| J.445 |
Nigrodha Jaataka |
A king named Magadha once reigned in Rajagaha. His son married a rich merchantís
daughter, but she lost favour because she was barren. Later she pretended to be pregnant,
and when her time drew near, made the journey to her hometown with an old nurse who
also knew her secret. On the way she found a deserted child by the wayside, and greatly
rejoicing claimed the child as her own. The child was the bodhisatva and was named
Nigrodha. His father found two companions for him -- Sakha, son of a merchant and
Pottika, son of a tailor. These three grew up together and were educated in Takkasila.
In the course of their travels, while his companions were sleeping, Pottika heard
a cock say that whoever ate its fat would become king, whoever ate its body flesh
would become commander in chief and whoever ate the flesh near the bones would become
treasurer. Pottika killed the cock, giving the fat to Nigrodha, the body flesh to
Sakha and himself eating the flesh on the bones. Immediately afterwards, men in search
of a successor to the throne of Benares chose Nigrodha while the other two accompanied
him as commander in chief and treasurer. One day Nigrodha, wishing to have his parents
near at hand, sent Potthika to fetch them from Rajagaha. One the way back he called
at Sakhaís house, but Sakha who had a grudge against him for having given the cockís
fat to Nigrodha, insulted him. When Pottika reported this to Nigrodha, he wished
to have Sakha killed, but Pottika intervened on his behalf. The Jataka was related
in relation to Devadattaís ingratitude. Sakha is identified with Devadatta and Pottika
with Ananda. |
59/851 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iv.037ff. |
ingratitude |