Ekarāja-Jātaka

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Source: Adapted from Archaic Translation by H.T. Francis and R.A. Neil
JATAKA No. 303

EKARAJA-JATAKA

"O monarch that earlier," etc.--This story the Master told while living at Jetavana monastery, about a courtier of the king of Kosala. The circumstances that suggested the story have been already told in the Seyyamsa (*1) Birth. On this occasion the Master said, "You are not the only one who got good out of evil: wise men of old also got good out of evil." And he told an old-world story. ___________________________

Once upon a time a minister in attendance on the king of Benares misconducted himself in the royal harem. The king after witnessing his offence with his own eyes banished him from the kingdom. How he took service with the king of Kosala, named Dabbasena, is all told in the Mahasilava (*2) Birth.

But in the present story Dabbasena had the king of Benares seized while sitting on the dais in the midst of his councillors, and fastening him by a cord on the lintel of the door suspended him head downwards. The king cultivated feelings of charity towards the rebel prince, and by a process of complete absorption entered upon a state of mystic meditation, and bursting his bonds sat cross-legged in the air. The rebel prince was attacked with a burning pain in the body, and with a cry of "I burn, I burn" he rolled over and over on the ground. When he asked the reason of it, his courtiers replied, "It is because the king whom you suspend head downwards from the lintel of the door is such an innocent and holy man." Then said he, "Go quickly and release him." His servants went and found the king sitting cross-legged in the air, and came back and told Dabbasena. So he went with all speed, and bowing before him asked his pardon and repeated the first stanza:

O monarch that earlier in your kingdom did dwell, Enjoying such bliss as few mortals have seen, How is it that lying midst tortures of Hell You still are so calm and so gracious of manners?

On hearing this the Bodhisattva repeated the rest of the stanzas:

Of past it was my one earnest prayer unto Heaven From the ranks of ascetics no more to be barred, But now that such glory to me has been given, O why should the form of my visage be marred?

The end is accomplished, my task is now done, The prince once my rival is no longer estranged, But now that the fame I so envied is won, O why should the form of my visage be changed?

When joy turns to sorrow, and welfare becomes suffering, Patient souls even pleasure may wring from their pain, But no such distinction of feeling they know, When the calm of Nirvana poor mortals attain.

On hearing this Dabbasena asked forgiveness of the Bodhisattva and said, "Rule over your own people and I will drive out the rebels from amongst you." And after punishing that wicked councillor he went his way. But the Bodhisattva handed over the kingdom to his ministers, and adopting the ascetic life of a Rishi he became destined to birth in the Brahma-world(realm of ArchAngels).

When the Master had finished this discourse, he identified the Birth: "At that time Ananda was Dabbasena, and I myself was the king of Benares."

Footnotes:

(1)No. 282

(2)No. 51