Ja 118 The Story about the Starving Quail
(Vaṭṭakajātaka)
In the present one merchant’s son, previously a Brahmā god, is reluctant to get involved with women, sees his chance and ordains instead, quickly attaining release. The Buddha tells how a wise quail in the past escaped death by making himself unfit for consumption by starving himself (full story).
1. Nācintayanto puriso visesam-adhigacchati,
Cintitassa phalaṁ passa: muttosmi’ vadhabandhanā ti.
The unthinking person does not attain a distinction, but look at the fruit of the thoughtful one: I am free from bondage and death.
In this connection, this is the substance of it: the person, having come into suffering, thinks: “With this means for sure I will be free from this suffering,” unthinking he does not attain a distinction reckoned as free from suffering.
But now with me look at the fruit of the one whose action is thoughtful.
By this means I am free from bondage and death, from death and from bondage I am free.