Samudda-Vanija Jataka: Wisdom, Greed, and the Consequences of Ignorance

The Samudda-Vanija Jataka tells the story of the Bodhisatta’s previous life as a carpenter living in a village with a thousand other carpenter families. These families had developed a reputation for taking deposits for work—such as building beds and houses—and then failing to complete the jobs. The carpenters, constantly harassed by their creditors, decided to escape their troubles by building a ship and sailing away under the cover of night. After an arduous journey, they reached a remote island in the middle of the sea, a place full of natural abundance with rice, sugarcane, coconut, and many other fruits growing wild.

Though the island seemed like a paradise, the carpenters were initially fearful of demons that supposedly haunted it. Seven brave men, armed for defense, explored the island before the others disembarked. They encountered a man who had been living on the island for some time. The man appeared wild and unkempt, covered in a long beard and hair, and the carpenters feared he was a goblin. The man, seeing their fear, assured them he was a human and explained that the island was a perfect place to live. There was no need for work or labor since all their necessities grew naturally. However, he warned them of a single danger: the demons who haunted the island despised excrement, and if the humans failed to bury their waste, the demons would punish them.

The carpenters, relieved, settled into their new home and lived a carefree life. They grew strong and healthy, and over time, they began to distill liquor from sugarcane and engage in various pleasures, like singing, dancing, and playing games. However, their indulgence in drinking led many of them to forget the rule about burying their waste. Over time, the island became fouled with human excrement.

The demons, enraged by the violation of their territory, decided to flood the island on the next full moon to punish the inhabitants. One compassionate demon, concerned for the humans, rose in the northern sky, blazing with light, and warned the carpenters of the impending flood. He told them they must leave the island within two weeks to avoid destruction. However, another demon, one who wanted the humans to perish, appeared in the southern sky and told the carpenters that the northern demon was lying. There was no danger, he assured them, and they should ignore the warning.

The carpenters had two leaders: one wise and good (the Bodhisatta) and one foolish and greedy. Five hundred families followed the Bodhisatta, while the other five hundred families followed the foolish leader. The foolish leader, disregarding the warning, told his followers that there was nothing to fear and that the island was a paradise. The Bodhisatta, however, advised his followers to prepare a ship, just in case the flood did come. His followers agreed, and while they worked on the ship, the other families mocked them, confident that the flood would never happen.

On the night of the full moon, the Bodhisatta and his followers stood ready in their ship, packed with their belongings. As the moon rose, the water began to rise as well, but the followers of the foolish leader remained unconcerned, thinking the water would not get any higher. As the flood waters continued to rise, the Bodhisatta’s ship set sail, leaving the island behind. The flood eventually submerged the entire island, reaching up to seven palm trees deep, and all those who had stayed behind perished.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In a later life, Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha, was the incarnation of the greedy carpenter who ignored the warnings and perished in the flood. Devadatta, once a prominent disciple of the Buddha, became his rival and sought to overthrow him. He eventually left the Buddha’s community, taking many followers with him, and declared himself a Buddha. In this later life, Devadatta’s greed and disregard for the Buddha’s teachings led to his downfall.

The Buddha sent two of his top disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, to preach to Devadatta’s followers. While Devadatta slept, most of his followers returned to the Buddha’s fold. Devadatta, in great anguish over the loss of his followers, remembered the Buddha’s compassion and virtuous character. He decided to reconcile with the Buddha and asked his followers to carry him on a stretcher to the Buddha’s monastery. However, as Devadatta journeyed toward the Buddha, he was struck by a fever and asked to be set down to bathe and drink. As soon as he stepped on the ground, the earth opened up beneath him, and flames from hell consumed him and the five hundred families who had followed him.

The Buddha later shared this story with his disciples to show them how Devadatta’s greed and disregard for the future led to his destruction in both his past and present lives.

Moral Reflection:

The Samudda-Vanija Jataka teaches several important lessons about the dangers of greed, the importance of heeding wise counsel, and the consequences of ignoring warnings about the future. The Bodhisatta’s decision to prepare for the worst, even when it seemed unlikely, demonstrated wisdom and foresight. Those who followed the foolish leader, by contrast, were led to destruction by their ignorance and greed.

This Jataka also mirrors the story of Devadatta’s downfall in the Buddha’s lifetime. Devadatta’s greed for power and his refusal to listen to the Buddha ultimately led to his spiritual ruin. The contrast between the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and Devadatta’s greed highlights the significance of looking beyond immediate pleasures and considering long-term consequences.

Ultimately, the Samudda-Vanija Jataka emphasizes the importance of wisdom, preparation, and humility. It teaches that ignoring wise advice and indulging in present pleasures without regard for the future can lead to disaster, while those who remain thoughtful and cautious will find security and peace.