Ja 131 The Story about the Miser
(Asampadānajātaka)
In the present the monks are talking about Devadatta’s lack of gratitude. The Buddha tells how, in a past life, he had been Devadatta’s beneficiary, but when asked to reciprocate the latter had scorned him. When the king heard, he rectified the situation (full story).
1. Asampadānen’ itarītarassa,
Bālassa mittāni kalībhavanti,
Tasmā harāmi bhusaṁ aḍḍhamānaṁ,
Mā me mitti jīyittha sassatāyan-ti.
Because of not sharing with anyone, to a fool, friends are a source of distress, so I accept his half-measure of chaff, do not let me be deprived of his friendship forever.
In this connection, because of not sharing means because of not sharing. Again this is rather curious, there is no such word as sampādāna, or even pādāna, whereas sampadāna, is a frequently occurring word.
With anyone means with anyone, either inferior or superior.
To a fool, friends are a source of distress, to a stupid person, wtihout wisdom, friends are distressing, they are like bad luck, they destroy one’s wealth, Bhijjhati is a passive verb, but seems, by context, to be used with active sense here. this is the meaning.
So I accept his half-measure of chaff, because of this, a tumba of chaff given by my friend, I accept, take, this is the explanation. A measure means what is known as eight nāḷi, four of which is a half-measure, four nāḷi are known as a tumba. As we can see from the above, a nāḷi is a small measure, a tumba = 4 nāli, and a māna = 8 nāḷi, or two tumba. Because of this a tumba of chaff is said.
Do not let me be deprived of his friendship forever, do not let me break friendship with my friend forever, this is the meaning.