Pancagaru Jataka: Wisdom and Resisting Temptation

The Pancagaru Jataka is a story that highlights the themes of wisdom, discipline, and the ability to resist temptation in the pursuit of higher goals. This Jataka tale recounts the Bodhisatta’s past life as a prince who, through steadfastness and self-control, overcame significant challenges to become a wise and just king. It also parallels the Buddha’s own experiences of resisting the temptations of Mara’s daughters shortly after his enlightenment.

The Story:

In the Pancagaru Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as the youngest of a king’s one hundred sons. He is curious about his future and asks a group of private Buddhas—those who attain enlightenment on their own without teaching the path to others—whether he will ever become king. The Buddhas, after some contemplation, tell him that he will never rule in his own city. However, they offer him a chance: if he can journey to Taxila, a distant city two thousand leagues away, and withstand the temptations of ogresses who inhabit the route, he will be crowned king there. The ogresses, who are known for their beauty and charm, lure men into their grasp before devouring them.

Determined to prove himself, the Bodhisatta sets out on the dangerous journey with five of his royal courtiers, who admire him greatly and insist on accompanying him, despite the warnings of the ogresses. The private Buddhas give him a charmed thread and some enchanted sand to protect him along the way.

As they travel, the ogresses begin to work their magic, using their seductive powers to tempt the courtiers. One by one, the courtiers give in to temptation, falling behind the group to indulge in the pleasures offered by the ogresses. Eventually, they are killed and eaten by the ogresses. Despite the danger, the Bodhisatta remains resolute, and he continues on the path alone.

Along the way, one ogress follows the Bodhisatta, pretending to be his wife. She tries to deceive those they meet, claiming that they are a married couple. When the Bodhisatta confronts her and exposes her as a murderous ogress, she responds by claiming that he is only angry with her, and her charm convinces everyone they meet to believe her story.

Upon reaching Taxila, the king, upon seeing the ogress’s beauty, disregards the Bodhisatta’s warnings and invites her to stay in the finest room of the palace. That evening, after the king falls asleep, the ogress rushes back to her city and brings the other ogres with her. They devour everyone in the palace—human and animal alike—leaving nothing but bones behind.

In the morning, when the people break into the palace and see the destruction, they realize that the Bodhisatta had been right about the ogress’s true nature. The Bodhisatta, having been the only one to resist her, is hailed as a noble, steadfast, and wise individual. The people of Taxila crown him as their king.

As the new king, the Bodhisatta is given a majestic throne and a palace fit for royalty. His rule is marked by righteousness and charity. As he observes the grandeur of his new life, he reflects on how his steadfastness and resistance to the temptations along the journey led to his success. Had he succumbed to the ogress’s charms, none of this would have been possible. He rules wisely for the rest of his life, ever mindful of the lessons of perseverance and self-control.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The Buddha tells this story to his disciples as a way to illustrate his own resistance to temptation. Some of the disciples had been discussing the time shortly after the Buddha’s enlightenment, when the daughters of Mara, the demon who represents the forces of desire and distraction, tried to seduce him. Just as the Bodhisatta in this Jataka resisted the ogresses’ temptations, the Buddha resisted Mara’s daughters’ advances and thus secured his spiritual victory.

The Buddha uses this story to remind his followers that he had also successfully resisted lust and the allure of worldly desires in a past life, earning his own “kingdom” through his discipline and inner strength. While the Buddha does not identify other individuals’ past lives in this Jataka, it serves as a reminder of the power of self-mastery and the importance of steadfastness in the face of temptation.

Moral Lessons:

1. The Power of Resisting Temptation: One of the central messages of the Pancagaru Jataka is the importance of resisting temptations, especially those that distract us from our higher goals. The Bodhisatta’s ability to remain steadfast, despite the seductive charms of the ogresses, demonstrates the strength of character that leads to true success and wisdom.
2. Wisdom and Discernment: The Bodhisatta’s wisdom is evident in his ability to recognize the danger of the ogresses early on and to warn others. His refusal to be swayed by beauty and charm shows the importance of discernment in the face of deceptive appearances. True wisdom involves looking beyond surface allure and making decisions based on long-term good.
3. The Rewards of Perseverance: The Bodhisatta’s journey is long and fraught with peril, but his perseverance ultimately leads to his success. This highlights the importance of patience, tenacity, and a commitment to one’s principles. In the end, the Bodhisatta’s unwavering focus on his goal—becoming king of Taxila—pays off, and he is rewarded with both material wealth and spiritual respect.
4. The Dangers of Desire: The story also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of desire and how it can lead to destruction. The ogresses, embodying lust and craving, entice the courtiers to abandon their duties and indulge in their desires, leading to their deaths. This mirrors the way Mara’s daughters, in the Buddha’s story, represent distractions that could have prevented his enlightenment.
5. Righteous Rule: Upon becoming king, the Bodhisatta rules with righteousness and charity. His ability to resist the temptations of the ogresses reflects his inner strength, and this strength allows him to govern wisely and justly. His story shows that moral integrity and self-control are key to good leadership.

Conclusion:

The Pancagaru Jataka is a powerful tale about the importance of resisting temptation and staying true to one’s purpose. Through the Bodhisatta’s example, the story teaches us the value of wisdom, perseverance, and the strength to remain disciplined in the face of worldly allure. By overcoming the seductive distractions of the ogresses, the Bodhisatta earns a kingdom both materially and spiritually, demonstrating that true success comes from inner strength and moral clarity. This tale serves as a reminder of the Buddha’s own victory over Mara’s temptations and provides an inspiring model for those striving to live with integrity and wisdom.