Devotion, Virtue, and the Power of Truth: The Sambula Jataka

The Sambula Jataka (Jataka #519) tells the story of the Bodhisatta in a past life as a king, where his son, the viceroy, faces the devastating effects of leprosy. This story highlights themes of sacrifice, virtue, unwavering loyalty, and the transformative power of truth and love. It also illustrates the challenges of relationships and the importance of treating one’s spouse with respect and gratitude.

The Plot

The King’s Son and the Leprosy

In this past life, the Bodhisatta is a king whose son, serving as the viceroy, contracts leprosy. The illness brings immense suffering to the son, and in despair, he decides to leave the palace and live alone as an ascetic in the Himalayas to find peace in solitude. His wife, the chief princess, who is deeply devoted to him, insists on accompanying him despite the hardship, unwilling to leave him in his suffering.

They set up a modest life together in a simple leaf hut in the forest. The princess cares for him with great dedication, tending to his sores, gathering food, bathing him, and doing everything possible to alleviate his pain. Despite the difficult circumstances, her devotion to her husband remains steadfast.

The Goblin’s Desire and Indra’s Intervention

One day, the princess goes out to gather wild fruit and takes a bath in a mountain cave. The beauty and radiance she exudes are so overwhelming that the entire forest seems to glow with her light. A goblin, upon seeing her, becomes infatuated and approaches her with a choice: to be his wife or his meal. In this moment, the princess does not consider her own fate but instead thinks of her husband, knowing that if she is not there to care for him, he will surely die alone in his suffering.

Her exceptional virtue and loyalty stir the throne of Indra, the king of the gods. Upon perceiving her purity, Indra descends from heaven and confronts the goblin. Indra warns the goblin that if he does not release the princess, his skull will be shattered into seven pieces. The goblin, frightened by the divine power, complies and frees the princess. To prevent the goblin from trying again, Indra chains him and banishes him to a distant mountain range, ensuring the princess’s safety.

The princess returns home, illuminated by the moonlight, and resumes her devoted care for her husband.

The Prince’s Doubt and the Princess’s Act of Truth

When the princess arrives late, the prince becomes angry. He doubts her explanation of the events, expressing skepticism about her story. He accuses her of engaging in some dubious activity with the foresters, ascetics, or magicians who live around the area, believing women rarely tell the truth. To prove her virtue and faithfulness, the princess performs an act of truth—a solemn declaration of her supreme virtue followed by a request for a miraculous result. She pours water over her husband, and miraculously, his leprosy is healed, with his sores vanishing as though the water was a cleansing acid, removing tarnish from copper.

The Healed Prince and His Ungratefulness

Grateful for the healing, the prince is able to return home. The Bodhisatta, pleased to have his son restored to health, gives him the throne and declares that the princess should be the chief queen. The Bodhisatta, now relinquishing the duties of kingship, takes up an ascetic life in the royal park.

However, the new king shows little gratitude for his wife’s sacrifices. He spends his time with other women, neglecting the queen who had cared for him so selflessly. As a result, the queen becomes thin and pale due to the sorrow and jealousy she feels. Eventually, the princess goes to see the Bodhisatta, hoping he can help with her suffering.

The Bodhisatta’s Rebuke and the King’s Change

The Bodhisatta summons his son and rebukes him for his ingratitude, urging him to treat his wife with the love and respect she deserves. The king, ashamed, apologizes and promises to treat her well, vowing to fulfill her every wish. From that moment on, the king and queen live in harmony, giving charity and doing good deeds, and their life together becomes one of mutual respect and devotion.

The Moral Lesson

The Sambula Jataka emphasizes the power of virtue, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty, along with the importance of gratitude and respect in relationships. Some of the key lessons include:

1. Unwavering Loyalty and Virtue: The princess’s selflessness in caring for her leprous husband, even when faced with the threat of death at the hands of the goblin, shows her loyalty and virtue. Her unquestioning dedication to her husband is a model of selflessness and devotion.
2. The Power of Truth: When faced with her husband’s doubt, the princess uses an act of truth to prove her love and restore his health. This demonstrates the power of honesty and integrity in the face of skepticism or accusation.
3. Ingratitude and Its Consequences: The prince’s ingratitude towards his wife, despite her sacrifices, leads to her suffering. This serves as a warning about the consequences of taking others for granted, especially those who show great loyalty and love. Respect and appreciation are essential in any relationship.
4. Redemption Through Self-Reflection: The king’s self-awareness and willingness to listen to his father’s rebuke show that even those who act wrongly can change through reflection, remorse, and a commitment to do better. Apology and reconciliation are powerful tools for restoring harmony in relationships.
5. The Role of Wise Counsel: The Bodhisatta’s role as a wise and compassionate figure, who guides his son to change his ways, underscores the value of wise counsel and the importance of elders in helping the younger generation learn from their mistakes.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, the king and queen from the Sambula Jataka are identified as King Pasenadi and Queen Mallika, one of the most revered and devoted couples in the Buddha’s teachings. Mallika was known for her exceptional wisdom and devotion to her husband. Before she married Pasenadi, she had been the daughter of a garland-maker and had a chance meeting with the Buddha. She offered him three portions of sour gruel, and the Buddha, appreciating her modest and sincere offering, smiled, predicting that she would become the chief queen that very day. Her devotion to her husband and the wisdom she exhibited made her one of the most respected women in the Buddha’s teachings.

The Buddha used this story to highlight her virtue and devotion in past lives, reinforcing the idea that these qualities are timeless and transcend lifetimes.

Conclusion

The Sambula Jataka is a story about devotion, selflessness, and the power of virtue. It underscores the importance of treating one’s spouse with respect and gratitude, recognizing the sacrifices made, and reflecting on one’s actions. The tale also emphasizes that truth, integrity, and loyalty have the power to heal and transform relationships, while ingratitude can lead to suffering and regret. Through the Bodhisatta’s guidance, the story teaches that reflection, apology, and respect can bring about redemption and harmony.