Other Translations: Deutsch
From: ,
Jātaka Stories of Past Lives 16
Ekakanipāta The Book of the Ones
Sīlavagga Ethics
6. Tipallatthamigajātaka The Triply Collapsed Deer: a past life story
“Migaṁ tipallatthamanekamāyaṁ, “About that deer—triply collapsed with many illusions, The deer attentively learns the ruses of deer. | I understand the first two lines as accusative of relation.
Aṭṭhakkhuraṁ aḍḍharattāpapāyiṁ; eight-hooved, a midnight drinker—Here aṭṭha chimes with aḍḍha. Perhaps the sense is that the dainty tread of the cloven hooves make little sound.
Ekena sotena chamāssasanto, he’s breathing on the ground through one nostril!
Chahi kalāhitibhoti bhāgineyyo”ti. Excelling with these six tricks, he deserves a chance.” Here kalā means “trick, deceit”. | Chahi kalāhi here chimes with sattahi kālāti in the previous verse. The “six tricks” are the three ways of playing dead, the eight hooves, sneaking a drink at midnight, and breathing through one nostril. How eight hooves is a ruse is unclear, but its central role suggests it was the kernel of the two verses. | Commentary takes bhāgineyyo in its usual sense of “nephew”, but I think it is from bhāgin by analogy with dakkhiṇeyyo, “one who deserves a share”.
Tipallatthamigajātakaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.