Jataka 223
Puṭa Bhatta Jātaka
A Bowl of Rice
as told by Eric Van Horn
originally translated by William Henry Denham Rouse, Cambridge University
originally edited by Professor Edward Byles Cowell, Cambridge University
This is a lovely story about a kind Queen, a wise counselor, and a stingy King. The Bodhisatta advises her to leave the King, at which point he comes to his senses and realizes what he is about to lose.
The Buddha often taught kindness and patience, and many Buddhist monks teach this to couples who are struggling in their relationships. And sometimes that is the proper course. But the Buddhist path is also about wisdom. And in a relationship in which there is no respect, sometimes the wise path is “to fly away.”
“In the world, marriage without love is painful.”
“Honor for honor.” The Master told this story while he was at Jetavana. It is about a wealthy landowner.
Tradition has it that there was once a landowner who was a citizen of Sāvatthi, and he did business with a landowner from the country. The landowner from the country owed him money. So taking his wife with him, he visited him to collect the debt. But the debtor said that he could not pay. The first man, in anger, set out for home without eating. On the road he met some people, and seeing how hungry he was, they gave him food. They asked him to in turn share it with his wife.
When he got the food, however, he did not share it with his wife. He said to his wife, “Wife, this is a well-known haunt of thieves, so you had better go in front.” Having thus gotten rid of her, he ate all the food, and then he showed her the empty pot. He said, “Look here, wife! They gave me an empty pot!” She guessed that he had eaten all the food himself, and she was very annoyed.
As they passed by the monastery at Jetavana, they decided to go into the park and get a drink of water. There sat the Master, waiting to see them. He was like a hunter on the trail, seated under the shade of his perfumed cell. He greeted them kindly, then he said, “Lay sister, is your husband kind and loving?”
“I love him, sir,” she replied, “but he does not love me. On this very day he was given a pot of food. He did not give a bite to me but ate it all himself.”
“Lay sister, so it has always been — you loving and kind, and he heartless. But when by the help of the wise he learns your value, he will honor you.” Then, at her request, he told this story from the past.
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was the King in Benares, the Bodhisatta was the son of a member of the King’s court. When he came of age he became the King’s adviser in all things worldly and spiritual.
It so happened that the King was afraid of his son. He thought that his son might attack him. So he sent him away. Taking his wife, the son departed from that city. He went to a village in Kāsi, where he and his family lived. By and by the father died. His son heard the news and set out for Benares, saying “I will receive the kingdom that is my birthright.” On his journey someone gave him some food, saying, “Eat, and give some to your wife as well.” But he did not give her anything, and he ate it all himself. She thought, “He is a cruel man, indeed!” And she was very sad.
When he arrived in Benares and had received his kingdom, he made her the Queen consort. But he thought, “A little is enough for her.” He showed her very little consideration or honor. He never even asked about her welfare.
“This Queen,” the Bodhisatta thought, “serves the King well, and she loves him. But the King does not spend a single thought on her. I will make him show her respect and honor.”
So he went to the Queen. He paid his salutations, and then stood to one side. “What is it, dear sir?” she asked.
“Lady,” he asked, “how can we serve you? Shouldn’t you give the elders a piece of cloth or a dish of rice?”
“Dear sir, I never receive anything myself. What can I give to you? When I do receive something, do I not share it? But now the King gives me nothing at all, let alone giving me anything extra. As he was traveling along the road he received a bowl of rice, but he never gave me a single bite. He ate it all himself.”
“Well, madam, would you be able to say this in the King’s presence?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Very well then. Today, when I stand before the King, when I ask my question, you give the same answer. I will make your goodness known on this very day.”
So the Bodhisatta went on before. He stood in the King’s presence. And she, too, went and stood near the King.
Then the Bodhisatta said, “Madam, you are very cruel. Shouldn’t you give the elders a piece of cloth or a dish of food?” And she answered, “Good sir, I myself receive nothing from the King. What can I give to you?”
“Are you not the Queen consort?” he said.
“Good sir,” she said, “what good is the place of a Queen consort when no respect is paid? What would the King give me now? When he received a dish of rice on the road, he gave me nothing. He ate it all himself.”
Figure: “He gave me nothing.”
And the Bodhisatta asked him, “Is this true, Oh King?" And the King nodded in agreement. When the Bodhisatta saw that the King agreed he said, “Then lady, why live here with the King when he is unkind? In the world, marriage without love is painful. While you live here, in a loveless marriage with the King, he will only bring you sorrow. People honor those who also show honor, and when someone does not show honor, as soon as you see it, you should go elsewhere. They are many others who live in the world.” And he repeated the following stanzas:
Honor for honor, love for love is due,
Do good to him who does the same to you.
Observance breeds observance, but it’s plain,
None need help him who will not help again.
“Return neglect for negligence, don’t stay
To comfort him whose love has passed away.
The world is wide, and when the birds decry
That trees have lost their fruit, away they fly.”
Hearing this, the King gave his Queen all due honor. And from that day on they lived together in friendship and harmony.
When the Master ended this discourse, he taught the Four Noble Truths, at the conclusion of which the husband and the wife attained stream-entry. Then he identified the birth: “The husband and the wife are the same in both cases, and I was the wise counselor.”
