Lakkhaṇamigajātaka
“The upright man.”—This story was told by the Master in the Bamboo-grove near Rajagaha about Devadatta. The story of Devadatta will be related, up to the date of the Abhimara-employment, in the Khandahala-jataka; up to the date of his dismissal from the office of Treasurer, in the Cullahamsa-jataka; and, up to the date of his being swallowed up by the earth, in the Sixteenth Book in the Samudda-vanija-jataka.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.144“Hoti sīlavataṁ attho,The virtuous ones prosper,11.2paṭisanthāravuttinaṁ;who live extending protection.1.3Lakkhaṇaṁ passa āyantaṁ,See Lucky Spot coming,21.4ñātisaṅghapurakkhataṁ;surrounded by their family circle;1.5Atha passasimaṁ kāḷaṁ,then see this Black Mark,31.6suvihīnaṁva ñātibhī”ti.bereft of family.
2.1Lakkhaṇamigajātakaṁ paṭhamaṁ.
Lucky Spot, the wise and prudent deer-king, kept his herd safe in their journey, while the foolish and careless Black Mark lost his whole herd.
Here, lakkhaṇa has the sense “possessing beautiful or auspicious marks”, and hence “lucky”. The description fits the common Chital or “spotted” deer, who are elegant in form, gregarious, and roam in herds.
Kāḷa (“dark”) has the opposite sense, “unlucky”.
