Vātamigajātaka
“There’s nothing worse.” This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about the Elder Tissa, called Direct-alms the Less. Tradition says that, while the Master was dwelling at the Bamboo-grove near Rajagaha, the scion of a wealthy house, Prince Tissa by name, coming one day to the Bamboo-grove and there hearing a discourse from the Master, wished to join the Brotherhood, but, being refused because his parents would not give their consent, obtained their consent by following Rattha-pala’s example and refusing food for seven days, and finally took the vows with the Master.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.158“Na kiratthi rasehi pāpiyo,Nothing, it seems, is worse than tastes11.2Āvāsehi va santhavehi vā;in monasteries or meeting places.21.3Vātamigaṁ gahananissitaṁ,The domesticated Wind-deer31.4Vasamānesi rasehi sañjayo”ti.was brought under Victor’s sway by tastes.
2.1Vātamigajātakaṁ catutthaṁ.
Even the elusive Wind-deer was trapped by honey left by the groundskeeper Victor. Having proven his point, the keeper released the deer.
The commentary reads the ending (-ehi) as locative (-esu).
Here santhava appears equivalent to Sanskrit saṁstāva, a place for gathering, especially for recitation. The commentary explains, rather, as “those who are residents and those who are acquaintances”.
According to Haṁsadeva’s 13th century Mṛgapakṣiśāstra, the “wind-deer” (vātamiga, Sanskrit vātamṛga) is fast, skilled at escaping weapons and vanishing from sight. Dwelling in deep forests, it is lean with long legs and branched antlers. At SN 9.8:4.2 it is said to be flighty and easily startled.
“Domesticated” is gehanissitaṁ, which is to be accepted over the metrically-incorrect variant gahananissitaṁ. The confusion is evidently an old one, since the commentary glosses geha (“home”) with gahanaṭṭhāna (“place in the jungle”). But gehanissita regularly refers to thoughts or desires connected with the comforts and pleasures of domestic life.
