Wisdom and Fortune: The Queen Udumbara Jataka

Once, the Bodhisatta was a king’s advisor. In this lifetime, there was a boy cursed with bad luck who went off to study with a famous teacher in Taxila. The teacher had a daughter who was as beautiful as a celestial nymph, and when the boy completed his studies, the teacher gave his daughter to him in marriage. Although the student didn’t wish to marry her, out of respect for his teacher, he reluctantly agreed.

However, because the boy believed that bad luck could not be associated with good luck, he avoided his new wife as much as possible. He slept on the floor and kept his distance from her. Eventually, the time came for them to return to his city, and during the journey, the boy climbed a tree to eat some ripe figs. His wife asked for some, but he told her to climb the tree herself and pick them. As she climbed up, the boy quickly descended and piled thorns around the tree, trapping her there. He then abandoned her and ran off alone.

The King’s Intervention

Later, King Vedeha, while riding past the tree on his elephant, spotted the abandoned woman. At first sight, he fell in love with her beauty and, seeing that she had been left alone, claimed her as his own. He brought her back to his palace and consecrated her as Queen Udumbara, which meant “Fig,” after the tree where she had been abandoned.

The next day, the king took his new queen to the royal park. As they passed along the road, the former husband of Queen Udumbara was among the people cleaning the streets ahead of them. When Queen Udumbara saw him, she smiled with a feeling of triumph at her newfound good fortune. But the king, seeing her smile, immediately grew jealous and furious, thinking she was flirting with the man.

In a rage, the king drew his sword and prepared to kill the queen. However, Queen Udumbara begged him to consult his advisors first. Senaka, the chief advisor, could not believe that any man would abandon such a beautiful woman, and he suggested that she might be guilty of infidelity. But the Bodhisatta, with his deep wisdom, explained that bad luck and good luck can never coexist, and that it was clear the man had abandoned her because of his own misfortune. The king, relieved by the explanation, spared the queen’s life and thanked the Bodhisatta for his wise counsel.

To show his gratitude, the king rewarded the Bodhisatta with a thousand coins, and Queen Udumbara, recognizing the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, became a loyal supporter of him.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In a later time, some of the Buddha’s disciples were discussing his supreme wisdom, particularly how he had humbled and converted a wide variety of people—brahmins, ascetics, thieves, goblins, and gods. When the Buddha overheard their conversation, he decided to share this story with them. He explained that just as he had used wisdom to guide others in his present life, he had always had perfect knowledge, even in his past lifetimes.

King Vedeha, in a past life, had been reborn as Laludayi, an elder disciple of the Buddha who was known for his extreme shyness and his inability to speak clearly in the presence of more than one person. Often, Laludayi would say one thing when he meant another. Senaka, the advisor in this story, was reborn as Saccaka, a Jain who later converted and became a disciple of the Buddha.

Moral of the Story

This Jataka illustrates the importance of wisdom in guiding others, even in difficult or complex situations. The Bodhisatta, through his insight, was able to resolve the misunderstanding between the queen and the king, saving her life and preserving the harmony in the kingdom. It also highlights how bad luck and good luck cannot truly exist together, as seen in the fates of the abandoned wife and her foolish husband.

Moral Lesson

True wisdom can prevent conflict and confusion, while bad decisions based on ignorance can lead to harm. Understanding the nature of good and bad fortune can help us navigate life’s challenges with clarity and compassion.