Sariputta’s Curse!

They made an offering of delicious cake for everyone in the Sangha! Everyone got a piece; and pieces of cake were set aside to save for Bhikkave not present, but expected to return for the meal time! The cake was simply amazing! Everybody enjoyed it. As others arrived, they claimed and enjoyed their cake too. But as the day got later, one slice of cake remained. A very young monk was very late coming back from the village; and his cake was left waiting. So the discussion arose as to whom might get to eat this extra slice of delicious cake. It was decided that the most senior monk, Sariputta, should receive the honor! He accepted the dessert and still had crumbs on his lips when the young monk finally arrived!

“I ate the cake meant for you!” said Sariputta.

“Ah! We have all of us got a sweet tooth!” replied the young monk; but this much troubled the great elder. Immediately Sariputta swore off dessert cake forever!

Some Bhikkave worried about the severity of Sariputta’s extreme renunciation of these delicious cakes and approached the Buddha about it. The Buddha told a story about past lives where Sariputta’s was a venomous snake and the Buddha was a doctor:

Dr. Bodhisattva asked the snake “Did you bite this man?”

“Yes, I did,” hissed Sariputta proudly.

“Well then, suck out your venom,” demanded the Doctor.

“What? Take back the venom I have SPIT!” cried the snake; “I never have and I never will!”

“Either you suck your venom out and stop this murder or into the fire you go!” the Doctor threatened.

“Curse the venom once spat, By torture forced to swallow back, Not to buy my life!” shouted the snake with integrity as it slithered towards the fire himself!

But Dr. Bodhisattva blocked its way, and spared the snake.

(Visavanta Jataka 69)