The Amaradevi-Panha Jataka: Wisdom and Love in Harmony

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a king’s advisor, renowned for his wisdom even at a young age. When he turned sixteen, he set out to find a wife, seeking someone as intelligent and capable as he was. His search led him down a road where he encountered a beautiful woman named Amara. She was not only strikingly attractive but also possessed all the marks of good fortune, a clear sign that she was destined for greatness. Upon seeing each other, the two were instantly captivated by one another, and they quickly fell in love.

Amara, however, was no ordinary woman. She answered every question the Bodhisatta asked her with a riddle. But, with his sharp intellect, the Bodhisatta effortlessly solved each one. Impressed by her beauty and wit, he expressed his desire to visit her family. In response, Amara gave him a cryptic riddle that would lead him to her home:

“By way of cakes and gruel,
And the double-leaf tree in flower,
By the eating hand, not the not-eating hand,
This is the secret path to my home.”

The Bodhisatta, intrigued by the challenge, followed her clues with ease. He passed by a cake shop, a rice gruel shop, and a blooming Mountain Ebony tree. After this, he turned right, following the final clue, and soon found himself at her home. The riddle, which seemed enigmatic at first, was no match for the Bodhisatta’s intellect, and he marveled at Amara’s cleverness.

The Buddha’s Teaching

In the time of the Buddha, some of his disciples were discussing the supreme wisdom of their teacher, marveling at how he had humbled and converted a wide array of beings—brahmins, ascetics, thieves, gods, and even goblins. When the Buddha overheard their conversation, he shared this story with them, revealing that even in his past lives, he had possessed perfect knowledge and wisdom.

The woman Amara, whose riddles had so fascinated the Bodhisatta, was in fact an earlier birth of the Buddha’s wife, Yasodhara. Just as Amara was both beautiful and intellectually sharp, so too was Yasodhara in her past life, embodying the same qualities that would eventually be mirrored in her role as the Buddha’s devoted wife.

Reflection and Wisdom

The Amaradevi-Panha Jataka illustrates the power of both wisdom and love. The Bodhisatta’s ability to solve riddles and navigate the “secret path” highlights the importance of intellectual clarity and the sharpness of mind. Yet, it is also a story about connection and mutual respect—two individuals whose love and admiration are founded not only on external beauty but also on the strength of their minds.

The riddle that Amara gives to the Bodhisatta also serves as a metaphor for life’s challenges—at first, life may seem like a puzzle with unclear solutions, but with wisdom and patience, all things can be understood and navigated. It also shows the importance of seeing things with clarity, not just in the physical world, but in terms of one’s understanding of others, one’s relationships, and one’s path in life.

By recounting this story, the Buddha reminds his disciples that his wisdom was not something that appeared only in his current lifetime. It was a quality he had cultivated over many lifetimes, and even in his previous birth, he demonstrated the same clarity of thought and insight that would later guide him on his path to enlightenment.

Ultimately, this story emphasizes that true wisdom transcends appearances—it’s not merely about solving riddles, but about understanding the deeper connections between oneself and others, seeing beyond the surface to the heart of the matter.