Ja 43 The Story about the Viper Veḷuka
(Veḷukajātaka)
In the present one monk is disobedient and wilful. The Buddha tells a story about a previous life in which he had kept a viper called Veḷuka as a pet, and even when advised against it, kept him on anyway. One day the viper turned on him and killed him (full story).
1. Yo atthakāmassa, hitānukampino
Ovajjamāno na karoti sāsanaṁ,
Evaṁ so nihato seti, Veḷukassa yathā pitā ti.
He who does not take the advice of one who seeks his good, though taught by those concerned for his welfare, are in this way destroyed, like Veḷuka’s father.
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, are in this way destroyed, just like the ascetic not taking the advice of the seers, after becoming infected through the mouth of the poisonous snake, one is destroyed. Thus after arriving at great disaster, he was destroyed, this is the meaning.