The Sweetness of Justice: A King’s Lesson in Righteous Rule

In a time long ago, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic living alone in the serene and majestic Himalayas. One day, the king of a distant kingdom, eager to improve himself and rule wisely, called upon the people of his city. He asked them to point out his flaws so he could correct them. However, no one in the city dared speak ill of the king, either out of fear or admiration.

Frustrated by their silence, the king decided to disguise himself and travel beyond the city, hoping to find someone who would tell him the truth. He wandered through the countryside but, still, no one spoke of his faults. Finally, he ventured deep into the Himalayas, seeking answers in the vast, remote wilderness. There, he encountered the Bodhisatta, who welcomed the stranger with kindness and offered him some fresh figs.

The figs were incredibly sweet, and the king, curious about their unusual flavor, asked the Bodhisatta why they tasted so good. The Bodhisatta smiled and explained, “When a king rules with justice, the land flourishes, and everything in it—fruits, honey, even molasses—becomes sweet. But when a king is unjust, even the finest fruits lose their sweetness, and the land suffers.”

The king, moved by the Bodhisatta’s words, returned to his palace and, eager to test the ascetic’s wisdom, began to rule unjustly, making decisions driven by greed and selfishness. As time passed, he noticed that even the fruits in his palace gardens had lost their sweetness, their flavor now bitter and unpleasant.

After some time, the king returned to the Himalayas to visit the Bodhisatta again. He tasted another fig, but this time it was so bitter that he immediately spat it out in disgust. Realizing the truth of the Bodhisatta’s words, the king revealed his identity and confessed what he had done. He promised to correct his ways, vowing to rule justly and with wisdom from that moment on.

The Bodhisatta, pleased by the king’s change of heart, reminded him that when rulers act righteously, the entire kingdom prospers, and even the smallest things become a reflection of their goodness.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

Many lifetimes later, the Buddha spoke to a king who had come to listen to his teachings. The Buddha advised the king to rule with justice and integrity, for it is only through virtuous actions that a ruler can secure peace and happiness for their people. The Buddha also taught that indulging in sensual pleasures leads only to misery and that the only true refuge after death is the merit of virtuous actions.

As an example of the power of righteous rule, the Buddha told the story of the king from the past, who, by following the advice of the Bodhisatta and ruling justly, had earned rebirth in heaven. The king from this past life, the Buddha revealed, was an earlier incarnation of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples.

Moral: A just ruler brings sweetness to the land, and through righteous actions, both the king and his people find true happiness.