Ja 80 The Story about the Useless Giant Bhīmasena
(Bhīmasenajātaka)
In the present a monk lies about his family, fortune and fame, until he is discovered. The Buddha tells a story of a past life, in which the same person then called Bhīmasena sought to fool people into thinking he was a great hero, when in fact it was the Bodhisatta, who had been born in that life as a dwarf, who had really saved the people (full story).
1. Yaṁ te pavikatthitaṁ pure,
Atha te pūtisarā sajanti pacchā,
Ubhayaṁ na sameti Bhīmasena:
Yuddhakathā ca idañ-ca – te vihaññan-ti.
Whatever you boasted of beforehand, yet later you let loose a stinking mess, both are disagreeable, Bhīmasena: talk of war and now this – you are fatigued.
In this connection, whatever you boasted of beforehand means whatever you previously said: “Why, are you only a man, am I not a man, I am also a warrior in battle,” you boasted using this contemptuous word, having spoken this much.
Yet later you let loose a stinking mess means then, because of having the nature of stinking and of being defiled, the name stinking mess is acquired, they let loose, dispensed, oozed bodily excrement.
Later means the time remaining from when you boasted previously until now on this battlefield, this is the meaning.
Both are disagreeable, Bhīmasena means both of these, Bhīmasena, are not agreeable.
Which? Talk of war and now this – you are fatigued, you spoke of war-talk in the past, and now you are fatigued, weary, afflicted by the way you fouled an elephant’s back, this is the meaning.