| J.005 |
Ta.n.dulanaa.li Jaataka |
Once the bodhisatva was appraiser to the king of Benares, with whom he always dealt
fairly. The king was greedy, and thinking that his appraiser paid too much for things
bought for the palace, appointed in his place a rustic who happened to be passing
by. This man fixed prices according to whim. One day a dealer brought five hundred
horses from Uttarapatha and the appraiser valued the whole lot at a single measure
of rice. The horse-dealer sought the Bodhisatvaís advice, who suggested that the
appraiser should be asked to value a measure of rice. The horse-dealer went to the
king, and in the presence of the court, asked the appraiser the value of one measure
of rice. The man replied that it was worth all Benares and its suburbsuhe ministers
laughed, thus putting the king to shame. He dismissed the fool and reinstated the
Bodhisatva. The story was told in reference to Laludayi who had a dispute with Dabba
Mallaputta regarding the distribution of food tickets. The monks thereupon asked
Laludayi to undertake the task. This he did so badly that great confusion ensued,
and the matter was reported to the the Buddha, who related the Jataka to show that
in the past, too, his stupidity had deprived others of profit. Laludayi is identified
with the false appraiser. |
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Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.123ff. |
value |