Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: A Jataka Tale of Slander and Friendship

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a wise and righteous king. One day, a cowherd accidentally left a pregnant cow behind in the forest, and the cow befriended a lion. After some time, both the cow and the lion gave birth at the same moment, and their calves grew up together, forming an unlikely but strong friendship. The cow and lion roamed the forest together, and their bond was seen by all who passed through the area.

One day, a forester brought his goods to the king’s palace. The Bodhisatta, curious about the wonders of the forest, asked the forester if he had ever seen anything unusual. The forester told him about the strange friendship between the cow and the lion. Intrigued, the Bodhisatta warned the forester that if he ever saw a third animal join them, he should come immediately to the palace and inform him.

Not long after, the forester returned to the same area and was surprised to see a jackal now mingling with the cow and the lion. Recognizing the potential for trouble, the forester hurried to the palace to inform the king.

The jackal, who had eaten every kind of meat except beef and lion, quickly realized that if he could sow discord between the two animals, they would eventually fight each other, and he would have his fill of both lion and beef. The jackal began his deception by telling each animal that the other had spoken ill of them. Believing the slander, the lion and the cow became angry, and soon they were fighting each other. Eventually, both perished in the battle.

When the Bodhisatta heard the news, he quickly mounted his chariot and, accompanied by the forester, went to the forest. There, they found the jackal feasting on the bodies of his two former friends, satisfied with the destruction he had caused. The Bodhisatta, deeply troubled, spoke to those gathered about the destructive power of slander. He then gathered the remains of the lion—the mane, claws, skin, and teeth—and returned to his palace.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s time, six of his disciples began to engage in slander, spreading false rumors to cause divisions among the other disciples. When the Buddha learned of this, he reprimanded them and used this story as a teaching moment, explaining how slander can destroy friendships and harm both individuals and communities.

Moral:
Slander can destroy friendships and cause irreversible harm. It is a tool of deceit that divides people, leading to conflict and suffering.