Naḷapānajātaka
“I found the footprints.” This story was told by the Master whilst journeying on an alms-pilgrimage through Kosala, when he had come to the village of Nalaka-pana (Cane-drink) and was dwelling at Ketaka-vana near the Pool of Nalaka-pana, about cane-sticks. In those days the Brethren, after bathing in the Pool of Nalaka-pana, made the novices get them cane-sticks for needle-cases, but, finding them hollow throughout, went to the Master and said, “Sir, we had cane-sticks got in order to provide needle-cases; and from top to bottom they are quite hollow. Now how can that be?”
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.171“Disvā padamanuttiṇṇaṁ,Seeing footprints go down into the water,11.2Disvānotaritaṁ padaṁ;and none that return,1.3Naḷena vāriṁ pissāma,we shall drink water through a reed:1.4Neva maṁ tvaṁ vadhissasī”ti.no way shall you kill me.
2.1Naḷapānajātakaṁ dasamaṁ.
2.2Sīlavaggo dutiyo.
3.1Tassuddānaṁ
4.1Atha lakkhaṇa sākha dhiratthu puna,4.2Na kiratthi rasehi kharādiyā;4.3Atibhoti vara māluta pāṇa,4.4Muccena naḷaavhayanena bhavanti dasāti.
A monster dwells in the lake, but the Bodhisatta thwarts him and keeps his people safe by drinking through long hollow reeds.
