Telovāda-Jātaka

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Jataka >>Telovāda-Jātaka

Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by W.H.D. Rouse
JATAKA No. 246

TELOVADA-JATAKA

"The wicked kills," etc.--This is a story which the Master told while staying in his gabled chamber near Vaishali city, about Sihasenapati.

It is said that this man, after he had fled to the Refuge, offered hospitality and then gave food with meat in it. The naked ascetics on hearing this were angry and displeased; they wanted to do the Buddha a mischief; "The Elder Monk Gautam(Buddha)," sneered they, "with his eyes open, eats meat prepared on purpose for him."

The Brethren(Monks) discussed this matter in their Hall of Truth: "Friend, Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira, Guru of Jains) the Ascetic (*1) goes about sneering, because, he says, 'Monk Gautam(Buddha) eats meat prepared on purpose for him, with his eyes open'." Hearing this, the Master replied:-"This is not the first time, Brethren, that Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira, Guru of Jains) has been sneering at me for eating meat which was got ready for me on purpose; he did just so in former times. And he told them an old-world tale.

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisattva was born a brahmin. When he came of age he embraced the religious(hermit) life.

He came down from Himalaya to get salt and spices, and next day walked the city, begging alms. A certain wealthy man designed to annoy the ascetic. So he brought him to his living, and pointed out a seat, and then served him with fish. After the meal, the man sat on one side, and said,

"This food was prepared on purpose for you, by killing living creatures. Not upon my head is this wrong, but upon yours!" And he repeated the first stanza:-

"The wicked kills, and cooks, and gives to eat: He is defiled with sin that takes such meat."

On hearing this, the Bodhisattva recited the second stanza:-

"The wicked may for gift kill wife or son, Yet, if the holy eat, no sin is done (*2)."

And the Bodhisattva with these words of instruction rose from his seat and departed.

This discourse ended, the Master identified the Birth: "Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira, Guru of Jains), the Naked Ascetic was this wealthy man, and I was the ascetic."

Footnotes:

(1)He is one of the six wrong believers, and generally called Nataputta (Also Nigantha Nataputta or Mahavira the Guru of Jains). The 'naked ascetics' were probably the Jains.

(2)"..Those who take life are in fault, but not the persons who eat the flesh; my Monks have permission to eat whatever food it is customary to eat in any place or country, so that it be done without the indulgence of the appetite, or evil desire." Buddha