Jataka 282
Seyya Jātaka
The Higher Way
as told by Eric Van Horn
originally translated by William Henry Denham Rouse, Cambridge University
originally edited by Professor Edward Byles Cowell, Cambridge University
The Jātaka has the same theme as Jātaka 51 which is referenced in the text. That theme is the triumph of virtue over ill-will.
It is interesting that Ānanda turns out to be the bad guy in the previous life. This shows up from time to time in the Pāli Canon. Ānanda was greatly resented for having championed the cause of the ordination of women. So the redactors of the Pāli texts went out of their way to make him the bad guy whenever they could.
“It is best that you should know.” The Master told this tale while he was at Jetavana. It is about a courtier of the King of Kosala (King Pasenadi). This man was very useful to the King, we are told, and he did everything that had to be done. Because he was very useful, the King gave him great honor. The others were jealous, so they slandered and defamed him. The King believed what they said, and without looking into his guilt, had him bound in chains. Despite the fact that he was virtuous and innocent, he was cast into prison. There he lived all alone. However, because he was a virtuous man, he still had peace of mind. And with his mind at peace, he penetrated the conditions of existence and was able to attain stream-entry on the path.
Eventually the King discovered that he was guiltless. He set him free and honored him even more than before. The newly freed man wished to pay his respects to the Master. Taking flowers and perfumes, he went to the monastery. He paid homage to the Buddha and sat respectfully to the side. The Master talked graciously with him. “We heard that bad fortune came to you,” he said. “Yes, sir, but I made my bad fortune into good. And as I sat in prison, I attained stream-entry.” “Good friend,” the Master said, “you are not the only one who has turned bad fortune into good. Wise men in the past also turned bad fortune into good just as you did.” And he told him this story from the past.
Once on a time, when Brahmadatta was the King of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of his Queen Consort. He grew up and was educated at Takkasilā University. And on his father’s death he became King. He observed the ten royal virtues (generosity, morality, renunciation, honesty, gentleness, asceticism, non-violence, patience, uprightness). He gave alms, practiced virtue, and observed the sacred day.
Now one of his courtiers started scheming with the King’s wives. The servants noticed it, and they told the King that this man was causing trouble. The King found out the truth of the matter and sent for him. “Never show yourself before me again,” he said, and the King banished him.
The man went off to the court of a neighboring King, and then all happened as described above in the Mahāsīlava Birth (Jātaka 51 in which the intriguer convinces the second King to attack the kingdom of the first King). Here, too, this King tested him three times, and believing the word of the courtier, he went with a great army before Benares with the intention of taking it. When this became known to the chief warriors of the King of Benares—500 in number—they said to the King, “This King has come here, wasting the country, with the intention of taking Benares. Let us go find and capture him!”
But the King said, “I do not want a kingdom that must be captured by doing harm. Do nothing at all.”
The marauding King surrounded the city. Again the courtiers approached the King, and said, “My lord, be advised. Let us capture him!”
“Nothing can be done,” the King said. “Open the city gates.”
Then, surrounded by his court, he sat down in state upon the royal dais.
The marauder entered the town. He killed the men at the four gates and ascended the terrace. There he took the King prisoner with all of his court. He put them into chains and threw them into prison. The King, as he sat in prison, pitied the marauder, and an abundance of compassion was stirred in him. Because of this kindness and compassion, the other King was tormented. He burned through and through with a great fever. He was overcome by pain. He asked what was the matter with him.
They replied, “You have cast a righteous King into prison. That is why this is happening to you.”
He went and begged for forgiveness from the Bodhisatta. He restored his kingdom, saying, “Your kingdom is your own. From now on, leave your enemies for me to deal with. I will defend you.” He punished the evil counsellor and returned to his own city.
Figure: Begging forgiveness
The Bodhisatta sat in state upon his high dais in festive array with his court around him. He addressed them, repeating the first two stanzas:
“It is best that you should know, the better part
Is evermore the better thing to do.
By treating one with kindliness of heart,
I saved a hundred men from death their due.
“Therefore to all the world I bid you show
The grace of kindlness and friendship dear;
And then alone to heaven you shall not go.
O people of the Kāsi country, hear!”
Thus the great Being praised virtue out of compassion for the great multitude. And leaving the white umbrella (the symbol of royal authority) in the great city of Benares, twelve leagues in extent (about 60 kilometers), he retired to Himalaya Mountains and embraced the holy life.
Then the Master, in his perfect wisdom, repeated the third stanza:
“These are the words that I, King Kaṃsa, said,
I the great ruler of Benares town.
I laid my bow, I laid my quiver down,
And my self-mastery I perfected.”
When the Master had ended this discourse, he identified the birth: “At that time Ānanda was the marauding King, and I was the King of Benares.”
