Ja 42 The Story about the Pigeon
(Kapotajātaka)
In the present one monk is very greedy and goes from supporter to supporter collecting food. The Buddha tells how this monk was also greedy in a previous life when, as a crow, he deceived his friend the pigeon in order to get access to a kitchen, which he stole from. But there the cook caught and plucked him and left him to die (full story).
1. Yo atthakāmassa, hitānukampino
Ovajjamāno na karoti sāsanaṁ,
Kapotakassa vacanaṁ akatvā,
Amittahatthatthagato va setī ti.
He who does not take the advice of one who seeks his good, though taught by those concerned for his welfare, like the one who heeded not the pigeon’s advice, he shall fall into the hands of his enemies.
In this connection, one who seeks his good means one wishing for his own development.
Those concerned for his welfare means for the one having concern for his welfare.
Taught means being taught with gentleness, with a mind seeking welfare.
Does not take the advice means does not follow instruction, being hard to speak to, one hard to advise.
In this connection, one who heeded not the pigeon’s advice means one who heeded not the beneficial advice of the pigeon.
He shall fall into the hands of his enemies means fallen Lit: go into. into the hands of enemies, who work for his harm, into the power and authority These two compounds are difficult, but this seems to be the meaning. Referring to this passage PED says (s.v. Hattha): As pp. hatth-attha-gata in somebody’s power; the second compound must be analoguous. of people who cause him suffering.
Like this crow, that person, after arriving at great disaster, continues to grieve. This seems to be an idiom in Pāḷi: present participle + verb of being = continues to do the action.