Dhammapada 2.7.p26

2.7.p26

Puna sakko tassā santikaṃ gantvā, ‘‘diṭṭhā te sahāyikā’’ti vatvā ‘‘diṭṭhā maṃ uppaṇḍetvā gatā, tattheva maṃ nehī’’ti vutte taṃ tattheva netvā udake vissajjetvā, ‘‘diṭṭhā te tāsaṃ sampattī’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Diṭṭhā, devā’’ti? ‘‘Tayāpi tattha nibbattanūpāyaṃ kātuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ karomi, devā’’ti? ‘‘Mayā dinnaṃ ovādaṃ rakkhissasī’’ti. ‘‘Rakkhissāmi, devā’’ti. Athassā pañca sīlāni datvā, ‘‘appamattā rakkhāhī’’ti vatvā pakkāmi. Sā tato paṭṭhāya sayaṃmatamacchakeyeva pariyesitvā khādati. Sakko katipāhaccayena tassā vīmaṃsanatthāya gantvā, vālukāpiṭṭhe matamacchako viya hutvā uttāno nipajji. Sā taṃ disvā ‘‘matamacchako’’ti saññāya aggahesi. Maccho gilanakāle naṅguṭṭhaṃ cālesi. Sā ‘‘sajīvamacchako’’ti udake vissajjesi. So thokaṃ vītināmetvā puna tassā purato uttāno hutvā nipajji. Puna sā ‘‘matamacchako’’ti saññāya gahetvā gilanakāle agganaṅguṭṭhaṃ cālesi. Taṃ disvā ‘‘sajīvamaccho’’ti vissajjesi. Evaṃ tikkhattuṃ vīmaṃsitvā ‘‘sādhukaṃ sīlaṃ rakkhatī’’ti attānaṃ jānāpetvā ‘‘ahaṃ tava vīmaṃsanatthāya āgato, sādhukaṃ sīlaṃ rakkhasi, evaṃ rakkhamānā na cirasseva mama santike nibbattissasi, appamattā hohī’’ti vatvā pakkāmi.

Sakka went once more to her and said, "Did you see your companions?" "Yes," replied Wellborn, "I saw them. They ridiculed me and then went their way. Take me back again." So Sakka took her back again, set her free in the water, and then asked her, "Did you see their celestial glory?" "Yes, Sire, I did." "You also should employ such means as will enable you to obtain rebirth there." "Sire, what shall I do?" "If I admonish you, will you keep my admonition?" “Yes, Sire, I will keep your admonition.” So Sakka taught her the Five Precepts. Having so done, he said to her, “Be zealous in keeping the Precepts,” and departed.

Thenceforth she sought after and ate only such fish as had died a natural death. After a few days had passed, Sakka determined to test her. So he went, and taking the form of a fish, lay down on the surface of the sand, pretending to be dead. When she saw the fish, thinking that it was dead, she took it in her beak. Just as she was about to swallow the fish, it wriggled its tail. The instant she discovered the fish was alive she released it in the water. Sakka waited a little while, and then lay down before her on his back once more. Again thinking it was a dead fish, she took it in her beak. But just as she was about to swallow the fish, it moved the tip of its tail. The instant she saw the fish move its tail she knew it was alive, and therefore let it go. When Sakka had thus tested her three times and had satisfied himself that she was keeping the Precepts faithfully, he revealed his identity to her and said, “I came here for the purpose of testing you. You are keeping the Precepts faithfully. If you continue thus faithfully to keep them, you will before long be reborn as one of my wives. Be heedful.” So saying these words, he departed.