The Naga King’s Wisdom and Virtue: The Campeyya Jataka

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as a man from a poor family, and in his next life, he is reborn as a naga king, ruling a magnificent underwater realm. The story begins with two human kings who are locked in a perpetual war, with each one gaining and losing control of the other’s territory. After suffering defeat in a battle, one of the kings flees and plunges into a river, preferring to risk drowning rather than being captured.

A naga king who lives in the river sees the human king’s distress and, feeling compassion, uses his magical powers to bring him into his jeweled palace. The human king, in gratitude, agrees to the naga king’s offer to help him become the ruler of both kingdoms. After spending a week in the naga king’s palace, the human king defeats his rival and becomes the undisputed ruler. In thanks, the king builds a jeweled pavilion on the riverbank each year, where the naga king comes with his entourage to receive tribute.

The Bodhisatta, having seen the naga king’s wealth and magnificence during the annual festival, wishes to be reborn as a naga himself. His virtuous life and good karma result in him being reborn as a naga king in the next life. As a naga, he enjoys great wealth and opulence, being pampered by naga maidens. However, he becomes dissatisfied with the naga realm’s splendor and, yearning for a future human life, resolves to live righteously. Despite the distractions in his realm, he attempts to keep the holy-day vows but often fails due to the temptations around him. To avoid these temptations, he spends the holy days in the human realm atop an anthill, where he can meditate in peace.

During this time, the naga king warns his queen about the consequences of his capture. He tells her that if he is captured by a garuda, the water in their lucky pond will disappear, if captured by a snake charmer, the water will turn blood red, and if harmed, the water will become murky.

One day, a brahmin who knows a magical spell that controls the senses happens upon the naga king. The brahmin, hoping to make money by capturing and exhibiting the naga, uses the spell to subdue the Bodhisatta, who feels immense pain but resolves not to resist. The brahmin tortures the naga, breaking his body and stuffing him into a basket. He then travels from village to village, showing the naga off in exchange for money, and finally performs for the king in the capital.

When the naga’s queen sees the water in the pond turn red, she transforms into a human form and seeks her husband. After learning of his capture, she travels to the capital, arriving just as the performance for the king is happening. Upon seeing the Bodhisatta in distress, she tells the king of the injustice and begs for his release. The king offers the snake charmer a rich reward, but the brahmin, moved by the king’s offer, sets the Bodhisatta free without taking anything.

The Bodhisatta, now free, takes human form and, along with his queen, visits the king to show respect. To prove his story, the Bodhisatta invites the king to the naga realm, where the king and his entourage witness the splendor of the naga city, its walls made of precious jewels and golden towers. For a week, the king and his court enjoy the delights of the naga realm, including divine food and entertainment. Before leaving, the Bodhisatta allows the king to take as much treasure as he desires, and the king’s party departs laden with riches.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the Buddha used this Jataka to illustrate the importance of observing the holy-day vows, even when living a life of grandeur and temptation. He praised some lay followers for their commitment to the vows, telling them that, even when he had been a naga king, he had always observed these vows with integrity.

In this story, the characters represent earlier births of figures from the Buddha’s life:

• The snake charmer is an earlier incarnation of Devadatta, a disciple who later became the Buddha’s adversary and tried to harm him multiple times.
• The naga queen is an earlier incarnation of the Buddha’s wife.
• The king who befriended the Bodhisatta is an earlier incarnation of Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s closest and most revered disciples.

Moral of the Tale:

The Campeyya Jataka emphasizes several key moral lessons:

1. Righteousness and Self-Discipline: Despite the temptations of wealth and luxury in the naga realm, the Bodhisatta strives to live righteously and observes the holy-day vows. This demonstrates the importance of self-control and moral discipline in maintaining spiritual integrity, regardless of one’s circumstances.
2. Compassion and Generosity: The naga king’s kindness in rescuing the human king from the river and helping him become a powerful ruler serves as an example of how compassion and generosity can lead to great rewards. The Bodhisatta’s later actions also highlight the importance of kindness and compassion, as he offers his kingdom’s treasure freely to the human king.
3. The Importance of Patience and Endurance: The Bodhisatta’s patience during his capture and suffering shows the strength of character that comes from maintaining composure and not yielding to anger or resistance, even in the face of great pain and injustice.
4. The Power of Virtue in Shaping One’s Destiny: The Bodhisatta’s virtuous life in one birth influences his future rebirths, demonstrating the idea of karmic continuity. His wish to be reborn as a naga king is granted because of his past good actions, reinforcing the importance of living a righteous life.
5. Generosity and Wisdom of the Ruler: The king’s decision to release the Bodhisatta without taking a reward reflects wisdom and generosity. The king acts selflessly, showing that true leadership is rooted in justice, humility, and respect for others.

Through this story, the Buddha teaches about the power of moral discipline, the value of patience and compassion, and the transformative potential of righteous living.