Ja 164 The Story about the Vulture (who supported his Mother)
(Gijjhajātaka)
In the present one monk supports his parents who have fallen into poverty and have no one left at home to support them. When the Buddha finds out he tells a story about a merchant who saved some vultures and how they repaid his good deed.
1. Yaṁ nu gijjho yojanasataṁ kuṇapāni avekkhati,
Kasmā jālañ-ca pāsañ-ca āsajjā pi na bujjhasī ti?
It is known a vulture can see corpses a hundred leagues away, why did you not know after arriving at the net and the snare?
In this connection, normally a vulture, having gone beyond a hundred leagues, can see, observe, stationary corpses, this is the meaning.
Offending means having offended, and also having arrived at, Āsajja has the dual meanings of knocking into, hence offending, and approaching closely, hence the definition. But here the latter meaning is more appropriate. this is the meaning. “After arriving at the net and the snare that were laid down for yourself, wherefore did you not know?” he asked.
2. Yadā parābhavo hoti poso jīvitasaṅkhaye,
Atha jālañ-ca pāsañ-ca āsajjā pi na bujjhati.
When a creature is in decline and life is coming to an end, then he does not know after arriving at the net and the snare.
In this connection, in decline means ruined.
A creature means a being.