सुप्पारक नाम के एक कुशल नाविक ने
अचानक अपनी आँखों की रोशनी खो दी। इस कारण उसे कुछ दिनों तक एक
राजा के यहाँ नौकरी करनी पड़ी। राजा ने उसकी कद्र नहीं की।
अत: वह वहाँ से इस्तीफा देकर अपने घर
बैठ गया।
एक दिन उसकी योग्यताओं को सुन कुछ
समुद्री व्यापारी उसके पास पहुँचे। उन्होंने उसे एक जहाज का कप्तान
बना दिया। फिर सुप्पारक की कप्तानी
में वे अपने जहाज का दूर विदेश ले गये।
मार्ग में एक भयंकर तूफान आया जिससे जहाज अपने
रास्ते से भटक गया। फिर भी सुप्पारक के कौशल
से वह खुरमाला, अग्गिमाला, दपिमाला आदि जगहों
से होता हुआ वापिस मारुकुच्छ पहुँच गया।
रास्ते में सुप्पारक दूर स्थान से अनेक
रत्न और कीमती द्रव्य भी निकलवा लाया था, जिसे पाकर
व्यापारियों की क्षति की भरपाई भी हो गई।
Ship in storm saved by Supparaka
O nce there lived
a great mariner, whose name was Supparaka. One day, when he was trying to
save his ship from storm, the salt-water hit his eyes and he became blind.
Though blind, he
was endowed with several other abilities. So, he soon entered the service
of the king of the land as a valuer. The accuracy in his valuations often
surprised the people because he was blind. Nonetheless, the king never
paid him adequately.
One day, the king
wanted to buy an elephant. So, he asked Supparaka to suggest the price.
Having examined the elephant, he pointed out that the animals hind leg
was not right. When the people examined the leg they found the valuers
judgment correct. Yet, the king paid him only eight pieces of money for
his counselling.
Likewise, his
judgements with regard to a horse, a chariot and a blanket, which the king
wanted to purchase, proved to be accurate and honest; and reflected his
loyalty to the king. But on each occasion the king paid him only eight
pieces of money.
Disgusted with
the kings attitude, he, one day left the kings service to start a
fresh life.
But soon, he received a lucrative offer from some rich merchants, who had commissioned a ship and were looking for an experienced ship captain. First, he turned down the offer, as he was blind. But when requested repeatedly, he accepted the offer. Finally, he became the captain of the ship, which sailed to a foreign port. But after seven days, it was caught in a terrible storm. To save the ship, Supparka drove it to several oceans, namely, Khuramala, Aggimala, Dadhimala, Nilavannakusamala, Nalamala and Valabhamukha. Yet, he could not bring it to the shore. When the people on board were losing heart and all their hopes were being withered away, he conducted the Sacchakiriya (�Act of Truth) by reciting, �if he was righteous, the ship shall be saved�. Next day, the ship sailed back to the port of Bharukaccha and was anchored there, safely.
See Supparaka Jataka Jataka Pali No.463.