3.
The Chapter on the Well
271.
The Birth Story of the Well Spoiler (3-3-1)
61.
The well made with difficulty, how, my dear, did you defile it?
62.
This is the nature of fathers and grandfathers, you should not forsake it.
63.
May we never see your Teaching or not the Teaching.
The Birth Story of the Well Spoiler is the first.
272.
The Birth Story of the Tiger (3-3-2)
64.
A wise one should guard against being overcome by him beforehand, as one guards one's eyes from a tree.
65.
A wise one should provide livelihood equal to oneself in all duties.
66.
Let not the forest be cut down, tigerless, let not the tigers be without forest.
The Birth Story of the Tiger is the second.
273.
The Birth Story of the Tortoise (3-3-3)
67.
Where did you go for almsfood, which faithful one did you approach?
68.
Release me, venerable sir, freed I would go to the mountain.
69.
Release, Kassapa, the Koṇḍañña, sexual intercourse has been done by you.
The Birth Story of the Tortoise is the third.
274.
The Birth Story of the Greedy (3-3-4)
70.
Come down here, crane, my friend the crow is fierce."
71.
Not having heeded your word, see, I have come back reaped."
72.
For human wealth is not easily enjoyed by birds.
The Birth Story of the Greedy is the fourth.
275.
The Birth Story of the Pleasant (3-3-5)
73.
The fierce crow is my friend, whose nest this is.
74.
Not having heeded your word, see, I have come back reaped."
75.
For human wealth is not easily enjoyed by birds.
The Birth Story of the Pleasant is the fifth.
276.
The Birth Story of the Kuru Dhamma (3-3-6)
76.
We bartered your praise with the collyrium-coloured one, in Kāliṅga.
77.
All of them should not be refused, this is the word of the first teachers.
78.
Adorned, covered with a golden net, with its driver - go wherever you wish.
The Birth Story of the Kuru Dhamma is the sixth.
277.
The Birth Story of Romaka (3-3-7)
79.
Without hesitation, with perfectly calmed minds, these egg-born ones used to come within reach of my hand before.
80.
Surely they do not regard me as before, or perhaps these are not those who dwelt away for a long time.
81.
And your mind is corrupted towards these people, for livelihood, therefore we are frightened of you.
The Birth Story of Romaka is the seventh.
278.
The Birth Story of the Buffalo King (3-3-8)
82.
As if from one who gives all desires, do you endure this suffering?
83.
Fools would become even more angry, if there were no one to restrain them.
84.
They will kill him there, that will be my freedom."
The Birth Story of the Buffalo King is the eighth.
279.
The Birth Story of the Hundred-Petalled (3-3-9)
85.
One who is well-wishing, making known, he imagines as ill-wishing;
The ill-wishing woodpecker, he imagines as well-wishing.
86.
Spoken to with words by those wishing his welfare, he takes them wrongly.
87.
He imagines them to be friends, like the young man with the woodpecker.
The Birth Story of the Hundred-Petalled is the ninth.
280.
The Birth Story of the Basket-Spoiler (3-3-10)
88.
For thus he spoils the basket, surely he will make another.
89.
Whatever is done, we indeed spoil it, this family is of such nature.
90.
May we never see your Teaching or not the Teaching.
The Birth Story of the Basket-Spoiler is the tenth.
The Well Chapter is the third.
Its summary:
Virtuous Man, Lord, Hairy, Spoiler, again, Lotus, Excellent, Basket Deed - ten.