The Story of the Bodhisatta as Prince Khandahala

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as a crown prince. His father, the king, has a chaplain whom he highly values and appoints as a judge, despite the chaplain’s corrupt behavior, including accepting bribes and cheating people in his court. One day, a wronged man—who had been cheated out of justice by the chaplain—approaches the Bodhisatta. The man pleads for help, explaining that despite paying a bribe, he had lost his case.

The Bodhisatta, moved by compassion, takes the man’s case to heart. He judges it fairly, finding in the man’s favor and granting him the disputed property. The king, hearing the applause from the courtroom after the Bodhisatta’s ruling, appoints him as judge in place of the chaplain. Enraged by this loss of power and income from bribes, the chaplain plots to have the Bodhisatta killed.

The King’s Desperation for Heaven

The king, having had a dream of heaven, seeks advice from his chaplain on how to reach that divine realm. Seizing the opportunity to eliminate the Bodhisatta, the chaplain tells the king that to enter heaven, the king must perform a fourfold sacrifice, involving the slaughter of four of each type of living creature—humans, bulls, birds, and so on. He also suggests the killing of the king’s family, including his wives, sons, and daughters, along with four leading merchants. The king, desperate to reach heaven, agrees to the chaplain’s plan, and preparations for the sacrifice begin.

The Plea for Mercy and the Bodhisatta’s Patience

As the sacrificial pit is dug, the king’s family and the merchants are detained, filled with dread and sorrow. Citizens protest in the streets, and the king’s parents beg him to reconsider. They explain that killing will lead them to hell, not heaven, but the king refuses to listen. Instead, he trusts the chaplain’s advice and pushes forward with the gruesome plan. The Bodhisatta, knowing that the chaplain seeks revenge for losing his position as judge, feels a deep sense of duty to stop the killing.

Despite his own inner turmoil, the Bodhisatta remains patient, reasoning that the lives of many innocent people are at stake. He and others appeal to the king, asking him to reconsider. The Bodhisatta suggests that if the sacrifice is indeed the way to heaven, then let the chaplain begin with his own family. Despite his patience and appeals, the king listens to the chaplain’s angry demands and repeatedly rescinds his decision to release the prisoners, only to be swayed back by the chaplain’s pressure.

The Chaplain’s Plot and Divine Intervention

The Bodhisatta is the first victim chosen to be killed. As the chaplain stands over him with a sword, the chief queen makes a solemn declaration of truth, asking for divine intervention. Indra, the king of the gods, hears her plea and, seeing the injustice of the situation, appears on earth. In a display of power, Indra frightens the king with a blazing mass of iron, causing the king to release all the prisoners.

The citizens, enraged by the chaplain’s actions, stone him to death, and they attempt to kill the king as well. However, Indra intervenes again, stopping the mob from harming the king. Instead, the king is banished to an untouchable settlement, and the Bodhisatta inherits the throne.

Although the Bodhisatta never forgives his father for his actions, he still provides for him during the remainder of his life.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

The chaplain in the story is identified as an earlier birth of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis. Devadatta’s jealousy and desire to take over the leadership of the Sangha mirror the chaplain’s own motivations to eliminate the Bodhisatta.

Devadatta, with the help of King Ajatasattu, who had murdered his own father to gain the throne, hires thirty-one archers to kill the Buddha. Devadatta sends one archer with a poisoned arrow to ensure the Buddha’s death, but the archer, filled with fear, cannot carry out the murder. The Buddha, sensing the danger, speaks to the archer, and the man falls at his feet, confessing his orders. The Buddha forgives him and teaches him the Dharma.

The Buddha later meets the other archers, teaching them the Dharma as well. In the end, all the archers are spared and eventually become arahants.

When the Buddha’s disciples discussed this episode, he told them this story to show that Devadatta had attempted to kill him before, just as he had tried to do in his past life as the chaplain in the Khandahala Jataka.

Moral of the Tale

The Khandahala Jataka teaches the importance of patience (khanti) in the face of cruelty and injustice. The Bodhisatta exemplifies how patience and forbearance are powerful virtues in overcoming adversity, and how one can remain steadfast in moral principles even when facing great personal danger. The story also emphasizes the value of compassion and wisdom, as the Bodhisatta, though wronged, chooses to act with patience and mercy, ultimately saving many lives.

The tale also reflects on the dangers of greed, jealousy, and anger, as embodied by the chaplain (Devadatta), who resorts to violence and manipulation to achieve his desires. It teaches that these negative qualities lead not only to personal downfall but also to the suffering of others.

Finally, the story underscores the transformative power of Dharma, as even those who might have been enemies in past lives can be taught and redeemed, as shown by the archers who ultimately become the Buddha’s disciples.