The Crown Prince and the Ogre: Pancavudha Jataka

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a crown prince. Immediately after his birth, eight hundred brahmin priests predicted that he would become a powerful, virtuous leader and an expert fighter. When the Bodhisatta turned sixteen, his father sent him to study in Taxila, a renowned center of learning.After completing his education, the Bodhisatta’s teacher presented him with a set of five weapons: a bow, poison arrows, a sword, a club, and his bare hands. Equipped with these, he set off for home. Along the way, he encountered a forest inhabited by a fearsome ogre who killed everyone he met. Despite being warned of this danger, the Bodhisatta was fearless and chose to walk through the forest rather than around it.The ogre, as tall as a palm tree and gruesomely appearance, confronted the Bodhisatta. Undaunted, the Bodhisatta fired fifty poison arrows at the ogre, but they got caught in the ogre’s thick fur without piercing his skin. The ogre charged, and the Bodhisatta hurled his sword, which also failed to penetrate the fur. He then smashed the ogre with his club, but it too got stuck in the ogre’s shaggy coat.Full of determination and bravery, the Bodhisatta shouted at the ogre that he would crush him into dust and threw a punch with his right hand, which became snarled in the fur. Similarly, his left hand, right foot, left foot, and even his head became entangled in the ogre’s fur as he continued to fight.Impressed by the Bodhisatta’s absurd bravery and realizing that he was no ordinary man, the ogre decided to set him free. Before the Bodhisatta left, he explained to the ogre that his miserable and murderous existence was a result of sins from past lives. He advised the ogre that he could end this cycle by living a virtuous life from then on, and the ogre vowed to do so.The Bodhisatta returned home and eventually became king, ruling with virtue and generosity.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. When a backsliding disciple stopped making an effort in his spiritual practice, the Buddha told him this story as a reminder that perseverance and bravery can yield rewards.The ogre in the story was revealed to be an earlier birth of Angulimala, a dreaded bandit known for cutting off a finger of each person he murdered and wearing them around his neck. However, Angulimala later became an enlightened disciple of the Buddha, illustrating the transformative power of virtue and the teachings of the Buddha.

Moral

The Pancavudha Jataka teaches us about the importance of bravery, perseverance, and the transformative power of virtue. The story highlights that even in the face of overwhelming danger, courage and determination can lead to positive outcomes. The Bodhisatta’s advice to the ogre serves as a reminder that past actions can be rectified by living a virtuous life, underscoring the Buddhist principle of personal responsibility and the potential for redemption. This tale emphasizes the value of perseverance and the rewards that come from living a life of virtue and generosity.