[132] Now at that time the merchant of Rājagaha had suffered from a disease of the head for seven years. Many great physicians, eminent throughout the regions, came and treated him, but they were unable to cure him; they took away much gold and departed. Moreover, he had been given up by the physicians. Some physicians said thus: "On the fifth day the merchant householder will die." Some physicians said thus: "On the seventh day the merchant householder will die."
Then it occurred to the townsfolk of Rājagaha: "This merchant householder is of great service both to the king and to the town; yet he has been given up by the physicians. Some physicians have said thus: 'On the fifth day the merchant householder will die'; some physicians have said thus: 'On the seventh day the merchant householder will die.' Now this Jīvaka, the king's physician, is young and excellent. Suppose we were to ask the king for the physician Jīvaka, to treat the merchant householder." Then the townsfolk of Rājagaha approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and having approached, they said to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: "Your Majesty, this merchant householder is of great service both to Your Majesty and to the town; yet he has been given up by the physicians. Some physicians have said thus: 'On the fifth day the merchant householder will die'; some physicians have said thus: 'On the seventh day the merchant householder will die.' It would be good if Your Majesty were to command the physician Jīvaka to treat the merchant householder."
Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha commanded Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "Go, good Jīvaka, treat the merchant householder." "Yes, Your Majesty," Jīvaka Komārabhacca replied in assent to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and he approached the merchant householder; and having approached and observed the abnormal condition of the merchant householder, he said to the merchant householder: "Householder, if I were to cure you, what would be my reward?" "All my property shall be yours, teacher, and I myself shall be your slave." "But can you, householder, lie on one side for seven months?" "I can, teacher, lie on one side for seven months." "But can you, householder, lie on the other side for seven months?" "I can, teacher, lie on the other side for seven months." "But can you, householder, lie on your back for seven months?" "I can, teacher, lie on my back for seven months."
Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca had the merchant householder lie down on a bed, bound him to the bed, cut open the skin of the head, drew apart the suture of the skull, took out two living creatures, and showed them to the people: "See these two living creatures, one small, one large. Those teachers who said thus: 'On the fifth day the merchant householder will die' — it was this large creature that was seen by them: on the fifth day it would have consumed the brain of the merchant householder, and with the brain consumed, the merchant householder would have died. It was rightly seen by those teachers. And those teachers who said thus: 'On the seventh day the merchant householder will die' — it was this small creature that was seen by them: on the seventh day it would have consumed the brain of the merchant householder, and with the brain consumed, the merchant householder would have died. It was rightly seen by those teachers too." Then he closed up the suture, sewed up the skin of the head, and applied an ointment.
Then, when seven days had passed, the merchant householder said this to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "Teacher, I cannot lie on one side for seven months." "Did you not promise me, householder: 'I can, teacher, lie on one side for seven months'?" "It is true, teacher, that I promised; but I shall surely die — I cannot lie on one side for seven months." "In that case, householder, lie on the other side for seven months."
Then, when seven days had passed, the merchant householder said this to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "Teacher, I cannot lie on the other side for seven months." "Did you not promise me, householder: 'I can, teacher, lie on the other side for seven months'?" "It is true, teacher, that I promised; but I shall surely die — I cannot lie on the other side for seven months." "In that case, householder, lie on your back for seven months."
Then, when seven days had passed, the merchant householder said this to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "Teacher, I cannot lie on my back for seven months." "Did you not promise me, householder: 'I can, teacher, lie on my back for seven months'?" "It is true, teacher, that I promised; but I shall surely die — I cannot lie on my back for seven months." "Householder, if I had not spoken thus to you, you would not have lain down even for this long. But I knew beforehand: 'In three weeks the merchant householder will be well.' Rise, householder — you are cured. Know: what is my reward?" "All my property shall be yours, teacher, and I myself shall be your slave." "Enough, householder. Do not give me all your property, and do not be my slave. Give a hundred thousand to the king and a hundred thousand to me." Then the merchant householder, being cured, gave a hundred thousand to the king and a hundred thousand to Jīvaka Komārabhacca.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.