Ja 106 The Story about the Bucket
(Udañcanijātaka)
In the present a monk is seduced by a sensual young woman. When the Buddha finds out he tells a story of how the same person in a previous life had been seduced by a young woman, but had become dissatisfied with the lay life and had returned to his ascetic state (full story).
1. Sukhaṁ vata maṁ jīvantaṁ, pacamānā udañcanī
Corī jāyappavādena, telaṁ loṇañ-ca yācatī ti.
I was surely living happily, torturing me with a bucket that thief, supposedly my wife, entreated me for both oil and salt.
In this connection, I was surely living happily, father, in your presence I was living happily.
Torturing means mortifying, molesting, or, whatever she likes to consume, that tortures me.
They pull water from there with a bucket, This is a kind of folk-lore etymology, combining the words udakaṁ añcanti to give udañcanī. or with a jar, or with a tank, or baling water with what is known as a bowl. She is like a bucket, like a bowl that is needed for water, whatever is needed, he has to bring it along, this is the meaning.
That thief, supposedly my wife, having the name of a wife, the thief flattered me with sweet words, having led me there, she desired both oil and salt and other things, all of these she entreated me for, having made me like a slave or like a worker, she made me bring them, this speaks of her lack of virtue.