Jataka 457
Dhamma Jātaka
The Story of Right
as told by Eric Van Horn
originally translated by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil, Cambridge University
originally edited by Professor Edward Byles Cowell, Cambridge University
There are several of these stories about how Devadatta was “swallowed by the earth.” Many scholars presume that this was an earthquake. Whatever it was, it certainly left an impression on Buddhist history.
It is an interesting side note that in the exchange between the Bodhisatta and Devadatta, the Buddha-to-be claims that Right was born before Wrong.
“I do the right.” The Master told this story while he was at Jetavana. It is about how Devadatta was swallowed up in the earth. They gathered in the Dharma Hall to talk: “Friend, Devadatta was hostile to the Tathāgata, and he was swallowed up in the earth.” The Master entered and asked what they were discussing as they sat there. They told him. He replied, “Now, brothers, he has been swallowed up in the earth because he dealt a blow to my victorious authority. But formerly he dealt a blow at the authority of right, and he was swallowed up in the earth and went on his way to the lowest hell.” So saying, he told this story from the past.
(The lowest hell realm in the Buddhist cosmology is called “Avīci.” It causes the most suffering and is the place into which those who have committed grave misdeeds may be reborn.)
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was King in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into the sensory world as one of the gods (devas). He was named “Dhamma,” or “Right,” while Devadatta was called “Adhamma,” or “Wrong.”
(In the Buddhist cosmology, the first six heavenly realms are in the “sense desire” world. Above that are 16 realms that are the “fine material” heavens where beings are free from sense desire.)
As on the fast-day of the full moon, in the evening when meals were done, men were sitting in enjoyment each at his own house door in village and city and royal capital. Dhamma appeared before them. He was poised in the air mounted in his celestial chariot. He was adorned with celestial array in the midst of a multitude of nymphs, and he addressed them in this way:
“Do not take the lives of living creatures and abandon the other ten paths of wrongdoing. Be of service to mother and father and the threefold course of right. In this way you will be destined for heaven and will receive great glory.” In this way he urged people to follow the ten paths of right doing. Then he made a solemn circuit around India clockwise.
(The ten paths of wrongdoing are: 1) killing, 2) stealing, 3) sexual misconduct, 4) lying, 5) slandering, 6) harsh speech, 7) idle speech or gossip, 8) greed or covetousness, 9) ill will, and 10) wrong views. The threefold course of right is right action, right speech, and right thinking.)
But Adhamma taught them: “Kill that which lives,” and in a similar manner he urged people to follow the other ten paths of evildoing. Then he made a circuit around India counter clockwise.
(In India respect is shown by circumambulating clockwise, and disrespect is shown by circling counter clockwise.)
Now their chariots met face to face in the air, and their attendant multitudes asked each the other, “Whose are you? And whose are you?” They replied, “We are of Dhamma, we of Adhamma.” They made room so that their paths were divided. But Dhamma said to Adhamma, “Good sir, you are Adhamma, and I am Dhamma. I have the right of way. Turn your chariot aside and give way.” Then he repeated the first stanza:
“I do the right, men’s fame is of my grace,
Sages and brahmins give me much high praise
Worshipped of men and gods, the right of way
Is mine. Right am I. Then, O Wrong, give place!”
These next follow:
“In the strong car of Wrong enthroned on high
So mighty there’s nothing can terrify.
Then why should I, who never yet gave place,
Make way today for Right to pass me by?”
“Right of a truth was first made manifest,
Primeval he, the oldest, and the best.
Wrong was the younger, later born in time.
Way, younger, at the elder born’s behest!”
“Nor if you worthy be, nor if you pray,
Nor if it be but fair, will I give way.
Here let us two today a battle wage,
He shall have place, whoever wins the fray.”
“Known am I in all regions far and near,
Mighty, of boundless glory, without peer,
All virtues are united in my form.
Right am I, Wrong, how can you conquer here?”
“By iron gold is beaten, nor do we
Gold used for beating iron ever see,
If Wrong ’gainst Right shall win the fight today,
Iron as beautiful as gold will be.”
"If you indeed are mighty in the fray,
Though neither good nor wise is what you say,
Swallow I will all these your evil words,
And willy nilly I will make you way.”
These six stanzas they repeated, one answering the other.
But at the very moment when the Bodhisatta repeated this stanza, Adhamma could no longer stand in his car. He plunged head first into the earth which gaped open to receive him, and he was born again in lower-most hell.
Figure: Going down…
The Blessed One no sooner perceived that this had happened then in his Perfect Wisdom he recited the remaining stanzas:
The words no sooner heard, Wrong from the height
Plunged over heels head-foremost out of sight.
This was the end and dreadful fate of Wrong.
I had no battle, though I longed to fight.
“Thus by the Mighty-in-Forbearance lies
Conquered the Mighty Warrior Wrong, and dies
Swallowed in earth, the other, joyful, strong,
Truth-armored, in his car away he cries.
“Who in his house no due observance pays
To parents, sages, brahmins, when he lays
The body down, and bursts its bonds asunder,
He, even from this world, goes straight to hell,
Even as Adhamma down head-foremost fell.
“Who in his house all due observance pays
To parents, sages, brahmins, when he lays
The body down, and bursts its bonds asunder,
Straight from this world, onward to heaven he flies,
As Dhamma in his chariot sought the skies."
When the Master had ended this discourse, he said, “Not only now, brothers, but in former times also, Devadatta attacked me and was swallowed up in the earth.” Then he identified the birth: “At that time Devadatta was Adhamma, his attendants were the attendants of Devadatta, I was Dhamma, and the Buddha’s attendants were the attendants of Dhamma.”
