G.P. Malalasekera, Dictionary of Pali Proper Names (Pali Text Society vis palikanon.com/english) edited, updated, and expanded by Dhr. Seven, Pfc. Sandoval, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly
I like killing for the king. It's a job. |
He had copper colored teeth, tawny skin, and a body covered with scars. He wanted to join a gang of thieves, but for a long time, the ringleader refused to admit him -- on account of his inordinately cruel looks.
HE was eventually admitted, but when the band of thieves were captured, no one could be found who was willing to kill the large number (500) of them.
But the crowd demanded it and paid me to kill. |
The backstabbing slayer was afterwards appointed "public executioner" for the kingdom and held the post for 55 years. When however he became too old to behead a man with a single blow, another man was appointed in his place.
.
Tambadathika was deprived of the four perks to which he had for so many years been entitled:
- old clothes
- milk porridge made of ghee
- jasmine flowers, and
- perfumes.
Wise Sariputra was compassionate. |
Tambadathika invited the great disciple (thera) in and showed him great hospitality. When Sāriputta began his words of thanksgiving, his host could not concentrate his thoughts to listen and benefit from the ennobling teaching -- worried and full of misgivings by memories of his terrible past karma.
Yes, harm was done, but good can be done, too. |
Tambadāthika accompanied Ven. Sariputra when he departed. But on his way back, he was gored to death by a mad cow. That cow was possessed by the same yakkhinī (yakshi = ogress) who had killed: Pukkusāti, Bāhīya of the Barkcloth, and Suppabuddha (DhA.ii.35; UdA.289). The Buddha declared that he had been reborn in the celestial Tusita heaven (DhA.ii.203ff). Source
The killer-crowd wants us to. |
Death penalty: modern mass murderers called British public executioners last century. |
No comments:
Post a Comment