Jataka 315
Maṃsa Jātaka
The Hunter’s Venison
as told by Eric Van Horn
originally translated by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil, Cambridge University
originally edited by Professor Edward Byles Cowell, Cambridge University
This is a simple but poignant story about how the tone of your voice, your demeanor, and your attitude make an important impression, especially when you are asking for something.
“For one who is asking.” The Master told this story while he was living at Jetavana. It is about how the Elder Sāriputta obtained fine food for some sick monks who were undergoing medical treatment. The story goes that certain members of the Saṇgha at Jetavana, after taking oil as a laxative, wished for some fine food. Those who were caring for them went into Sāvatthi to fetch it, but after going on their alms round on a street in the cooks’ quarters, had to come back without getting what they wanted.
Later on in the day the Elder went into the town for alms, and he met these monks. He asked them why they were returning so soon. They told him what had happened. “Come with me then,” said the Elder, and he took them back to the same street. And the people there gave him a full measure of fine food. The attendants brought the food to the sick monks, and they ate it.
So one day a discussion was started in the Dharma Hall about how the servants were leaving town without being able to get fine food for their sick masters. But when the Elder took them with him on his alms round on the street in the cooks’ quarters, he had sent them home with abundant fine food. The Master arrived and asked about the nature of their discussion. When he was told what was being said, he replied “Not only now, monks, did Sāriputta alone obtain food. In the past wise men who had a soft voice and knew how to speak pleasantly were able to do the same.” And then he told him this story from the past.
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of a wealthy merchant.
Now one day a certain deer hunter took some venison, filled his cart with the meat, and went to the city with the intention of selling it. At this time four sons of rich merchants who were living in Benares set out from the city. They met at a cross roads where they sat down and talked with each other about whatever they had seen or heard. One of these youths saw the cart full of meat and suggested that they get a piece of venison from the hunter. The others told him to go and try.
So he went up to the hunter and said, “Hi, sir, give me a piece of meat.” The hunter replied, “A man who begs ought to speak with a gentle voice. You will receive a piece of meat appropriate to your manner of speech.” Then he uttered the first stanza:
For one who is asking a favor, my friend, your language is coarse in its tone,
Such language deserves coarse fare in return, so I offer you mere skin and bone.
Then one of his companions asked him what language he had used in begging for a piece of meat. “I said, ‘Hi, sir’,” he replied. “I, too,” said the other, “will beg of him.” Then he went to the hunter and said, “O elder brother, give me a piece of venison.” The hunter answered, “You will receive such a piece of meat as the words you have spoken deserve,” and he repeated the second stanza:
The name of a brother a strong link is found, to join those akin to each other,
As your kind words suggest the gift I should make, so a joint I present to my brother.
And with these words he took up and threw him a joint of venison. Then a third youth asked with what words the last youth had begged for the meat. “I addressed him as ‘brother’,” he replied. “Then I, too, will beg of him,” he said. So he went to the hunter and cried, “Dear father, give me a piece of venison.” The hunter replied, “You will receive a piece of meat suitable to the words you have spoken,” and he repeated the third stanza:
As a parent’s fond heart to pity is moved, the cry of “Dear father” to hear,
So I too respond to your loving appeal, and give you the heart of the deer.
And with these words he gave him a savory piece of meat, heart and all. Then the fourth youth asked the third youth with what words he had asked for the venison. “Oh, I called him ‘Dear father’,” he answered. “Then I, too, will beg a piece,” said the other, and he went to the hunter and said, “My friend, give me a piece of meat.” The hunter replied, “According to the words you have spoken, so you will receive.” And he repeated the fourth stanza:
A world without friends, I venture to think, a wilderness must then ensue,
In that title of ‘friend’ all that’s dear is implied, so I give all the deer unto you.
Figure: “My friend…”
Moreover he said, “Come, friend, I will convey this entire cartful of meat to your house.” So this merchant’s son had the cart driven to his house, and he went and unloaded the meat. He treated the hunter with great hospitality and respect. And sending for his wife and son, he took him away from his cruel occupation. He settled him on his own estate. They became inseparable friends, and they lived all their lives amicably together.
The Master, having ended his lesson, identified the birth: “At that time Sāriputta was the hunter, and I was the merchant’s son who had all the venison given to him.”
