Jataka Tales 5: Thandulanali

Thandulanali Jataka This story was told by the Buddha at Jetavana, about monk Ud1yi (Udayi) who was known as the Dullard. When this story was told, monk Dabba, the Mallian, was doing the duties of steward.

Early in the morning, one of the duties of monk Dahha (Dabba) was to allot alms to the monks.

Sometimes it was the houses that offer choice food and sometimes it was inferior food which monk Ud1yi (Udayi) received.

Whenever he received the inferior food, monk Ud1yi (Udayi) complained, so one day it was decided to let him do the task. But he could not tell the difference between the better from the inferior rice. Neither did he know the status of the monks, for it was the right of senior monks to be served first.

Thandulanali Jataka

1/7

He decided to solve his problem by putting marks on the ground or on the wall to show that bhikkhu so and so stood here, and another there. But when bhikkhu of one grade were less, the mark was too high, and when there were more it was too low.

Whatever may be the marks that were made that monk Ud1yi (Udayi) was not able to allot the alms in the correct manner that even when the bhikkhus pointed this out to him, he asserted his authority and was rude to them.

Then, the boys and novices decided enough was enough. They tried to push him from the allotment room and a great uproar was heard.

This noise came to the Buddha’s attention, He said to Ananda: “there was a great uproar in the allotment room.” He asked: “what is the noise about?”

Thandulanali Jataka

2/7

Later Ananda explained the matter to the Buddha, who said: “This is not the first time that Ud1yi (Udayi) by his crassness had deprived others of their benefit; he did the same in times gone by, too.”

Then Ananda asked the Buddha what happened then and this was the story, concealed by rebirths, that was told to him by the Buddha.

Story from the past At that time Brahmadatta was the king (King) in Benares. In his employ he had the Bodhisatta as his Valuer. Livestock and many other things bought for the king passed through his hands.

He fixed the proper price and paid the owners for the purchases.

However, the greedy king thought that the Bodhisatta was not getting things for him more cheaply and he therefore decided to employ another person more to his liking as state valuer.

Thandulanali Jataka

3/7

Opening his window and looking out, he saw a shifty-looking man walking across his courtyard.

He sent for the man and gave him the post. The New Valuer, not knowing the worth of goods, fixed prices according to his own fancy.

Whatever he said was the price of an item was paid. That was it.

Then the king heard of the arrival of a man with many choice horses. He sent for his Valuer and told him to value the herd. He said that one measure of rice was the correct price and the horse-trader was cheated of the price of his herd. So he went to the old Valuer, the Bodhisatta, and asked what could be done to save the situation for him.

The Bodhisatta told him to bribe the man and get to befriend him. Then he was to say to the new valuer that since his horses were worth a measure of rice he would like to know the precise value of a measure of rice in the presence of the king.

Thandulanali Jataka

4/7

If the valuer agreed to do this then he was to be taken to the king. The former valuer would also go with them. The foolish fellow readily expressed his ability to value a measure of rice in the presence of the king and he was duly brought there. Present in the court were the Bodhisatta and many of the king’s ministers.

Paying due respects to the king, the horse-trader said to him that he did not dispute that the price of 500 horses was a single measure of rice, He asked the king to grant him the request of asking his new valuer the precise value of that measure of rice paid for the horses.

The king was ignorant of what had taken place earlier, so he said to the fellow: “Value, what are the 500 hundred horses worth?”

He answered: “A measure of rice, your majesty.”

Then the king said: “Very good. If 500 horses are worth a measure of rice, then what is that measure of rice worth?”

Thandulanali Jataka

5/7

The fool’s reply came and stunned him: “It is worth all Benares and its suburbs.”

This all came about as a result of befriending him with a bride (bribe) and suggesting to him that the measure of rice with which he paid the horse-trader must really be worth all of Benares and its suburbs, 12 leagues around.

Thereupon, the ministers clapped their hands and laughed heartily. They said: “To think that the earth and the realm were beyond price and to learn today that the kingdom of Benares and its king were only worth a measure of rice!”

They further commented on the valuer’s talents and wondered how he had retained his post for so long. Shamed by the event, the king sent the fool packing, restored matters, and gave the Bodhisatta his former post.

Thandulanali Jataka

6/7

End of story of the past Then the Buddha made the connection between the present and the past.

He said: “Ud1yi (Udayi) was the stupid valuer of those days. I, myself, was the wise valuer. True wisdom can be seen at moments of trial.”

Thandulanali Jataka

7/7