Ja 168 The Story about the Falcon
(Sakuṇagghijātaka)
In the present the Buddha teaches the monks a discourse outlining their proper objectives, and what to avoid. He then tells a story of the past in which a quail was caught by a falcon, but managed to escape him when on home ground.
1. Seno balasā patamāno lāpaṁ gocaraṭhāyinaṁ,
Sahasā ajjhappatto va, maraṇaṁ tenupāgamī ti.
A hawk diving with force on a quail standing in its pasture grounds, swooped down on him with violence, and came to death because of that.
In this connection, diving with force, thinking: “I will grab that quail,” diving with force, with strength.
Standing in its pasture grounds, having gone out from its own sphere, for the purpose of seeking food, standing, at the edge of the wilderness.
Swooped down means arrived at.
Came to death because of that, through that reason he encountered death.
2. Sohaṁ nayena sampanno, pettike gocare rato,
Apetasattu modāmi, sampassaṁ attham-attano ti.
Having succeeded with my plan, I delight in my fathers’ grounds, now rid of my foe I rejoice, considering my own welfare.
In this connection, with my plan means with skillful means.
My own welfare means having developed what is reckoned as his own well-being.