Ja 111 The Question about the Ass
(Gadrabhapañha)
In the past This is an extract from Ja 542 Umaṅgajātaka. Mahosadha has proven his wisdom in being able to solve many problems, and the king decides to send for him to be his advisor. His chief advisor Senaka sets one more problem for Mahosadha to solve concerning an ass (full story).
1. Haṁsi tuvaṁ evaṁ maññasi seyyo,
Puttena pitā ti rājaseṭṭha,
Handassatarassa te ayaṁ?
Assatarassa hi gadrabho pitā ti.
If you think that the father is better than the son, foremost king, come, is this better than your mule? For the ass is the mule’s father.
This is the meaning: if you, foremost king, think like this in every place the father is better than the son, the ass is better than your mule. What is the reason? For the ass is the mule’s father.