The Dangers of Alcohol: The Kumbha Jataka

The Kumbha Jataka (Jataka #512) offers a narrative about the discovery of alcohol and the consequences it has on individuals and society. Through the story of a king and his kingdom, the Jataka illustrates the detrimental effects of intoxication and how a virtuous leader can resist temptation for the greater good. Additionally, the story emphasizes the importance of self-control and wisdom, presenting a clear Buddhist perspective on the destructive nature of alcohol and vices.

The Plot

Discovery of Alcohol

The tale begins with the discovery of alcohol during the reign of Indra, the king of the gods. A particular tree in the Himalayas, which grows in a unique spot, plays a central role in this discovery. The tree has a natural depression between its branches that fills with water after rainfall. Nearby, two species of myrobalan trees and a pepper shrub grow, and their fruits occasionally fall into the hole in the tree. Additionally, there is a wild rice paddy nearby, and parrots pick the heads of the rice plants, dropping husked rice into the water-filled hole. Over time, a mixture of these ingredients ferments in the sun, creating a drink that eventually becomes wine.

Wild animals—including birds, monkeys, wild dogs, and others—would drink this fermented liquid and fall unconscious, but after some time, they would wake up as though nothing had happened. A forester who noticed this pattern drank from the liquid himself and became intoxicated. Afterward, he developed a craving for meat, which led him to cook and eat unconscious birds.

Realizing the intoxicating effects of the liquid, the forester shared his discovery with an ascetic, and together they began brewing wine from this mixture. They took the wine to the king, who became enamored with it and drank excessively, eventually causing widespread intoxication throughout the kingdom.

The Destructive Spread of Alcohol

The popularity of this newly discovered drink grew quickly. As the winemakers moved from one city to another, they brought their alcohol with them, leading to the destruction of each city they visited. The residents, especially the men, became idle and irresponsible, and the cities gradually perished due to the widespread effects of drunkenness.

At their fourth city, the winemakers brewed a batch of wine in 500 jars, each of which was guarded by a cat tied to it. As the wine fermented, some of it leaked out and the cats drank it, falling unconscious. When rats bit off the cats’ ears, noses, teeth, and tails, the king’s advisors assumed the wine was poisonous and had the winemakers executed. However, when the cats woke up and began playing normally, the king realized that the wine was harmless and decided to drink it himself.

Indra’s Intervention

At this point, Indra, seeing the danger of alcohol spreading across the land, took on the guise of a brahmin and descended to Earth. He appeared before the king in mid-air and spoke at length about the perils of alcohol. Indra warned that drinking alcohol led to a host of negative consequences: loss of reason, immoral behavior, forgetfulness, and a host of vices that could ruin individuals and their societies. He compared drinking alcohol to sinking into a “loathsome pool” of misery.

The king, deeply moved by the brahmin’s wisdom, immediately ordered the destruction of the wine jars. As a token of gratitude, he offered the disguised Indra various gifts—five villages, horses and chariots, handmaidens, and cows—but Indra revealed his true identity as the king of the gods and refused the gifts. Though alcohol continued to spread across India, the king himself never drank it. For his wisdom and righteous conduct, the king attained a place in heaven after his death.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

During the time of the Buddha, a group of five hundred women, friends of Visakha (one of the Buddha’s foremost lay supporters), invited her to join them at a drinking festival. Visakha declined, as she did not drink alcohol, and the women asked her to accompany them to make an offering to the Buddha instead. Some of the women, however, began drinking before even reaching the monastery. They sang, danced, and acted improperly in front of the Buddha, causing a commotion.

To teach the women a lesson, the Buddha emitted a ray of light from the hairs between his eyebrows, which caused the atmosphere to become so bright it was as if a thousand moons were shining. He then used his supernatural powers to make it completely dark, dispelling the effects of the alcohol from the women’s bodies. After this, the Buddha rebuked the women for their behavior.

In response, Visakha asked the Buddha where alcohol had come from, and the Buddha explained its origins by recounting the Kumbha Jataka.

The king who resisted the temptation of the wine was identified as an earlier birth of Ananda, the Buddha’s beloved cousin and one of his most prominent disciples.

Moral Lessons

1. The Dangers of Alcohol: The primary lesson of the Kumbha Jataka is the destructive nature of alcohol. Indra’s intervention serves as a clear warning that alcohol leads people into a state of moral decay, mental confusion, and harmful behavior. The Jataka draws a parallel between the spread of alcohol and the downfall of cities, underscoring how vices can lead to the collapse of entire societies.
2. The Power of Wisdom: The story highlights the importance of wisdom and self-restraint. The king’s ability to resist the allure of alcohol and his willingness to listen to the advice of the wise brahmin (Indra) shows the power of wise counsel in preventing harm. The king’s refusal of the wine and his righteous actions are depicted as virtuous, earning him heavenly reward.
3. Virtue Over Indulgence: The contrast between the king’s righteous conduct and the indulgence of his people demonstrates the Buddhist emphasis on overcoming sensual desires and the consequences of succumbing to them. While the people who consumed the wine were led into folly and ruin, the king’s refusal to drink signifies the strength of self-discipline and the importance of living according to moral principles.
4. The Role of the Buddha’s Disciples: In the Buddha’s time, Visakha’s refusal to join the drinking festival exemplifies the practice of self-control and virtuous living. The Buddha’s miraculous powers in dispelling the effects of alcohol show the ability of enlightened beings to guide others toward the right path.
5. Karmic Consequences: The Jataka also teaches about the law of karma. The wine in the story leads to destruction and suffering for those who indulge in it, whereas the virtuous king is rewarded with heavenly bliss. This reflects the Buddhist belief that one’s actions—whether virtuous or harmful—will have consequences in future lives.

Conclusion

The Kumbha Jataka provides an insightful exploration of the origins and dangers of alcohol. It offers a clear moral lesson on the importance of avoiding intoxicants, emphasizing self-control, wisdom, and the long-term consequences of indulgence. Through the actions of Indra and the king, the Jataka illustrates how virtue and self-discipline can lead to both personal and societal well-being, while the dangers of alcohol can lead to ruin.