The Tesakuna Jataka: Wisdom and the Righteous King

The Tesakuna Jataka (Jataka #521) is a tale that emphasizes the value of wisdom and righteous governance in leadership. It tells the story of a king who, though mocked by his people for adopting three birds as his children, learns the importance of virtuous rule through the wise advice of his adopted “offspring.” The Jataka highlights the role of integrity, honesty, and wisdom in leadership, demonstrating that even in the most unconventional circumstances, a king can gain true insight from those who possess knowledge and virtue.

The Plot

A King’s Unconventional Family

The Bodhisatta is born as a parrot in this story. The plot begins when a king wakes up from a nap under a tree in his royal park and notices a bird’s nest. Wanting whatever is inside, he has one of his servants climb the tree and retrieve the eggs from the nest. The nest contains three eggs, each from a different species: an owl, a mynah bird, and a parrot.

Since the king has no children of his own, he decides to adopt these birds and raise them as his offspring. The king assigns three of his courtiers to take care of each egg, placing one egg in each of their homes. The birds hatch and grow up, each in the care of a different courtier, and receive all the privileges and attention worthy of royalty. However, the people of the kingdom mock the king for adopting birds instead of human children, seeing it as an odd and laughable choice.

The Birds Speak Wisdom

The king, determined to prove the value of his adopted children, summons the birds to the palace to publicly display their wisdom. The birds, now grown, each take their turn to speak on how a king should rule.

• The Owl (the king’s son) speaks first. He advises the king to rule righteously and avoid yielding to sin, stressing the importance of moral integrity in leadership. The people are astonished by the owl’s wise and direct words, and the king, impressed by the advice, appoints the owl as his general in the army.
• The Mynah Bird (the king’s daughter) speaks next, advising the king to be honest and to hire only wise and virtuous advisors. The people, once again amazed by her wisdom, applaud her, and the king appoints her as the treasurer of his kingdom.
• The Parrot (the Bodhisatta) speaks last. He echoes the earlier sentiments, emphasizing that wisdom is the most important quality for a ruler. He warns the king that if he continues to do bad things, he will meet with ruin. The king, deeply moved by the Bodhisatta’s counsel, appoints him as the commander-in-chief of his military forces.

A Righteous King

Following the advice of his three adopted children, the king begins to govern with justice, honesty, and wisdom. Under his new leadership, the kingdom flourishes, and the people are content. When the king dies, his court, recognizing the wisdom and righteousness of the Bodhisatta, chooses him as the next ruler. However, the Bodhisatta, uninterested in ruling, chooses instead to leave the palace. He writes down his righteous advice on a golden tablet and flies off into the forest, content to live a life of peace and wisdom.

The Moral Lesson

The Tesakuna Jataka teaches several important moral lessons:

1. The Power of Wisdom in Leadership: The story highlights that a ruler’s most important quality is wisdom, not wealth, power, or status. The king’s adoption of three birds—each possessing unique wisdom—demonstrates that true guidance can come from unexpected sources. The advice given by the birds helps the king change his ways and govern righteously.
2. The Importance of Righteous Governance: The owl, the mynah, and the parrot all advise the king on the importance of righteous leadership. The owl stresses righteous rule and the avoidance of sin, the mynah emphasizes the need for honesty and wise advisors, and the parrot speaks of the importance of wisdom and warns of the consequences of immoral rule. The king’s transformation from a mocked figure to a wise and just ruler illustrates that even leaders who start poorly can redeem themselves through the pursuit of wisdom.
3. The Value of Honesty and Integrity: The advice to the king from the mynah bird, urging the king to be honest and surround himself with wise counselors, reinforces the idea that a king (or any leader) must not only rule righteously but also be truthful and forthright in his decisions.
4. Humility and Contentment: The Bodhisatta, despite being appointed the king’s commander-in-chief, chooses not to seek power or authority. Instead, he values a life of peace and wisdom, choosing to leave the throne and retire to the forest. This teaches the lesson that wisdom does not always seek glory or worldly power but instead finds fulfillment in the pursuit of knowledge and the welfare of others.
5. Divine Guidance Through Unexpected Means: The story also highlights how wisdom and divine intervention can come in unexpected forms—in this case, from birds. The story reinforces the idea that truth and wisdom can come from places that others may overlook or underestimate.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, the Buddha used the Tesakuna Jataka to teach a king who came to hear his preaching. The Buddha advised the king to rule righteously and warned him that the pursuit of sensual pleasures leads to misery, while virtuous actions are the only refuge when facing death. The Buddha shared this story of the king and the three birds to illustrate that a ruler who follows righteous advice can earn rebirth in heaven and achieve spiritual success.

The characters in this Jataka also represent earlier births of some of the Buddha’s closest disciples:

• The owl represents Ananda, the Buddha’s cousin and personal attendant, who was known for his wisdom and devotion.
• The mynah represents Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s top disciples and renowned for his wisdom and discipline.
• The parrot represents Uppalavanna, another of the Buddha’s esteemed disciples, known for her wisdom and virtuous conduct.

Conclusion

The Tesakuna Jataka teaches that wisdom is the cornerstone of effective leadership and that a ruler who seeks truth and virtue will create a flourishing society. It also underscores the importance of surrounding oneself with wise counselors, the value of honesty, and the importance of humility in leadership. By showcasing the Bodhisatta’s choice to step down from power, the story highlights the fulfillment that comes not from worldly authority but from the pursuit of wisdom and spiritual contentment.