Makasajātaka
“Sense-lacking friends.”—This story was told by the Master whilst on an alms-pilgrimage in Magadha, about some stupid villagers in a certain hamlet.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.247“Seyyo amitto matiyā upeto,Better is a considerate foe11.2Na tveva mitto mativippahīno;than an inconsiderate friend.1.3Makasaṁ vadhissanti hi eḷamūgo,Thinking, “I shall kill the mosquito”,21.4Putto pitu abbhidā uttamaṅgan”ti.the idiot son split open his father’s head.
2.1Makasajātakaṁ catutthaṁ.
When the carpenter asked his son to rid him of a troublesome mosquito on his scalp, he did not think he would do it with an axe.
For text’s vadhissanti read vadhissaṁ’ti, reflexive future singular.
