2. The Section with Two Verses
(Dukanipāto)
Ja 151 The Story about the Advice to a King
(Rājovādajātaka)
In the present the king of Kosala, sits impartially in court judging the cases, before going to see the Buddha and declaring his acts. The Buddha tells a story of two just kings of old, Brahmadatta and Ballika, and how precedence was decided when they met on a bridge one day.
1. Daḷhaṁ daḷhassa khipati, Balliko, mudunā muduṁ,
Sādhum-pi sādhunā jeti, asādhum-pi asādhunā,
Etādiso ayaṁ rājā, maggā uyyāhi sārathī ti.
He pits the strong against the strong, Ballika, the soft with softness, the good overcomes with goodness, the bad overcomes with badness, of such a kind is this our king, get off the path, charioteer.
In this connection, he pits the strong against the strong, he who is strong should conquer with powerful blows or with words. At him he throws a strong blow or word. Thus having become strong, he conquers him, this is the explanation.
Ballika, this is the king’s name.
The soft with softness, the soft person, himself becoming soft, conquers with soft means.
The good overcomes with goodness, those who are good people, themselves becoming good, he overcomes with good means.
The bad overcome with badness, but those who are bad, themselves becoming bad, he overcomes with bad means, this is the explanation.
Of such a kind is this our king, this our Kosala king is such, through his virtuous manner.
Get off the path, charioteer! Having driven his chariot from the path, get off, go to the side of the path, give the path to our king, this is what is said.
2. Akkodhena jine kodhaṁ, asādhuṁ sādhunā jine,
Jine kadariyaṁ dānena, saccenālikavādinaṁ,
Etādiso ayaṁ rājā, maggā uyyāhi sārathī ti!
He overcomes anger with non-anger, overcomes bad with goodness, overcomes stinginess with a gift, and lying speech with the truth, of such a kind is this our king, get off the path, charioteer!
In this connection, of such a kind, because of beginning with these overcome anger with non-anger, being endowed with virtue, as stated. For this angry person, himself becoming non-angry, he overcomes with non-anger, but the bad, himself becoming good, overcomes stinginess and stubborn selfishness with good means. Himself becoming a giver, he overcomes with a gift.
And lying speech with the truth, himself becoming a truth sayer, the liar he overcomes with truth.
Get off the path, charioteer! Dear charioteer, turn aside from the path, give the path to our king, who is of such a kind: virtuous in living, and devoted to virtue, for the path is suitable for our king.