Musika Jataka: Fate, Wisdom, and the Power of Prophecy

In the Musika Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once a renowned teacher, widely respected for his wisdom. One of his students, a crown prince, completed his education under the Bodhisatta’s guidance. Before the prince left, the Bodhisatta, with his divine insight, foresaw that the prince’s son would one day harm him. To protect his student, the Bodhisatta composed three verses and told the prince exactly when and how to recite them, should the need arise.

The prince eventually became king, and as time passed, his son, now sixteen, became consumed with the desire to seize the throne while he was still young. Encouraged by his servants, the prince planned to kill his father. One evening, the prince, sword in hand, stood near the king’s bathing tank, ready to strike. However, the king’s slave saw him and, in a desperate attempt to protect the king, she was killed and her body thrown into the water. The king, noticing the absence of the slave, intuitively spoke out loud, “People ask where she has gone? Only I know she is lying dead in the tank.”

The prince, hearing his father’s words, believed his secret plan was exposed and fled in fear. Weeks passed, and the prince, convinced his actions had not been discovered, tried again to kill the king, first with a sword at the stairs and then with a shovel. But each time, the king, following the Bodhisatta’s advice, spoke in ways that thwarted the prince’s plot without ever directly accusing him. Finally, realizing his father’s wisdom and fearing his own demise, the prince threw himself at his father’s feet, begging for mercy. The king, showing great restraint, had his son imprisoned until his death, after which the prince’s rightful ascension to the throne occurred.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, the story took a different form. A king learned from an astrologer’s prophecy that his unborn son would one day kill him to claim the throne. Despite the omen, the king, unmoved by fear, allowed the queen to carry the child to term. The queen, still afraid of the prophecy, twice attempted to abort the child, but the king stopped her.

When the young prince was born, the Buddha visited the king. During their meeting, the king, who was playfully holding his son, ignored the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha, noticing this, remarked on how many kings, faced with similar predictions, locked away their sons, fearing that the prophecy would come true. However, he also pointed out that such fears were often justified by the sons’ later actions, yet despite this, the king remained unfazed by the prophecy.

Moral of the Story

The Musika Jataka teaches about fate, wisdom, and the power of prophecy. The Bodhisatta’s foresight and the prince’s eventual repentance highlight the importance of wisdom in preventing harm and the danger of acting rashly due to fear or anger.

The king’s wisdom in the Buddha’s narrative also conveys the message that, although prophecies can sometimes be fulfilled, fear alone is not a valid reason to act unjustly. In both the Jataka story and the Buddha’s life, patience, insight, and wisdom are presented as ways to deal with potentially dangerous situations, without resorting to violence or fear-based actions.

The story also reflects on the human tendency to fear the future, especially when prophecies seem ominous. It shows that rather than trying to escape destiny through forceful or fearful actions, wise leaders remain calm, act with discernment, and are guided by moral values and patience.

Connection to Buddhist Practice

In Buddhism, impermanence (Anicca) and the unpredictability of the future are key teachings. The Musika Jataka reminds practitioners that while external circumstances—such as prophecies or threats—may seem beyond one’s control, true peace and clarity come from wisdom and mindfulness. The story exemplifies that trusting in the path of wisdom—instead of acting out of fear—is the most effective way to prevent harm and find inner peace.

In practice, this might translate into not reacting impulsively to fears or predictions about the future, but instead, approaching life’s challenges with patience, self-awareness, and compassion. The Buddha’s teachings on not fearing the future and acting with wisdom are essential for those on the path to Nirvana.