Maccha-Jātaka

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Source: Converted from Archaic translation by Robert Chalmers
JATAKA No. 34

MACCHA-JATAKA

"It is not the cold."--This story was told by the Master(Buddha) while at Jetavana monastery, about being seduced by the wife of one's mundane life before joining the Brotherhood(Monks Order). Said the Master on this occasion, "Is it true, as I hear, Brother(Monk), that you are passion-struck?"

"Yes, Lord Buddha."

"Because of whom?"

"My former wife, sir, is sweet to touch; I cannot give her up! "Then said the Master, "Brother, this woman is hurtful to you. It was through her that in past times too you were meeting your end, when you were saved by me." And so saying, he told this story of the past.

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisattva became his family-priest.

In those days some fishermen had cast their net into the river. And a great big fish came along amorously toying with his wife. She, scenting the net as she swam ahead of him, made a circuit round it and escaped. But her amorous spouse, blinded by passion, sailed right into the meshes of the net. As soon as the fishermen felt him in their net, they hauled it in and took the fish out; they did not kill him at once, but throw him alive on the sands. "We'll cook him in the embers for our meal," said they; and accordingly they set to work to light a fire and carve a skewer to roast him on. The fish mourned, saying to himself, "It's not the torture of the embers or the anguish of the skewer or any other pain that grieves me; but only the distressing thought that my wife should be unhappy in the belief that I have gone off with another." And he repeated this stanza:-

It is not the cold, the heat, or wounding net; It is but the fear my darling wife should think Another's love has lured her spouse away.

Just then the priest came to the riverside with his attendant slaves to bathe. Now he understood the language of all animals. Therefore, when he heard the fish's crying, he thought to himself, "This fish is mourning the cry of passion. If he should die in this unhealthy state of mind, he cannot escape rebirth in hell. I will save him." So he went to the fishermen and said, "My men, don't you supply us with a fish every day for our curry?" "What do you say, sir?" said the fishermen; "I request, take away with you any fish you may take a fancy to." "We don't need any but this one; only give us this one." "He's yours, sir."

Taking the fish in his two hands, the Bodhisattva seated himself on the bank and said, "Friend fish, if I had not seen you to-day, you would have met your death. Cease for the future to be the slave of passion." And with this advice he throw the fish into the water, and went into the city.

His lesson ended, the Master preached the Truths, at the close of which the passion-struck Brother(Monk) won the First Path(Trance). Also, the Master explained the relation and identified the Birth by saying, "The former wife was the female fish of those days, the passion-struck Brother was the male fish, and I myself the family-priest."

[Note. Compare Jatakas Nos. 216 and 297.]