Jataka Tales 30: Munika

Munika Jataka While residing at Jetavana the Buddha told this story about a monk being seduced by a plump young woman. Then the Blessed One asked that monk: "Is it true as they say that you are lost in passion?" "It is true, Venerable Sir." "Monk, she is your bane," said the Buddha. "Even in bygone days you met your end and were made into a relish for the guests on her wedding-day." Then he told this story from the past.

Story of the past Once in times past when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as an ox.

He was known as Big Red and lived in a squire's estate in a certain village. He had a brother known as Little Red. Both of them were draught animals and did all the work of this nature in the family.

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Now the squire had an only daughter who was promised to a young man of wealth in the town.

The girl's parents started to fatten a pig called Munika as a delicacy to serve to their guests on her wedding-day.

Seeing this, Little Red said to his brother: "For all the loads that have been pulled by us for this household we got poor grass and straw to eat.

And here is a pig being fed on rice. Why should he be treated to such consideration?"

His brother replied: "Do not envy him. The pig is eating the food of death. He will be the relish for the guests at their daughter's wedding. Wait and you will see the pig pulled by his legs to be slaughtered and turned into curry." Then he spoke this way: "The pig fed with delicious food but a short life.

Frail chaff guarantees a long life."

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Not long afterwards the guests arrived; Munika was killed and turned into all manner of dishes.

Said the Bodhisatta to Little Red: "Did you see Munika, dear brother?" "I saw, brother, the outcome of Munika's feasting. Sad. Better such food as ours be it grass, straw, chaff. It harms us not and pledges us a life that is not cut short."

End of story of the past After he ended the lesson to the effect that the brother had in bygone days met his doom due to that young woman to become a relish for a wedding company, he preached the Truth, and at the end the passion-tossed brother became a Stream-Winner. And the Buddha showed the connection and identified the Birth.

He said: "The passion-tossed brother was pig Munika in those days. The young woman is the same in both cases. Ananda was Little Red, and I myself was Big Red."

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