The Culladhanuggaha Jataka: Lessons on Pride, Infidelity, and Self-Reflection

In the Culladhanuggaha Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once Indra, the king of the gods. The story begins with a young brahmin who travels to Taxila to study archery. Under the guidance of a master archer, the young man becomes so skilled that he rivals his teacher. Impressed by the archer’s talent, the teacher gives his daughter to the young man as his wife.

On their journey home, the archer and his wife pass through a dangerous forest known to be inhabited by a rampaging wild elephant. Local people warn them to avoid the forest, but the archer, confident in his skill, ignores the advice. When the elephant charges, the archer shoots it through the head, killing it instantly, much to the admiration of the local people.

However, the archer’s journey is not without further danger. They come across a band of fifty thieves who are terrorizing the area. Again, the archer dismisses warnings and proceeds without fear. The leader of the thieves, who is a good judge of character, recognizes the archer’s nobility and warns his men not to provoke him. Despite this, the thieves insult the archer’s wife by giving her raw meat instead of the roasted venison she asked for. Enraged, the archer kills forty-nine of the thieves with his arrows, but when he runs out of arrows, he knocks the leader to the ground and sits on his chest.

The archer then asks his wife to bring him his sword, but she, in a moment of infidelity, falls in love with the leader of the thieves. She gives the sword to him, and the thief kills the archer, taking his wife with him.

As the thief and the woman travel, the thief begins to fear that the woman might betray him one day as she betrayed her husband. They come upon a flooded stream inhabited by a crocodile. The woman asks the thief to carry her jewelry across the stream first, promising that he can return to get her afterward. But once the thief has crossed, he abandons her and runs away. The woman, now stranded and alone, falls to the ground, weeping in anguish.

Observing her despair, the Bodhisatta decides to teach her a lesson in a way that would reveal her own faults. He takes the form of a jackal and, with the help of his charioteer Matali (who becomes a fish) and Pancasikha (a bird), sets up a demonstration. The Bodhisatta stands with a piece of meat in his mouth, and the fish and the bird perform an elaborate display. The fish jumps out of the water, and when the Bodhisatta drops his meat to catch it, the fish jumps back into the stream. Similarly, the bird steals the meat while the Bodhisatta is distracted. The woman laughs at the scene and calls the Bodhisatta a fool.

The Bodhisatta responds, pointing out that while it is easy to see the faults of others, it is far harder to see one’s own. He asks, “What is the cost of losing both a husband and a lover?” Realizing her mistake, the woman understands the Bodhisatta’s message and vows to find another husband, remaining faithful to him. The Bodhisatta, however, expresses doubt, noting that if she had betrayed her first husband once, she might do it again in the future.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

The young archer and his wife were reborn as one of the Buddha’s disciples and his former wife. The disciple began to miss his previous life, and his wife’s encouragement led him to consider leaving the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic community). To guide the disciple and help him understand the folly of his desires, the Buddha told him this story from his past life. The disciple realized that his former wife had once caused his death through betrayal, and he was filled with new understanding. He chose to remain in the Sangha, strengthening his commitment to the Buddha’s teachings.

Moral of the Story

The Culladhanuggaha Jataka emphasizes the dangers of pride, infidelity, and disregarding the wisdom of others. The archer’s initial confidence in his abilities led him to ignore warnings and ultimately caused his death. Similarly, the betrayal of the wife, driven by her selfish desires, resulted in the loss of both her husband and her lover. This story serves as a powerful lesson on the consequences of letting ego, desire, and disloyalty guide one’s actions.

The Bodhisatta’s wisdom in the form of the jackal illustrates how easy it is to recognize others’ mistakes but difficult to see one’s own faults. His teaching is a reminder that true wisdom lies in self-awareness and the ability to reflect on one’s actions. Faithfulness, humility, and patience are qualities that bring peace and harmony, while selfishness and rashness lead to suffering and loss.

Connection to Buddhist Practice

This Jataka highlights the importance of mindfulness and discernment in the face of temptation and pride. In Buddhism, attachment to one’s desires and ego is seen as a root cause of suffering (dukkha). The story of the archer and his wife shows how destructive unchecked desires can be, while the Bodhisatta’s guidance emphasizes the need for self-reflection and wisdom.

Practitioners are encouraged to look inward and examine their motivations before taking actions, especially when they are driven by emotions such as anger, pride, or desire. The lesson here is that it is easier to point out the faults of others than to acknowledge one’s own, but true progress on the path of Nirvana comes from overcoming one’s own limitations and attachments.