Jataka Tales 1: Appanaka

Appanaka Jataka Once, while the Buddha was staying in Jetavana Monastery at Savatthi, the multi-millionaire Anathapindika, brought many of his friends to visit Him. After they had paid their respects to Him and presented their generous gifts to Buddha and the Order of monks, they followed Anathapindika's example and sat on one side and waited, as was the custom, for the Teacher's sermon. While they sat there, they looked on Him with great affection and saw the marks of a Buddha. Then with a gentle voice, the Buddha preached a sermon to them.

On hearing the sermon, they all accepted the Buddha's Teachings and became His followers.

They observed Buddhist practices, including the weekly uposatha- the fast day. And then one day Buddha went back to Rajagaha. No sooner had He left, then they left the Buddha as refuge.

They returned to other religions.

Appanaka Jataka

1/14

After staying about seven months at Rajagaha, Buddha returned to Savatthi. And Anathapindika came with his friends with offerings to pay their respects to Buddha. When they all sat on one side, Anathapindika informed the Buddha that when Buddha went to Rajagaha, his friends left Triple Gems as refuge and went to other religions.

So the Buddha asked them gently: "Disciples, is it true that you left the Triple Gems for the refuge of other teachings?"

They confessed and admitted that it was true.

The Buddha explained the greatness of the Triple Gems.

Then the Buddha taught them how excellent the Dhamma was. He said: "The Triple Gems assure you a good life here and hereafter. By leaving the Triple Gems you have taken the

Appanaka Jataka

2/14

wrong path."

The Buddha then pointed out, that even in the past, those who disregarded the right refuge were totally destroyed in the wilderness. Those who followed the Dhamma were saved.

Anathapindika rose from his seat, saluted the Buddha, and said; "The past destruction of stubborn ones in demon-haunted wilderness and the saving of men who kept to the Truth are hidden to us. May it please the Buddha to make this clear to us." The Buddha told this story from the past, at His disciples' request.

Story of the past Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta ruled the city of Benares. At that time, the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) was born in a merchant's family.

He grew up learning the trade and used

Appanaka Jataka

3/14

to journey here and there. In the city, there was also another young merchant who lacked not only wisdom but was not alert and was also gullible.

Both were about to start journey. Each had goods filling several hundred carts. The Bodhisatta thought that with so many carts travelling on the road at the same time, the road would become bad. Food, water, and fuel for men; and grass for the oxen would be hard to get. Therefore, either he or the other merchant ought to go first. So he arranged a meeting with the other trader and put the problem to him.

The latter thought there would be many benefits for him to travel first. He would have a road still in good condition. His oxen would have all the grass to eat. His men would get all the herbs for their food. The water would be clean.

Appanaka Jataka

4/14

Lastly, he would fix his own price for the barter of his goods. So he chose to go first.

The Bodhisatta thought that the one going first will level the road where it was not level; and he would then use a road that was already leveled.

The oxen of the first caravan would eat the coarse grass; his would eat young tender grass that would spring up. Those who went first would eat the old herbs. His men would pick fresh, tastier herbs for their food. Where there was no water the first caravan would have to dig wells; and we would drink at the wells already dug.

Haggling over prices was tiresome. Following later he would barter his wares at the prices that were fixed. So he said to the other: "You go first."

Therefore, the other merchant yoked his oxen to the carts and set out with his men. Soon he

Appanaka Jataka

5/14

came to the outskirts of the wilderness of which there were five kinds: bandits, wild beast, drought, demon and famine wildernesses.

Preparing for travel in a waterless region, he had great water jars put in one of his carts, and filled them with water. Then he set out to cross about sixty leagues of desert that lie in his way. A goblin also haunted this wilderness. He did not know this.

The goblin soon became aware of them and knew the men and the oxen depended on their water supply. It decided to trick them and cause them to throw away their supply of water. Then the men and oxen would be weak and faint from lack of water. Then he would attack and devour them later. Then they set out to meet the caravan.

Appanaka Jataka

6/14

At the same time they covered their head with wreaths of blue lotuses and white water-lilies.

They were all wet as if rain had fallen on them.

The chariot wheels were also covered with mud.

The lesser goblins carried succulent stems of white lotuses which they munched as they moved along the trail. Soon the goblin met up with the young merchant who was riding in front of his carts. The goblin leader in the chariot politely moved to one side of the trail and asked him where he was from. The merchant said that he was from Benares. Then he asked whether it had rained recently and where it had come across pools with lotuses and water lilies.

It replied there was a large forest not far ahead with plenty of water in it. It said there was rain there all the time. There were also many lakes and pools covered with lotuses and water-lilies.

It asked him what the carts contained and

Appanaka Jataka

7/14

which place he was going. When the last cart was about to pass, it saw the water jars and pretending not to know asked what they contained. When told, it suggested there was really no need to carry the heavy water jars.

They ought to be broken as he would no need the water anymore. He would lighten his load, move faster and soon get to all the water he could ever use. Pretending not to be interested in the result of the suggestion, all the goblins moved in the opposite direction, and when out of sight returned to their city in their own way.

Unfortunately, the foolish young man believed a stranger's word and thought the suggestion was reliable. Without further thought he ordered the jars to be broken and all the water flowed into the ground. Not even a cupful was saved.

That day was a hot one and soon everyone was

Appanaka Jataka

8/14

thirsty. But there was no forest, no pools filled with lotuses and water lilies, and no water for them to reach to cool themselves. By sunset, men and oxen were suffering greatly from their thirst. They were also hungry as there was no water to cook their rice. Tired out, thirst and hungry, the men sank to the ground and lay down like dead logs. That night, the goblins came out to kill and eat every one of them, men and oxen, and their bones were scattered everywhere. Then they left. Thus, the foolish leader was the sole cause of the destruction of them all. Only the carts and goods were untouched.

About six weeks later, the Bodhisatta decided it was time to set out. Arriving at the edge of the wilderness, he too filled water jars in preparation for crossing the waterless region.

Then he assembled his men and set out the

Appanaka Jataka

9/14

rules. He would ration out the water and they should not eat anything from the wilderness without checking with him first. Then they moved on. When they reached the middle of the desert the goblin made its appearance and tried to trick the Bodhisatta. But he noticed that it had red eyes, a fierce manner, and did not cast a shadow. He guessed it must be a goblin and might have already tricked and eaten the people in the earlier caravan. So he told it in a loud commanding voice to get out of sight. He added: "we're businessmen and do not throw away our water until we can see where more is coming from."

The goblins were unable to do anything as the men in the caravan were many and armed. They retreated. After they were gone, the men went up to the Bodhisatta and said they heard there was a forest, rain and pools of lotuses and

Appanaka Jataka

10/14

water-lilies not far ahead. They had seen the globin attendants eating succulent lotus stalks.

They thought it would be all right to throw away their water to lighten the load. When he heard this he gathered his men around him and asked them whether they ever heard before that day that there was a forest up ahead with pools of water. They replied they had not but knew the place as the "waterless desert".

Then he asked the men how far rain could be carried in a strong wind. They said it was a league but then no one had felt any. He asked them whether they had seen the crest of a storm-cloud. There was none up to a league away. He asked them how far they could see any lightning. They replied that it was four to five leagues. He asked them how far they could hear a peal of thunder. They replied that it was two to three leagues. He asked them whether

Appanaka Jataka

11/14

they had heard the sound of thunder. They answered that they had not. Then he told them to be on guard, for the strangers they met were not men but goblins. He said they would return to eat them when they were weak and faint from lack of water. He said that he expected to see the carts of the earlier caravan at the end of the day. On hearing this they took more care in guarding the water.

As they moved the carts more quickly upon hearing these words, they soon came upon the earlier caravan and the skeletons scattered all over the places. The Bodhisatta ordered his carts arranged in a circle to form a protected area. The oxen were unyoked and tied in the center of the circle. The men were placed between the oxen and the carts. The oxen were given water and grass and the men ate an early dinner. Then he arranged three watches. He

Appanaka Jataka

12/14

and some of his leading men stayed awake throughout the night, waiting for the day to dawn.

It was a peaceful night for nothing happened. At day-break they fed the oxen and ate some food.

Weaker carts were exchanged for stronger ones from the earlier caravan. He exchanged his cheaper common goods for the more costly of the abandoned goods. Then they moved on and reached their destination, where he bartered his goods for a very good profit. After they had done what they came to do, they all returned to their own city without the loss of a single man.

End of story of the past When the story ended, the Buddha said "Disciples, thus in times past those who depended on their own foolish opinion came to further destruction. Those who held on to the Truth, escaped from the hands of demons."

Appanaka Jataka

13/14

Linking the past and the present together, the Buddha said: "Those who uphold the Truth are saved."

Appanaka Jataka

14/14