Ja 94 The Story about the Bristling Hair
(Lomahaṁsajātaka)
In the present one monk leaves the Saṅgha in order to follow a false ascetic and goes round blaming the Buddha. The Buddha declares his own worthiness and tells how, in a past life, he had personally enquired into the heretic’s false doctrines and lived them to the full, before rejecting them (full story).
1. Sotatto sosindo ceva, eko bhiṁsanake vane,
Naggo na caggim-āsīno, esanāpasuto munī ti.
Scorched with heat, soaked with water, he’s alone in the terrifying woods, naked, not seated near the fire, the sage is engaged in the search.
In this connection, scorched with heat means completely scorched with the heat of the sun.
Soaked with water means completely drenched, soaked with cold water.
He’s alone in the terrifying woods, in that place where he entered for the most part his hair bristles, in such a terrying jungle, he’s alone, without a companion, this is the explanation.
Naked, not seated near the fire means he is naked and he is not seated near the fire. He is tormented by the cold because of never wearing a cloak or a robe, and not coming near to a fire, this is the explanation.
Engaged in the search means having developed the perception of the spiritual life in what is not the spiritual life, thinking: “Seeking, searching for the spiritual life as the means to attain the Brahmā Realm,” thus in seeking for that spiritual life he is engaged, practicing, committed to, have ambition for it, this is the explanation. The sage means: “The sage practices for the benefit of sagacity,” he is thus honoured by the world, this is the explanation.