Bodhisatta’s Courage: Selfless Duty in the Face of Danger

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a forester. One day, a merchant with a large caravan hired him to guide the group through a dense and treacherous forest. While they were traveling, a band of armed thieves, wielding swords and bows, attacked them. The men in the caravan, seeing the thieves approaching, surrendered without a fight and lay down in fear. But the Bodhisatta, unlike the others, did not cower. Instead, he charged forward, determined to defend the group, and single-handedly fought off the attackers.

After the thieves were driven away and the caravan reached safety, the merchant, deeply grateful for the Bodhisatta’s bravery, rewarded him with a lavish meal of fine meats. The merchant then asked the Bodhisatta how he had been so fearless in the face of such danger. The Bodhisatta replied that he felt a profound sense of joy in confronting death. He was ready to give his life if it meant fulfilling his duty to protect the caravan. In that moment, being the hero and safeguarding others was all that mattered to him.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, one of his disciples began to lose his motivation. His mind wandered, and he struggled to maintain his focus on the path to enlightenment. To help him regain his purpose, the Buddha shared this story of his own past life as the Bodhisatta. The story demonstrated that, even in the past, he had been willing to give everything—his very life—when the situation demanded it, even when the outcome was not tied to spiritual gain.

The Buddha did not identify any earlier births other than his own.

Moral of the Story

The Khurappa Jataka teaches the importance of courage and duty, especially in times of danger. The Bodhisatta’s unwavering resolve to protect the caravan, despite the overwhelming threat of the thieves, exemplifies a selfless commitment to others. However, the story also subtly reminds us of the difference between worldly bravery and the wisdom that leads to true liberation. The Bodhisatta’s courage in this tale, though admirable, was based on a worldly context, whereas the Buddha’s teachings encourage bravery in facing one’s own attachments, desires, and ignorance in the pursuit of enlightenment.

In the Buddha’s lifetime, the story was used to inspire a disciple who had lost his motivation, showing that the determination to act with purpose and resolve can help one regain focus—even when the ultimate goal is not immediate salvation, but simply fulfilling one’s duty in the moment.