Other Translations: Deutsch
From: ,
Jātaka Stories of Past Lives 78
Ekakanipāta The Book of the Ones
Varuṇavagga The Warding Tree
8. Illisajātaka Herring, the Miser: a past life story
“Ubho khañjā ubho kuṇī, Both are lame, both crippled, A rich man was so miserly that Sakka took on his form, crippled though it was, to open the miser’s vaults for the people. The king is asked to adjudicate his case, but cannot tell which is which.
ubho visamacakkhukā; both cross-eyed,
Ubhinnaṁ piḷakā jātā, and both covered in warts:
nāhaṁ passāmi illisan”ti. I see not which is Herring. The rich man was named after the Ilish herring (illisa). This is still popular for eating in modern times, and as a result is threatened by overfishing, pollution, and global warming. | The commentary repeatedly calls him “miserly” (macchariya), suggesting that his name arose as a play on “fish” (maccha). His misadventures, in fact, were sparked by seeing a man eating rotten fish (pūtimacchaka).
Illisajātakaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.