Lomasakassapa Jātaka

Once upon a time, Prince Brahmadatta was the son of Brahmadatta, King of Benares. He was the schoolmate of the son of his family priest who was named Kassapa. They learned all the sciences in the house of the same teacher. Bye and bye the young prince—on his father’s death—ascended to the throne in the kingdom. Kassapa thought, “My friend has become King. He will bestow great power on me. But why do I want to have anything to do with power? I will take leave of the King and my parents and become a spiritual seeker.” So he went into the Himālaya Mountains and took up the holy life.

In only seven days he was able to master the Five Faculties (1) faith/confidence, 2) energy, 3) mindfulness, 4) concentration/samadhi and 5) wisdom/insight) and the Attainments (jhānas). He sustained himself by what he gleaned in the fields. Men nicknamed him Lomasakassapa (Hairy Kassapa). And with his senses restrained, he became a recluse of unshakeable virtue.

Because of his virtue, Sakka’s realm was shaken. Sakka, reflecting on the cause, observed him and thought, “This recluse, by the exceedingly fierce fire of his virtue, would make me fall even from the realm of Sakka. After making a secret pact with the King of Benares, I will break down his resolve.”

So by the power of a Sakka, he entered the royal closet of the King of Benares at midnight. He illuminated the entire chamber with the radiance of his form. And standing in the air before the King, he woke him up and said, “Sire, arise.” When the King asked, “Who are you?” he answered, “I am Sakka.” “Why are you here?” “Sire, do you desire to rule all of India?” “Of course I do.” So Sakka said, “Then bring Lomasakassapa here. Have him perform an animal sacrifice, and you will become, like Sakka, exempt from old age and death, and you will rule throughout all India.” And he repeated the first stanza:

A king like Indra you will be,

Ne’er doomed old age or death to see,

Should Kassapa by your advice

Offer a living sacrifice.

On hearing his words the King readily agreed. Sakka said, “Then make no delay,” and he departed.

On the next day the King summoned a councilor named Sayha. He said to him, “Good sir, go to my dear friend Lomasakassapa and in my name say this to him: ‘The King will become sole ruler in all India by having you offer a sacrifice. And if you do this, he will grant you as much land as you want. Come with me to offer the sacrifice.’” Sayha answered, “Very well, sire.”

So the King made a proclamation by beat of drum to discover where the recluse lived. A certain forester said, “I know.” Sayha went there under his guidance with a large following, and saluting the sage, he sat respectfully on one side and delivered his message. Then the recluse said to him, “Sayha, what is this you say?” And refusing him, he spoke these four stanzas:

No island realm, safe-guarded in the sea,

Shall tempt me, Sayha, to this cruelty.

A curse upon the lust of fame and gain,

Give birth to acts that lead to endless pain.

Better, as homeless stray, to beg one’s bread

Then by a crime bring shame upon my head.

Yea better, bowl in hand, to flee from sin

Then by such cruelty a kingdom win.

The councilor, after hearing what he said, went and told the King.

The King thought, “If he refuses to come, what can I do?” and he kept silent. But at midnight Sakka returned. He stood in the air and said, “Why, sire, do you not send for Lomasakassapa and have him offer the sacrifice?” “I sent for him, but he refuses to come.” “Sire, beautify your daughter, Princess Candavatī, and send her with Sayha. Have him say, ‘If you will come and offer the sacrifice, the King will give you this beautiful woman to be your wife.’ Clearly he will be struck with love for the maiden, and he will come.” The King readily agreed.

On the next day, he sent his daughter off with Sayha. Sayha took the King’s daughter and went to see the recluse. After the usual salutations and compliments to the sage, he presented the princess to him. She was as lovely as a celestial nymph, and she stood at a respectful distance. The recluse lost his moral restraint. He looked at her, and with the mere look he lost his virtue. The councilor saw that he was smitten with love. He said, “Your reverence, if you will offer the animal sacrifice, the King will give you this maiden to be your wife.”

The recluse trembled with the power of passion. He said, “Will he really give her to me?” “Yes, if you offer the sacrifice, he will.” “Very well,” he said, “If I can have her, I will offer the sacrifice,.” And taking her with him, just as he was, ascetic locks and all, he mounted a splendid chariot and went to Benares.

The King, as soon as he heard he was coming, prepared for the ceremony in the sacrificial pit. And when he had arrived, the King said, “If you make the sacrifice, I will become equal to Indra. And when the sacrifice is completed, I will give you my daughter.” Kassapa readily agreed.

So on the next day, the King went with Candavatī to the sacrificial pit. There all four-footed beasts—elephants, horses, bulls and the rest—were placed in a line. Kassapa offered the sacrifice, preparing to kill them all. The people who were gathered there said, “This is not proper or befitting you, Lomasakassapa. Why are you doing this?” And lamenting, they uttered two stanzas:

Both sun and moon bear potent sway,

And tides no power on earth can stay,

Brahmins and priests almighty are,

But womankind is mightier far.

E’en so Candavatī did win

Grim Kassapa to deadly sin,

And urged him by her sire’s device

To offer living sacrifice.

At that moment Kassapa lifted up his precious sword to strike the royal elephant on the neck. The elephant—at the sight of the sword—was terrified by the fear of death. He uttered a loud cry. On hearing his cry the other beasts, too, elephants, horses, and bulls, through fear of death, uttered loud cries. The people also cried aloud. When he heard these cries, Kassapa regained his senses. He reflected on his matted hair. Then he became conscious of his matted locks and beard and the hair on his body and breast. Full of remorse he cried, “Alas! I have done a dreadful deed, unbecoming my character.” And showing his emotion, he spoke the eighth stanza:

This cruel act is of desire the fruit.

The growth of lust I’ll cut down to the root.

Then the King said, “Friend, fear not. Offer the sacrifice, and I will give you the princess Candavatī and my kingdom and a pile of the seven treasures.” (The seven treasures are gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, pearl, and carnelian, which is a semi-precious stone.) On hearing this Kassapa said, “Sire, I do not want this act on my conscience,” and he spoke the concluding stanza:

Curse on the lusts upon this earth so rife,

Better by far than these the ascetic life.

I will forsaking wrong a hermit be,

Keep all your realm and fair Candavatī.

With these words he concentrated his thoughts on meditative absorption, and recovering the lost faculties, he sat cross-legged in the air. He taught the Dharma to the King. And urging him to be zealous in good works, he told him to destroy the sacrificial pit and grant an amnesty to the people. Then he flew up into the air and returned to his own home. And as long as he lived, he cultivated the Brahma perfections and became destined to rebirth in the Brahma world.