A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

13: Begging
Jā 403 Aṭṭhisenajātakaṁ
Silent Begging
The King, pleased with a sage (the Bodhisatta),
offers him anything from his Kingdom down, but
the sage remains silent. The following dialogue
ensues.
243. “Ye me ahaṁ na jānāmi, Aṭṭhisena, vaṇibbake,
Te maṁ saṅgamma yācanti; kasmā maṁ tvaṁ na yācasi.”
“Those poor people I do not know,
Aṭṭhisena, gather and beg,
Why is it that you do not beg”
244. “Yācako appiyo hoti, yācaṁ adadam-appiyo,
Tasmāhaṁ taṁ na yācāmi, mā me viddesanā ahu.”
“A begger is not loved, one not
Giving to begging is not loved,
Thus I beg not – be not angry.”
245. “Yo ve yācanajīvāno, kāle yācaṁ na yācati,
Parañ-ca puññā dhaṁseti, attanā pi na jīvati.
“He who lives by way of begging,
And who begs not at begging time,
Destroys the merits of others,
And himself does not live happily.
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