Jataka Tales 34: Maccha

Maccha Jataka This story was told by the Buddha while residing at Jetavana. It was about being seduced by thoughts of the wife of one's lay life. The Buddha said on this occasion to the monk concerned: "Is it true brother that you are tossed by passion?"

"Yes, Venerable Sir". "Because of whom?"

"It is my former wife, Lord, who is sweet to touch.

I can't give her up." The Buddha said to him: "Monk, this woman is your bane. It was through her in former times too that you almost met your end but was saved by me." And so he told this story from the past.

Story of the past Once in times past when Brahmadatta was king in Benares, the Bodhisatta was his family-priest.

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In those times, some fishermen were casting their nets in the river. A big fish was then toying amorously with its mate. The female fish sensed the net and swam around escaping it; the amorous fish blinded by passion was caught in its meshes.

The fishermen sensing his weight in the net brought him out but did not kill him at once. They just tossed him onto the sands. "We'll cook him in the embers of our fire for our meal," they said.

Then they set about lighting a fire.

The fish lamented his fate and foolishly thought: "It's not the torture of being spitted and then roasted on the embers or any other pain that I care about; but it is distressing to think she should be unhappy thinking I've gone off with another." And he said this:" I lament not because of cold or heat or the injurious from the heat, I weep because my wife would think that I was turned away by another female fish."

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Fortunately for him the priest just then came with his attendant slaves to the river to bathe. Now he heard the thoughts of the fish as it lamented its fate. And he thought to himself: "This fish is voicing the lament of passion. Were he to die thus he would not escape rebirth in hell. I'll save him."

So he went to the fishermen and said: "Dear men aren't you the ones who supply fish for our curry every day." Recognizing him they said: "What do you say, sir, if you were to take any fish you fancy?" "We don't need many, only this big one." "He's yours, sir."

Taking the fish in his two hands he carried him to the river bank. The Bodhisatta said to it: "Friend fish, if I had not seen you today you would have met your death. Do stop in future to be the slave of passion." After exhorting the fish he put the fish in the river and it swam away. After this the Bodhisatta returned to the city.

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End of story of the past After his lesson ended the Buddha discoursed on the Truths. At the close the passion-tossed monk won the stage of Stream-Winner.

Then he showed the connection and identified the Births. He said: The former wife of this life was the fish of those days. The passion-tossed monk was the male fish and I myself was the king's family priest."

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