The Maccha Jataka: The Fish and the Chaplain’s Wisdom

In a serene and ancient kingdom, the Bodhisatta was once a king’s chaplain, a wise and compassionate advisor to the monarch. One day, while the Bodhisatta was at the river to bathe, he witnessed a poignant scene that would test his wisdom and kindness.A large fish, deeply in love with his wife, was swimming playfully in the river. However, in the midst of their affectionate interaction, the fish’s wife noticed a fisherman casting his net. She quickly swam around the net to safety but did not warn her husband, who was too engrossed in their playful moment to notice the danger. The fisherman’s net ensnared the fish, and he was tossed onto the sand, destined to be cooked.As the fisherman went to light a fire, the fish began to lament his fate, but not for the reason one might expect. He was not upset about his impending death; rather, he was worried that his wife might think he had run off with another fish. This concern filled him with distress and passion, a state that the Bodhisatta knew would lead to a rebirth in hell if the fish died in such a condition.Moved by pity for the fish, the Bodhisatta intervened. He asked the fisherman if he could take the fish as the daily contribution to the palace. The fisherman agreed, and the Bodhisatta sat on the riverbank, preaching to the fish about the dangers of being a slave to passion. He urged the fish to let go of his attachment and desires, ensuring that if he were to die, he would do so in a state of calm and clarity.After his sermon, the Bodhisatta threw the fish back into the river, giving him a second chance at life and a lesson in the importance of controlling one’s passions.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. The two fish in the story were earlier incarnations of one of the Buddha’s disciples and the disciple’s former wife. When the disciple began to long for his former wife, the Buddha shared this story to remind him that she was ultimately harmful to him. The Buddha explained that, just as he had saved the fish from his passionate state in a previous life, he was now saving the disciple from the potential harm of his former wife’s influence.

Moral

The Maccha Jataka teaches us the importance of controlling our passions and desires. The story highlights that being enslaved by passion can lead to suffering and negative consequences, even in the afterlife. The Bodhisatta’s act of saving the fish and preaching to him underscores the value of wisdom, compassion, and the need to cultivate a calm and detached mind. This tale serves as a reminder that true freedom and peace come from mastering one’s emotions and desires, rather than being controlled by them.