Queen Sumedha and King Suruci: Devotion, Patience, and Divine Reward

In a distant past, the Bodhisatta was born as Indra, the king of the gods. Two kings, who had been childhood friends, made a pact to marry their children to each other when they came of age. One of these kings, deeply devoted to his daughter, Sumedha, loved her dearly and wanted her happiness above all. So, when the time came for her engagement, he insisted that Sumedha should be the only wife of his friend’s son, Prince Suruci.

The other king, however, believed that a ruler as powerful as his son, Suruci, should have many wives—at least sixteen thousand. But Suruci, having heard of Sumedha’s incredible beauty and virtue, agreed to his father’s friend’s demand. After their marriage, Suruci ascended the throne and ruled justly, and he and Queen Sumedha lived happily.

Years passed, and the people grew concerned when Queen Sumedha failed to bear a child. They gathered in the palace courtyard and urged King Suruci to take more wives to ensure the kingdom would have an heir. King Suruci, however, stood firm in the promise he had made to his wife. Sumedha, though grateful for her husband’s loyalty, knew the people were right, and so she chose four thousand concubines for him.

Still, after another ten thousand years, there was no child. Sumedha, in her love and care for the kingdom, chose another four thousand women, and then again, four thousand more. This went on, and after fifty thousand years and sixteen thousand and one wives, King Suruci was still without a son.

Once more, the people urged King Suruci to seek divine help, and this time he agreed. He asked Queen Sumedha to pray, and she meditated deeply. The Bodhisatta, watching from his celestial realm, saw the queen’s sincerity and virtue. He decided that Sumedha deserved a son and sent a god of great merit to her womb.

When their son, Maha Panada, was born, the entire kingdom rejoiced. People brought gifts to ensure that the prince would never lack for anything. He was raised in the highest splendor and was perfect in every way. At the age of sixteen, King Suruci decided to pass the throne to his son. To mark this momentous occasion, he wished to build a magnificent new palace.

The Bodhisatta’s throne grew warm, and he sent Vissakamma, the chief celestial builder, to help in the task. Vissakamma, using his divine power, caused a palace to rise from the earth, a feat that astonished everyone.

The prince’s coronation, wedding, and palace blessing were held in grand celebration. The festivities lasted for seven years, but eventually, the people grew restless. They wanted the celebrations to end. King Suruci, however, told them that the festival would only end when his son laughed. Thousands of acrobats and jesters performed, but none could bring a smile to Prince Maha Panada’s face, for he remembered the divine entertainments from his past life in heaven.

Finally, the Bodhisatta sent a divine dancer, who performed the half-body dance—where only one hand, foot, eye, and tooth moved while the rest of the body remained still. This dance brought a small smile to the prince’s face, enough to satisfy King Suruci. The festival ended, marking the official passing of the crown. King Maha Panada ruled with wisdom, generosity, and righteousness, following in his father’s footsteps.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:
Queen Sumedha was a past life of Visakha, one of the Buddha’s foremost female lay supporters. One day, during a heavy rainstorm, Visakha invited the Buddha and his disciples to her home. The storm caused waist-deep flooding near the Buddha’s monastery. The Buddha, knowing it was his final worldwide storm, instructed his disciples to embrace the rain and get soaked. Then, through his miraculous powers, he transported everyone to Visakha’s home, arriving completely dry.

After the meal, Visakha expressed her wish to always support the Buddha’s disciples and those in need. In response, the Buddha granted her eight wishes, ensuring that she would fulfill them. Later, the Buddha told his disciples about Visakha’s past life as Queen Sumedha to show them that she had long been a virtuous supporter of the righteous path.

Maha Panada and Vissakamma, in this past life, were the previous incarnations of Bhaddaji and Ananda, two of the Buddha’s most esteemed disciples.

Moral:
This story teaches the value of unwavering devotion, both in love and in duty. It illustrates the importance of keeping promises, the patience required to achieve great results, and the divine reward that follows sincerity and virtuous actions. It also reminds us that true wisdom and leadership come from righteousness and a generous heart.