The Catu-Posathika Jataka: Wisdom and Equal Virtues

In the Catu-Posathika Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once a king’s advisor in a past life. The story focuses on a significant discussion between four great kings—each possessing unique virtues. These kings were:

1. The Naga King, who represented patience.
2. The Garuda King, who embodied self-restraint.
3. Indra, the king of the gods, who personified abstinence from desire.
4. The Bodhisatta’s human king, who demonstrated devotion to religious perfection.

The Virtue Debate

After observing the holy-day fast and meditating, the four kings sat down together to discuss their virtues. Each one believed that their virtue was the greatest:

• The Naga King boasted about his patience, explaining that despite nagas and garudas being mortal enemies, he never felt anger when encountering a garuda.
• The Garuda King spoke of his self-restraint, describing how, even though garudas are known to feast on nagas, he never gave in to the temptation to kill and eat one.
• Indra, king of the gods, claimed he had the greatest abstinence from desire, explaining that he had willingly left behind the pleasures of heaven to focus on the holy day.
• The human king described his devotion to religious perfection, noting that instead of indulging in his harem of sixteen thousand dancing girls, he dedicated the holy day to meditation and religious observance in his park.

Each king was confident that their own virtue was superior to the others’, so they turned to the Bodhisatta for guidance. The Bodhisatta, with his profound wisdom, declared that all four were equal in their virtues, likening them to the spokes of a wheel—each important and interdependent for the wheel to function properly.

The Kings’ Gratitude

Impressed by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, the four kings were pleased with his answer and praised his insight. They presented him with gifts as a token of their respect:

• The Naga King gave him a precious jewel.
• The Garuda King gifted him a golden garland.
• Indra offered a robe made of heavenly silk.
• The human king gave him one thousand cows.

Each king, recognizing the Bodhisatta’s incomparable wisdom, left with a renewed sense of respect for the virtues of others.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha: The Buddha’s Teaching on Wisdom

In the lifetime of the Buddha, the Buddha’s disciples were discussing his remarkable wisdom, particularly his ability to always outwit opponents in debates. They were in awe of how he could reduce even revered sages to silence. The Buddha overheard their conversation and, in his humble way, remarked that his ability to convince others was not remarkable because he had already achieved enlightenment.

To demonstrate that this skill was not new to him, the Buddha recounted the Catu-Posathika Jataka, telling his disciples that in the past, as the Bodhisatta, he had also been able to discern the equality of virtues and respond with wisdom that unified diverse viewpoints.

The Rebirths of the Kings

The four kings from the story were reborn as the Buddha’s disciples:

• The Naga King was reborn as Anuruddha.
• The Garuda King as Sariputta.
• Indra as Moggallana.
• The human king as Ananda.

These disciples were all known for their spiritual qualities and wisdom, reflecting the virtues of their past lives in the Catu-Posathika Jataka.

Moral of the Story:

The Catu-Posathika Jataka teaches that wisdom does not lie in the superiority of one virtue over another, but in understanding that different virtues are all important and contribute to the greater good. Humility and the ability to recognize and appreciate the strengths of others are essential qualities of a wise leader. The Bodhisatta’s ability to see the equality of virtues in the four kings exemplifies the supreme wisdom that transcends individual pride or ego.

It also highlights the idea that all paths of righteousness, whether it is patience, self-restraint, abstinence, or devotion, are equally valuable in contributing to the moral fabric of the world. True wisdom is recognizing that these virtues are not mutually exclusive but complementary, much like the spokes of a wheel that support the journey forward.