Bodhisatta’s Generosity: The Path to Merit and Bliss

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was born as a noble and virtuous king. His rule was marked by an unwavering commitment to righteousness, generosity, and the observance of holy days. He donated an astounding six hundred thousand coins daily, distributing them across six alms halls throughout the city. His charity and devotion became widely known, not only in India but also in the heavens, earning him great admiration from both mortals and gods alike.

When Indra, the king of the gods, heard about the Bodhisatta’s unparalleled generosity and righteousness, he decided to invite him to heaven. Indra sent his charioteer, Matali, with a magnificent chariot pulled by a thousand horses, its brilliance shining in the sky like a full moon. The sight of the chariot made it clear that the gods were calling for the righteous king. At that very moment, the Bodhisatta was addressing his courtiers, teaching them about justice and virtue.

Upon his arrival in heaven, the Bodhisatta received a warm and celebratory welcome. Indra, deeply impressed by the king’s goodness, offered him half of the divine city so that he could live in eternal pleasure and bliss. The Bodhisatta accepted the offer and enjoyed seven hundred years of heavenly life, surrounded by delights beyond imagination.

However, as time passed and his merit began to deplete, the Bodhisatta started to feel dissatisfied. Indra, seeing this, offered to share his own merit with the Bodhisatta to sustain his happiness, but the Bodhisatta refused, stating that he would only accept what he had earned through his own deeds and righteousness.

Determined to return to earth, the Bodhisatta descended from heaven and landed in the royal park. He instructed the park keeper to inform the current king, the seventh generation descendant of the Bodhisatta. When the king arrived, he was honored to meet the great Bodhisatta and offered to give up his throne, but the Bodhisatta refused. His only desire was to continue doing good deeds, so the king arranged for him to do so. For the next seven days, the Bodhisatta gave away immense treasures in alms, practicing his generosity without reserve.

On the seventh day, after completing his noble deeds, the Bodhisatta passed away and was immediately reborn back in Indra’s heaven, where he enjoyed eternal bliss once more.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

Once, the Buddha praised some of his lay followers for their observance of the holy day, and to encourage them further, he recounted this story. He explained that observing holy days and practicing generosity could bring great rewards, both in this life and beyond.

The king in the story and Indra were earlier births of two of the Buddha’s most prominent disciples, Anuruddha and Ananda. Through this tale, the Buddha illustrated the powerful benefits of virtue, righteousness, and selfless generosity.

Moral:

The Sadhina Jataka teaches the importance of observing holy days, practicing generosity, and maintaining personal integrity and righteousness. It underscores the value of self-earned merit and the idea that true happiness comes not from worldly pleasures or unearned gifts, but from virtuous deeds and selflessness. The story also highlights how such practices can lead to spiritual rewards, as evidenced by the Bodhisatta’s eventual return to heaven after a life of generosity and righteousness.