Jataka Tales 14: Vatamiga

Vatamiga Jataka This story was told by the Buddha, when He was residing at Jetavana, about a monk known as Direct-alms the Less. It began at the Bamboo Grove monastery, near Rajagaha. It was about the heir of a wealthy family, whose name was Prince Tissa.

One day, after he went to hear a discourse given by the Buddha at this monastery, he wanted to join the monkhood, but this was not permitted, for his parents had not given their consent.

Eventually they gave in, after he refused to eat his food for seven days. Then, he took the precepts from the Buddha.

About two weeks later, the Buddha moved to Jetavana. Monk Tissa followed him there. Then, he took up the practice of the thirteen obligations to overcome passions. One of these, was not to eat food, unless it was put directly in his alms-bowl, by a donor.

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So he did not share in any food that was distributed by monks who received it. Thus, he was known as Direct-alms the Less (Pindapapatika Tissa).

At this time, a festival was being held in Rajagaha. As his parents looked at the silver casket filled with the jewellery that he formerly wore as a layman, they wailed at the memory of how he looked, as he wore these or those pieces at other festivals. A slave-girl coming upon them in their grief asked them why they were crying.

Upon hearing of the reason, she said that she had a plan and would bring him back to them.

She was given the authority to do whatever was necessary to achieve this aim.

With their support, she rode into Savatthi like a rich lady in a palanquin with a retinue of servants, who were not known to her former master. She set up residence in a street, he was known to frequent for alms.

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Whenever he came for alms, she gave him food and drink, which he had enjoyed as a layman.

Even her presence reminded him of his past life.

Reminded of his favourite things, he was caught in the bonds of craving for taste. Finally, he was drawn into the house to receive his alms. Then, he was eventually made to take a seat in the house. Then one day, the slave-girl pretended to be ill and lay down in her room. He came for alms drawn there by craving for taste.

After he was seated and not seeing her, he asked where she was. He was told she was feeling a bit unwell but would be glad to see him, if he would oblige her with a visit. Bound by his craving for taste, he went to where the woman was lying. Thus, he broke his vow and obligation.

Then, she spoke to him with passion and gave him reasons for being there in Savatthi. Because of his craving for taste, she ensnared him and made him forsake the monkhood.

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All this became publicly known. That evening, the monks, sitting in the Dharma Hall, discussed the matter with the words: "Venerable Sir, it was reported that Monk Tissa, called Direct-alms the Less, was caught in the bonds of craving, created by a slave-girl who had carried him off."

When the Buddha entered the hall, He sat down in his seat and asked: "Monks, what is the subject that is being discussed here?" So they told Him all that had happened to Monk Tissa.

"Monks," said the Buddha, "this is not the first time, that in his craving for taste, he has fallen into her power; in days gone by too he fell into her hands likewise." Then, He told this story to make it clear to them.

Story of the past Once, in the course of time, when King Brahmadatta ruled Benares, a gardener named Sanjaya worked for him.

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One day, a Wind-antelope entered the king's pleasure garden, but it fled away at the sight of him. He did not do anything to frighten it off, so the timid creature got used to going there and it would roam about in the garden. Every day he would gather fruits and flowers to give to the king.

Then one day, the king asked him whether there was anything uncommon seen in the garden. So he reported that a Wind-antelope had visited the garden and was roaming in it. So the king asked him to catch it. He said he could do it if he had some honey. So honey was obtained from the king to use as bait.

With the pot of honey, he would then apply it to a certain patch of grass where the antelope would come often. Then he hid himself to watch. When the antelope got the taste of honey, it would not go anywhere else to browse. Then, the gardener showed himself, bit by bit, to the antelope.

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Eventually, it got more and more used to his presence. Finally, it even came to eat grass covered with some honey from the man's hand.

When it had confidence in him, he dropped bits of honey-covered grass and got it to follow him.

Finally, he lured it right into the palace. As soon as it was inside, they shut the gates.

At the sight of many men, it panicked and ran to and fro. It trembled with fear for its life and the king came to see it. Then he said: "This Wind-antelope is so timid that for a whole week, it will not come again to any spot where it has seen a man; and when it has been frightened by anything, it will never go there as long as it lives.

Yet because of the lust of taste, it has been ensnared by it. Now this wild thing has actually come into the palace on its own. Truly, friends, there is nothing more vile than the lust for taste."

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Then, he spoke thus: "Taste, can ensnare beings. There is nothing worse than taste to capture beings. A wild antelope is snared by taste." And with these words he let the antelope go free to return to its forests again.

End of story of the past When the story ended, the Buddha repeated what He said about Monk Tissa, the Direct-alms the Less, falling into the woman's hands, not only in the past but also in the present time.

Then, He showed the connection in the two stories. He said: "This slave-girl was in those days the gardener Sanjaya; Direct-alms the Less was the Wind-antelope, and I, myself, was the king of Benares."

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