Sutano Jātaka

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into the family of a poor householder. They called him "Sutana." When he grew up, he earned wages and supported his parents. When his father died, he supported his mother.

The King at that time was fond of hunting. One day he went with a great entourage to a forest that was about three to six miles in extent (about five to nine-and-a-half kilometers). There he made a proclamation to all: “If a deer escapes by any man’s post, the man will be fined the value of the deer.”

The ministers built a concealed hut by the main road and gave it to the King. The deer were roused by the crying of men who had surrounded their lairs, and one antelope went up to the King’s post. The King thought, “I will hit him,” and he shot an arrow. The animal, who knew a trick, saw that the arrow was coming to his side. He wheeled around and fell as if he had been wounded by the arrow. The King thought, “I have hit him,” and rushed in to seize him. But the deer rose up and ran off like the wind.

The ministers and the rest mocked the King. But he pursued the deer, and when it was tired, he cut it in two with his sword. Hanging the pieces on a stick, he carried it on a pole. Then he said, “I will rest a little.” He went over to a banyan tree by the road, and lay down, and there he fell asleep.

A yakkha named Makhādeva had been born in that banyan tree. The king of the yakkhas, Vessavaṇa, gave him all the living things who came to the tree as his food. When the King woke up he said, “Stay. You are my food,” and he took him by the hand. “Who are you?” said the King. “I am a yakkha who was born here. I get all men who come to this place as my food.” The King, taking good heart, asked, “Will you eat only today or do you eat continually?” “I will eat continually what I can get.” “Then eat this deer today and let me go. Tomorrow I will send you a man with a plate of rice, and I will do this every day.” “Be careful then,” the yakkha said. “On the day when no one is sent, I will eat you.” “I am the King of Benares. There is nothing I cannot do.” So the yakkha accepted his promise and let him go.

When the King arrived back in the town, he told the story to a minister in attendance and asked what was to be done. Was there a time limit fixed, O King?” “No.” “That was a bad decision. But never mind. There are many men in the jail.” “Then you manage this situation and give me life.”

The minister agreed. Every day he took a man from the jail and sent him to the yakkha with a plate of rice without telling him anything. The yakkha ate both the rice and the man. But after a while the jails were empty. The King could not find anyone to carry the rice to the yakkha. He shook with fear of death. The minister comforted him, saying, “O King, the desire for wealth is stronger than the desire to live. Let us put a packet of a thousand gold pieces on an elephant’s back and make a proclamation by drum: “Who will take rice and go to the yakkha and get this wealth?” And so he did this.

The Bodhisatta thought, “I get a penny and a half for my wages, and I can barely support my mother. I will get this money and give it her. Then I will go to the yakkha. If I can get the better of him, so be it. And if I cannot, she will live comfortably.” So he told his mother what he planned to do, but she said, “I have enough, dear. I don’t need money.” And so she forbade him to go twice. But the third time—without asking her—he said, “Sirs, bring the 1,000 gold coins. I will take the rice.”

So he gave his mother the 1,000 coins and said, “Don’t fret, mother. I will overcome the yakkha and give happiness to the people. I will return and change your tearful face to laughter.” And so saluting her, he went to the King with the King’s men. And saluting him, he stood before the King. The King said, “My good man, will you take the rice?” “Yes, O King.” “What do you want to take with you?” “Your golden slippers, O King.” “Why?” “O King, that yakkha gets to eat all of the people who stand on the ground at the foot of the tree. I will stand on slippers, not on the ground.” “Anything else?” “Your umbrella, O King.” “Why so?” “O King, the yakkha gets to eat all of the people who stand in the shade of his tree. I will stand in the shade of the umbrella, not of his tree.” “Anything else?” “Your sword, O King.” “For what purpose?” “O King, even goblins fear those with weapons in their hands.” “Anything else?” “Your golden bowl, O King, filled with your own rice.” “Why, good man?” “It is not appropriate for a wise man like me to take coarse food in an earthen dish.” The King consented and sent officers to give him all that he asked.

Then the Bodhisatta said, “Fear not, O great King. I will come back today having overcome the yakkha and bringing you happiness.” And so he took the required things and went to the yakkha’s tree. He positioned the King’s men not far from the tree. He put on the golden slippers, sheathed the sword, put the white umbrella over his head, and—taking the rice in the gold dish—he went to the yakkha.

The yakkha was watching the road. He saw him and thought, “This man comes not as they have on other days. What is the reason?” The Bodhisatta drew near to the tree. He pushed the plate of rice in the shadow of the tree with the point of the sword. And standing near the shadow, he spoke the first stanza:

The King has sent you rice prepared and seasoned well with meat.

If Makhādeva is at home, let him come forth and eat!

Hearing him the yakkha thought, “I will deceive him and eat him when he comes into the shadow.” And so he spoke the second stanza:

Come inside, young man, with your seasoned food,

Both it and you, young man, to eat are good.

Then the Bodhisatta spoke two stanzas:

Yakkha, you’ll lose a great thing for a small,

Men fearing death will bring no food at all.

You’ll have good supply of cheer,

Pure and sweet and flavored to your mind.

But a man to bring it here,

If you eat me, will be hard to find.

The yakkha thought, “The young man speaks sense.” And being well disposed, he spoke two stanzas:

Young Sutana, my interests are clearly as you show.

Visit your mother then in peace, you have my leave to go.

Take sword, and parasol, and dish, young man, and go your ways,

Visit your mother happily and bring her happy days.

Hearing the yakkha’s words, the Bodhisatta was pleased, thinking, “My task is accomplished. The yakkha has been overcome. I have won much wealth and made good on the King’s word.” And so, after giving thanks to the yakkha, he spoke a final stanza:

With all your family, yakkha, right happy may you be,

The King’s command has been performed, and wealth has come to me.

Then he admonished the yakkha, saying, “Friend, you did evil deeds in the past. You were cruel and harsh. You ate the flesh and blood of others, and so you were born as a yakkha. From now on, do not commit murder or other evil deeds.” He told the yakkha about the blessings of virtue and the misery of misdeeds. He established the yakkha in the Five Precepts. Then he said, “Why live in the forest? Come, I will settle you by the city gate and get you the best rice.”

So he left with the yakkha and went to Benares. The King was informed that Sutana had arrived with the yakkha. The King and his ministers went out to meet the Bodhisatta. They settled the yakkha at the city gate and provided him with the best rice. Then Sutana entered the town. A proclamation was made by drum. They called a meeting of the townsfolk where they spoke in praise of the Bodhisatta. They gave him command of the army. Then the King was established in the Bodhisatta’s teaching. He did good works of charity and practiced the other virtues, and he became destined for heaven.