Jataka 165
Nakula Jātaka
The Mongoose
as told by Eric Van Horn
originally translated by William Henry Denham Rouse, Cambridge University
originally edited by Professor Edward Byles Cowell, Cambridge University
This is a simple story about making peace between two quarreling people and the uselessness of arguing.
“Creature, your egg-born enemy.” The Master told this story during a stay at Jetavana. It is about two noblemen who were always quarreling. The circumstances have been given above in the Uraga Birth (Jātaka 154). Here, as before, the Master said, “This is not the first time, monks, that I have resolved a dispute between these two nobles. In former times I reconciled them as well.” Then he told this story from the past.
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was the King of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a certain village into a brahmin family. When he came of age, he was educated at Takkasilā University. Then, renouncing the world, he became a recluse. He cultivated the Five Faculties (faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, wisdom) and the Attainments (the jhānas). He lived in the region of the Himalaya Mountains, eating wild roots and fruits that he picked up in his wanderings.
At the end of his cloistered walk lived a mongoose in an anthill. And not far off, a snake lived in a hollow tree. These two, the snake and the mongoose, were always quarreling. The Bodhisatta talked to them about the misery of quarreling and the blessing of peace. He tried to reconcile the two together, saying, “You should stop quarreling and live together in peace.”
When the serpent was away, the mongoose lay with his head out of the hole in his anthill with his mouth open. In that way he fell asleep, heavily breathing in and out. The Bodhisatta saw him sleeping there. He asked him, “Why, what are you afraid of?” and he repeated the first stanza:
“Creature, your egg-born enemy a faithful friend is made,
Why sleep you there with teeth all bare? Of what are you afraid?”
“Father,” the mongoose said, “never despise a former enemy, but always suspect him,” and he repeated the second stanza:
“Never despise an enemy nor ever trust a friend.
A fear that springs from unfeared things uproots and makes an end.”
“Do not be afraid,” the Bodhisatta replied. “I have persuaded the snake not to harm you. Do not mistrust him anymore.” With this advice, he proceeded to cultivate the Four Brahma-vihāras (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity), and in time was reborn in Brahma’s heaven. And the others too passed away to fare according to their karma.
Figure: The Mongoose Receives Wise Advise
Then this lesson ended, the Master identified the birth: “The two noblemen were at that time the snake and the mongoose, and I was the recluse.”
