Reading guide
Four friends, one teacher
A hare lives alongside a monkey, a jackal, and a young otter, advising them on good and bad conduct. Seeing the full-moon sabbath approaching, he tells them to prepare gifts for a worthy recipient before observing the day.
Nothing to give but himself
Reflecting on what he could offer if a worthy recipient actually appeared, the hare comes up short: ‘I have no sesame or mung beans, no beans or rice or ghee. I feed only on grass, but that's not something I can give.’ His resolution follows directly from this lack, not around it: if someone worthy comes, he will give his own self.
Sakka arrives to test the resolution
As in Cp 8's story of King Sivi, Sakka disguises himself, this time as a brahmin, and approaches specifically ‘to test his giving’. The hare's response is immediate and practical: he asks the visitor to build a fire, announcing plainly, ‘I shall cook myself, you shall eat me roasted.’
A fire compared to cool water
The story's most striking image comes at the moment of the gift itself: entering the blazing fire is described as feeling ‘like diving into cool water, allaying distress and fever’ — not suffering endured, but relief experienced, closing the giving chapter on a note of ease rather than ordeal.
Key terms
The text
Four friends, one teacher
§1“Then again when I was a hare who roamed the forest, eating grass, leaves, vegetables, and fruit, refraining from harming others,
§2a monkey, a jackal, a young otter and I lived in the same neighborhood and were seen together morning and evening.
§3I advised them regarding good and bad deeds: ‘Shun bad deeds, and cling to the good.’
§4Seeing the full moon on the sabbath day, I pointed it out to them, saying, ‘Today is the sabbath.
§5Prepare gifts for one worthy of offerings. Having given to one worthy of offerings, observe the sabbath day.’
§6Saying ‘good!’ to me, they prepared gifts according to their capacity and means, and sought out one worthy of offerings.
Nothing to give but himself
§7As I was sitting I thought about what sort of gift would suit one worthy of offerings: ‘If I were to find a worthy recipient, what gift would i give?
§8I have no sesame or mung beans, no beans or rice or ghee. I feed only on grass, but that’s not something I can give.
§9If someone worthy of gifts comes, seeking alms near me, I shall give my own self: they shall not leave empty-handed.’
Sakka's test
§10Knowing my thoughts, Sakka in the guise of a brahmin approached my lair in order to test my giving.
§11Seeing him I was elated, and said the following. ‘It is so good that you have come to me looking for food.
§12Today I shall give to you a fine gift never before given. You are furnished with virtue, unattached to harming others.
§13Come, light a fire, having gathered different sticks. I shall cook myself, you shall eat me roasted.’
§14‘Good!’ he said happily, and gathered different sticks. Building a great pyre, he placed an ember in the recess.
Into the flames
§15He lit such a fire there that would quickly grow big. Shaking my dusty limbs, I withdrew to one side.
§16When the great pile of sticks was burning and blazing, I leapt up and fell on it, in the midst of the fiery flames.
§17Like diving into cool water, allaying distress and fever, bringing satisfaction and joy.
§18That’s how it was when I entered the burning flame. It allayed distress and fever, just like cool water.
§19Outer skin and inner, flesh and sinews, bones, and heart with cords: my whole entire body I gave to the brahmin.”
Self-check quiz
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