The Tale of Prince Vessantara

In ancient India, there was a wise and just king named Sanjaya, who ruled a prosperous kingdom. His queen, Phusati, was a woman of unparalleled beauty and generosity, and she was once the chief queen of Indra, the king of the gods. Before her birth on earth, Indra granted her ten wishes. The final wish was that she would have a son who would be a righteous king, respected and beloved by all. To fulfill this wish, Indra chose the Bodhisatta (the future Buddha), and the child was born to Queen Phusati and King Sanjaya. His name was Prince Vessantara, and he was born free from all impurities, a model of virtue from the moment of his birth.

Even as a baby, Vessantara exhibited remarkable generosity. Shortly after his birth, he asked his mother to give him something that he could give away. Queen Phusati, delighted by his request, gave him one thousand coins, and he distributed them to the poor. As he grew, his generosity only increased. At the age of four, he gave away a priceless necklace, a gift from his father, to the nurses who had cared for him. His father replaced the necklace multiple times, and each time, Vessantara gave it away. By the age of eight, he felt dissatisfied because everything he gave away came from others. He longed to give something of his own, so he vowed that if anyone asked for his heart, eyes, or flesh, he would give them freely. His resolve was so strong that it caused the earth to shake, and the gods of the heavens rejoiced at his selflessness.

At the age of sixteen, Vessantara had mastered all the skills of a prince and was married to his cousin, Maddi, who was equally virtuous and kind. Together, they had two children: a son named Jali and a daughter named Kanhajina. As king, Vessantara continued his extraordinary acts of charity, giving away large sums of money to anyone who asked. Every day, he gave away vast amounts of alms, and his kingdom flourished as a result.

However, the neighboring kingdom of Kalinga was suffering from severe drought. The king of Kalinga, desperate for rain, learned that Vessantara owned a white elephant that had the power to bring rain wherever it went. The King of Kalinga sent eight brahmins to request the elephant. Without hesitation, and without concern for his own kingdom’s welfare, Vessantara gave not only the elephant but also its golden ornaments, jeweled accoutrements, and all the servants who attended it.

The people of Vessantara’s kingdom were horrified by his decision. They feared that their sacred elephant, which had always brought good fortune, was the kingdom’s greatest asset, and without it, they would surely fall into ruin. Their fear turned into anger, and they demanded that King Sanjaya banish Vessantara. Though deeply reluctant, King Sanjaya yielded to the will of the people and decreed that Vessantara would be exiled to the Mount Vamka, a desolate peak deep in the Himalayas. Vessantara, though saddened by his exile, did not resist the will of the people. Instead, he accepted his fate without protest, continuing his commitment to generosity even in the face of adversity.

On his final day in the city, Vessantara gave away everything he could—his wealth, horses, elephants, chariots, and even his servants. This act was known as the Gift of the Seven Hundreds because he gave away seven hundred of various goods, including treasures and food, to people of all castes and backgrounds. Even though he knew he would soon be exiled, he wanted no one to leave empty-handed. As a final act of generosity, he instructed his wife, Maddi, to store their wealth so she could provide for herself and the children in his absence. He also advised her to remarry, but Maddi, devoted to her husband, refused. She would rather live in the wilderness with him than live without him, and she predicted that their life in the forest would be so peaceful and fulfilling that they would forget they had ever been royalty.

On the journey to Mount Vamka, Vessantara continued to give away what little he had left, even offering his chariot, horses, and royal ornaments to beggars he met along the way. As the journey progressed, his wealth dwindled until he had nothing but the clothes on his back. Despite this, he maintained his peaceful demeanor, knowing that he was on the path to perfection. When they reached the nearby city of Ceta, the royal family there mistook Vessantara for a fallen king and offered him the throne, but he refused, unwilling to bring any trouble to his family.

Finally, after a long journey, Vessantara and his family arrived at the foot of Mount Vamka. They were greeted by the gods, who had provided for their needs. The gods, pleased by his acts of generosity, had sent Vissakamma, the divine architect, to build a home for them in the forest with covered walkways and a beautiful garden. The animals in the area, too, were under the influence of Vessantara’s compassion and ceased to harm the family. Vessantara, Maddi, and their children began their life as ascetics in the forest, living simply and contentedly.

But their peaceful life was soon interrupted. Jujaka, a poor and greedy brahmin from a distant village, came to the forest, seeking a slave to help his young wife. When he heard of Vessantara’s generosity, he decided to ask the Bodhisatta for his children as slaves. Though it pained him deeply, Vessantara, driven by his commitment to spiritual perfection, agreed to give Jali and Kanhajina to Jujaka. Before the children could leave, they ran and hid in a lake, terrified of their fate. When Vessantara found them, he gently explained that this was the price of perfection and that he had to give them away in order to perfect his generosity.

Jujaka took the children, tying their wrists with vines and dragging them along the path to sell them as slaves. Vessantara, though heartbroken, felt joy in knowing that he had given away his most precious possessions, and he achieved the highest state of spiritual generosity.

As Vessantara and his family awaited their fate, Maddi returned to the forest, unaware that the children had been taken. She searched for them in vain, fearing they had been killed. After a long, sleepless night, she finally fainted in front of Vessantara. When she awoke, he revealed that he had given their children to Jujaka, explaining that this was the final test of his generosity. Maddi, though sorrowful, understood the significance of the act and felt joy for her husband’s achievement.

Soon after, Indra, the king of the gods, saw that Vessantara had reached the pinnacle of generosity and wished to reward him. Indra appeared in human form and asked Vessantara for Maddi’s hand in marriage. After a moment’s hesitation, Vessantara, in his devotion to generosity, agreed. The gods, seeing the Bodhisatta’s sacrifice, rejoiced, and Indra returned Maddi to him, along with eight blessings for his future.

Meanwhile, Jujaka, having mistreated the children, died from his own greed. The children were eventually returned to their grandparents, and when King Sanjaya learned of the harsh conditions they had endured in the forest, he decided to bring Vessantara and his family back to the kingdom. The king sent a grand procession to the mountains, where the family was joyously reunited. Vessantara was once again crowned king, and the entire kingdom rejoiced.

Moral and Lessons:

1. Unwavering Generosity: Vessantara’s generosity exemplifies the Buddhist ideal of dāna—giving without attachment to the self or material possessions. His willingness to give even his children shows the supreme nature of this generosity.
2. Detachment from Worldly Attachments: Vessantara’s journey is also about overcoming attachment. His attachment to his family and possessions is tested and ultimately transcended, demonstrating the Buddhist path of detachment.
3. The Role of Compassion and Kindness: Vessantara’s compassion extended not only to humans but to all beings, including animals. His life teaches that true generosity is motivated by deep compassion for all life.
4. Divine Intervention and Support: The gods, recognizing Vessantara’s purity of heart, provide help at crucial moments, showing that the divine aids those on the path to perfection.

This story of the Vessantara Jataka is a powerful illustration of how through generosity, detachment, and compassion, one can progress towards spiritual enlightenment and achieve the highest virtues.