King Pasenadi of Kosala and his sixteen dreams

by Premasara EPASINGHE

A Dream can be defined as sequence of scenes and feelings occurring in the mind during sleep. It may be your sub-conscious mind react in your sleep. What is a Bad Dream? It is a situation that is so unpleasant, one cannot believe it is real. Even today, some people are of the opinion that the dreams that they see sometimes true in their life.

In Buddhist literature, the 16 Dreams of King Pasenadi is famous. Some 2,500 years ago, the Enlightened One the Gautama Buddha, clearly explained the 16 Dreams seen by King Pasenadi of Kosala, the titular head of Kingdom in Eastern India.

He was a just ruler, respected by his subjects and was an ardent supporter of Awakened One - Buddha. Being of the same age, they knew each other very well. They were so close. King Pasenadi, highly respected the Buddha. Very often he seeked Buddha's advice and on various issues both personal as well as matters relating to the state politics.

One night, King Pasenadi Kosala had a series of Dreams. He woke up in great fright, as to what these dreams might portend. Some people do not remember the dreams that they see. But, in the case of Pasenadi Kosala, he remembered the details of all 16 dreams, after awakening.

King Pasenadi was very upset. The King summoned his set of advisors or his Ministers and asked for their advice.

These crafty Ministers, realising that they can "earn a quick buck", after listening to the King. unanimously stated that three calamities will occur. They said there will be harm to the kingdom, danger to King's life or his wealth. These "vultures" the Ministers, frightened the king. The innocent king appealed to his Ministers to save him from this dangerous plight. "My life is in your hands. Do not delay. Advise me what action that I should take to save my life and the kingdom".

The Ministers knew that this is a golden opportunity to make money for their life time, informed the king Pasenadi that a large sum of money is necessary and a large number of animals, birds would have to be sacrificed to overcome this great danger. For Pasenadi it was a case for survival and a matter between life and death. He agreed to the Minister's proposals.

Pasenadi Kosala's Queen Mallika, an intelligent noble lady, inquired from the king, what these preparations in bringing animals, birds to the courtyard. The king explained his problem to her and what his Ministers advised him.

Queen Mallika, very intelligently and kindly, instructed the king Pasenadi, and suggested him to consult the Buddha immediately before taking any steps further. Both the king Pasenadi and Queen Mallika met the Buddha and presented the problem relating to the 16 Dreams. King Pasenadi Kosala remembered the dreams all sixteen in order and presented one by one. He sought the Buddha's advice to overcome the calamity.

The Buddha received the royalty and requested the king to explain the Dreams in a sequence.

The king said "The awakened One, in my first dream (1), I saw four black bulls entering the royal courtyard with the intention of fighting. Many people flocked to see them fight. But, the Bulls only made a show, roared, bellowed but went off without fighting".

The Buddha stated "Dear king, this Dream is no danger to you or to your country. In the future, when the kings are unrighteous, when good is waning and evil is waxing there will be famines. But there is absolutely no danger to you.

In his second dream king Pasenadi saw many tiny trees and shrubs. There were flowers and fruits in these trees.

The Blessed One explained that there is no danger to the Royalty and the kingdom. In time to come, after about hundred years, the life span of the people will be shortened and young girls will live with old men and bear children.

"Oh Blessed One! my third dream (3) is very peculiar. I saw cows suckling milk from day old calves.

The Buddha replied "This depicts that in time to come, the young will be more powerful in administration and they will deprive the ownership of the elders. The dream will not have any bad effect on you.

The fourth, dream (4) woven round a set of oxen, who refused to pull the carts.

In the fifth, dream (5) king Pasenadi dreamt a horse with a mouth on either side.

The king, in his sixth dream witnessed the people holding a golden bowl, filled with Kahavanu and begging, when an old jackal urinated into the bowl.

"Sir, in my seventh dream(7) I saw a man weaving a rope, under his chair there was a hungry she-jackal, she kept eating the rope.

The Enlightened One advised the king that no misfortune will fall on the royalty and the king due to these dreams and stated that killing of animals for sacrifices, will not serve any purpose.

"The animals and birds have a right to live. Even their lives are precious, and never kill or harm anyone" the Buddha adviced.

In his eighth dream (8) king Pasenadi saw a big water tank filled to the brim. The people, ignoring there are empty vessels, pour water into the tank which was already full.

The king saw a deep pool, with overgrown with five kinds of lotuses. Two-footed and four-footed creatures flocked to drink water. This was the nineth dream (9) Pasenadi of Kosala dreamt.

The tenth dream (10) Pasenadi of Kosala saw rice boiling on a pot, one part was sodden, another hard and raw. The third part was cooked well.

Next, the eleventh dream (11) king Pasenadi explained that he dreamt sour buttermilk bartered for sandlewood for the tune of 100,000 pieces of 'Kahavanu' or money.

"The Exalted One, with all due respect, I confess to you the peculiar dream I saw. This is the twelth Dream (12) I saw an empty pumpkin sinking in the water. Will there be any danger to my life" Pasenadi Kosala questioned.

The Buddha said that none of the above dreams will effect the king or kingdom.

"Dear king, it will not affect your reign and there will not be any danger or ill effect. In the days when unrighteous Rulers Reign, the kings will not associate noble ones who are well-versed within the art of ruling a country in a democratic and fair manner

. They will mix up with uneducated politicians. They are like empty pumpkins. The society will be pervaded with unrighteous rulers' and administrators".

King Pasenadi Kosal, explained the thirteenth Dream (13), to the Buddha.

"Venerable Sir, I saw huge solid rocks as big as palaces, and large houses, floating like ships. Then, I dreamt tiny frogs, pursuing huge black snakes.

Pasenadi Kosala in his fourteenth dream (14) saw tiny frogs chasing black snakes.

"Here too, this dream will not have any ill effects on you. In the days, unrighteous kings will rule the country, they will treat the people who are unjust and unpatriotic.

The educated pious, righteous men will not be treated well, and their advice will be ignored, by these unrighteous statesmen.

The advise of the righteous and religious leaders will drift like the rocks that floated on water.

The fifteenth Dream (15) was related to a crow. This crow's conduct was immoral. He possessed a golden sheen and he was in the company of many crows. This particular crow never associated worthy ones.

The Buddha explained to the king "Here too this dream would not have any bad effect on you. In the future, weak kings will arise. They will not be able to rule the state as they do not know the art of administration. There will be chaos in the country.

The final dream - the sixteenth (16) is unbelievable. I saw goats chasing panthers. The panthers became the poor victims of the goats. Even the, wolves fled" said king Pasenadi Kosala.

The Buddha stated in the future, the weak rulers, the unqualified will come into power. Even the religious leaders, through sheer disguise will flee to the jungles. The country will fall into utter chaos. This dream symbolises, scaring of panthers by goats. In short, without " Dhamma there will chaos no peace, no fair-play and no justice.

Finally, Exalted One explained about the dreams and stated that Brahmins, or the Ministers who do not love the country, ill advised the king in their interpretation of these dreams, merely to gain their own ends. By animal sacrifices or killing animals and birds the problems cannot be solved. The kings and the Ministers should be the ones who could lit up their lives, by systematic planning and with kindness and compassion, ushering peace and prosperity. People must be united and put country before self.

Deva vassatu kalena
Sassa sampatti hetuca
Phito bhavatu l oloca
Raja bhavatu dhammiko
May the Rains fall in due season
May there be rich harvest
May the world prosper
May the ruler be righteous