Greed and Consequences in the Vedabbha Jataka

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a student of a powerful brahmin priest who knew the magical Vedabbha Spell. This spell had the extraordinary power to cause gold, silver, pearls, coral, cat’s eye, rubies, and diamonds to rain from the sky during a specific alignment of the planets.One day, while the Bodhisatta and his teacher were traveling, they were seized by a group of bandits. The bandits kept the priest captive but sent the Bodhisatta away to gather a ransom. Before departing, the Bodhisatta warned his master not to cast the Vedabbha Spell that evening, as it would lead to a terrible result if done under the current circumstances.However, the priest was impatient and did not want to wait to be set free. After sunset, he told his captors about his ability to summon precious treasures from the sky. The bandits, eager to benefit from this, untied the priest, washed his head, provided him with fresh clothes, and covered him with perfume and flowers. The priest then invoked the spell, causing the seven valuables to fall from the sky.The bandits gathered the riches and began to leave the forest with the priest. However, before they could escape, a second band of thieves captured the first group. When these new thieves learned of the priest’s power, they let the first bandits go and demanded that the priest summon more treasure. The priest explained that he would have to wait another year for the planets to align again, but this only enraged the thieves. One of them sliced the priest in half with his sword.The second group of thieves then chased down and killed the first band of thieves, taking their treasure. However, their greed led to infighting, and eventually, only two thieves remained alive. Each conspired to kill the other to take the entire treasure for himself. The bandit guarding the treasure killed the other upon his return, but the returning bandit had poisoned half of the rice he brought, leading to the death of the last bandit as well.When the Bodhisatta returned with the ransom and found no sign of the bandits, he knew that his master had not heeded his warning. He walked down the road, found the bodies and the treasure, and understood the sequence of events. Reflecting on the situation, the Bodhisatta mused aloud that those who seek selfish gain always reap ruin eventually, not only for themselves but also for others. Tree fairies who heard the Bodhisatta speak shouted applause. He took the treasure home and spent the rest of his life giving alms and doing good deeds.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. The brahmin priest who knew the Vedabbha Spell was an earlier birth of a selfish and obstinate disciple of the Buddha. The Buddha shared this story with this disciple to illustrate that his refusal to listen to advice had once resulted in devastation.By recounting the tale of the Vedabbha Spell, the Buddha aimed to teach the disciple the dangers of greed and the importance of heeding wise counsel. This story served as a reminder that past actions and behaviors can influence present conduct, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and moral guidance.

Moral

The Vedabbha Jataka teaches us about the destructive nature of greed and the importance of listening to wise advice. The story highlights that selfish pursuits can lead to ruin, not only for the individual but also for others involved. The Bodhisatta’s reflection on the events serves as a reminder that true well-being comes from living a life of generosity and virtue, rather than succumbing to greed and selfish desires. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle that actions have consequences and that wisdom and self-control are essential for avoiding harm and achieving a peaceful life.