Ja 225 The Story in Praise of Patience
(Khantivaṇṇanajātaka)
In the present a courtier had an affair in the king of Kosala’s harem, and the king asked the Buddha advice as to what he should do. The Buddha told a story of courtier who was intriguing in the harem, while his attendant was intriguing with his own wife! When he complained about the attendant the king explained his own course of action was to be patient.
1. Atthi me puriso, deva, sabbakiccesu byāvaṭo,
Tassa cekoparādhatthi, tattha tvaṁ kinti maññasī ti?
There is a person for me, king, who’s concerned with all the duties, and this one, he has an offence, what do you think about this case?
In this connection, and this one, he has an offence, and this person has an offence.
What do you think about this case? what do you think should be done about this case in which this person has an offence? In whatever way it comes to your mind, Lit: in whatever way your mind arises, which is not idiomatic in English. that will be a suitable punishment to impose on him, this is the explanation.
2. Amhākam-patthi puriso, ediso idha vijjati,
Dullabho aṅgasampanno, khanti-r-asmāka’ ruccatī ti.
For us also there is a person, such a person here is found, rare are those endowed with these qualities, for us we like patience.
This is the meaning: for our king there is such a one who is very helpful in the house, but he is a offending person, he can be found here, now also he can be found here, we officers tolerate him referring to his great help, but also you who are not a king, must carry this burden of toleration. Endowed with qualities, endowed with all these virtuous components, that person is known as rare, for this reason our liking is for patience and toleration in such a position.