🧚 Opening, part 13 · page 2

Having uttered this stanza, the Future Buddha arose and passed away according to his deeds.75 As for the carpenter, his kinsfolk did their duty by his body.76

Said the Teacher: “Thus, lay disciples, in a previous state of existence also they were the very men who, with the thought in their minds, ‘We’ll hit a mosquito,’ hit something very different.”77 Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “But the wise man who uttered the stanza and departed on that occasion was I myself.”78

_B. Girl and fly.79

Jātaka 45: i. 248-249.80

_Better an enemy.81 _ This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain slave-girl.82

A certain wealthy merchant, we are told, had a slave-girl.83 Where she was pounding rice, her old mother came in and lay down.84 Flies buzzed round her and ate her up, just as though they were piercing her with needles.85 She said to her daughter: “My dear, the flies are eating me up.86 Shoo them off!”87 “I’ll shoo them off!” replied the daughter.88 Raising her pestle aloft, intending to kill the flies, with the thought in her mind, “I’ll make way with them!” she struck her mother with the pestle and killed her.89 When she saw what she had done, she began to weep: “Mother!90 Mother!”91

They reported that incident to the merchant.92 The merchant had her body attended to, and went to the monastery and reported the whole incident to the Teacher.93 Said the Teacher: “Verily, householder, not only in her present state of existence has this girl, with the thought in her mind, ‘I’ll kill the flies on my mother’s head!’ struck her mother with a pestle and killed her; in a previous state of existence also she killed her mother in the very same way.”94 And in response to the merchant’s request, he related the following Story of the Past:95

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in a merchant’s household, and on the death of his father, succeeded to the post of merchant.96 He also had a slave-girl.97 She also, when her mother came to the place where she was pounding rice and said to her, “My dear, shoo the flies away from me!”--she also, in the very same way, struck her mother with a pestle and killed her and began to weep.98 The Future Buddha, hearing of that incident, thought: “For even an enemy in this world, if only he be a wise man, is better!”99 And he uttered the following stanza:100

Better an enemy who is intelligent Than a well-disposed person who is a fool!101 Look at that wretched little slave-girl!102 She killed her mother, and now,--she weeps!103

With this stanza did the Future Buddha preach the Doctrine, praising the man of wisdom.104

Said the Teacher: “Verily, householder, not only in her present state of existence has this girl, with the thought in her mind, ‘I’ll kill flies!’ caused the death of her mother; in a previous state of existence also she caused the death of her mother in the very same way.”105 Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time that very mother was the mother, that very daughter was the daughter, but the wealthy merchant was I myself.”106

_22.107 Monkey-Gardeners.108

_Misdirected effort spells failure.109

_A. One-stanza version.110

Jātaka 46: i. 249-251.111

_Never, in the hands of one who knows not what is good.112 _ This parable was related by the Teacher in a certain little village in the country of the Kosalas with reference to one who spoiled a garden.113

The story goes that the Teacher, while journeying from place to place in the country of the Kosalas, arrived at a certain little village.114 There a certain householder invited the Teacher, provided seats in his garden, gave alms to the Congregation of Monks presided over by the Buddha, and said: “Reverend Sirs, walk about in this garden according to your pleasure.”115

The monks arose, and accompanied by the gardener, walked about the garden.116 Seeing a certain bare spot, they asked the gardener: “Disciple, everywhere else this garden has dense shade, but in this spot there is not so much as a tree or a shrub.117 What, pray, is the reason for this?”118 “Reverend Sirs, when this garden was planted, a certain village boy watered it.119 In this spot he pulled up the young trees by the roots, and according as the roots were large or small, watered them plentifully or sparingly.120 Those young trees withered and died.121 That’s how this spot comes to be so bare!”122

The monks approached the Teacher and reported that matter to him.123 Said the Teacher: “Not only in his present state of existence has that village boy spoiled a garden; in a previous state of existence also he did naught but spoil a garden.”124 So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:125

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, a holiday was proclaimed.126 From the moment they heard the holiday drum, the residents of the entire city went about making holiday.127

At that time many monkeys lived in the king’s garden.128 The gardener thought: “A holiday has been proclaimed in the city.129 I’ll tell these monkeys to water the garden, and then I’ll go make holiday.”130 Approaching the leader of the monkeys, he said: “Master monkey-leader, this garden is of great use even to you.131 Here you eat flowers and fruits and shoots.132 A holiday has been proclaimed in the city.133 I’m going to make holiday.”134 And he asked him the question: “Can you water the young trees in this garden until I come back?”135 “Yes, indeed, I’ll water them.”136 “Very well,” said the gardener; “be heedful.”137 So saying, he gave those monkeys water-skins and wooden water-pots to use in watering the trees, and departed.138 The monkeys took the water-skins and wooden water-pots and watered the young trees.139

roots, every one.140

Now the leader of the monkeys said to the monkeys: “Master-monkeys, the water must not be wasted.141 When you water the young trees, pull them up by the roots, every one; look at the roots; water plentifully the roots that strike deep, but sparingly the roots that do not strike deep; later on we shall have a hard time getting water.”142 “Very well,” said the monkeys, promising to do as he told them to.143 And they did so.144

At that time a certain wise man saw those monkeys working away in the king’s garden, and said to them: “Master-monkeys, why are you pulling up by the roots every one of those young trees and watering them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots are large or small?”145 The monkeys replied: “That’s what the monkey who is our leader told us to do.”146 When the wise man heard that reply, he thought: “Alas! alas!147 Those that are fools, those that lack wisdom, say to themselves: ‘We’ll do good.’148 But harm’s the only thing they do!”149 And he uttered the following stanza:150

Never, in the hands of one who knows not what is good, Does a good undertaking turn out happily.151 A man who lacks intelligence spoils what is good Like the monkey who worked in the garden.152

Thus, with this stanza, did that wise man censure the leader of the monkeys.153 Having so done, he departed from the garden with his followers.154