Aṭṭhisena-Jātaka

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

Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil
JATAKA No. 403

ATTHISENA-JATAKA

"Atthisena, many beggars," etc.--The Master told this when living in the shrine called Aggalava near Alavi, concerning the regulations for the building of cells. The occasion was told in the Manikantha Birth (*1) above. The Master addressed the Brethren(Monks), saying, "Brethren, formerly before Buddha was born in the world, monks of other ascetic paths, even though offered their choice by kings, never asked for alms, holding that begging from others was not agreeable or pleasant," and so he told the tale of old time.

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisattva was born in a brahmin household in a certain village, and they called his name young Atthisena. When he grew up, he learned all the arts at Taxila, and afterwards seeing the misery of desires he took the religious(hermit) life, and reaching the higher Faculties and Attainments, he lived long in the Himalaya: then coming down among men to get salt and vinegar, he reached Benares, and after staying in a garden he came begging next day to the king's court. The king, being pleased with his look and manner, sent for him, and set him on a seat on the terrace, giving him good food: then receiving his thanks he was pleased, and taking a promise made the Bodhisattva dwell in the royal garden, and went to wait on him two or three times each day. One day, being pleased with his preaching of the law, he gave him a choice, saying, "Tell me whatever you desire, beginning from my kingdom." The Bodhisattva did not say, "Give me so and so." Others ask for whatever they desire, saying, "Give me this," and the king gives it, if not attached to it. One day the king thought, "Other suitors and Monks ask me to give them so and so; but the noble Atthisena, ever since I offered him a choice, asks for nothing; he is wise and skilful in clever means: I will ask him." So one day after the early meal he sat on one side, and asking him as to the cause of other men's making suits and his own making none, he spoke the first stanza:-

Atthisena, many beggars, though they're strangers utterly, crowd to me with their petitions: why have you no suit to me?

Hearing him the Bodhisattva spoke the second stanza:-

Neither suitor, nor rejector of a suit, can pleasant be: That's the reason, be not angry, why I have no suit to you.

Hearing his words the king spoke three stanzas:-

He who lives by sueing, and has not at proper season sued, Makes another fall from merit, fails to gain a livelihood.

He who lives by sueing, and has sure at proper season sued, Makes another man win merit, gains himself a livelihood.

Men of wisdom are not angry when they see the suitors crowd; Speak, my holy friend; the boon you askest never can be wrong.

So the Bodhisattva, even though given the choice of the kingdom, made no suit. When the king's wish had been so expressed, the Bodhisattva to show him the priests' way said, "O great king, these suits are preferred by men of worldly desires and householders, not by priests: from their ordination priests must have a pure life unlike a householder: " and so showing the priests' way, he spoke the sixth stanza:-

Sages never make petitions, worthy laymen should know: Silent stands the noble suitor: sages make petition so.

The king hearing the Bodhisattva's words said, "Sir, if a wise attendant of his own knowledge gives what should be given to his friend, so I give to you such and such a thing," and so he spoke the seventh stanza:-

Brahmin, I offer you a thousand cows, Red cows, and hard working, the leader of the herd: Hearing but now those generous deeds of yours, I too in turn to generous deeds am stirred.

When he said this, the Bodhisattva refused, saying, "Great king, I took the religious(hermit) life free from defilement: I have no need of cows." The king dwelling by his advice; doing alms and other good works he became destined for heaven, and not falling away from his meditation, was born in the Brahma world.

After the lesson, the Master explained the truths and identified the Birth:-After the Truths many were established in the fruition of the First Path(Trance):-"At that time the king was Ananda, Atthisena was myself."

Footnotes:

(1)No. 253