The Rajovada Jataka: Lessons in Fair Leadership

The Rajovada Jataka focuses on the virtues of impartiality and self-improvement, as well as the wisdom of righteous leadership. It highlights the importance of honesty and the value of seeking constructive criticism to become a better leader. The story also underscores the theme of justice in leadership, showing how the righteous king, the Bodhisatta, embodies true fairness and how partiality can be a flaw in even the most well-meaning rulers.

The Story:

In this Jataka tale, the Bodhisatta is reborn as the King of Varanasi. He is portrayed as a wise, just, and righteous ruler, loved by his subjects. However, despite his exemplary rule, the Bodhisatta is keen to improve himself further, particularly in understanding his own shortcomings. He makes a practice of asking his subjects, from his closest advisors to ordinary citizens, to point out any faults or areas where he might improve.

Surprisingly, no one is willing to offer any criticism, and the Bodhisatta concludes that perhaps the people are afraid to speak out against him. To remedy this, he decides to leave the city in disguise and journey through the countryside, hoping to meet ordinary people who might be more willing to speak honestly.

However, once again, the Bodhisatta hears nothing but praise from everyone he meets, even those living in the border regions of the kingdom. The people all speak of his virtues and goodness, yet none offer the constructive feedback he seeks.

On his way home, the Bodhisatta’s carriage encounters another, and the two drivers find that the narrow road won’t allow them to pass each other. The other carriage belongs to the King of Kosala, another righteous ruler, who is also traveling in the countryside. The two drivers argue over who should give way, as both kings are equally honorable, wealthy, and powerful, making it difficult to determine who deserves precedence.

In their debate, the driver of the King of Kosala explains that his king does good to good people but bad to bad people. The Bodhisatta’s driver counters that the King of Varanasi does good to everyone, regardless of their actions, showing that his king is truly superior in character.

The King of Kosala acknowledges his flaw and, after receiving the advice, instructs his driver to move aside so the Bodhisatta can pass. The Bodhisatta, in turn, advises the King of Kosala to act with impartiality and treat both good and bad people equally, just as he does.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The story takes on further significance in the lifetime of the Buddha. One day, the King of Kosala, who is a supporter of the Buddha, arrives at the Buddha’s residence later than usual. The Buddha asks him why he is so late, and the king replies that he had been presiding over a difficult and complicated court case that took a long time to resolve.

The Buddha then explains that judging people with justice and impartiality is the key to attaining heaven. He tells the king that ruling justly and impartially is no great feat in the time of a perfect Buddha, since the Buddha’s teachings provide clear guidance. However, the Buddha emphasizes that it was much more impressive for the King of Kosala to have judged justly in the past life (when the Buddha was not yet present in the world) than it was for him to do so now, when he has the benefit of living with a Buddha.

The Buddha then shares the story of the Bodhisatta, the King of Kosala, and their drivers in their previous lives to demonstrate that good judgment and fairness were virtues even in past incarnations. The King of Kosala, the Bodhisatta, and their respective drivers were all earlier births of three of the Buddha’s chief disciples:

• Ananda, the Buddha’s cousin and personal attendant, was the driver of the King of Kosala.
• Moggallana, one of the foremost disciples of the Buddha, was the Bodhisatta’s driver.
• Sariputta, another of the Buddha’s chief disciples, was the other driver.

The Moral Lessons:

1. The Value of Impartiality: One of the key lessons of this Jataka is the importance of impartiality in leadership. The King of Varanasi (the Bodhisatta) is shown to be truly virtuous because he treats everyone equally, regardless of their station or behavior. By contrast, the King of Kosala’s tendency to reward only good people and punish bad people reflects a more partial approach to leadership. The story teaches that true justice comes from treating all people fairly, regardless of their actions.
2. The Importance of Seeking Honest Feedback: The Bodhisatta’s quest to find someone who would offer him constructive criticism highlights the importance of self-awareness in leadership. A wise ruler, like the Bodhisatta, is open to criticism and seeks to improve himself. The story encourages leaders to listen to those around them, especially when they are in positions of power, and to be open to feedback for the sake of personal growth.
3. Self-Improvement and Humility: Even as a wise and just king, the Bodhisatta is humble enough to recognize that he has room for improvement. His willingness to seek out flaws, even at the cost of discomfort or embarrassment, sets an example for leaders everywhere. The story encourages leaders to remain humble, self-aware, and willing to grow in their roles.
4. The Dangers of Partiality: The King of Kosala’s behavior illustrates the flaw of partiality—favoring certain groups or individuals while neglecting others. The Bodhisatta’s advice to treat both good and bad people equally reveals that true goodness lies in impartiality and fairness, especially when making decisions that affect others.
5. The Power of Example and Advice: The Bodhisatta’s counsel to the King of Kosala, advising him to be more impartial, proves to be wise and transformative. The story teaches that wise advice can have a powerful impact on those who are willing to listen and learn. The Bodhisatta’s ability to influence the King of Kosala highlights the importance of sharing wisdom and offering guidance to others in leadership positions.
6. Karmic Continuity: The story also serves as a reflection of the continuity of virtue across lifetimes. The Bodhisatta, the King of Kosala, and their drivers, who were reborn as the Buddha’s disciples, show that the virtues they developed in past lives—such as impartiality, fairness, and wisdom—carried over into their current incarnations. This demonstrates the Buddhist belief in the accumulation of merit and spiritual progress over time.

Conclusion:

The Rajovada Jataka highlights the virtues of impartiality, humility, and self-improvement in leadership. Through the Bodhisatta’s quest for honest feedback, the story emphasizes that even the wisest rulers can benefit from seeking out criticism and striving to improve. The story also teaches that true goodness in leadership comes from treating all people fairly, without bias or partiality, and offering wise counsel to others. Finally, it reflects on the continuity of virtues across lifetimes, demonstrating how wisdom and goodness can manifest in different forms, from kings to the Buddha’s disciples.