Ja 170 Kakaṇṭakajātaka
The Story about (the Proud) Chameleon

In the past This is an extract from Ja 542 Umaṅgajātaka. a chameleon shows his respect to a king and is amply rewarded, but when one day he is given a coin he wears it with pride, and the king becomes angry. King Videha asks the wise man Mahosadha to explain it.

−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑−¦¦−⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka bhavipulā
1. Nāyaṁ pure unnamati toraṇagge kakaṇṭako,
Previously this chameleon on the archway was not proud,

⏑−⏑⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Mahosadha vijānāhi, kena thaddho kakaṇṭako ti.
Explain Mahosadha, why is that chameleon (now) haughty.

Tattha, {6.346} unnamatī ti,
In this connection, proud,

yathā ajja anotaritvā,
just as (the chameleon) not having descended today,

toraṇagge yeva sīsaṁ cālento, unnamati,
shaking his head on the archway, is proud,

evaṁ pure na unnamati.
so previously he was not proud.

Kena thaddho ti,
Why is (that chameleon now) haughty,

kena kāraṇena thaddhabhāvaṁ āpanno ti?
what is the reason he is filled with haughtiness?

⏑−⏑−¦−−−−¦¦−⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka mavipulā
2. Aladdhapubbaṁ laddhāna, aḍḍhamāsaṁ kakaṇṭako,
The chameleon got what he didn’t have before, a small coin,

⏑⏑−⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Atimaññati rājānaṁ Vedehaṁ Mithilaggahan-ti.
He despises the king of Videha of the house of Mithilā.

[There is no word commentary to this verse.]

 

last updated: August 2022