The Kakati Jataka: The Dangers of Infidelity and Temptation

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a king who frequently enjoyed games of dice. Among the regulars at his court was a garuda king, who took the form of a handsome young man to join in the games. One day, the garuda and the Bodhisatta’s beautiful chief queen became infatuated with each other. They secretly fled together, leaving the palace behind to live on the garuda’s remote island.

Devastated by the loss of his queen, the Bodhisatta sent one of his minstrels to search for her. The minstrel, suspecting the garuda’s involvement, followed the trail to a lakeshore, where he saw the garuda king resting. Stealthily, the minstrel hid within the garuda’s feathers and, with the garuda’s flight, was carried to the island. There, the minstrel had an affair with the queen, and when he was done, he hid again in the garuda’s feathers and flew back to the palace without being noticed.

The next time the garuda visited the palace to play dice, the minstrel brought his lute to the dice hall and, as part of the game, sang a song about his secret affair with the queen. The garuda, hearing the minstrel’s tale, was filled with regret for not keeping better watch over the queen. Realizing that she was unfaithful, he decided to return the queen to the Bodhisatta and never visited the palace again.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s time, one of his disciples had considered leaving the sangha after being tempted by the charms of a woman. The Buddha, understanding the struggle, explained that it is easy to be led astray by the allure of women. To illustrate the point, he recounted the Kakati Jataka, showing that no matter how high a position or how strong one’s resolve, temptation can be difficult to resist. The story serves as a reminder that even the mightiest beings, like the garuda king, can fall victim to betrayal and deceit, just as people may be swayed by desire.

Moral of the Story
The Kakati Jataka teaches the dangers of infidelity and betrayal, as well as the consequences of being led astray by desire. It also highlights the idea that no one, regardless of their power or position, is immune to temptation. The story serves as a reminder of the importance of trust, loyalty, and self-discipline in all relationships, as well as the consequences of dishonorable actions.