King Makhadeva: A Journey of Renunciation

In a time long past, the Bodhisatta was born as King Makhadeva, a wise and virtuous ruler who reigned over his kingdom for an astonishing eighty-four thousand years. His reign was marked by peace and prosperity, and he ruled with justice and compassion, earning the admiration and loyalty of his people. Before he ascended the throne, the Bodhisatta had served as prince and viceroy for the same length of time, gaining vast experience in governance and leadership. Throughout his life, the Bodhisatta had a trusted barber, who was tasked with the responsibility of keeping watch for any sign of grey hair in the king’s beard or hair.

One day, after many years of service, the first grey hair appeared in the king’s head. The sight of this sign, which symbolized the passage of time, filled King Makhadeva with an overwhelming realization: his life was finite, and death was inevitable. The appearance of the grey hair was a stark reminder of his own mortality. Distressed by this thought, the king became consumed with the fear of death. Believing that his time on the throne had come to an end, and driven by the desire to avoid the worldly attachments that would bind him to his life of power, he made a radical decision.

That very day, King Makhadeva abdicated his throne and passed the kingdom to his eldest son. He also gave a village as a gift to his barber, as a token of gratitude for his service. The king then walked away from his palace, leaving behind his royal life and wealth, choosing to live the rest of his years in solitude as an ascetic in a mango grove. In the grove, he focused on cultivating the four perfect virtues: kindness, compassion, equanimity, and wisdom. With this dedicated practice, he found peace, tranquility, and a deeper understanding of life and death. Eventually, King Makhadeva passed away, but due to his virtuous life and ascetic practices, he was reborn in the heavenly realms, where he continued to experience the fruits of his good deeds.

Moral:

The story of King Makhadeva teaches us profound lessons about the impermanence of life and the importance of renunciation. The appearance of the first grey hair symbolized the inevitable reality of death, a reminder that all things are temporary. King Makhadeva’s response to this realization, though extreme, was driven by a desire to detach from the world’s fleeting pleasures and seek a deeper spiritual understanding. His decision to abdicate the throne and embrace the life of an ascetic highlights the value of inner peace and the pursuit of spiritual growth over material wealth and power.

The king’s story also reminds us that the practice of renunciation is not about abandoning the world entirely, but about letting go of attachments and desires that cloud our judgment and lead us away from spiritual enlightenment. By cultivating virtues such as kindness, compassion, and wisdom, one can find true peace and wisdom, which are more enduring than any worldly achievement or possession.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the time of the Buddha, he heard his disciples speaking of his Great Renunciation—the moment he left his royal life to seek enlightenment. The Buddha, understanding the value of renunciation, shared the story of his previous life as King Makhadeva to illustrate that he had renounced the world many times before, even in his past lives.

The barber in King Makhadeva’s story was revealed to be an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples, and the king’s son, who inherited the throne, was an earlier birth of the Buddha’s own son, Rahula. This connection between past and present lives shows the continuity of the Buddha’s teachings on renunciation and the impermanence of life. The Buddha’s renunciation in this life was not a singular event but part of a long path of seeking the truth and striving for enlightenment.

Moral:

This story reminds us that renunciation is a vital part of spiritual practice. It is not about escaping the world, but about learning to detach from the illusions of permanence and power, and instead, focusing on cultivating virtues that lead to inner peace and enlightenment. Just as King Makhadeva found rebirth in the heavens through his virtuous life, so too can we find liberation by living with wisdom, compassion, and understanding of the transient nature of life.