In the present a monk is seduced by a sensual young woman. When the Buddha finds out he tells a story of how an ox envied a pig, until he found out the pig was being fattened for slaughter, then he became satisfied with his lot.

1. Mā Sālūkassa pihayi, āturannāni bhuñjati,
Appossukko bhusaṁ khāda, etaṁ dīghāyulakkhaṇaṁ.

Do not envy Sālūka, For this verse cf. Ja 30 Munikajātaka. he eats food ending in misery, being unconcerned eat your chaff, that is the mark of a long life.

2. Idāni so idhāgantvā, atithī yuttasevako
Atha dakkhasi Sālūkaṁ sayantaṁ musaluttaran-ti.

Now, after coming here, strangers together with their attendant will see Sālūka lying down and with his grinder facing up.

In this connection, this is the meaning in brief: dear, you must not wish for the pig Sālūka’s state, truly he eats the food of death ending in misery, after eating it, in no long time he will reach death.

But you, being unconcerned, regardless, having obtained for yourself, eat this straw-mixed chaff. That is the mark, sign, characteristic of the state of a long life.

Now, after a few days, a wedding-guest together with a large assembly, and together with his attendant, being strangers here, will come, then this Sālūka, who is endowed with an upper lip that resembles a grinder, you will see killed with his grinder facing up.

3. Vikantaṁ sūkaraṁ disvā sayantaṁ musaluttaraṁ,
Jaraggavā vicintesuṁ: ‘Varamhākaṁ bhusām-ivā ti.’

Seeing the pig lying all cut up with his grinder facing up, the old bulls did think: ‘Our chaff is comparatively excellent.’

In this connection, comparatively excellent means our chaff is most excellent, the best, this is the meaning.

 

last updated: November 2022