A

B

C

D

E

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

Y

?

Home page Up (parent) Next (right) Previous (left) Abbreviations


Page last updated on 8 October, 2020

Association for Insight Meditation Home Page

Surāghaṭa Jātaka (No.291)

Once the Bodhisatta was a rich merchant with an only son. He did great good and was born as Sakka. The son squandered all his wealth in drinking and amusements and fell into poverty. Sakka took pity on him and gave him the Bhadraghaṭa (Wishing Cup), asking him to take care of it. However, one day, when the son was drunk, he threw the cup into the air and smashed it, thus reducing himself once again to misery.

The story was told in reference to a ne’er-do-well nephew of Anāthapiṇḍika. His uncle helped him again and again, but he squandered everything, and one day Anāthapiṇḍika had him turned out of his house. The two squanderers were the same. J.ii.431 f.