The Cakkavaka Jataka: True Beauty Lies in Virtue

In this Jataka tale, the Bodhisatta was born as a golden goose living in a serene lotus pond with his mate. Their golden feathers and beauty made them beloved by humans, and they lived a peaceful and contented life. A greedy crow, tired of scavenging dead elephants and unsatisfied with his usual food, was looking for something better. He traveled to the Himalayas to feast on wild fruit and then to the Ganges River, hoping to find something more satisfying.

While in the Himalayas, the crow spotted the golden geese and became curious. Seeing how radiant and admired they were, he believed that their beauty must come from the rich and luxurious foods they ate, such as rice, salt, oil, fruit, and meat. He approached the golden geese and, eager to gain their golden hue, asked them where he could find such foods.

The Bodhisatta, with wisdom, explained to the crow that they did not eat any of those luxurious foods. Instead, they lived simply, feeding only on seaweed. He told the crow that their beauty and golden color came not from their diet, but from their virtuous behavior, from the purity of their lives and their harmlessness to other creatures. The Bodhisatta imparted a lesson that true beauty and inner richness come from living virtuously, not from indulgence in earthly pleasures. After hearing this, the greedy crow realized that the life of virtue and simplicity was not for him, and so he flew away in search of something else.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha: A Lesson on Greed

In the Buddha’s time, one of his disciples, known for his greed, would often go out in search of alms early every morning. He would visit the homes of the Buddha’s most generous lay supporters, including Visakha, the Buddha’s top female lay supporter; Anathapindika, a wealthy and generous patron; and King Pasenadi, a just ruler known for his righteousness. This disciple was constantly seeking the best, most extravagant food, hoping to satisfy his craving for indulgence.

Recognizing this disciple’s greed, the Buddha summoned him and told him this story about the Bodhisatta in his previous life as the golden goose. The Buddha used the tale to teach the disciple that true satisfaction and contentment do not come from seeking luxurious food or worldly pleasures. Just like the golden goose, the true beauty comes from virtuous behavior, not indulgence in material wealth.

The Bodhisatta’s mate in this Jataka tale was an earlier birth of the Buddha’s wife, Yasodhara, who, like the Bodhisatta, embodied simplicity and virtue. In this lifetime, as the Buddha’s wife, she too exemplified the values of modesty and purity.

Moral of the Story:

The Cakkavaka Jataka offers a profound lesson about the emptiness of greed and the true source of beauty and contentment. The crow’s desire for material wealth and indulgence led him to overlook the true source of the Bodhisatta’s radiance—his virtuous and harmless life. Through this story, the Buddha teaches that happiness and fulfillment are not found in the accumulation of wealth or the pursuit of luxuries, but in living a life rooted in virtue, simplicity, and moral conduct.

The tale also highlights the importance of understanding the deeper causes of beauty and happiness. The golden goose’s wisdom teaches that physical appearance and external riches are fleeting, but inner beauty, cultivated through virtuous living, is lasting and far more valuable.

In the context of the Buddha’s disciple, this story served as a reminder to abandon craving for worldly indulgences and to focus instead on developing qualities of compassion, generosity, and self-discipline, which bring true peace and contentment.