Mālutajātaka
“In light or dark.”—This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana about two Brethren who had joined the Brotherhood in their old age. Tradition says that they were living in a forest-dwelling in the Kosala country, and that one was named the Elder Dark and the other the Elder Light. Now one day Light said to Dark, “Sir, at what time does what is called cold appear?” “It appears in the dark half of the month.” And one day Dark said to Light, “Sir, at what time does what is called cold appear?” “It appears in the light half of the month.”
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.165“Kāḷe vā yadi vā juṇhe,Whether the moon is waning or waxing,11.2yadā vāyati māluto;it is cool when the gale blows.1.3Vātajāni hi sītāni,Since the wind brings the cool,1.4ubhotthamaparājitā”ti.both are undefeated in this instance.
2.1Mālutajātakaṁ sattamaṁ.
The story goes that two friends were arguing about whether the cold came in the dark or bright phase of the moon. The Bodhisatta answers that neither is wrong, since the wind brings coolness at any time. The moral of the story would seem to be that even close friends can end up arguing over stupid things.
