Jataka 235 Vacchanakha

Vacchanakha Jataka

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was one of a family of Brahmins who lived in a certain market town. Coming to years, he took up the religious life, and dwelt for a long time amid the Himalayas.

He went to Benares to purchase salt and seasoning, and abode in the king's grounds; next day he entered Benares.

Now a certain rich man of the place, pleased at his behaviour, took him home, gave him to eat, and receiving his promise to abide with him, caused him to dwell in the garden and attended to his wants. And they conceived a friendship each for the other.

One day, the rich man, by reason of his love and friendship for the Bodhisatta, thought this within himself: "The life of an ascetic is unhappy. I will persuade my friend Vacchanakha to unfrock himself; I will part my wealth in two, and give half to him, and we both will dwell together." So one day, when the meal was done, he spake sweetly to his friend and said;

"Good Vacchanakha, unhappy is the hermit's life; tis pleasant to live in a house. Come now, let us both together take our pleasure as we will." So saying, he uttered the first stanza:

"House in the world are sweet,

Full of food, and full of treasure;

There you have your fill of meat

Eating, drinking at your pleasure."

The Bodhisatta on hearing him, thus replied; "Good Sir, from ignorance you have become greedy in desire, and call the householder's life good, and the life of the ascetic bad; listen now, and I will tell you how bad is the householder's life;" and he uttered the second stanza:

"He that hath houses peace can never know,

He lies and cheats, he must deal many a blow

On others shoulders; nought this fault can cure;

Then who into a house would willing go?"

With these words the great Buddha told the defects of a householder's life, and went into the garden again.