Other Translations: Deutsch
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Jātaka Stories of Past Lives 5
Ekakanipāta The Book of the Ones
Apaṇṇakavagga Sure Bet
5. Taṇḍulanāḷijātaka A Cup of Rice: a past life story
“Kimagghati taṇḍulanāḷikāyaṁ, “Speak, O King: what value has a cup of rice Nāḷikā (“cup”) is literally a “tube” (of bamboo). SN 3.13:6.1 shows that a nāḷikā of rice was sufficient for a modest serving.
Assāna mūlāya vadehi rāja; for the pricing of horses?” The first two lines are spoken by horse traders, whose 500 horses were valued as a cup of rice. So they ask the king what is the value of a cup of rice when it comes to pricing horses. | The importance of correct valuation is attested by the detailed breakdowns in such texts as Arthaśāstra 2.19 and Manusmṛti 8.131–137.
Bārāṇasiṁ santarabāhirantaṁ, “He values a cup of rice
Ayamagghati taṇḍulanāḷikā”ti. at Varanasi with its suburbs!” These two lines record the derision of the court when told that a cup of rice is worth Varanasi with its suburbs. Note that the prose story attributes the foolish valuations to a king’s valuer of whom the verse makes no mention. Taking the verse on its own, it would appear to be the king himself who makes the false valuation.
Taṇḍulanāḷijātakaṁ pañcamaṁ.