Bhadda-Sala Jataka: Compassion, Wisdom, and the Dangers of Revenge

In the Bhadda-Sala Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once a tree fairy, residing in a grand and sacred sal tree known as the Lucky Tree, located in the royal park. The king, determined to build a unique palace supported by a single pillar, sent his builders to find a strong and straight tree to bear the weight of the structure. Although many trees in the forest were suitable, the roads were too rough to transport them back to the city, so the king allowed the builders to take a tree from his royal park. They chose the Bodhisatta’s beloved tree, which was widely worshipped, including by the royal family.

The builders decorated the tree with flowers and performed a ceremony to inform the spirits of the tree’s removal. Distressed by this, the Bodhisatta, who had lived in the tree for sixty thousand years, appeared before the king at midnight, filling his bedchamber with divine light. The Bodhisatta wept as he explained that he could not leave the tree, for when it died, so would he. However, the king was adamant about using the tree for his palace. The Bodhisatta, in a display of compassion, requested that the tree be cut down in pieces, rather than felled all at once, so that his family—the other spirits living in nearby trees—would not be harmed by the falling tree. Touched by the Bodhisatta’s concern for his family, the king relented and spared the tree.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In a later life, King Pasenadi, a righteous ruler, was a devoted supporter of the Buddha. Despite his kindness, the king’s court was not a friendly place for the Buddha’s disciples, who preferred to eat at the homes of their friends rather than at the palace. To improve relations with the Buddha and his followers, the king sought to marry a woman from the Buddha’s Sakya clan. However, the Sakya clan was insular and reluctant to marry into the royal family. After some negotiations, they agreed to send a woman who was not of noble birth but was considered royal enough due to her status as a nobleman’s daughter. She was born to a slave woman, but this detail was kept hidden.

King Pasenadi, believing he had married into a noble family, treated his new wife with great affection, making her his chief queen. When a son was born to them, he enjoyed all the privileges of a prince, but he noticed that he did not receive any gifts from his maternal grandfather’s family. His mother, wanting to protect her secret, lied to him, claiming her family was far away. As the prince grew older, he eventually decided to visit his maternal relatives, despite his mother’s attempts to stop him. Upon learning of the visit, the Sakya clan, embarrassed by the prince’s background, sent all the younger children away to avoid showing respect to him.

When the prince arrived and overheard a conversation revealing his mother’s true origins, he was enraged and vowed to take revenge on the Sakya clan when he became king. King Pasenadi, upon hearing of the prince’s anger, also became furious and reduced his wife and son’s status to that of slaves. However, the Buddha, recognizing that the prince’s anger was based on ignorance, explained to the king that the queen and her son were of noble birth and their lineage was irrelevant. The king, after hearing the Buddha’s words, changed his mind and restored their honor.

Later, the story of the commander-in-chief’s wife, who had long been childless, demonstrates another moment of wisdom and intervention. The wife sought the Buddha’s guidance, and the Buddha advised her to stay with her husband. This wise counsel ultimately led to the birth of many heroic sons, and her family flourished. However, things took a tragic turn when the commander-in-chief was wrongfully executed by King Pasenadi, manipulated by corrupt judges. The commander-in-chief’s wife, though grieving, held onto wisdom and instructed her daughters-in-law not to seek revenge, despite the injustice. This act of restraint and compassion prevented further bloodshed and calamity.

In the wake of these events, a new commander-in-chief, driven by anger and revenge, staged a coup and placed the half-slave prince on the throne. The king, now in exile, died from exposure on his way back to reclaim his kingdom. The new king, filled with vengeance against the Sakya clan, set out to destroy them, but the Buddha intervened three times, sitting under a small tree as a symbol of protection for his family. However, after the third intervention, the Buddha, recognizing the sins of his clan, allowed the king to continue his war. The new king’s army slaughtered everyone they met, beginning with the innocent babies.

Moral Reflection:

The Bhadda-Sala Jataka teaches several powerful lessons: the value of compassion, wisdom, and restraint in the face of hardship and the dangers of seeking revenge. The Bodhisatta, in his past life, demonstrated profound care for the welfare of his family and the world around him, even at the cost of his own existence. Similarly, the Buddha’s intervention in his past life as King Pasenadi shows how wisdom can heal conflict and prevent violence, even when deep misunderstandings and grievances exist.

The tragic end of King Pasenadi’s rule, brought about by his own misguided actions and the pursuit of vengeance, underscores the dangers of letting anger and resentment dictate one’s decisions. The story reflects the importance of rising above personal grievances, seeking forgiveness, and practicing compassion—principles that the Buddha would later teach his followers in his lifetime.

Ultimately, the Jataka emphasizes that wisdom, even in the most difficult circumstances, can prevent conflict and suffering. The Buddha’s example in both his past and present lives demonstrates how true power lies not in seeking revenge, but in understanding, compassion, and the ability to let go of past wrongs.