The Kalabahu Jataka: True Respect Comes from Virtue

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a parrot who, along with his younger brother, was caught by a hunter and brought to a king’s palace. The king placed them in a golden cage and fed them honey, parched grain, and sugar water, showering them with attention and respect. The parrot brothers became well-loved by the people in the palace, enjoying their popularity.

One day, the king received a monkey from a hunter. The monkey was treated to the finest food and given even more attention than the parrots. This caused jealousy in the Bodhisatta’s younger brother, who suggested they should return to the forest, as the monkey’s new status seemed to overshadow theirs. However, the Bodhisatta remained calm and assured his brother that the monkey’s honor would be short-lived.

The monkey’s antics, such as shaking its ears and making loud noises, eventually frightened the king’s children. As a result, the monkey was soon sent away, and the parrots regained their popularity and respect in the palace.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s time, Devadatta, a once respected disciple, sought to rival the Buddha and even tried to kill him on three separate occasions. Devadatta had moments of success in his quest for power, but his reputation and support were fleeting.

When the Buddha heard his disciples discussing Devadatta’s fall from grace, he told them the Kalabahu Jataka to illustrate that, just like the monkey in the past life, Devadatta’s brief success was destined to fade. He emphasized that false pride and ill-intentioned actions can never sustain lasting respect or influence.

The Bodhisatta’s younger brother, who supported him in this story, was an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s most devoted and beloved disciples.

Moral of the Story
The Kalabahu Jataka teaches that fame and honor built on superficial qualities or trickery, like the monkey’s antics, are temporary. True respect and success come from virtuous behavior and integrity, not from seeking attention or manipulating situations.