The Godha Jataka: Lessons on Bad Company

The Godha Jataka (Jataka #141) presents a poignant tale about the dangers of disobedience, the consequences of associating with harmful influences, and the wisdom of following the guidance of those who care about us. This story, like many other Jatakas, offers moral lessons that are relevant not only to individuals but to communities as a whole.

The Story:

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as an iguana, living in a vast burrow with hundreds of other iguanas. As the leader of the iguana clan, the Bodhisatta is responsible for guiding his community with wisdom. His young son, however, befriends a chameleon, a creature the Bodhisatta views as “low-class” and unworthy of association with his noble iguana family. The Bodhisatta warns his son that mingling with such a creature will bring misery and ruin to their clan. Despite his father’s orders, the young iguana refuses to sever the friendship with the chameleon.

Anticipating that this relationship might eventually lead to danger, the Bodhisatta digs a new tunnel out of their burrow as a safety precaution in case of emergency. Over time, as the iguana and chameleon grow, their friendship becomes strained. The iguana, growing larger and stronger, starts to hurt the smaller chameleon during their embraces. The chameleon soon realizes that the friendship is no longer beneficial and fears for his life. He decides to end the friendship but holds a grudge against the iguanas for the mistreatment.

One day, after a thunderstorm, the chameleon sees an iguana hunter walking through the forest with a spade and his dogs. Seizing the opportunity for revenge, the chameleon leads the hunter to the iguana burrow, guiding him on where to start a fire to smoke the iguanas out. The hunter follows the chameleon’s directions, and as the fire forces the iguanas to flee from their burrow, the hunter smashes as many of them as he can with a big stick while the dogs catch the others. Amid the chaos, the Bodhisatta escapes through the secret tunnel he had prepared earlier.

Once safely out of the danger, the Bodhisatta, realizing that the chameleon must have been behind the betrayal, reflects on the situation and remarks, “Bad company can never end in good.” The betrayal of the young iguana’s disobedience, and his decision to associate with the chameleon, led to the destruction of the iguana clan.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the disobedient young iguana is recognized as an earlier birth of one of the Buddha’s disciples, who, like the young iguana, was influenced by bad company. This disciple was persuaded by a friend (the chameleon) to skip his morning alms rounds and join a different community that followed Devadatta. Devadatta, who was once a respected disciple of the Buddha, later became his nemesis, causing discord and division within the Sangha. In this Jataka, the chameleon symbolizes Devadatta, who led the disciple astray, just as the chameleon in the story led the iguanas to their doom.

The Buddha told this story to the traitorous disciple and those who had reported his misbehavior, teaching them that ignoring the wisdom of trusted teachers and associating with the wrong people can have disastrous consequences, not just for the individual but for an entire community. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of being influenced by those with harmful intentions.

Moral Lessons:

1. The Dangers of Bad Company: The central theme of the Godha Jataka is the danger of associating with individuals who are unwise or have harmful intentions. The young iguana’s friendship with the chameleon led to the ruin of the entire iguana clan. Similarly, the disciple’s decision to follow Devadatta (the chameleon) and ignore the Buddha’s guidance led to personal and communal harm. This story highlights the importance of carefully choosing our companions and heeding the advice of those who have wisdom.
2. The Consequences of Disobedience: The Bodhisatta’s son’s refusal to listen to his father’s warnings resulted in the downfall of their entire clan. In the Buddha’s time, this was an allegory for how disobedience, especially when it comes to spiritual guidance, can lead to negative consequences for the individual and those around them.
3. The Importance of Wisdom in Leadership: The Bodhisatta, as the leader of the iguana clan, recognized the potential dangers of bad company and took precautionary measures to protect his community. His wisdom, foresight, and leadership served as a safeguard against the chameleon’s betrayal. Leaders, both in the material and spiritual worlds, must lead with wisdom and ensure that their followers are guided by positive influences.
4. Revenge and Betrayal: The chameleon’s desire for revenge led him to betray his former friend, the iguana, to the hunter. This story shows how harboring grudges and seeking revenge often leads to destruction, not just for the target but for the one seeking revenge as well. The chameleon’s actions ultimately led to his own isolation and loss.
5. The Wisdom of Heeding Good Advice: The Bodhisatta’s remark, “Bad company can never end in good,” teaches that associating with unwise or harmful individuals will only lead to negative outcomes. Heeding the advice of those who are genuinely concerned for our well-being—whether in personal relationships or in spiritual practice—leads to better outcomes and avoids unnecessary suffering.

Conclusion:

The Godha Jataka is a powerful reminder of the destructive potential of disobedience and bad company. It illustrates the importance of wisdom in relationships, leadership, and decision-making. By showing the consequences of following harmful influences, the story encourages individuals to seek guidance from those who are wise and compassionate and to be mindful of the impact their choices have on their communities. The Buddha used this story to teach his disciples the value of good associations and the dangers of neglecting wise counsel, both in this life and in past lives.