Migapotaka Jataka: A Lesson on Impermanence and Grief

In the Migapotaka Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once Indra, the king of the gods. During this lifetime, a Himalayan ascetic took in an orphaned fawn and raised it with great love and care. The ascetic treated the deer as if it were his own child, but one day the fawn ate too much grass and died from indigestion.

This tragic event deeply saddened the ascetic, and his grief overwhelmed him. When the Bodhisatta, observing from the heavens, saw the ascetic’s sorrow, he descended to earth to offer guidance. Floating in the air before the ascetic, the Bodhisatta gently reminded him that all things are impermanent. He told the ascetic that his sorrow was improper because everything in the world, including life itself, is subject to change and decay.

Hearing these words, the ascetic was reminded of the impermanence of all phenomena. This realization brought him peace and restored his happiness, as he understood that suffering is a natural part of existence and that clinging to grief only prolongs pain.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

The Buddha used this story to teach his disciples about the nature of grief and the importance of accepting impermanence. In the story’s parallel, the ascetic and the deer were earlier births of one of the Buddha’s elder disciples and a novice who had died.

This elder disciple was grieving the death of a young novice who had passed away from illness. When other disciples noticed his sorrow, the Buddha shared this Jataka tale to show them that even the wisest of his followers, in past lives, had also experienced the same kind of sorrow and attachment when facing the death of someone they cared for.

Through the story, the Buddha reminded his disciples that attachment to people, possessions, or situations leads to suffering, and that the key to overcoming this suffering is to recognize the impermanence of life.

Moral of the Story

The primary lesson of this Jataka is the recognition that everything is impermanent, and thus, attachment—especially to people and things—leads to suffering. The Bodhisatta’s intervention highlights the importance of accepting the transitory nature of life, rather than clinging to grief or loss.

The ascetic’s grief was not in itself wrong, but his attachment to the fawn and his inability to accept its death led him to be overwhelmed by sorrow. The Bodhisatta’s advice to him is a reminder that while it is natural to feel sadness, one must also let go of attachments and not let them become sources of prolonged suffering.

Connection to Buddhist Practice

This story ties deeply into the Buddhist principle of impermanence (Anicca), one of the Three Marks of Existence. Recognizing the fleeting nature of all things is an essential part of developing wisdom and compassion in Buddhist practice. When one understands that everything is impermanent, attachment to things—whether material possessions, relationships, or even life itself—becomes less powerful, and one can approach life with a more balanced, peaceful mindset.

In meditative practice, Buddhists cultivate awareness of the impermanence of all things, including emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations. By doing so, they can reduce attachment and suffering, ultimately achieving liberation (Nirvana) from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

The story also serves as a reminder to not let grief or loss dominate one’s life, but to accept them as part of the natural cycle of existence. It teaches that wisdom and understanding of impermanence help transform grief into a source of growth rather than suffering.