Succaja Jataka: A Lesson in Respect and Love

In a past life, the Bodhisatta served as an advisor to a king. The king, fearing that his son might seize the throne as he grew older, decided to banish him from the city. The prince, accompanied by his main wife, left for a remote borderland. There, they lived humbly in a simple leaf hut, surviving on wild roots and fruit from the forest.

One day, the prince observed an omen in the stars that foretold the king’s death. Feeling it was time to return and claim the throne, he set out for the city with his wife. On their journey, they passed a mountain, and the wife asked, “Suppose this mountain turned into pure gold. Would you give me some of it?” The prince’s response was blunt: “Not even an iota!”

This reply deeply upset his wife, who had shown unwavering loyalty to him, even when he forced her to live a life of austerity in the wilderness. Upon returning to the city, the prince became king and made her his queen consort. However, once in the palace, he neglected her, lavishing his attention on other women and ignoring his wife’s needs.

The Bodhisatta, sensing that the queen deserved respect for her unwavering devotion, decided to intervene. He approached the queen and asked her why she did not offer gifts to the men of the royal court, as was customary. The queen replied, “What can I give when my husband gives me nothing? Even when we returned to the city, he said he would not give me even a single iota of gold from a mountain made of gold.”

The Bodhisatta then told the queen that he would confront the king on her behalf. He asked her to answer truthfully, in front of the king, when he repeated the question.

Later that day, the Bodhisatta spoke to the queen again, asking why she was not giving gifts to the men of the court. She repeated her answer, telling him that she had not received anything from her husband, not even the hypothetical gold, though she still acknowledged that he was a good man in other respects.

The Bodhisatta praised the queen’s virtues to the king, highlighting her loyalty, kindness, and patience. He then gently advised the king that he should honor her for her devotion and the sacrifices she had made. The king, moved by the Bodhisatta’s words, recognized his mistake and began to treat the queen with the respect and affection she deserved. He thanked the Bodhisatta for reminding him of her virtues.

A Lesson from the Buddha’s Lifetime
In a later time, the king and queen from the Jataka were reborn as a husband and wife who had traveled from the city to the countryside to collect a debt. On their journey back home, they passed a mountain, and the wife asked her husband, “If this mountain were to turn into gold, would you give me some?” To her dismay, the husband replied, “Not even an iota!”

The wife, hurt by his selfishness, said nothing but continued on their journey. Eventually, they stopped at the Buddha’s monastery to drink some water. The Buddha, sensing that they were ready for a spiritual breakthrough, spoke to them directly. He asked the wife if her husband was kind and loving. “I love him,” she answered, “but he does not love me. For instance, today he said that if a mountain turned into gold, he would not give me any.”

The Buddha then shared the story of the Bodhisatta’s intervention in a past life, teaching them that the husband’s selfishness was not new. He had treated her with disregard in past lives as well, and it was through hearing the Buddha’s words that the husband realized the error of his ways. With the Buddha’s guidance, he changed his behavior, beginning to treat his wife with the love and respect she deserved.

Moral of the Story:
The Succaja Jataka teaches the power of respect, love, and kindness within relationships. The Bodhisatta’s intervention shows how wisdom and gentle guidance can bring about positive change, helping others recognize the value of respect and devotion. True love is not measured by what one receives, but by the kindness and consideration one offers in return. In both past and present lives, the lesson is clear: a marriage, or any relationship, thrives on mutual respect, selflessness, and compassion.