🧚 Opening, part 14

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.”1 Having related this parable, he joined the connection and identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the leader of the monkeys was the village boy who spoiled a garden, but the wise man was I myself.”2

_B. Three-stanza version.3

Jātaka 268: ii.4 345-347.5

_If the monkey considered the best of the crowd.6 _ This parable was related by the Teacher in the South Mountain region with reference to a certain gardener’s son.7

The story goes that the Teacher, after keeping residence for the period of the rains, departed from Jetavana and journeyed from place to place in the South Mountain region.8 Now a certain lay disciple invited the Congregation of Monks presided over by the Buddha, provided seats in his garden, delighted them with rice-gruel and hard food, and said: “Noble sirs, if you desire to take a walk about the garden, go with this gardener.”9 And he gave orders to the gardener: “Pray give the noble monks fruits and other such-like edibles.”10

As the monks walked about, they saw a certain cleared space, and asked: “This space is cleared, without growing trees; what, pray, is the reason for this?”11 Then the gardener told them: “The story goes that a certain gardener’s son once watered the saplings.12 ‘I’ll water them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots are large or small,’ thought he.13 So he pulled them up by the roots and watered them plentifully or sparingly according as the roots were large or small.14 That’s how this space comes to be cleared!”15

The monks went to the Teacher and reported that matter to him.16 Said the Teacher: “Not only in his present state of existence has that youth spoiled a garden; in a previous state of existence also he did naught but spoil a garden.”17 So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:18

In times past, when Vissasena ruled at Benāres, a holiday was proclaimed.19 Thought the gardener: “I’ll go make holiday;” and said to the monkeys who lived in the garden: “This garden is of great use to you.20 I’m going to make holiday for seven days.21 You must water the saplings on the seventh day.”22 “Very well,” said they, consenting.23 He gave them little water-skins and departed.24

The monkeys did as they were told and watered the saplings.25 Now the leader of the monkeys said to the monkeys: “Wait a moment!26 Water is at all times hard to get; it must not be wasted.27 What you must do is to pull up the saplings by the roots, note the length of the roots, water plentifully the saplings that have long roots, but sparingly those that have short roots.”28 “Very well,” said the monkeys, and went about watering the saplings, some of them pulling the saplings up by the roots and others planting them again.29

At that time the Future Buddha was the son of a certain notable in Benāres.30 Having occasion, for some purpose or other, to go to the garden, he saw those monkeys working away, and asked them: “Who told you to do this?”31 “The monkey who is our leader.”32 “Well! if this is the wisdom of your leader, what must yours be like!”33 And explaining the matter, he uttered the first stanza:34

If the monkey considered the best of the crowd Has wisdom like this, Then what in the world must the others be like?35

Hearing this remark, the monkeys uttered the second stanza:36

Brahman, you don’t know what you are talking about When you blame us like this; For how, unless we see the roots, Can we know whether the tree stands firm?37

Hearing their reply, the Future Buddha uttered the third stanza:38

It isn’t you I blame,--not I,-- Nor the other monkeys in the wood; Vissasena alone is the one to blame, Who asked you to tend his trees for him.39

When the Teacher had related this parable, he identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the leader of the monkeys was the youth who spoiled the garden, but the wise man was I myself.”40

_23.41 Two Dicers.42

_Take care!43

_A. Canonical version.44

Dīgha ii.45 348-349.46

In olden times two dicers played at dice.47 The first dicer swallowed every ace.48 The second dicer saw that dicer swallow every ace.49 Seeing, he said this to that dicer: “You, sir, have it all your own way.50 Give me the dice, sir; I must hurry away.”51 “Yes, sir,” said that dicer, and handed over the dice to that dicer.52

Now that dicer painted the dice with poison, and said this to that dicer: “Come, sir, let us play at dice.”53 “Yes, sir,” said that dicer in assent to that dicer.54

A second time also those dicers played at dice; a second time also that dicer swallowed every ace.55 The second dicer saw that dicer swallow for the second time also every ace.56 Seeing, he said this to that dicer:57

Smeared with the strongest poison Was the die the man swallowed, but knew it not.58 Swallow, O swallow, wicked dicer!59 Later it will taste bitter to you.60

_B. Uncanonical version.61

Jātaka 91: i. 379-380.62

On a certain occasion the Exalted One reproved the monks for handling their property carelessly.63 Said he: “Monks, careless handling of property is like careless handling of deadly poison.64 For men of old, through carelessness, not knowing what was the matter, ate poison, and as a result experienced great suffering.”65 So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:66

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha was reborn in a household of great wealth.67 When he reached manhood, he became a dicer.68 Now a second dicer used to play with the Future Buddha, and he was a cheat.69 So long as he was winning, he would not break the play-ring; but when he lost, he would put a die in his mouth, say, “A die is lost!” break the play-ring, and make off.70

The Future Buddha, knowing the reason for this, said: “Let be!71 I shall find some way of dealing with him.”72 So taking the dice to his own home, he painted them with deadly poison and let them dry thoroughly.73 Then, taking them with him, he went to the second dicer’s and said: “Come, sir, let us play at dice.”74 “Yes, sir,” said the second dicer, and marked out the play-ring.75

As the second dicer played with the Future Buddha, he lost, and put a die in his month.76 Now the Future Buddha, seeing him do this, said: “Just swallow!77 Later you will know what that is.”78 And to rebuke him he recited the following stanza:79

Smeared with the strongest poison Was the die the man swallowed, but knew it not.80 Swallow, O swallow, wicked dicer!81 Later it will taste bitter to you.82

Even as the Future Buddha spoke, he swooned from the effect of the poison, rolled his eyes, dropped his shoulders, and fell.83 Said the Future Buddha: “Now I must grant him his life.”84 So giving him an emetic containing herbs, he made him vomit.85 Then, giving him ghee, honey, and sugar to eat, he made him well.86 Finally he admonished him: “Never do such a thing again.”87 And having performed alms-giving and the other works of merit, the Future Buddha passed away according to his deeds.88

When the Teacher had completed this parable, he said: “Monks, careless handling of property is like careless handling of deadly poison.”89 Then he identified the personages in the Birth-story as follows: “At that time the wise dicer was I myself.”90