26.34 The Story about the Elder Jotika

Dhp 416 AJ: For reasons that are unexplained, this story also is attached to Dhp 416, as was the previous story. I think myself, that the two stories should have been merged, as they do in fact complete the story told in the previous one, but have somehow been separated into two commentarial stories on one verse.

Burlingame: Ajātasattu Attacks Jotika’s Palace

After the death of his father, the king, Ajātasattu, wished to take the rich man Jotika’s palace, as he had previously planned to do; although he tried to do so, the Yakkha guarding the palace drove him off; Jotika explained it wasn’t possible to steal from him, but seeing Ajātasattu’s disposition he asked the Buddha to let him go forth, and his riches vanished as he did so; the Buddha spoke a verse about him.

Cast: Prince Ajātasattu, Devadatta, King Bimbisāra, Yakkha Yamakoḷi, Satulakāyī

Keywords: Rich Men, Kings

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“Whoever, giving up craving,” [30.332] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Veḷuvana with reference to the Elder Jotika.

For after Prince Ajātasattu had conspired with Devadatta and killed his father, Bimbisāra, and become established in the kingdom, he said to himself, {4.222} “I will now take the great palace of the rich man Jotika,” and arming himself for battle, he sallied forth. But seeing his own reflection and that of his retinue in the jeweled walls, he concluded: “The householder has armed himself for battle and has come forth with his host.” Therefore he did not dare approach the palace.

Now it happened that on that day the rich man had taken upon himself the observances of the Observance Day, and early in the morning, immediately after breakfast, had gone to the monastery and sat listening as the Teacher taught the Dhamma. When, therefore, the Yakkha Yamakoḷi, who stood guard over the first gate, saw Prince Ajātasattu, he called out: “Where are you going?” And straightaway putting Prince Ajātasattu and his retinue to rout, he pursued them in all directions. The king sought refuge in the very same monastery as that to which the rich man had gone. When the rich man saw the king, he rose from his seat and said: “Your majesty, what is the matter?” The king said: “Householder, how comes it that after giving orders to your men to fight with me, you are sitting here pretending to be listening to the Dhamma?”

The rich man said: “But, your majesty, did you set out with the idea of taking my house?” – “Yes, for that very purpose did I set out.” – “Your majesty, a thousand kings could not take my house from me against my will.” Upon this Ajātasattu became angry and said: “But, do you intend to become king?” – “No,” replied the rich man: “I do not intend to become king. But neither kings nor robbers could take from me against my will the tiniest thread.” – “Then may I take the house with your consent?” – “Well, your majesty, I have here on my ten fingers twenty rings. I will not give them to you. Take them if you can.” {4.223}

The king crouched on the ground and leaped into the air, rising to [30.333] a height of eighteen cubits; then, standing, he leaped into the air again, rising to a height of eighty cubits. But in spite of the great strength he possessed, twist this way and that as he might, he was unable to pull a single ring from the rich man’s fingers. Then the rich man said to the king: “Spread out your double robe, your majesty.” As soon as the king had spread out his double robe, the rich man straightened his fingers, and immediately all twenty rings slipped off.

Then the rich man said to him: “Thus, your majesty, it is impossible for you to take my belongings against my will.” But agitated by the king’s action, he said to him: “Your majesty, permit me to go forth.” The king thought to himself: “If this rich man retires from the world, it will be an easy matter for me to get possession of his palace.” So he said in a word: “Go forth.” Thereupon the rich man Jotika went forth under the Teacher, and in no long time attained Arahatship. Thereafter he was known as Elder Jotika. The moment he attained Arahatship, all of his wealth and earthly glory vanished, and the divinities took back once more to Uttarakuru his wife Satulakāyī.

One day the bhikkhus said to Jotika: “Friend Jotika, have you any longing for your palace or your wife?” – “No, friends,” replied Jotika. Thereupon the bhikkhus said to the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, this bhikkhu having spoken what is not true, declares something false.”

The Teacher said: “Bhikkhus, it is quite true that my son has no longing for any of these things.” And expounding the Dhamma, he pronounced the following verse: {4.224}

416. Yodha taṇhaṁ pahatvāna, anāgāro paribbaje,
taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Whoever, giving up craving,
would wander homeless in this world,
destroying craving, existence,
that one I say is a Brahmin.