Vishayha Jataka: The Destructive Power of Lies

In the very first era of the world, the Bodhisatta was born as a royal chaplain to a king who possessed extraordinary supernatural powers. This king could fly, had four sword-wielding guardian deities in each direction to protect him, his body smelled of sandalwood, and his mouth emitted a pleasant lotus fragrance. The king had been raised alongside the Bodhisatta’s younger brother, and as a prince, he had promised to make the Bodhisatta’s brother his royal chaplain once he became king.

However, when the prince ascended to the throne, the Bodhisatta chose to retire and live as an ascetic in the royal park. He appointed his own son as the royal chaplain, bypassing his brother entirely. This decision angered the younger brother, who resented the Bodhisatta’s action, but he was powerless to change it.

Despite his brother’s resentment, the king still wanted the Bodhisatta to be his chaplain. To restore his friend to the position, the king decided to tell a lie—he would declare that the Bodhisatta was the younger brother, and that his friend was the elder. When word spread of the king’s plan, it caused great confusion among the people, as they had never encountered a lie before. The citizens wondered, “What does a lie look like? Is it blue or yellow or some other color?”

The Bodhisatta’s brother, sensing danger, warned the king that such a lie would anger the Bodhisatta and that the king would suffer the consequences of his actions. But the king was resolute, vowing that in seven days, he would make the announcement.

The King’s Fall into Destruction

On the seventh day, a great crowd gathered in the courtyard to witness the king’s proclamation. The Bodhisatta, sitting in front of the king, warned him that lying would bring destruction and lead to hell. Although the king was filled with fear, he did not back down and declared, “You, sir, are the younger and your brother is the elder.”

As soon as the lie was spoken, the king’s supernatural powers began to dissipate. He fell from the air to the ground, the guardian deities threw their swords in disgust and disappeared, and his body began to emit the foul stench of decay, while his mouth smelled like rotten eggs. The Bodhisatta urged the king to speak the truth to undo the damage, but the king refused, repeating the lie once more. With each repetition of the lie, the king sank deeper into the earth:

• The first time, he sank to his ankles.
• The second time, he sank to his knees.
• The third time, he sank to his hips.
• The fourth time, he sank to his chest.

Finally, the earth opened up, and the flames of hell erupted, consuming the king.

The King’s Sons and Their New Cities

As the king’s fate was sealed, his five sons turned to the Bodhisatta for guidance. The Bodhisatta instructed them to each walk in a different direction and establish a new city at the following signs:

1. Where they saw a royal white elephant.
2. Where they saw a pure white royal horse.
3. Where they saw a lion with a mane.
4. Where they saw a wheel frame made of jewels.
5. Where they heard the sound of two mountains rubbing together, making the sound “daddara.”

This was to ensure the kingship would continue in a new and virtuous manner, free from the destructive path of lies and deceit.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

Many years later, the Buddha recounted this story to his disciples. The king who told the first-ever lie, which led to his fall into hell, was revealed to be an earlier birth of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who later became his nemesis. Devadatta’s jealousy and wickedness led him to try to kill the Buddha three times, and his eventual fate mirrored the king’s in this past life—Devadatta sank into the earth and was swallowed by the flames of hell, just as the king did for telling the first lie.

The Buddha used this story to show his disciples the dangers of lying and the importance of truth. He explained that Devadatta’s wicked actions in previous lifetimes had led to his downfall, and that those who engage in deceit will eventually face the consequences of their actions.

Moral of the Story:

This Jataka story teaches a powerful lesson on the destructive nature of lies. The king’s downfall is a clear reminder that dishonesty, even in seemingly small matters, can lead to enormous consequences. Only the truth can set one free, and those who speak falsehoods will ultimately face the repercussions of their actions. The story also highlights the importance of wisdom, virtue, and righteous actions in leadership and governance.