Nội dung dưới đây được dịch tự động. Có thể chưa hoàn toàn chính xác về thuật ngữ Phật học. Vui lòng tham chiếu bản gốc tiếng Anh hoặc Pāli để đối chiếu.
Câu chuyện Bổn Sanh số 246 về những tấm gương trí tuệ và sự trung kiên của Bồ Tát. Qua đó nhắn nhủ hành giả hãy kiên định trên con đường đạo đức, dập tắt tham sân si để đạt đến sự an lạc nội tại.
“Hantvā chetvā vadhitvā ca,
deti dānaṁ asaññato;
Edisaṁ bhattaṁ bhuñjamāno,
sa pāpena upalippati”.
“Puttadārampi ce hantvā,
Deti dānaṁ asaññato;
Bhuñjamānopi sappañño,
Na pāpena upalippatī”ti.
Bālovādajātakaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.
“The wicked kills,” etc.—This is a story which the Master told while staying in his gabled chamber near Vesali, about Sihasenapati.
It is said that this man, after he had fled to the Refuge, offered hospitality and then gave food with meat in it. The naked ascetics on hearing this were angry and displeased; they wanted to do the Buddha a mischief; “The priest Gotama,” sneered they, “with his eyes open, eats meat prepared on purpose for him.”
The Brethren discussed this matter in their Hall of Truth: “Friend, Nathaputta the Ascetic goes about sneering, because, he says, ‘Priest Gotama eats meat prepared on purpose for him, with his eyes open’.” Hearing this, the Master rejoined—“This is not the first time, Brethren, that Nathaputta has been sneering at me for eating meat which was got ready for me on purpose; he did just so in former times. And he told them an old-world tale.
Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a brahmin. When he came of age he embraced the religious life.
He came down from Himalaya to get salt and seasoning, and next day walked the city, begging alms. A certain wealthy man designed to annoy the ascetic. So he brought him to his dwelling, and pointed out a seat, and then served him with fish. After the meal, the man sat on one side, and said,
“This food was prepared on purpose for you, by killing living creatures. Not upon my head is this wrong, but upon yours!” And he repeated the first stanza—
“The wicked kills, and cooks, and gives to eat:
He is defiled with sin that takes such meat.”
PTS vp Pali 263 On hearing this, the Bodhisatta recited the second stanza—
“The wicked may for gift slay wife or son,
Yet, if the holy eat, no sin is done.” PTS vp En 183
And the Bodhisatta with these words of instruction rose from his seat and departed.
This discourse ended, the Master identified the Birth: “Nathaputta, the Naked Ascetic was this wealthy man, and I was the ascetic.”