Ja 49 Nakkhattajātaka
The Story about the Constellations
In the present a family agrees to marry their son off and picks a day, then asks their family ascetic if it is auspicious. Peeved that they didn’t consult him before setting the day, he tells them it is inauspicious. The other family, disappointed on the day, marry her off to another. The Buddha hearing of it, tells how the same thing had happened to the same people in a past life.
1. Nakkhattaṁ patimānentaṁ attho bālaṁ upaccagā,
While waiting on (his) lucky stars, benefit passes the fool by,
Attho atthassa nakkhattaṁ, kiṁ karissanti tārakā ti?
Benefit is benefit’s lucky star, what can the stars achieve?
Tattha,
In this connection, while waiting,
olokentaṁ: “Idāni nakkhattaṁ bhavissati,
looking round, thinking: “Now there will be lucky stars,
idāni nakkhattaṁ bhavissatī” ti, āgamayamānaṁ.
now there will be lucky stars,” while waiting.
Attho bālaṁ upaccagā ti,
Benefit passes the fool by,
etaṁ nagaravāsikaṁ bālaṁ dārikāpaṭilābhasaṅkhāto attho atikkanto.
benefit, such as receiving this girl, is passing this city-dwelling fool by.
Attho atthassa nakkhattan-ti yaṁ atthaṁ pariyesanto carati,
Benefit is benefit’s lucky star means whoever lives seeking good,
so paṭiladdho attho va, atthassa nakkhattaṁ nāma.
he receives back good, which is known as benefit’s lucky star.
Kiṁ karissanti tārakā ti itare pana ākāse tārakā kiṁ karissanti?
What can the stars achieve means what can the stars in the sky do?
Kataraṁ atthaṁ sādhessantī? ti attho.
Which benefit (actually) succeeds? this is the meaning.