Ja 20 Naḷapānajātaka
The Story about Cane Juice
In the present the monks find that the cane sticks their novices collect are useless, as they are hollow throughout. The Buddha tells how this came about in a previous life when through the power of the truth he determined it should be so.
1. Disvā padam-anuttiṇṇaṁ, disvānotaritaṁ padaṁ,
Seeing footsteps that didn’t cross, seeing footsteps that descended,
Naḷena vāriṁ pivissāma, neva maṁ tvaṁ vadhissasī ti. Cst prints these two lines “Naḷena ... vadhissasi,” as part of the explanation, but it clearly belongs to the verse.
We will drink the water with reeds, but you will surely not kill me.
Tassattho:
This is the meaning:
bhikkhave, so kapirājā,
monastics, the king of monkeys,
tassā pokkharaṇiyā ekam-pi uttiṇṇapadaṁ nāddasa,
did not see in that lake even one footprint that crossed over,
otaritaṁ pana otiṇṇapadam-eva addasa.
but he saw a footstep that descended.
Evaṁ disvā padaṁ anuttiṇṇaṁ, disvāna otaritaṁ padaṁ.
Thus seeing footsteps that didn’t cross, seeing footsteps that descended.
“Addhāyaṁ pokkharaṇī Amanussapariggahitā” ti, ñatvā,
Knowing: “For sure this lake is possessed by Amanussas,”
tena saddhiṁ sallapanto sapariso āha:
conversing with his group he said:
Naḷena vāriṁ pissāmā ti.
We will drink the water with reeds.
Tassattho: mayaṁ tava pokkharaṇiyaṁ naḷena pānīyaṁ pivissāmā ti.
This is the meaning: we will drink water with reeds from your lake.
Puna Mahāsatto āha:
Again the Great Being said:
Neva maṁ tvaṁ vadhissasī ti.
But you will surely not kill me.
Evaṁ naḷena pānīyaṁ pivantaṁ saparisam-pi
In this way drinking water with a reed together with my group
maṁ tvaṁ neva vadhissasī, ti attho.
you will never slaughter me, this is the meaning.