In the present one monk is very greedy in all his doings, troubling the supporters with his excessive needs. The Buddha tells a story of man who, in order to eat at the king’s table, told him he had a message for him. Having eaten his fill he spoke on how greed is driven by the belly’s need, thereby pleasing the king.

1. Yassatthā dūram-āyanti, amittam-api yācituṁ,
Tassūdarassahaṁ dūto, mā me kujjha rathesabha.

For his benefit they go far, even to beg an enemy, I am the envoy to his belly, don’t be angry, lord of cars.

2. Yassa divā ca ratto ca vasam-āyanti māṇavā,
Tassūdarassahaṁ dūto, mā me kujjha rathesabhā ti.

By day and by night they come under his belly’s control, young man, I am the envoy to his belly, don’t be angry, lord of cars.

In this connection, for his benefit they go far, for his benefit these beings, being under the control of craving, go far.

Lord of cars means the leader of the war cars.

3. Dadāmi te brāhmaṇa rohiṇīnaṁ,
Gavaṁ sahassaṁ saha puṅgavena,
Dūto hi dūtassa kathaṁ na dajjaṁ,
Mayam-pi tasseva bhavāma dūtā ti.

O brahmin, to you I give these red cows, a thousand cows together with their bull, what will an envoy not give an envoy, for we are surely an envoy to him.

In this connection, O brahmin, this is merely a vocative.

Red means red coloured.

Together with their bull, together with the leader of the herd, the bull who protects them from trouble.

For we, I and the rest, all beings, am an envoy to his belly, therefore being a belly-envoy to your belly-envoy, why would I not give? But having said that: “He spoke about a reason unheard before by that person,” satisfied at heart the king gave him great fame.

 

last updated: November 2022