Jataka Tales 38: Surapana

Surapana Jataka While at Jetavana the Buddha told this story about a tailoring monk. According to tradition there was at Jetavana a monk who was very skilful in cutting, joining, arranging and stitching a robe. He was much in demand to fashion robes. Therefore he was known as 'The Robe-tailor.'

He exercised his craft on old bits of cloth so that he turned out a soft robe and after dyeing was done he was able to enhance its colour by fixing it until he had made it attractive looking. Then he would put it aside.

The monks who were ignorant of robe making would request his help. They would come with brand new cloth and ask him to make for them robes. To each, he would say that robe making would take a long time. Then he would induce them to exchange their new cloth for the robe made from rags which he had put aside

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They, seeing only its fine colour but not knowing from what it was made, gladly handed over their new cloth to the 'Robe-maker' who profitted from the exchange.

The owners went off with the robe he gave them.

When it became dirty and was being washed with hot water the robe revealed its true nature as their worn patches became visible here and there. Then they regretted the bargain they had made. Thus this monk became known everywhere for cozening his brother monks.

It so happened that there was a monk robe-maker in a village who was also cozening others like the monk in Jetavana. This man's friends among the monks said to him: "Sir, it is said that at Jetavana there is a monk who cozens every one just like you." Then the thought struck him: "Let me cozen that man." So out of rags he made a very fine-looking robe which he dyed an orange colour. He put this on and went to Jetavana.

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The moment the other set eyes on it he coveted it. He said to the owner: "Venerable, did you make this robe?" "Yes, I did," he replied.

"Let me have that robe. You'll get another in its place." But, sir, we village monks find it very hard to get the Requisites; if I give you this what will I wear myself?" "I'll give you some brand new cloth and you can make yourself a robe."

"Venerable, I have shown you my handiwork; but if you speak thus what can I say? Take it."

Having cozened the other he exchanged the rag robe for new cloth and went away.

After wearing the robe, the Jetavana monk was washing it in warm water when he became aware it was made out of rags; and his face reddened with shame. The whole brotherhood heard the news how the Jetavana man was cozened by the robe tailor from the country. One day the monks were seated in the Dhamma Hall discussing the news.

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When the Buddha came in he took his seat and then asked them the subject of their discussion; and they told him about it.

The Buddha said: "Monks, this is not the only occasion of the Jetavana monk's cozening tricks; in bygone times also he did the same, and as he has been cozened by the man from the country, so was he in bygone days." Then he told them this story of the past.

Story of the past Once in ages past the Bodhisatta was born as a Tree-spirit. The tree stood near a certain lotus pond in a forest. In the hot season the water level would fall in another but smaller pool. A lot of fish lived in it and were affected as the pool started drying up. Not long afterwards a large crane passed that way and saw the fish.

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He thought: "I must find a way to persuade the fish to come to me so for me to eat them."

Pretending to be engaged in deep thought he went to the water's edge and sat there.

The fish caught sight of him. They said: "What are you thinking, my lord?" "I'm thinking about you." "And what is your lordship thinking about us?" "The water in this pond is low, and it is very hot. I was wondering how you would cope?" "But what are we to do, my lord?" "Perhaps you may take my advice. I am thinking that I could carry you one at a time to a beautiful pool of water covered with five kinds of lotuses and put you down there."

"My lord, no crane ever took kind notice of us fishes since the world began. It is perhaps your desire to eat us that you make this suggestion."

"If you don't take my word that there is such a pool, let one of you volunteer to come with me to see for himself."

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So a big fish, blind in one eye, was made to volunteer. They thought it would be a match for the crane whether on water or on land. "Here's one to go with you," they said to the crane.

The cunning crane took the fish to the pool, put him in it and after showing him the whole extent of it, brought him back to report to his friends what he had seen. After hearing his report they were all eager to go to the new pool with the crane. So the crane took the big one-eyed fish again and carried him till he could see the edge of the new pool. But he did not put him in it. He landed in a Varana-tree growing by the pool.

Throwing the fish into a fork of the tree he pecked the fish to death and then picked it clean.

Its bones fell to the ground under the tree. The crane returned to where the rest of the fish were eagerly waiting for him. He took them away one by one. He ate each one.

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He did this again and again, picking them all clean, and letting their bones fall to form a white heap on the foot of the tree. Finally there was only a crab left. He wanted to eat the crab.

He said: "Brother crab, I've taken them all to a fine pool with five kinds of lotuses. Come. Let me take you there, too." "How will you carry me across?" "Why, in my beak, of course." "But I'm afraid you'll drop me just like that." "Don't be afraid. I'll hold on to you tightly all the way." Then the crab thought: "I'm sure he hasn't put the fish in the new pool. But if he would really put me in that pool that would be wonderful for me. If he does not, why, I'll cut his head off and kill him."

So he spoke in this way to the crane: "You'll never hold me tight enough, my friend, but we crabs can hold very strongly. If you will allow me to hold to your neck with my claws I could hold tight. Then I'll go along with you."

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Not suspecting that the crab had seen through him and realized he was evil, the crane agreed.

The crab gripped the crane's neck tightly and they took off. As usual he showed the crab the pool but did not take him there. Instead he flew to his tree.

"Hey, the pool's that way, wonky," said the crab, "and you're taking me the other way." "Yah, very much your wonky dear am I?" said the crane; "and very much my nephew are you? I suppose you think I'm your slave. Lift and carry you here, there. Just look at the heap of bones under the tree. That's where you'll end up, too. Ho! Ho!" The crab said: "It was through their own folly that you were able to eat them. But I won't give you a chance to kill me. What I shall do is kill you.

You're a fool to think I was not prepared. If I die we'll die together. I'll cut off your head." And he gripped the crane's neck even more tightly. With his breath coming in gasps and tears from his eyes the crane pleaded with the crab not to kill him.

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"All right then. Step down to the pond and put me in the water," said the crab. The crane turned back and stepped to the edge of the pool to place the crab on the mud. Just before the crab let go he nipped the crane's neck and killed it as if he was cutting off a lotus stalk with a sharp knife.

The Tree-spirit saw all these things. He marked this event with words that made forest ring.

"Deception does not profits. This is from the crane's fate.

End of story of the past The Buddha said: "Monks, this is not the first time this fellow has been cozened by the robe-maker from the country. In the past he was cozened in just the same manner." The Buddha showed the connection and identified the Births by saying: "The Jetavana robe-maker was the crane, the robe-maker from the country was the crab, and I myself, was the Tree-spirit."

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