Ja 211 The Story about (the Clever Son) Somadatta
(Somadattajātaka)
In the present one monk can hardly speak in front of two or three others because he is so nervous. The Buddha tells a story about a brahmin in the past who learned a verse for one whole year, and informed his son Somadatta, who took him to the king, but the father was so nervous he reversed the sense when reciting.
1. Akāsi yoggaṁ dhuvam-appamatto,
Saṁvaccharaṁ bīraṇathambhakasmiṁ.
Byākāsi saññaṁ parisaṁ vigayha,
Na niyyamo tāyati appapaññan-ti.
You practiced, and were constantly heedful, for a year, in the fragrant grass bushes. You changed the meaning in the assembly, the one of little wisdom did not preserve the sense.
In this connection, you practiced, and were constantly heedful, for a year, in the fragrant grass bushes, dear, you were always heedful, in the fragrant grass bushes in the charnel ground where you practiced.
You changed the meaning in the assembly, but having entered the assembly, you made the meaning opposite, produced a change, while reciting, this is the meaning.
The one of little wisdom did not preserve the sense, the person known as having little wisdom, did not preserve, did not protect, the customary sense he had practiced.
2. Dvayaṁ yācanako tāta Somadatta nigacchati:
Alābhaṁ dhanalābhaṁ vā, evaṁdhammā hi yācanā ti.
The one who begs, dear Somadatta, undergoes one of two things: he receives wealth or doesn’t receive, this is the nature of asking.
In this connection, this is the nature of asking means asking has this characteristic.