Ja 93 The Story about Using Things on Trust
(Vissāsabhojanajātaka)
In the present the monks use requisites given by their relatives without circumspection, which the Buddha says is wrong and is like taking poison. He then tells a story of the past when a lion was tricked into licking a doe that had had poison spread over it, and so died (full story).
1. Na vissase avissatthe, vissatthe pi na vissase,
Vissāsā bhayam-anveti, sīhaṁ va migamātukā ti.
Do not trust the untrustworthy, in the trustworthy do not trust, there is danger following trust, like the lion and the hare-deer. Not in PED. CPED: a hoofed animal of the size of a cat. Sinh. mīninnā; SED says (s.v. mgamātkā): a kind of red-coloured hare like deer.
In this connection, this is a summary of the meaning: He who previously was fearful, untrustworthy in himself, that person is untrustworthy, also he who previously was fearless, trustworthy in himself, in that person, in the trustworthy do not trust, you should never place your trust.
What is the reason? There is danger following trust, he who trusts in friends and enemies, from that comes into danger.
How? Like the lion and the hare-deer, just as, because of being friends and companions, having placed his trust, the lion who came near the hare-deer, followed, came to, arrived at danger, this is the meaning. Just as, because of trust, the lion followed, came to the hare-deer, this is also the meaning.