The Hatthi-Pala Jataka: The Great Renunciation

The Hatthi-Pala Jataka is a powerful tale about the Bodhisatta’s path to enlightenment, showcasing the transformative power of renunciation and the realization of life’s impermanence. This story emphasizes the Bodhisatta’s deep wisdom, compassion, and leadership as he inspires a kingdom to abandon worldly attachments in search of spiritual liberation.

The Plot

In this Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as the son of a royal chaplain, a close friend of the king. The king and his chaplain, both childless, had made an agreement: if either of them had a son, the boy would be treated as both of their sons. The chaplain, deeply concerned by the king’s childlessness, prayed to a banyan tree deity, asking why a beggar woman had seven sons while the king had none, despite offering the deity one thousand coins each year. After several days of pleading, the deity promised to grant the king a child.

However, the deity only agreed after consulting with Indra, the king of the gods, who sent four gods with great merit (who had been weavers in previous lives) to be born as sons to the chaplain’s wife. These gods, upon learning of their forthcoming birth, requested to be born into the chaplain’s family instead of the royal family, with the plan to renounce the world and become ascetics once they were of age. Indra agreed, and the four sons were born in quick succession, with the Bodhisatta being the first.

The Bodhisatta’s Childhood and Renunciation

As the Bodhisatta and his brothers grew, the chaplain and the king sought to prevent them from pursuing asceticism. The chaplain made them work with animals—elephants, horses, goats, and cattle—to keep them occupied. Additionally, the king banished all ascetics from the kingdom, hoping to shield the boys from spiritual influence. However, at the age of sixteen, the Bodhisatta’s spiritual inclinations were undeniable.

The king and the chaplain, disguised as ascetics, came to the Bodhisatta’s home to test him, hoping he would choose to become king and start a family. However, upon seeing these real ascetics, the Bodhisatta was overjoyed and immediately offered them water and food. The disguised king and chaplain pleaded with him to assume the throne, but the Bodhisatta responded with deep wisdom. He renounced his worldly life on the spot, explaining that life is impermanent and that sickness, old age, and death are always approaching.

The Bodhisatta’s renunciation inspired not only his brothers, but many others. Over the following days, his brothers—each filled with the same sense of impermanence—also abandoned the throne and joined him on his path. The chaplain, deeply moved by his sons’ actions, also renounced his wealth and left with sixty thousand brahmins. Eventually, the chaplain’s wife joined the procession, followed by the king’s queen, who had been swayed by the Bodhisatta’s message of renunciation.

The King’s Realization and Further Renunciations

The king, feeling regretful and angry at his attachment to wealth, decided to teach the king a lesson through a clever metaphor. She placed dog meat in the palace courtyard surrounded by snares. As vultures swooped down to eat, they recognized the danger and vomited up their food to escape. However, the greedy vultures that ate the regurgitated food became trapped in the snares. The queen explained to the king that taking the chaplain’s wealth was like eating the vultures’ vomit—fleeting and harmful. This wisdom caused the king to repent.

The king and his queen, both recognizing the folly of their attachment, decided to renounce their royal lives. They joined the Bodhisatta’s procession, which grew longer as more and more people from the kingdom followed their example. The Bodhisatta eventually led his growing group to the Himalayas, where they would live as ascetics, renouncing the worldly life for spiritual pursuit.

Indra’s Intervention and the Monastery

By the time the Bodhisatta’s procession had grown to thirty leagues long, Indra, seeing the immense spiritual dedication of the Bodhisatta, sent his chief builder, Vissakamma, to construct a monastery. This monastery was an immense structure, thirty-six leagues long and fifteen wide, fully stocked with all the necessities for an ascetic life. The monastery was also free of danger, with no beasts or harmful spirits, providing a sanctuary for the Bodhisatta and his followers.

News of the Bodhisatta’s renunciation spread far and wide, inspiring six more kings to renounce their thrones and join the Bodhisatta in his monastery. The Bodhisatta’s example led so many people to embrace the ascetic life that none of them were reborn in hell.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

The Buddha, in recounting this story to his disciples, revealed that the Bodhisatta in this Jataka was himself in a past life. The king and queen in the story were previous incarnations of Siddhartha Gautama’s father and mother. The chaplain and his wife were earlier births of Maha Kassapa (the Buddha’s first chief disciple), Bhadda Kapilani (a chief female disciple), Anuruddha, Moggallana, and Sariputta (the Buddha’s chief disciples). All of the others who followed the Bodhisatta’s example in renouncing the world were previous births of the Buddha’s followers in his present life.

Moral Lessons

1. The Impermanence of Life: The Bodhisatta’s renunciation teaches the fundamental Buddhist concept of anicca (impermanence). His realization that sickness, old age, and death are inevitable led him to abandon the pursuit of material wealth and royal power in favor of spiritual liberation.
2. The Power of Renunciation: The story demonstrates that true freedom comes from renouncing attachment to the material world. By leaving behind his royal inheritance, the Bodhisatta set an example of how to live a life of purpose and spiritual awakening.
3. The Role of Wise Teachers: The Bodhisatta’s wisdom and his ability to inspire others to follow his example emphasize the importance of virtuous, wise teachers. His renunciation didn’t only influence his family but also the wider society, showing the ripple effect that one enlightened individual can have.
4. Compassion and Wisdom in Action: The Bodhisatta did not simply renounce for personal gain, but to show others the path of liberation. His ability to teach through example and to lead others out of suffering is a key quality of a Buddha.
5. Transformation of Society: The Bodhisatta’s journey also highlights how spiritual transformation can reshape society. As the king and queen, along with their subjects, followed the Bodhisatta’s example, they renounced their attachment to wealth and materialism, making their lives more meaningful and spiritually rich.

Conclusion

The Hatthi-Pala Jataka is a profound tale about the Bodhisatta’s renunciation, demonstrating his deep understanding of life’s fleeting nature and his ability to inspire others to seek spiritual truth. His journey shows the importance of wisdom, compassion, and the transformative power of renunciation. The story not only serves as a reminder of life’s impermanence but also illustrates the far-reaching impact one person’s wisdom can have on the world.