King of Crows: Loyalty, Compassion, and Karmic Connections

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as the king of a large flock of crows, with eighty thousand crows under his rule. One day, while foraging for food, the queen crow sees fish being prepared in the human king’s kitchen and develops an intense craving for it. She becomes so desperate that she declares she will not eat anything unless she can have some of the king’s fish. The Bodhisatta, seeing her suffering, worries about how to fulfill her wish.

The Bodhisatta’s commander-in-chief, loyal and resourceful, decides to help. He leads a group of crows to the palace where the fish is being prepared. As they wait on the roof of the kitchen, the commander-in-chief swoops down and pecks one of the cooks on the nose, causing him to drop all the food. Eight other crows seize the opportunity to grab some of the spilled rice and fish and bring it back to the Bodhisatta and his queen.

However, the crow who caused the disturbance is captured by the king’s men and brought before the king. The king is furious but curious. When the crow explains that he did this out of devotion to his king, to fulfill the queen’s craving, the king is moved by the crow’s loyalty. He forgives the crow and, impressed by the bird’s dedication, invites the Bodhisatta to the palace to speak. The king then begins to provide food daily for all the crows and promises to protect all animals from harm.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, the queen crow is revealed to be an earlier birth of the Buddha’s wife, who had become one of his disciples. One day, she suffers from a painful stomach condition caused by gas, a common ailment for her. She recalls that the only cure for the pain was rice with ghee and red fish, but since she now lived on alms, she had no means of obtaining the food she needed.

Her son, Rahula, who is a novice disciple, hears of his mother’s ailment and vows to help. He tells Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s top disciples (who had been the commander-in-chief crow in the past life), about his mother’s illness and her need for the specific food to cure it. Sariputta, understanding the importance of relieving the queen’s suffering, goes to the palace the next day to explain the situation to the king. The king, recalling his past life as the crow king, immediately provides the rice with ghee and red fish that the queen needs.

Once the queen eats the food, her pain vanishes, and from that point on, the king regularly sends her the same meal every day to ensure she stays well.

Moral of the Story

This Jataka illustrates several key themes: loyalty, compassion, and the interconnectedness of past and present lives. The crow’s devotion to his king in a past life parallels the loyalty and concern shown by Sariputta in the present life toward the Buddha’s wife. The king’s generosity and protection of all creatures, prompted by his past connection to the Bodhisatta as a crow, highlights the virtues of kindness and empathy that transcend lifetimes.

Additionally, the story conveys the idea that those who show devotion and care for others, even animals or lower beings, will be reciprocated with kindness and support in return. The transformation of the king—from a figure indifferent to animals to one who provides for them—demonstrates the power of compassion to change hearts and create positive relationships.

Finally, the story serves as a reminder of the continuity of karmic connections, where the actions in one life can influence the relationships and circumstances in future lives. The Bodhisatta’s and Sariputta’s previous acts of devotion and compassion are returned to them, showing that virtue and kindness come full circle across lifetimes.

Moral

The moral is that devotion, compassion, and loyalty are qualities that transcend time and rebirth. The story encourages the cultivation of empathy and care for others, as such actions can bring benefits not only in the current life but also in future lives. It also teaches that the kind actions we take today may return to us in unexpected forms, as they did for the Bodhisatta and the king in this tale.