In the present a nephew of Anāthapiṇḍika’s loses all the money ever given to him, and dies in a sorry state. The Buddha tells a story of a past life in which the same person had been given a lucky cup by Sakka, but had been careless and broken it, and died in poverty.

1. Sabbakāmadadaṁ kumbhaṁ kuṭaṁ laddhāna dhuttako,
Yāva naṁ anupāleti, tāva so sukham-edhati.

A villain received a water jar that gave all that was desired, as long as he protected it, that far his happiness flourished.

2. Yadā matto ca ditto ca, pamādā kumbham-abbhidā,
Tadā naggo ca pottho ca, pacchā bālo vihaññati.

When, intoxicated and wanton, from heedlessness he broke the jar, then, being naked and poor, the fool afterwards suffered hardship.

3. Evam-eva yo dhanaṁ laddhā, pamatto paribhuñjati,
Pacchā tappati dummedho, kuṭaṁ bhitvā va dhuttako ti.

So he who, having received wealth, being heedless makes use of it, later that stupid one suffers, like the villain who broke the pot.

In this connection, gave all that was desired, the jar was able to give all objects of sensuality.

Water jar, this is a synonym for a water jar. Both khumbaṁ and kuṭaṁ are used in the line, but they have equivalent meanings so only need to be translated once.

As long as means for as much time as.

He protected means whoever, having received such an item, as far as he protected it, that far his happiness flourished, this is the meaning.

Intoxicated and wanton means intoxicated with liquor and wanton with arrogance.

He broke the pot from heedlessness means he broke the jar through heedlessness.

Being naked and poor means sometimes he was naked, sometimes he was poor being dressed in old clothes and fibre.

Being heedless means with heedlessness.

Suffers means grieves.

 

last updated: November 2022