Bodhisatta and the Fish: The Power of Virtue and Compassion

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a fish living in a pond. During a terrible drought, the pond dried up, forcing all the fish and turtles to bury themselves in the mud to stay alive. However, birds flocked to the area to pick them out with their beaks and eat them.Knowing that only he could save his fellow creatures, the Bodhisatta climbed out of the mud and spoke an act of truth (a solemn declaration of one’s supreme virtue followed by a request for some miraculous result) to the rain god. He told the rain god about his lifetime of virtue and begged for rain to save the lives of those in the pond. His request was answered, and heavy rain filled the pond, saving the fish and turtles.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. During a severe drought, crops withered, and lakes dried up, prompting the Buddha to take action. After his morning alms round, the Buddha returned to the monastery and stood on the steps of a dried-up pool where he usually bathed. This pool was built from the same pond where he had previously lived as the virtuous fish.The Buddha asked Ananda, one of his top disciples, to bring his bathing robe. Ananda was puzzled because the pool had no water, only mud. However, the Buddha put on his robe and expressed his wish to bathe. The throne of Indra, king of the gods, became warm as he observed the Buddha’s actions. Seeing the Buddha, Indra ordered the rain god to send a deluge to end the drought.The rain lasted until the water in the Buddha’s pool rose to the top step. When the Buddha later heard some of his disciples singing his praises for this miracle, he told them this story to illustrate that it was not the first time he had made it rain.

Earlier Births

The rain god in the story was an earlier birth of Ananda, and the other fish were earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples. This narrative highlighted the recurring theme of the Buddha’s ability to bring about beneficial outcomes through his virtue and the loyalty of his followers across different lifetimes.

Moral

The Maccha Jataka teaches us about the power of virtue, compassion, and the importance of selfless actions. The story emphasizes that true virtue can lead to miraculous results and that the well-being of others can be ensured through one’s own moral strength. The Bodhisatta’s act of truth serves as a model for how to address crises with wisdom and compassion. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of the interconnectedness of all beings and the potential for individual actions to bring about positive change for the greater good.