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B0102051414pakiṇṇakanipāto (miscellaneous chapter)

English

The gods, with Indra, desire to see you in Tāvatiṃsa; Remembering you, the gods are assembled in Sudhammā." 205. Then King Sādhina, Videha, lord of Mithilā, ascended the chariot; Ascending the chariot yoked with a thousand, he went to the presence of the gods; The gods welcomed him, seeing the king arrive. 206. "Welcome, great king, and your coming is not far off; Sit now, royal sage, king of gods." in his presence. 207. Even Sakka welcomed Videha, the lord of Mithilā; Vāsava invited him with pleasures and a seat. 208. It is good that you have arrived at the abode of the controller; Dwell among the gods, O king, where all desires are fulfilled; Among the Tāvatiṃsa gods, enjoy divine pleasures. 209. Before, I delighted in heaven, with dances, songs, and music; But now today I do not delight in heaven, is my life exhausted, or is death near? Or am I deluded, O best of kings? 210. Neither is your life exhausted, nor is death far, nor are you deluded, O best of heroes; But your merits are few, the results of which you experienced here. 211. Dwell by the power of the gods, O best of kings, lord of the land; Among the Tāvatiṃsa gods, enjoy divine pleasures. 212. Just as a borrowed vehicle, just as borrowed wealth; So is this prosperity, which is due to the gift of another. 213. And I do not desire this, which is due to the gift of another; Merits made by myself, that is my own unique wealth. 214. So I, having gone among humans, will do much good; By giving, by equal conduct, by restraint and by self-control; Having done which one is happy, and does not regret afterwards. 215. These are those fields, this is the gold necklace; These are those green riverbanks, these are the flowing rivers. 216. These are those delightful ponds, resounding with cakkavāka birds; Covered with mandālaka flowers, and with lotuses and water lilies; Those who claimed these as mine, where have they gone? 217. Those fields are here, that part of the land, those very parks and forest groves; But not seeing my people, it seems empty to me. By dust, the directions are devoured. 218. Divine mansions were seen by me, illuminating the four directions; In the presence of the king of gods, and in the presence of the thirty-three (gods). 219. A divine abode was dwelt in by me, non-human pleasures were enjoyed; Among the Tāvatiṃsa gods, where all desires are fulfilled. 220. Therefore, having abandoned such (a life), I have come here for merit; I shall practice only the Dhamma, I have no desire for kingship. 221. The path of non-violence, taught by the Perfectly Enlightened One; I shall follow that path, by which the virtuous go. The Sādhina Jātaka, the eleventh. 495. The Ten Brahmins Jātaka (12) 222. The king Yudhiṭṭhila, desirous of Dhamma, spoke to Vidhura: "Vidhura, seek Brahmins, virtuous and learned." 223. "Abstaining from sexual conduct, who would eat my food; I shall give a worthy offering, where what is given bears great fruit." 224. "Brahmins, O king, are hard to find, virtuous and learned; Abstaining from sexual conduct, who would eat your food." 225. "Indeed, O great king, there are ten such classes of Brahmins; Their distinctions and investigations, listen to me in detail." 226. "Taking their bags, full of roots, covered; They tie up herbs, and bathe and chant." 227. "Like physicians, O king, they too are called Brahmins; They are known, O great king, we resort to such." 228. "And they are devoid of Brahminhood," (Thus spoke the Kuru king) "They are not called Brahmins; Vidhura, seek others, virtuous and learned." 229. "Abstaining from sexual conduct, who would eat my food; I shall give a worthy offering, where what is given bears great fruit." 230. "Taking their bells, they announce even in front; And go on errands." they train in chariot-driving. 231. Like servants, O king, even they are called brahmins; They are known, O great king, among such we fall. 232. And they are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus King Korabya said) They are not called brahmins; Seek others elsewhere, virtuous and learned ones. 233. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would eat my food; To them we shall truly give an offering, where given, there is great fruit. 234. Having taken a water-pot and a crooked staff, brahmins; They will approach kings, in villages and in towns; Without being given, we will not depart, from village or from forest. 235. Like restrainers, O king, even they are called brahmins; They are known, O great king, among such we fall. 236. And they are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus King Korabya said) They are not called brahmins; Seek others elsewhere, virtuous and learned ones. 237. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would eat my food; To them we shall truly give an offering, where given, there is great fruit. 238. With overgrown hair and nails, with dirty teeth, with dusty heads; Covered with dust particles, they wander as beggars. 239. Like stump-destroyers, O king, even they are called brahmins; They are known, O great king, among such we fall. 240. And they are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus King Korabya said) They are not called brahmins; Seek others elsewhere, virtuous and learned ones. 241. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would eat my food; To them we shall truly give an offering, where given, there is great fruit. 242. Myrobalan, emblic myrobalan, mango, rose-apple, beleric myrobalan; Breadfruit, tooth-sticks, bael fruits, and jujube fruits. 243. Rājāyatana, sugarcane bundles, smoke-pipes, honey-collyrium; Various goods, they sell, O lord of men. 244. Like merchants, O king, even they are called brahmins; They are known, O great king, They are slain, O great king, We fall upon such. 245. They are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus spoke King Korabya) They are not called brahmins; Seek others, O Vidhura, virtuous and learned. 246. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would partake of my food; To them I shall give a fitting offering, where a gift yields great fruit. 247. They engage in farming and trade, they raise goats and sheep; They give away maidens, and bring them in marriage. 248. Equal to Ambaṭṭha-Vessas, they too are called brahmins; They are declared, O great king, we fall upon such. 249. They are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus spoke King Korabya) They are not called brahmins; Seek others, O Vidhura, virtuous and learned. 250. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would partake of my food; To them I shall give a fitting offering, where a gift yields great fruit. 251. They eat abandoned alms, some are village priests; Many question them, castrated, or like oil-pressers. 252. Animals are also slain there, buffaloes, pigs, goats; Like cattle-slayers, O king, they too are called brahmins; They are declared, O great king, we fall upon such. 253. They are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus spoke King Korabya) They are not called brahmins; Seek others, O Vidhura, virtuous and learned. 254. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would partake of my food; To them I shall give a fitting offering, where a gift yields great fruit. 255. Taking sword and shield, grasping a dagger, brahmins; They stand on trade routes, even attacking caravans. 256. Equal to cowherds and hunters, they too are called brahmins; They are declared, O great king, we fall upon such. 257. They are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus spoke King Korabya) They are not called brahmins; Seek others, O Vidhura, virtuous and learned. 258. Those who abstain from sexual conduct, who would partake of my food; To them I shall give a fitting offe where what is given bears great fruit. 259. Having made a hut in the forest, they make snares; They torment hares and cats, and fish and tortoises in traps. 260. They are like hunters, O king, yet they are called brahmins; They have been described, O great king, we shall fall in with such. 261. They are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus spoke King Korabya) They are not called brahmins; Seek others, Vidhura, virtuous and learned. 262. Abstaining from sexual conduct, those who would eat my food; We shall give a worthy offering, where what is given bears great fruit. 263. Others, indeed, desirous of wealth, creep under beds; Kings bathe above, when the Soma sacrifice is offered. 264. They are like dirt and dregs, O king, yet they are called brahmins; They have been described, O great king, we shall fall in with such. 265. They are devoid of brahminhood, (Thus spoke King Korabya) They are not called brahmins; Seek others, Vidhura, virtuous and learned. 266. Abstaining from sexual conduct, those who would eat my food; We shall give a worthy offering, where what is given bears great fruit. 267. There are indeed brahmins, O god, virtuous and learned; Abstaining from sexual conduct, those who would eat your food. 268. They eat only one meal, and they do not drink intoxicants; They have been described, O great king, we shall fall in with such. 269. These indeed are brahmins, Vidhura, virtuous and learned; Seek these, Vidhura, and quickly invite them. 270. Having seen a delicate form, come from the kingdom to the forest; Endowed with a splendid peaked house, accustomed to a great couch. 271. To him, out of affection, I gave a portion of rice; Selected rice food, pure, with meat sauce. 272. That you Having received the meal, he gave it to the brahmin. Without eating himself, what is this Dhamma? Homage to you! 273. The brahmin is my teacher, engaged in my duties and non-duties. He is venerable and to be consulted, I ought to give him food. 274. Now I ask the brahmin, Gotama, honored by the king: The king gave you a meal, pure, with meat as a relish. 275. Having received that meal, you gave it to the ascetic. You are not a knower of the field of donation, what is this Dhamma? Homage to you! 276. I support my sons and wives, I am attached to my home. I enjoy human pleasures, I advise kings. 277.