Nakkhattajātaka
“The fool may watch.”—This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana about a certain Naked-ascetic. Tradition says that a gentleman of the country near Savatthi asked in marriage for his son a young Savatthi lady of equal rank. Having fixed a day to come and fetch the bride, he subsequently consulted a Naked-ascetic who was intimate with his family, as to whether the stars were favourable for holding the festivities that day.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.258Nakkhattaṁ paṭimānentaṁ,Waiting for a constellation,11.2attho bālaṁ upaccagā;a fool lets the good pass them by.1.3Attho atthassa nakkhattaṁ,The good is the constellation of the good;1.4kiṁ karissanti tārakā”ti.for what do the stars matter?2
2.1Nakkhattajātakaṁ navamaṁ.
A family reneges on its marriage date when told it falls under an unlucky constellation, so the girl marries someone else.
Compare “what do the hymns matter?” at DN 4:15.5.
