| J.544 |
Mahaanaaradakassapa Jaataka |
Angati, king of Mithila is a good ruler. One full-moon day, he consults his ministers
as to how they shall amuse themselves. Alata suggests new conquests. Sunama suggests
finding pleasure in merrymaking. Vijaya recommends that they visit a samana or brahmin.
Angati agrees with Vijaya and they visit the ascetic Guna Kassapagotta who preaches
that there is no fruit in good or evil. Alata agrees with Guna saying how in a past
life he was a wicked councellor called Pingala but subsequently obtained a good birth.
Bijaka, a slave, tells how he was once a virtuous man, but is now born as the son
of a prostitute. Angati is convinced that Guna’s doctrine is correct a resolves to
resort to hedonism. He gives up his kingdom to his ministers and indulges in pleasure
for fourteen days. Eventually his virtuous daughter Ruja comes to him asking for
1,000 to give to mendicants. Angati protests at her squandering money -- so his daughter
tells him that his councellors are fools, that they only give such advice because
they cannot remember past lives beyond the most recent. She tells of her own retribution
from adultery that has lasted seven lifetimes. All night she preaches to her father
without convincing him, and later is reinforced by the Brahma named Narada Kassapa
(the bodhisatva) who comes in the guise of an ascetic who tells him examples of kings
who have attained happiness through meritorious lives. The king at last sees the
error of his ways and determines to choose new friends. The Jataka is related in
reference to Uruvela Kassapa who is converted by the Buddha. The people marvel at
the Buddha’s ability in conversion, but the Buddha reveals that it is not the first
time. Angati is identified with uruvela Kassapa, Alata with Devadatta, Sunama with
Bhaddiya, Vijaya with Sariputta, Bijaka with Moggallana, Guna with the Licchavi Sunakkhatta
and Ruja with Ananda. |
64//205 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.vi.219ff. |
hedonism, false view |