The Culla-Narada Jataka: Wisdom Over Temptation

In the Culla-Narada Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once an ascetic who had renounced his wealth and material comforts after the death of his wife. He took his young son to live a life of austerity in the Himalayas, seeking spiritual enlightenment in isolation from the distractions of the world. After many years in the wilderness, their peaceful existence was disturbed when a group of bandits raided a town, and a beautiful but wicked woman fled from their attack.

While the Bodhisatta was away gathering food, the woman encountered the Bodhisatta’s son and quickly charmed him. She seduced him, persuading him to abandon his life in the forest and join her in civilization. The son, naive and inexperienced in the ways of the world, agreed to leave but felt the need to say goodbye to his father. The woman, knowing that the Bodhisatta would punish her if he returned to find her with his son, left immediately and told the boy where to find her village.

When the Bodhisatta returned and saw the woman’s footprints, he immediately knew that his son’s virtue had been compromised. He questioned his son, who confessed that he had decided to abandon his ascetic life and return to the kingdom. The son, having grown up in the wilderness, had little understanding of the dangers and temptations of the world. He asked his father to teach him what life was like in the kingdom.

The Bodhisatta, wise from years of spiritual practice, replied with a simple but profound warning: “Avoid poison, precipices, mud, and snakes.” His son, confused by this cryptic advice, asked for an explanation. The Bodhisatta went on to explain each of these worldly dangers in terms of metaphor:

• Poison: Wine—the intoxicating influence of material pleasures that cloud the mind.
• Precipices: Women—the danger of falling into attachment and lust, which can lead one astray.
• Mud: Honor and fame—the seductive allure of status and worldly praise that distract from spiritual goals.
• Snakes: Kings—the potential danger of power and authority, which can corrupt and entangle one in worldly affairs.

The Bodhisatta’s advice caused his son to rethink his decision. Overcome with understanding, the son abandoned his plans to leave the wilderness and decided to remain in the forest, committed to his spiritual path. The Bodhisatta’s wisdom had shown him the true dangers of the world, and he chose the life of an ascetic over the temptations of worldly pleasures.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The wicked woman who tempted the Bodhisatta’s son in this story was an earlier birth of a lascivious young woman who had no suitors for marriage. Her mother, seeking to find a way for her daughter to marry, decided to tempt one of the Buddha’s disciples into falling for her daughter.

One morning, as the disciples went on their alms rounds, the mother saw a disciple who seemed particularly concerned with his appearance—his robes were immaculately clean, and he carried a bowl that gleamed like a precious gem. Recognizing his vanity, the mother saw an opportunity to lure him into temptation.

She invited the disciple into her home and offered him the finest food. After he finished eating, she encouraged him to return anytime for more. The disciple, flattered by her attention and the lavish meals, continued visiting her. Eventually, the mother took the next step in her plan. She had her daughter adorn herself with beauty and use seductive wiles to draw the disciple’s attention. It worked, and the disciple, caught up in his desires, began to lose interest in his spiritual life.

The Buddha recounted this story to his disciples to show them that the same woman who had tried to tempt the disciple away from his path had done the same in a previous life, when she had been the woman who seduced the Bodhisatta’s son. She had used her charm to divert the young ascetic from his spiritual goal, just as she was now attempting to do with the disciple.

Moral Reflection:

The Culla-Narada Jataka highlights the constant presence of temptation in the world and the potential dangers these temptations pose to one’s spiritual path. The Bodhisatta’s advice to his son is filled with wisdom that is as relevant today as it was in ancient times: life is full of distractions—whether it’s the allure of material pleasure, the seduction of lust, the desire for status, or the corrupting influence of power.

In the story, the woman represents temptation in its many forms, and the Bodhisatta’s warnings about the four worldly dangers—poison, precipices, mud, and snakes—serve as a metaphor for the moral pitfalls one must avoid in order to stay on the path of righteousness and wisdom. By recognizing the dangers of these worldly attachments, the Bodhisatta’s son is able to choose the spiritual path over the fleeting pleasures of the material world.

The Buddha’s recounting of this tale in his own lifetime further emphasizes the lesson that even the most disciplined and enlightened individuals can fall prey to temptation. The lascivious woman in the Buddha’s time is a reminder that temptation does not disappear, but we must develop the wisdom and awareness to recognize and avoid it.

Final Takeaway:

The Culla-Narada Jataka teaches us that the worldly temptations that seek to distract us from our true purpose are ubiquitous and powerful. Whether it is the pull of desire, the chase for status, or the lure of material wealth, these forces are the poison, the precipices, the mud, and the snakes that can lead us astray. The true path to peace and enlightenment requires us to recognize these dangers and to remain steadfast in our commitment to wisdom, righteousness, and spiritual growth. By heeding the Bodhisatta’s warnings and avoiding attachment to the fleeting pleasures of the world, we can stay true to our spiritual goals and avoid the suffering that comes from falling into temptation.