Ājañña-Jātaka

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

Source: Converted from Archaic translation by Robert Chalmers
JATAKA No. 24

AJANNA-JATAKA

"No matter when or where."

--This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana monastery about another Brother(Monk) who gave up persisting in path. But, in this case, he addressed that Brother and said, "Brethren(Monks), in past days the wise and good still persisted in path even when wounded." And, so saying, he told this story of the past.

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, there were seven kings who surrounded the city, just as in the previously mentioned story.

So a warrior who fought from a chariot harnessed two Sindh horses (a pair of brothers), and, swiftly moving from the city, broke down six camps and captured six kings. Just at this juncture the elder horse was wounded. On drove the charioteer till he reached the king's gate, where he took the elder brother out of the chariot, and, after unfastening the horse's armour as he lay upon one side, set to work to arm another horse. Realising the warrior's intent, the Bodhisattva had the same thoughts pass through his head as in the previously mentioned story, and sending for the charioteer, repeated this stanza, as he lay:

No matter when or where, in welfare or suffering,

 The thorough-bred fights on; the other gives in.

The charioteer had the Bodhisattva set on his feet and harnessed. Then he broke down the seventh camp and took prisoner the seventh king, with whom he drove away to the king's gate, and there took out the noble horse. As he lay upon one side, the Bodhisattva gave the same advices to the king as in the previously mentioned story, and then expired. The king had the body burned with all respect, lavished honours on the charioteer, and after ruling his kingdom in righteousness passed away to fare thereafter according to his deeds.

His lesson ended, the Master preached the Truths (at the close of which that Brother(Monk) won Arhatship/Enlightenment); and identified the Birth by saying, "The Elder Monk Ananda was the king, and the Perfect Buddha was the horse of those days."