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Short Stories
 

      Wine Jar


Once upon a time, the Bodhisatta was born as the Sakka, who was regarded as the king of the heaven and maintained the values of kindness and purity; humility and self-control; goodwill and tolerance; and the passion for the good and happiness of others.

Normally, almost all the creatures under the power of wealth and affluence are invisible to the benefit of the others. But the Sakka, who was the lord of heaven, was ever attentive of others benefits as well. One day, when he was keeping a watch all over the world. Then after a few seconds he saw a king  named Sarvamitra who was drinking an alcohol with some bad people. As he was well conscious of the evils of drinking he desired to protect the king as he believed:
     "Men are often good to pretend to be one
     Who is chief among them.
     Good and evil ooze from the top
     And the people unite to join below.
     So if the king is healed
     Then the good will flow."


Thinking thus, the Bodhisatta changed himself into the figure of a royal character with a jar filled up with the best quality of wine and appeared in the court of Sarvamitra when he was enjoying liquor with his friends. Then the sudden appearance of the Bodhisatta was a surprise to them and they all stood up to welcome him with worship. The Bodhisatta then showed his purpose to sell the jar of wine by saying:
     " She is filled up to the the height of her neck
     Flowers laugh around her neck
     She has dressed in a marvelous jar
     Now who will buy this jar."


When the king asked his identity, he added,
     "Before you know who am I
     Buy this jar of mine.
     As you don't need to fear
     The distress of the other world -
     Blended so finely in this wine."


Listening to the wordings of the wine-seller the king questioned, “How is it possible that on earth this person is making the exposure of the harms of his own product instead of praising its good qualities?” The king then asked him to put forward the real qualities of the wine. And the Bodhisatta said,
     "One, who drinks
     Loses all self-control
     By the effect of the incredible intoxicant;
     Mind becomes stun
     And no difference is then done
     From what is to be eaten and what should not.
     So, buy this jar."

     "If you want to behave like a brute-monster;
     And give a chance to your enemy to laugh
     Thank her for making you dance in an assembly
     With your mouthful music."

     "When she dances on your head
     Even the timid loses all shame
     And remembers no dress-limitation
     Shedding clothes then like naked Nigantthas
     boldly walk on a highway
     Such is the advantage of jar
     Which is on sale."

     "Dirty all over
     You can lie senseless
     Vomiting on a cross-road
     To invite the street dogs
     Lick your face.
     Such is the generous beauty
     Poured in the jar."

     "Even a woman-addict
     By its power can shut her parents on a tree
     And dishonor her husband
     No matter he be wealthy like Kubera
     Thus is the buy and sell of the jar
     Which is on sale."

     "The righteous of the families
     And the lords of the devas
     Have lost their brilliance of abodes;
     And decomposed
     Thus is the good quality of the jar on sale."

     "This makes one’s tongue and legs totter
     And puts off every check in weeping and laughing;
     The eyes become dull to make a demon dwell
     And one becomes a living object of contempt."

     "She lies in this jar
     To allow one to boldly make deceit to be true;
     And make a illegal act
     Committable with pleasure’
     To hold one back from what is good;
     And drive one to that which is not good,
     As she is pest-embodied."

     "O king! if you want to
     Kill your innocent father
     And mother
     And ruin your future
     You must then buy this liquor filled in the jar."


The king was wise. He esteemed the message of Sakka and reject drinking for good.
     "Even humble folk, intoxicate
     With wine, will most be impolite
     And clever men when drunk will go on
     And talk nonsense very foolishly. "