The Canda-Kinnara Jataka: The Power of Loyalty and True Love

In the Canda-Kinnara Jataka, the Bodhisatta was born as a kinnara, a celestial being who was half-human, half-bird. He lived on the silver mountain in the Himalayas with his wife, who was as beautiful and graceful as she was devoted to him. One day, they descended to a stream to play, covering themselves in flowers, singing, dancing, and swinging from vines in a display of joyful harmony.

As they played, a king who was hunting in the area heard their enchanting voices. Drawn by the sweetness of their song, the king crept closer and watched them. The king instantly fell in love with the Bodhisatta’s wife and became consumed by desire for her. Without a second thought, he shot the Bodhisatta with a poisoned arrow, hoping to kill him and take his wife for himself.

The Bodhisatta fell unconscious, blood oozing from his wound. His wife, assuming her husband was dead, cried out in sorrow. Upon hearing her cries, the king stepped forward, declaring that he would make the woman his queen, and attempted to console her. However, the Bodhisatta’s wife, overcome with grief and anger, condemned the king for his vile actions. She cried out loudly, vowing that she would kill herself rather than allow herself to become the king’s queen.

The king, hearing her powerful declaration, lost all desire for her. His obsession faded, and without a hint of regret, he walked away, leaving the wife alone to mourn.

As she held her husband’s lifeless body, the wife noticed that he was still warm. Desperate to save him, she cried out to the gods, imploring them to help him before it was too late. Her sincere plea reached Indra, the king of the gods, whose throne warmed in response. Understanding her pain, Indra descended from heaven in the guise of a brahmin and sprinkled healing water on the Bodhisatta’s wound. The poison was instantly neutralized, the wound vanished, and the Bodhisatta awoke, fully healed.

In awe, the Bodhisatta’s wife fell at Indra’s feet, praising him for his mercy. Indra, grateful for their devotion, advised the couple to never again descend from the mountain into the realm of humans, suggesting that they remain apart from the dangers of the human world. The couple took his advice and lived in peace, away from human troubles.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the Bodhisatta’s wife in this story was an earlier incarnation of the Buddha’s wife, Yasodhara. After the Buddha had attained enlightenment, he returned home to visit his family. During his visit, his father, Suddhodana, praised Yasodhara for her unwavering loyalty. He told the Buddha that, during his absence, she had refused all gifts and offers of marriage from other kings and had remained faithful, waiting for his return. The Buddha, in turn, shared that this was no surprise to him. He explained that even in their past lives, when she had been born as an animal, she had shown unwavering devotion and commitment to him, no matter the circumstances.

The Buddha then told the Canda-Kinnara Jataka to illustrate the depth of her devotion. In this earlier birth, she had remained fiercely loyal and faithful to the Bodhisatta, just as she had done in her current life.

The king in this Jataka, who had been driven by infatuation and lust, was an earlier birth of Anuruddha, one of the Buddha’s top disciples, who was renowned for his wisdom and meditative abilities.

Moral Reflection:

The Canda-Kinnara Jataka highlights the power of true love, which is not based on physical beauty or superficial attraction, but on devotion, faithfulness, and selfless commitment. The Bodhisatta’s wife embodies the virtues of loyalty and steadfast love, remaining true to her husband despite his apparent death and the king’s advances. Even when faced with the possibility of being taken by force, she chooses to protect her integrity and remain faithful to her partner.

The king’s infatuation and subsequent loss of interest when his desires were not met reveal the futility of lust and uncontrolled desire. His actions contrast sharply with the Bodhisatta’s wife’s unwavering commitment, which is rooted in moral integrity and self-respect.

The intervention of Indra, who provides miraculous healing, symbolizes the divine reward for selfless devotion and righteousness. Indra’s advice to the couple, urging them to avoid the human world, signifies the wisdom of avoiding entanglement with human desires and distractions. It also suggests that a life of devotion and purity is best kept away from the temptations of the material world.

Final Takeaway:

This Jataka emphasizes that love and loyalty in relationships are about more than attraction or desire—they are built on trust, faithfulness, and commitment to one another. The story encourages us to examine our own relationships and asks whether they are motivated by virtue and genuine care, or by fleeting desires. True love, as demonstrated in the Bodhisatta’s wife, is not something that can be taken by force, but something that must be earned through integrity and devotion.

In the Buddha’s later teachings, the connection to Yasodhara further strengthens the idea that even in past lives, she exemplified the qualities of steadfastness, compassion, and loyalty—qualities that would eventually help her achieve spiritual growth and enlightenment.