Ja 239 The Story about the Green Frog
(Haritamātajātaka)
In the present Ajātasattu, after killing his father, finds himself at war with his uncle, and victory goes back and forth. The Buddha tells a story of a water snake who used to eat fish, but when caught in a fish trap, was set upon and killed by the fish.
1. Āsīvisam-pi maṁ santaṁ paviṭṭhaṁ kumināmukhaṁ,
Ruccate haritāmātā yaṁ maṁ khādanti macchakā ti.
Though a poisonous snake, when I entered the mouth of the fish trap, the green frog found satisfaction when the little fish did bite me.
In this connection, though a poisonous snake means having poison that enters quickly.
The green frog found satisfaction when the little fish did bite me, the son of a green frog found satisfaction with this, this is what is said.
2. Vilumpateva puriso yāvassa upakappati,
Yadā caññe vilumpanti, so vilutto vilumpatī ti.
A man will steal for as long as it is of benefit to him, but when the others steal, the one stealing is the one stolen from.
In this connection, a man will steal for as long as it is of benefit to him, for as long as a person’s wealth benefits, succeeds, thrives, for that long he steals from another. As long as he benefits is another reading. For however much time it is possible for a person to steal, this is the meaning.
But when the others steal means but when others, having become wealthy, steal.
The one stealing is the one stolen from means then the thief is stolen from by others.
They also read vilumpanaṁ, are stealing, This seems to be a present participle. but this meaning is not suitable.
So the thief becomes the one stolen from.