Ja 160 The Story about the Crossbreed
(Vinīlakajātaka)
In the present Devadatta tries to imitate the Buddha. The Buddha tells a story of a crossbreed bird called Vinīlaka who tried to lord it over his pure bred peers. When he sees the king of Videha in his chariot he boasts about himself, but is soon sent to the dunghill for his troubles.
1. Evam-eva nūna rājānaṁ Vedehaṁ Mithilaggahaṁ,
Assā vahanti ājaññā, yathā haṁsā Vinīlakan-ti.
So, what if the king of Videha, of the house of Mithilā, is carried on his thoroughbred horses, so Vinīlaka is carried on geese.
In this connection, what if is a dubitative particle. It is also suitable as an emphatic. The commentator is unsure whether we should take nūna as a dubitative, or as an emphatic. It may have either meaning.
Of Videha means the lord of the kingdom of Videha.
The house of Mithilā means the house of Mithilā, having taken possession of the house of Mithilā, dwelling there, this is the meaning.
Thoroughbred means knowing what is and what is not the task. This definition plays on the ambiguity of the formation of the word ājañña, normally taken as from ā + √jan + ya (best born), the form is taken as though from ā + √ñā + ā (best knowledge).
So Vinīlaka is carried on the geese, so these geese carry me, Vinīlaka, just so do they carry me.
2. Vinīla duggaṁ bhajasi, abhūmiṁ tāta sevasi,
Gāmantakāni sevassu, etaṁ mātālayaṁ tavā ti.
Vinīla, you came to a pass, no place, my dear, for you to come, you should go to the edges of the village, that’s your mother’s nest.
In this connection, Vinīla, he calls on him by name. Names in Pāḷi are often found in the form name+ka, which is a diminutive, and an affectionate way of addressing someone.
You came to a pass means due to these geese you came to a mountain pass.
No place, my dear, for you to come, my dear, normally the rugged mountains is no place for you, but here you came, you reached.
That’s your mother’s nest means the end of the village, the dunghill, the charnel grounds, there is your mother’s nest, house, residence, there you should go.