Kama Jataka: Lessons on Greed, Desire, and Wisdom

In the Kama Jataka, the Bodhisatta was once a wise young man, and the story unfolds with the death of a king who left behind two sons. The eldest son, uninterested in ruling, left the palace and took a job with a wealthy merchant family in a remote border region, concealing his royal identity. However, once people discovered that he was a prince, they could no longer allow him to work as an ordinary merchant, and he was treated with the honor due to his status.

One day, the merchant asked the prince to send a letter to his younger brother, the king, requesting that his taxes be waived. The prince complied, and the king granted his request. Furthermore, the king ordered that all taxes in the region be collected by the prince. The newfound wealth and respect led to the prince’s growing greed. He had his brother appoint him viceroy of the region and, over time, his ambitions grew. Eventually, the prince sought to take the throne for himself and marched his troops to the palace, demanding that his brother surrender the kingdom or fight for it. Knowing that killing his elder brother would cause great strife, the king reluctantly agreed to step aside.

However, ruling the kingdom did not quench the prince’s greed. He wanted more. When Indra, the king of the gods, saw the prince’s unbridled ambition, he decided to teach him a lesson. Disguised as a young brahmin, Indra visited the prince and promised him victory over three powerful cities if he started his conquest immediately. The prince, blinded by his desires, did not ask any questions about the young brahmin’s background or what he wanted in return. He was so eager to conquer that he failed to inquire about the details of the plan. Indra, having cast a spell on the prince, left the palace without revealing his true identity.

The prince, under the influence of the spell, sent his men to locate the young brahmin, but they could not find him. The prince became increasingly anxious, and soon he fell ill, suffering from a high fever and bloody diarrhea. His most skilled doctors could not cure him.

Hearing of the king’s illness, the Bodhisatta, who had recently completed his studies, arrived at the palace offering a remedy. Initially, the king was reluctant to meet him, as his doctors were the most renowned in the land. But when told the Bodhisatta was offering his assistance without payment, the king agreed to see him. After paying his respects to the king, the Bodhisatta asked about the cause of his illness. The king, irritated by the question, insisted that the Bodhisatta simply provide a cure. But the Bodhisatta explained that in order to find the right remedy, he first needed to understand the cause of the disease. Reluctantly, the king explained that his illness had resulted from his greed and his encounter with the mysterious young brahmin. The Bodhisatta then told the king that the root of his suffering was his desire, and that desires are insatiable: they can never truly be satisfied. He shared wisdom with the king, advising him to “be content with having wisdom” and to let go of cravings to avoid the internal suffering they caused.

The Bodhisatta’s words brought great relief to the king, and he was healed. Full of joy, the king offered the Bodhisatta a thousand coins, but the Bodhisatta declined. Instead, he encouraged the king to embrace righteousness from that point onward and to avoid giving in to greed. The Bodhisatta then left the palace, flying to the Himalayas to live as an ascetic.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In a later birth, the greedy king from this story was born as a brahmin who was attempting to cultivate land by felling trees along a riverbank. On that same day, the Buddha, foreseeing the brahmin’s potential for spiritual enlightenment, visited him while collecting alms. The Buddha returned to visit the brahmin at each stage of the farming process—clearing the roots, plowing, planting, and so on. The brahmin, who had mistaken the Buddha’s visits as a desire for some of his future harvest, promised to give him grain when the crops were ready.

However, the night before the harvest, heavy rains caused the river to flood, sweeping away the entire crop. Devastated, the brahmin lay in bed crying. The next day, the Buddha visited again, and this time he comforted the brahmin by explaining that there is no use in grieving for what is lost, because nothing can change the past. This lesson brought the brahmin to a new level of understanding, and he was no longer consumed by grief over his lost harvest.

Back at the monastery, the Buddha’s disciples discussed the encounter. The Buddha shared the story with them, explaining that he had also helped cure the brahmin’s grief in a past life, teaching him the same lesson about the futility of attachment and the importance of wisdom in finding peace.

Moral Reflection:

The Kama Jataka teaches important lessons about the dangers of greed, the insatiable nature of desire, and the importance of cultivating wisdom and contentment. The story of the greedy prince who seeks more power and conquest, only to suffer illness and turmoil as a result of his desires, illustrates how unchecked cravings can lead to inner suffering. The Bodhisatta’s intervention, which encourages the king to release his desires and embrace wisdom, demonstrates the power of insight to heal not just physical ailments, but also the mental afflictions caused by greed.

Furthermore, the story also highlights the Buddhist principle of impermanence: nothing is permanent, and attachment to things—whether wealth, power, or even material possessions—leads to suffering when those things are lost. The Buddha’s lesson to the grieving brahmin about the futility of attachment and the importance of wisdom in overcoming grief is a reflection of the core teachings of Buddhism.

Ultimately, the Kama Jataka calls for contentment and self-awareness. It teaches that by letting go of our cravings and desires, we can achieve true happiness, which is found in wisdom and the ability to live in harmony with the present moment.