The Selfish King and the Queen’s Redemption

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a wise advisor to a king. The king, fearing his son, had banished him to a distant village. However, when the king died, the son returned to claim the throne. On his way back to the capital, a kind person gave him some curry with rice, advising him to share it with his wife. But the prince, feeling selfish, ate the entire meal himself, leaving his wife upset and disappointed.

Once he became king, he made her his queen consort, but his behavior worsened. He completely neglected her, indulging in pleasures with other women, leaving her lonely and disrespected. The queen, though patient, suffered greatly from his neglect.

The Bodhisatta, feeling sympathy for the queen, decided to intervene. He approached her and asked why she did not share food or gifts with the royal court. The queen explained that her husband gave her nothing, not even a share of food when they were traveling. She told the Bodhisatta that when her husband had received food on the road, he ate it all himself and showed her the empty pot, lying that he had received nothing.

The Bodhisatta advised the queen to give an honest and direct answer when asked the same question in the presence of the king. Later, the Bodhisatta once again asked the queen why she was not generous to the court. She repeated her previous answer about not receiving anything from her husband, and the king admitted that this was true.

The Bodhisatta then spoke to the queen, explaining that a loveless marriage brings misery to both parties and suggested that she leave the king. After hearing the Bodhisatta’s wise words, the king realized his mistake and, remorseful, gave his queen the respect and love she deserved. The king and queen were reconciled, and they lived happily thereafter.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

The king and queen in this story were earlier births of a husband and wife, a landowner and his wife, who were traveling to collect a debt. When they encountered a debtor who could not pay, the husband was furious and, without eating, turned to head back home. Along the way, kind strangers gave him food and advised him to share it with his wife, but he selfishly ate it all, showing her the empty pot and telling her it was all he had received. His wife, naturally, was upset and did not believe his story.

As they passed near the Buddha’s monastery, the Buddha sensed that they were ready for a spiritual lesson. He spoke to the wife, asking her if her husband was kind and loving. The wife replied that she loved him, but he did not love her, citing the incident with the food as an example of his selfishness.

The Buddha then recounted this Jataka tale, revealing that in previous lives, the husband had mistreated her in the same way. After hearing the Buddha’s words, the husband recognized his fault and, filled with remorse, changed his selfish behavior.

Moral:

1. Selfishness and its Consequences: The story highlights the harm caused by selfishness, both in relationships and in life. The king’s neglect of his queen, and the landowner’s disregard for his wife, are both examples of how selfishness destroys trust and harmony in relationships.
2. Respect and Reciprocity in Marriage: The Bodhisatta’s intervention emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and kindness in marriage. A relationship built on love and understanding is vital for happiness and peace.
3. Karma and Redemption: The tale shows that even though the husband and king had acted selfishly in the past, they were given the opportunity for redemption, demonstrating the Buddha’s teaching that one can always change and improve their behavior through wisdom and compassion.

Through this story, the Buddha teaches that kindness and mutual respect should be the foundation of all relationships, and that selfish actions eventually lead to suffering, while selflessness and compassion lead to healing and harmony.