The Clever Monkey: A Jataka Story of Wit and Wisdom

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was born as a wise and clever monkey living near the banks of the Ganges River. Not far from him, a pair of crocodiles made their home. The female crocodile, driven by a strong desire to taste the monkey’s heart, convinced her mate to capture and kill him. The crocodile, eager to please his mate, promised to carry out her deadly plan.

One day, the crocodile approached the Bodhisatta and, with feigned kindness, offered him a ride across the river to an island where he could feast on ripe fruit. Trusting the crocodile, the Bodhisatta accepted the ride, unaware of the dangerous intentions lurking beneath the crocodile’s smooth words.

As they swam across the river, the crocodile suddenly dove deep into the water, pulling the Bodhisatta under. Startled, the Bodhisatta asked, “What are you doing?” The crocodile explained that his wife had sent him to bring the monkey’s heart so she could eat it.

Quick-thinking, the Bodhisatta didn’t panic. He calmly explained to the crocodile that monkeys, unlike other animals, did not keep their hearts inside their bodies. “Monkeys store their hearts in the treetops,” he said. “If you take me back to the shore, I’ll fetch my heart from the tree, and you can have it.”

The crocodile, eager to claim his prize, agreed, and took the Bodhisatta back to shore. As soon as he was safely on land, the Bodhisatta climbed up a fig tree, where he sat in safety, mocking the crocodile for his foolishness. “You’re so gullible,” he laughed, “you believed a monkey would carry his heart with him!”

The crocodile, embarrassed and frustrated, swam away, having failed in his task.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s present life, the crocodile was an incarnation of Devadatta, a former disciple of the Buddha who later turned against him and became his bitter enemy. When the Buddha learned that Devadatta had plotted to kill him, he shared this story with his disciples, illustrating that even in past lives, Devadatta had tried and failed to harm him, showing that the Buddha was never afraid, no matter the threat.

Moral:
Wit and wisdom can outsmart even the most dangerous plans. Trusting in one’s own intelligence and calm reasoning can turn the tables in the face of deceit.