nāhosī ti.
Again from the start, whatever his internal behaviour, it is not (because of) his name.