The Khadirangara Jataka: The Royal Treasurer’s Generosity

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a royal treasurer who lived a life of luxury but was deeply committed to keeping the precepts and practicing generosity. One day, a private Buddha, who had attained enlightenment on his own but did not teach others, emerged from a seven-day trance and came to the Bodhisatta’s palace seeking morning alms.However, the demon Mara, the enemy of all that is good, sought to prevent the private Buddha from receiving alms, believing that if he did not eat that morning, he would die. To thwart the Bodhisatta’s intentions, Mara conjured up a deep pit of flaming coal inside the palace.Undeterred by this obstacle, the Bodhisatta recognized it as a ploy by Mara and vowed not to let it succeed. With a bowl of food for the private Buddha, he bravely walked into the fiery pit. Miraculously, a large lotus rose up under his feet, protecting him from the flames. The Bodhisatta then placed the offering into the private Buddha’s bowl, and the latter rose into the air and flew away on a track made of clouds. Defeated, Mara vanished into his own realm.Standing victorious on the lotus, the Bodhisatta preached to those around him about the virtue of giving alms and following the precepts, emphasizing the importance of generosity and faith.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life, particularly through his wealthy and generous supporter, Anathapindika. Anathapindika, known for his extreme generosity, had a fairy living over the fourth gateway of his massive palace. This fairy, who was not a follower of the Buddha, was annoyed by the frequent visits of the Buddha and his elder disciples, which required her and her children to come down to the ground floor to pay respect.Despite Anathapindika’s fall into poverty due to his neglect of his business in favor of helping others, he continued to give what he could to the Buddha’s sangha. The fairy, seeing an opportunity to change his mind, appeared before him and implored him to stop donating to the Buddha and instead think of his future and his family. However, Anathapindika, whose faith in the Buddha never wavered, was incensed by her words and kicked her and her children out of the palace.Homeless and seeking to return, the fairy asked several gods for help, but they refused due to her wicked words. Indra, the king of the gods, suggested a way for her to earn Anathapindika’s forgiveness: she should help him recover his delinquent loans and find his missing treasure chests using her supernatural powers.The fairy followed Indra’s advice, placing a fortune in Anathapindika’s treasury and then seeking forgiveness. She confessed her past actions, recognizing the Buddha’s infinite virtue and seeking atonement. Anathapindika welcomed her conversion but wanted her to request his pardon in the presence of the Buddha.At the monastery, the fairy confessed her sins to the Buddha, who preached that to bad people, sin looks good before it ripens, and to virtuous people, goodness feels like sin before it ripens. The fairy apologized and asked for forgiveness, which both the Buddha and Anathapindika granted.Anathapindika, proud of his unwavering dedication to the Buddha, began to speak highly of himself. However, the Buddha corrected him, explaining that his dedication was not a great accomplishment in the lifetime of a perfect Buddha. To illustrate this point, the Buddha shared the story of his own earlier birth as the royal treasurer, highlighting the extraordinary faith and generosity he had shown even in the absence of a perfect Buddha to guide him.

Moral

The Khadirangara Jataka teaches us about the power of faith, generosity, and the unwavering commitment to virtue. The story highlights that true greatness lies not in the presence of external guides but in the internal strength and conviction to act virtuously. The Bodhisatta’s bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity serve as a powerful example of the rewards of living a life of integrity and generosity. This tale also underscores the importance of recognizing and atoning for past wrongs, as seen in the fairy’s journey towards forgiveness and redemption.