The Gandatindu Jataka: The King and the Malabar Ebony Tree

The Gandatindu Jataka (Jataka #520) is a tale about the transformative power of righteous leadership, the consequences of oppression, and the importance of understanding the suffering of others. It features the Bodhisatta in the form of a tree fairy, who intervenes in the life of a wicked king to inspire reform through a series of encounters with the oppressed people of the kingdom. The story emphasizes compassion, self-awareness, and the need for rulers to govern with justice and mindfulness of the suffering they cause.

The Plot

A Wicked King and His Reign

The story begins with a king whose reign is characterized by cruelty and corruption. His rule brings great suffering to the people: they are robbed by his men during the day and attacked by bandits at night. The people are so fearful of the king that they live like wild animals, hiding in the forests during the day and abandoning their villages. This chaotic and oppressive environment results in the collapse of society.

The Bodhisatta, in the form of a tree fairy, has been receiving an annual tribute of one thousand coins from the king. Concerned about the suffering caused by the king’s tyranny, the Bodhisatta decides to intervene. He appears to the king in a vision, emitting a brilliant light and introducing himself as the god of the Malabar ebony tree.

The Bodhisatta’s Message

The Bodhisatta warns the king that rulers who rule recklessly and cause such destruction will meet their downfall in this life and face terrible rebirths in hell. The Bodhisatta urges the king to visit the countryside and witness firsthand the suffering his actions have caused. Moved by the tree fairy’s words, the king decides to disguise himself and venture out into the kingdom, accompanied by his chaplain, to see the conditions of his people.

Encounters with the Oppressed

During their journey, the king and chaplain encounter several individuals who express their anger and despair through curses against the king:

• The Old Man: The first encounter is with an old man returning from the forest with his wife and children. As he removes a barrier of thorns from his door, he steps on one and curses the king, wishing that an arrow would strike him. When the chaplain asks why the man curses the king, the old man explains that the king’s oppressive taxes have forced him to live in fear, constantly building barriers to protect his family from tax collectors.
• The Old Woman: Next, they meet a poor old woman gathering fallen leaves. She curses the king, hoping he dies soon so her daughters can get married. The chaplain asks her why she despises the king, and the woman reveals that due to the king’s oppression, the men in the kingdom are too fearful or poor to marry, leaving her daughters unmarried.
• The Farmer: In another village, the king and his chaplain overhear a farmer cursing the king because his ox was injured by the plow. When asked why he curses the king, the farmer explains that he is weakened by hunger, as the tax collectors have stolen his food, leaving him with insufficient strength to tend to his animals properly.
• The Cow Milker: The next encounter is with a man milking a cow who is kicked by the animal, injuring him and spilling the milk. He curses the king, hoping the king is killed by a sword. The chaplain asks why the man blames the king, and the man responds that he has to milk a wild cow, as food is so scarce that he has no choice but to try to milk an animal that has never been tamed.
• The Cow and Her Calf: Later, they come across a sorrowful cow who has stopped eating. The chaplain learns that a tax collector had killed and skinned the cow’s young calf to make a sword sheath. The boys who were tending to the cow curse the king, wishing that he dies a childless and sad death. The chaplain asks why they curse the king, and the boys reply that when a wicked king rules, the whole kingdom is filled with wicked people, leading to acts like this one.
• The Frog’s Curse: Finally, the Bodhisatta himself speaks through the mouth of a frog, cursing the king and wishing that he dies in battle and is eaten by scavengers. The chaplain is perplexed by this and asks the frog why it curses the king, given that no king can protect every creature. The frog explains that the king’s oppressive rule has caused the kingdom’s prosperity to decline, leading to a lack of alms, which in turn causes the crows to feed on living things like frogs.

The King’s Change of Heart

As the king hears these numerous curses and understands the depths of the suffering his rule has caused, he is filled with guilt and remorse. The Bodhisatta uses his influence to momentarily possess the chaplain and encourage the king to investigate further, which leads to the king’s deep reflection on the consequences of his actions.

Upon returning to the city, the king resolves to change his ways. He begins to rule righteously, focusing on justice, charity, and promoting good deeds. He takes care to address the suffering of his people and works toward rebuilding a fair and peaceful society.

The Moral Lesson

The Gandatindu Jataka teaches several key moral lessons:

1. The Consequences of Oppressive Leadership: The story illustrates how a ruler’s wickedness and cruelty can lead to the collapse of society, where people live in fear and suffer daily. The king’s tyranny has far-reaching consequences, causing widespread poverty, fear, and sorrow. This demonstrates the importance of compassionate and just leadership.
2. The Power of Compassionate Reflection: The king’s journey and his encounters with the suffering people of his kingdom lead him to experience self-awareness and guilt. This transformative experience teaches that rulers (and people in general) must reflect on the consequences of their actions, especially how they affect others. Only through such reflection can true reform occur.
3. The Role of Providence and Divine Intervention: The Bodhisatta, in the form of the tree fairy, serves as a divine intervention that pushes the king toward reform. This highlights the idea that wisdom, guidance, and intervention from a higher power can help correct the course of a ruler who has gone astray.
4. The Importance of Listening to the Voiceless: The curses of the oppressed people—the old man, the farmer, the cowboys, the frog—serve as powerful metaphors for the ignored voices of society. Rulers must not only look out for the elites but must also listen to the suffering of the common people and address their grievances.
5. The Redemption of a Leader: The king’s ability to listen to the suffering of his people and change his ways demonstrates that it is possible for even the most wicked leaders to redeem themselves through self-reflection and a commitment to righteousness.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, the Buddha used this story as a moral lesson for a king who came to hear him preach. The Buddha advised the king to rule righteously, emphasizing that sensual pleasures and selfish indulgence lead to misery, while virtue and compassion are the true refuge when facing death. He told the story of the Bodhisatta’s past life as a tree fairy to illustrate the importance of ruling with justice and understanding the needs of the people.

Conclusion

The Gandatindu Jataka is a poignant tale of the dangers of oppressive leadership and the transformative power of compassion and self-reflection. It teaches that even the most tyrannical rulers can find redemption if they are willing to listen to the suffering of their people and govern with justice, righteousness, and mercy. The story emphasizes the importance of ruling with an understanding of the impact one’s actions have on the common people and the world at large.