Ruru Jataka: Gratitude, Wisdom, and the Fall of Betrayal

In the Ruru Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once born as a golden deer, perfect in every way. The story centers around a merchant’s son, who was spoiled by his wealthy father and never taught any useful skills. As a result, he spent his youth indulging in luxury, focusing only on singing, dancing, and feasting. When his parents died, he squandered the family wealth by associating with gamblers and drunks, losing everything. He found himself deep in debt and, feeling hopeless, decided to take his life.

In a desperate act, the merchant’s son invited his creditors to the Ganges River, claiming that the family treasure was buried there. He feigned searching for it before throwing himself into the river, calling out as the current carried him away. The Bodhisatta, the golden deer, heard the man’s cries and swam out to rescue him. He carried the merchant’s son on his back, bringing him to safety. The man, grateful but exhausted, stayed with the Bodhisatta for a few days to recover before returning to the city.

Before parting ways, the Bodhisatta made the man promise never to reveal the secret of his rescue. The merchant’s son promised, but his actions would betray his word.

The Queen’s Dream and the King’s Proclamation:

On the eve of the merchant’s son’s return to the city, the queen consort had a strange dream about a golden deer preaching to her. She became obsessed with hearing the sermons of this mystical creature, declaring she could not live without it. The king, intrigued, consulted his chaplains, who confirmed that such creatures existed. So, the king had a proclamation issued, promising one thousand coins, a gold casket, an elephant, beautiful women, and a village to anyone who could bring him a golden deer.

The merchant’s son, hearing the proclamation, eagerly informed the king’s court that he knew where the golden deer could be found. He led the king’s army to the forest, where they began searching for the Bodhisatta.

The Betrayal and the Encounter:

When the Bodhisatta heard the sounds of the king’s soldiers encircling the forest, he realized what had happened. He immediately recognized the merchant’s son as the betrayer. The golden deer approached the king and his soldiers, and when the king attempted to shoot him, the Bodhisatta called out, “Stand still; please do not hurt me.”

The king, enchanted by the deer’s gentle voice, lowered his bow, and the soldiers followed suit. The Bodhisatta spoke kindly to the king, asking who had informed him of his whereabouts. The king pointed to the merchant’s son, who was standing nearby.

The Bodhisatta rebuked the merchant’s son for his treachery, saying it would have been better for him to have saved a log than to have saved such a man. The king, moved by the golden deer’s wisdom and respect, initially prepared to punish the merchant’s son, but the Bodhisatta, ever compassionate, interceded on his behalf. He requested that the merchant’s son not be killed, and the king, respecting the Bodhisatta’s wish, spared the man’s life. However, the king still fulfilled his promised reward to the merchant’s son, giving him the riches he had promised, and sent him away.

The Golden Deer’s Wisdom and the King’s Resolution:

After the encounter, the Bodhisatta went to the palace, where he preached to the queen and the court, emphasizing the importance of the ten royal virtues for the king. The king, deeply moved by the Bodhisatta’s teachings, granted him a wish. The Bodhisatta, in his compassion, asked that the king stop the killing of all living creatures, urging him to pass a law that would protect all animals.

The king, despite the inconvenience this might cause, agreed. He issued a decree that all animals must be protected and no longer harmed. As a result, deer, once afraid of humans, began to roam freely and even ate the crops of the people. The people, distressed by this, complained to the king, but the king refused to go back on his promise to the Bodhisatta, even if it meant losing his throne.

When the Bodhisatta heard about the problem, he instructed all deer to stop eating crops, and he directed the people to mark their land with signs so that the deer would know where not to go. From that point on, the deer respected the boundaries and stopped causing harm to the crops.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the merchant’s son was reborn as Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis. Devadatta’s story mirrors the betrayal and ingratitude of the merchant’s son in his previous life. One day, some of the Buddha’s loyal disciples advised Devadatta to show gratitude toward the Buddha for all the teachings he had received. However, Devadatta arrogantly replied that he had learned everything on his own and had not gained any true knowledge from the Buddha—not even a blade of grass’s worth.

When the Buddha overheard this, he shared the story of the golden deer to show that Devadatta had been ungrateful even in his past life, despite having his life saved by the Bodhisatta. Devadatta’s ingratitude in his past life was a reflection of his behavior in the present life, where his pride and resentment toward the Buddha led him to turn against him.

The king in the story, who had shown wisdom and compassion, was an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s top disciples.

Moral Reflection:

The Ruru Jataka emphasizes the importance of gratitude and the dangers of betrayal. The merchant’s son’s betrayal of the Bodhisatta, after being saved from certain death, serves as a lesson about the consequences of ingratitude. Despite the Bodhisatta’s kindness and selflessness, the merchant’s son selfishly sought fame and wealth, ultimately leading to his moral downfall.

On the other hand, the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and virtue are highlighted throughout the story. His ability to forgive the merchant’s son, teach the king about compassion, and protect the animals shows the power of wisdom, kindness, and moral leadership.

In the Buddha’s time, Devadatta’s ungratefulness was a direct continuation of the negative traits from his past life, demonstrating that ingratitude can persist through multiple lifetimes and can lead to self-destructive behavior.

The king’s decision to protect all living creatures, even at the cost of his kingdom’s stability, demonstrates that moral integrity and compassion should always be prioritized over material wealth or power. The Bodhisatta’s teachings remind us that virtue and kindness can lead to positive, lasting change in the world.

Final Takeaway:

The Ruru Jataka teaches us that gratitude, wisdom, and compassion are essential virtues for a fulfilling and moral life. Betraying those who show kindness can lead to a fall from grace, while virtuous actions, even in the face of hardship, can bring about peace and positive change in society.