Pāli Dictionary

Atthisena Jātaka

Jātaka

A Jātaka whose ancient story is only cross-referenced elsewhere, framed here by an account of monks in Āḷavī pestering people for building materials until Mahā-Kassapa, mistaken for one of them, learns the cause and reports it to the Buddha, who rebukes the monks by recalling that ascetics of old never begged for comforts even when a king offered them their choice.

The story of Atthisena (q.v.) Some monks in Āḷavī were begging everywhere for materials and aid to build houses for themselves. People were annoyed by their solicitations and avoided them. When Mahā-Kassapa came to Āḷavī people ran away from him thinking he too was one of the monks. On enquiry he learnt the reason and told the Buddha, who was then at the Aggāḷava-cetiya. The Buddha rebuked the monks, saying that formerly samaṇas and recluses, even though offered their choice by kings, never asked for alms, holding that begging from others was neither agreeable nor pleasant. The Maṇikaṇṭha Jātaka (J.ii.282 ff) was also taught on the same occasion.

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