Maha-Paduma Jataka: The Triumph of Truth and Righteousness

In the Maha-Paduma Jataka, the Bodhisatta, in a previous life, was a righteous prince loved by all who knew him. When his mother passed away, his father, the king, remarried a new queen. The new queen, soon after, tried to seduce the prince, but he rejected her advances, remaining steadfast in his commitment to virtue. The queen, angry at being spurned, sought revenge. She falsely accused the prince of assaulting her and, in a fit of rage, told the king that the prince had demanded sex and physically harmed her when she refused.

The king, easily deceived by the queen’s lies, became enraged and immediately ordered the prince to be punished. Without investigating, he ordered the prince to be bound and thrown off the thieves’ cliff, a brutal form of execution. The entire city mourned, and many citizens, including nobles and warriors, voiced their disbelief, questioning the king’s wisdom in condemning his own son without proof.

Despite the king’s harsh decision, the Bodhisatta was miraculously saved. The spirit of the hill, who dwelled near the cliff, caught the prince in midair before he struck the ground and transported him to the home of a naga king, where he was treated with great respect and honor. The Bodhisatta spent a year living in this peaceful refuge, away from the turmoil of the human world.

One day, a forester from the city, unaware of the prince’s fate, came across the Bodhisatta living as an ascetic in the Himalayas. After spending time with him, the forester returned to the city and informed the king that his son was alive. The king, now less angry and filled with regret, set out to find his son.

Upon their reunion, the prince welcomed the king warmly. The king, full of remorse, invited the Bodhisatta to return to the kingdom and take the throne. But the Bodhisatta, content with his ascetic life, declined. He criticized his father’s actions, urging him to abandon evil deeds and embrace the ten royal virtues—values of wisdom, morality, and compassion that would lead to righteous rule.

The king, now understanding the error of his ways, returned to his palace in tears, asking his advisors who had encouraged him to try to kill his own son. The advisors informed him that it was his wicked queen who had caused all the trouble. In response, the king ordered that the queen be thrown over the cliff, as punishment for her deceit and manipulation. From then on, the king ruled justly and followed the righteous path.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The Maha-Paduma Jataka is told in the Buddha’s lifetime to demonstrate the Bodhisatta’s long history of moral wisdom and his commitment to righteousness, even when faced with betrayal and hardship. The story also serves as an example of the power of truth and patience in overcoming adversity.

In the time of the Buddha, some heretics became frustrated with the Buddha’s rising fame and the increasing number of followers he was gathering. They hired a beautiful woman named Cinca-Manavika to destroy the Buddha’s reputation. Cinca-Manavika devised a scheme where she pretended to be pregnant with the Buddha’s child, hoping to ruin his image.

For months, she staged a false pregnancy, wrapping cloth around her belly and even using pieces of wood to create a fake, swollen stomach. Eventually, she went to the Buddha’s monastery, publicly cursing him for having a sweet voice but poor behavior, accusing him of denying responsibility for the child. Her deceit was believed by some people, but when Indra, the king of the gods, learned of the falsehood, he sent four other gods disguised as mice to gnaw through the ropes that held her fake belly. As the ropes broke, the wood fell down, exposing her deceit and causing her to flee in disgrace. The ground opened up, and flames from hell dragged her away, symbolizing the consequences of her falsehood.

In this story, Cinca-Manavika represents the wicked queen from the earlier Jataka, who tried to destroy the Bodhisatta’s reputation with lies. After the woman’s deceit was revealed, the Buddha told his disciples this story to show them that the wicked queen’s attempts to ruin him were not new. In fact, it had happened before, in many past lives.

Moral Reflection:

The Maha-Paduma Jataka teaches the power of truth, patience, and righteousness in the face of betrayal. The Bodhisatta’s ability to withstand false accusations and remain virtuous, even when wronged by those closest to him, demonstrates that spiritual strength is not just about personal power or status, but about adhering to moral principles no matter the challenges.

When the Bodhisatta chooses to live an ascetic life rather than rule as a king, it is a demonstration of humility and contentment in the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment. Despite the king’s offer to return to the throne, the Bodhisatta seeks a higher path—one of peace, wisdom, and moral integrity. This refusal to embrace power is a lesson in the impermanence of material wealth and worldly success.

Furthermore, the story shows the importance of wise leadership. The king, initially swayed by his queen’s lies, ultimately learns the value of righteous rule after realizing his mistakes and seeking his son’s guidance. His eventual repentance and commitment to governing justly highlight the transformative power of wisdom and remorse.

Finally, the story of Cinca-Manavika reveals that deceit and false accusations will ultimately be exposed, and that truth always prevails. It reminds us that in the end, the light of truth cannot be hidden by lies, and those who live by deception will face the consequences of their actions.

Final Takeaway:

The Maha-Paduma Jataka is a powerful tale about the resilience of righteousness and truth in the face of betrayal. It teaches us that even when wronged, virtuous conduct will guide one through adversity, and that wisdom, patience, and honesty are the true paths to spiritual liberation. Through humility, contentment, and a commitment to moral values, the Bodhisatta exemplifies the qualities of a true spiritual leader, one who transcends the temptations of power and wealth to seek higher, more lasting peace.