Ja 183 The Story about (the Fibrous) Drink
(Vālodakajātaka)
In the present many householders who attained the paths and fruits live with the Buddha, and attend his meals. These behave properly, but their attendants are loud and rude. The Buddha tells a story of thoroughbreds who were given strong drink but maintained their dignity, and donkeys who, being given the leftovers of that drink, became unruly.
1. Vālodakaṁ apparasaṁ nihīnaṁ,
Pitvā mado jāyati gadrabhānaṁ.
Imañ-ca pitvāna rasaṁ paṇītaṁ
Mado na sañjāyati sindhavānan-ti.
This fibrous water, tasteless, inferior, drinking it, the donkeys became tipsy. Whereas after drinking this fine liquor the thoroughbreds did not become tipsy.
In this connection, this fibrous water means filtered water with fiber.
Inferior means it is inferior with the characteristic of having an inferior taste.
Did not become means the thoroughbreds did not become tipsy. What indeed is the reason? he asks.
2. Appaṁ pivitvāna nihīnajacco
So majjatī tena janinda puṭṭho.
Dhorayhasīlī ca, kulamhi jāto,
Na majjatī aggarasaṁ pivitvā ti.
Having drunk just a little the low man taking it becomes drunk, leader of men. The patient one, born in good family, drinking the finest drink doesn’t get drunk.
In this connection, taking that ... leader of men, leader of men, supreme king, he who is a low man, having the condition of being a lowborn man by taking that becomes drunk, becomes very drunk.
The patient one, the patient one, endowed with the behaviour of one who bears the burden, of thoroughbred birth.
The finest drink, firstly, having taken a drink of tasty wine, even then he does not get drunk.