The Sattigumba Jataka: The Tale of Two Parrots and the Lessons of Good and Evil

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as a parrot, the son of a parrot king living in a remote forest. Along with his brother, the Bodhisatta is swept away by a powerful whirlwind. The Bodhisatta lands in a monastery, where he is raised by ascetics, while his brother falls into a village of thieves, growing up amidst their corrupt ways.

The King’s Hunting Trip and the Parrot’s Deception:

The story takes a turn when the king, out hunting with a large group of people, fails to catch a deer that escapes before he can shoot it. Humiliated and mocked by his companions, the conceited king decides to chase the deer in his chariot, determined to capture it. After hours of pursuit, the king and his charioteer stop to rest in a valley near the thieves’ village. All the thieves are away, but the thieves’ cook and the parrot remain.

The parrot, having grown up in the thieves’ village, sees the king and, plotting harm, calls the cook over to help rob and kill the king. The king overhears their conversation from a distance and, waking his charioteer, quickly escapes before the plot can unfold.

A Lesson of Two Paths:

The king then arrives at the monastery where the Bodhisatta parrot is living. The Bodhisatta receives him warmly, offering him leaves and seeds to eat and cool water to drink. In their conversation, the king mentions the wicked parrot he had just encountered. The Bodhisatta reveals that he and the wicked parrot are brothers and that their different lives reflect the environments in which they were raised: one in a monastery where kindness and self-control are taught, and the other in a thieves’ village where violence and deceit prevail.

This insight into the contrasting lives of the two brothers serves as a powerful lesson to the king. Deeply moved, the king invites the ascetics to live under his care in the royal park and declares immunity for all parrots in his kingdom. He provides for the ascetics’ needs until his death, and his descendants continue to support the parrot monastery for seven generations.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The wicked parrot, who had plotted against the king, is identified as Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis. Devadatta tried to harm the Buddha in several ways, including by hurling a large rock at him from a mountaintop. Though the rock was blocked by two outcrops, a splinter struck the Buddha’s foot, causing great pain. This incident is significant as it shows Devadatta’s ongoing malice and his association with wicked people.

When the Buddha heard his disciples discussing how Devadatta surrounded himself with such evil company, he shared this story, demonstrating that this was not the first time Devadatta had aligned himself with sin and cruelty.

The King and the Ascetics:

The king in the story is identified as an earlier incarnation of Ananda, the Buddha’s loyal cousin and one of his chief disciples. The band of ascetics, who the king supports and who serve as a counterpoint to the thieves, are earlier births of the Buddha’s followers, emphasizing the transformative power of good associations.

Moral of the Tale:

The Sattigumba Jataka teaches several important lessons:

1. The Power of Environment: The contrasting lives of the two parrot brothers underscore the importance of one’s environment and upbringing in shaping character. The Bodhisatta’s life in a monastery promotes kindness, wisdom, and self-control, while his brother’s life in a thieves’ village breeds deceit and violence.
2. Good Company and Righteousness: The king’s decision to support the ascetics and provide for them symbolizes the transformative effect of good company. By associating with the wise and virtuous, the king not only learns valuable lessons but also helps to create an environment that nurtures righteousness.
3. The Consequences of Sin: The story also warns about the consequences of associating with evil and the dangers of malice, as embodied by Devadatta’s evil actions against the Buddha. Just as the wicked parrot plans harm against the king, Devadatta’s harmful actions eventually lead to his downfall.
4. Support for the Noble Path: The king’s long-term support for the ascetics and his provision for the parrot monastery reflect the importance of sustaining virtuous practices and fostering environments where wisdom and compassion can flourish.

In sum, this Jataka teaches that our choices, associations, and environments deeply influence our actions, and that through cultivating goodness and supporting virtuous communities, we can achieve spiritual transformation.