Bodhisatta, Queen, and Son: A Tale of Strategy and Karma

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a king whose city was conquered by another king. The victorious king killed the Bodhisatta and took his queen as his own wife. However, the Bodhisatta’s son managed to escape.The son, determined to reclaim his father’s throne, raised an army and soon returned to fight against the conquering king. Before engaging in battle, his mother, now the queen of the conquering king, sent him a message advising him to lay siege to the city instead of attacking it directly. He took her advice and besieged the city.After seven days, during which no water, firewood, or food could enter the city, the angry and desperate citizens turned against their king. They cut off his head and brought it to the Bodhisatta’s son, who then took the throne.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. One of the king’s daughters, a loyal supporter of the Buddha, carried a child in her womb for seven years and was in painful labor for seven days. She sent her husband to give the Buddha a greeting since she had not seen him for a long time.The Buddha gave a blessing for a healthy child, and as these words were spoken, her son was born. Following this, the relieved princess honored the Buddha with seven days of hospitality. During this time, Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s top disciples, asked the boy how he felt. The boy replied that he did not feel great, as he had to wallow in blood for seven long years.The boy ordained as a novice under the Buddha at age seven and became a full disciple at age twenty. Through his righteousness, he eventually became an arahant.

Earlier Births

The son who became king and his mother in the story were earlier births of this child and his mother. When the Buddha heard some of his disciples discussing the seven-year pregnancy, he told them this story to explain that the boy’s prolonged gestation and labor were a result of the karmic consequences of their past actions, specifically the siege of the city in their previous lives.

Moral

The Asatarupa Jataka teaches us about the consequences of past actions and the importance of wise counsel. The story emphasizes that actions in past lives can have significant effects on future lives, as seen in the boy’s prolonged gestation and labor. The mother’s advice to her son serves as a model for how to approach challenges with strategy and patience, while the outcome highlights the Buddhist principle of karma and the interconnectedness of past and present lives. This tale underscores the importance of understanding and accepting the consequences of one’s actions and the value of seeking wise guidance.