Jataka 468
Janasandha Jātaka
Prince Janasandha
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
This is a teaching given to King Pasenadi, the King of Kosala. King Pasenadi is one of the more colorful characters from the Buddha’s life. He was extremely intelligent, but he tended to be a little wild. But to his credit he supported the Buddha. There is a section in the Saṃyutta Nikāya where all of the discourses are conversations between the Buddha and the King.
In this teaching the Buddha apparently lists things from his previous lives that cause him to now suffer. But instead of wallowing in remorse, he uses them as tools to teach him how to properly behave and to attain true happiness.
“Thus spoken.” The Master told this story when he was staying at Jetavana. It is about the instruction of the King of Kosala (King Pasenadi).
At one time, they say that the King was intoxicated with power. He was devoted to sense pleasures. He did not hold the court of justice, and he grew remiss in attending upon the Buddha. One day he remembered the Dasabala (the Buddha). He thought, “I must go and visit him.” So after breakfast, he ascended his magnificent chariot and proceeded to the monastery. He greeted the Buddha and took a seat.
“How is it, great King,” the Bodhisatta asked, “that you have not visited me for such a long time?” “Oh, sir,” replied the King, “I have been so busy that there has been no opportunity to wait upon you.” “Great King,” he replied, “It is not proper to neglect someone like me who can give wise instruction. A king ought to rule vigilant in all kingly duties to his subjects, like his mother and father, forsaking all evil actions, and never omitting the ten virtues of a king (generosity, morality, renunciation, honesty, gentleness, asceticism, non-violence, patience, uprightness). When a king is righteous, those who surround him are also righteous. It would be no marvel, in truth, if under my instruction you were to rule in righteousness. But wise men of old, even when there was no teacher to instruct them, by their own understanding, established in the threefold practice of well-doing (thoughts, words, and deeds), declared the Dharma to a great multitude of people. Then, with all their attendants, they went to swell the hosts of heaven.” With these words, at the King’s request, the Master told him this story from the past.
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was the King in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of his Queen Consort. They gave him the name of Prince Janasandha. Now when he came of age, and when he had returned from Takkasilā University where he had been educated in all accomplishments, the King gave a general pardon to all prisoners, and he gave Prince Janasandha the position of viceroy.
When his father died, Prince Janasandha became King. He had six alms houses built, one each at the four gates of the city, one in the middle of it, and one at the palace gate. There, every day he distributed 600,000 gold coins. He inspired all India with his almsgiving. He opened the prison doors for good and all. He destroyed the places of execution. He protected all the world with the four sorts of beneficence (liberality, affability, impartiality, good rule). He kept the five Precepts. He observed the holy fast-day (Uposatha), and he ruled in righteousness. From time to time he would gather together his subjects and teach the Dharma to them: “Give alms, practice virtue, righteously follow your business and calling, educate yourselves in the days of your youth, gain wealth, do not behave like a village cheat or a dog, do not be harsh or cruel, do your duty in caring for mother and for father, and in family life, honor your elders.” Thus he instructed multitudes of people in good living.
Once on the holy day, on the fifteenth of the fortnight, having determined to keep the holy day, he thought to himself, “I will declare the Dharma to the multitudes for the continual increase of good and blessing to them and to make them vigilant in their lives.” Then he ordered the drum to be beaten, and beginning with the women of his own household, he gathered together all of the people of the city. He sat in the courtyard of his palace on a splendid couch beneath a pavilion adorned with jewels. And he declared the Dharma in these words: “Oh people of the city! I will declare to you the practices that will cause you suffering and those which will not. Be vigilant, and hear with care and attention.”
The Master opened his mouth, a precious jewel among mouths, full of truth, and with a voice as sweet as honey, he explained this address to the King of Kosala: “Thus spoke King Janasandha. There are ten things which if a man does not do them will cause him to suffer.”
“Not to have got nor gathered store in time, the heart torments,
To think he sought no wealth before he afterwards repents.
“How hard is life for men untaught! He thinks, repenting sore
That learning, that he now might use, he would not learn before.
“A slanderer once, dishonest once, a backbiter unkind,
Cruel, and harsh was I. Good cause for sorrow now I find.
“A killer was I, merciless, and to no creature gave,
Contemptible, for this (he said) much sorrow I now have.
“When I had many wives (he thought) to whom I owed their due,
I left them for another’s wife, which I now dearly rue.
“When plentiful store of food and drink there was, he sorrows sore,
To think he never gave a gift in the old time before.
“He grieves to think that when he could, he would not care and tend
Mother and father, now grown old, their youth now at an end.
“To have slighted teacher, monitor, or father, who would try
To gratify his every wish, causes deep misery.
“To have treated brahmins with neglect, ascetics many a one
Holy, and learned, in the past, makes him repent again.
“Sweet is austerity performed, a good man honored well,
That he did no such thing before ’tis sad to have to tell.
“Who these ten things in wisdom brings to full accomplishment,
And to all men his duty does, will never need repent.”
Figure: The Buddha instructs the King of Kosala
Thus twice in one month did the Great Being teach in the same way to the multitude. And the multitude, established in his advice, fulfilled these ten things and became destined for heaven.
When the Master ended this discourse, he said, “Thus, O great King, wise men of old, untaught and from their own intelligence, declared the Dharma and established multitudes in the way to heaven.” With these words, he identified the birth: “At that time the Buddha’s followers were the people, and I was King Janasandha.”
