The Amba Jataka: The Dangers of Deception and Ingratitude

In the Amba Jataka, the Bodhisatta was born as an untouchable (a person of the lowest caste), but he possessed a special gift: the ability to produce sweet mangoes out of season through a magical spell. He made a living by selling these mangoes, and his reputation grew as people came from far and wide to buy them.

One day, a young man whose father had once been the royal chaplain came to the Bodhisatta’s village. Intrigued by the magical mangoes, he resolved to learn the spell. The Bodhisatta immediately recognized the man’s bad intentions but agreed to take him on as a servant. The young man worked diligently, performing tasks such as cooking, gathering wood, and even helping during the Bodhisatta’s wife’s childbirth.

Impressed by the man’s service, the Bodhisatta’s wife suggested that they reward him by teaching him the magic spell. The Bodhisatta agreed on the condition that if the man was ever asked about the origin of the spell, he should never lie about it. The Bodhisatta warned that if the man dishonored the truth, the spell would cease to work.

The man swore he would never lie, but after moving to the city, he quickly became wealthy from selling the magical mangoes. His success caught the attention of the king, who, intrigued by the magic, asked the man how he had learned the spell. Fearing that admitting the spell came from an untouchable would cost him his newfound prestige, the man lied and claimed he had learned it from a renowned teacher in Taxila.

The moment the man lied, the magic ceased to work. When the king asked him to perform the spell again, the man could not remember it. He falsely blamed the planets for not being aligned properly, but the king saw through the deception and forced the man to admit the truth. Humiliated, the man confessed that the spell had been taught to him by the Bodhisatta, but the king rebuked him, explaining that birth status did not diminish the value of such a great gift. The man was told to return to the Bodhisatta and seek forgiveness.

When the man returned to the Bodhisatta and asked to be taught the spell again, the Bodhisatta refused, saying that such a fool did not deserve it. The man, now in disgrace, wandered into the forest, where he died alone, his life ruined by his own deceit and ingratitude.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the young man from the story was revealed to be an earlier birth of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became one of his greatest adversaries. Devadatta’s jealousy and attempts to destroy the Buddha mirrored the behavior of the young man in the Jataka, who, after receiving a great gift, chose to betray and deceive. Devadatta’s eventual downfall, leading to his destruction and being swallowed into hell, was a result of his similar pattern of bad behavior, which began with deserting his teacher in past lives.

The king in this story was an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest and most faithful disciples. Ananda’s deep respect for the Buddha and his teachings was in stark contrast to the ingratitude and betrayal shown by the young man, symbolizing the virtues of gratitude, honesty, and loyalty.

Moral Reflection:

The Amba Jataka teaches a powerful lesson about gratitude, deception, and ingratitude. The young man, despite receiving a great gift from the Bodhisatta, chose to lie in order to preserve his status and prestige, ultimately leading to his downfall. His betrayal of the Bodhisatta’s trust destroyed the very gift that had brought him wealth, and his later actions led to his death in isolation.

The story emphasizes that honesty and gratitude are essential virtues for success and happiness. When we receive help, we should acknowledge and appreciate the source of that help, rather than acting out of pride or selfishness. The consequences of deception, especially when it involves ingratitude towards those who have aided us, can be severe and lead to loss, humiliation, and ultimately destruction.

In contrast, true success comes not from the wealth or power we accumulate but from our ability to remain humble, honest, and grateful to those who support us. The Bodhisatta, by adhering to these principles, demonstrates the wisdom that comes from integrity and selflessness, while the man’s eventual downfall serves as a cautionary tale against dishonesty and betrayal.

Final Takeaway:

The Amba Jataka illustrates the danger of letting pride and greed cloud our judgment. By learning to honor the truth, respect those who help us, and remain humble in the face of success, we can avoid the downfall that comes from deceit and ingratitude. This timeless lesson reminds us that the true value of success lies not in material wealth but in the integrity with which we live our lives and treat others.