Bodhisatta’s Patience: A Jataka Story of Cruelty and Wisdom

In this Jataka tale, the Bodhisatta was once born as a prince, only seven months old. One day, as he played with his mother, the joy of her motherly love made her forget to rise in respect when the king entered the room. The king, overcome with jealousy at the queen’s affection for their child, became enraged and ordered the execution of the child, believing his queen’s behavior was an act of disrespect.

The executioner seized the young Bodhisatta from his mother’s arms and brought him before the king. The king ordered that the prince’s hands be chopped off. The queen, horrified, pleaded for her own hands to be cut off in place of her child’s, but the king ignored her, continuing with the brutal orders. Even as the executioner raised his axe, the Bodhisatta did not cry out or show fear. His face remained calm, embodying perfect patience and resignation.

The king, relentless in his cruelty, ordered the executioner to continue, chopping off the prince’s feet and head, and dismembering his body. Despite the desperate pleas of the queen, the king showed no remorse, his heart hardened by his jealousy. The queen, devastated by the death of her beloved child, collapsed in grief, clutching the dismembered body of the Bodhisatta in her lap. Her heart, broken by sorrow, could not bear the weight of her loss, and she died instantly.

As soon as she passed, the ground beneath the king cracked open, and flames from hell rose up to consume him, dragging him into eternal torment as punishment for his cruelty.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
The king in this tale was an earlier birth of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who, in later lifetimes, became known for his jealousy and attempts to harm the Buddha. Devadatta’s cruel actions, including three separate assassination attempts on the Buddha’s life, reflected the same violent tendencies he had exhibited in his past lives.

The queen, who was deeply grieved by the loss of her son, was an earlier incarnation of Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, the Buddha’s foster mother, who cared for him after his birth and played a crucial role in his life.

The Buddha used this story to explain to his disciples that Devadatta had, in past lives, shown the same cruelty and malice he later displayed towards the Buddha. Despite the king’s success in causing harm in his previous lives, the Buddha was not afraid of him, as Devadatta’s actions were destined to lead him to eventual ruin.

Moral:
The story emphasizes the destructive consequences of cruelty, jealousy, and pride. The king’s inability to control his emotions led to the violent death of his own child and his own downfall, as he was dragged into hell. In contrast, the Bodhisatta’s patience, even in the face of unimaginable pain, showed the strength and wisdom that come from forbearance. The tale teaches that while cruelty may seem to succeed in the short term, it inevitably leads to suffering and destruction, while patience and kindness lead to spiritual growth and lasting peace.