Kutavanija Jataka, Kūtavānija-jātaka: 1 definition

Introduction:

Kutavanija Jataka means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Kutavanija Jataka in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kutavanija Jataka (No. 98) - The Bodhisatta was once a merchant named Pandita and entered into partnership with a dishonest man, Atipandita. When the time came for dividing the profits the latter claimed a larger share, for he, as his name showed, was the brains of the business. To settle the dispute he hid his father in a hollow tree, and feigning to consult a Tree sprite, referred the matter to the Tree. Pandita suspecting the ruse, lighted a fire at the foot of the tree and thus exposed the cheat.

The story was related in reference to a cheating merchant of Savatthi, who is identified with Atipandita. He tried to rob his honest partner, always putting off his claims, in the hope that he would die from the hardships suffered in a long journey they had undertaken for trade. J.i.404f

2. Kutavanija Jataka (No.218) - A villager once deposited five hundred ploughshares with a friend in the town, but when he came to claim them, he was told that they had been eaten by mice, and was shown the dung the mice had left behind. Some time later the villager took his friends son to bathe, hid him in a house, and reported to the townsman that the boy had been carried off by a hawk. When he was taken before the judge, who was the Bodhisatta, he protested that in a place where mice ate ploughshares a hawk could easily carry off a boy. The Bodhisatta settled their dispute (J.ii.181ff).

The introductory story is similar to that of No.1 above.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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