Commentary on the Tayodhamma Jātaka:
“For whom these three qualities exist…”
This teaching was given by the Buddha while he was dwelling at Veḷuvana, concerning Devadatta’s attempt to kill him.
In the past, when King Brahmadatta was ruling in Bārāṇasī,
Devadatta was reborn as a monkey in the Himalayan region, leading a troop.Out of fear that the young monkeys born depending on him would grow up and take over leadership,
he would bite them and destroy their reproductive organs.At that time, the Bodhisatta was conceived in the womb of a certain female monkey in that same troop.
When the mother realized she was pregnant,
she left that place and went to another mountain to protect her unborn child.In due time, she gave birth to the Bodhisatta.
As he grew, he became:
- intelligent
- strong
- capable
One day, he asked his mother:
“Mother, where is my father?”
She replied:
“Son, he lives at such-and-such a mountain, leading a troop.”
The Bodhisatta said:
“Please take me to him.”
But the mother warned:
“You cannot go to him.
Your father destroys the offspring of those who depend on him out of fear.”But the Bodhisatta insisted:
“Take me there—I will understand what to do.”
So she took him.
When the monkey leader (Devadatta) saw his son, he thought:
“If this one grows up, he will take over my troop.
I must kill him now.”He pretended affection and said:
“Come, my son, where have you been all this time?”
Then, as if embracing him,
he tried to crush him to death.But the Bodhisatta was extremely strong, like a nāga (serpent king),
and resisted the pressure.Instead, he crushed his father, causing his bones to crack.
Then the father thought:
“This one will kill me if he grows stronger.
How can I kill him first?”He devised a plan:
There was a lake inhabited by a demon (rakkhasa) nearby.
He thought:
“I will send him there so the demon will eat him.”
So he said:
“Son, I am old. I will give you leadership of this troop today.
But first, go to a lake nearby.
There are beautiful flowers there—
lotuses and water lilies.
Bring them back.”
The Bodhisatta agreed and went.
But before entering the lake,
he carefully examined the surroundings.He saw:
- footprints entering the water
- but no footprints coming out
He understood:
“This lake must be inhabited by a demon.
My father could not kill me himself,
so he is trying to have me eaten.”So he decided:
“I will not enter the water, but I will still get the flowers.”
Using skill and strength,
he leapt over dry ground and water edges,
grabbing flowers without stepping into the lake.He gathered many flowers safely.
The demon, amazed, thought:
“Never have I seen such a wise and skillful being!
He took the flowers without entering my domain.”The demon emerged from the water and praised him:
“O king of monkeys!
Whoever possesses these three qualities
can overcome enemies—
and you possess them.”Then he spoke this verse:
“One who possesses these three qualities,
O king of monkeys, as you do—
Skill, courage, and wisdom—
will overcome any enemy he encounters.”
Here, “skill” (dakkhiya) means capability or competence; it is the name given to strong effort accompanied by wisdom that knows how to dispel dangers that have arisen. “Courage” (sūriya) means bravery; it is the name for fearlessness. “Wisdom” (paññā) here refers to practical or strategic understanding; it is the wisdom that serves as the basis for choosing the right method and means.
The demon asked:
“Why are you collecting these flowers?”
The Bodhisatta replied:
“My father wants to make me king, so I am gathering them.”
The demon said:
“It is not fitting for such a noble being to carry these. I will carry them for you.”
He carried the flowers and followed the Bodhisatta.
When the father saw him returning with the demon,
he thought:“I sent him to be eaten…
but now he returns with the demon helping him!
I am finished.”Overcome with fear,
his heart burst into seven pieces,
and he died on the spot.
The other monkeys gathered and made the Bodhisatta their king.
After telling this story,
the Buddha connected it to the present:“At that time, the monkey leader was Devadatta,
and the monkey prince was myself.”
My takeaway is:
With wisdom, courage, and skill, one can overcome one’s defilements which are his greatest enemies. It takes courage for a person to go to third world country and ordain as a Bhikkhu and battle his own defilements which are like demons. With wisdom, courage, and skill, a Bhikkhu will overcome all his defilements and be the victor, putting an end to suffering once and for all.