The Sammodamana Jataka: Quails Unite Against Danger

In a lush and vibrant forest, the Bodhisatta was once a quail, renowned as the leader of a vast flock of thousands of quails. This forest was also the hunting ground of a clever and cunning hunter, who lured the quails to their doom by imitating their call and then throwing his net over them.Determined to protect his flock, the Bodhisatta devised a clever plan. He instructed all the quails that if they were ever covered by the hunter’s net, they should stick their heads through the mesh and fly away together. Once airborne, they were to land the net on a thorn bush, ensuring it became so entangled that the hunter would spend the rest of the day trying to free it.The quails followed the Bodhisatta’s strategy to perfection. Every time the hunter threw his net, they would raise their heads, fly away with the net, and drop it on a thorn bush. This tactic not only saved their lives but also left the hunter frustrated and empty-handed. The hunter’s wife, displeased with his failures, criticized him harshly, but the hunter remained patient, knowing that the quails’ unity would eventually falter.One day, while the quails were feeding, a minor incident sparked a significant conflict. A quail accidentally stepped on another’s head, and despite apologies, the offended quail refused to forgive. The argument escalated, and soon the entire flock was embroiled in bickering. Recognizing that this conflict compromised their safety, the Bodhisatta decided to move his flock to a different part of the forest.However, the quails who remained behind were not so fortunate. When the hunter next cast his net, the entrapped quails argued over who should begin lifting the net, giving the hunter the opportunity to pick it up and capture them. The hunter’s patience had finally paid off, and he took the quails home to his wife, who was overjoyed at the prospect of a quail feast.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. When members of the Buddha’s Sakya clan were feuding with another clan they usually got along with, the Buddha shared this story to illustrate the destructive nature of quarreling. He reminded them that he had seen such conflicts lead to ruin in the past.The foolish quail who refused to forgive was revealed to be an earlier birth of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis due to his own quarrelsome and divisive nature.

Moral

The Sammodamana Jataka teaches us the importance of unity, cooperation, and forgiveness. The story highlights that when individuals work together and maintain harmony, they can overcome even the most formidable challenges. However, when conflict and bickering arise, it can lead to destruction and vulnerability. This tale serves as a reminder that unity is strength, and discord can be a path to downfall. The Buddha’s sharing of this story underscores the critical lesson that quarreling and lack of forgiveness can have severe consequences, both in personal and communal contexts.