Samvara Jataka: Leadership, Wisdom, and Generosity in Ruling

In the Samvara Jataka, the Bodhisatta, in a previous life, served as a royal advisor. The king, whose youngest son, Prince Samvara, was his most promising heir, assigned the Bodhisatta to guide the prince in his education. As the king’s sons finished their studies, each was assigned a province to govern, except for Prince Samvara. The Bodhisatta, seeing great potential in the young prince, devised a plan to ensure he would one day ascend to the throne.

Instead of preparing for war or seeking immediate power, the Bodhisatta instructed the prince to stay at home, building relationships with the people by cultivating gardens, distributing food to the poor, offering lodging to messengers, and managing the wealth of the kingdom wisely. This approach won the prince the hearts of the people and the favor of influential men.

When the king neared death, his advisors, seeing all his sons as worthy, chose Prince Samvara as the next ruler. However, his ninety-nine brothers, believing the eldest should rule, surrounded the city and demanded his abdication or a battle for the throne. Instead of retaliating, Samvara followed the Bodhisatta’s advice once more. He divided the royal treasures into one hundred parts, sending each brother a portion. This act of generosity and wisdom pacified his brothers, who, realizing the prince’s magnanimity, gave up their claim to the throne, returned the treasures, and left in peace.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In a later life, one of the Buddha’s disciples, who had struggled to achieve deep meditation, became disheartened and decided to abandon his pursuit of enlightenment. After spending a rainy season meditating in the forest, he found no significant progress and returned to the monastery, content to remain at a moderate level of understanding rather than striving for deeper insight.

The Buddha, recognizing that this discouraged disciple was none other than the former King Samvara, shared the story of Samvara’s wisdom and generosity to inspire him. The Buddha reminded the disciple that in his past life, he had achieved great success through wise and selfless leadership, which led him to the throne. The story served as a reminder that just as Samvara had shown patience and persistence in his previous life, so too could the disciple achieve enlightenment by continuing on the path with effort and perseverance.

This narrative also connects the Buddha’s chief disciples to the story—Sariputta was the eldest prince who wanted the throne, and the other princes represented the Buddha’s other followers. The Buddha’s lay disciples were the citizens and subjects of Samvara’s kingdom, each playing a role in the larger story of wisdom and growth.

Moral Reflection: King Samvara’s story illustrates that true leadership is not gained through force but through wisdom, generosity, and the ability to unify people. By putting others’ needs first and acting selflessly, Samvara earned his kingdom’s love and respect. His willingness to avoid conflict and share resources, rather than clinging to power, ultimately made him a beloved king. This story serves as a reminder that leadership rooted in generosity and compassion will always prevail over greed and violence, and it encourages us to persevere in our personal journeys, just as King Samvara and the Buddha’s disciples did.