Jā 538 Mūgapakkhajātakaṁ
Not Deceiving One’s Friends
The King sends his charioteer to kill and bury his son (the Bodhisatta) whom he believes to be disabled and unlucky. The Bodhisatta appeals to the charioteer thus.
127. Pahūtabhakkho bhavati, vippavuttho sakā gharā,
Bahū naṁ upajīvanti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
He has an abundance of food,
Even when away from his home,
Many live depending on him,
He who does not deceive his friends.
128. Yaṁ yaṁ janapadaṁ yāti, nigame Rājadhāniyo,
Sabbattha pūjito hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
Whatever country he goes to,
In a town or a King’s city,
Where’er he goes he is honoured,
He who does not deceive his friends.
129. Nāssa corā pasahanti, nātimaññeti khattiyo,
Sabbe amitte tarati, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
Thieves do not overpower him,
And nobles do not despise him,
He overcomes all of his foes,
He who does not deceive his friends.
130. Akkuddho sagharaṁ eti, sabhāya paṭinandito,
Ñātīnaṁ uttamo hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
Without anger he comes back home,
He is welcomed in public halls,
He is the best of relatives,
He who does not deceive his friends.
131. Sakkatvā sakkato hoti, garu hoti sagāravo,
Vaṇṇakittibhato hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
After greeting, he is greeted,
Respectable and respected,
He enjoys splendour and renown,
He who does not deceive his friends.
132. Pūjako labhate pūjaṁ, vandako paṭivandanaṁ,
Yaso kittiñ-ca pappoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
Honourable, receiving honour,
Worshipful, receiving worship,
He acquires repute and renown,
He who does not deceive his friends.
133. Aggi yathā pajjalati, devatā va virocati,
Siriyā ajahito hoti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
Just like a fire he will shine forth,
He is brilliant like a god,
Good luck does not abandon him,
He who does not deceive his friends.
134. Gāvo tassa pajāyanti, khette vuttaṁ virūhati,
Puttānaṁ phalam-asnāti, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
His cows are productive for him,
What is sown in his fields grows up,
He enjoys the boon of children,
He who does not deceive his friends.
135. Darito pabbatāto vā, rukkhato patito naro,
Cuto patiṭṭhaṁ labhati, yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
Whether that man has fallen from
A cleft, a mountain, or a tree,
While falling, he receives support,
He who does not deceive his friends.
136. Virūḷhamūlasantānaṁ, nigrodham-iva māluto,
Amittā nappasahanti yo mittānaṁ na dūbhati.
As wind cannot overpower
A banyan tree with roots well grown,
So foes cannot overpower
He who does not deceive his friends.
Namaste Bhante Anandajoti.
Thank you for posting these wonderful verses. May I ask what the accompanying picture is of? Is it the Buddha with friends? I would be grateful for any information on it as it seems to encapsulate perfectly the spirit of these verses on the greatness of true friendship.
Thanking you in advance.
Hi Sanjeev, the photo is of a sculpture in Tha Ton Temple in NW Thailand, it is of the Buddha, Ven. Sāriputta and Ven. Moggallāna. I have never seen anything like it before. It is clearly a modern work, not old. You can see more photos from that temple, including a front view of this sculpture, here: http://www.photodharma.net/Thailand/Tha-Ton/Tha-Ton.htm