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Ja 421 min read

The Pigeon

Kapotajātaka

“The headstrong man.”—This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana, about a certain greedy Brother. His greediness will be related in the Ninth Book in the Kaka Jātaka.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1JātakaStories of Past Lives 42
  • 0.2EkakanipātaThe Book of the Ones
  • 0.3AtthakāmavaggaWanting to Help

0.42. KapotajātakaThe Pigeon: a past life story

1.1PTS 1.244“Yo atthakāmassa hitānukampino,One who does not follow advice when instructed11.2Ovajjamāno na karoti sāsanaṁ;by an ally who wants to help,1.3Kapotakassa vacanaṁ akatvā,not following the pigeon’s counsel,1.4Amittahatthatthagatova setī”ti.ends up in the hands of their foes.

2.1Kapotajātakaṁ dutiyaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. A greedy crow, ignoring the warning of the wise pigeon, continues to steal food from the kitchen.

    ↩ ja42:1.1