Somadatta-Jātaka2

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil
JATAKA No. 410

SOMADATTA-JATAKA

"Deep in the wood," etc.--The Master told this while living at Jetavana monastery, about a certain old Brother(Monk). The story was that this Brother ordained a novice into the order, who waited on him but soon died of a fatal disease. The old man went about weeping and wailing for his death. Seeing him, the Brethren(Monks) began to talk in the Hall of Truth, "Sirs, this old Brother goes about weeping and wailing for the novice's death: he must surely have neglected the meditation on death." The Master came, and hearing the subject of their talk, he said, "Brethren, this is not the first time this man is weeping for the other's death," and so he told the old tale. ___________________________

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisattva was Sakka(Indra). A certain wealthy brahmin, living in Benares, left the worldly life, and became an ascetic in the Himalaya, living by picking up roots and fruits in the forest. One day, searching for wild fruits, he saw an elephant-calf, and took it to his hermitage: he made as if it were his own son, calling it Somadatta, and tended it with food of grass and leaves. The elephant grew up to be great: but one day he took much food and fell sick of overeating. The ascetic took him inside the hermitage, and went to get wild fruits: but before he came back the young elephant died. Coming back with his fruits, the ascetic thought, "On other days my child comes to meet me, but not to-day; what is the matter with him?" So he mourned and spoke the first stanza:-

Deep in the wood he would meet me: but to-day No elephant I see: where does he stray?

With this mourn, he saw the elephant lying at the end of the covered walk and taking him round the neck he spoke the second stanza in crying:-

It is he that lies in death cut down as a tender shoot is shred; Low on the ground he lies: alas, my elephant is dead.

At the instant, Sakka(Indra), surveying the world, thought, "This ascetic left wife and child for righteous path (for salvation), now he is mourning the young elephant whom he called his son, I will stir up him and make him think," and so coming to the hermitage he stood in the air and spoke the third stanza:-

To sorrow for the dead did ill become The lone ascetic, freed from ties of home.

Hearing this, the ascetic spoke the fourth stanza:-

Should man with beast wife, O Sakka(Indra), grief For a lost playmate finds in tears relief.

Sakka(Indra) uttered two stanzas, addressing him:-

Such as to weep are glad may still mourn the dead, Weep not, O sage, it is useless to weep, the wise have said.

If by our tears we might prevail against the grave, Thus would we all unite our dearest ones to save.

Hearing Sakka(Indra)'s words, the ascetic took thought and comfort, dried his tears, and uttered the remaining stanzas in praise of Sakka(Indra):-

As ghee (clarified butter)-fed flame that blazes out fast Is quenched with water, so he quenched my pain.

With sorrow's shaft my heart was wounded hurt: He healed my wound and did my life restore.

The barb extracted, full of joy and peace, At Sakka(Indra)'s words I from my sorrow cease.

These were given above.

After addressing the ascetic, Sakka(Indra) went to his own place.

The Master, after the lesson, identified the Birth: "At that time the young elephant was the novice, the ascetic the old Brother(Monk), Sakka(Indra) was I myself."