Bodhisatta, King Sudassana: A Tale of Impermanence

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a king named Sudassana, who ruled over eighty-four thousand cities, with Kusavati as his capital. As his life drew to a close, he announced to his queen, his harem, and his courtiers that he would soon die. This news filled them with grief, and they wept and wailed.However, the king calmed them down and reminded them that nothing in life is permanent. He explained that growth and decay are the natural order of things, emphasizing the impermanence of all phenomena. Just before passing away, he preached to them the importance of being charitable, obeying the precepts, and observing the holy days.After his death, the king was reborn in heaven due to his virtuous deeds.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. When two of the Buddha’s top disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, had recently died, the Buddha felt it was time for him to pass away as well. After his morning alms round, he walked to the city of Kusinara and lay down, never to rise again.Ananda, another of his top disciples, urged the Buddha to leave this rough little town and die in a more proper city. However, the Buddha told Ananda this story to explain why he chose to die in Kusinara. He revealed that in a past life, he had dwelled in this very place when it was the glorious royal city of Kusavati, surrounded by jeweled walls twelve leagues long.By dying in Kusinara, the Buddha saw an opportunity to teach a lesson on impermanence, highlighting how even the most magnificent cities can decline and fall into ruin. This story served to reinforce the Buddhist teaching on the transience of all things.

Earlier Births

The king’s queen and eldest son in the story were earlier births of the Buddha’s wife, Yasodhara, and his son, Rahula. The courtiers were earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples, emphasizing the continuity of relationships and the recurring themes of virtue and impermanence across different lifetimes.

Moral

The Mahasudassana Jataka teaches us about the importance of understanding and accepting impermanence. The story emphasizes the transient nature of all phenomena, including life, wealth, and even entire cities. The king’s final sermon serves as a model for how to approach death with wisdom and compassion, while his choice of dying place underscores the Buddhist principle of using every opportunity to teach valuable lessons. This tale reinforces the core Buddhist teachings on impermanence (anitya or anatta) and the importance of living a virtuous life in accordance with the precepts and holy days.