[130] Now on that occasion the wife of a money-lender in Sāketa had had a headache for seven years. Many great doctors, the foremost in all directions, came to treat her, but could not cure her of her illness. Taking a great deal of money, they left. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, entering Sāketa, asked the people, “I say, who is sick? Who will I treat?”

“Teacher, this wife of a money-lender has had a headache for seven years. Go and treat her.”

(Mv.VIII.1.9) So he went to the wealthy householder’s residence and, on arrival, sent the doorkeeper, (saying,) “I say, doorkeeper, go and inform the money-lender’s wife, ‘Lady, a doctor has come, and he would like to see you.’”

Responding, “As you say, teacher,” to Jīvaka Komārabhacca, the doorkeeper went to the money-lender’s wife and, on arrival, said to her, “Lady, a doctor has come, and he would like to see you.”

“I say, doorkeeper, what sort of doctor?”

“A young one, Lady.”

“Enough, I say. What use is a young doctor to me? Many great doctors, the foremost in all directions, have come to treat me, but could not cure me of my illness. Taking lots of gold, they left.”

(Mv.VIII.1.10) So the doorkeeper went to Jīvaka Komārabhacca and, on arrival, said to him, “Teacher, the money-lender’s wife says this, ‘Enough, I say. What use is a young doctor to me? Many prominent doctors, the foremost in all directions, have come to treat me, but could not cure me of my illness. Taking lots of gold, they left.’”

“Go, I say, doorkeeper, and inform her, ‘The doctor says, “Lady, don’t give me anything at all beforehand. When you are cured of your illness, then give whatever you want.”’”

Responding, “As you say, teacher,” to Jīvaka Komārabhacca, the doorkeeper went to the money-lender’s wife and, on arrival, said to her, “Lady, the doctor says, ‘Lady, don’t give me anything at all beforehand. When you are cured of your illness, then give whatever you want.’”

“I say, doorkeeper, in that case, let the doctor come.”

Responding, “As you say, Lady,” to the money-lender’s wife, the doorkeeper went to Jīvaka Komārabhacca and, on arrival, said to him, “Teacher, the money-lender’s wife summons you.”

(Mv.VIII.1.11) So he went to the money-lender’s wife and, on arrival, having observed her symptoms, said to her, “Lady, I need a handful of ghee.”

Then she had them give him a handful of ghee. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, having concocted the ghee with various medicines, had the money-lender’s wife lie on her back on a bed and gave her the ghee in her nose. Having been given the ghee in the nose, she spit it out her mouth. Spitting it into a spittoon, she commanded a female slave, “Hey, pick up this ghee with some cotton.”[1]

(Mv.VIII.1.12) The thought occurred to Jīvaka Komārabhacca, “It’s amazing how stingy this housewife is! How can she have cotton used to pick up that ghee, which ought to be thrown away? I used up lots of expensive medicine, but will she give me anything as a reward?”

Then the money-lender’s wife, noticing his expression, said to him, “What are you worried about, teacher?”

“Just now, the thought occurred to me, ‘It’s amazing how stingy this housewife is! How can she have cotton used to pick up that ghee, which ought to be thrown away? I used up lots of expensive medicine, but will she give me anything as a reward?’”

“You know, teacher, we housewives have to know the value of frugality. This ghee is excellent as foot-rub for the slaves and workers, or for putting in lamps. Don’t worry, teacher, your reward won’t be lacking.”

(Mv.VIII.1.3) So Jīvaka Komārabhacca drove out the money-lender’s wife’s seven-year headache with one nose-treatment. Then, being cured, she gave him four thousand. Her son, (thinking,) “My mother is cured!” gave him four thousand. Her daughter-in-law, (thinking,) “My mother-in-law is cured!” gave him four thousand. The wealthy householder, (thinking,) “My wife is cured!” gave him four thousand, a male slave, a female slave, and a horse-drawn carriage.

Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca, taking the sixteen thousand, the male slave, the female slave, and the horse-drawn carriage, set out wandering toward Rājagaha, and traveling by stages, arrived there and went to Prince Abhaya. On arrival, he said to him, “Your highness, this was my first work: sixteen thousand, a male slave, a female slave, and a horse-drawn carriage. May your highness accept them in repayment for looking after [raising] me.”

“I say, Jīvaka, enough. May it be your very own. Have a residence built inside our palace (grounds).”

Responding, “As you say, your highness,” to Prince Abhaya, Jīvaka Komārabhacca had a residence built inside Prince Abhaya’s palace (grounds).