The Bodhisatta and the Three Princes: A Tale of Wisdom

Once, in a land ruled by a wise and just king, the Bodhisatta was born as the crown prince. His mother, the queen, died after giving birth to his younger brother, Prince Canda. The king, heartbroken by the loss of his queen, took another chief queen, who bore a third son, Prince Suriya. The king was overjoyed by the birth of his new son and, in his happiness, granted the queen any wish she desired. However, the queen did not voice her wish until the three princes had grown up. When they did, she requested that her son, Prince Suriya, be the one to inherit the throne.

The king, though fond of his third son, could not deny the rightful inheritance of his firstborn, the Bodhisatta. After much contemplation, the king refused the queen’s request, but the queen, fiercely persistent, continued to push for her son’s ascension. Fearing she might resort to treachery to get her way, the king, torn by sorrow, explained the situation to the Bodhisatta and his brothers. With a heavy heart, he decided that the best solution was to send the two older princes into exile, allowing them to live in the forest until his death, at which time they could return to claim the throne.

Prince Suriya, a noble and honorable soul, was deeply saddened by his brothers’ exile. Moved by compassion, he joined them in their journey into the forest.

The three princes, now living in the wilderness, faced many hardships. One day, while they were traveling, they came across a pond where the demon who lived there had a cruel habit. Anyone who attempted to enter the water had to answer a question: “What is truly devadhamma, or god-like?” If they answered incorrectly, the demon would devour them. The three brothers did not know of the demon’s rule, but the time had come for each of them to face this challenge.

The first to enter the pond was Prince Suriya. He went down to bathe and drink from the clear water, unaware of the demon’s presence. As he stepped into the pond, the demon emerged and seized him, asking the question, “What is truly devadhamma?” Without hesitation, Prince Suriya answered confidently, “The sun and the moon,” believing their eternal light and beauty were a true representation of the divine. But his answer was wrong. The demon dragged him down to the depths and imprisoned him in a dark cell beneath the water.

When Prince Canda noticed that his brother had not returned, he went to search for him. As he stepped into the pond, the same fate befell him. The demon seized him and posed the same question. Prince Canda, though wise, also answered incorrectly, stating, “The four quarters of heaven.” This too was wrong, and like his brother, Prince Canda was imprisoned.

The Bodhisatta, realizing that something was wrong, guessed that a demon must be behind their disappearance. He went to the shore of the pond and waited for the demon to reveal itself. The demon, seeing that the Bodhisatta was not going to enter the water, transformed himself into the shape of a forester and approached the Bodhisatta, encouraging him to bathe and refresh himself in the pond. The Bodhisatta, however, saw through the demon’s disguise and knew the truth. He asked the demon why he had taken his brothers.

The demon explained that he was allowed to devour anyone who entered the water unless they could answer his question correctly. The Bodhisatta, knowing the answer, pretended to be weary from his travels and said that he could not answer unless he was first given rest. He persuaded the demon to provide him with food, drink, and a bath, and even asked for a magnificent pavilion to be built for his comfort. The demon, eager to please the Bodhisatta, complied.

Once the Bodhisatta was well-rested, he sat the demon at his feet and revealed the true answer to the demon’s question: “Devadhamma is avoiding sin.” The Bodhisatta explained that to live a god-like life, one must avoid causing harm to others and live in harmony with the moral law.

The demon, hearing such wise words, was deeply impressed. He agreed to release one of the princes. The Bodhisatta, understanding the true meaning of devadhamma, asked for Prince Suriya to be set free, despite his younger brother, Prince Canda, being the eldest. The demon questioned this choice, pointing out that Canda, being older, should be given the esteem that came with seniority. The Bodhisatta, however, explained that his choice was the wisest. If he returned to the kingdom and told the king that Suriya had been devoured by the demon, no one would believe him. Instead, they would accuse him of killing his brother in his quest for the throne, and he would be seen as a murderer. The Bodhisatta’s wisdom won the demon’s respect, and he agreed to free both brothers.

The Bodhisatta then took the opportunity to explain karma to the demon. He told the demon that his terrible fate was the result of his past evil deeds, and that if he wished to change his life, he must avoid doing evil in the present. The demon, moved by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, promised to cease devouring people and to live a life of peace and goodness.

The three princes, grateful for the demon’s change of heart, decided to live near the pond with him. Together, they spent their days in contemplation and harmony. Eventually, the Bodhisatta, reading the signs in the stars, realized that his father, the king, had passed away. It was time for the princes to return to the kingdom. The Bodhisatta ascended the throne, with Prince Canda serving as viceroy and Prince Suriya as commander-in-chief. The demon, now reformed, followed the princes to the palace, where he was given a comfortable life, with food, shelter, and flowers provided by the king.

Moral:

This tale teaches us the importance of wisdom, compassion, and understanding the true meaning of devadhamma. The Bodhisatta, through his wisdom and selflessness, demonstrated that the truly god-like qualities are not power or dominance, but the ability to avoid harm, to practice moral conduct, and to show kindness to others, even to those who may seem beyond redemption. The demon, who once lived a life of violence, was able to change and find peace through the Bodhisatta’s guidance. The story also reminds us that true leadership is not about claiming power through force or manipulation, but about understanding, fairness, and wisdom.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the demon was revealed to be an earlier incarnation of a wealthy landowner who became a disciple of the Buddha. However, he had not fully given up his luxurious lifestyle. He owned many fine robes, kept a storeroom full of food, and relied on servants to cook for him. When other disciples learned of this, they brought the matter to the Buddha. The wealthy landowner grew angry and, in his rage, threw off his robes and stood in front of the disciples in only his loincloth. After hearing reassuring words from the Buddha, he put his robes back on, and the Buddha told him this story to help him understand that he needed to abandon his attachment to luxury and selfishness.

The Buddha used this story to show the landowner that he had the power to change his behavior, just as the demon had changed his ways. By following the Buddha’s advice, the landowner was able to let go of his former attachments and live a life of simplicity and compassion.

Prince Canda and Prince Suriya were later revealed to be earlier births of Sariputta and Ananda, two of the Buddha’s closest and most revered disciples. Through their wisdom and devotion, they too would help guide others toward liberation, much as they had learned from the Bodhisatta in this previous life.