The Vattaka Jataka: Cleverness and Resolve in Adversity

In this past life, the Bodhisatta was a quail. One day, a man captured the Bodhisatta along with many other quails and kept them in a cage, intending to fatten them up for sale. As the days passed, the Bodhisatta became increasingly aware of his fate and realized that once the other birds were sold, he too would meet the same end.

Instead of passively awaiting his fate, the Bodhisatta refused to eat, becoming gaunt and weak. When the quail-catcher noticed his deteriorating condition, he took the Bodhisatta out of the cage to inspect him. At that moment, the Bodhisatta saw his chance. With a sudden burst of energy, he flew away and escaped back to the forest.

When he returned, the other quails in the forest asked him where he had been. The Bodhisatta shared his story, explaining how he had outwitted the quail-catcher through cleverness and resolve. He contrasted his own thoughtful approach with the other quails’ failure to take any action, pointing out that it was through reflection and planning that he had escaped.

The Buddha’s Teaching

In the time of the Buddha, there was a man who had once lived in heaven and was now reborn as a human. He was known for his great righteousness and lack of worldly passion. During a festival, his friends hired a beautiful prostitute to be with him for a week, but the man was disinterested and sent her away. The woman, however, was hired by a nobleman to accompany him instead. When the festival ended, the woman did not return home, and her mother, distressed, went to the king to report her daughter missing.

The king, upon hearing the complaint, insisted that the man return the woman. The man explained that she had never stayed with him, but the king, not believing him, declared him guilty and sentenced him to death. As the man was led through the streets to his execution, he vowed that if he could somehow escape this fate, he would become a disciple of the Buddha.

At that moment, the woman heard the commotion and, upon learning of the situation, rushed to the king to prove that she was alive and had not stayed with the man. With her testimony, the man was freed. True to his word, he immediately went to the Buddha and became his disciple.

When the Buddha overheard his disciples discussing this miraculous turn of events, he shared the story of the Bodhisatta’s previous life as the quail. He explained that just as the Bodhisatta had cleverly escaped from the cage, so too had this righteous man avoided a seemingly inevitable death. Both stories, the Buddha remarked, were examples of how quick thinking and determination can lead to escape from dire circumstances.

Moral of the Story

The Vattaka Jataka teaches the power of cleverness, reflection, and the ability to think strategically in difficult situations. The Bodhisatta’s escape from the quail-catcher’s cage illustrates that when faced with adversity, a calm mind and a thoughtful plan can lead to freedom. It also highlights the contrast between the Bodhisatta’s cunning and the other birds, who acted without thought.

Similarly, the story of the righteous man and the prostitute serves as a reminder of the importance of clear thinking and moral integrity, even in the face of unjust accusations. The man’s vow to ordain as a disciple of the Buddha after his escape shows the power of resolve and the willingness to turn a difficult situation into an opportunity for spiritual growth.

Ultimately, the story underscores the importance of wisdom and action in overcoming challenges, as well as the potential for transformation that can arise from even the most difficult circumstances.