Ja 261 Padumajātaka
The Story about (Begging for) Lotuses

In the present Ven. Ānanda helps some monks get lotus flowers to worship the Bodhi tree at Sāvatthi. The Buddha then tells a story of how some people had tried to cheat the caretaker of a lotus tank, and were rebuffed. The one who spoke honestly, however, was given flowers.

⏑−−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
1. Yathā kesā ca massū ca, chinnaṁ chinnaṁ virūhati,
Just like head hair and beard which are cut off, grow back,

−−⏑⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦⏑⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Evaṁ ruhatu te nāsā, padumaṁ dehi yācito ti.
So will your nose grow, when begged, give us a lotus.

[There is no word commentary to this verse.]

⏑−−⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
2. Yathā sāradikaṁ bījaṁ khette vuttaṁ virūhati,
Just as in the autumn seeds sewn in the field grow,

−−⏑⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦⏑⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Evaṁ ruhatu te nāsā, padumaṁ dehi yācito ti.
So will your nose grow, when begged give us a lotus.

Tattha, {2.322} sāradikan-ti,
In this connection, in the autumn,

saradasamaye gahetvā, nikkhittaṁ sārasampannaṁ bījaṁ.
having taken them in the autumn time, and planted the seed endowed with its life-essence.

⏑−⏑⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦⏑⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
3. Ubho pi palapantete, api padmāni dassati,
Both of these talk nonsense, though he give lotuses,

−−−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Vajjuṁ vā te na vā vajjuṁ, natthi nāsāya rūhanā,
Whether they say or don’t say, there is no nose grown,

−⏑−⏑¦⏑⏑−−¦¦⏑−−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka savipulā
Dehi samma padumāni, ahaṁ yācāmi yācito ti.
Friend, give me lotuses, I am begging this ask.

Tattha, ubho pi palapantete ti ete dve pi musā vadanti.
In this connection, both of these talk nonsense means these two speak falsely.

Api padmānī ti:
Though lotuses,

“Api nāma no padumāni dassatī” ti, cintetvā evaṁ vadanti.
thinking: “Though he gives what are known as lotuses,” so they speak.

Vajjuṁ vā {2.323} te na vā vajjun-ti:
Whether they say or don’t say,

“Tava nāsā ruhatū” ti evaṁ vadeyyuṁ vā na vā vadeyyuṁ,
so should they say or not say this: “Your nose will grow,”

etesaṁ vacanaṁ appamāṇaṁ,
these words are not measured,

sabbatthāpi natthi nāsāya ruhanā,
in all cases there is no growing of a nose,

ahaṁ pana te nāsaṁ paṭicca na kiñci vadāmi,
but I say nothing regarding your nose,

kevalaṁ yācāmi, tassa me dehi, samma, padumāni yācito ti.
I beg them all, give it to me, friend, when asked for lotuses.

 

last updated: November 2022