Saccaṁkirajātaka
“They knew the world.”—This story was told by the Master while at the Bamboo-grove, about going about to kill. For, seated in the Hall of Truth, the Brotherhood was talking of Devadatta’s wickedness, saying, “Sirs, Devadatta has no knowledge of the Master’s excellence; he actually goes about to kill him!” Here the Master entered the Hall and asked what they were discussing. 323] Being told, he said, “This is not the first time, Brethren, that Devadatta has gone about to kill me; he did just the same in bygone days also.” And so saying, he told this story of the past.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1PTS 1.326“Saccaṁ kirevamāhaṁsu,The truth, it seems, was spoken11.2narā ekacciyā idha;by certain people here—1.3Kaṭṭhaṁ niplavitaṁ seyyo,better a floating log21.4na tvevekacciyo naro”ti.than a certain person.
2.1Saccaṅkirajātakaṁ tatiyaṁ.
An ascetic saved a prince, a parrot, a rat, and a snake from a flood. Since the animals were in greater need, he fed them first. While the animals were all grateful, the proud prince conceived a hatred, which he nursed until he ascended the throne and sought revenge for the imagined slight.
I translate literally, but the verse seems to need the verb “rescue” supplied by the commentary (uttāretvā).
