Vanara Jataka: The Clever Monkey and the Crocodile’s Trick

In this past life, the Bodhisatta was born as a monkey. Living near him was a pair of crocodiles, one of whom, the female crocodile, developed a strong desire to eat the Bodhisatta’s heart. She urged her mate to fulfill her craving, and he agreed to find a way to bring the monkey to her.

The male crocodile approached the Bodhisatta with a proposal. He offered to carry the monkey across the Ganges River to an island where the monkey could enjoy the fruit from the trees. The Bodhisatta, unsuspecting of the crocodile’s true intentions, accepted the offer and climbed onto the crocodile’s back.

As they swam across the river, the crocodile suddenly began to sink, plunging the Bodhisatta into the water. Startled, the Bodhisatta asked what was happening, and the crocodile revealed his true plan: his wife had ordered him to bring the monkey’s heart for her to eat.

The Bodhisatta, ever quick-witted, told the crocodile that monkeys do not have hearts because they remove them when jumping between treetops. To prove his point, he pointed to a fig tree with red, ripe fruit on it, claiming that he would need to retrieve his heart from there. The crocodile, believing the Bodhisatta, agreed to take him back to the shore.

Once on land, the Bodhisatta climbed the tree to safety, and from a high branch, he mocked the crocodile for being so foolish. He laughed at how easily he had outwitted him, escaping from the crocodile’s trap.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the male crocodile was identified as Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis. Devadatta, filled with jealousy and resentment, plotted to kill the Buddha. When the Buddha learned of Devadatta’s plans, he told this story to his disciples to show that Devadatta had tried to harm him in a previous life as well. Despite all his attempts, Devadatta had failed to harm the Bodhisatta, just as he would fail again in the present life.

The story serves as an illustration of the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and ability to escape from harm, a trait that would later manifest in his enlightened form as the Buddha. It also highlights the unchanging nature of some beings, such as Devadatta, who repeated their harmful actions despite numerous opportunities for change.

Moral:

The Vanara Jataka teaches the power of wit and resourcefulness in overcoming danger and adversity. The Bodhisatta’s cleverness enabled him to escape a life-threatening situation, and the story emphasizes the importance of using one’s intellect to navigate challenges.

Additionally, the story hints at deeper moral lessons about deception and the consequences of malice. The male crocodile, representing Devadatta, embodies the destructive nature of jealousy and ill-will, showing how harmful intentions lead to failure and ultimately to suffering.

In the context of the Buddha’s teachings, this story also underscores the idea that wisdom and virtuous conduct can protect one from harm, while malicious intentions will ultimately fail.