Sīla-Vīmaṁsa-Jātaka

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by W.H.D. Rouse
JATAKA No. 290

SILA-VIMAMSA-JATAKA (*1)

"Virtue is lovely," etc.--This story the Master told at Jetavana monastery, about a brahmin who put his reputation to the test. The circumstances which gave rise to it, and the story itself, are both given in the Silavimamsa Birth-tale, in the First Book. Here, as before

When Brahmadatta was king of Benares, his priest resolved to test his own reputation for virtue, and on two days took a coin from the Treasurer's counter. On the third day they dragged him to the king, and accused him of theft. On the way he noticed some snake-charmers making a snake dance. The king asked him what he had done such a thing for. The brahmin replied, "To try my reputation for virtue ": and went on

"Virtue is lovely,so the people deem Virtue in all the world is held supreme. See! this deadly snake they do not kill,              For he is good,' they say.

"Here I proclaim how virtue is all-blessed And lovely in the world: of which possessed He that is virtuous always is said              Perfection's path to walk.

"To family dear, he shines among his friends; And when his union with the body ends, He that to practise virtue has been happily              In heaven is born again."

Having thus in three stanzas stated the beauty of virtue and gave discourse to them, the Bodhisattva went on--"Great king, a great deal has been given to you by my family, my father's property, my mother's, and what I have gained myself: there is no end to it. But I took these coins from the treasury to try my own value. Now I see how worthless in this world is birth and lineage, blood and family, and how much the best is virtue. I will embrace the religious(hermit) life; allow me to do so!" After many requests, the king at last consented. He left the worldly life, and retired to Himalaya, where he took to the religious(hermit) life, and cultivated the Faculties and the Attainments until he came to Brahma's world.

When the Master had ended this discourse, he identified the Birth: "At that time the Brahmin priest who tried his reputation for virtue was I myself."

Footnotes:

(1)Compare Nos. 86, 290, 305, 330, 362.