| J.376 |
Aavaariya Jaataka | Avaariya Jaataka |
Once the Bodhisatva was born an ascetic who inhabited the royal park of the king
of Benares. The ascetic taught righteousness to the king who wished to reward the
ascetic with the gift of revenue from a village. The ascetic declined the gift. For
12 years the ascetic lived in the park, but later, desiring a change, became a wanderer.
One day he came to the bank of the Ganges where there lived a foolish ferryman by
the name of Avariyapita. He took the Bodhisatva across the river, on the latterís
promise to tell him how to increase his wealth, welfare and virtue. On reaching the
other side, the Bodhisatva advised the ferryman on the desirability of getting his
fare before crossing if he wished to increase his wealth. He then proceeded to recite
the same teachings he had recited to the king daily for twelve years. Incensed by
the feeling that he had been cheated, the ferryman started to strike the ascetic.
His wife coming along with his food, tried to stop him -- but being hit herself,
miscarried and spilt the food. The ferryman was brought before the king and punished.
Good advice is wasted on fools, like fine gold on beasts. The story is told regarding
a foolish ferryman of Aciravati. When a certain monk came to him one evening to be
taken across the river, the ferryman was annoyed and steered so badly that he wet
the monkís robes and delayed him. The two ferrymen were the same. |
59/001 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.228ff. |
fools |