Gamani-Canda Jataka: Wisdom and Justice in Overcoming Adversity

In an ancient kingdom, a young prince was thrust into leadership at the tender age of seven after the sudden death of his father. Concerned about his maturity, the royal advisors devised a test to determine if he was fit to rule. They dressed a monkey in the garb of three different figures—an astrologer, a judge, and a man of virtue—and presented it before the prince. Despite the disguise, the prince immediately saw through the deception each time, identifying the monkey for what it was. Impressed by his perceptiveness and discernment, the advisors declared him wise beyond his years and crowned him as the new king.

As he ascended to the throne, the young prince, known as the Bodhisatta in a past life, ruled with unparalleled wisdom and justice, resolving even the most challenging problems with insight and fairness. One of the most remarkable instances of his wisdom occurred when he resolved fourteen complex disputes at once, a testament to his extraordinary abilities as a ruler.

Gamani’s Misfortune

One of the Bodhisatta’s former servants, Gamani, had retired after his master’s death and settled into a quiet life as a farmer. However, his life soon spiraled into a series of misfortunes that tested his patience and resolve. The first of these misfortunes occurred when he borrowed a pair of oxen from a neighbor to help plow his field. After working through the day, he returned the oxen to the stall, but his neighbor and his wife, without extending an invitation, did not offer him any food. Feeling slighted, Gamani left without speaking to them. That very night, the oxen were stolen. Seizing the opportunity, the neighbor falsely accused Gamani of not returning the oxen and demanded that the matter be brought before the king.

As Gamani made his way to the palace to face the king, more troubles befell him. His neighbor’s pregnant wife, while offering him a meal, accidentally fell from a ladder and miscarried. The neighbor, mistakenly thinking that Gamani had caused the fall, joined him on the journey to the palace, hoping to seek justice. Along the way, a horse began following them, and when Gamani threw a rock to shoo it away, the horse broke its leg. The horse’s keeper, now seeking compensation, joined the group as well.

The series of misfortunes did not stop there. As Gamani continued on his path, he attempted to take his own life by jumping off a cliff, but tragically, he landed on a basket weaver, killing him instantly. The weaver’s son, in turn, became another claimant in the case. By the time they reached the palace, the group had grown to five, with additional claimants, including a village headman, a prostitute, a young woman, a snake, a deer, a partridge, a tree fairy, a naga, a group of ascetics, and a group of brahmin students, all of whom had their own questions and complaints that they hoped the king would resolve.

The Trial Before the King

Once in the palace, the Bodhisatta received Gamani with great respect, recognizing him as an old servant. After inquiring about his life since leaving the palace, the king began hearing the various charges. Each claim was addressed with wisdom and fairness.

1. The Case of the Oxen: The neighbor, who accused Gamani of stealing the oxen, was asked to swear that he had seen the oxen enter the stall. The man hesitated and eventually admitted he had, in fact, seen them. The Bodhisatta ruled that both men were at fault—Gamani for not announcing himself when returning the oxen, and the neighbor for lying. Gamani was ordered to pay a fine of twenty-four coins, while the neighbor was punished by having his eyes gouged out. Overcome with guilt, the neighbor begged for forgiveness, offering Gamani more money before fleeing the palace.
2. The Miscarriage: Gamani explained that he had not struck the neighbor’s wife, but that she had fallen on her own. The Bodhisatta ruled that while Gamani had not intended harm, the fall had led to a miscarriage. He decreed that Gamani should take the wife to his home until she gave birth to a son, whom she would then give to her husband. The neighbor, however, was heartbroken at the thought of his family being separated and begged Gamani not to carry out the order. He offered Gamani some money before leaving in despair.
3. The Broken Horse: The horse’s keeper initially denied telling Gamani to throw the rock, but when pressured by the Bodhisatta, the keeper confessed. Gamani was ordered to pay a thousand coins for a new horse, but he was also allowed to rip out the keeper’s tongue as punishment for lying. The keeper refused the payment, gave Gamani some money, and departed.
4. The Basket Weaver’s Death: The Bodhisatta ordered Gamani to take the basket weaver’s son into his home, but the boy, unwilling to lose his family’s home, gave Gamani money to compensate him and left.

The People’s Questions

After resolving the various cases, the Bodhisatta turned to Gamani, who shared the questions that had been posed to him during his journey to the palace. The king, with his unparalleled wisdom, answered each question in turn:

• The Brahmin Students: They had been struggling to memorize their lessons. The Bodhisatta explained that this was due to the inconsistency of the rooster that had previously woken them at the same time each morning. The new rooster had disrupted their routine.
• The Ascetics: The fruits in their region had become bitter. The Bodhisatta revealed that the ascetics had grown lazy and no longer performed their alms rounds together, thus losing the blessings they once enjoyed.
• The Naga: The water in the naga’s pool had become dirty. The Bodhisatta explained that the naga chiefs had fallen into discord, which polluted the water.
• The Tree Spirit: Donations had stopped for the tree spirit. The Bodhisatta told her it was because she had ceased protecting travelers passing through her forest.
• The Partridge: The bird could only sing beautifully near a certain anthill. The Bodhisatta discovered a hidden treasure beneath the anthill and advised Gamani to dig it up and keep it.
• The Deer: The deer only found good grass beneath a particular tree. The Bodhisatta revealed that a honeycomb in the tree dripped honey onto the ground below, making the grass sweet. Gamani was instructed to collect the honey and send the best of it to the palace.
• The Snake: The snake had difficulty leaving its burrow but returned easily after feeding. The Bodhisatta explained that the snake was guarding a hidden treasure. Once it let go of its greed, it would find it easy to leave.
• The Young Woman: She could not find contentment in either her husband’s or her family’s home. The Bodhisatta explained that her secret affair was causing her distress and advised her to stay in her husband’s house.
• The Prostitute: Her income had dropped because she no longer stayed with one man long enough to satisfy him. The Bodhisatta advised her to return to her old ways of staying with clients until they were content.
• The Village Headman: The headman had fallen from grace, becoming poor and sick. The Bodhisatta explained that he had once been a just leader but had since become corrupt, taking bribes and making unjust decisions.

The Conclusion

After answering all of their questions, the Bodhisatta rewarded Gamani with precious gifts and made him the leader of his village. Gamani returned home, stopping along the way to share the king’s wisdom with others, and along the journey, he collected the treasure and honey that had been uncovered during the king’s answers.

Moral of the Story

The Gamani-Canda Jataka teaches the power of wisdom and justice in overcoming adversity. It highlights that wise leadership requires not only sharp insight into the truth but also a commitment to fairness and compassion. The Bodhisatta’s ability to solve complex problems through careful thought and understanding offers a timeless lesson in resolving conflict and providing guidance. Moreover, the story reminds us that wisdom is not just for rulers; it can be used by anyone, in any situation, to navigate challenges, restore harmony, and make sound decisions for the greater good.