The Bilara Jataka: A Tale of Deception and Vigilance

The Bilara Jataka is a story about a rat who, as the Bodhisatta, leads a large group of rats and is deceived by a jackal pretending to be a holy figure. The tale centers on the themes of deception, hypocrisy, and the eventual exposure of falsehood. It shows the dangers of being misled by appearances and the importance of vigilance in recognizing the truth.

The Story:

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as a rat and is the leader of a large group of rats living in the forest. One day, a jackal hatches a plan to eat the rats by pretending to be a holy figure. The jackal stands on one leg, faces the sun, and loudly inhales air. When the Bodhisatta, curious about the jackal’s strange behavior, asks what he is doing, the jackal explains that he is “Godly,” and that standing on one leg, facing the sun, and inhaling air are part of his spiritual practices. He claims that he faces the sun in worship and lives solely on air, suggesting that he is a being of divine power.

The Bodhisatta, taken in by this ruse, believes the jackal to be a saintly figure and begins leading his group of rats to the jackal each morning and evening to pay homage. However, the jackal, once the rats have left, takes advantage of their absence and lures the last rat in line to eat him. He finishes his meal quickly and licks his lips clean before any of the other rats can return, so they are unaware of what has happened.

Over time, the rats begin to notice that their numbers are dwindling, and they bring their concerns to the Bodhisatta. Suspicious, the Bodhisatta decides to investigate. The next time they go to pay homage, the Bodhisatta takes up the rear of the line. As expected, when the last rat approaches, the jackal attempts to strike. The Bodhisatta immediately yells, “So this is your saintliness, you hypocrite and rascal!” and springs forward to attack. He bites into the jackal’s throat, fatally wounding him. The other rats, upon hearing the commotion, return and, realizing what has happened, devour the jackal’s body.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, one of his disciples had been exposed as a hypocrite. This disciple had presented himself as pious and virtuous, but his actions did not match his outward appearance. The other disciples had been deceived by his façade until the truth was revealed.

The Buddha, upon hearing his disciples discuss this incident, recounted the story of the Bilara Jataka to show that the hypocrite in his community had behaved in much the same way in a previous life. The jackal, who pretended to be a holy figure, was an earlier birth of this disciple, and his behavior in this life mirrored the deceit and false piety that the disciple had displayed in the past.

Moral Lessons:

1. The Dangers of Deception: The jackal’s ruse is a clear example of how deception can be used to manipulate others. His ability to fool the Bodhisatta and the rats for so long highlights how easily people can be misled by outward appearances, especially when they seem to be aligned with spiritual or righteous practices. The story warns against blindly following figures who claim to be virtuous without examining their actions and character.
2. Exposing Hypocrisy: The Bodhisatta’s eventual realization and action show the power of truth when it is uncovered. The jackal’s deception is exposed when the Bodhisatta sees through the ruse and acts decisively. Similarly, in the Buddha’s lifetime, the hypocrite was revealed through his actions, and the truth came to light. This highlights the inevitability of falsehood being exposed, even if it takes time.
3. Vigilance and Discernment: The Bodhisatta’s role in investigating the situation and keeping watch illustrates the importance of vigilance. He did not take things at face value but sought to discover the truth. The lesson here is that one should not simply trust others because they present themselves in a certain way but should instead exercise discernment and critical thinking.
4. Consequences of False Piety: The jackal’s false claims of holiness and his hypocritical actions are eventually punished. He loses his life because he pretended to be something he was not. The story emphasizes that false piety and deceitful behavior often lead to downfall and exposure.
5. The Role of Leadership: As the leader of the rats, the Bodhisatta took responsibility for his group and sought to protect them. His leadership is portrayed as being grounded in wisdom and care. His investigation of the situation and his decisive action to confront the jackal shows how a wise leader must protect their followers from harm, even when that harm is subtle and deceptive.

Conclusion:

The Bilara Jataka conveys a powerful moral lesson about the dangers of hypocrisy, falsehood, and deception. Through the Bodhisatta’s leadership and the eventual exposure of the jackal’s true nature, the story highlights the importance of discernment and vigilance in recognizing deceit. In the Buddha’s lifetime, this story served as a reminder to his disciples that outward appearances are not enough to judge a person’s true character, and that hypocrisy, no matter how well concealed, will eventually be revealed.