Ja 142 The Story about the King of the Jackals
(Sigālajātaka)
In the present Devadatta goes round trying to kill the Buddha, who tells a story of the past in which a hunter had tried to fool a jackal into thinking he was dead so he could catch him, but had failed therein, and was destined for hell (full story).
1. Etañ-hi te durājānaṁ, yaṁ sesi matasāyikaṁ,
Yassa te kaḍḍhamānassa, hatthā daṇḍo na muccatī ti.
This is difficult to understand, you lie, lying as though dead, however, when tugging at you, your hands do not release the club.
In this connection, this is difficult to understand means for this reason, you are hard to make out.
You lie, lying as though dead, means because of this reason, you are lying as though dead, having become like a dead person, you lie.
When tugging at you means having taken hold of a corner of your club, while tugging you do not release the club from your hand, from that you are known as one who is not dead.