In the present two persons of high rank are always arguing with each other, and not even the king can prevent them. The Buddha tells a story of how a monkey attacked a turtle and was bitten in return, and how the Bodhisatta persuaded the turtle to let the monkey go.

Tattha, {2.360} ko nu uddhitabhatto vā, ti
Herein, who is that with a pile of food,

ko nu esa vaḍḍhitabhatto viya, ekaṁ vaḍḍhitabhattaṁ,
who is this, like one with a mass of food, one mass of food,

bhattapūrapātiṁ hatthehi gahetvā viya, ko nu eso āgacchatī, ti attho.
like one who grabbed with the hand a bowlful of food, who is this coming, this is the meaning.

Pūrahattho va brāhmaṇo ti,
Like a brahmin with a handful,

Kattikamāse vācanakaṁ labhitvā pūrahattho brāhmaṇo viya ca,
like a brahmin with his hands full, who received an invitation to a recital This would be a recital of the Vedas, after which the brahmins would receive gifts. in the month of Kattika,

ko nu kho eso ti vānaraṁ sandhāya vadati.
who is this, is said in regard to the monkey.

Kahaṁ nu bhikkhaṁ acarī ti?
Where did you go for alms?

Bho vānara, kasmiṁ padese ajja tvaṁ bhikkhaṁ acari?
Dear monkey, in what place today did you go for alms?

Kaṁ saddhaṁ upasaṅkamī ti?
What funeral did you attend?

Kataraṁ nāma pubbapete uddissa kataṁ saddhabhattaṁ,
Which of the many funeral feasts offered for the departed,

kataraṁ vā saddhaṁ puggalaṁ, tvaṁ upasaṅkami?
which of the many funerals for a person, did you attend?

Kuto te ayaṁ deyyadhammo laddho, ti dīpeti.
Where was this gift given to you, this is the explanation.

Tattha, ahaṁ kapismi’ dummedho ti,
In this connection, I am a foolish monkey,

bhaddaṁ te, ahaṁ asmi dummedho capalacitto makkaṭo.
bless you, I am a foolish, fickle-minded, monkey.

Anāmāsāni āmasin-ti anāmasitabbaṭṭhānāni āmasiṁ.
Having touched the untouchable means having touched that thing which should not be touched.

Tvaṁ maṁ mocaya, bhaddaṁ te ti,
If you release me, bless you,

tvaṁ dayālu anukampako maṁ imamhā dukkhā mocehi,
if you, having sympathy and compassion, release me from this suffering,

bhaddaṁ te hotu.
bless you.

Mutto gaccheyya pabbatan-ti,
Free, I’ll go to the mountain,

sohaṁ tavānubhāvena imamhā byasanā mutto,
I, through your power, freed from this disaster,

pabbatam-eva gaccheyyaṁ,
will go to the mountain,

na te puna cakkhupathe attānaṁ dasseyyan-ti.
and will never again show myself within your range of sight.

Tassattho {2.361}: kacchapā nāma Kassapagottā honti,
This is the meaning: turtles is a name for the Kassapa clan,

makkaṭā Koṇḍaññagottā,
monkeys are the Koṇḍañña clan,

Kassapakoṇḍaññānañ-ca aññamaññaṁ āvāhavivāhasambandho atthi.
the Kassapas and the Koṇḍaññas are connected through give and take in marriage.

Addhā tayidaṁ lolena dussīlamakkaṭena tayā saddhiṁ,
Surely you, together with this greedy immoral monkey,

tayā ca dussīlena iminā makkaṭena saddhiṁ,
you together with this immoral monkey,

gottasadisatāsaṅkhātassa methunadhammassa anucchavikaṁ,
it is not proper that you have intercourse with someone reckoned as from the same clan,

dussīlyakammasaṅkhātam-pi methunakaṁ kataṁ,
having intercourse is reckoned as an immoral deed,

tasmā muñca, Kassapa, Koṇḍaññan-ti.
therefore, Kassapa, free up Koṇḍañña.

 

last updated: November 2022