| J.387 |
Suuci Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once a very clever smith of Kasi, but was very poor. The principal
royal smith had a beautiful daughter and the bodhisatva, wishing to win her, made
a delicate needle that could pierce dice and float on water. For this needle, he
made seven sheaths. He then went to the village of the head smith, stood outside
the house and sang the praises of the needle. The smithís daughter, who was fanning
her father, spoke to the bodhisatva and asked him to go elsewhere as no-one in that
village would want needles. The bodhisatva answered that his were no ordinary needles
and the head-smith asked him to show them. The bodhisatva suggested that all the
smiths be summoned and in their presence, he gave the needle-tube to the head smith.
He thought it was the needle itself, because he could find no end or tip. The tube
was handed back to the bodhisatva who took out the first sheath. In this way the
seven sheaths were removed and when the needle was at last revealed, he made it pierce
an anvil and float on water. The whole assembly was filled with envy and admiration
and the head smith gave his daughter to the bodhisatva. The story was related in
similar circumstances to the Mahaummagga
Jataka (J.546). The smithís daughter is identified with Raahulamaataa. |
59/127 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.281ff. |
craftsmanship, resourcefulness |