131. The Story of an Ill-Treated Gift [Asampadāna-Jātaka]
When the Buddha was living in the Bamboo Grove monastery [VeÀuvanārāma] of Rājagaha this story was delivered one day to the monks who assembled in the preaching hall. They were talking about Devadatta’s lack of gratitude.
The Buddha entered the preaching hall and asked, “Monks, what were you talking about before I came here?” They answered, “Your lordship, we were talking about Devadatta’s ungrateful nature.” Then the Buddha said, “Oh monks, not only today, but in ancient times as well he also was ungrateful.” The monks requested the Buddha to disclose the past story. The Buddha disclosed the story as follows:
At one time there was a king called Magadha in the city of Rājagaha of the Magadha kingdom. The Enlightenment Being was born in the city to a wealthy family which had 800 million crores, and he was named SanÄkha the Millionaire.
At the same time, there was another very wealthy millionaire in Benares, known as Piliya. They were friends, and kept in contact with one another.
At one point, the millionaire Piliya of Benares went bankrupt. Being in such a situation, he thought, “It is now a good time to go to see my friend SanÄkha. I can perhaps get some wealth from him to help maintain my position.” Thinking so, he left only with his wife. Leaving Benares on foot without even a vehicle, he came to the city of Rājagaha. He came to SanÄkha’s palace, and appeared before SanÄkha. SanÄkha welcomed him and asked him the reason for his coming. Piliya said, “I have become bankrupt and there is no where for me to live now. That is why I came to see you.” The millionaire SanÄkha said, “It is very good that you have come. Do not worry.” Saying so, he divided his wealth into two equal halves and gave Piliya 400 million crores from his wealth, together with servants and other necessities such as bullocks, cows, horses, elephants, chariots, and so forth. Treating him in this fashion, SanÄkha bade him to return home.
After a long time, SanÄkha fell into the same condition.
“I am now suffering because of my downfall. There is, though, my good friend Piliya to whom I have given half of my wealth. Therefore, now it is time to go to see my friend Piliya. He will help me at this time.” Thinking so, he went with his wife to Benares. He asked his wife to stay in an inn on the outskirts of the city while he went alone to see Piliya at Piliya’s house. Piliya, hearing of SanÄkha’s coming to his home, did not receive him well. When he came, he did not treat him with respect and did not even offer him a seat or chat with him in a friendly manner. He only asked the reason for his coming.
SanÄkha said, “I came to see you.” Piliya then asked, “Where are you staying?” SanÄkha said, “I have no place to stay.” On that very same day, there had arrived at Piliya’s home a thousand cartfuls of red rice. Not knowing the nature of gratitude, Piliya summoned a slave boy and said, “It is not good to send this man away empty handed. Therefore, measure him one measure of unhusked red rice and give it to this man.” He said to the millionaire SanÄkha, “Take this, cook it, and eat it anywhere you like. Do not come back to see me again.”
Hearing these words of Piliya, SanÄkha thought, “Do I take this or not?” Again he thought, “As I came here, it is not good to violate our friendship. Let whatever happens be. I will take it.” And he took the measure of unhusked red rice and went back to where his wife was. On seeing this, his wife said, “You have given him 400 million crores. Why did you take this measure of rice?” He said, “If I did not take this, there is no doubt I would have violated our friendship. Therefore, I brought it so as not to violate our friendship. Do not worry.” But SanÄkha’s wife started to cry. Meanwhile, one of SanÄkha’s former servants was passing nearby. He recognized the voices of the millionaire SanÄkha and of his wife who was crying. Recognizing them, he entered the inn and asked why SanÄkha’s wife was crying. She said, “We have given Piliya 400 million crores of wealth together with retinue. But when we are having a hard time, this man has given us a measure of unhusked red rice.” Then the former servant said, “Do not worry, your lordships. Come with me to my home.” He took them to his home. And after giving them baths, he gave them food and entertained them very well. Introducing them to his friends, he requested them to honor SanÄkha and his wife. He went together with all of them to the royal palace, and made a clamor on account of this matter. Then the king of Benares, on hearing this noise, inquired as to its cause. He summoned both the millionaires of Rājagaha and of Benares and questioned them. Listening to them both, first he asked SanÄkha, “What did you give Piliya in his hard time?” SanÄkha said, “400 million crores of wealth.” Then he asked Piliya, “Is it true?” Piliya said, “Yes.” Then he asked, “When he came to you, what did you give?” Piliya remained silent. Then the king said, “I heard that you have given one measure of unhusked rice. Is it true?” Again, Piliya remained silent.
Then the king and his ministers censured Piliya. The king said to the millionaire SanÄkha, “You can take all of his wealth.” The millionaire SanÄkha said, “Your majesty, I do not wish to take another’s wealth. The 400 million crores that I have given him before is enough for me. I do not need another’s wealth.” So he took his wealth, and the people whom he had given to Piliya, and went to the city of Rājagaha. There in Rājagaha he put his affairs in order, and he did many meritorious deeds such as charity and so forth for the benefit of others. At the end of his life, he passed on happily.
At that time, Devadatta was Piliya. And I who have attained Buddhahood was the millionaire SanÄkha.
The moral: “Gratitude is noble.”
#Buddhisttalesforyoungandold #Buddhiststories #storiesforkids #moralstories #Buddha #Jatakastories #PansiyaPanasJataka #JatakaTalesofSakyamuniBuddha #JatakaTales #SakyamuniBuddha’sPast
頂禮 H.H. 第三世多杰羌佛- 眾善奉行 
在〈131. The Story of an Ill-Treated Gift [Asampadāna-Jātaka]〉中有 1 則留言