Jataka Tale — A Fish in Love
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was the reigning king in Varanasi; the Bodhisatta — a man who would become the Buddha in a later life — became his family priest.
In those days, fishermen cast their nets into the Ganges river. And one day a great big fish came along amorously toying with his wife. She, sensing the net as she swam ahead of him, made a circuit around it and escaped. But her amorous spouse, blinded by passion, sailed right into the meshes of the net. As soon as the fishermen felt him in their net, they hauled it in and took the fish out; they did not kill him at once, but flung him alive on the sands. “We’ll cook him in the embers for our meal,” said they; and accordingly they set to work to light a fire and whittle a spit to roast him on. The fish lamented, saying to himself, “It’s not the torture of the embers, or the anguish of the spit, or any other pain that grieves me; but only the distressing thought that my wife should be unhappy in the belief that I have gone off with another.”
Just then, the priest came to the riverside with his servants to bathe. Now, he had the ability to understand the language of all animals. Therefore, when he heard the fish’s lamentation, he thought to himself, “This fish is lamenting the lament of passion. If he should die in this unhealthy state of mind, he cannot escape rebirth in Hell. I will save him.” So, he went to the fishermen and said, “My men don’t you supply us with a fish everyday for our curry?” “What do you say, sir?” said the fishermen; “pray take away with you any fish you may take a fancy to.” “We don’t need any but this one; give us this one.” “He’s your, sir.”
Taking the fish in his two hands, the Bodhisatta seated himself on the bank and said, “Friend fish, if I had not seen you today, you would have met your death. Cease for the future to be the slave of passion.” And with this exhortation he threw the fish into the water, and went into the city.
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This story is adapted from The Jataka, compiled by professor E. W. Cowell, and published by the Cambridge University Press in 1895.
