Deep Commentary

This verse was taught by the Buddha at Jetavana monastery and concerns a woman who ate the eggs of a hen. The story recounts that in a village near Savatthi, there was a fisherman. One day, on his way to Savatthi, he found some eggs along the banks of the Aciravati River and collected them. Upon reaching Savatthi, he visited acquaintances and boiled the eggs. He offered one to the daughter of the household. She enjoyed it and asked for more, so her mother gave her additional eggs taken from the hen’s nest. The girl developed a taste for eggs and began taking them herself. The mother hen noticed that each time she laid eggs, they were taken and eaten by the girl. Angry, she swore that upon dying, she would be reborn as a demon to eat the girl’s children. After death, the hen was reborn as the family’s cat, and the girl was reborn as a hen. Every time the hen laid eggs, the cat would eat them, repeating this three times. The hen, furious, vowed, “Three times you ate my eggs and now you wish to eat me. When I am reborn, I will chew your bones and your offspring.” Later, the hen was reborn as a wild boar, and the cat as a deer. When the deer had young, a leopard ate both mother and child. Over five hundred consecutive lifetimes, they devoured each other, causing mutual suffering. Eventually, one became a demon woman and the other a human woman in Savatthi. The story continued until they encountered the Buddha, who taught this verse. Hearing it, the demon woman took refuge and observed the Five Precepts. Without hatred, the human woman attained the first stage of enlightenment. The assembly benefited greatly. The teaching emphasizes that if humans continue to sow suffering and hatred, when will humanity truly be free of suffering? Human nature is inherently selfish; people seek only personal gain. They pursue conquest and control in the name of ideology, religion, or personal ambition. This selfishness leads to endless conflict and suffering. From the individual to the group, nation, or religion, the greater the ego, the greater the suffering. Ethical conduct is the foundation of happiness and societal well-being. Without morality, individuals, groups, and religions are doomed to destruction. Only by cultivating ethics and compassion can families, nations, and societies experience peace and joy. Hatred and resentment perpetuate cycles of suffering. The Buddha teaches that love and forgiveness are the path to ending enmity and achieving happiness.