Bodhisatta’s Struggle: Desire, Temptation, and Renunciation

In a previous life, the Bodhisatta was born as the only child of a king. From the moment he was born, the Bodhisatta exhibited an unusual aversion to women; whenever he saw a woman, even his mother, he would cry uncontrollably. As he grew older, this strange behavior continued, and he was cared for entirely by men, with even his milk being given to him behind a screen, ensuring that no woman would come near him.

By the time the Bodhisatta reached adolescence, his distaste for women had only deepened, and he preferred solitude, meditating and living in isolation. He rejected the idea of ever inheriting his father’s throne, leading the king to worry about his son’s future. Desperate, the king consulted one of his royal dancers, who believed she could make the Bodhisatta fall in love with her. If she succeeded, the king promised, he would make the Bodhisatta the king and make her his chief queen.

The dancer began her plan by singing outside the Bodhisatta’s bedroom, using her enchanting voice to attract his attention. At first, the Bodhisatta remained unaffected, but after several days, he allowed her to sing closer to his room, and eventually, he invited her to sing in his presence. For the first time in his life, the Bodhisatta experienced desire, and he became infatuated with the dancer. His newfound feelings overwhelmed him, and he became possessive, running through the streets with a sword, chasing away anyone who came too close to her. His actions led the king to banish him from the city, along with the dancer.

The pair settled in a simple hut by the Ganges River, living a humble life, with the Bodhisatta gathering food from the forest. One day, while he was away searching for fruit, an ascetic flying through the sky saw smoke rising from their hut and came down to investigate. The dancer invited him in, and her charm was so powerful that the ascetic lost his spiritual insight and became infatuated with her, staying with her all day. When the Bodhisatta returned and saw the ascetic leaving, he assumed the man was an enemy and chased after him with his sword.

As the ascetic reached the sea, he attempted to fly, but fell into the water. The Bodhisatta then realized that the man was an ascetic who had lost his powers due to the woman’s allure. The Bodhisatta called out that women were deceitful and warned men to avoid them, or they would be burned by desire like fuel in a fire. Upon hearing these words, the ascetic’s powers were restored, and he rose back into the air, flying off to his island home.

The Bodhisatta, having realized the dangers of desire, sent the dancer back to the palace and returned to his life in the forest, living alone as an ascetic, free from the distractions of worldly cravings.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

During the time of the Buddha, one of his disciples became distracted by desires, which led to a loss of focus in his meditation and studies. To help the disciple regain his concentration, the Buddha told him the story of the Culla-Palobhana Jataka. The Buddha explained that even highly advanced beings, like ascetics and meditators, were susceptible to the powerful allure of desire, particularly that of women. The story served as a cautionary tale, warning that desires, especially those driven by attraction to the opposite sex, could sidetrack even the most disciplined individuals.

The Buddha did not identify any earlier births other than his own in this instance, but the story served as a reminder that even those with the highest spiritual attainments could fall prey to the distractions of worldly desires.

Moral of the Story

The Culla-Palobhana Jataka underscores the power of desire and how it can undermine even the most determined individuals. The Bodhisatta’s struggle with desire, and his eventual realization that women’s wiles could be powerful enough to sway even a wise ascetic, illustrates the dangers of attachment. The Bodhisatta’s decision to return to the forest, away from the distractions of worldly love and power, reflects the Buddhist path of renunciation—seeking liberation from the cycle of craving and attachment.

For the Buddha’s disciple, the story served as a valuable lesson in recognizing how desires—particularly those linked to physical attraction—can cloud one’s spiritual progress. The story warns that, no matter how advanced one’s spiritual practice may be, vigilance is required to avoid being overtaken by desires that can lead one astray.

The key lesson is that desire, if left unchecked, can be a powerful force that leads to suffering. The Bodhisatta’s choice to live a life of solitary meditation and detachment highlights the path to overcoming such desires, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, discipline, and awareness on the road to spiritual liberation.