The Nalinika Jataka: Temptation, Virtue, and Redemption

The Nalinika Jataka (Jataka #526) tells the story of Isisinga, the son of a virtuous ascetic in the Himalayas, who falls prey to the seductive influence of a woman sent by Indra, the king of the gods. This Jataka explores the themes of temptation, moral integrity, redemption, and the importance of vigilance in maintaining one’s spiritual practices. It illustrates how external distractions can cause a fall from virtue, but also how self-awareness and repentance can restore one to the path of righteousness.

The Plot

The Birth and Training of Isisinga

The Bodhisatta, in a past life, is born as an ascetic in the Himalayas, living a life of strict discipline and meditation. One day, a deer drinks water that has been mixed with his semen, and, miraculously, the deer gives birth to a son, whom the Bodhisatta names Isisinga. The Bodhisatta raises Isisinga to follow the ascetic vows, teaching him mystic meditation and imparting wisdom about the dangers of sensual pleasures. He warns Isisinga to be wary of women, explaining that they can be the cause of ruin for those who cannot resist their allure.

Under the guidance of his father, Isisinga grows into a virtuous and powerful ascetic. He develops the five supernatural faculties and his meditation becomes so profound that the very home of Indra shakes in response to his spiritual energy. Indra, fearing that Isisinga’s spiritual power may one day surpass his own, becomes worried that when Isisinga dies, he might replace him as the ruler of the heavens.

Indra’s Plan to Disrupt Isisinga’s Virtue

Indra devises a plan to destroy Isisinga’s virtue. He causes a drought, leading to a famine in the kingdom. The people, desperate for relief, gather at the king’s palace and demand that the king do something to bring rain. The king, feeling powerless, takes moral vows and fasts, but still no rain falls.

One night, Indra appears in the king’s bedroom and falsely tells him that the drought is caused by an ascetic in the Himalayas, whose spiritual power is so strong that he can prevent the rain by simply looking at the sky in anger. Indra suggests that the king’s daughter, Nalinika, can seduce the ascetic and break his meditation, thus allowing the rain to return.

The king reluctantly agrees, and Nalinika sets off with a group of advisors, dressed as an ascetic, to find Isisinga. She arrives at the Bodhisatta’s dwelling while he is out gathering fruit.

Nalinika’s Seduction of Isisinga

When Nalinika meets Isisinga, he is initially taken aback, not knowing what to make of her presence. Having lived in isolation in the Himalayas and never encountering a woman before, he is completely unaware of her true nature. Nalinika convinces him that she is an ascetic living a holy life in a peaceful mountain retreat. Isisinga, believing her story, listens to her, and before long, Nalinika uses her charm to seduce him. His meditation is broken, and he loses his virtue.

After the act, Nalinika, knowing that the Bodhisatta will be angry when he returns and learn of what has happened, leaves hurriedly. Indra, seeing that his plan has worked, causes rain to fall and relieve the drought in the kingdom.

The Aftermath and Restoration

Once Nalinika leaves, Isisinga is struck by fever and finds himself unable to perform basic tasks such as fetching water, cutting wood, or lighting a fire. Realizing something is terribly wrong, he retires to his hut.

When the Bodhisatta returns and learns of the situation, Isisinga confesses his lapse in virtue. He tells his father that a “boy” (meaning Nalinika) visited him and aroused his passions, explaining how different their bodies were. He talks about how her touch caused a burning sensation, and they lay together on a bed of leaves. Isisinga, overwhelmed by guilt, asks his father to take him to the “boy’s” home immediately, fearing that if they do not meet again, he will die.

The Bodhisatta listens carefully and explains the folly of Isisinga’s actions. He warns him to be more vigilant in the future, reminding him of the dangers of sensual pleasures. Isisinga, feeling deep shame, apologizes and renews his commitment to the ascetic path. Through repentance and meditation, he restores his mystic insight and regains his spiritual power.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, the characters of Isisinga and Nalinika are identified as earlier births of one of the Buddha’s disciples and his former wife. This disciple had begun to miss his former life and was considering leaving the sangha. The Buddha shared the Nalinika Jataka with him to show that in his past life, his wife had almost led him astray, but he had overcome this temptation and remained steadfast on the path to salvation.

After hearing the Buddha’s story, the disciple gains new understanding and decides to remain in the sangha, choosing the path of spiritual progress over worldly attachments.

Themes and Moral Lessons

The Nalinika Jataka teaches several important lessons:

1. Temptation and Virtue: It highlights the power of temptation and how difficult it can be to maintain spiritual integrity when one is confronted by sensual desires. Isisinga’s fall from virtue demonstrates how even the most dedicated ascetics can be vulnerable to distractions.
2. Redemption and Repentance: The story also emphasizes that falling into temptation is not the end. Through self-awareness, repentance, and renewed commitment, one can restore their moral integrity and return to the spiritual path.
3. The Dangers of Ignorance: Isisinga’s initial ignorance about women and the world shows that ignorance can lead to mistakes, and that understanding the nature of the world is important in guarding against distractions and delusions.
4. Vigilance in Spiritual Practice: The Bodhisatta’s warning to Isisinga to always be cautious about distractions underscores the importance of vigilance in one’s spiritual practices, especially when striving for enlightenment.
5. The Impermanence of Sensual Pleasures: The story echoes the impermanence of all worldly things, including sensual pleasures, and encourages a focus on spiritual pursuits as the path to true happiness and liberation.

Overall, the Nalinika Jataka serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of virtue and the importance of mindfulness and self-discipline in maintaining one’s spiritual progress.