Ja 212 The Story about the Left-Over Rice
(Ucchiṭṭhabhattajātaka)
In the present one monk longs for his former wife. The Buddha tells a story of the two of them in a former life, and how she served him up the leftover rice of her lover, and was not worthy of being attached to.
1. Añño uparimo vaṇṇo, añño vaṇṇo ca heṭṭhimo,
Brāhmaṇī tveva pucchāmi: kiṁ heṭṭhā, kiñ-ca upparī ti?
The appearance on top differs, the appearance below differs, brahminī I ask you: why is below cold, why is on top hot?
In this connection, the appearance means the form. This is questioning why on top is in a hot state, and below in a cold state, so he spoke.
Why is below cold, why is on top hot? The food that is served would normally be cold on top, and would be hot underneath, but here it is not so, because of that I ask you: “What is the reason the food is hot on top, and cold underneath?”
2. Ahaṁ naṭosmi bhaddante, bhikkhakosmi idhāgato,
Ayañ-hi koṭṭham-otiṇṇo, ayaṁ so yaṁ gavesasī ti.
I am an actor, venerable one, I have come here for almsfood, truly he descended into the storeroom, you must seek him there.
In this connection, I am an actor, venerable one, means master, I am an actor by nature.
I have come here for almsfood, I have come to this place seeking alms for almsfood.
Truly he descended into the storeroom, but her paramour is enjoying this food and has descended into your storeroom through fear.
You must seek him there, he who you ask about, because of these leftovers, ought to be sought for there.