The Jataka, Vol. IV, tr. by W.H.D. Rouse, [1901], at sacred-texts.com
No. 507.
MAHĀ-PALOBHANA-JĀTAKA.
"From Brahma's heaven," etc.—This story the Master told while dwelling in Jetavana, about the defilement of the sanctified. The circumstances have already been given. Here again said the Master, "Women cause defilement even in sanctified souls," and then told this story of the past.
[469] Once upon a time in Benares—here the story of the past is to be expanded as in the Culla-palobhana Birth 1. Now once again the Great Being came down from Brahma's world as the King of Kāsi's son, and his name was Prince Anitthi-gandha, the Woman-hater. In the hands of a woman he would not be; they must needs dress as men to give him the breast; he dwelt in a closet of meditation, and never a woman he saw. 2
To explain this, the Master repeated four stanzas.
"To Brahma's heaven no deed of lust, no mention, ever came: "Within the palace he had made a closet all his own, "The King, grown anxious for his son, laments to know him there:
As a King's son whose every wish was law, he had his birth.
So born into this world, the prince now loathed its very name.
Where deep in meditation plunged he passed his days alone.
One only son I have, and he for pleasures will not care."
The fifth stanza describes the king's lamentation:
Who'll teach him joys of love to crave, and who can him entice?"
The next stanza and half a stanza, are those of perfect wisdom:
She knew a world of pretty songs, and well could dance and spin.
This maiden sought his majesty, and thus she did begin."
[470] The other line is spoken by the young girl:
The king made answer to the maid, and thus and thus said he:
The king now gave orders that all opportunity should be afforded her, and sent her to attend upon the prince. In the morning, taking her lute she went and stood just without the prince's sleeping chamber, and touching the lute with her finger-tips tried to tempt him by singing in a sweet voice.
To explain this, the Master said:
"There as the maiden stood and sang, the prince, who heard the sound, "What is that sound of melody that comes to me so clear, "A maid, your highness, fair to see, of dalliance infinite: "Ho, hither, nearer let her come, and let her sing yet more, "She who had sung without the wall stood in the chamber there: "He felt the joy of love, and lo! see jealousy full-grown: "No other man, but I alone!" he cries; and then away— [471] "The people shouting in alarm all to the palace fly: "Him did the warrior King arrest, and banish from his face: "He took his wife and travelled on till by the sea he stood "A holy hermit flying came over the ocean high, "The woman tempted him:— now see how vile a thing was done! "The evening came; the prince returns, and from his gleaning brings "The hermit sees the prince approach: down to the shore goes he, "But when the prince beheld the sage down-sinking in the sea, "Hither not sailing on the sea, by magic power you came, "Seducing traitresses, they tempt the holiest to his fall: "Soft-speaking, hard to satisfy, as rivers hard to fill; "And whomsoever they may serve for gold or for desire, "The hermit heard the prince's word; he loathed the world so vain:
Sang ditties sweet and languishing, to pierce a lover's heart.
Straight fell in fancy, and he asked the servants waiting round—
Piercing the heart with thoughts of love, delightful to my ear?"
Wouldst thou enjoy the sweets of love, yield, yield to this delight."
Here let her sing before my face within my closet door!'
She caught him, as an elephant is caught in woodland snare.
"No other man shall love!" cries he, "but I will love alone!"
Seizes a sword, and runs amuck all other men to slay!
"Thy son is slaying every one all unprovoked!" they cry.
"Within the boundaries of my realm thou shalt not find a place."
There built a hut of leaves, and lived on gleanings from the wood.
Entered the hut what time the meal was standing ready by.
He fell from chastity, and all his magic power was gone!
Hung to his pole a plenteous store of roots and wild-wood things.
Thinking to travel through the air, but sinks into the sea!
Pity sprang up within him, and these verses then said he:—
But now you sink; an evil wife has brought you to this shame 1.
Down—down they sink: who women know should flee afar from all 2.
Down—down they sink: who women know should flee far from them still 2.
They burn him up, as fuel burns cast in a blazing fire." 2
Turned to his former Path 3, and rose up in the air again.
"Then, turned religious, wholly quelled his lust and hot desire;
He grieved and with a purpose firm the holy life he chose;
And passion quelled, to Brahma's world henceforth he did aspire."
[473] This discourse ended, the Master said, "Thus, Brethren, for woman's sake even sanctified souls do sin;" then he declared the Truths: (now at the conclusion of the Truths, the backsliding Brother achieved sainthood:) after which he identified the Birth, saying, "At that time I myself was Prince Anitthigandha."
Footnotes
291:1 No. 263, vol. ii. p. 227 of this translation.
291:2 Reading, as Fausball suggests, agacchat’ orena.
292:1 These are the same as the first two stanza, ii. 228 (translation).
292:2 These are the same as the first six lines, ii. 226 (translation).
292:3 That is, he returned to the Path of holiness.