Ja 23 The Story about the Well-Bred Horse
(Bhojājānīyajātaka)
In the present a monk easily gives up striving, to encourage him the Buddha tells a story of a warhorse who strove on and helped capture seven enemy kings for his own king, even though it eventually cost him his life. He also ensured justice for the captors (full story).
1. Api passena semāno, sallebhi sallalīkato,
Seyyo va vaḷavā bhojjho, yuñja maṁ yeva sārathī ti.
Though lying on my side, and pierced by arrows, a well-bred horse beats a mare, harness me, driver.
In this connection, though lying on my side means though lying down on one side.
Pierced by arrows means being struck with arrows.
A well-bred horse beats a mare. A mare means an inferior horse born to a Sindh horse family. SED s.v. vaḍaba, says: m. (also written vaḍava, baḍava, baḍaba) a male horse resembling a mare (and therefore attracting the stallion) Vait. A well-bred horse means a well-bred Sindh horse. Thus compared to a mare struck with arrows a well-bred Sindh horse is better, finer, superior.
Harness me, driver, since when walking I am better, therefore harness me up, put on my armour, is said.