Bodhisatta’s Test: Virtue vs. Lineage

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a king’s chaplain, known for his thorough righteousness and receiving more honor than anyone else in the king’s inner circle. However, the Bodhisatta wondered whether this honor was due to his virtue or simply because he came from a respected family.To test this, the Bodhisatta deliberately stole some coins in full view of the king’s treasurer. When he was caught and taken to the king to receive his punishment, he saw some snake charmers along the way. He urged them to stop their dangerous activity, but they replied that, unlike him, their cobras were good and did not bite. This response made the Bodhisatta realize that virtue is the best thing in the world because it can save one from death.After the king ordered the Bodhisatta to be executed, the Bodhisatta explained that he was not a thief and revealed why he had pocketed the coins. He wanted to determine whether the honor he received was due to his virtue or his lineage. The king, understanding the Bodhisatta’s intentions, forgave him for his crime.Realizing that the honor from the king was indeed earned from his virtue and not his lineage, the Bodhisatta left the palace and lived out the rest of his life as an ascetic in the Himalayas.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. One of the Buddha’s disciples had been a king’s chaplain before joining the sangha. Like the Bodhisatta in the past, he received more honor than anyone else in the king’s inner circle and wondered if this was due to his virtue or his lineage. To test this, he performed the exact same experiment by stealing coins in full view of the king’s treasurer.After being forgiven by the king, the man joined the sangha and eventually reached arahantship. When the Buddha heard some other disciples discussing this incident, he told them this story to illustrate that he himself had once done the same test in the past.The king’s followers in the story were revealed to be earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples, highlighting the recurring theme of virtue and its recognition across different lifetimes.

Moral

The Silavimamsana Jataka teaches us about the importance of virtue and the need to distinguish between true honor and superficial respect. The story emphasizes that true virtue is the foundation of genuine respect and that it can save one from harm. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to test one’s character and the value of living a virtuous life. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of the supremacy of virtue over external factors such as lineage or social status.