| J.069 |
Visavanta Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once a snake-bite doctor, and, on one occasion, when a countryman
had been bitten by a snake, the doctor had the snake summoned and ordered it to suck
the poison out of the wound. The snake refused to do so even at pain of death. The
Jataka was told in reference to a vow taken by Sariputta. Some villagers once brought
some meal-cakes to the monastery, and when the monks present there had eaten, it
was suggested that what remained should be saved for those monks absent in the village.
This was done, but the young student of Sariputta, arriving very late, found that
Sariputta had already eaten his portion and thought Sariputta had eaten his portion
because of greed. Sariputta immediately vowed never again to touch meal-cakes, and
the Buddha said that Sariputta would never return to anything which he had once renounced.
The snake is identified with Sariputta. |
56/162 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.310ff. |
determination, being patronizing |