Ja 70 The Story about the Wise Kuddāla
(Kuddālajātaka)
In the present one monk ordains and disrobes six times before finally becoming an Arahat during his seventh ordination. The Buddha tells how in a previous life he too had renounced the ascetic life six times before eventually attaining his goal (full story).
1. Na taṁ jitaṁ sādhu jitaṁ, yaṁ jitaṁ avajīyati,
Taṁ kho jitaṁ sādhu jitaṁ, yaṁ jitaṁ nāvajīyatī ti.
That victory isn’t a good victory, that victory which can be undone, that victory is a good victory, that victory which can’t be undone.
In this connection, that victory isn’t a good victory, that victory which can be undone, having defeated one’s enemies, one has victory over the kingdom, but when that is undone by enemies, that victory is certainly not a good victory.
Why? Because it is undone again.
Another method: success is said to be victory. After going to war with one’s enemies, and acquiring success, while subduing them there is defeat, it is not good, not proper.
Why? Because there is defeat.
That victory is a good victory, that victory which can’t be undone, having crushed one’s enemies, that victory is not undone by them, whoever has once gained victory, but not been defeated, that victory is good, that victory is proper, that victory is certainly good and proper.
Why? Because it is not undone again.
Therefore you, great king, one hundred times, one thousand times, one hundred thousand times, having victory, you are still not called a true soldier in battle.
What is the reason? Your own defilements are undefeated.
But whoever has once defeated his own internal defilements, this one is the supreme soldier at the battle front.
While sitting in the sky, through the Buddha’s grace, he taught the Dhamma to the king. But here is the Supreme Soldier at the Battle Front speaking: Dhp 103.
“One may conquer a thousand men a thousand times in a battle,
But having conquered one’s own self, one would be supreme in battle.”
This discourse is effective.