Ja 184 Giridantajātaka
The Story about (the Horse Trainer) Giridanta
In the present a monk ordained under the Buddha is easily persuaded to partake of Devadatta’s good food, rather than go on almsround. He is brought to the Buddha who tells a story about king Sāma’s war-horse called Paṇḍava who imitated his lame trainer named Giridatta. When a fit trainer was brought for him he stopped being lame himself.
1. Dūsito Giridattena, hayo Sāmassa Paṇḍavo,
Corrupted by Giridatta, (king) Sāma’s horse (called) Paṇḍava,
Porāṇaṁ pakatiṁ hitvā, tassevānuvidhiyyatī ti.
Abandoning his previous nature, he follows (his trainer).
Tattha,
In this connection, Sāma’s horse means king Sāma’s state horse.
Porāṇaṁ pakatiṁ hitvā ti,
Abandoning his former nature,
attano porāṇapakatiṁ siṅgārabhāvaṁ pahāya.
putting aside his own elegant, former nature.
Anuvidhiyyatī ti anusikkhati.
He follows means he does likewise.
2. Sace ca tanujo poso, sikharākārakappito,
If a man, a kinsman, provided with a good disposition,
Ānane naṁ gahetvāna, maṇḍale parivattaye,
Having taken him by the bit, guides him around the enclosure,
Khippam-eva pahantvāna, tassevānuvidhiyyatī ti.
Quickly abandoning (his limping), he follows (the trainer).
Tattha,
In this connection, a kinsman means his brother.
Anurūpaṁ jāto hi anujo, tassa anujo tanujo.
Being of similar birth he is a brother, his brother (or) kinsman (is said).
Idaṁ vuttaṁ hoti:
This is what is said:
Sace hi, mahārāja, tassa siṅgārassa ācārasampannassa assassa,
If, great king, the horse has elegance and a virtuous manner,
anurūpaṁ jāto siṅgāro ācārasampanno poso.
it is suitable that he is a man born with elegance and possesses a virtuous manner.
Sikharākārakappito ti,
Provided with a good disposition,
sikharena sundarena ākārena, kappitakesamassu,
having a good, beautiful manner, with trimmed hair and beard,
taṁ assaṁ ānane gahetvā,
having taken that horse by the bit,
assamaṇḍale parivatteyya,
he would guide him around the horses’ ring,
khippam-evesa taṁ khañjabhāvaṁ pahāya:
quickly abandoning the limping state,
“Ayaṁ siṅgāro ācārasampanno assagopako maṁ sikkhāpetī” ti.
thinking: “This elegant and virtuous groom will train me.”
Saññāya khippam-eva tassa anuvidhiyyati, anusikkhissati,
Through perceiving (this) he quickly follows him, he does likewise,
pakatibhāve yeva ṭhassatī, ti attho.
he will surely remain in that natural state, this is the meaning.