Jataka Tales 18: Mataka Bhatta

Mataka bhatta Jataka This story was told by the Buddha at Jetavana, about the ‘Feasts for the Dead’. At this time, folks were sacrificing animals to offer them up, as what is called a ‘Feast for the Dead’, for the sake of their departed kinsfolk.

The monks asked the Buddha about this matter: "Venerable Sir, folks are sacrificing living creatures and offering them up as what is called a ‘Feast for the Dead’. Can it be, Venerable Sir, there is any good in this?"

"No, monks," the Buddha answered; "not even when life is taken with the purpose of providing a ‘Feast for the Dead’, does any good arise therefrom. In bygone days, a wise one, discoursing on Truth from mid-air showed the evil consequences of this, and thus caused all those who heard this Truth to renounce the taking of life.

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But, before this, when their previous existences have brought confusion into their minds, the practice has come up afresh." Then the Buddha told this story.

Story of the past Once in ages past, when King Brahmadatta ruled in Benares, a Brahmin versed in the Three Vedas and famous everywhere as a teacher, thinking to offer a Feast for the Dead, decided to sacrifice a goat. He had one fetched and said to his pupils: "Sons, take it to the river and bathe it.

Then garland it, give it a pottle of grain to eat, groom it a bit and then bring it back."

So they took the goat to the river, bathed and groomed it and set it on the bank. The goat became conscious of past deeds and was joyful that on this day it would be freed from its misery.

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Then at the thought that the Brahmin would bear the consequences of sacrificing, it felt great compassion for him and wailed loudly. The disciples heard both kinds of sounds, the happy laughter and the sad cry of distress. They asked the goat: "What made you laugh and what made you weep?"

The goat answered: "Ask me the question before your master."

So they brought the goat to the Brahmin and told him about the matter. Then he asked the goat why it laughed and then it wept. Through the power of recalling its past deeds and remembering its past lives, the goat spoke to the Brahmin: "In times past, I was like you, versed in the mystic texts of the Three Vedas, and I too killed a goat and offered it as a ‘Feast for the Dead’. Through killing that single goat, I have had my head cut off four hundred and ninety nine times.

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This is my five hundredth and last birth as a goat and I laughed aloud when I knew that I should be free from my misery. Then I wept when I thought how as I am freed, you will suffer the penalty of losing your head, five hundred times, like me".

"Fear not goat," said the Brahmin. "I will not kill you today.

The goat replied: "Whether you kill me or not I will not escape my fate today." "Fear not, goat; I will walk with you and protect you." "Weak is your protection, Brahmin, and stronger is the force of my evil doing."

Setting the goat free, the Brahmin said to his disciples that they should not let anyone harm the goat. With the disciples in tow they followed the goat closely. The moment the goat was freed it went to a clump of leaves growing on top of a rock to browse on the young shoots. Just then a thunderbolt struck the rock, splintering off a mass which hit the goat and cut off its head. And people crowded round to see this

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In those days, the Bodhisattva had taken existence as a tree spirit in that spot. By His supernatural powers, He seated himself cross-legged in mid-air visible to the crowd.

Thinking: "If these people only know the fruit of evil-doing, then perhaps they would stop killing living beings." He taught them the Truth and spoke thus:" If man knew the penalty, then he will stop taking life."

Thus, the Great Being discoursed on the Truth.

Fearful and terrified for their own well-being, they abstained from taking life. Subsequently, the Bodhisattva passed away. The people remained steadfast in observing the teaching, doing charity and other good works.

End of story of the past His lesson ended, the Buddha showed them the connection and identified the birth, saying: "In those days, I was the tree-spirit."

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