In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A wolf once lived on a rock near the Ganges. The winter floods came and surrounded the rock, and the wolf, unable to escape, decided to keep the holy day. The Bodhisatta, who was Sakka, appeared before him in the guise of a he goat, and the wolf, forgetting his holy day, chased him round and round the rock. Finding he could not succeed in catching him, the wolf expressed his joy that his holy day had not been violated! Sakka, hovering above him, rebuked him for his weakness.

The story was related in reference to some monks, followers of Upasena (Vangantaputta) (q.v.). Being aware of the permission granted by the Buddha to the monks who practiced the thirteen dhutahgas to visit him even during his periods of solitude, these monks would practice them for a short while and then visit him. But, the visit over, they would at once throw off their rag robes and don other garments. The Buddha discovered this and related the Jataka. J.ii.449ff.; cp. Vin.iii.231f., where no mention is made of the Jataka.

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).

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

1) Vaka, ² (indecl.): a root vak is given at Dhtp 7 & Dhtm 8 in meaning “ādāne, ” i.e. grasping, together with a root kuk as synonym. It may refer to vaka¹ wolf, whereas kuk would explain koka wolf. The notion of voraciousness is prevalent in the characterization of the wolf (see all passages of vaka¹, e.g. J. V, 302). (Page 591)

2) Vaka, ¹ (Vedic vṛka, Idg. *ǔḷqǔo=Lat. lupus, Gr. lu/kos, Lith. vilkas, Goth. wulfs=E. wolf etc. ) wolf, only in poetry Sn. 201; J. I, 336; II, 450; V, 241, 302. (Page 591)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Jataka, Vaka.

Ends with: Cakkavaka Jataka, Chavaka Jataka, Kulavaka Jataka.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Vaka Jataka, Vaka-jātaka; (plurals include: Vaka Jatakas, jātakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)

Jataka 300: Vaka-jātaka < [Book III - Tika-Nipāta]

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