________________
612
Comment
The story is utterly mean and in bad taste. Although the Jatakas recognise that in the presence of a qualified person, the mediocre received no attention which is a truism, this story is not contained in the Tripitakas. Hence it does not deserve any attention.
37. A discussion on meat eating
Once Simgha Senapati invited Buddha to dinner when he served him' meat. This attracted criticism in the Nigantha camp on the ground that this was intended meat. When the monks drew the attention of Buddha to this, he said that Nigantha Nataputta is not only his critic now, he was also his critic in the previous birth too. Then he narrated a story.
3:"In a previous birth, when Brahmadatta was reign
ing at Varanasi, Bodhisattva was born in a Brahmin family. When he came of age, he became a monk and discarded his home to take shelter in the Himalayan region. Once he came down in search of spicy food. A householder invited him and served meat which Bodhisattva ate. After Boddhisattva had dined, his host said that since he had prepared the meat for his sake, he must indeed share in the vice. So saying, he uttered a couplet. In another couplet, the Bodhisattva told him that even if he had served the meat of his wife, or children, he would in no way be held responsible. Then he got up and departed. Needless to add, I was Bodhisattva and Nigantha Nataputta was the householder".
Source: Jataka Atthakathā, Telivad
Jataka, 246.
A
Comment
In Vinaya Pitaka and Anguttara Nikāya, the critics of Buddha's eating intended meat have been said to be the Niganthas. The reference to a previous birth of Buddha and the inclusion of Nigantha Nataputta in the Atthakathā appear to be the product of the fertile brain of the author
