Dhamma Principles › The Handful of Peas Jātaka: The Monkey Who Threw Away a Handful for One Pea
The Handful of Peas Jātaka: The Monkey Who Threw Away a Handful for One Pea
Everyday life

The Handful of Peas Jātaka: The Monkey Who Threw Away a Handful for One Pea

Appena bahuṃ jeyyāma

A monkey holding a handful of peas drops one, throws away all the rest to look for it, and ends up with nothing. The verses warn that the very greedy likewise lose much for the sake of a little.

7 points

In the Kaḷāyamuṭṭhi Jātaka of the Dukanipāta in the Jātaka, Khuddaka Nikāya, there are two verses. The first, addressed to the king, says this monkey that forages among the branches is a fool without wisdom: it has thrown away a whole handful of peas (kaḷāya) and searches for the single pea that fell to the ground. The second says: so it is with us, and with others who are very greedy; we lose much for the sake of a little, as the monkey lost all its peas for the sake of one.

The story comes from the commentary. The Bodhisatta was a minister who gave Dhamma advice to the king of Bārāṇasī. When unrest broke out at the border, the king set out with his army even though it was the rainy season, and camped in the royal park. Soldiers put peas for the horses in a trough. A monkey came down, stuffed its mouth full, took a handful as well, and climbed a tree to eat. When one pea slipped from its hand, it dropped all the rest to search for it, and not finding it, climbed back up and sat glumly on a branch.

The minister compared this to marching in the rainy season, when the going is hard: a small gain would be sought at the cost of many men and animals. So the king turned back. According to the commentary, the Buddha told this to King Pasenadi of Kosala, who was also about to march out in the rainy season and stopped to see the Buddha first.

  1. 1

    Throwing away a handful for one Kaḷāyamuṭṭhiṃ avakiriya kevalaṃ

    The verse says the monkey threw away the whole handful of peas. The commentary says it had peas filling both its mouth and its hand, but dropped them all because just one pea fell.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you lose something small, stop and look at what is still in your hands. Don't let a small regret make you lose everything you have.

  2. 2

    Searching for what has already fallen Ekaṃ kaḷāyaṃ patitaṃ gavesati

    The monkey searches for the one pea that fell to the ground. The commentary says it couldn't find it and climbed back up to sit dejected on a branch, like someone who had lost a thousand lawsuits.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you've missed an opportunity or lost money, set a clear limit on the time for regret or repair, then return to looking after what you can still do.

  3. 3

    No wisdom to see the whole picture Paññā janinda nayimassa vijjati

    The verse says this monkey has no wisdom. The commentary explains that fools who don't look at the large amount but only at the small one act just like this monkey.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before deciding something that has upset you, write two columns: what you stand to gain, and what you may lose. Then compare them honestly.

  4. 4

    We're no different from the monkey Ye caññe atilobhino

    The second verse says: so it is with us, and with others who are very greedy. The speaker includes himself and doesn't treat greed as only other people's problem.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you laugh at someone's greed in the news or on social media, also ask yourself where you give up a lot to gain a little.

  5. 5

    Losing much for the sake of little Appena bahuṃ jeyyāma

    The verse concludes that the very greedy lose much for the sake of a little, like the monkey that lost all its peas for the sake of one.

    Applying it in daily life

    Don't fall out with friends or relatives over a small sum of money. The relationship you lose is usually worth more than the money you get back.

  6. 6

    The right thing at the wrong time costs dearly Kaḷāyamuṭṭhijātakaṃ

    The commentary explains that the minister compared marching in the rainy season, when ravines and streams are full of water, to seeking a small gain at an unsuitable time while losing many animals and men.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before starting a project or an investment, ask whether the timing is right. If costs are unusually high right now, waiting for the right moment may be worth more.

  7. 7

    Consult the wise before deciding Kaḷāyamuṭṭhijātakaṃ

    In the commentary, King Pasenadi of Kosala made a point of visiting the Buddha before marching, thinking that if going would turn out badly the Buddha would say so. The king in the story of the past likewise listened to his minister and turned back.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you must make an important decision while emotions are still running high, call someone you trust who will speak frankly before you act.

Try it in daily life

The image of a monkey throwing away a handful for one pea shows up often in real life: quarrelling with family over a small sum, spending a whole day chasing a small discount, or losing a regular customer by refusing to give a little.

The second verse is worth noticing, because the minister doesn't just say "what a foolish monkey" and stop. He includes himself: "so it is with us". Greed that sees only what is right in front of us is everyone's issue, not just other people's.

The commentary's story also teaches about timing. Even something worth doing can cost more than it gains if done at the wrong time, and pausing to take advice before deciding is not weakness.

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