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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil[]
JATAKA No. 409
DALHADHAMMA-JATAKA
"I carried for the king," etc. The Master told this when living in the Ghosita forest near Kosambi, concerning Bhaddavatika, king Udena's she-elephant. Now the way in which this elephant was decorated and the royal lineage of Udena will be set on in the Matanga (*1) Birth. One day this elephant going out of the city in the morning saw the Buddha surrounded by a lot of saints, in the incomparable majesty of a Buddha, entering the city for alms, and falling at the Tathagata's (Buddha's)feet, with crying she prayed to him, saying, "Lord who knowest all, saviour of the whole world, when I was young and able to do work, Udena, the rightful king, loved me, saying, "My life and kingdom and queen are all due to her," and gave me great honour, adorning me with all ornaments; he had my stall smeared with perfumed earth, and coloured hangings put round it, and a lamp lit with perfumed oil, and a dish of incense set there, he had a golden pot set on my dunghill, and made me stand on a coloured carpet, and gave me royal food of many choice flavours: but now when I am old and cannot do work, he has cut off all that honour; unprotected and destitute I live by eating ketaka fruit in the forest; I have no other refuge: make Udena think on my merits and restore me again my old honour, O Lord." The Master said, "Go you, I will speak to the king and getyour old honour restored," and he went to the door of the king's living. The king made Buddha enter, and gave great entertainment in the palace to the assembly of brethren(Monks) following Buddha. When the meal was over, the Master gave thanks to the king and asked, "O king, where is Bhaddavatika?" "Lord, I know not." "O king, after giving honour to servants, it is not right to take it away in their old age, it is right to be grateful and thankful; Bhaddavatika is now old, she is worn with age and unprotected, and she lives by eating ketaka fruit in the wood: it is not suitable for you to leave her unprotected in her old age": so telling Bhaddavatika's merits and saying, "Restore all her former honours," he departed. The king did so. It was spread over the whole city that the former honour was restored because the Buddha had told her merits. This became known in the assembly of the Brethren, and the Brethren discussed it in their meeting. The Master, coming and hearing that this was their subject, said, "Brethren, this is not the first time that the Buddha has by telling her merits got her former honours restored": and he told the tale of old.
Once upon a time there was a king named Dalhadhamma reigning in Benares. At that time the Bodhisattva was born in a minister's family, and when he grew up he served the king. He received much honour from the king, and stood in the place of the most valued minister. The king had a certain she-elephant , blessed with might and very strong. She went a hundred leagues( x 4.23 km) in one day, she did the duties of messenger for the king, and in battle she fought and crushed the enemy. The king said, "She is very serviceable to me," gave her all ornaments and caused all honour to be given her such as Udena gave to Bhaddavatika. Then when she was weak from age the king took away all her honour. From that time she was unprotected and lived by eating grass and leaves in the forest. Then one day when the vessels in the king's court were not sufficient, the king sent for a potter, and said, "The vessels are not sufficient." "O king, I have no oxen to yoke in carts to bring cow-dung (for baking clay)." The king hearing this tale said, "Where is our she-elephant?" "O king, she is wandering at her own will." The king gave her to the potter, saying, "From now on do you yoke her and bring cow-dung." The potter said, "Good, O king," and did so. Then one day she, coming out of the. city, saw the Bodhisattva coming in, and falling at his feet, she said, mourning: " Lord, the king in my youth considered me very serviceable and gave me great honour: now that I am old, he has cut it all away and takes no thought of me; I am unprotected and live by eating grass and leaves in the forest; in this misery he has now given me to a potter to yoke in a cart; except you I have no refuge: you knowest my services to the king; restore me now the honour I have lost": and she spoke three stanzas:-
I carried for the king of old: was he not satisfied? With weapons at my breast I faced the fight with mighty stride.
My feats in battle done of old does not the king forget, And such good services I did for couriers as are set?
Helpless and kinless now am I: surely my death is near, To serve a potter when I'm come as his dung-carrier.
The Bodhisattva, hearing her tale, comforted her, saying, "Grieve not, I will tell the king and restore your honour": so entering the city, he went to the king after his morning meal and took up the talk, saying, "Great king, did not a she-elephant, named so and so, enter battle at such and such places with weapons bound on her breast, and on such a day with a writing on her neck did she not go a hundred leagues( x 4.23 km) on a message? You gave her great honour: where is she now?" "I gave her to a potter for carrying dung." Then the Bodhisattva said, "Is it right, great king, for you to give her to a potter to be yoked in a cart?" And for admonition he spoke four stanzas:-
By selfish hopes men regulate the honours that they pay: As you the elephant, they throw the exhausted slave away.
Good deeds and services received whenever men forget, Ruin pursues the business still on which their hearts are set.
Good deeds and services received if men do not forget, Success attends the business still on which their hearts are set.
To all the lot around this blessed truth I tell: Be grateful all, and for reward you long in heaven shall dwell.
With this beginning the Bodhisattva gave instruction to all gathered there. Hearing this the king gave the old elephant her former honour, and established in the Bodhisattva's instruction gave alms and did works of merit and became destined for heaven.
After the lesson, the Master identified the Birth:-"At that time the she-elephant was Bhaddavatika, the king Ananda, the minister was I myself."
Footnotes:
(1)No. 497