The Monkey Prince and the Ogre: Tayodhamma Jataka

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a monkey living in a troop ruled by a king who feared being overthrown. To prevent any potential threats, the king castrated all newborn male monkeys with his teeth. When the Bodhisatta’s mother became pregnant with the king’s child, she fled the troop to protect her son and raised him alone.As the Bodhisatta grew up, he asked his mother about his father. She explained why she had left the troop and warned him that even now, his father would still kill him to protect his leadership. However, the Bodhisatta was confident in his own abilities and assured his mother that they need not be afraid.When they returned to the troop, the monkey king feigned happiness and hugged his son, but in reality, he attempted to crush the life out of him. The Bodhisatta, however, was too strong and did not get hurt. The king then hatched another plan to eliminate his son. He told the Bodhisatta that, since he was now old, it was time to pass on the throne to his son and sent him to a nearby lake to collect lotuses and water lilies in preparation for the coronation.Upon reaching the lake, the Bodhisatta noticed that the footprints on its bank only went down to the water and none came back, indicating that an ogre lived in the lake. Recognizing this as another assassination attempt by his father, the Bodhisatta devised a plan. He found a spot narrow enough to jump over the lake and grabbed some flowers during each leap, landing safely on the opposite bank.The ogre, impressed by the Bodhisatta’s dexterity, bravery, and resourcefulness, rose out of the water and praised him. Believing that hauling flowers was beneath such a great being, the ogre offered to carry them for the Bodhisatta.When the monkey king saw the Bodhisatta return with the ogre at his service, his heart burst into seven pieces, and he died from the shock and frustration. The other monkeys, recognizing the Bodhisatta’s superior qualities, made him their new king.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. The monkey king in the story was an earlier birth of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis. When the Buddha was advised that Devadatta had made plans to kill him, he told his disciples this story to illustrate that Devadatta had also tried to kill him in a past life.By sharing this story, the Buddha highlighted the recurring pattern of Devadatta’s malicious intentions and the Bodhisatta’s consistent ability to outwit and overcome such threats through his wisdom and resourcefulness.

Moral

The Tayodhamma Jataka teaches us about the importance of intelligence, bravery, and resourcefulness in overcoming adversity. The story emphasizes that even in the face of danger and deceit, one can protect oneself and achieve success through cleverness and determination. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to handle treacherous situations with wisdom and courage. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of using one’s faculties to protect oneself and others from harm, highlighting the transformative power of virtue and wisdom.