The Wisdom of Truth: The Pandara Jataka

The Pandara Jataka (Jataka #518) is a tale that highlights themes of wisdom, deception, regret, and the consequences of lying. It narrates the story of the Bodhisatta in a past life as a Garuda king, who, through a series of events, learns valuable lessons about truth, trust, and wisdom, all while exposing the consequences of deceit.

The Plot

The Setting: The Garuda King and the False Ascetic

In this life, the Bodhisatta is born as a Garuda king, a mighty bird who rules over other Garudas. One day, a ship carrying merchants wrecks in the ocean, and the only survivor is a man who drifts ashore. He is found by local people who assume he is a naked ascetic due to his state of undress. Because of this misconception, they treat him with great respect, offering him food, shelter, and building him a small home. Though the man has no knowledge of ascetic practices or virtue, he decides to live as an ascetic, accepting the adoration and respect of the people around him.

As the false ascetic gains a following, the Bodhisatta and a naga king (a serpent-like being) join his group. Despite being unaware of his true nature, the Bodhisatta, along with others, believes the man to be virtuous and wise.

The Garuda King’s Request

One day, the Bodhisatta approaches the false ascetic with a request. Garudas, he explains, often die when attacking nagass (nagas), as the nagas have a secret defense: they swallow large rocks to make themselves too heavy for the Garudas to carry away. The Bodhisatta asks the ascetic to extract the secret from the naga king and tell him how to overcome this defense.

The false ascetic agrees to the request. When the naga king next visits him, the ascetic asks how Garudas could safely capture nagas. The naga king, suspicious at first, refuses to share the secret, explaining that if the Garudas knew, they would kill all the nagas. The ascetic, however, persists and promises never to reveal the secret. After being asked three times, the naga king finally relents and tells the ascetic that if Garudas grab nagas by the tail rather than the head, the rocks the nagas swallow will fall out, making them light enough to be carried away.

The Bodhisatta’s Action and Regret

The Bodhisatta, eager to put the secret into action, immediately flies off to confront the naga king. He seizes the naga king by the tail and begins carrying him helplessly through the sky, mocking the naga for trusting the ascetic and explaining how his lack of caution led to this moment.

However, as the Bodhisatta reflects on his actions, he begins to feel regret. He had acted out of pride and revenge, not wisdom, and soon realizes that he had crossed a moral line. Overcome with remorse, the Bodhisatta flies down and sets the naga king free, promising never to harm a naga again.

The Naga King’s Wisdom and the Ascetic’s Downfall

Later, the Bodhisatta returns to the naga king’s home to test his wisdom. He pretends to attack, signaling that he is about to capture him again. In response, the naga king swallows rocks, coils on his tail, and prepares for battle, but when the Bodhisatta asks why he is afraid, the naga king reveals that he has learned the lesson not to trust anyone who might deceive him. This shows the naga king’s growth and wisdom, recognizing the danger of trusting the wicked ascetic.

In turn, the Bodhisatta praises the naga king’s wisdom. However, the naga king now realizes the true nature of the ascetic. The ascetic, who had lied and deceived everyone, is revealed for what he truly is, and the naga king curses him with a solemn declaration of truth. The ascetic’s head splits into seven pieces, and the earth opens up, swallowing him into the bottomless hell as punishment for his lies and deceit.

The Moral Lesson

The Pandara Jataka teaches important moral lessons, especially about wisdom, trust, and the consequences of deception.

1. The Importance of Wisdom and Caution: The Bodhisatta initially acts out of impulse and pride, but his regret and self-reflection show that true wisdom involves recognizing the potential harm in one’s actions and making amends. The naga king’s reaction—having learned not to trust anyone blindly—also emphasizes the value of caution and discernment in whom to trust.
2. The Consequences of Deception: The ascetic’s deceitful behavior is ultimately his downfall. His lies lead to his exposure and eventual punishment. The lesson here is that falsehoods will eventually be uncovered, and those who deceive others will suffer the consequences, as symbolized by the ascetic’s fate of being swallowed by the earth and cast into hell.
3. Regret and Redemption: The Bodhisatta’s initial actions—seizing the naga king and mocking him—are motivated by anger and pride. However, once the Bodhisatta reflects on his actions, he regrets them and chooses to free the naga, promising not to attack nagas again. This shows the power of self-awareness and regret as a path to moral growth and redemption.
4. Moral Leadership: The Bodhisatta’s role as a leader is also a key theme. He not only teaches the naga king a lesson but also learns from the naga’s wisdom, demonstrating the importance of being open to the wisdom of others, even when one holds a position of power.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, the story of the false ascetic and the naga king serves as a way to illustrate the karma and moral consequences of Devadatta, one of the Buddha’s disciples who became his nemesis. Just as the ascetic’s deceit led to his destruction, Devadatta’s lies and attempts to harm the Buddha eventually led to his own downfall.

• The false ascetic is identified as Devadatta, who tried to kill the Buddha multiple times, spreading lies and causing strife.
• The naga king is identified as Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s top disciples, renowned for his wisdom and discernment.

This connection highlights how the moral lessons of past lives continue to inform the spiritual paths of individuals, even in the present.

Key Themes and Moral Lessons

1. Wisdom Over Impulsiveness: The Bodhisatta’s journey in this story shows that true wisdom comes from reflection, caution, and the ability to recognize when we have acted wrongly.
2. The Destructive Power of Lies: The story emphasizes how lies and deceit not only harm others but ultimately lead to the downfall of the deceiver.
3. Self-Improvement and Redemption: The Bodhisatta’s regret and eventual redemption remind us that we can learn from our mistakes and grow in wisdom.

Conclusion

The Pandara Jataka is a tale that underscores the moral consequences of actions driven by pride, deception, and impulsiveness. It teaches that wisdom, truth, and self-reflection are essential for personal growth and leadership, and that lies will always be uncovered, leading to the downfall of those who spread them. The story is both a cautionary tale about the dangers of deceit and a reminder of the potential for redemption through wisdom and self-awareness.